Ch.356Chapter 356. Navidos Ohana (2)

Ohana glared at Luna with bloodshot eyes.

But her expression didn’t waver.

Those ruby-red eyes, darker than fresh blood, held Ohana captive.

“What… did you just say?”

Luna politely nodded her head and repeated her utterly impolite words.

“I’m asking you to surrender, Lord Ohana. I hope you understand that this is the best option for us—and for you as well.”

Hearing those words, surprisingly—my mind began to calm.

At first, I was genuinely angry. How dare she underestimate me so much that she comes here spouting nonsense about surrendering!

But paradoxically, her directness made me feel calmer and more collected.

Surrender.

Perhaps it might be the best option—Ohana, with his keen survival instincts, had certainly considered this possibility.

However.

How could he so casually commit the treachery of handing over all his followers to the enemy?

The soldiers who had fallen to establish this nation.

The comrades who had entrusted their dreams to me before departing.

Bearing all of that was the weight of the crown… how could I turn away from that weight, no matter how precious my life might be?

‘Damn it…!’

Ohana let out a short sigh and looked at Lunarian again.

There would obviously be guards outside… but rather than saying nothing, it would be better to test the atmosphere by taking a strong stance.

“You said you’re Lord Lunarian?”

“That’s correct.”

“Do you know where you’re standing right now?”

“Yes, I do.”

“And knowing that, you still advise me to surrender?”

“Yes.”

Luna simply nodded once without even blinking.

“Ha!”

Ohana laughed loudly on purpose.

As if it didn’t bother him at all. As if this was all within expectations.

“Now. You should answer my next question carefully. You know that this is the royal audience chamber in Iekhaida Castle, the capital of our nation, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And if you have eyes, you can surely see my soldiers lined up on either side of you?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you also know that we can kill an envoy who comes here at any time? You’re a ruler yourself, aren’t you?”

Ohana said this with a vile smile.

This was his survival method. Establishing dominance by appearing as vile and wicked as possible.

It might be no different than the protective coloration of herbivores, but he was a man who chose practicality over pride.

“I know.”

“I’m less patient than you might think. Especially when an outsider who hasn’t even fought us yet, who doesn’t even properly understand what the southern continent is like, suddenly appears and tells me to ‘surrender’!”

“…”

“Do you understand, Lunarian Ineanne? I could have your head right now! It’s too late to regret coming here as an envoy yourself!”

Luna said nothing for a moment…

Then she looked around.

The lined-up soldiers were glaring at her with hostility.

She didn’t avoid any of their gazes. And then… turning her head back to Ohana, she spoke in a cold voice.

“Thirty… no, thirty-two people.”

“What?”

“There must be more soldiers outside… but it doesn’t matter. The same applies to me.”

“Wait. What do you mean by that?”

Just as he felt the conversation wasn’t connecting properly—

Luna bowed her head and answered his question.

“Lord Ohana. I didn’t come here wanting to spill meaningless blood.”

“…What?”

At that moment.

The life disappeared from Luna’s bright red ruby eyes.

“…!!”

Blood-red. What they contained was thick blood.

Pathetically, Ohana shrank back as soon as he saw those eyes.

It was instinct. Like a danger signal the body sends when it encounters an opponent it absolutely cannot defeat!

“I’m saying that I don’t want to spill the blood of thirty-two people right now.”

“What…!”

Thirty-two.

Only then did Ohana realize what Luna meant.

Why she had surveyed the soldiers in this place.

Thirty. The number of soldiers guarding this audience chamber.

Two. My advisor Rufio beside me, and…

‘Me sitting here…!’

He thought he could threaten her.

From Luna’s position, no matter how many troops she brought, she was still just an envoy, and there were over ten thousand allied soldiers in the royal castle.

Yet, she wasn’t intimidated at all. Far from it… she only mentioned not wanting to spill blood.

As if she was certain she would never die!

“…”

Both State Advisor Rufio and Ruler Ohana froze in place.

Ohana was the one who barely managed to speak.

“What… what will you do if I refuse to surrender?”

“I’ll return and prepare for war.”

“War…?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Many people will lose their lives. The peaceful domain residents of the southern continent will suffer in the flames of war.”

Bang!

Ohana slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair and shouted.

“If you don’t touch our army, nobody has to die!!”

“To defeat Serpina, our army must fight with full force. I think it’s wise to secure what needs to be secured.”

“You’re thinking of using our domain simply as a military base for your war…?”

“Lord Ohana.”

At that moment.

Once again, Luna looked at Ohana with dead eyes and spoke coldly.

“These are chaotic times. Do you think it matters to distinguish between perpetrators and victims in such times?”

“…!”

“That’s why I came here like this. Surrender.”

Damn it…!

I should refuse, I should refuse… but why?

Why can’t I say ‘I absolutely cannot surrender’…?!

Ohana glanced at Rufio.

He too couldn’t give a proper answer. In his eyes, there was loyalty to follow his lord’s decision, but no spark of wit could be seen.

All the while Ohana couldn’t answer and fumbled awkwardly, Luna didn’t rush his response at all, calmly waiting for Ohana’s answer.

No, she wasn’t waiting. She was just letting time pass. Luna wasn’t expecting any answer from Ohana.

Looking around slightly… he noticed the soldiers’ gazes had changed from their earlier hostility.

It was fear. Even the soldiers were instinctively afraid of the southern Red-Eyed Dragon’s imposing presence.

‘…’

Luna looked into Ohana’s eyes and recalled.

The conversation she had with Ginor before coming here.

* * *

“You’re saying I should recommend surrender?”

“Yes, my lord. That is currently the most efficient method.”

“I agree that it’s best to achieve our goals without bloodshed… but will the Ohana army accept this?”

Ginor nodded at Luna’s question and said:

“He’ll swallow it whole if there’s suitable bait.”

“Bait?”

“Navidos Ohana is neither particularly honest nor ambitious; he’s a petty man who cares only about his own advancement. The problem is that his petty nature has, conversely, created an extremely solid nation. Many say the Karelia army’s soldiers were the strongest, but this old man is convinced that if the southern nations truly fought each other, Ohana’s soldiers would be the strongest.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. During the long period without conflict in the southern continent, they never neglected training for defensive purposes. They lack outstanding commanders, but you know well, my lord, that elite troops are an important factor in war.”

Indeed. In several battles, she had received help from the Chilean Mercenaries and Raven Mercenaries.

Gustav and Aron weren’t exceptional generals, but she had never once thought that the mercenary groups they led were weak.

“If we can absorb the Ohana army, they will become our strongest force. With General Francis, General Tifa, and you, my lord, the synergy will be considerable.”

“However, I don’t think I have anything that could move Ohana…”

Ginor said it was as simple as throwing him some bait, but Luna couldn’t think of any suitable method.

“Do you remember what I just said about Ohana prioritizing his own advancement?”

“Yes.”

“It’s the same context. When he surrenders, we need to create a corner for him to escape to. Rather than losing everything, if he can salvage even something small, he will surely be satisfied.”

“A corner to escape to…?”

Ginor slowly conveyed his thoughts to his lord.

—It’s very simple, my lord.

First, suggest surrender without any conditions.

He might rage at that, but Ohana is a petty man. That would merely be an act, a mask. You needn’t be afraid at all. He doesn’t have the guts to kill a foreign ruler who came as an envoy.

He probably won’t answer until the end. Perhaps not even after a day or two. Of course, there’s no need to wait. When he’s deep in thought, that’s when you throw him the bait.

Something not particularly important to us, but which will feel like his only lifeline. That is—

* * *

“Lord Ohana. I apologize for interrupting your thoughts, but there is one more thing I must tell you.”

“…?”

Though no answer came from Ohana, Luna casually continued—

“If our nation unifies the continent in the future, we will grant you autonomy over the territories currently under the Ohana army’s domain.”

“!!!”

She threw the “bait” that Ginor had prepared into his mouth.