“Yeah, that’s it,” I said. “Can I ask you leave that duty to our country from here on?”
“Are you serious about that?!” Jeanne raised her voice in surprise.
Here was my proposaclass="underline"
In the center of this continent was the impregnable Star Dragon Mountain Range, where wise dragons lived. If the monsters and demons came south, they would have to go around these mountains to the east and west.
That being the case, I was suggesting that the Empire resist their southern advance from the west, while the kingdom would resist it from the east. In practical terms, that meant if the Union of Eastern Nations was threatened by the menace of the Demon Lord’s Domain, the kingdom would dispatch reinforcements.
However, there was a process required.
“In the event that that happens, and the Empire, as head of the Mankind Declaration, receives a request from the Union of Eastern Nations for reinforcements, you will make a request for reinforcements to us,” I said. “When our country dispatches troops, I want it to take the form of us responding to a request from the Empire.”
“…That seems like a rather roundabout way of doing things,” Jeanne said. “Why?”
“While we don’t have the national strength to be called a great power yet, we’re the second largest nation by landmass if you exclude the Demon Lord’s Domain,” I said. “If they learn that the first and second largest nations on the continent are working hand-in-hand, there are going to be countries that get worried by that. The ones caught in the middle between us — the Principality of Amidonia, the mercenary state Zem, and the Turgis Republic — particularly so. That is why, as far as possible, I don’t want it known that the Empire and kingdom are cooperating.”
“I see. Hence the secret alliance.”
Jeanne had a pensive expression. She must have been weighing the pros and cons of this pact. However, there shouldn’t have been any cons for the Empire in my offer.
They would save the war funds that would have gone to defending the east, and they could thicken their defenses on the western side of their own country, where they shared a border with the Demon Lord’s Domain. If there was anything for them to be suspicious of, it was our intentions…
After some time, Jeanne nodded. “I don’t see any harm in accepting your proposal. But, is there any merit for you in taking on that duty?”
“If I were pressed to answer, I might say building trust with the Empire,” I said. “That, and because we’d be participating in the war, I would want you to stop demanding war subsidies.”
“Of course,” said Jeanne. “That’s something we ask of countries not involved in the war…But, are you sure? I don’t feel like there’s enough in it for you…”
“Well, when the very existence of mankind is at stake, there has to be more thought put into it than a simple cost-to-benefit analysis,” I said. “Besides, if we act as if it’s none of our problem when our country is stable, the other countries won’t look kindly on that.”
“I see…” Jeanne crossed her arms, groaning in thought. “In that case, it’s a question of how closely we can collaborate. The Empire and the kingdom are on opposite sides of the continent. It’ll take time for us to communicate. It’s good that we can redirect the requests for aid to you, but if the reinforcements don’t arrive in time as a result, that would be terrible.”
“We have some idea of how to deal with that,” I said. “Hakuya, bring me that.”
“Yes, sire.”
Hakuya rose and left the room, soon returning with a wooden box about the size of a cardboard one. He then offered the box to Jeanne.
Jeanne accepted the chest, looking down at it dubiously. “What might this be?”
“Try opening it,” I said. “I want you to give that to Madam Maria.”
“Is this… a receiver?…Ah!” It seemed Jeanne had figured it out. In the box was a simple receiver, like the ones used when I’d issued my ultimatum to the three dukes.
“This receiver is set to the same frequency as one of the jewels held by our country,” I said. “When you return to the Empire, I would like you to send one of the Empire’s simple receivers to me. Of course, it should be set to the same frequency as one of the jewels held by the Empire. That way, we can contact each other at any time.”
In other words, by using simple receivers and a jewel in each country, we would establish a hotline between the Empire and the kingdom. Unlike jewels, simple receivers were easy to walk around with.
If either country called the other’s simple receiver with a request for talks, the other just needed to go to the location where the jewel was and they could start immediately. This would only allow us to transmit video and audio, so it wouldn’t be possible to sign anything, but if we had bureaucrats to go back and forth carrying the documents, even that would become possible.
Jeanne looked highly impressed with this proposal. “With this, you can easily hold meetings with my sister, who can’t afford to leave the Empire. I don’t know what to say, Sir Souma. Your creativity leaves me trembling in awe.”
“You’re blowing it out of proportion,” I said. “It was pretty ordinary to have something like this in my old world.”
“And you think it’s perfectly ordinary… Um, Sir Souma? I would like your permission to say something a little crazy,” Jeanne said. “Would that be all right?”
Something crazy? What’s she going to say? I wondered.
“I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you. Now then… Princess Liscia.”
“Huh, me?!” Liscia looked surprised to have the conversation suddenly turn to her, but Jeanne continued regardless.
“Would you consider restoring Sir Albert to the throne? If you act now, the Empire will support you with everything it has.”
Recommending she depose me?! I’m in the room, you know?!
Liscia seemed bewildered at first, but when she came to her senses, she replied angrily, her face flushing red, “What are you suggesting all of a sudden?! I’d never do that!”
“Oh, where’s the harm?” Jeanne said. “It was Sir Albert’s kingdom to begin with. Then I’d like you to please give the newly-freed-up Sir Souma to us! If he’ll come, I’ll give him the position of chancellor or any other position he wants! Heck, I’ll even throw in my sister as an added bonus, so please become our Emperor!”
No, if you’re offering to throw in your sister like a free bottle of detergent… aren’t you treating the Empress a little too lightly?!
Liscia was indignant. “Do you even realize what you’re saying?!”
“I’m sane, yes,” said Jeanne. “The way Sir Souma thinks is ahead of our time. I want to see the Empire my sister and he would create. If this was how it was going to be, we should have never accepted the war reparations. We should have insisted that Sir Souma come be with us. It’s not too late, would you consider coming to the Empire now?”
“Obviously not!” Liscia slammed her hands down on the table. “I need… the kingdom needs Souma!”
Liscia shouted that threateningly, her canine teeth showing. It wasn’t just Liscia; Aisha behind us was giving off a grumpy aura. Her hand was inching towards her weapon, too.
I appreciated that they cared so much about me, but Jeanne was, technically, an important guest from another country. I couldn’t let them be too hostile with her.
I patted Liscia on the head saying, “There, there. Calm down Liscia. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
“…I’m sorry,” she said. “I lost my composure there.”
“Aisha, stay, girl!” I barked. “Don’t put your hand on that hilt!”