Chapter 297 - Episode 290: Confrontation ②
"Th-thirty billion Rebro!? That is, that is far too..."
"I am not saying you must prepare it all in currency. Such a massive amount of Rebro currency likely isn't in circulation. Nor do I have any use for your country's currency, so I don't want it. I am saying you must hand over things equivalent to thirty billion Rebro. Gold, silver, gemstones, horses, or livestock—anything will do. Your country's magic carriages, composite bows, or even ships. You could even hand over craftsmen or sailors as slaves, couldn't you? Ah, and also, I want every single one of my people whom your country abducted returned to me."
"No, that is not the point... As for the payment of reparations, our country cannot agree to it. We are also unable to return the slaves."
"Why? Your country is withdrawing. You are fleeing back home. In other words, your country is the defeated nation. What is wrong with the victor demanding reparations from the loser? What is wrong with having damaged property and stolen people returned? Surely every country in every age and every place has done so?"
As Oscar pressed his advantage, Representative Dickens wore an expression as if he had chewed on a bitter bug.
Charles thought this was only natural. Even Charles felt that what Oscar was saying was reasonable. In the current situation where they were effectively in a rout, there was no way the Betumia government's logic would hold up.
Most likely, the government had decided from the start that it was fine if a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Lordberg was not established. Prime Minister Phildrack had no expectations for Representative Dickens from the beginning.
To the Betumia Republic, the Kingdom of Lordberg was merely one of many trading partners. In terms of trade scale, it could hardly be called an important partner, and geographically it was distant, meaning there was no worry of the home country facing a counter-invasion. The government's conclusion was likely that it would be cheaper to let negotiations collapse and sever diplomatic ties than to pay a vast sum in reparations.
The wealthy-nation faction likely believed that whatever negative effects this would have on the country in the long run were irrelevant to them.
"What is it? Is something I've said incorrect? Answer quickly, Representative Dickens."
"No, as I said... my role is to convey the government's intentions to you all. Our government wishes for both countries to let this matter slide, confirm that no lingering resentment remains, and bring this war to an end. We cannot tolerate any demands for reparations. That is—"
"Don't screw with us!"
The one who hurled the abuse at Representative Dickens was not Oscar, but one of the nobles standing behind him. The sudden roar of anger, loud enough to shake the room, made Representative Dickens jump slightly in his chair.
"This is absurd! There's a limit to how much you can look down on us!"
"That's right! These people are still making fools of the Kingdom of Lordberg!"
"Let it slide!? With what face do you say that! You barbarians!"
Those who seemed to be the militant faction among the dozen or so nobles shouted one after another. Explosive roars echoed in succession, leaving Representative Dickens unable to even raise a voice in rebuttal.
"Why not just kill them?"
Amidst the storm of shouting, a voice spoke—out of place, high-pitched, and sounding like a boy's. The conference room fell silent for a moment.
Charles, Representative Dickens, and the nobles all looked toward the source of the voice—a petite young man standing at the edge of the line of nobles.
"We have the numerical advantage here. Let us attack this Representative Dickens and General Hamilton right here and now, restrain them, and take them as hostages. If we do that, the Betumia soldiers won't be able to lay a finger on us. We can return to the camp outside Laden with them as hostages. Then, we can torture them to death."
The young man, who was likely the youngest person present, spoke of this terrifying proposal with a cool face.
"After that, let us invade Laden with the entire army. The Betumia Republic Army awaiting withdrawal has fewer than ten thousand men left, and their morale is non-existent. We should be able to suppress them easily. Then, we kill all the generals and hand their heads over to the common soldiers. We can tell them, 'The generals and politicians of your country told us at the peace negotiations to give them money by offering the remaining common soldiers as sacrifices. We were enraged by such greed, so we killed them.' After that, we let the soldiers go home."
"I-if you did such a thing, it w-would be, t-terrible!"
When Representative Dickens shouted in desperation while pointing a finger at the young man, the youth flashed a grin—a vicious, demonic smile.
"You had no intention of concluding a peace treaty from the start, did you? You intended to sever diplomatic ties from the beginning, didn't you? It's perfectly obvious that you're stating conditions we could never accept for that purpose. In that case, it would be more refreshing for us to kill the politician stating those unreasonable conditions and the general who commanded this invasion. Even if the Betumia Republic gets angry, they won't be able to re-invade for the time being anyway, right? The desire to end the war and distrust toward the government are spreading among public opinion, and society is on the verge of chaos from having too many war casualties. If we offer up your heads and feed the common soldiers the story I just mentioned, that will only accelerate it."
It's him.
The one who came up with the hellish strategy using Angel's Nectar was this man. The one who fed lies to the soldiers and plotted the division of Betumia society was this man. That is why such a youth is here as one of the representatives of the Kingdom. Charles was certain of it.
"Viscount Arqvist, that is quite an amusing proposal. What do you say, everyone, shall we do it?"
When Oscar spoke, the eyes of the nobles who seemed to be the militant faction—the ones who had been shouting earlier—glinted.
Since Laden was still under the influence of the Betumia Republic Army, the delegation from the Kingdom of Lordberg was permitted to be armed. Their hands reached for the swords at their waists.
"Hieee! W-w-wait!"
Representative Dickens let out a scream as he tumbled from his chair and scrambled backward on the floor.
The guards securing the conference room also reached for their weapons, but the opponents were a dozen or more. Furthermore, they were right in front of Charles and Representative Dickens. If they moved in earnest, the guards' response would not be in time.
"Wait, please wait."
Before the nobles of the Kingdom of Lordberg could draw their swords and cross the line, Charles stopped them. Simultaneously, he signaled with his hand for the guards not to draw their weapons.
"...Negotiations have collapsed, and peace is not achieved. Since the opinions of both countries do not align, this is unavoidable. The severance of diplomatic ties is also inevitable given the circumstances. However, if you draw your weapons at the negotiating table and kill the representative of the Betumia Republic, it will not end with simply the collapse of negotiations."
To settle the situation, Charles continued to speak while his mind raced.
"The thoughts of a few politicians, like those who decided on the invasion, are not everything of the Betumia Republic. With time, a path toward building a better relationship between the two countries may emerge. But if a representative entrusted with full authority is killed at a formal peace negotiation, even that possibility will be completely severed. Unless you wish to enter an endless, eternal war with our country, I ask that you do not draw your swords, just for now."
It was a statement that could be taken as a criticism of the current Betumia government, but he couldn't think of any better lines to get through the moment.
"Hmph, very well. As a great favor, I shall suppress my anger this time... You seem to be struggling as well."
Oscar said with a laugh. Perhaps this too was an act staged for intimidation, and he had no intention of seriously killing Representative Dickens and Charles from the start.
Regarding the final comment, Charles wanted to say that it was exactly as he said, but he obviously could not say it aloud.
"Enough. I can no longer put up with your country's farce. In any case, our country currently lacks the power to do more than drive your country out... But do not think we will remain as we are. From now on, our country shall evolve into a resilient nation that rivals yours. A nation so resilient that your country will not even think of invading. Next time you visit our country, have your thoughts on reparations organized."
Oscar glared sharply at Charles and Representative Dickens, then stood up.
"We shall be leaving. You all should return to your country quickly as well. Get out of this country."
Following Oscar as he turned on his heel, the nobles exited the room.
The last person—that petite young man—looked back toward Charles. The youth, whose eyes met Charles's, showed no emotion and seemed to have no interest in Charles and the others as he looked away again and left the room.
The conference room, where only the guards, the secretary, Representative Dickens, and Charles remained, fell silent.
It was Representative Dickens who broke that silence.
"G-General Hamilton, those remarks just now could be seen as a betrayal of the government and the Prime Minister!"
"..."
Of all things, he says that now. Thinking this, Charles looked up at the ceiling. This time, he didn't even try to hold back his sigh.
"Those were words I was forced to say in order to protect your person, Representative Dickens. If I had not said that, we would likely have been captured by them by now and dragged to their camp. What awaited us at the end would have been torture and slaughter."
"...Hmph, let us leave it at that."
Representative Dickens, who spoke as if spitting the words out, tried to stand up from the floor but could not.
"M-my lower back. General Hamilton."
"Tch... Guards, lend a hand to Representative Dickens."
I'd rather not hold this guy's hand. Thinking this, Charles gave the order to the guards.