We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 202

202

The New World (2)

“Yes! I present the oath along with the knight’s pledge.”

“You mean there’s a written oath that you took the knight’s pledge?”

“The lord we swore allegiance to is on the verge of passing. However…”

“However?”

“If our lord does not pass away, this oath will become invalid.”

“Oho.”

Power had already shifted to the regent.

The fact that the regent had seized power was clear evidence that the current emperor was on his deathbed. If the emperor had risen and designated a successor, this would not have happened. Of course, there was a crown prince. The problem was that the crown prince also fell into critical condition after the emperor collapsed.

Soojung said,

“I think Grand Duke Lied is behind this!”

“The Grand Duke?”

“If not, there’s no way the perfectly healthy crown prince would suddenly fall into critical condition.”

“That’s possible.”

“Looking at the political situation, it’s certain!”

Murmurs arose from the surroundings once again.

Of course, this wasn’t just because of Soojung’s excellent analytical skills. Anyone with a bit of insight could have come to the same conclusion.

However, considering Soojung’s age, it was impossible to come up with this level of analysis.

The nobles looked at Soojung with admiration, calling her a heavenly genius, and the black magicians under my command realized that Soojung was a genius once again.

With this level of insight, she was more than qualified to be a strategist.

It was difficult to come up with a different interpretation in the current political landscape.

Soon, the emperor and crown prince would die. Then, the nobles would have to pledge allegiance to Grand Duke Lied.

Soojung continued,

“Grand Duke Lied is counting on the fact that if the empire is divided, the nobles will have no choice but to follow him to prevent the destruction of humanity. If he says, ‘Let’s kill the demon bastards first, then decide the direction of power, and I’ll temporarily take the throne until then,’ who would object?”

“……”

“There might be some internal strife. But the truth is, more people are worried about the very survival of humanity. Then, the future is obvious. Now that Dad, a variable, has appeared, Grand Duke Lied will try to gauge the situation.”

“Will he try to cooperate for now?”

“Maybe.”

The situation was unfolding quite interestingly.

The appearance of my existence was a huge shock to Grand Duke Lied. He still only knew that I was a heavenly warrior who came down to eradicate the demons, but if he found out that I was trying to build another empire, he would surely try to lynch me.

Then, a true civil war would begin.

I finished my thoughts.

These nobles were clearly expecting the death of the emperor. Even the death of the crown prince. Anyway, the knight’s pledge was made to the emperor, and they couldn’t break it, so they were saying they would retract the pledge if the emperor didn’t pass away.

Other than that, it was very positive.

They said they would pledge allegiance to the new empire and fight against Grand Duke Lied.

“I accept your loyalty.”

“We offer this oath.”

Three nobles brought oaths, and at the end, there was a seal symbolizing their families.

The seal was a ring, and it was impossible to forge unless it was the person themselves. This was because the technology of the ancient magic empire was involved.

Of course, it looked crude to me, but there must be a power that people here could never forge.

“Lord, give us your orders!”

“Good. Since you have sworn allegiance to me, I will now treat you as my subjects.”

“Yes!”

“We will mobilize the entire army and head to the Western Front.”

The front was largely divided into three: the Western Front, the Central Front, and the Eastern Front.

Besides that, they were pounding on the outskirts, and these were the lords of the outlying fortresses. Of course, their power was not small.

If this kind of war had continued for 300 years, the lords at the forefront would have strong military power.

If the lord didn’t raise an army to stop them, the imperial family would immediately go into the red. They would never be able to raise war funds.

With this abnormal structure, even if they only managed to win the loyalty of the frontline nobles, it was as good as swallowing half of the empire.

The corners of my mouth went up.

With their joining, I had a justification to persuade the frontline nobles. If I promised to return the power to the imperial family when the emperor died, the nobles could easily be won over. It wouldn’t be difficult, except that I had to show them my strength first.

“May I ask the purpose of heading to the Western Front?”

“On the way, we will stabilize the outskirts and bring Duke Russell, the lord of that place, into our fold.”

“That’s a good idea!”

“We will march tomorrow morning!”

“Yes!”

The meeting was adjourned.

Now, detailed military strategies were discussed, which were entrusted to the black magicians and nobles under my command.

It was natural for my subjects to draw up the march plan if I gave them the big picture.

I was drawing up the march plan in the morning when a message arrived from a guy named Count Rayon once again.

The demons were ruling the northern part of the continent under the name of the Magic Kingdom.

People lumped them together as just demons, but they had established a country called the Magic Kingdom in their own way.

It was said that it was properly governed with a proper framework, even though its people were mostly undead and human slaves.

The Magic Kingdom was a kind of united kingdom and was divided into 20 large and small city-states.

Count Rayon, the lord of the 3rd Baek Kingdom, wanted to meet last night, but I immediately ignored him.

Perhaps because of that, Count Rayon sent another letter before the march.

Unexpectedly, the envoy was a human. He was also a black magician who exuded a similar aura to us.

“Why would a demon’s lackey want to see me? You guys have been defeated, and you can’t occupy the Marquisate of Arden with that force.”

“Our Count is also aware of that fact.”

“Then why?”

“He just wants to talk. If the conversation goes well, the Count says he will retreat to the rear.”

“How can I believe that?”

“We do not lie.”

I looked at Marquis Arden, who had been fighting with these guys all his life.

“Is what they say true?”

“It is true that they do not lie. There has never been a precedent for lying.”

“Is that so.”

That was unexpected.

Was it the pride or honor of a magician?

Unless they took the Mana Oath [a magical vow bound by one’s life force], there was no reason to only tell the truth, but they didn’t lie.

Maybe this was due to their ruling ideology.

“What kind of country do undead bastards build with people as their citizens?”

“Would you like to meet him once?”

Soojung said.

“Dad. Why don’t you meet him once and listen to what he has to say? It will be easier to deal with them if you know what they’re up to.”

“It wouldn’t be bad to meet him.”

My subordinates also said that.

Marquis Arden said.

“Is there a guarantee that you won’t harm this person?”

“I swear on the honor of our Magic Kingdom.”

They even mentioned the honor of the Magic Kingdom.

Should I believe their record of never having lied?

Well, even if something happened, it wouldn’t be a problem for me to get my body out.

“Soojung will go too!”

“Why are you going?”

“You can just bring them with only two people and meet in the middle of the plains. You can get out of there if something happens, right?”

“It is more dangerous for the Young Lady and Master to be apart. So the Young Lady’s words are reasonable,” Kalburn said.

If everyone’s opinion is like that, it wouldn’t be bad to meet with Soojung.

“Okay. We will meet at the Arden Plains at 10 a.m. today. However, I will only allow the one you call the Count and one escort.”

“I understand.”

The envoy coolly left.

Whoosh!

As he disappeared, everyone frowned.

Was that teleportation?

Soojung smiled faintly.

“It’s just Blink [a short-range teleportation spell]. What kind of wealth and glory are you going to enjoy by pretending to teleport?”

As expected, Soojung was seeing through everything as much as she had risen to the 5th Circle [a measure of magical power].

Now I even think it was a good idea to bring Soojung.

“Then shall we slowly prepare and listen to what they’re babbling about?”

The conference hall was completed.

It wasn’t really a conference hall, just a tent with a clear view of all sides.

You could think of it as just a shade to block the hot sun.

There was a table and four chairs.

Count Rayon left first, accompanied by only one black magician.

I only took Soojung and headed to the conference hall.

Of course, Soojung was right next to me, even holding my hand as we moved. This was to avoid getting hurt if there was any sign of trouble.

“This Dad still doesn’t know if this is right.”

“Huh? What?”

“I’m not only bringing my daughter to the battlefield, but I’m also making her a strategist and now even taking her to a meeting with the enemy commander.”

“Hehe. There’s no one smarter than Soojung, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Soojung wants to help Dad! And I want to be a princess too.”

Soojung’s eyes sparkled.

So, is she saying she wants to be a princess in a fairy tale? Or is it the unique curiosity of a black magician?

I don’t know what she’s thinking.

When we arrived at the conference hall, Count Rayon took off his robe.

He was a surprisingly well-groomed young man in his late 30s.

Should I call him middle-aged here?

I’ll be 37 soon, so there won’t be much difference in age between me and Count Rayon.

“You’ve arrived!”

Count Rayon smiled kindly.

“What are you trying to do?”

“There’s no reason not to smile among people walking the same path.”

“Tsk, tsk. The same path. Watch your words.”

“You have mastered black magic, haven’t you?”

I can’t deny that.

I could deceive people’s eyes, but as he said, if he was a black magician walking the same path, he couldn’t help but notice.

“It’s true that I’ve mastered black magic.”

“Why are you hostile to us?”

“Shall I tell you honestly?”

“Yes. I’m curious.”

I put up a barrier all around.

This is because the story I’m about to tell should not leak out.

“Because I don’t like your way of governing.”

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

“I’m talking about the way you kill all the people and turn them into undead. I would understand if you were just exploiting them, but that method is wrong.”

“That was unavoidable. We couldn’t gain the upper hand in the war with the empire unless we did that.”

“That’s just an excuse. You should be thinking about growing your power and taking the empire into your arms, not trying to kill all humans.”

“Hmm. What are you going to do with saving those humans?”

He had a truly curious expression.

Soojung smiled slyly and said,

“Exploitation?”