Chapter 527


    Chapter 527: The Negotiation Stage


    Marcel had entered the fortress blocking the main road of the capital.


    If an army was to enter the capital, they would need to ovee the fortress that blocked the road.


    The border troops had set up in a position facing the fortress, while Julio and I were in a port town on the western side of the capital.


    "Are the negotiations at a standstill?"


    After hearing the report, I muttered as expected.


    We initiated the negotiations.


    Having custody of Duke Pastore, the leader of the alliance, we had hoped this would urge the enemy to surrender.


    However, they rejected this.


    They imed that the leadership of the alliance had already been transferred to Barnaba, the son of Duke Pastore.


    The capital was still in enemy hands, and attacking the fortress would entail substantial casualties.


    Both Julio and Eva, who had been leading the border troops, agreed on avoiding furtherbat.


    That''s why we wanted to settle this through negotiation.


    We had thought so, but the other party was well aware of this.


    They would not surrender easily.


    "Assuring the status and territory of all the nobles, including the duke... It''s absurd."


    "Throwing out impossible demands at first is amon tactic in negotiations. They''re testing how much we''re willing topromise. If we recklessly put out conditions, things will proceed just as they anticipate."


    So the negotiations ended at a deadlock.


    What was particrly clever was that they did not touch on the king at all.


    There was no talk of a hostage exchange either.


    They must really dislike using the king as a hostage.


    Of course, if they did, it would initiate the copse of their forces. It''s better to hint at it and seek apromise.


    "He''s a diligent guy."


    "Who are you referring to?"


    "Marcel. Now that victory is out of reach, there''s no reason for him to stay in this country. If it were me, I''d promptly destroy the ship and escape. If the main ship is damaged, it could halve the attacks from the sea."


    "What a terrifying thought..."


    "From the moment the pro-royal faction lost, there was no other choice for the kingdom. Originally, they incited civil war in this country because they believed there was a high chance of defeat if the Duchy''s navy cooperated with the Empire. They certainly can''t allow them to join the enemy side easily."


    There''s no room to consider future rtions now.


    If we don''t win the war against the Empire, there will be no future for the Kingdom.


    A year ago, the Kingdom''s army was defeated by Leo.


    If we lose again, it would shake the nation.


    Losing Leticia, our base, and further losing our troops, the Kingdom wouldn''t be able to maintain its national power.


    Constantly pressured by the Empire, we would be cornered.


    Even though we had just regained the power that earned us the title of one of the three strongest on the continent, this cannot be epted.


    On the other hand, if we win the war against the Empire, it would be easy to restore diplomatic rtions with Albatro and Rondine.


    Small nations bend to the stronger side.


    Even if we can''t forgive them emotionally, we can''t ignore the tant power difference.


    And this characteristic also connects to the reason why the Empire cannot lose.


    The Empire''s strategy is to create allied countries to the north and south, and prepare for the great nations to the east and west.


    This is something they can do because the Empire is powerful.


    If they lose the war with the Kingdom, this strategy could crumble.


    Neither can afford to lose.


    Wars between great powers are like that.


    The Kingdom will do whatever it takes to win. They initiated this, even discarding Leticia.


    They can''t retreat anymore.


    And we are the same.


    "Marcel is still at the fortress. Probably for the sake of the nobles on the duke''s side. He is at a stage where he is tying up loose ends for them. If he''s not there, we might resort to force. He is diligently protecting those who have followed him."


    "What a waste for the dukes."


    "Indeed... His downfall was not getting close to you. He decided that he couldn''t bring you over to the pro-royal faction. If he hadn''t made that decision, he wouldn''t have given me a chance."


    "Even if persuaded, I wouldn''t side with the Kingdom. I owe the Empire."


    "Indeed. My past connections saved me."


    I ended this conversation with augh.


    Julio has grown more than enough.


    There''s no need to point out his character at this point.


    Surely if Marcel had approached Julio, Julio would have been influenced by Marcel.


    Just as he was influenced by Leo, the young Julio is easily influenced by others.


    But not by just anyone.


    He admires heroic figures, so he''s influenced by such people.


    And Marcel possesses such qualities too.


    "Report! We''ve secured the ship!"


    "Understood."


    I responded and dismissed the messenger who came to report.


    I came to the port town deliberately because the sea route is the best way to enter the capital.


    The problem is...


    "What will the navy do in this situation?"


    "The admiral is on the Duke''s side. Basically, he would side with the enemy. However, the situation is obviously disadvantageous. There might not be a few who would want to defect. However, they cannot act."


    "Because my father is in the castle..."


    "The one in the capital is Barnaba. If pushes to shove, he would not hesitate to take the king hostage. If we approach them carelessly and stimte them, our invasion from the sea route will be cut off."


    "We need to somehow rescue my father."


    "For that, we need to enter the capital. We could send in a small number, but it would be difficult to extract the king from the castle with a small force. We need some sort of trigger."


    If we prolong the negotiations like this, it would y into Marcel''s hands, and the negotiations would end up being advantageous for the nobles on the enemy side.


    There''s no need to take the lives of the nobles. We just need to kill the ringleaders, the Duke and Barnaba.


    But we need to reward the nobles who sided with us.


    That reward needs to be taken from the nobles who participated in the rebellion.


    If we wrap everything up with negotiations, it would be difficult to do that.


    That''s why Julio and I seek a resolution outside of negotiations.


    Well, in my case, I have the ulterior motive of wanting to cut off Marcel''s escape route.


    But things don''t go so smoothly.


    Just as I was thinking this...


    "Urgent news! A rebellion has broken out in the capital! The castle has been upied!"


    "Did the navy move!?"


    "N-no! A envoy from Rondine rescued His Majesty the King and seems to be holed up in the castle!"


    "Prepare a ship. We''re heading to the capital immediately."


    "Eh!? Your Highness!? Are you going without knowing the details?"


    "If they help the king, they''re our allies. And they can''t hold out in the castle for long. They need help, right?"


    "But we should gather more information..."


    "We don''t need that. I''ll guess the name of that envoy from Rondine. Finne von Kleinert. She''s my right arm."


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