Chapter 574: Formless Ceasefire

With the issue settled in the mansion, I leave and run down to the harbor to board the high-speed boat the messenger is supposedly on.

The small and light-weight vessel which certainly seems fast is moored to the pier of the harbor we just took control over.

Naturally, allied soldiers are surrounding it and keeping watch warily.

Hey.

I call out the cautious soldiers.

This area is off-limits. Unless His Majesty gives permission wait, Your Majesty!?

While the imposingly-standing commander stiffens, I casually jump from the wharf and onto the high-speed boat.

Why is he alonehey, call someone over!

I watch soldiers come running from all directions as I enter the cabin.

Excluding the sleeping quarters of the crew and the storage room, the s.h.i.+p only has one or two other rooms at most.

Out of those rooms, I find one with a carpet laid out in front, clearly designated to someone important, and knock on the door before opening it.

Mu, how brave of you to board without permissionwhatever, I guess. Do we still not have permission for an audience?

This must be the leader of the messengers.

The elder wearing luxurious clothes, after slight shock and amazement, speaks with a hint of nervousness.

I dont blame him.

After seeing my deeds in the beginning of battle, it wouldnt be weird if everyone here was instantly killed.

Not wanting to scare the old man to death and cause problems, I get to the point.

Ill grant permission. Are you free now?

I say as I sit across from him.

If we have permission, Id like you to escort us to your king first.

No need. The king is right here.

The elder doesnt recognize me.

It makes sense. This is also my first meeting with him.

A few seconds of silence go by.

Y-you are Hardlett-oooooh!guhaa! My chest hurtscant breathe

Hey, you alright!? Its because you suddenly raised your voice.

I rub the old mans back as he breathes heavily.

What, whats wrong!?

Sir Rowsey, what is the matter?

You are Goldonias-!? It cant be

The s.h.i.+ps crew and other envoys come running when they hear the commotion.

Dont jump to conclusions.

I dont want him to die and a repeat of the messenger killing to happen.

Haa, haa, Im fine. Im 75 this year, so I have a bad heart, lungs, liver, and kidney.

Dont send a guy like that into enemy territory

A guy at that age should be sitting on a rocking chair and enjoying the scenery.

Did they send him because they think Im going to kill the messenger anyways?

I help him drink water slowly while observing the people who came running.

The crew and envoys are aged from 20 to 40 and judging by their uniforms, its apparent that the old guy is the head.

How about everyone take their seats? Thats what you came all this way for, right?

Despite my invitation, the envoys cant hide the confusion on their faces.

Speaking to you wont get us anywhere.

Does King Hardlett no longer speak to messengers?

I knew it, they dont believe Im the king.

One person disregards the envoys and sits beside the elder.

Hey, youre going to make me mad.

Thats Hardlett in the flesh.

When a sailor mutters, the envoys gulp and back up all the way to the wall.

They instinctively glance at the sword on their hips, and the sailors, excluding the one sitting fearlessly in front of me, also emit a bloodl.u.s.t.

W-whatyou mean he came in person alone?

Does he not remember what he did to the Federation!?

Or is he belittling us, thinking that we wont dare to act because of the soldiers outside?

Fumu, Ill answer as a topic for pre-discussion chat.

I remember the atrocities I committed. And I also know you guys are patriotic enough to risk your lives in order to cut me down.

Someone mutters to themselves asking why I did what I did.

Ten sailors, four envoys and an old man. You think you can do anything to me with these numbers when I have my Dual Crater?

Everyone freezes.

Right as one sailor in the very back raises his arm, I thrust my Dual Crater forward.

Eek.

My sword pa.s.ses by an envoy, grazing his ear, and slices the musket about to be aimed by the sailor in half.

You think you can do anything?

The sailors legs go weak as he falls on his a.s.s, while the envoy is stock-still.

I suppress my bloodl.u.s.t and smile, adding one more comment.

I have no intention of doing anything though, rest a.s.sured. The cruelty in the beginning couldnt be avoided because it was for the ambush. I didnt have the confidence to face you head-on.

I stab my Dual Crater into the ground and spread my arms as if to tell them not to be so scared.

Killing you guys is meaningless. Im not crazy enough to kill insignificant peoplec.r.a.p, I stabbed too deep and water is leaking out. One of you go get a plank.

I tell the sailor to hurry while gauging the envoys reactions, but none of them seem to be at ease.

Its probably because the way I said it wasnt very convincing.

In the meantime, the elderly man, perhaps due to his age, closes his eyes and hangs his head with his arms folded.

Dont tell me hes dead.

Concerned, I bring my face close to his, but he speaks right as I approach his mouth.

It is as His Excellency predicted, you do not seem to be a beast without a sense of reason.

The old man talks in a calm and polite manner.

Maybe this guy isnt the most important guy here.

His gaze is directed atthe sailor sat next to him.

I figured thered be nothing that can be done if I get cut down the moment we meet and disguised myself, but I guess it was useless, huh?

The elderly man stands up straight and salutes the sailor.

Simultaneously, the envoys and the rest of the sailors also salute.

Its been a while, Sir Hardlett. Or should I say King Hardlett.

The sailor removes his hood.

His age is somewhere in the forties.

Despite a few wrinkles, he has a handsome face.

He has a composure about him that matches his age and at the same time a br.i.m.m.i.n.g vitality that doesnt match his age.

You

My voice naturally lowers and killing intent overflows.

The atmosphere becomes tense again.

The old man holds out his hands and steps in between us.

You want to kill me on the spot? If the words you said were false, then youd be quite the fox.

The man says plainly as he checks the exit.

I outwardly voice the words in my heart.

This guys so handsome. And he has a simple elegance about him with considerable vitalityhe can gobble up both older women who are daunted by young guys and young girls who dislike middle-aged men.

What are you saying?

The manMartin Stessel, the Supreme Commander of the Olga Federation, shakes his head and offers his hand.

Due to the circ.u.mstances, I cannot greet you with too much affection. Please accept a handshake as courtesy.

Agreed. Itd be painful to hug after all that has happened.

After the brief handshake, Stessel and I take our seats.

Id like to get straight to the point.

I say, scratching my forehead.

What did you come for?

Those are unconcealed true feelings.

I tricked the Federation when they were doing battle with the Empire, accepted gold and supplies, and even had them a.s.sist with training.

On top of that, I killed the delegation party and invaded the Federation.

Thats beyond evil and messed up.

If I was in the Federations shoes, Id chase the people who did that to the ends of h.e.l.l and kill everyone in the way.

No, anyone would do that.

At this point, I dont think theres anything to talk about.

War will continue until either I defeat the Federation or get destroyed by them.

Of course, Im prepared for that.

Obviously, the royalty, and everyone from n.o.bles to soldiers and bureaucrats in the Federation are furious. They want to utterly destroy Goldonia and kill everyone down to the last citizen.

Well, that makes sense.

Mentioning peace negotiations would make them a traitor and I doubt they would consider surrendering even if I brought them the heads of you and your familyis the state of things, I guess.

Stessel says jokingly with a smile that bares his teeth.

Its a tone an authority of a prominent nation would not use, but he doesnt seem too flippant either.

I hate to admit it, hes the popular type.

Going out into the city and calling out would get any wife to leave their husband and follow him.

When he asks whether he offended me with his eyes, I respond with a deliberate bitter face.

On top of thatyou see.

Stessel looks over at the elderly man.

Everyone, leave.

The old man orders the subordinates, who obey without any objections.

When everyone has left, Stessel grins.

It wasnt an amicable smile or a smile of complacency, it was an aggressive one.

On top of that, Im thinking of abandoning Goldonia right now.

Is that because of your personal relations.h.i.+p with me?

Stessel smirks.

Dont be ridiculous, you fiend.

He continues with the smile on his face.

I will definitely crush Goldonia. My motherland has more than enough power to do that. This city that you have done your best to take back is merely one of many cities far from White City. A defeat of this level wont shake the backbone of the Federation.

How harsh.

He isnt acting strong or exaggerating.

I am also aware of how tough the road ahead of me is.

If I concentrate our efforts on you, I can destroy you right now. However that will jeopardize our carefully constructed plans to invade the Empire. Our ambition to unify the continent would be lost. And that would be problematic.

Unify the continent.

Stessel said something pretty outrageous.

What I want to say is this. Goldonia will definitely be destroyed, but I want to do it after defeating the Empire. Until then, I want a ceasefire for some kind of reasonhow about it?

I get what youre saying, but why do I have to agree?

The reason I attacked the Federation in an overly aggressive manner was because I saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to exploit as they are warring with the Empire. I dont have any incentive to stop and wait for them to finish.

Stessel nods in acknowledgement and then stands up.

Then will you get in the way of my ambition and confront my enraged self head-on? I can get 100 000 men and 100 s.h.i.+ps in one month, and 300 000 men and 300 s.h.i.+ps in two months, I wonder how much I can gather in half a year.

Despite his fast-paced words, Stessels eyes are serious.

The result will be the same even if you kill me here. The one who is next in line, the vice commander, is the brother-in-law of the amba.s.sador you murdered.

I dont know if that is true, but if it is, they could ignore the Empire and advance on us.

I fold my arms and think.

The statement that Nonnas mother said is also bothering me.

Im not going to agree to a public peace. If I do that, my head will fly both physically and in terms of honor so you can do the ceasefire on your end. Dont cross one step over the line between us. If you keep that promise, I wont oppose you. I have full authority of the military, and although I cant talk them into peace, n.o.body will complain if I aim the attack at the Empire.

This isnt a pact or treaty or whatever.

Its basically a secret agreement just between me and him.

Who could have guessed that someone who acts illogically like you wouldnt believe me unless it was written in text.

I laugh when he clearly points it out.

Until the Empire is defeated, pour all your efforts into strengthening your forces. By what I can see, you have tamed some monsters and you also have a giant s.h.i.+p that doesnt exist in the Federation. In the one year or three years it takes to topple the Empiremaybe you can gain power to rival the Federation.

Oh, thats great advice.

You dont want to ask why?

No, I can understand somewhat.

Stessel smiles.

I will defeat the Empire. You are next. The war to unify the continent will continue. Onand on.

Stessels goal is not to beat the Empire efficiently.

This guy wants to fight. He wants to do battle for a long long time.

Thats why he has the ultimate goal of continent unification.

The reason he dares to ignore us is because half of his heart, like he said, wants to concentrate on fighting the Empire, while the other half of his heart desires a fiercer battle with us after we grow stronger.

He is not fighting to achieve his goal.

He sets his goals so he can fight.

He fights a mighty foe, defeats them, then prepares for the next fight.

This is his meaning in life.

Arent you the same?

Stessel asks.

I shake my head.

Im not a bloodthirsty murderer.

Im not either.

Stessel chuckles.

I dont enjoy killing people. Im not fond of slaughter or murder either. However, war, something that encompa.s.ses everything, is wonderful.

I prefer women.

When I change the subject, I hear a strange thumping on the s.h.i.+p.

Aegir-sama! Are you hurt!?

Its Celias voice.

Oh, the weird sound is from her crutches.

You have a broken leg. Just stay put.

Oh shut up. You lost a limb too.

The other voice belongs to Sekrit.

Before I can express my dislike of the situation, the door opens.

Its unheard of for a king to barge in on the messengers

Celia jumps into the room skillfully, supporting herself with a cane, and then Sekrits eyes meet with Stessels.

What

Stessel becomes completely frozen.

His mouth is agape as he looks back and forth between me and Sekrit.

say so before.

Sekrit glares at me.

There was no way I could have known this guy came.

Cold sweat drips from Stessels brow as he sees Sekrit with me.

Youve been in touch with the Empire all along!? No wayit cant be

Stessels face goes pale.

He is completely taken by surprise and the composure and eerie impression he had earlier vanishes.

I picked her up after the great war. As you can see, shes a fine woman so I made her mine.

Umu, Im like this guys slave.

Sekrit adds something unnecessary.

Stessel glances at Sekrit.

Of course, she stares back, not one to be fazed.

Hug that woman from behind for me.

Whats with that all of a sudden?

Although I dont get why he said that, hugging my own woman is not a big deal, and so I wrap my arm around Sekrit.

Ei, what are you-!?

Stessel sighs.

Fumu, the face of a female. It doesnt look like she is a conspirator of equal standing.

I hold Sekrits arms behind her back when she tries to a.s.sault Stessel.

Leopolt and the others also come a bit later.

I can give you a little time if youd like.

Leopolt purposely asks in front of Stessel.

Its fine. It is only to our advantage.

He replies boldly.

Stessel smiles silently as his subordinates enter the room and surround him.

Thus, a ceasefire without text, which will eventually be broken, has been formed here.

By the way

Stessel sneakily scoots over to me.

Have you completely topped General Sekrit?

Is that something you ask in front of the person in question?

Ive gotten her to bear my children.

Stessel laughs, slapping his thigh.

If you dont mind, can I borrow her for one night? As thanks, Ill lend you my lover.

The person he calls is approximately 20 years of age, with a slender body and blonde hair.

Is everyone around me always like this?

Sekrit groans, scowling like she bit down on a bug.

If it is His Excellencys orders, no matter who it isplease be kind to me.

The beauty politely bows and hooks her arm around mine.

Guh

Dont waver, you idiot!

Sekrit kicks my a.s.s.

Im joking.

The thought of being sold to another man and f.u.c.ked unwillingly is bit of a turn on though.

Shes a pervert. This woman finally turned into a pervert.

While the stupid negotiations are going on, I think briefly to myself.

The mortal combat with the Federation will eventually begin.

I wonder who will lead it.