Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 30

―I entrust you with the authority to decide on everything that happens at the negotiation table.

―

Claussen Margrave, responsible for the borders of Hispania.

Bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting the nation, he possesses such immense power that he can make decisions regarding war and truce at his own discretion, without needing approval from the royal palace.

Such a Margrave, Lichten Claussen, the head of the Claussen family, has delegated all authority to Zion.

This meant that whatever the outcome, it would be regarded as his own decision, with no possibility of reversal.

“Let’s do it, war.

If you don’t want to negotiate, then war is all that’s left.”

Thus, Zion could speak so confidently and openly about ‘war.’

Even for him, being this reckless could be burdensome.

It was only because he had been granted all authority by the Margrave that he could lash out like this.

“W-what are you saying···.”

“Are you really that dense?

Why can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“To discuss war at a meeting to discuss a truce!

Are you threatening me, Nudia?”

“Yes, that’s right.

I’m threatening you right now.”

Rishikida nearly lost his mind at Zion’s words.

He knew this was the kind of person he was, but wasn’t this going too far?

Although Nudia was in a disadvantageous situation, if they continued to proceed in such a hostile atmosphere, they might retort with a ‘Fine, let’s have war!’ out of spite.

If that happened, it would become an all-out war where one side would fight to the death.

‘Should I stop him?’

As one who served his master, it was said that offering advice was sometimes necessary.

Rishikida was about to open his mouth, thinking that this was the moment.

‘···No.’

From the side, Zion’s eyes, though lacking the warm aura he showed to the soldiers, had not lost their sharp glint.

Right now, this man, his master, was speaking and acting with everything planned out.

‘Let’s trust him.’

Thinking that this was the way to serve him, Rishikida stood by Zion’s side with a firm expression.

“Young Lord Zion Claussen!

Is that truly Claussen’s intention?

To reject negotiations and wage war?”

“Get your words straight.

It’s not me, but you who rejected the negotiation proposal.”

“After making such an absurd proposal, you left me no choice but to reject it!”

“You’re talking about one year’s worth of taxes from your territory.

When did I ever ask for 10 years, 100 years of taxes?

One year’s worth of taxes is an amount that can be sufficiently met if you liquidate your family’s assets.

I didn’t think Basura County was such a poor place.”

“What!”

“Be honest.

You’ve been secretly accumulating money through back channels, haven’t you?

If you cough up all that, it’s an amount you can compensate right away.

Am I wrong?”

There were many unnecessarily detailed settings in the novel.

Among them were details about the Claussen Margraviate, which was the setting for the early novel, and the Basura County of Nudia, which bordered it.

An extremely ordinary county, but Count Dishe, who had become the new head of the family, had been gradually amassing wealth.

He not only levied excessive taxes but also embezzled some of the taxes he collected.

Perhaps the reason he quickly abandoned Rishikida was out of concern that the royal family would discover his corruption.

“Four million [Dirs, the currency].

It’s certainly a lot of money.

But it’s not ‘impossible.’

I presented compensation within a sufficiently feasible range, but you rejected it.

So, who is it that refused peace, me or you?”

As Zion said, 4 million Dirs was certainly a large sum, but it was not an impossible amount to compensate.

The Basura territory was not a barony or a viscounty, but a county where a count resided, and the taxes collected were considerable.

One year’s worth of taxes was certainly an enormous amount, but it was not something they could not withstand if they liquidated the family’s assets.

“Now, let’s get this straight.

First.

You started the war.

Second.

But your Basura territory’s soldiers were crushed by Claussen’s surprise attack.

The knight order is at the level of annihilation, so you won’t be able to use any force for a while.

Third.

Reinforcements did come from the center of Nudia.

But they retreated without even attempting a proper siege, losing momentum, so it’s impossible to secure a favorable position in future battles.

Finally, and most importantly, fourth.”

With a bitter smile on his face, Zion continued as if a devil were whispering.

“The Nudian royal family doesn’t care whether the Basura family falls or not.”

“···!”

The moment emotions are revealed at the negotiation table, the game is as good as over.

From that perspective, Count Dishe had already lost to Zion.

“What, what kind of absurd slander is that!”

“Troops came from the center.

But after trying to attack once, they said, ‘Oh, this won’t work!’ and pulled back, setting up camp far away and just watching.

Even though they lost momentum, they might have been able to win if they had engaged properly.

Because Rishikida was captured as a prisoner?

Rishikida is a person from the Basura territory, not a knight from the center.”

“Th-that···.”

“Overturn the negotiation.

Then I’ll immediately invade your territory and loot the empty house clean.”

“The Nudian royal family won’t stand idly by!”

“They won’t stand idly by.

But they won’t react quickly either.

It’s already a family that’s been marked for disfavor, so wouldn’t they be grateful if it was driven to the brink of ruin?”

From the start, Basura County was in a completely different situation from Claussen, except for the fact that it was located near the border.

They were not on good terms with the royal family, they were not trusted, and they did not have an excellent head of the family.

Rather, they had incurred the displeasure of the royal family because of Rishikida’s incident, so they were a family that was better off gone.

“And you seem to be mistaken about one thing, we just need to cleanly loot your territory and leave.

We’ll just take the valuables and return to our territory.

And we’ll say this to the Nudian side.

‘The Claussen Margraviate, accepting the wishes of the Hispanian royal family and Nudia, tried to seek peace, but the arrogant Basura County refused, and they took loot equivalent to the compensation and returned to their territory.’

We have no intention of occupying Nudian territory at all.”

“Do you believe that will work?

It’s a territorial invasion.

It’s a matter of the kingdom’s pride!”

“What do you think it will look like?

The Basura County that refused negotiations.

The Claussen Margraviate that cleanly looted such a county and left.

And the Nudian royal family with a county full of idiots like you in front of them.

Who knows what will happen next?”

Count Dishe could not say anything.

This man, a nobleman of Hispania, the young lord of the Claussen Margraviate.

As if he were a prominent nobleman or minister of Nudia, he knew the current situation of Nudia and the situation of Basura County very accurately.

Count Dishe thought that the king’s touching Rishikida was a warning of sorts.

Therefore, he quickly cut off Rishikida to prevent the sparks from flying, but the royal family pressured him even more strongly than before.

Only then did he regret the absence of Rishikida, the only military force that could protect him from the royal family, but it was already too late.

“Rishikida Amshel!”

As the situation became urgent, Dishe committed an act that should never have been done.

He led the conversation to something other than the topic being discussed at the negotiation table.

“Return to me immediately.

Then I will overlook your betrayal this once!”

“···Yes?”

“Oh my.”

Even Satan would mutter, ‘Wow, damn. I wouldn’t be able to say that so confidently.’

Or maybe he doesn’t know what the word ‘betrayal’ means.

“What, what did you just say?”

“I’m telling you to return to the territory!

I know you’re being forcibly held captive.

I was wrong.

So let’s go back quickly.

That’s not where you belong!

The place where you belong is always by my side!”

Zion pressed his temples, trying to relieve the sudden headache.

That bastard was now spouting nonsense because nothing else worked.

His pettiness was truly awe-inspiring.

“Th-that···.”

Rishikida, who was trembling with his fists clenched tightly.

He hesitated for a moment before looking at Zion without realizing it.

Then Zion nodded as if to say, ‘Do as you wish.’

It meant that he would respect whatever choice he made.

“Hurry!

If you stay by that scoundrel’s side, you’ll soon face great misfortune!”

“···.”

With his lips tightly shut, he turned his back on Zion and slowly began to walk.

Count Dishe’s expression brightened as Rishikida returned to him after a moment of hesitation.

If only he would return, the war with the Claussen Margraviate would be manageable.

Also, the royal family would have no choice but to reconsider burying the county, so in other words···.

Thwack―.

Count Dishe’s body spun around and fell to the side.

It was as if a scene from a manga had been reproduced, and Zion couldn’t help but applaud.

“Bravo.”

Count Dishe, who was staring blankly at Rishikida with a dumbfounded expression, soon realized that he had punched his face with all his might.

“Y-you bitch!

Have you laid your hands on your master!”

“···I’m going to kill you.”

“Wh-what?”

Count Dishe involuntarily closed his mouth at Rishikida’s chilling murmur.

His instinct told him that if he uttered even a single word, he might really die.

“Don’t insult me in front of my master, and don’t insult my master in front of me.

Otherwise, I will take out your heart and chew it to pieces.”

The murderous aura emanating from the high-ranking knight was enormous.

It was enough to paralyze not only Count Dishe but even the knights guarding him.

‘Of course.

He’s one of the few Nudian powerhouses who can fight evenly with Kim Yu-hyun, albeit only in the early stages, and he’s even a high-ranking knight who has perfectly mastered the Nudian swordsmanship that will be completely destroyed and disappear in a year.

Most importantly!

His loyalty stat is so high that it pierces the atmosphere and reaches the stratosphere.’

If he was a subordinate with such high loyalty, he could be accepted even if he was a little less capable.

Even though it was Kim Yu-hyun in the early part of the novel, if he was still skilled enough to fight evenly with him, he would have to say, ‘I will prostrate myself and take you in as my subordinate.’

What if he was even a character with potential for future growth?

This was like winning second prize in the lottery.

“Ugh···.”

Perhaps he realized that even his last hope had been shattered.

Count Dishe was making beastly groans and unable to get up from his seat.

Zion chuckled as he looked at the idiot and opened his mouth.

“If you’re not going to do 4 million, I’m quitting.

It seems like a waste of time to sit with someone who doesn’t even know the ‘n’ of negotiation.

It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the side that’s desperate for negotiations set the location and limit the number of people first.

It’s a sight to see someone who doesn’t even know who’s the boss and who’s the subordinate sitting at the table.

I can see how Nudia is doing without even looking.”

That’s a lie.

He’s already seen it, so it’s clear.

“Th-this! Rishikida!

Rishikida Amshel!

How dare you betray me!

You said you would serve me as your master until you die, how can you betray me again and again, how can you call yourself a knight?”

“Didn’t you abandon me first!”

“You stupid bitch!

Do you think I was comfortable with it?

I was heartbroken too.

I was in pain too!

Didn’t you consider even a little bit the heart of your master, who was so desperate that he had to abandon his knight?”

“···That’s a line that makes my heart swell [sarcastically].”

Thud―.

Taking the same terribly unlucky pose as before, Zion wore a sneer.

“There are always guys like you.

The kind of guys who say that a thorn in their finger hurts more than a stake in someone else’s heart.

Ah, I’m not saying anything about that.

Because a thorn in my hand hurts more to me too.

But at least if you’re the one who drove a stake into someone else’s heart, you shouldn’t whine if the other person puts in a thorn.”

Standing up from his seat, Zion subtly pulled Rishikida to his side.

Originally, he was going to pull him to his side, but whether Rishikida deliberately let go of his strength or was surprised, it almost became a picture of him being embraced by Zion.

Muttering, ‘That’s not what I wanted,’ Zion pushed Rishikida away again and opened his mouth.

“4 million.

That’s my first negotiation condition.

If you can’t even do that, either fight to your heart’s content or bite your tongue and die.

That would be the best way to be loyal to your king.”

“Ugh···.”

“I’ll take that as a no, so the negotiations are off···.”

“Kuh-heuk!

Okay.

Okay!

4 million Dirs!

I’ll raise the compensation to 4 million Dirs!”