Chapter 16

“Cease-fire agreement? …Excuse me for a moment.”

Lin let out a derisive snort before bursting into uncontrollable laughter, covering her mouth with her sleeve.

As if the very mention of the word was hilariously amusing.

I maintained my composure, keeping my gaze firmly on her face.

After laughing for quite some time, Lin finally sighed and spoke.

“Haa… That was entertaining. So, a cease-fire agreement, huh? And your proposed terms are 1,300 gold?”

“That’s correct.”

Instantly…

The playful smirk on Lin Brance’s face froze over like an ice storm, turning icy cold.

She looked down at me with half-lidded eyes that seemed dead but carried the regal air only someone sitting on a nation’s throne could possess.

“Why should I?”

Yes, that’s the attitude I wanted to see.

I smiled and responded.

“Because it represents an unprecedented opportunity for the Brance Army.”

“Is that so?”

She began twirling a strand of her long blue hair with one finger, no longer even looking at my face.

“Say… What’s your name again?”

“I am Swoen, envoy from the Lunarien Army.”

“Ah. Lunarien Army’s envoy, whatever. Do you know what an agreement means?”

“Yes.”

And then…

With an extremely frosty glare, she stared me down as if ready to devour me whole.

“To be honest, I’ll admit it. Last time our army suffered a crushing defeat due to carelessness. Even with 8,000 troops, we couldn’t conquer your country. Fine, I’ll acknowledge that. But you must know… This time I sent 23,000 troops to your country, right? You probably have no idea how many more forces you can gather or if you’re planning another surprise attack like last time… But listen.”

She rose from her throne and slowly approached me.

With each step she took toward me, I felt suffocated as if reality itself was pressing down on me.

Killer Intent!

Just from her movement, I’m overwhelmed by an oppressive killing aura. It feels like being struck by freezing cold that cuts through flesh.

This is the power of a great nation’s ruler?

An ordinary person would be unable to even voice their opinions under such pressure.

But so what?

I’m a man with Divinity 100 after all.

Right now, I’m certain – she has no choice but to accept this cease-fire agreement.

I didn’t break eye contact for a single moment as she approached.

“If we defend until you besiege us, though defense is advantageous compared to siege warfare, the difference in numbers is too great for victory to be possible. Not even a flying general could turn this around… Oh right, do you know who leads our vanguard?”

“The illustrious General Iren, no?”

“Exactly. So whether you give me 1,300 gold or 3,000 gold, there’s no way I’d consider making this agreement with you.”

Then she squatted down to meet my eye level.

The scent of the perfume she wore strongly hit my nose.

Even this alluring fragrance carried a chilling undertone from her presence.

‘So they have perfume in this world too?’

Of course, while I had such trivial thoughts…

“Why am I crazy? Huh? If I cut off the head of your master, Lunarien, not only will I get 1,300 gold, but Jeilrant Castle will roll right into my hands. Why should I take your money and make a cease-fire agreement with you?”

She stared at me expectantly, waiting for my response.

Though a beautiful woman was right in front of me… Still, this was a dangerous situation, wasn’t it?

Still, I remained completely unfazed. My prediction is always correct after all.

I paused for a brief moment.

If the decision has already been made for this agreement to happen… Then it means this stern attitude of Lin Brance will change.

Which implies this agreement ultimately benefits the Brance Army as well.

While I can predict the outcome, I cannot foresee the process.

But no matter how varied the process may be, if the result is set in stone, there must be some plausible path leading to it.

Then isn’t it my job to draw out that process?

I slowly raised my tongue-pen.

“Because accepting this money and making a cease-fire agreement with us will ultimately benefit the Brance Army.”

“…What?”

“Allow me to repeat, accepting this money and making a cease-fire agreement with us will ultimately benefit the Brance Army.”

“…”

Lin stared silently into my eyes for a long time after hearing those words.

Like a staring contest, how much time passed in that tranquil moment?

“…Haa.”

Lin wore an expression like a child tired of a new toy, letting out a short sigh before speaking.

“Tch. All bark and no bite, huh? I thought you had something substantial.”

“It’s not just bravado.”

“…Well. Normally I should just kick you out, but since you’re somewhat handsome, I’ll specially give you a logical explanation. 1,300 gold holds absolutely no merit for our army. I already said it – even if you gave me 3,000 gold, I’d still say no. In a war we’re guaranteed to win, does it make sense to abandon it for pocket change? You really… Or rather, unless…”

Then she grabbed my chin with two fingers and lifted it up.

And licking her lips slightly with her tongue…

She evaluated me with a smile.

“If you were offered to me, I might consider it…♡ I prefer pretty, refined men, you know? Hehe…♡ How about it? Would you consider attending to my nighttime needs?”

“No thank you.”

“…What a bore.”

Only then did she slowly rise from her seat and return to her throne, cutting off her words sharply.

“I have no intention of making a cease-fire agreement. Tell your master that when you return. Though whether his head will still be attached when you get back is anyone’s guess.”

I looked at Lin dismissing me with a wave of her hand.

And instinctively realized.

If there’s a critical moment in this ‘predestined’ agreement, it’s now.

“Do you really intend not to agree to this treaty?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You’ll regret it. Definitely.”

“Sure sure. Everything you say is right. Anyway, no deal.”

“This rejection of the cease-fire agreement isn’t my doing but Lady Lin Brance’s own decision. Lady Lin Brance herself kicked this opportunity away. You agree, right?”

“Hey…”

Lin glared at me with an irritated tone.

“You should be grateful I’m the ruler of the Brance Army. If this were Serpina’s northern country, your head would’ve been gone long ago. Got it? Anyway, I have nothing more to say to you. Go back.”

“…”

To be honest.

In this situation, figuring out how the agreement would be reached was incredibly difficult.

What should I do?

I briefly fell into thought…

“What are you waiting for? Not leaving? Or do you want to go to jail instead? Should I send you?”

‘It’s fine. It’ll go my way. This cease-fire agreement will definitely be concluded. Don’t worry.’

She started twirling her hair again with her fingers.

Such a unique habit.

As I rose from my seat in response to Lin’s urging, I slowly spoke.

“You’ll come to regret this.”

“Yeah, yeah. Hurry back. You can regret to your heart’s content.”

I slowly turned and walked away.

It’s fine.

No matter what happens, this cease-fire agreement will definitely be concluded.

It will go my way.

My words are always correct.

After all, I am…

“Master!!”

——Because I have Divinity 100.

“What is it? I said not to interrupt during audiences.”

Lin was speaking to the soldier who burst into the audience chamber…

When her expression gradually paled.

“What? You?”

Lin’s gaze was fixed on his right arm.

I turned my head slightly to check the uniform of this unexpected visitor.

The armor he wore was different from ours, yet there was a familiar detail.

The red cloth tightly tied around his right arm.

That alone was enough for even me to instantly recognize who this soldier was.

He was a messenger.

And there’s only one reason a messenger would rush to the ruler with such urgency.

“S-Serpina’s army…!”

Someone knocked on the initiative drum.

“The Serpina army has marched with 55,000 troops toward Kelshtain Castle in Brance territory!”

* * *

“…Eh?”

Lin was startled, dropping the strand of hair she had been twirling.

However, that didn’t change the situation.

“We must prepare defenses immediately! Master, give the order!”

‘Serpina? At this point? Why?’

Since they shared a border, the Brance Army constantly monitored Serpina’s movements.

According to recent intelligence, although they had conquered the north, various rebels refusing to acknowledge Serpina still appeared throughout the region. They weren’t expected to focus on external expansion anytime soon while dealing with internal issues…

‘Did the intelligence… contain incorrect information? Or was it deliberately false information?’

Regardless, what’s done is done.

Currently, only about 12,000 troops were stationed at Kelshtain Castle near the border with Serpina.

There originally were more, but they had been moved for the Jeilrant campaign.

It was impossible to recall troops from the ongoing southern war, and using eastern forces would be problematic due to concerns about the Ashias Army to the east.

Ultimately, the most reasonable decision was…

To withdraw the 20,000 troops sent for the Jeilrant campaign.

The western front was closest to the current situation anyway.

No, to begin with, there was no other way to stop the Serpina army except that method.

Even if we failed to capture Jeilrant, it wouldn’t significantly impact our army, but if the fortress-like Kelshtain Castle fell, it would be disastrous.

All the castles between here and Anel were merely ordinary.

Moreover, given this was the northern hegemon, Serpina’s army, they would undoubtedly wage lightning warfare at an impossible speed.

And at that moment…

—Shiver!

A feeling like a ghost crawling up her spine caused her entire body to grow cold.

‘Could it be…!’

Lin slowly turned her head to look at the departing envoy from the Lunarien Army.

He had definitely said this:

“To accept this money and make a cease-fire agreement with us will ultimately benefit the Brance Army.”

‘Did that guy… know this would happen?’

His strangely confident attitude.

His unwavering insistence that “it would benefit the Brance Army” now made sense.

Though his actions were understandable if he had known everything…

One question still lingered.

‘But how?’

How could an envoy from a minor country know about the Serpina army’s invasion?

Anyway, a cease-fire agreement was necessary now.

They needed to retreat safely and deploy as many troops as possible to the northern front.

“Hey! Stop right there!”

The white-haired man – Swoen – who was about to leave the royal palace, slowly turned his head toward Lin.

And with a remarkably smooth expression, he spoke.

“What is it?”

“Th-that…”

Lin bit her lower lip hard.

Though it looked bad to bring back an envoy she had dismissed earlier – losing Kelshtain Castle due to misplaced pride would be the stupidest move.

Isn’t that why she ascended to this position?

“…Fine. I’ll do it. The cease-fire agreement. 1,300 gold. Lucky you, huh? You’ll probably receive grand celebrations back in your country for stopping this war -”

“Lord Lin.”

The envoy from the minor country interrupted the ruler herself mid-sentence.

Normally, this would have greatly angered her, but… Knowing the Serpina army was marching here at this very moment prevented Lin Brance from caring.

“1,300 gold, did you say?”

“Uh? Er… Yeah. 1,300 gold. I’ll do it for that. Especially for you.”

“That condition will be difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

Swoen approached Lin once more, kneeling as he had done earlier.

And with consistent, unusually confident voice, he spoke.

“I require 3,000 gold.”

“Eh? 3,000 gold?… No, I don’t really care about that amount, but do you even have the money?”

“Huh? Us? Why are you suddenly asking that…?”

At the question about money, Swoen tilted his head in confusion.

As if wondering what he was talking about.

Then…

Lin finally realized what Swoen was implying and exclaimed in shock.

“Could it be…!”

Her ears caught Swoen’s voice once more.

“That rejection of the cease-fire agreement wasn’t my doing but Lady Lin Brance’s own decision. Lady Lin Brance herself kicked this opportunity away. You agree, right?”

‘…!!!’

Swoen presented a slightly different condition in the same tone as before.

“I’ll take 3,000 gold. Give us the gold, and we’ll conclude the cease-fire agreement. We promise not to pursue your retreating forces.”