Chapter 166

The morning sun fully penetrated twenty-centimeter-thick frosted double-layered glass, casting a somewhat heavy morning light across the spacious study.

Four-ring warrior

scribe (generic); Four-ring Battle Master

Luosen instructor Anna

Commoner-born arcane master named Galad

Previously depressed and unsuccessful, he drank the soup leaked by noble mages; now he has become the acting head of the Arcane Department of Dawn City.

Weilan Dawn Duke

This ceremony is rather elaborate; it's the special protocol for receiving foreign envoys on the first day of the new duke's accession, after which things can be casual.

When Sir Yalak walked into the study that was both familiar and unfamiliar, he felt as if he were dreaming.

Duke Rade

Rade goes to Gray Stone Island to plant potatoes.

The other's deep black eyes held a dim light, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking, which left Sir Yalak somewhat breathless.

He feared the other might suddenly fly into a rage and have the guards drag him into the hallway to chop off his head.

After all, the two countries were about to go to war and this duke had a bad temper; not long ago he had caused Knight Schmidt to lose an arm and a front tooth.

Weilan's Guardian, Dawn's Blesser, Weilan Saintess

Weilan Saintess's descendant

Saintess's son-in-law, the Dawn Duke

Luosen gave a faint smile, then his expression suddenly turned stern: 'Sir Yalak, I have always been someone who repays grudges.'

Sir Yalak's face turned white with a whoosh, leaving him standing there speechless, and he felt a sudden urge to urinate, even feeling he might not be able to hold it.

Luosen's expression then relaxed: 'But since His Majesty has already apologized to me, this grudge is considered repaid.'

No names.

Sir Yalak secretly let out a breath, feeling like he had made a lucky round trip from hell and back.

His mind cleared, and he immediately praised: 'Duke, your benevolence shines like the morning light.'

Luosen continued: 'No matter how great past grudges may be, Weilan and Aaron are neighbors across the sea, an unchangeable fact.'

'My idea is simple: if your country is willing to set aside its past arrogant attitude, then Weilan remains willing to continue all kinds of trade with you.'

Cotton, wool, tobacco, syrup, black stone, sea products

'Of course, we will need to renegotiate the price.'

Natural Alliance

Sir Yalak secretly resented hearing this, for everyone knows that in this back-and-forth, Aaron has suffered enormous losses.

Gold Ogre; Lion gold coins

This loss is truly enormous, enough to drive countless people to risk their lives.

But verbally he had to say: 'Duke, I will faithfully convey your words to our Majesty, believing that our two countries will soon be able to resume trade.'

Luosen naturally knew it was just for show, but who can't act?

He nodded, satisfied, then added seriously.

Empress

Empress

'Sir Yalak, what do you think I should do, huh?'

Sir Yalak's heart jolted violently; he was about to speak when he saw Luosen wave his hand.

'Forget it; an envoy like you certainly can't decide on such a major matter. Step back, relay the message to His Majesty Deng, and let him make the decision.'

No names.

Sir Yalak was indeed anxious to send the news back home; after a hurried salute to Luosen, he immediately left.

Dawnlight Hall

Female mage; Radiant Empire envoy

Before he could look further, the duke's attendant walked toward the female mage, whispered a few words, and then the female mage followed the attendant toward the duke's study.

Sir Yalak's heart jolted again: 'Even the second one has been granted an audience—looks like the duke really values this!'

Weilan and the Radiant Empire are separated by Aaron, and there are no Weilan warships on the Windstorm Ocean.

Shared new arcane technology

Natural Alliance's affection

But both countries are about to go to war; if something goes wrong, the newly independent Weilan will face ruin—who has the leisure to worry about feelings?

His Majesty is right

No names.

Six Marquises

Now, the interests of the four major powers, having suffered greatly from Weilan's losses, strongly demand war, and they have secured 88 votes in the cabinet vote, constituting a majority.

Cabinet vote

Even if the war faction currently has the upper hand, it can still be vetoed outright.

Four Sages guarding the royal family

Storm's Eye Sanchester

Weilan's independence has aroused fierce anger among the Aaron nobility.

'But if war comes, Aaron's future is hard to predict, alas!' Sir Yalak let out a long sigh; though he could do nothing about it, he could only fulfill his duty as an envoy and swiftly transmit the order back home.

On the other side, in the government study, Luosen received Miss Ailin with formal etiquette.

He had a solemn and stern expression, completely lacking the frivolous laxity he had shown late at night earlier, making Erin almost think the person across from him had been replaced.

She secretly let out a breath of relief, but for some reason, she also felt an indescribable taste in her heart.

She felt that, compared to this proper, unremarkable Duke before her, the dissolute Duke of that night left a far deeper impression.

After exchanging some formal diplomatic pleasantries, this routine audience was declared over.

Just as Erin turned to leave, a Spiritual Whisper suddenly sounded in her mind.

"'Miss Erin, if you have time tonight, we can discuss the new technology cooperation in private.'"

Strangely, there was only the Spiritual Whisper, with no detectable mana fluctuation that would have triggered it.

Erin did not reply with a Spiritual Whisper, because the setting strictly forbade any magic, but she secretly thought: 'Nice try, I'm not coming.'

Even a fool could tell what the Duke wanted, but she couldn't repeatedly let her husband down.

This thought persisted until she returned to the guest reception room of Dawn Castle, whereupon a change occurred.

"'The Empire and Weilan are over 1,500 kilometers apart, so whatever happens here seems not to affect the homeland. Moreover, the Duke is quite generous; perhaps I can get more new information from him.'"

Without mentioning Erin's various thoughts, Luosen began receiving the third envoy, the Arcane Master Prince Lafayette of the Levinde Royal Family.

After the customary greetings, Luosen smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness Prince Lafayette, I have gathered all evidence of the Levinde Royal Family's forged deposit slips, including the forgery technique of the slip paper, the mana residue left on the magical seals, and some of the personnel involved in the forgery."

"Therefore, the forged deposit slip matter is solidly proven and indisputable. What is your country's stance on this?"

Lafayette felt embarrassed and irritated, but this irritation could not be directed at Duke Weilan, after all he was on the other's turf.

The natural solution is to repay debts, but there are many nuances to it.

Thus Lafayette said, "Duke, the primary responsibility certainly lies with our country, but after the incident, your side also seized a large amount of our merchants' goods; the total value of those goods is probably not small either."

Luosen nodded: "Indeed there is a batch; after enduring the southern turmoil, we suffered some losses, but the vast majority we have kept intact and unchanged."

"Furthermore, I must point out that the main responsibility for the massive southern turmoil lies with your country, so this accidental loss should be borne by you."

"'Weilan is a nation that advocates fair trade, so these goods originally belonging to Levinde merchants can be fully taken back to Levinde.'"

"'But the profits your country defrauded from mine using the forged deposit slips should also be returned in full.'"

"These words were reasonable and well-founded, leaving Lafayette speechless, but over five million Gold Ogre is simply too much."

"Levinde could certainly come up with it, but who would be willing to keep pulling out money already pocketed?"

"After all, there is no higher enforcer above nations, and moral obligations between states are practically meaningless; relying on a few words makes it hard to get people to voluntarily pay up."

"Unless warships are forced to the doorstep with their guns aimed at the gate."

"But morality does have some use."

"If Levinde truly insists on shameless denial, once the matter spreads, Levinde merchants will be at the bottom of the disdain chain in international trade, thereby incurring many additional hidden transaction costs."

"Even pirates, when plundering Levinde merchant ships, will thereby gain an extra layer of spiritual consolation as an excuse, leading them to deal even harsher blows to Levinde."

"Prince Lafayette adopted the 'delay' tactic: 'We Levinde will naturally repay the money, but we cannot accept whatever amount Weilan claims; we must also carefully investigate and confirm it.'"

"Luosen instantly saw through his thought, tapped the table lightly with a finger, and smiled: 'Then Your Highness, go back and investigate thoroughly.'"

"The money must be reclaimed, but given his understanding of the small king of Xila, the other side likely won't repay."

"No worries; if the small king doesn't pay, he will have the small king's political opponents pay instead."

"Once he helps the small king's domestic rivals overthrow the king, those rivals will surely give him a tremendously generous reward."

"He also reminded: 'Hope this minor matter does not affect our business trade on the new route.'"

"'No way~ This absolutely won't happen!'"

"Business trade is about making money; who would go against money?"

"More importantly, since Weilan has developed the deep-sea route, no one can completely blockade Weilan's maritime trade in the Golden Ocean."

"Because the deep-sea route is free; as long as you don't get lost, you can go however you like."

"If Levinde refuses trade, Weilan can still turn to Kao or other coastal grand duchies."

"After the Levinde envoy withdrew, Luosen continued receiving the Kao envoy."

"And just as Luosen was communicating with one envoy after another, Sir Yalak had already returned to Aaron's exclusive diplomatic residence in Dawn City."

"Aaron's bilateral relationship with Weilan is extremely important, an ironclad fact, so the diplomatic residence has been maintained all along."

"Upon entering the residence, Sir Yalak immediately found the newly appointed night-watch captain sent by the kingdom, Shadow Master Sir Lysent."

"It was originally Schmidt, but Schmidt not only had his hand broken by Duke Weilan, also lost his courage, rendering him unusable."

"'Master, closely monitor the Radiant Empire envoy; report any abnormal movements to me immediately.'"

"Lysent hesitated a bit: 'Sir, the Radiant Empire envoy is staying in the guest chambers of Dawn Castle; lately it's not easy to reach them.'"

"Sir Yalak of course knew this: 'No need for detailed specifics; just a simple update on their movements will do.'"

"Lysent nodded: 'Understood.'"

"Sir Yalak then promptly found the Spiritual Communication Mage and reported the latest situation back to the country."

"When late night arrived, indeed a major piece of information came through."

"'Sir, Dawn Castle has word that the duke privately summoned the Radiant Empire envoy again at night. They talked secretly in the study for a full three hours, until one o'clock in the morning.'"

"Hearing this, Sir Yalak's brow twitched: 'What kind of major situation could warrant three hours of talk?'"

"Could it be that Weilan, in self-preservation, has completely turned to the Radiant Empire, planning to pincer Aaron from both sides?"

"He decisively sent this information back to the homeland."

"(End of chapter)"