My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 196

196. Negotiation?

After Count Crowe’s unconditional surrender,

The negotiation table was set up in Ruben regarding the war reparations.

“So.”

Sian opened his mouth slowly, looking at Count Crowe, who was wide-eyed as if it was absurd.

“Are you saying you can’t give it to me?”

“Of course!”

Then Count Crowe shouted loudly as if he had been waiting for it.

To be honest, Count Crowe shouldn’t have been able to raise his voice like this.

What kind of loud voice does the loser of a territory war make?

Crowe was the one who started the territory war in the first place.

Crowe was also the invader.

In addition, he unconditionally surrendered.

Count Crowe was virtually a prisoner of war.

“Isn’t it too much to hit someone out of the blue and then pretend you don’t know anything?”

Besides, Crowe was the one who started the fight first.

But when I think about it, I just picked a fight.

I don’t remember hitting him…

Count Crowe paused for a moment.

But no matter how much I think about it.

No matter how much I recall and recall again.

I only had memories of being beaten unilaterally!

When did I hit him!

I had a lot to say about this, but Count Crowe didn’t bother to mention it.

In any case, Crowe was the one who started the territory war first.

It was true that Crowe unconditionally surrendered.

But still.

“Isn’t 100 million gold too much!”

100 million gold was a slightly different story.

Not a little, but a completely different story!

100 million gold.

Not 1 million gold, not 10 million gold.

As much as 100 million gold!

This was too much.

It wasn’t just too much, it was just crazy!

This was not acceptable even for Crowe.

The Empire’s largest granary was dwarfed by the unit of 100 million.

The amount slightly transcended the concept of money.

The amount could not be called war reparations!

It shouldn’t be called that!

“So, are you saying you won’t give it to me?”

“I’m not saying I won’t give it to you, I’m saying I can’t give it to you!”

Count Crowe shouted loudly once again.

Sian stared blankly at Count Crowe.

And.

“Well, what can I do?”

Sian shook his head as if there was nothing he could do.

Count Crowe nodded, thinking, “I knew it,” at Sian’s appearance.

Sian gave up too easily.

It seemed that he wasn’t serious about what he said.

It seemed that he was just testing the waters.

Well, even so, 100 million gold as war reparations—

“From today, Crowe County will belong to Ruben’s possession.”

Sian’s words echoed at that moment.

“What, what did you say?”

Count Crowe tilted his head without realizing it.

Crowe County will belong to Ruben’s possession?

“W-what does that mean…?”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t pay the reparations?”

“What does that have to do with this…?”

“Why doesn’t it matter? It’s stated in the Imperial Law.”

“O-oh, oh…”

Count Crowe’s mind went blank for a moment at Sian’s words.

It hit him like a ton of bricks. So, what Sian said was:

The territory war was a legitimate war recognized by the Imperial Law.

A legitimate procedure to resolve disputes between nobles.

Usually, disputes between nobles were resolved through duels.

In that sense, the territory war could be seen as a duel between families.

The territory war could be seen as an extension of the duel between nobles.

Therefore, as with the duel regulations, the winner had the right to demand compensation from the loser.

The loser had the obligation to fulfill what the winner demanded.

But as with everything in the world,

Things often didn’t go according to the law.

There were cases where the loser refused to give the request, showing *baejjang* [brazenness or defiance].

Cases where they didn’t care, as if they were going to be okay.

These things happened not once or twice, but continuously.

As these problems continued to occur, the Empire added one rule to the territory war.

To be exact, it added one deterrent.

It was to forcibly transfer the family that did not fulfill the winner’s request to the winner.

Of course, even this could be ignored.

Nevertheless, this regulation was able to establish itself as an absolute rule.

The reason was only one.

If even this rule was violated, the Emperor of the Empire would directly intervene to resolve the matter.

Absolute deterrent.

Therefore, the territory war had to be approached with utmost caution.

The reason why Elan Dure didn’t easily step forward.

In other words, trying to figure out Ruben’s power was also for this reason.

And now.

“If you can’t give me gold, I’ll have to take land.”

Sian’s request was based on such deterrence.

No matter how much Count Crowe showed *baejjang*, it was a deterrent he couldn’t do anything about.

“W-wait a minute!”

Count Crowe shouted urgently.

If things continued like this, he would lose Crowe County altogether!

Crowe County, which has the Empire’s largest granary.

The enormous production volume accounts for 15% of the Empire’s grain circulation.

It was true that 100 million gold was an absurd amount of money.

It was an amount that transcended the concept of money.

But when compared to Crowe County… I was a little worried.

The profits to be earned from the county in the future.

And the life as a noble that will be passed down from generation to generation.

Considering all of these things, it was worth more than 100 million gold.

So, if you weigh 100 million gold and Crowe County.

Of course, the county had no choice but to lean towards it.

Of course.

“50 million gold! How about 50 million gold!”

That didn’t mean I could give you 100 million gold willingly!

“100 million gold.”

However, Sian shook his head firmly.

As if there would be no more compromise.

As if he would never allow any further discounts.

“Nothing less than that is acceptable.”

Sian just shook his head firmly!

Count Crowe was momentarily stunned by Sian’s appearance.

I’m sure this was called a negotiation, right?

The name was definitely the negotiation table.

I’m sure it was.

A negotiation table regarding war reparations.

“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll take the county.”

But how is that a negotiation!

This wasn’t a negotiation, it was a threat!

And I’ve been saying it over and over again since earlier.

I’m not saying I won’t give it to you, I’m saying I can’t give it to you!

“P-please cut it down a little! Even so, 100 million gold is too much!”

Count Crowe shouted urgently.

Even so, 100 million gold was too much.

But it didn’t seem to be that important to Sian.

“If you can’t pay the reparations, you have to give up the land.”

To be exact, he was saying, ‘That’s your problem.’

“……”

Count Crowe really had nothing to say.

What could he say?

All Count Crowe could do was shut his mouth and avoid answering.

But.

“Since you have nothing to say, I will proceed with the work knowing that.”

Even that was not allowed to Count Crowe.

Sian turned his back as if there was nothing he could do.

The cold-hearted movement showed no mercy at all.

If left unchecked, he would really eat up the entire county.

So, should I try to show *baejjang* one more time…?

I even had that thought.

That’s because Sian’s demands were too excessive.

The winner had the right to demand from the loser.

However, that was only done within the bounds of common sense.

It was handled within a range that was somewhat acceptable.

And it was clear that 100 million gold was far beyond the category of common sense.

So, even if Crowe showed *baejjang* that he couldn’t give it to him.

Frankly, it was clear that the Empire and the Imperial Family would not intervene.

This was literally an absurd request.

The Empire and the Imperial Family intervened to protect legitimate and common-sense laws.

They did not protect absurd tantrums.

So, even if I showed *baejjang* that I wouldn’t give it to you, I couldn’t do it.

It had to be said that the Empire would not intervene.

But Ruben was not.

In other words, Ruben was able to gain *myungbun* [justification or cause] that ‘Crowe picked a fight first and did not pay reparations.’

And that became a sufficient *myungbun* to start a territory war.

Have another territory war with Ruben.

And this time, Ruben becomes the invader.

Then the county was swallowed up anyway!

So, this was no different from a decision made the moment Ruben was touched.

From the beginning, Ruben should not have been touched!

“W-wait a minute!”

Count Crowe hurriedly grabbed Sian, who was about to leave.

At the same time, Sian’s steps stopped.

Sian’s gaze turned to Count Crowe.

Count Crowe rolled his eyes.

I wonder if there is any mercy, I wonder if I can expect some generosity.

I had such expectations, but…

“What is it?”

As expected.

Sian didn’t seem to have any intention of doing that!

Count Crowe slowly opened his mouth.

“G-gi… Gi-gi-gi… Gi-gi-gi-give…”

But I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

How can I say this directly?

But if I have to weigh the county and 100 million gold…

“Gi… Gi-give…”

As expected, I couldn’t help but lean towards the county.

Then Sian smiled.

Then, pointing to the document in Count Crowe’s hand, he said.

“Then you can sign it right there. Oh, you know you have to stamp it with the Crowe family’s seal so that there are no *dwitmal* [future complaints or repercussions], right?”

Count Crowe couldn’t answer.

Even at this moment, I was repeatedly regretting what I had said.

But Count Crowe closed his eyes tightly.

And then, *gwang!* [sound of stamping]

He stamped the crow seal symbolizing the Crowe family.

Soon, Sian took the document as if he had been waiting for it.

Then, looking at the clearly stamped Crowe seal.

“Very good.”

He nodded satisfactorily.

On the other hand, Count Crowe just bowed his head.

I had no thoughts at all.

100 million gold.

What thoughts would I have in front of this mountain of debt?

But still…

Still, it was nothing compared to the county.

The Empire’s largest granary.

The profits from the granary are enormous.

So, if I collect and collect again, it wasn’t an impossible amount.

However, I would have to live only breathing while paying off the debt.

Still, it was something I could do if I could protect the county.

Yes. This is the right thing to do.

Count Crowe thought so and slowly raised his head.

And the sight reflected in Count Crowe’s eyes.

“Well, now that the story of war reparations is over…”

To be exact, Sian’s meaningful voice was heard.

Sian carefully put the document with the Crowe seal in his arms.

Then he turned his head and shouted towards one corner.

“Lucas! Go get him.”

At the same time as Sian’s words, a knight moved.

It seemed to be the knight named Lucas that Sian had just called.

Lucas moved somewhere and soon disappeared from sight.

And how much time has passed?

Lucas appeared with someone.

Some man with his whole body tied up.

It was a face that Count Crowe was quite familiar with.

“Remington…?”

No different from his second son, Remington Crowe.

“Ugh!!”

Remington was thrashing all over with his body tied up.

I wondered if I could say this to my son.

The figure looked as fresh as a live fish on land.

Enough to be sliced and eaten right away.

“Why suddenly Remington…?”

So Count Crowe couldn’t understand the situation.

“W-wait a minute… S-surely…?”

At that moment, a terrible thought flashed through Count Crowe’s mind.

But that didn’t make sense.

How can you do such a thing with a human face!

That’s not something a person can do!

Count Crowe looked at Sian with a *seolmasseolmahaneun* [with a doubtful and anxious] heart.

It won’t be. Absolutely not.

Count Crowe constantly denied the thoughts that came to his mind.

*Deoldeol*, trembling eyes.

And Sian’s appearance reflected in Count Crowe’s eyes.

Sian was wearing a very deep smile.

But… why?

“Now, shall we proceed with the threat… no, the negotiation for the hostage’s ransom?”

It was too similar to the smile of a demon in mythology.

#

The territory war between Ruben and Crowe.

The news of the result spread quickly throughout the Empire.

And everyone who heard the news had the same reaction.

“Crowe… lost?”

“Even after being completely destroyed?”

Shock and astonishment.

“Hey, that can’t be.”

“You must have misheard. Or it was relayed wrong.”

Of course, there were some reactions that denied the news.

It was a fight that didn’t make sense from the beginning.

Crowe, a family with the Empire’s largest granary.

Ruben, a small territory located in the remote Dark Forest.

What more needs to be said here?

Even if there was Sian, a new star of the Empire.

The war was not a scale that an individual could do anything about.

Therefore, the victory or defeat was virtually determined.

So I couldn’t believe the news I heard.

“They demanded 100 million gold as war reparations? What is that…?”

“And Count Crowe approved it?”

“D-did the Crowe family really get destroyed…?”

However, people’s thoughts had no choice but to change with the additional news.

“H-how could this happen…?”

“How is the situation going?”

Only then did people begin to question the process of the territory war.

“I heard they were attacked by monsters before the territory war even started.”

And finally, I was able to hear the whole story.

The forbidden area that even the Empire had to give up.

A region that the Empire had tried to conquer for hundreds of years but could not do anything about.

What could Crowe do when even the Empire couldn’t do anything about it?

“It was the monsters, not Ruben, who attacked them.”

“That’s right. There’s no way Count Crowe would be defeated so easily.”

“Did he get caught while backing away? He’s lucky.”

Only then were people able to accept Crowe’s defeat.

But there were still questions.

“Even so…”

“Isn’t it not enough to end so easily?”

Even so, this was not it.

I acknowledge the danger of monsters.

It was not a forbidden area that even the Empire had to give up for nothing.

So Count Crowe was destroyed by the monsters.

I also acknowledge this to some extent.

I could also understand that Crowe was unable to recover and was attacked.

I fully understand that the Dark Forest is such a dangerous area.

But.

“How can Ruben survive in the Dark Forest?”

How can Ruben still be intact as a territory until now?

People questioned, but could not come to a clear answer.

In that way, the Empire was so noisy with related stories that it was turned upside down.

Everywhere in the Empire, the story of Ruben and Crowe was constantly heard.

While the entire Empire was abuzz.

Elan Dure County located in the eastern part of the Empire.

Elan Dure’s mansion located in the county and Isabel’s office.

“…That’s all. This is the whole story about the territory war between Ruben and Crowe.”

At the report of the chief administrator, Lerrit, Isabel gently put down the teacup she was holding.

Slightly lowered gaze.

Isabel pondered Lerrit’s report once again.

There were several complex situation explanations and the whole story.

However, to summarize in one word, it was as follows.

“Crowe’s troops were defeated without being able to do anything…”

It wasn’t just that they couldn’t do anything.

At this point, they were just utterly defeated and came back.

The territory war that ended as soon as it started.

I didn’t even figure out the power, and I didn’t find out anything.

Of course, the fact that Crowe was defeated.

This fact itself allowed me to know a little bit about Ruben’s power.

But this was already known.

Elan Dure was already expecting Crowe’s defeat.

The problem was how they were defeated.

But I heard that it ended because they were attacked by monsters.

Ruben just put a fork on it [took advantage of the situation].

There was nothing to be gained from this.

Just no results, no benefit.

It was a mistake that gave Sian only 100 million gold in reparations.

“……”

Isabel was momentarily stunned.

100 million gold.

Is this a reasonable amount? Even as war reparations?

Even Crowe approved it.

As a result, the Crowe family was virtually ruined.

To be exact, it would take decades to recover.

It was Crowe who was able to recover.

If it was another family, it would have been ruined as it was.

What happened that caused this to happen…

“……”

Isabel was momentarily stunned.

In the end, it was meaningless to encourage other families.

Then Elan Dure has to step forward himself…

“How is Soren doing?”

Even that was not easy at the moment.

I couldn’t easily fill the hole in the disappeared budget.

“I contacted him, but… he is moving without leaving any traces, so it is delayed.”

Isabel paused for a moment at Lerrit’s words.

A moment of silence.

Isabel slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s urgent now, so tell him to move without worrying about it.”

“But then there is a risk of exposing the location of the funds.”

Isabel slowly nodded at Lerrit’s answer.

As Lerrit was worried, it was inevitable that he would be careful about touching Elan Dure’s slush fund.

It was money that was not legitimate.

And the scale was also enormous.

Therefore, he had to be careful in operation.

“It’s an incident that has already been forgotten in people’s memories. No one will remember it now.”

Everyone related to the incident disappeared over time.

No one is looking for it, no one remembers it now.

It’s just a ghost that disappeared into the back of history.

So.

“Tell him to proceed without worrying about it.”

“I understand.”

Lerrit bowed his head.

Isabel looked at Lerrit and slowly raised her teacup.

And a brief silence followed.

“Kai is still not coming out?”

Isabel gently put down her teacup and asked Lerrit.

Kai, who was locked in the training hall after the incident in Ruben.

“I have something to report regarding Young Master Kai.”

At Isabel’s question, Lerrit rummaged through his arms.

Then he took out a letter and gently placed it on Isabel’s desk.

Isabel tilted her head and looked at the letter.

To be exact, she couldn’t hide her doubts about the sender of the letter.

“Holy Empire?”

No different from a letter sent from the Holy Empire.

Charlotte Empire and Holy Empire.

One of the two strongest countries on the continent.

But it was just another country.

In other words, a person from another country who has nothing to do with it.

What reason would such a Holy Empire have to send a letter to Elan Dure?

Above all.

“Why is this related to Kai?”

I couldn’t even figure out why this was related to Kai.

“It’s a letter addressed to Young Master Kai. But I brought it because the young master didn’t check it. And I don’t know the details because I haven’t checked the contents either…”

Isabel turned her gaze back to the letter.

A letter sent from the Holy Empire.

Isabel slowly tore open the letter and checked its contents.

There was nothing special about the content.

It was just a long, drawn-out description of wanting to meet Kai once.

So, what reason would the Holy Empire have to meet Kai?

And Kai was not someone who could be met just because he wanted to.

Therefore, it was content that would have been ignored in normal times.

Perhaps that’s why Kai didn’t check it either.

Isabel also had no change in that thought.

Perhaps the contents of the letter, the sender written at the end.

“Cardinal Rachel…”

If it wasn’t for that name, Isabel would have done so.

#

“Is it a dream?”

《Is it a dream?》

Sian mumbled blankly.

The mobile lord mumbled along as if answering, but he didn’t care.

No, I couldn’t care.

Sian was not in his right mind right now.

That’s because the notification window is full of smartphone screens.

To be exact, the number is fully written in the inventory notification window.

[Current gold balance] – 157,669,840 G

150 million gold.

…And the number with 7,669,840 gold added.

“Is it really a dream?”

《Is it really a dream?》

This could only be explained as a dream!