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Vol 04 Chapter 132: Captive

「Alice, have you reached a decision?」

I asked Alice through the bars of her cell. She locked eyes with me and nodded firmly.

「Yes. I haven’t decided yet whether to serve you… but I want to be free.」

I see. For now, she has made up her mind to stand on her own two feet.

「Then you’ll have to tear off the chains that bind you with your own hands.」

「…Yes.」

She must break her chains… She must kill Aldo.

With her own hands.

◇

「Mutzio, I want to offer you something as thanks. Do you have any requests?」

I visited Mutzio to ask what reward he wanted, but Mutzio said he was just fulfilling his duty and wanted nothing in return.

But that leaves our country forever indebted to them. The Equus Tribe must have suffered considerable losses too. We must offer something, or we will be seen as ungrateful.

「Don’t worry, it’s fine. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here in the first place… Well, if I have to ask for something, maybe an expansion of trade?」

「Trade, huh… Alright, I understand.」

There is a growing demand for wool textiles and horses in our country. Expanding trade would benefit both parties.

「And if possible…」

「I will do everything  I can within my power.」

「Right. …I want slaves.」

Slaves? Why do you want slaves?

The Equus Tribe’s lifestyle is nomadic. I thought slaves would be unnecessary…

「The Gallians are skilled in wool textiles, right? I heard the Rozel Kingdom’s primary industry is the manufacture of wool textiles. If there are any soldiers who worked in that industry, hand them over to me. Oh, and I’ll pay for them.」

「Understood. If there are any, I’ll transfer them to you. No need for money, though…」

「It’s a matter of principle.」

Well, if he’s so adamantly against it, I won’t force him. It’s not like I lose anything by taking the money.

But wool textiles, huh… Indeed, it is more profitable to process wool into fiber and then sell it as finished goods rather than selling the wool directly.

It’s better to develop an industry you already know than to try to start another one they know nothing about like agriculture.

「And one more thing.」

「What is it?」

Mutzio asked with a serious face.

「You know about the Lupus Tribe and the Aries Tribe, right? I intend to settle things with them in the near future. Right now, I don’t have the strength, so I’ll just fend them off… But in the not-too-distant future, I will definitely put an end to them. I would like to ask for your help then.」

「Understood. Until then, our country will enhance our cavalry. It’s not good to rely solely on you. We’ll need more horses.」

「Understood. We’ll exchange them for iron products.」

Mutzio and I shook hands firmly.

…I thought he might ask for stirrups. Well, he doesn’t even need to ask for them, they are simple enough to make.

The stirrups have been quite a revolution in this war. Probably, in ten years, all the cavalry on the Adernian Peninsula will be using them.

It’s just how technology is, it’s impossible to keep all secret.

◇

After my meeting with Mutzio ended, I returned to the camp where Iarl was waiting. He had finally returned from King Faldam’s Country.

「Iarl! Well done.」

I praised Iarl. His achievements are threefold.

He incited King Zoldias to attack King Evile’s Country. He got King Faldam’s Country to declare war on the Rozel Kingdom, and lastly, he got King Gilbed’s Country to declare war on the Rozel Kingdom.

Without Iarl, we wouldn’t have been able to break through this siege.

「Your achievements are first-class. I will definitely reward you appropriately.」

「That’s… Thank you so much. But is it really okay? I haven’t slain any enemy generals…」

「It’s fine. War isn’t just about killing each other.」

There are battles that don’t involve weapons. In fact, those kinds of battles are even more important.

Propaganda is crucial—portraying ourselves as the just side, and the enemy as evil.

「That’s right… Actually, I am about to have a discussion about how to deal with Prince Aldo and the other prisoners with Prince Carlo. I’d like you to join us.」

「Understood. I will live up to your expectations, my king.」

「Prince Carlo, how are you feeling?」

「Haha, not too bad… Well, when I think about the reconstruction of the country going forward, it does depress me a bit. Our land has been devastated by the plundering of the Rozel Kingdom.」

Carlo managed a wry smile. Rebuilding the devastated lands will indeed be a tremendous challenge going forward.

I honestly feel a bit sympathetic.

As I thought, war must be fought in the enemy’s land, not in yours. Both an enemy invasion and civil war must be prevented beforehand.

「When do you plan to ascend the throne?」

「Well… I think one or two months from now would be good. Stabilizing the country is our top priority.」

We then discussed the specific timeline for his ascension to the throne. It wasn’t set in stone yet, but it was good to have a plan.

After wrapping up the conversation about his impending ascension, which felt half like small talk, we finally moved on to the main topic.

「As for Prince Aldo… could you lend him to us?」

「…Prince Aldo? Why would you want that?」

It’s to let Alice kill him.

If I want her to serve me, I need to free her from Aldo’s curse first.

If she can kill Aldo with her own hands, she will realize that nothing is holding her back anymore.

「Hmm… why would you do so much for a slave girl… Ah, I see!!」

Carlo looked puzzled at first, but then something clicked, and he settled into a self-satisfied expression, grinning slyly.

「If that’s the case, I’m not opposed to cooperating… However, a public execution is good entertainment for the people. Many desire to see Aldo’s public execution. We can’t just put up a body double.」

Public executions are like a festival in this world.

Not like on Earth people were less bloodthirsty. It seems that in France, people would gather in the squares of Paris to watch the guillotine do its work. The executions became so popular, that all the rooms in nearby buildings would be rented out. Vendors even started to set up food and entertainment stalls, turning it into a festival atmosphere.

Thus, even those who weren’t interested in the execution itself would join in, attracted by the festival, and it would turn into a major event.

The situation is similar on the Adernian Peninsula. Moreover, the condemned man Aldo is a member of the reigning family and a war criminal who invited the Rozel Kingdom into their lands.

The public will undoubtedly be eager to witness his public execution.

「How about this then…?」

A smile appeared on Carlo’s face upon hearing my suggestion.

「That’s a brilliant idea. It will surely be profitable. Let’s do it, King Rosais.」

Good. That settles the matter with Alice.

Next is the distribution of the prisoners. I could negotiate myself, but Iarl is better suited for this. I’ll leave it to him.

Carlo also entrusted the negotiation to his subordinates, and a civil servant at his side stepped forward. The civil servant and Iarl began a heated debate.

Carlo and I watched them.

Go for it, Iarl!!

…

…

…

The civil servant’s complexion got progressively worse. His face turned from a shade of angry red to blue, like a traffic light changing colors.

This is not good.

「We have reached an agreement then, our country will take ninety percent, and King Domorgal’s Country will take ten percent.」

「Wait, that’s too much.」

I signaled Iarl to step back. The civil servant, his complexion worsened, looked puzzled.

「Indeed, our country played a significant role in this war. It’s true that most of the military achievements were made by our soldiers and generals. However, it was thanks to Prince Carlo’s guidance that our soldiers could fight in a foreign land. It was thanks to the people of this country who willingly provided us with places to sleep. Their contribution is significant… I think a seventy-thirty split would be more appropriate.」

Our country would take seventy percent, and King Domorgal’s Country would take thirty.

The civil servant and Carlo showed surprised expressions. After all, they expected to receive only ten percent of the captives, and I just increased their share to thirty percent.

「Is that acceptable, King Rosais? I feel indebted to your country. Your country didn’t gain territory from the Rozel Kingdom. The land we are ceding to your country isn’t significant. The compensation is also minimal. I would have understood even if you wanted all the captives…」

I shook my head firmly.

「That’s fine. I didn’t rescue you for profit. I started this war to fulfill a duty. As a result, we ended up fighting the Rozel Kingdom and other neighboring countries, causing many sacrifices… But my duty is fulfilled. That is enough.」

Moved by my words, Carlo’s eyes welled up with emotion. He grasped my hand firmly.

「King Rosais… What a good person you are. People like you are what they call true kings.」

「You’re giving me too much credit.」

I flashed an embarrassed smile.

…I have to keep secret that we received a ransom of a thousand talents from the Rozel Kingdom.

「But this doesn’t sit well with me… Let’s make some accommodations. Are there any prisoners you specifically want?」

「Yes… I’d like those with blacksmithing skills and those skilled at making wool textiles.」

Upon hearing this, Carlo gestured to the civil servant. It seems they’re willing to facilitate this for us.

That’s a win for us.

◇

「Uh… King Almus, why did you reduce our share to seventy percent?」

「It’s simple. You were winning too much.」

Diplomacy isn’t about stripping everything possible from the other side. Especially when dealing with friendly countries.

Even if we gain benefits, souring relations with a friendly country defeats the purpose.

「But Prince Carlo said it was okay, right?」

「Even if Prince Carlo agrees and is satisfied, it doesn’t mean that the patricians or the people will be. Some might even resent giving us a sliver of land.」

A country isn’t run by one person alone. It’s meaningless if only the leaders get along.

「I see… so it’s not just about out-arguing the other side?」

「That’s right.」