ocean-life Book 2: Chapter 9-3: Negotiations
Book 2: Chapter 9-3: Negotiations
Book 2: Chapter 9-3: Negotiations
When morning came I let Kuu keep sleeping and got up to exit the workshop.
I went to show my face at Lucy and my home, but apparently Kemin and her little group had gone to tell Lucy that they were taking care of me because I had drank too much. Thanks to that she hadnt worried about me.
I greeted Lucy and went inside to change before exiting our home.
As I walked out Lucy said
Cyrilyou smell like Kuu-chanor is that my imagination?
She said, but I suspect there was no deeper meaning to it.
There shouldnt be.
My body felt heavy from the leftover effects of the alcohol.
{Metabolism Enhancement}
I used my internal magic to activate my somatic cells and accelerated my metabolism.
That allowed the alcohol to leave my system more quickly and to remove the lingering effects.
By using this method to break down the alcohol in my system it allowed me to return to normal quickly, however as the price I had to undergo all the suffering of a hangover and the rest all at once.
If possible I didnt want to use this kind of method, but from now on I would be entering another type of battlefield. I had to be fully ready.
After I finished experiencing my own personal hell, I walked over to the prison by the old village chiefs house.
Good morning. Good work as always.
Good morning Cyril-sama.
I called out to the elf who was guarding the prison before taking the key and unlocking the door. I entered the prison where I had kept the four Nobleshowever because I had needed to torture and make an example of one of them, there were only three left.
We had a rotating guard so that there would always be someone here to watch them. They were a precious source of revenue so we had to treat them carefully.
We gave them food and water so they wouldnt die and maintained their hygiene so they wouldnt fall ill.
Rejoice, today youll be leaving. The second son of the Count for 1,000 gold, the eldest son of the Viscount for 700 gold, and the Baron for 300 gold. Those are your prices and if the gold is payed you will all be released safely. How wonderful for you.
In total we would gain 2,000 gold of revenue.
For a normal slave a healthy male adult would go for 20 gold at fair market price. If it was a Counts second son rather than the first son you would only expect them to pay half of this amount since they were nothing more than a spare. For them to be willing to pay this much gold for themI had to be grateful.
In fact what I had to be most grateful for was that they sent their precious sons to the battlefield. I wouldnt lose any sleep over the stupid decisions of theses nobles.
W-we can go back!?
Yes! Thank you for not abandoning me Mama!
Is this for real? Is this true!?
They frolicked in high spirits. Of course the would. They were used to living lives of luxury as nobles so Im sure their lives in this prison must have seemed like hell.
We took much into consideration and even let them eat better food than most elvesbut even so it had been tough on them.
As long as we properly make a deal youll go home safely. Dont think of doing anything strange. Those collars were made specially so that only I can take them off. If you try to take them off carelessly youll die. If you try to run away before I get my money youll never be able to remove them for the rest of your life.
The three nobles had received some magic training, so despite it being weak, they were able to use physical enhancement magic. Aside from me, the elves who were assigned to watch over them would be in danger so I had attached magic interference collars to their necks.
In the first place they had been items attached to us elves, but after I analyzed them I figured out how to remove them without destroying them. So I removed them one by one and now we had plenty of them in storage. I had modified some of them to use on the nobles.
W-we understand already. We know we cant go against you.
Hii hii we know so please dont hurt us anymore.
One of them I had literally tormented til they broke so he was quite obedient.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com
I went around binding each of their hands behind their backs.
Indeed war would cost a great deal. Even more so if the Empire had to send soldier to a remote region over 200km away. The costs would be heavy. Even 500 troops would be burdensome. The Empire would be in a deficit just by sending the necessary number of troops to ensure victory.
Ohh, so you even know that much?
For the first time today Baron Lurvishs face changed into a smile.
Yes indeed. Most likely the number of troops needed to achieve a pyrrhic victory would be around 2,000. In truth to secure a true victory you would have to send upwards of 3,000 troops. At that point the costs would far outweigh the benefits.
Hahaha, if you can speak with that much certainty theres no longer any point in attempting to deceive you. Thats right. You got it. As you said throwing 3,000 soldiers at this would be a great loss. However.even so the Empire will do so.
He said with a sudden sharp look in his eyes.
This is an issue of pride. We cant allow ourselves to lose to some simple savages in the backwoods. Once the winter ends and the spring begins, there will be 3,000 soldiers coming to subjugate Erucy.
These words were simple truth.
His eyes, the feelings in his words, and his atmosphere didnt allow me the luxury of pretending he was lying.
Of course at that time you would have made preparations to deal with our bows of course. You might send disposable mercenaries as the vanguard carrying greatshields, or burn the forest to orchestrate an attack from all directions. You might even send a few hundred light armored soldiers ahead to attack us in a pinceryouve surely thought of these things correct?
Wh-you why do you?
The Empire wasnt stupid. There were a few soldiers who survived and returned back to report. They might have even brought back some arrows as evidence. If that was the case then it wasnt strange that they had thought of countermeasures.
Erucy is not underestimating the Empire. Furthermore the one who made those bows was me. Do you think I would be ignorant of their weaknesses? Then if I know those weaknesses did you think I would not come up with some countermeasures to the countermeasures you thought of? Ill warn you now. Even if you send those soldiers to us with your countermeasures, there will be a repeat of the massacre from last time. The more soldiers you send, the greater your casualties will be.
I was half bluffing and half serious with my warning.
Of course I did not believe that this would be enough to force them to pull back.
My purpose was to make them feel caution.
Interestingthis is so interestingthere was an elf like you still around..I changed my mind. Lets hold some negotiations. I believe you are an opponent worthy of such. Offer us the Fire Fox bitches that youre hiding in your village. If you do so then I will personally guarantee that the Empire will not extend its grasp towards your village. We cant afford to have the Fire Foxes self destruct like they did back at the village. Just fool them and put on the magic collars and bring them to us. If its you you should be able to right? The fire magic stones are much more valuable than wind magic stones. Theyre absolutely necessary for metal manufacturing. Our iron work requires many trees to fuel the fires, but our forests have already been cut bare. Were at the limit for that. If you give us the source of the Fire magic stones then I can let you guys go. If we change the situation into you offering the Fire Foxes in exchange for your freedom the Empire can preserve its honor.
If I thought about it from the perspective of the elves this was the best situation.
Originally Kuu and the rest could be considered a burden on us. Just by getting rid of them we could guarantee our own safety.
Truthfully I would be able to fool them easily. I could easily sneak a sleeping medicine into their food, put collars on them while they slept, and place them in carriages before giving them up.
However, there was no need to consider such things.
I will have to refuse. Those girls are already citizens of Erucy.
The bigger issue was how they knew that the Fire Foxes were in Erucy.
I had suspected this before, but now I knew for sure that there was an Elf leaking information in Erucy. Just by confirming that there was meaning in coming here today.
Then we have no choice but to go to war. I have one final suggestion. How about if you alone come to the Empire? Your intelligence, courage, and your technique of making those iron bows. I was moved when I saw those arrows. Pure iron. All the arrows of similar quality. Items that cant even be made in the Empire. You are a person who can become truly successful in the Empire. I wan to obtain you. I cant help but feel that allowing you to die with the barbarians is far too pitiful.
It looks like this man was truly confident of their victory.
He had the confidence that they would break my countermeasures.
He was a pretty interesting human. If he had been the one leading the 500 soldier force the other day I would have probably had to use four out of the five trump cards I had prepared.
I will have to refuse that as well. I am the Leader of Erucy. I have the responsibility to protect my people.
I seewhat a shame. To think a man like you would die a dogs death out here. If you are to be our enemy then youre too dangerous to be allowed to escape.
At that moment the hidden bowmen pulled their bowstrings and let fly arrows from all directions.
My smile warped.
The Empire had never intended to exchange money for the hostages which is why they let this go through so easily.
Returning politeness with politeness, words with words, insults with insults, and force with force.
That was the basis of negotiations.