End of Negotiation

The atmosphere inside instantly froze at Loen’s appearance.

Immediately afterward, the nobles who had been rejecting Johan’s proposals by citing various reasons and obscuring the points, suddenly began changing their words as if by prior agreement.

“Hmm. Upon further reflection, Young Lord Johan’s proposal seems truly reasonable and good..”

“To reduce the transport fee by this much! The Franz family’s generosity is certainly extraordinary.”

Their number exceeded well over half.

A noble sitting in the corner of the negotiation table, watching this absurd scene, inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘…… It would be better if she had just come in with dozens of knights brandishing swords and threatening us.’

His thought was by no means a joke.

Even if one mobilized subordinate forces for intimidation, it would ultimately be just a show to gain an advantageous position in negotiations.

No matter how powerful a family is, they couldn’t lay hands on another noble without justification.

But the woman before them was an exception.

A crazy woman who would mercilessly behead nobles if things went wrong.

Her past actions, stained with blood, proved this.

Just look at her now.

The hideous sight of a noble mage from a ducal family barging into the conference room with her entire body covered in blood!

‘A single cleansing spell would make her clean. She surely knows this, yet deliberately entered looking like that… it’s clearly intended to pressure us. What an astute and meticulous person..’

To the noble who was inwardly pouring criticism toward Loen, Johan’s gentle voice flew in.

“Baron Fireche? Are you alright? You haven’t been looking well for a while.”

The startled noble opened his mouth in confusion.

“What? Oh, no. I’m fine. I just.. have a few things on my mind..”

“I see. What are your thoughts on our proposal?”

The baron glanced at Loen cautiously.

She was staring at him expressionlessly with her arms crossed.

The moment he met those red eyes, the baron unconsciously began to tremble.

After a brief deliberation, he answered with the brightest smile he could muster.

“I find it a very appealing proposal. The rumors about Young Lord Johan’s generosity were indeed not empty words. Ho ho.”

Soon, Johan and the baron’s laughter echoed through the grand conference room.

It was truly a cordial scene.

Of course, cold sweat was pouring down the baron’s back, but that’s beside the point.

However, not everyone changed their attitude.

As different as their situations and influences were, the proposals from the backing forces were also varied.

“I’m afraid I’ll have difficulty accepting the proposal.”

Some nobles, who had been promised more than others, stubbornly objected to Johan’s proposal while still being wary of Loen.

‘Even so. Life is the most important thing, tsk tsk.’

The nobles who had already shifted their stance looked at them with concerned eyes.

“Count Luman, may I ask the reason?”

Johan asked persistently.

“Hmm.. as you well know, the main business of the faction I lead is….”

“Then let me change the benefits like this.”

Despite Johan’s concession, Count Luman still showed a lukewarm response.

Suddenly, with a deep sigh, he cautiously spoke while gauging Loen’s reaction.

He was even careful with his tone of voice, lest he disturb her mood.

“Sigh…. Young Lord Johan. Aside from whether the Franz proposal is good or bad..”

It was at that moment.

“Count.”

Loen, who had been listening silently, stood up.

All eyes focused on her again with her movement.

Could it be!?

Some nobles unconsciously shrank back, sliding their buttocks behind their chairs, thinking Loen might draw her sword.

However, contrary to their anxious expectations.

Snap!

Loen merely cast a cleansing spell with a light flick of her finger.

Having removed the blood on her robe and face, Loen abruptly began unbuttoning the black robe she was wearing.

Afterward, Loen took off her robe and carelessly threw it behind her.

This revealed the black uniform of the Inspection Corps hidden underneath, with a distinct golden lion emblem.

At this sight, the nobles coughed awkwardly.

Ahem. Hrm.

Through Loen’s sudden action of removing her robe and revealing her Inspection Corps uniform.

They keenly felt that it was a kind of threat, meaning to remember that what she was about to say was as an inspector.

Loen directly asked Count Luman, who had been arguing with Johan.

There was not a hint of hesitation in her voice.

“Count. What did you promise First Imperial Prince Regnum?”

You’re asking this outright? Are you crazy?

Everyone at the meeting was shocked by Loen’s un-aristocratic, direct manner of speaking.

At this point, it was almost like a sudden acceleration.

Originally, in aristocratic society’s negotiations.

Speaking indirectly was basic, and pretending to know when you didn’t, or pretending not to know when you did, while preserving each other’s dignity, was an unwritten rule. It was like a custom.

But Loen didn’t care about such things at all.

Count Luman’s face turned deathly pale.

“The Imperial Prince? What nonsense—”

But before his excuse could finish, Loen put her index finger to her lips.

Shh.

Loen continued.

This time in an even more threatening voice.

“Let me be blunt. Having accepted things from the Prince, if you suddenly change your stance to support Franz, your honor and dignity as a noble would be compromised.”

The nobles’ mouths gaped at Loen’s words, which went beyond directness to hit the bullseye.

Even Johan scratched his chin with a flustered expression, as if this was unexpected.

“I won’t force you to take Franz’s side. Instead, I hope you won’t hinder Franz’s progress with annoying schemes that catch my eye.”

In a word, it meant to keep quiet and remain neutral while she was still speaking nicely.

It was truly a gentlemanly proposal, or rather, a ladylike proposal, compared to the rumors.

At the same time, everyone felt.

That this was Loen Franz’s first and last concession.

If they were to reject or object again here.

What would happen was as clear as day.

“…”

“…”

The pupils and lips of the few nobles who had held out until the end trembled.

Between the promise to the Prince and the fear instilled by the inspector before them, numerous thoughts and calculations crossed their minds.

The nobles who had already shown positive intentions toward the proposal watched the ice-thin confrontation with interested faces. After all, they weren’t in alliance with each other; they just happened to be in the same position.

Around the time when the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense.

Johan stepped in to mediate.

“Oh dear. The atmosphere seems to have become too heavy suddenly.”

At her brother’s mediation, Loen sat back down heavily.

“My sister has been so busy lately that her words may have come out a bit rough. I ask for everyone’s broad understanding.”

While Johan was smoothing over the heavy atmosphere with his characteristic gentle smile and eloquence,

Loen sat next to him with her legs crossed, still watching the nobles with flashing red eyes.

At what essentially looked like forcing understanding, beads of sweat ran down the foreheads of several nobles.

Johan then asked Count Luman once more.

“Count. Then shall we continue our discussion?”

“Y-yes, let’s do that.”

In the end, the negotiations were concluded smoothly.

In any case, there was nothing more precious than life.

Especially for nobles with much to lose, life was more important than anything.

Moreover, if they had the spirit to maintain their beliefs or loyalty even when their lives were threatened, they wouldn’t have accepted the First Imperial Prince’s proposal to hinder the Franz family in the first place, especially during this chaotic period of the Empire.

Thus, most of the minor factions succumbed to pressure and persuasion, accepting the Franz proposal.

The rest declared neutrality and withdrew their uncooperative attitude.

 

The morning after the successful conclusion of the negotiations.

Loen was drinking tea alone with Johan in his office.

Through the window, the busy scenery of the city was visible.

With all internal issues now gone, the development of the south was just a matter of time.

Satisfied with this, Loen turned her head and asked Johan a question.

“Johan. How are things progressing with the engagement to Her Highness?”

Johan answered in a calm tone.

“We’re currently negotiating under the surface.”

The marriage alliance between Princess Elia and the Franz family.

Given the deteriorated relationship with Prince Regnum, an alliance with the Princess was something the Franz family would welcome with open arms.

To begin with, except for Loen who showed an unusually strong aversion to engagements, no noble would refuse to be linked with a member of the imperial family.

Thus, Johan readily accepted Elia’s radical proposal, and the two forces were currently coordinating the details.

Of course, it was all being conducted in absolute secrecy.

It wasn’t yet time to reveal it to the outside.

So the Franz family had also boarded the grand flow of events.

If the Second Imperial Princess were to win the imperial succession competition, Franz blood would lead the Empire in the generation after next.

But if they were defeated… the end would be the extermination of the entire family.

There was no bridge to turn back to anymore.

Now they could only move forward.

Johan asked Loen, who was immersed in heavy thoughts.

“Sister. Have you heard that news? About how Grand Duke Ferdin from the west… has requested help from Father.”

“Grand Duke Ferdin?”

Loen’s eyebrows slightly rose.

Ferdin Goldpiece, the Grand Duke.

The ruler of the Western Grand Duchy and the figure who had declared support for Loen in the past and gifted her the Seal of Protection artifact.

“Yes. Shortly after the Southern Alliance was annihilated, traitors and demons hiding in the west began acting in unison, as if they had been waiting. Even the remnants of the Partisans have joined in, and the situation is said to be deteriorating uncontrollably.”

Wrinkles formed between Loen’s brows.

“What is the Western Corps doing?”

Johan looked at Loen as if he couldn’t believe she didn’t know even this.

“Sister, you must have been really busy lately..”

“I’ve been so focused on the corps reorganization that I haven’t properly kept up with other news.”

Johan nodded and continued.

“The Western Corps… is in a state where it has virtually lost its function as a corps. Internal division has reached its peak, and the command system is paralyzed, I hear. Even this information was barely learned through Grand Duke Ferdin’s request for support.”

“…”

Loen’s face was tinged with incredulity.

Even though it was a secret decree, how could the corps responsible for protecting the west not be functioning during this period when the Great Holy War was in full swing?

This was a matter serious enough to require imperial intervention.

“What about the imperial family? No, the Capital Corps?”

Johan made a troubled expression.

“I’m not sure how to explain this.”

He hesitated and opened his mouth.

“I heard that the imperial family rejected the Capital Corps’ support for the west.”

“What?”

“This is what I heard from Father. Recently, political opposition within the imperial family has become so intense that it’s difficult to make important decisions. That seems to be why support approval hasn’t been granted.”

Loen bit her lower lip and fell into thought.

Although she had heard the western situation wasn’t good, she didn’t know it was this severe.

With demons and traitors rampant in the west, the corps not functioning, and the imperial family unable to do anything due to political opposition.

What on earth was the Emperor doing?

There were questions in many ways.

“Have you heard anything about His Majesty from Her Highness?”

“I didn’t get to ask that far.”

“I understand for now.”

When will I ever be able to relax and rest properly..

After inwardly heaving a deep sigh, Loen immediately stood up and put on her coat.

“I’m leaving.”

“Are you going already? Why not rest a bit more..”

Answering with a silent nod, Loen left Johan’s office.

The corps reorganization had now reached a stage where it could be entrusted to the staff officers.

New equipment was being transported to the corps fortress as soon as it was produced.

She had instructed that the Prince’s informant, whom she had captured this time, should be confined in a dark cell without a speck of light until he voluntarily disclosed information.

There were no urgent matters at the corps fortress that Loen needed to personally attend to now.

Then the place she should head to now was.

The Inspection Headquarters.

Having made her decision, Loen immediately boarded a train heading to the capital with her companions.