CH 260

After being chosen to be the Kingdom of Polsky’s messenger, Jakup Massals was heading to Alrenstein. Jakup, a nobleman and member of parliament, is also a member of Adam Poninsky’s faction and is one of the traitors who have been bought by the Principality of Moscove. Since he was the emissary of surrender to protect their interests and with instructions from the Principality of Moscove, Jakup skips into his carriage chariot and hurries to the city.

When he arrives at Alrenstein, he tells the Royal Army of Ploiss that he is a messenger and they treat him with respect. Of course, even though he is a messenger, it cannot be said that he is absolutely safe. However, a country like the Kingdom of Ploiss would probably treat messengers better to some extent than other more barbaric countries.

Above all, in order to protect their own interests and the instructions of the bribing Principality of Moscove, they have no choice but to go there themselves. If no one inside their faction does it, there is a possibility that another faction would sabotage their plans. And if you fulfill this role, you will be able to get a return for your risk. Hence, Jakup also accepted such a dangerous role because he was promised compensation for his troubles.

After entering Alrenstein, the Plossian Army leads the way to Koenigsvelg. Meanwhile, Jakup was a little skeptical. He thought there were more Ploissians in great numbers here and there, but he saw less of them than he thought. Maybe there aren’t that many troops after all. That’s what Jakup thought as he made his way to Koenigsvelg. However…….

“Please wait here,” his escort said.

“Ah,” Jakup gasped.

He still felt they outnumbered Ploiss. No matter how much the surrounding area is cleared and the area is safe, isn’t there too small a number of guards and soldiers stationed there? He thought so, but Jakup’s idea was quickly proven wrong.

“Thank you for waiting,” a man said as he approached. “I am Albert von Carruthers, who is in charge of the Koenigsvelg Relief Force from the Kingdom of Ploss’s Army.”

“-! You’re such a famous… I’m Jakup Massals from the Kingdom of Polsky,” Jakup said, catching himself.

There is no one in this neighboring country who does not know the name of Albert von Carruthers. A hero who saved the Kingdom of Ploiss. His wife Maria von Carruthers is a maestro with a sword, called “Bloody Maria” for her incredible skill at violence.

“I’m glad to have caught you just as I was returning from Windou,” Albert said as he offered Jakup a seat.

“… Huh? Windou?” Jakup repeated.

He was coming back from Windou? Jakup does not understand what it means. But for some reason, Jakup’s heart was beating in terror.

“Yes. I think you know by now that our army is in front of Rieger, but I was in command there until a short while ago, so it’s a coincidence that I’m back here now to meet you,” Albert explained.

“-!”

Jakup was at a loss for words. According to the Kingdom of Polsky’s predictions, the Kingdom of Ploiss’s Army had landed from Danzij and Koenigsvelg and was heading south. This says they had already invaded Rieger near the northeastern edge of Polsky.

That would be a big deal if true. If they don’t surrender as soon as possible, the whole country will fall indeed.

He finally understood why there were so few soldiers around here. Ploiss doesn’t intend to go south like this and drop the royal capital Waalzaw and end things then and there. They are really trying to overrun the entirety of Polsky.

Of course, it cannot be said that there is no chance that Margrave Carruthers’ words are lies or bluffs. But a little research will reveal this deception. What does such a lie mean to him, a messenger? In other words, he can only assume that Albert is telling the truth.

Instead of making the royal capital fall and forcing a surrender at once, they are heading to capture all the way to the north. That’s why Jakup saw so few soldiers along the way. When he realized this, he immediately told Albert that he had come to negotiate a surrender and began discussions.

“Kuh…! What is this?!”

It was after finishing the discussion with Margrave Carruthers, that Jakup decided to head for Berne, the royal capital of Ploiss. They have agreed to cease fighting during negotiations. For the time being, he no longer has to worry about being attacked any further, but if he just postpones the negotiations here, it will only make the other party even angrier.

Of course, the Kingdom of Polsky intends to formally surrender, so they have no intention of procrastinating negotiations and preparing a counterattack during that time. However, if the negotiations are prolonged, the other party may suspect such trickery anyway. Therefore, it is necessary to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible. So, he went directly to Berne.

However… Jakup was once again at a loss for words at the sight he saw at the port of Koenigsvelg.

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There are huge warships that he had never seen before. It’s not just a matter of one or two ships. Several ships and gigantic ships are moored or sailing. In addition, many medium-sized and small ships are busily coming and going. Seeing this, Jakup trembled.

National power, technological power, military power, everything is too different from Polsky. The ship moored off the lake looks familiar. The half-burnt vessel, moored offshore as if it were being monitored, is undoubtedly the most advanced ship of the Polsky Navy. The state-of-the-art ship looks like a child’s toy in comparison to everything around it.

Jakup saw off the army and navy when Mikalojus marched into battle. He thought that a navy with huge, modern ships would overwhelm Koenigsvelg’s naval power.

How did it play out? The state-of-the-art Polsky Navy ship currently moored offshore is nothing more than an antique that has been around for generations, from Ploiss’s perspective. And this number of them. There is an overwhelming number of ships coming and going in Koenigsvelg alone. What is the size of that naval force in total?

And he can’t even imagine how many soldiers were put on a ship of this size. The fact that they are still carrying a large number of supplies means it must be a considerable army to feed. An overwhelming force is still out there. It’s unnecessarily scary because he can’t see it from here. Jakup can’t stop trembling just by imagining a large army of an enemy country where he doesn’t even know where they might be despite them being within his home’s borders.

It’s too overwhelming. National strength, military strength, technological strength… it’s the difference between an adult and a child. Jakup was shown the overwhelming power of the Kingdom of Ploiss and lost confidence in his role as a messenger, but he was put on one of these huge ships and sailed off for Berne.

After Jakup officially announced the start of surrender negotiations in the royal capital of Berne, he was now on his way home after completing his duties. Accompanying him are the plenipotentiary ambassadors from Ploiss who are dispatched to deal with the post-war issues.

Certainly, Ploiss was more powerful than he thought. If the war had continued, the Kingdom of Polsky would surely have disappeared off the face of the land. But Jakup did his part. Having successfully brought the Kingdom of Ploiss to the negotiating table, Jakup returned to Waalzaw, licking his lips at the rewards he would receive after the war.

Nikolai Penhun, a diplomat from the Principality of Moscove, was in a good mood. Everything is going according to plan. Originally, the Kingdom of Polsky and the Principality of Moscove had a deep connection. There was a time when the Kingdom of Polsky was the stronger country. However, at some point, the relationship between the two countries reversed and now Moscove rules over Polsky.

Nikolai Penhun had bribed most of the members of Sajem, the Polsky Parliament, to the extent that the entire body was now in Nikolai’s favor.

However, in recent years, the Kingdom of Polsky has begun to take independent actions against the will of the Principality of Moscove, and there was some dissatisfaction about that. Rather, it can even be said that its value as a protectorate has already faded. That is why Nikolai undertook this project.

Mikalojus’ invasion of the Kingdom of Ploiss was not Nikolai’s fault. In fact, they weren’t very welcoming at first. Ultimately, however, Nikolai allowed Mikalojus’ plot. It would never have happened unless the true ruler of the Sajem, Nikolai, had sanctioned it.

Nikolai thought that a surprise attack would lead to the fall of a Plossian free city on the coast of the Hulk Sea. After that, he thought that he would get involved in the subsequent negotiations and grab a profit. However, after the Koenigsvelg Invasion actually began, the situation took an unexpected turn.

Not only did Koenigsvelg not immediately fall by surprise attack, but the Kingdom of Ploiss immediately counterattacked, and Polsky cities fell one after another, and he knew this as truth now. So Nikolai decided to change his plans.

At first, he was planning to have the free city taken, and then act as an intermediary between the two so that the Principality of Moscove would benefit. However, Ploiss’s raging counterattack has left the Kingdom of Polsky in tatters. In that case, there is no way not to use this as an opportunity for Moscove to make a large profit.

After Nikolai immediately informed his home country of his future plans, he officially obtained permission from the Grand Duke of Moscove and put the plan into action. Through the aristocrats that the Kingdom of Polsky had acquired, he had laid the groundwork for the Principality of Aust to come in, and the preparations were already complete. After that, if a peace conference is held, everything will go according to Nikolai’s wishes.

“Lord Nikolai, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Ploiss has arrived,” a servant said after knocking on Nikolai’s door.

“I see. I’ll be there soon,” Nikolai replied, unable to stop grinning.

Imagining what would happen next, Nikolai headed for the meeting room, intoxicated by a pleasure that felt like it was building to its climax.

An important negotiation that will determine the future of the Kingdom of Polsky is about to begin in a conference room in the Parliament Chambers of Waalzaw, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Polsky.

“Thank you for coming. I am Krzesimir Ostroviski, representative of the Kingdom of Polsky.”

First, Polsky’s man bows. Naturally, Krzesimir is also one of the lawmakers who has become a puppet of the Principality of Moscove, bought off and under Nikolai’s control.

“Eh~… I am Dietrich von Kreff, Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Ploiss. Nice to meet you. And this man beside me would be…”

“Albert von Carruthers.”

““――!?””

Others are surprised to hear the names of Ploiss’s representatives. They never imagined that Dietrich von Kreff would come all this way, famous as he was as an intelligent prime minister with an outstanding talent recognized by the neighboring countries. And it would be unreasonable to say you couldn’t believe the rugged, battle-worn man beside him was the Hero of the Plossian Frontier.

No matter how much they call it a peace conference, it does not mean that there will be no assassinations or accidents. It’s nothing but a surprise that the famously intelligent prime minister appears in person in such a place. And if the commander who was invading in the opposite direction was the great hero Margrave Carruthers, the loss this time was all but guaranteed.

They don’t know why Margrave Carruthers, who should have been the keystone in the west, is dealing with the Kingdom of Polsky in the east. However, with all they heard about his bravery, none of them are surprised he forced the east to bow in a month.

“I am Nikolai Penhun, envoy of the Principality of Moscove.”

And now the people from Ploiss were surprised to hear the name of Moscove’s man, Nikolai expected. But his expectations were betrayed. Even though he introduced himself, the two people in the Kingdom of Ploiss were not shaken at all.

“The last one is me. I am Wenzel von Koeniz, diplomatic envoy of the Principality of Aust.”

Nikolai looked at the two people from Ploiss, thinking that they would be surprised this time, but even so, they remained calm. Nikolai had expected to laugh at their shock and was once again disappointed.

But it doesn’t matter. He simply expected that the representatives of the Kingdom of Ploiss would be surprised that representatives from the Principalities of Moscove and Aust were present. That in itself has no meaning or impact on future negotiations.

“Now then… shall we get to business and decide? What lines we should draw from now on,” Nikolai said.

Wenzel nodded at Nikolai’s words with a nasty smile. The two people from the Kingdom of Ploiss didn’t say anything in particular as they still couldn’t read their expressions. And Krzesimir, who was supposed to be the representative of Polsky, accepted it as a matter of course. He would be taking the devil’s deal that his nation would not accept…

“Let’s decide the lines Polsky is to be divided in.”

After hearing those words, the two people from the Kingdom of Ploiss finally looked at each other. Nikolai seemed to be surprised at last and proceeded with the meeting with a feeling of superiority in his heart.