3 bar menu

Wake Not a Sleeping Lion – Part 06

Gerhardt, groomed by his retinue, boasted a magnificent, gleaming mane. His attire, adorned with golden embroidery and pearls, was resplendent, fitting for a diplomatic occasion.

The Beastmen considered resplendence a virtue, and the representatives were highly satisfied with Gerhardt’s appearance.

“Oh, Silver Face! How about a match after this?”

“You sound like you’re inviting me for tea. No,” Hikaru immediately declined.

Gerhardt laughed heartily. “Some other time, then!

Hikaru meant it as a firm refusal, not a reschedule, but he couldn’t get the message across. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to correct the misunderstanding, as the envoy from Agiapole arrived.

Inside the tent, representatives from various races were present, with Jillarte positioned behind them. Hikaru stood beside her, while Lavia used her Stealth to hide behind Hikaru.

Aha, I knew it. A high-ranking priest.

The red robes signified a central priest. Within the Church, priests in the holy city were referred to as central priests. Their duty was to guide the numerous deacons and friars under their supervision.

Since Luvain was discharging not only archpriests but also central priests, the envoy must be someone who measured up to the Pope’s standards—very competent, with spotless integrity. In short, this person was not to be trifled with.

Hikaru nodded at Jillarte, and she nodded back.

The priest introduced herself as Leonie. A woman—much to their surprise—and young, likely in her mid-twenties. She omitted her family name, explaining that she had already devoted herself to the path of faith without any intention of turning back. A staunch spiritual seeker.

Her purplish, silver hair was parted to the sides, neatly trimmed to just above her shoulders. Her gaze was serene, or as Hikaru saw it, impassive. She stood slightly taller than Jillarte, giving an impression of slimness. With the right attire, she could probably be a model.

Her faint smile revealed a small dimple on her cheek. She looked like a saint out of a religious painting.

“Why don’t you take to your knees and show your respect?” Gerhardt said.

His throne was clearly a makeshift one, but Gerhardt’s figure perched on it added to its grandeur.

“I understand that we’re at war with Einbiest,” the priest replied in a clear voice, “but if we were to kneel, shouldn’t you do the same?”

The representatives turned red.

“The nerve! Do you think we’re on equal footing?!”

“The city will be gone by tomorrow!”

Hikaru sighed. They were revealing highly confidential plans.

Leonie, maintaining her cool composure, waited for the commotion to subside before continuing.

“I came here to offer a proposition that could benefit both sides. Not to be threatened, or beg for our lives.”

“You seem quite confident.” Gerhardt gave her a sharp look.

“Do you believe your army can breach the thick walls of our city?”

Gerhardt merely scoffed in response.

This Leonie person is quite clever, Hikaru thought. She’s probably here to scout as well. Einbiest’s army might be smaller in scale compared to the city’s forces, but they’re full of spirit. She must have assumed that Einbiest had some sort of ace up their sleeve, so she tried to bait Gerhardt. Realizing what she was doing, he ignored her remark. Not bad at all.

There might have been some inaccuracies in Hikaru’s speculation. Leonie kept her smile the whole time.

“I decided to meet with you for the sake of our comrades. Our brethren whom your despicable friends have kidnapped and even taken away their right to live. If I declined your request for an audience, or caused you harm, we would be stooping to the same level as you lot.”

“Heartless individuals have indeed robbed others of their dignity and even their lives, simply because they belonged to a different species. We offer our sincerest apologies.”

Leonie, who moments ago said she wouldn’t kneel, prostrated herself. The Beastmen were taken aback.

Rubbing her forehead on the ground, Leonie continued, “I am fully aware that my apology is worth nothing. However, please understand that there are people like me who strongly feel the weight of our sins. If you require proof of our guilt, you may go ahead and cut open my chest with a blade and take out my heart. I am fully prepared.”

“Let’s kill her, milord!” cried a raccoon-like Beastman. “My brother was arrested and killed by those bastards four years ago… for no reason at all. Just for their amusement!”

The others, swept up in the emotional outburst, urged for her execution.

“Silence,” Gerhardt said calmly. “She says she’s prepared to die. Getting all worked up won’t help us. And you know taking her life won’t achieve anything. Channel all that anger into the battle instead.”

The racoon Beastman clenched their teeth but ultimately yielded. Amid the hushed atmosphere, Gerhardt spoke.

“Raise your head. I knew from the beginning that you were prepared to die. Drop the stupid act already.”

Leonie slightly raised her head, but it was only a few centimeters above the ground.

“This is not an act. Everything I need to say is written here, so if there is anyone who would find comfort in killing me, you may do so,” Leonie said as she took a letter from her sleeve and placed it to the side.

Silence fell inside the tent. The raccoon Beastmen who had initially called for her death wore a grim look.

Gerhardt sighed. “I said, ‘Raise your head.’ I won’t repeat myself. If you still refuse, I’ll throw you out with that piece of paper and you will have failed your mission as an envoy.”

“I wouldn’t want that.” Leonie raised her face, dirt falling from her forehead.

She wouldn’t kneel, but said she would atone for the crimes of her fellow countrymen. What a weird lady, Hikaru thought as he watched from the sidelines.

“So, what did you come here to say?”

Leonie dusted off her hands, forehead, and knees. “I came here to propose a mutually beneficial ceasefire. In exchange for the withdrawal of the Einbiest army, we will free all Beastmen slaves within the Theocracy of Bios.”

“Out of the question. Agiapole is going to fall soon anyway.”

“That’s true. However, your army would suffer considerable losses in the process. If occupying Agiapole is your goal, then my proposal would be meaningless. But that is not what you want, is it? And I believe you have experienced it first-hand how difficult it is to free the slaves. It must have been more challenging than you initially thought.”

“Are you saying you can easily free our comrades?”

“One word from His Holiness and the entire Church will act. Furthermore, we will send notice not only in Agiapole but to every city, to free all Beastmen slaves and escort them to Einbiest.”

Gerhardt folded his arms, deep in thought.

Smart, Hikaru thought to himself. Einbiest’s goal is neither conquest nor wealth. They just want to free their brethren. If Bios can make that happen, then great.

However, not everyone liked the idea.

“The audacity!” the raccoon Beastman snapped. “You people kidnapped our people, and now you want to free them?!”

Many others expressed their indignation as well.

“You heard them,” Gerhardt said.

“In that case,” Leonie replied matter-of-factly, “we will offer monetary compensation as well. Or, as I mentioned earlier, if you want, you can take my life.”

“That’s not going to help. Give us a moment to talk it over.”

With a slight bow, Leonie left gracefully.

After that, a heated debate ensued inside the tent. Logic said Leonie’s proposal was excellent, but their emotions couldn’t agree with it. While the return of their comrades was a joyful thing, to be sure, the thought of the wrongdoers going unpunished did not sit right with them.

Put it another way, that could be negotiated. Hikaru thought. If they can work out additional terms, like Bios arresting those who committed injustice and kidnapping and handing them over to Einbiest, this ceasefire negotiation can be a reality. Leonie probably chose not to mention this so Einbiest could suggest it themselves.

Hikaru was impressed by her negotiation skills, yet at the same time, he couldn’t help but sense something off. A little bit of thought would have produced this idea.

Luvain came up with the plan. There has to be something more to this.

At this point, Hikaru had no idea what it was.

In the end, Leonie’s proposal was accepted. As Hikaru had predicted, Einbiest made an additional demand.

“Pope Luvain of the Theocracy of Bios hereby undertakes the obligation to thoroughly search for and deliver any wrongdoers who illegally entered the Confederacy of Einbiest and unlawfully abducted its residents, or inflicted harm upon them. This obligation shall be supervised by individuals designated by the Confederacy of Einbiest.”

They included a clause for the extradition of criminals and further imposed upon them the duty to conduct investigations.

Leonie’s expression remained unreadable, but she promised, “I will convey all these terms to His Holiness and return by tomorrow at the latest.”

And true to her word, Leonie returned later that day, though it was quite late, to report to Gerhardt.

“His Holiness has accepted all the conditions,” she said.

The outcome was somewhat anticlimactic for many of the Beastmen, but there was still relief among those who were glad to avoid fighting. When it was stated that the top priority was rescuing their comrades, even those who felt emotional about the situation had to begrudgingly agree.

Thus, the war between Einbiest and Bios came to an end—in terms of combat, at least. There was still a pile of issues to tackle.

A few days later, however, an incident would rock the holy city of Agiapole.