Chapter 723 : Diplomacy

Chapter 0723 Diplomacy

Translator: ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Jay_Forestieri

Editor: ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tseirp

One ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍floor above the conference room where Abel and the Knightley Kingdom delegation had been shown, Chief Marta and Port Minister Nonta were holding an emergency meeting in the minister’s office.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a sense, compared to the amicable atmosphere in the conference room, the air in this office was heavy.

Unbearably heavy.

“This has turned into something absolutely disastrous...”

Marta was trembling.

After showing the Knightley Kingdom delegation into the conference room and finally having a chance to think calmly, he fully understood just how disastrous the situation was.

They had attacked the king of a foreign nation who had come in friendship.

Such a thing was unprecedented.

And it had happened in full public view... right in front of him, the nation’s chief himself.

If only it were some foreign country’s conspiracy... or better yet, if all of it were just a dream.

Marta had led the country for more than a decade, but he could scarcely remember ever being driven into a corner this badly.

After all, he had generally enjoyed strong support from the people.

But this incident was bad.

“How is Mozzare doing?”

Marta asked about the man known as the ‘Freak,’ Mozzare.

“They say he’s sitting in the corner of his room with his head in his hands.”

“His fighting instincts are strong, but his ability to sense danger is even stronger. He must have perceived King Abel as a threat... and been driven by fear.”

Rather than blaming Mozzare, Chief Marta regretted his own poor judgment for bringing him there in the first place.

It had all been because of that female captain... her presence had clouded his judgment.

“I want to apologize to King Abel...”

“Chief...”

Those were Marta’s honest feelings. Nonta understood them completely.

But he also understood why that could not be done so easily.

A nation’s leader could not casually bow their head before the leader of another nation.

That was for the sake of their people.

Because they stood as their people’s representative.

If such a thing were done in front of everyone, it could become the spark that drove the more radical elements among their citizens into action.

To avoid that, an apology could be offered in a private meeting...

“Someone I only just met, someone I only just greeted and shook hands with... and whose subordinate attacked him... there’s no way he’d agree to meet me one-on-one.”

Even Marta understood that much.

For example, even the ruler of neighboring Banban Kingdom, whom he knew well, would probably refuse a private one-on-one meeting.

Unless two national leaders had formed an exceptionally strong personal bond of trust, such meetings were difficult.

“Chief, what if we limit the attendants... say, one subordinate each? We could meet in the small conference room next to the one they’re using. If anything were to happen, they could judge that a single shout would immediately bring their allies running...”

“I see. They might accept that.”

Thanks to Nonta’s suggestion, some color finally returned to Marta’s face.

Until now, he had been as pale as a corpse.

The pressure of the situation had left its mark on him.

In the small conference room beside the main one.

Representing Pishkan were Chief Marta and Port Minister Nonta.

Representing Knightley Kingdom were Abel and Ryo.

The four of them were to hold a meeting together.

Naturally, when the proposal came from the Pishkan side, Captain Scotty, who was effectively in charge of security, had expressed reservations.

It was only natural to be uneasy about allowing one’s lord to meet in a small group, in a sealed room no less, with people who had not yet earned their trust.

But, equally naturally, Abel had said:

“Wouldn’t it be fine if I brought Ryo as my guard? This time, he’ll surely protect me before I get attacked.”

“Of course. Leave it to me! Before the enemy’s murderous blade can reach you, I’ll protect you by freezing Abel solid in perfect ice!”

“If possible, I’d prefer to be protected without being frozen solid...”

It seemed that even Abel I, the Hero King renowned for his fearlessness, found the prospect of being frozen frightening.

“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll bring along the First Squad of the Oniwaban. Since they’re not human, they won’t count toward the ‘one subordinate each’ limit the other side proposed.”

“Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

“You’re too earnest, Abel. A meeting between national leaders is, in a sense, warfare. It’s a terrifying world where all manner of monsters and schemers run rampant. The threat of poisoning, traps hidden in hanging ceilings, assassins lurking in the shadows... countless plots await. And yet you’re planning to walk into that with only the two of us. You may be so earnest that it borders on foolishness.”

“Fine, call me earnest or foolish, just make sure you protect me properly.”

Lightly brushing aside Ryo’s fantasy-fueled imagination, Abel ended the discussion there.

And now.

They sat facing one another, two against two, in four chairs.

The first to speak was Chief Marta.

“King Abel, I am truly sorry about what my subordinate did.”

As he said that, he lowered his head deeply, though remaining seated.

The sight surprised Ryo a little.

Even back on Earth, he had never seen a national leader bow that deeply.

But Abel, the one receiving the apology, smiled and said:

“Chief Marta, please raise your head. I was indeed attacked, but I wasn’t injured. Please don’t trouble yourself over it.”

Of course, he wasn’t saying that out of simple kindness.

Had he not been a king, perhaps... but this was already a diplomatic setting.

The other side’s blunder was an opportunity for his side.

And this wasn’t merely a matter of arriving slightly late to a meeting. The scale was entirely different.

That said, Abel personally didn’t care much about anything else as long as his original request was accepted.

And that request wasn’t something that benefited only Knightley Kingdom. It would likely benefit Pishkan as well... at least, he believed so.

“To begin with, the reason our Knightley Kingdom vessel, Skidbladnir, called at your country was not to make any difficult demands.”

Abel began with a smile still on his face.

Marta raised his head and looked at him.

Abel could see a trace of caution in the depths of his eyes.

Naturally.

If someone suddenly appeared claiming to be a king and said they had no difficult demands, it wasn’t easy to take them at their word.

“Our Knightley Kingdom lies among the Central Countries. It is about a week’s voyage east of your country.”

“A week...”

Marta was left speechless by the explanation.

Nonta could not find words either.

Pishkan was an island nation.

The two leaders had, naturally, lived their lives alongside the sea... it would not be an exaggeration to say so.

Which was why they understood the terror of spending an entire week sailing these monster-infested waters.

Or rather, to be precise, they had never experienced it, but they could imagine it.

The people of Pishkan only ventured out to sea for a single day.

Neighboring Banban Kingdom was only half a day to a day’s sail away.

No one remained at sea longer than that.

And the same was true for Banban Kingdom.

That was simply common sense in these waters.

Yet the king before them claimed to have sailed for an entire week.

As far as Marta and Nonta knew, no nation existed nearby besides Banban Kingdom.

They had never even heard of one.

Still, all they had to do was look at the gigantic ship docked in the harbor.

It was obvious these people possessed shipbuilding technology superior to their own.

They had come from a distance beyond imagination... and there was no choice but to accept that fact.

“I understand. Though it is beyond anything we can imagine...”

“Our ship is called Skidbladnir, and its purpose is to reach the Western Countries by sea.”

“I feel like I’ve heard that name before. The last time that giant ship... Skidbladnir visited, I was told it had come from the Western Countries.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Marta spoke while recalling the memory, and Abel nodded.

“We are currently attempting to open a sea route connecting the Western Countries and our kingdom.”

“Open a sea route...”

“Not immediately, of course. We will be crossing seas that... as far as recorded history goes, no one has ever traversed before. As you know, terrifying monsters inhabit the ocean. We must further refine the technologies that prevent attacks from them... technologies that have only recently become practical. We have only just begun experimental voyages.”

“Then... how far are these Western Countries from our country?”

“I hear it is more than two weeks away.”

“That far...”

Marta was rendered speechless yet again by Abel’s answer.

Abel had said more than two weeks, but in truth he had been told it would probably take even longer.

When Skidbladnir had traveled from the Western Countries to the Central Countries, the crew reported favorable winds.

On the open ocean, a clipper ship like Skidbladnir, with its many square sails, could reach remarkable speeds when blessed with good winds.

Conversely, headwinds reduced speed.

And against a direct headwind, a ship could not sail straight at all, forcing it to proceed in a zigzag pattern... not only would its speed drop, but the distance traveled would increase as well, requiring more time.

Thus, travel times were heavily dependent on wind direction.

Furthermore, once actual shipping routes were established, many of the vessels traveling them would not be clippers like Skidbladnir.

Their speed would undoubtedly be slower.

The estimate of two weeks assumed the most favorable conditions possible.

“If a route to those Western Countries can be established with Knightley Kingdom... even on a trial basis, then ships traveling that route may stop at our country.”

At last, Marta was beginning to understand why Skidbladnir had called at their port.

“Exactly. When that time comes, if possible, we would like to receive supplies here and allow our sailors to rest on land. Naturally, we would pay appropriate compensation.”

“I see.”

Marta nodded deeply at Abel’s proposal.

He understood the request.

He truly did... but he could not simply agree to it.

Not because of negotiation tactics. For a far more tangible reason.

“Our Pishkan Nation is an island country. Even in trade, our only experience is with our neighbor, Banban Kingdom. In other words, we do not possess vast production capacity for food or many other goods.”

Marta stated the fact plainly.

Hearing that, Abel nodded.

Of course he understood.

For a single ship like Skidbladnir, it was manageable.

At most, food for around a hundred people.

For a nation of one hundred thousand citizens, that was not a significant amount.

But if a sea route were truly opened, the situation would change.

Certainly, most of Pishkan Island remained undeveloped, so expanding development would likely allow for a substantial increase in food production.

And therefore...

“What we’ve discussed today is not something for immediate implementation. We are still in the trial voyage stage, and trade has not yet been guaranteed. However, our kingdom very much hopes to establish trade with the Western Countries.”

Abel clearly stated his country’s policy.

“When that time comes, we hope not only to obtain supplies from Pishkan, but also to engage in trade with your nation and with neighboring Banban Kingdom, which we intend to visit next. The reason for my visit today... is that I would like you to consider it an inquiry in that regard.”

“I understand.”

Marta nodded at Abel’s words.

It was certainly far easier to accept than having someone suddenly arrive and demand that they become a supply base.

Knowing the history of Japan at the end of the Edo period, when the Black Ships arrived and effectively said, “Become a supply base for our whaling fleets.”, Ryo silently nodded to himself.

That’s right. The reason the American Black Ships had appeared off Uraga in the first place was that the Industrial Revolution had driven Western Countries to seek whale oil.

They needed supply bases for whaling operations.

Eventually, they even established whaling bases as far away as Antarctica to secure whale oil...

History had that side to it as well.

“So, should we understand this visit as a notification that there exists a nation pursuing such a policy?”

“Precisely.”

The moment Abel answered Marta’s confirmation.

They realized that the room next door, the conference room, had suddenly become noisy.

Before Abel could say anything, Ryo, who had been sitting quietly and listening with perfect manners throughout the meeting, jumped to his feet and practically flew out of the room.

Abel followed after him.

Chief Marta and Port Minister Nonta hurried after them as well.

Inside the conference room stood a heavily muscled man who had forced his way in, while Pishkan soldiers struggled to hold him back.

The Royal Knight Order members serving as Abel’s guards had their hands on their swords, but had not yet acted.

Remaining vigilant, they watched to see how events unfolded.

The loud voices had apparently come from the Pishkan soldiers.

“Scotty, what happened?”

Abel entered the room and asked.

“That man... the man who attacked Your Majesty is trying to enter the conference room. The soldiers of this country are attempting to stop him.”

Scotty’s explanation was exactly what they could already see.

But that was all that had happened, so there was little else to say.

Then a voice rang through the conference room.

“Mozzare!”

The heavily muscled man known as the ‘Freak’ Mozzare, flinched and froze.

Only his face turned toward the source of the voice.

The one who had called his name was Chief Marta.

Crossing the room, Marta walked toward him.

In response, Mozzare lowered his head.

The soldiers restraining him lowered theirs as well.

Marta was being shown respect as their chief.

Naturally.

Otherwise, he could never have led the nation for over ten years.

“What is it, Mozzare?”

This call was different from the first.

It was filled with kindness and affection.

“I... want to apologize...”

“Apologize? To whom?”

Without speaking, Mozzare raised a hand and pointed at Abel.

“You want to apologize to King Abel? For what happened at the harbor?”

At Marta’s question, Mozzare nodded silently.

Their conversation took place in a conference room that had fallen completely silent.

Naturally, Abel heard every word.

“I will accept that apology.”

With those words, Abel began walking toward Mozzare.

Naturally, Scotty moved to stop him, but Abel lightly extended an arm and restrained him.

This was, in its own way, a diplomatic stage.

A moment that should become a turning point. An opportunity for both nations to build friendship in the future.

Abel understood that instantly.

And so he slowly approached Mozzare.

Looking closely, he could see that Mozzare was trembling.

His instincts had identified Abel as someone possessing terrifying combat power.

Allowing such a person into his personal range... that was terrifying.

And so he trembled.

Even so, Mozzare endured it.

Because he understood that his actions at the harbor had worsened the position of the chief he admired and respected.

He had come here precisely because he wanted to somehow make up for that.

So although he was terrified... although the trembling would not stop... he endured.

Abel stopped before him.

“I... am very sorry.”

Mozzare lowered his head.

“I accept your apology.”

Abel told him so.

At first, he had thought about offering a handshake. But he could tell Mozzare’s body was trembling.

And he understood that the trembling stemmed from fear of him.

Abel had once been an A-Rank swordsman.

And because he had spent so much time around Ryo, he had also interacted with beings beyond human understanding.

If such beings entered one’s personal space... it truly was terrifying.

That was why he could understand Mozzare’s trembling.

Abel turned toward Chief Marta and deliberately spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Chief Marta, as it happens, we have some delicious food. I would very much like this... Mozzare-dono to try it. I’m sure he’ll like it.”

“...Pardon?”

Marta tilted his head at Abel’s sudden proposal.

Mozzare himself seemed equally confused.

After that, a message was sent from the conference room to Skidbladnir, which remained anchored in the harbor.

Fifteen minutes later, what they had requested arrived.

What Head Chef Kobatch and the others brought was... a large platter piled high with karaage.

An aroma drifted through the air, irresistibly appetizing.

Mozzare’s eyes locked onto the mountain of fried chicken.

Abel was the first to reach for it.

He picked up a piece... not particularly elegant, perhaps, but he took it in hand and stuffed it into his mouth.

“Hoh-hoh...”

It looked hot.

But his expression conveyed everything necessary... it was delicious.

“Come now, Mozzare-dono, you should try some as well.”

Abel called to him.

Mozzare reflexively reached out, but stopped midway.

Then he looked at Marta.

His instincts had driven him to reach for the food, but he apparently wanted confirmation that doing so was acceptable.

Marta silently nodded.

Mozzare reached out again, took a piece of karaage... and brought it to his mouth.

“Hoff-huff...”

Even a heavily muscled man apparently found hot food hot.

But...

“Delicious...”

The words escaped him without thinking.

“We had plenty made, so eat as much as you like.”

Abel told him with a smile.

And Head Chef Kobatch nodded in agreement.

“King Abel.”

“Ah, forgive me, Chief Marta. I acted on my own, but could you indulge this selfish whim of mine?”

“Of course... of course. It would be presumptuous of me to speak of forgiveness. If anything, I feel grateful...”

Abel smiled as he spoke, while Marta nodded repeatedly and watched Mozzare enthusiastically devouring the karaage.

Incidentally, beside Mozzare, a man in a white robe was eating just as enthusiastically.

The two exchanged smiles.

Naturally, that man was Ryo.

“The one who froze Mozzare...”

“Though he may not look it, he is the Premier Duke of our Knightley Kingdom.”

“Eh?”

“He is also the greatest water-attribute magician in the Central Countries.”

“...He certainly seems to be enjoying the food.”

“Doesn’t he? He’s the sort of man who would boldly declare that delicious food is the key to world peace.”

“World peace... that’s quite a grand vision.”

Despite smiling, Marta could not hide his surprise at Abel’s words.

Indeed.

No one truly knew how vast the world was.

And yet, to speak of ‘world peace’... one could only call it grand.

“Still, after seeing a sight like this, I can’t help thinking it may not be entirely impossible.”

“Exactly. Even chiefs and kings, who ought to understand better than anyone how difficult peace is... find themselves thinking so. It’s rather fascinating.”

Abel nodded at Marta’s words.

And throughout the conference room, a peace brought about by food quietly spread.

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