Chapter 446: I Am a Negotiation Specialist -3
When Ghislain arrived in the capital, a crowd of people gathered to catch a glimpse of him.
“The commander of the Northern Army is here!”
“They say he’s been eliminating all the rifts on his own.”
“He truly is the kingdom’s hope.”
By now, Ghislain’s name was known throughout the kingdom. After the emergence of the rifts and the plague, the kingdom’s economy was in worse shape than during the recent drought that spread across the continent. Without Ghislain and the Northern Army, the situation wouldn’t have improved as quickly as it had.
In addition to leading his forces, Ghislain’s actions of disciplining the lords and distributing medicine were events that brought cheers from the people of the kingdom.
At some point, Ghislain had become a hero destined to end these turbulent times.
As Ghislain entered amidst the crowd's cheers, Maurice greeted him warmly. It was rare for the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom’s Army to personally welcome anyone.
“My nephew has arrived?”
“......”
“Oh, you’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you, nephew?”
Maurice chuckled heartily and patted Ghislain on the shoulder.
To the Supreme Commander, Ghislain was truly a blessing. He resolved all the difficult issues by leading the Northern Army on his own. Thanks to him, Maurice had been able to station the kingdom’s troops along the southern border to keep the ducal faction in check.
Ghislain, on the other hand, was still wondering when exactly he had become Marquis McQuarrie’s nephew.
“Come on, let’s head inside. Everyone is waiting.”
Welcomed by the nobles of the Royalist faction, Ghislain entered the royal palace and was soon introduced to the emissaries dressed in extravagant attires.
Present in the room were the Marquis of Branford, key ministers of the royal court, and the leading nobles of the Royalist faction. Everyone had already gathered.
“You’ve arrived,” said the Marquis of Branford.
Ghislain gave a slight nod in response. Observing the marquis, he clicked his tongue internally.
‘He’s not the man he used to be.’
The Marquis of Branford’s sharp aura was intact, but his eyes and face were filled with fatigue.
With crises erupting one after another and the nobles refusing to cooperate, it was no wonder he was drained. In the end, it had been the Northern Army that resolved many of these issues through force.
‘That’s probably why they’ve entrusted me with all the authority and are using me as their sword.’
Soon, the emissaries from each kingdom and the nobles of the Ritania Kingdom began introducing themselves and taking their seats.
Representatives ranged from the Kingdom of Seiron, which had sent Claude; to the far-western Kingdom of Lombars. A significant number of nations had dispatched emissaries.
One envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell cleared his throat and said, “Not all the kingdoms have arrived yet, but we can’t wait indefinitely. Let’s begin the discussions. We can gradually bring the others into the alliance as we proceed. After all, the major kingdoms are already represented here, aren’t they?”
The Kingdom of Grimwell was a powerful nation, comparable to the Ritania Kingdom. In Ghislain’s past life, it had been the first to propose a united human alliance.
However, at present, it was heavily reliant on support from the Ritania Kingdom, so it had little choice, but to comply when summoned. Officially, it claimed to be responding to Ritania’s proposal, but the reality was far from it.
In a way, this too was thanks to Ghislain.
The Marquis of Branford nodded.
“I doubt anyone here has come without serious consideration. While we did make the initial proposal, everyone present must have agreed with its purpose to be here.”
“That’s correct. This is a disaster affecting all of humanity, is it not? We must cooperate more closely than before to combat the Salvation Church and the rifts. Surely, everyone agrees on that. That’s why we’ve prepared a draft proposal.”
The envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell distributed documents they had prepared in advance, clearly aiming to take the lead.
“Hmm, border openings, resource support, troop and commander dispatch, the establishment of a joint organization, the formation of a united council, and the election of a chairperson…”
The document contained many items, though nothing particularly groundbreaking. It mainly focused on easing restrictions between kingdoms and creating a unified structure for active cooperation.
The only real issue was the heavy emphasis on Grimwell’s leadership in the process.
However, from Ritania’s perspective, this was not a problem. The rifts and the plague were threats that had to be eliminated from the continent as quickly as possible, with everyone working together. This was why they had been providing substantial food and medical aid to other kingdoms.
The envoy from Grimwell smiled broadly and said, “We are all grateful for Ritania’s humanitarian aid. Shouldn’t we work together to resolve this crisis quickly? This is not a problem that any one of us can solve alone.”
“There is merit to what you say. Judging by this document, is it correct to assume that Grimwell’s chancellor is being proposed as the chairperson of the united council?”
“If you entrust us with this key role, we will lead the alliance effectively.”
The Marquis of Branford nodded in agreement. The Chancellor of the Kingdom of Grimwell was a figure of considerable repute. There was no issue with entrusting him with the role of chairperson.
However, stabilizing the Kingdom of Ritania by dealing with internal enemies would not suffice. If the surrounding regions were devoured entirely, perpetual war would be inevitable.
The Marquis of Branford turned to Ghislain and asked.
“What do you think?”
“I’m not pleased.”
“Hmm?”
The Marquis of Branford’s expression turned puzzled at the unexpected response. Until now, hadn’t Ghislain been the one most actively advocating for supporting other kingdoms?
It was, after all, at Ghislain’s request that the envoys of various kingdoms had been urgently summoned.
Now, to suddenly declare dissatisfaction, it was only natural for others to question his intentions.
‘Could it be… because of the chairperson’s position?’
Given Ghislain’s usual lack of interest in titles or power, focusing instead on wealth or military resources, this was perplexing.
The envoys from other kingdoms were equally bewildered.
After all, to call for an urgent assembly and then express dissatisfaction it left them wondering what exactly he disapproved of.
Recently, thanks to various resources received from the Kingdom of Ritania, some breathing room has been achieved. However, to be frank, they had never directly requested aid.
Ghislain, with a nonchalant expression, opened his mouth to speak.
“To be honest, I was planning to settle accounts since we've all gathered here.”
“Settle accounts…?”
“We’re currently providing significant amounts of food and medicinal supplies to each kingdom. But we can’t continue doing so indefinitely. Resources aren’t infinite, are they?”
“…”
The envoys had no response.
To put it plainly, the other kingdoms aside from the Kingdom of Ritania were in a state of devastation, overrun by the Salvation Church and the rifts. This was because they hadn’t been as prepared as Ritania.
There was, admittedly, some inclination among them to leverage the name of the alliance to demand aid more boldly.
The envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell cleared his throat and spoke.
“We are very grateful for your assistance. However, the smaller kingdoms are in crisis, like candles flickering in the wind. Without aid, they will soon collapse. Is that not the case?”
The envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell looked toward the envoy from the Kingdom of Seiron. The Seiron envoy nodded hastily.
The Kingdom of Seiron was a small nation bordering Ritania. Its total military force barely amounted to 100,000.
Even now, it was struggling just to defend the area near its capital. Without Ritania’s aid, it wouldn’t even be able to properly supply its troops with provisions.
The envoy from Grimwell turned back to Ghislain and said.
“We, at least, can hold out for now, but not all kingdoms are in the same position. Surely, you can’t just stand by and watch? If other nations were to be entirely overtaken by the Salvation Church, the Kingdom of Ritania would also inevitably suffer significant harm.”
Ghislain sneered.
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“Then what do you intend to do…?”
“You’ll need to pay the appropriate price.”
The Marquis of Branford gave Ghislain a curious look. It had been Ghislain himself who insisted that they must offer unconditional help without approaching the matter as a transaction.
Now, to summon the envoys and change his stance it was evident he had been aiming for something all along.
‘Of course. That fellow wouldn’t give things away for free.’
It seemed that Ghislain had deliberately distributed food and medicine in advance, helping to extinguish the immediate fires and tightening the leash, only to demand something in return now.
The envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell, looking frustrated, continued.
“There aren’t many places right now that have the resources of food and medicine that the Kingdom of Ritania possesses. The smaller kingdoms are also suffocating.”
“I’m not asking you to repay us with those. Bring something else.”
“What do you mean?”
“Start by bringing various jewels, works of art, and precious metals equivalent to the aid we’ve provided. Surely, you can manage that much?”
“Ugh…”
The envoys murmured in discontent. Indeed, luxury goods held little practical value in times like these.
However, once the war ended, their value would undoubtedly rise again. It was hard to part with such treasures in exchange for food and medicine, which would ultimately be consumed and gone.
Still, surviving the present crisis was more important than anything. Without Ritania’s aid, survival would be challenging.
“Ahem, could you match the current market rates?”
“Let’s do that.”
Those who had already tasted the food and medicine provided by Ritania had no choice but to accept the proposal. If they had never experienced it, they might have resisted. But having sampled the sweet benefits, they knew its value.
Once the envoys agreed, the envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell hastily spoke up.
“Now that this is settled, let us move on to a serious discussion about how to operate the alliance practically. We need to establish a system and swiftly implement policies for recruiting talent from all regions…”
The envoy from Grimwell wanted to steer the discussion away from further transactional negotiations. Hoping to focus on the official formation of the alliance, he proposed a shift in topic, but Ghislain cut him off abruptly.
“Military.”
“Pardon?”
“The first thing you must do is send reinforcements to our side.”
The envoys exchanged puzzled glances. How could they send troops when their forces were already preoccupied battling the rifts?
That he was asking them to send reinforcements to Ritania, the strongest among them, seemed absurd.
Seeing their bewilderment, Ghislain elaborated.
“Why? Isn’t the whole point of forming an alliance to fight together? Besides, the preliminary draft you provided already includes provisions for reinforcements.”
“Well, yes, but… Why should we prioritize Ritania? Isn’t Ritania the best at handling these matters? Other kingdoms are in much worse condition right now.”
“But the Kingdom of Grimwell is managing relatively well, isn’t it?”
The envoy from Grimwell fell silent.
Indeed, compared to other kingdoms, they were in better shape. Although their initial response had been slow, they possessed sufficient military strength, and their royal power far outmatched that of the rebellious nobles.
Still, sending troops was out of the question. Even within Grimwell, rifts were yet to be fully dealt with.
Ghislain scanned the envoys before speaking again.
“We’re probably the closest on this continent to halting the rift’s expansion.”
“Th-that’s true. Your reputation precedes you.”
“If our army were to come to your aid, it would be an enormous help.”
The envoys’ expressions brightened slightly.
In truth, this was the main reason for forming the alliance: to receive support from Ritania’s Northern Army, renowned for its unmatched efficiency in dealing with rifts.
“But the Duchy of Delfine, which has allied itself with the Salvation Church, is here in Ritania.”
At Ghislain’s next words, the envoys’ expressions darkened.
The power of the Delfine Ducal family was well known among the neighboring kingdoms of Ritania. Even more distant nations had some understanding of their influence.
Ghislain’s eyes shone with intensity as he continued.
“The Duchy of Delfine is strong. Moreover, to seize Ritania, the Salvation Church has likely dispatched more priests here than to any other nation. Let me ask you this: would it benefit you if we were defeated?”
“Uh…”
Thanks to the Kingdom of Ritania, they had managed to scrape together enough soldiers and supplies. Ritania was the only nation on the continent effectively pushing back against the rifts.
In many ways, Ritania was a beacon of hope, showing humanity that the fight could still be won.
But what if the Duke of Delfine, in alliance with the Salvation Church, were to win the civil war?
It would deal a crushing blow to morale across the other kingdoms. Humanity might even fall into despair, believing defeat was inevitable.
Ghislain pressed on, driving the point home.
“The first step in ensuring Ritania’s military can assist you is to eliminate the Duchy of Delfine. So, any nation with resources to spare must send reinforcements. Understood?”
“Ugh…”
The envoys looked troubled.
They hadn’t anticipated such demands. Their initial plan had been to establish the alliance first, negotiate terms, and secure support tailored to each kingdom’s benefit.
While it was clear this would be a long and arduous process, negotiations were inherently slow and complicated. The envoys were seasoned in such drawn-out affairs.
But Ghislain had no intention of entertaining such delays. Nor did he care to. His approach was to proceed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
‘In my past life, we wasted time dithering, and the damage only worsened.’
Ghislain had already experienced this once before. Back then, negotiations had failed because everyone prioritized their own kingdom’s interests. When terms were finally agreed upon, humanity was already on the brink of collapse.
To prevent a repeat of that disaster, Ghislain had used the Marquis of Branford to swiftly gather the envoys.
‘The priests of the Salvation Church are now directly participating in the war. The situation is already different from my past life.’
In his previous life, the Salvation Church had concealed their intentions, refraining from acting overtly. That was what had allowed humanity to hold out for as long as it did.
In war, momentum in the early stages was critical. It was crucial to decisively establish dominance while the balance of power remained even.
“By any means necessary, we must first annihilate the Duchy of Delfine and the Salvation Church.”
On this point, Ghislain would not yield.
If they wanted to participate in the alliance, they would first have to send reinforcements to Ritania.