Ch.61Pressure

“Your Majesty! The envoys from Fahrenheit have entered the city with a fragment of the Earth Core!”

The advisor announced loudly as he opened the audience chamber doors, then took his place beside me, watching as the delegation slowly began to enter.

Opening the doors to the audience chamber and announcing the information of those who would gaze upon the sovereign’s face was both the right and duty of an advisor.

Thump! Thump!

Unlike the image of diplomats one might expect from an envoy, Fahrenheit’s representatives wore deeply pulled hoods. Upon entering the audience chamber, they simultaneously removed their hoods to reveal their faces, exposing numerous scars etched across their features.

“In accordance with the treaty between His Majesty Marcus and Your Highness Tiberius, we hereby transfer this fragment of Elysium’s Earth Core.”

With those words, the Fahrenheit envoy extended the Earth Core fragment toward me.

“Michaela, bring it here.”

Unlike her usual maid attire, she was dressed in formal wear, signifying her high position as one of my direct attendants.

Michaela walked gracefully to receive the fragment from the envoy, and then I took it from her hands.

Fwoosh!

As the fragment came into my possession, the previously dull Earth Core piece began to emit a brilliant light. The earth energy flowing through my body was seeping into it.

“Hmm…”

I uttered an intrigued exclamation and handed the fragment to my advisor.

The Earth Core fragment.

That which all sovereigns coveted had once again come into my possession.

“Tell His Majesty Marcus that I am most grateful for honoring his word with honor.”

Though merely formal, I expressed my gratitude to Marcus.

“I shall convey your message.”

However, what was the true identity of these fragment bearers?

No one but a madman would carry Fahrenheit’s emblem falsely, so they weren’t impostors, but…

Even I, untrained in martial arts, could tell. These so-called “envoys” possessed enough combat prowess that they could sever my head before Ignatz could even draw his sword.

As evidence, wasn’t Ignatz’s back drenched in sweat despite maintaining his vigilant stance?

He knew it too. That his own martial prowess couldn’t defeat even the leader of these “envoys”…

“Is there anything else you wish to say?”

When I addressed the delegation still kneeling before me despite having delivered the Earth Core fragment, they uttered a response I could never have imagined.

“His Majesty Marcus instructed us to inform you that if Amurtat wishes to expand in the future, it would be best to claim the western territories.”

“…What did you say?”

For a moment, thinking I had misheard, I blinked widely, and as if taking this as a signal, the leader of the delegation began offering “advice” on Amurtat’s expansion direction.

“Amurtat’s south is blocked by swamplands, mountains loom to the north, and the east faces the sea, so naturally, expansion can only proceed westward, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…Continue.”

“According to investigations by Fahrenheit’s ‘adventurers,’ there are fertile plains north of the Western Forest, and unfrozen coastlines to the northwest. Claiming these would be of tremendous benefit to Amurtat’s future.”

“…I see.”

My response was measured, but internally I felt as though I’d been struck from behind.

That bastard Marcus…! How dare he spit on the land I intend to take…?

The term “adventurer” was merely a roundabout expression for his informants. But why would he so kindly survey lands he couldn’t claim himself?

The reason was clear. It was a “warning.”

If they could gather information about the terrain north and northwest of the Western Forest, couldn’t they gather information about other places too? Whether populated or not, village or city, this meant Amurtat had already fallen into Marcus’s information network.

Just as nobles separate themselves from commoners through luxury, Marcus was now pressuring me through the strategic resource of “information.”

For what purpose?

To establish hierarchy.

The rapid growth of Amurtat meant resources, capital, and manpower were flowing into my kingdom, which must have been deeply uncomfortable for Fahrenheit, which had monopolized all resources, capital, and manpower in the northern continent until now.

As the saying goes, “You may not notice where you’ve been, but you certainly notice where you’ve left.”

Having enjoyed life without competitors until now, it was only natural for them to feel threatened by Amurtat, which had achieved tremendous growth in less than a decade with its steel industry, porcelain exports, and more.

“That is indeed valuable information. Truly befitting a great nation. I express my gratitude for this as well.”

“I shall convey your words.”

Now I understood why they sent Sword Masters as “envoys.”

If they were merely transporting the Earth Core fragment, they would have organized an escort that could be recognized from afar with drums and fanfare. Why entrust the fragment to this delegation, whose lowest member was a Sword Expert?

It was for intimidation.

The message was clear: they could cut everyone in half and kill them whether Ignatz was present or not. That was the true purpose of this delegation.

Transporting the Earth Core fragment was merely a bonus.

“We cannot keep the envoys of a great nation here too long. Michaela?”

“Yes, Master.”

When I called for Michaela, she understood my intention and guided the envoys to the dining hall.

The envoys followed her obediently, as going to the dining hall meant they would be served a meal, and accepting a meal established their identity as guests.

Having eaten my food, they could not harm me, their “host,” as “guests.” Thus, I no longer needed to worry about losing my head.

The custom of hospitality is truly magnificent.

Once the envoys’ footsteps had completely faded, Ignatz suddenly struck a pillar and cursed.

“Damn it all!”

He hit it so hard that the candleholder on the pillar momentarily shook.

Men capable of instantly killing even someone of his martial prowess had been in this room until just moments ago.

“Calm yourself, Ignatz.”

“But Your Highness! They dared to freely roam lands that should be yours!”

“They are ‘not yet’ my lands. Wasting your energy on such matters only plays into their schemes!”

That’s right.

Strictly speaking, all they did was scout “unclaimed territory.”

No matter how close it is to my territory, it is ‘not yet’ mine. My Earth Core… has not yet extended to those lands.

But even so, their actions clearly had provocative intent.

For the sovereign of one country to tell another sovereign “you should eat here next, yeah” is obviously an infringement of sovereignty.

Considering how Elysium became past tense after disregarding Amurtat’s sovereignty, I would have been justified in expelling the envoys.

The only problem was that they represented a great nation while we were a small one.

“We still lack power… both you, Ignatz, and this Amurtat…”

“Grrrr…”

Ignatz let out a groan.

For someone who had lived his entire life as a warrior, the inability to protect his lord—me—must have brought tremendous anxiety and fear.

What lord would accept a knight who cannot protect his master even at the cost of his own life?

The advisor standing nearby maintained a stiff expression without saying a word, but judging by his wrinkles contorting like evil omens, he couldn’t have been feeling any better.

Of course. How else would all the sovereigns he had served until now have fallen?

Crunch…!

I tightly clenched my fist.

Irritation, beyond that—rage.

Only a country’s sovereign should determine where that nation expands, but Marcus had ignored that.

This constituted a diplomatic discourtesy, yet I could do nothing but smile and let it pass.

Humiliation. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime humiliation.

“They provoked us, yet we could not respond…”

“…”

“They inserted their opinions into matters I should decide, yet I couldn’t offer any rebuttal…”

“…Your Highness…”

I ruminated on the indignities I had suffered in less than an hour.

Seeing how Fahrenheit’s previously decent image had transformed in mere minutes, it seemed Marcus didn’t understand much about diplomacy.

Bang!

I slammed my clenched fist onto the armrest of my throne.

A numbing shock traveled through my fist and arm, but the pain seemed to awaken me further.

“I will surely repay this humiliation… Grand Sovereign Marcus!”

On this day, Amurtat elevated Fahrenheit from a potential enemy to an existing threat.