Chapter 99: Final Diplomatic Meeting

The last day of meeting had come.

The diplomatic hall of Eldoris had never been so crowded. Tanaka stood in the front of the main hall as the leaders of the Dominion came one after another.

First one was Razer, who left his Orc warriors outside the hall as guards. Zephyr came next with his wings folded behind him as he casually looked around the hall while entering. Sora bounced right in, still on his slime form. Eldrin came in with several documents in his hands while Torga came in more slowly afterwards. The Ironcarapace Turtle leader gave the hall a brief look before he took his seat.

Raizen came in after that and the Star Wolf King did not have to say anything for the diplomats to acknowledge his presence. The next to enter was Drakar, whose Wyrmkin appearance attracted a few questioning looks from foreign guests. Raishin was next one to enter. He did not say anything as he took the seat near Tanaka, but the moment he sat down, his eyes locked on the Syrathen delegation. Sylva came in next. She was no longer just a Moonhare living within Eldoris as she had taken a true leadership role among her people.

Following her were the leaders of the newest races to join the Dominion. The Dwarfs were already seated in one of the nearby tables discussing trade agreements and documents of past meetings. The Wyvern representatives were gathered on the other side of the hall. Among the Syrathen delegates, several Rosen City representatives had come to the meeting as well. Nira came in with the Darveim delegation. While she dressed more formally than other dark elves, the first thing she did upon entering was looking for Tanaka.

The last guest to arrive was Malachiel.

He took his usual seat near Tanaka. The diplomats stared in silence. They were expecting to meet the ruler of Eldoris alone for the finalization. Instead they got a council of leaders of the races that formed the Dominion. A young Syrathen official leaned towards his master.

"They brought everyone." The elder diplomat kept his eyes forward.

"Stay calm."

The Valerian representatives exchanged glances between themselves. One of the Dwarfs was busy cleaning his beard.

"This is certainly unexpected." The Rosen representative beside the Dwarf nodded.

"Eldoris has made their intentions clear."

Tanaka took his seat. "Then let us begin."

Arven from Valeria stood first.

"After our deliberations. Valeria seeks to establish permanent diplomatic relations with Eldoris Dominion. We are willing to discuss trade agreements, regulated traveling between our nations, mutual recognition of borders and cooperation between the nations." Tanaka merely nodded. "That is acceptable." The Dwarf representative immediately added,

"We also wish to have formal agreements regarding purchase and transportation of materials." Eldrin opened one of the documents in front of him. "We have drafted some proposals." The Dwarf smiled.

"Good." The Wyvern representative stood.

"We request formal regulation of airspace above Eldoris, particularly for commercial and diplomatic traffic."

Zephyr answered before Tanaka could say anything. "That can be worked out." The Wyvern representative nodded. "In that case, we do not object." The Rosen representatives also presented their request for a permanent trade route between their city and Eldoris. Tanaka accepted their proposition. For a few minutes, the discussion went smoothly. Marcus sighed and spoke. "The empire is willing to recognize Eldoris as an independent nation with one condition." The Eldoris leaders turned to look at him. Tanaka said nothing. He continued, "We require unrestricted access to the Great Verdant Forest."

Razer’s eyes narrowed. Raizen’s ears twitched. Drakar folded his arms. Sylva’s expression remained calm but her guard was up. Raishin did not move at all. Tanaka finally spoke. "That will not happen like I said on the first day." Marcus’s eyes darkened. "In that case, you are asking the empire to accept limitations to territory which was previously accessible to its people." "The forest is still accessible."

Tanaka’s voice was calm but there was steel in it. "You people simply need permission to enter Eldoris." "That is not acceptable." Marcus said. "No." Tanaka looked him in the eyes. "It is not."

Another Syrathen representative leaned forward. "There are resources within the forest which belongs to the empire." Raishin replied without hesitation. "Then find them elsewhere." The diplomat turned to look at him. "Who are you to talk to an imperial representative like that?" Raishin stood up.

"I am Raishin, leader of the Kijin and ogres of Eldoris Dominion."The diplomat looked him over. "And so?" Raishin’s golden eyes narrowed. "You are in Eldoris." The diplomat stood up as well. "And I represent the Syrathen Empire." One of the other Syrathen officials grabbed his comrade’s sleeve, his face pleading. "Sit down." The diplomat yanked his arm away. "The empire does not bow to monsters."

Raishin took one step forward. "Then leave."

Sora bounced between the two. "Everyone, now is not the time." The diplomat looked down at him. "Move." Sora did not budge.

"No. Sit back down." The diplomat frowned.

"I will not be ordered around by a slime."

Sora’s bouncing stopped and several Eldoris leaders turned to look at him. Sora’s voice was calm but firm. "You are here because Lord Tanaka allowed you to be here." The diplomat pointed at Raishin. "He is threatening an imperial representative."

Raishin shook his head. "I did not threaten you." "You told me to leave." "That was a suggestion." Razer let out a small chuckle.

The diplomat turned to look at him. "This is not a laughing matter." Razer’s smile faded.

"No. It is not." The diplomat looked around the hall. "This is what you wanted? To surround a table with monsters and expect them to negotiate with us as equals?"

Several people in the hall reacted to the remark.

Marcus looked away ashamed. The man was from Valcrest family and had practically forced the king to allow him come. One of the Dwarfs frowned in particular. The Wyvern representatives shot each other worried looks. A Rosen representative whispered, "That was not a wise thing to say." Sylva’s lips thinned into a straight line.

"You are insulting the people who are hosting you." The diplomat ignored her.

Raizen’s expression tightened. Drakar slowly uncrossed his arms. Newer race leaders exchanged wary glances with Tanaka. Tanaka remained in his seat. He had not raised his voice or moved a muscle. Nira was watching him closely. She knew Tanaka before Eldoris had walls, districts or a diplomatic hall. She knew what this silence meant. He was getting angry. The Syrathen diplomat continued,

"Your nation is protected by something you have yet to reveal. A True Dragon appeared during your civil war. Your warriors fought an impossible battle and survived. Now you have walls surrounding your territory, powerful monsters for guardians, and a strange man at your side with enough mana to impress everyone here." He looked at Malachiel. "We demand to know what protects Eldoris." Malachiel said nothing.

Neither did Tanaka. The diplomat looked at him. "Is the True Dragon still there?" Nobody answered. Nira almost stood up.

She wanted to stop this before it got out of hand but Veldran at her side whispered, "Wait." Nira turned to look at him. "Why?"

"Just let us see what Lord Tanaka will do."

Nira turned back to Tanaka. Raishin had returned to his seat but his eyes were still on the Syrathen representative. Sora was still caught between them. Razer had crossed his arms. Raizen was completely still. Sylva was watching the diplomat with visible distaste. Eldrin quietly gathered the diplomatic documents from the edge of the table. Torga did not move at all. The Dwarf representatives had stopped talking about trade. Wyvern delegation seemed to have lost interest in everything except the argument. Even the Rosen representatives were watching Tanaka. The Syrathen representative said, "You would have us trust you blindly?" He pointed at Tanaka.

"You are hiding something from us." Tanaka’s grip on the armrest tightened. Everyone except the diplomat noticed.

"We will not leave this place until you tell us about the True Dragon." One of the other Syrathen diplomats stood up. "That is enough." "No." The Valcrest family representative turned to look at him. "We have a right to know." His comrade hissed,

"Not this way." The man ignored him and turned to Tanaka. "Tell us where the True Dragon is." Tanaka slowly looked up. He did not say anything. The diplomat turned away from the table. "Is he inside Eldoris?"

Silence.

"Is that why you will not allow the empire to inspect this place?" Still nothing. The man was getting annoyed. "Perhaps you are hiding him." Malachiel finally looked at him.

The diplomat turned. "Perhaps we should ask your friend." Malachiel’s expression did not change. "Who are you?" He asked. Malachiel did not answer. The diplomat pointed at him. "You have been with Tanaka this entire time." Malachiel smiled slightly.

The diplomat’s voice became colder. "Are you the True Dragon?" The question made the Syrathen officials around him realize what was happening.

"Stop."

"Sit down."

"Will you stop bickering?"

But the Valcrest representative was not finished. "I want an answer." Raishin stood up. "You already have one." The diplomat turned to glare at him. "I was not talking to you." Raishin’s hand went to his weapon.

The Syrathen soldiers did the same. Sora jumped in front. "No one is drawing weapons!" The Dwarfs stood up. The Wyverns took a step back. The Rosen representatives were already moving away from the table. The new race leaders braced themselves. Nira was about to stand up when another Darveim diplomat stopped her. She looked at him. Tanaka had not moved. That was when she realized. He had given them enough chances. The Valcrest representative took another step forward.

"Answer me," he smirked. "Lord Tanaka."

He said sarcastically. Tanaka narrowed his eyes.

Malachiel exhaled. Then he stepped forward. A wave of pressure hit the diplomats and the nearest ones stumbled backwards. One Valerian representative dropped the papers on the table. A Dwarf got ready to draw his axe. The Wyverns lowered their heads. Razer’s knees almost bent. Raizen’s ears flattened. Sylva grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.

Drakar’s eyes were wide. Raishin stopped reaching for his weapon. The new race leaders stared at Malachiel in disbelief.

Even the Rosen representatives were surprised. Nira felt her Spirit Elf instincts flare up in response to the power before her.

She knew.

She had asked Malachiel the same question the day before. But now there was no mistaking it. Malachiel was the True Dragon.

The Syrathen diplomat looked at him and finally understood why Tanaka had not felt the need to explain his presence. Malachiel’s crimson aura filled the hall and his voice echoed inside it. "Enough games, mortals." The discussion stopped. He looked around the hall. "You are talking to the king of Eldoris, Tanaka Eldoris." Malachiel’s gaze swept over the delegation. "Behave yourselves." The Valcrest representative slowly lowered himself to his seat. His face was pale. The other Syrathen diplomats kept quiet. Nira turned to look at Tanaka.

He did not have to do anything. He did not have to reveal Malachiel.

He simply let the facts speak for themselves. Tanaka finally looked around the hall. "Now shall we continue the meeting?" Nobody opposed. For the first time, the representatives from Valeria, Syrathen, Darveim, Rosen City, the Dwarfs and the Wyverns understood what this meeting was really about. Eldoris was not begging the world to acknowledge their presence. Eldoris had come to decide how the world would treat them.