Ch 319
One of the challenges of signing the peace treaty was that only Fibiel was impatient.
Because of that, Minis insisted on concluding the peace treaty under the same conditions as before the war.
However, how about now?
All life in Radcliffe, Minis’ city, had disappeared!
“……Ho, that’s right. Luger really is a genius at biting at
weaknesses. No, I should say he is a genius at annoying others.”
“The easiest way to win a fight is to attack the weakness. Don’t you even know that [Bullseye]?”
When Leeha said those words teasingly, Luger turned his head toward Leeha excitedly. It wasn’t really a compliment as it was a sarcastic remark, but how did he not realize that? Luger even thought that Leeha was not someone who didn’t know about it.
While the Three Musketeers were bickering, Browless finalized everything. And Leeha could see by looking at the notification window that popped up the next moment.
The final quest, a quest with no failure condition, was just one of the procedures to proceed to another stage.
[You have completed the quest ‘Demon Noble’ Blue Beard Count Le-3.]
“Luger-kun, go to Ezwen and meet His Holiness, the Pope, and report about this matter.”
“Okay.”
“Kidd-kun, look at the surroundings and see if there are any other evidence related to chimeras or Bluebeard.”
“Of course.”
Luger and Kidd looked into the air for a moment before replying.
Leeha had guessed that a new quest appeared in front of them.
“And Leeha-kun, come with me to the palace. Let us go persuade the nobles together.”
[Signing of Fibiel-Minis Peace Treaty-1]
Explanation: ‘Those who oppose the agreement won’t be able to do much. If they realize that Bluebeard led Gibrid’s chimeras and wiped out a city, they wouldn’t be talking nonsense anymore.’
Secure conclusive evidence that Bluebeard is on the move. Browless and the Three Musketeers need to go to the area where Ghibrid’s chimeras are and try to secure evidence.
Content: Convince more than half of the Fibiel nobles to conclude the Peace Treaty within 30 days(0%)
Reward: Signing of Fibiel-Minis Peace Treaty-2
Failure condition: Exceeding the time limit
In case of failure: Outbreak of local battles between Fibiel and Minis
– Would you like to accept?
[You are eligible for city compensation.]
[Subsequent rewards will change depending on the additional conditions for clearing the quest.]
‘What,? An outbreak of local
battles?!’
Leeha was also curious about the other notification that appeared, but the penalty for this quest was truly astonishing.
Far from reconciliation of humanity, there would be war again!
It will not be an all-out war, but it was natural that the relationship between the two countries would deteriorate because of the local battles.
“We have to go quickly, Leeha-kun.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”
The deadline was not long. Browless had to persuade more than half of the nobles within 30 days, which he could not convince whatever he did.
‘Luger goes to the vatican and just reports, Kidd cleans up the surroundings, but why am I the only one…”
However, who could he blame? Leeha accepted the quest with a feeling of eating mustard seed while crying.
“Then, good luck everyone. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”
With Browless’ words, the Three Musketeers separated again. Browless and Leeha immediately returned to Fibiel’s royal palace.
“Are you going to see His Highness right away?”
“No, we have to convince the ministers and nobles first. Because His Highness would only listen to a unified opinion.”
“Hmm, he can go at them a little stronger.”
“He can’t just do what he wants to do as a king, Leeha-kun. This is why opinions from all walks of life had to be sufficiently gathered so that they would not revolt later. Well, you don’t know because you haven’t been through the Second Human-Demon War.”
Leeha just nodded at Browless’ words. He wasn’t just asking out of curiosity. He wanted to complete the quest by directly persuading the king without persuading the nobles, but it failed.
‘I also have a fair amount of intimacy with the NPCs of the Fibiel’s royal family, but I have only seen the faces of ordinary nobles at most once……. There are more noble NPCs that I haven’t even seen.’
Leeha couldn’t even remember the names of some of the nobles who went to Holy Grill’s opening. In addition, he also wasn’t confident in recognizing the people during the protection of the king’s assassination, and some of the people he met when he went back and forth to the palace when has business there.
For Leeha, persuading the nobles was more difficult than persuading the king. However, it was not possible to change the direction of the already progressing quest.
“Phew……. Are you ready?”
“This is?”
“It is mainly used as a conference room by the nobles.” How did they get to this point… Browless caught his breath in front of the conference room door.
Someone who didn’t even get nervous when fighting demon nobles in the Sentinel Mountains was nervous now. Seeing his appearance, Leeha became nervous and gulped. If he couldn’t convince the people in here within 30 days, what would happen…?.
“Let’s go in.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Knock- knock- knock-.
Browless knocked on the conference room door, and after a while, the door opened.
About 40 people were seated around a long oval table.
‘Is this all of them? If this is all of them, the majority would be 21 people.’
Leeha quickly scanned the faces of the people. And he found a red-haired woman sitting next to the seat of honor.
“Ha Leeha?”
“Ah! Ram Hwayeon!”
He remembered what he heard from Shin Nara.
Ram Hwayeon, the only user in the noble faction working on the conclusion of the peace treaty, was sitting there.
“So, according to Sir Browless, another Fragment of the Demon King, Ghibrid, has appeared?”
“No, Count Quintum. Ghibrid did not appear, but Bluebeard is controlling the chimeras that Ghibrid created. Given that it’s hard to handle the demon nobles that are roaming around right now, can you imagine what kind of crisis the country will face if the chimeras appear?”
“Hmm.”
Quintum, who was sitting on the left of the seat of honor, nodded.
Browless had the charisma to instantly take control of the group of 40 nobles seated around the oval table. The normal noble NPCs could not bear the terrifying pressure contained in his quiet and kind tone and polite behavior.
“Do you remember 20 years ago?. I am not only asking the count, but all of you. You must sign the peace treaty and start the search for Bluebeard with Minis, Shazrashian Federation, Ezwen and Kraven. There will be no peace for humanity if we cannot completely kill the Fragment of the Demon King.”
Keung-!
It was a perfect persuasion, even the timing of lightly hitting the table with a fist. Leeha stood next to Browless and looked at him with a respectful expression.
He really is a powerful NPC. He is good in battle, he is also good with words …. After all, he’s a ‘hero’ of the Second Human-Demon war, that is why he has this level of natural charisma.’
Browless, an NPC who lost not only wealth but also his most precious colleagues, was motivated to thoroughly prevent the recurrence of the pain of the second human-demon war.
Watching the atmosphere at the buzzing table after Browless’ speech, Leeha was able to quickly pick out the major nobles.
‘I think the count is the second-in-command, but judging by the atmosphere, isn’t he just letting it go as is? The rest of the people who are said to be viscounts and barons appear to not care…. It seems the two of them are the problem…’
Two people did not change their expressions even after Browless’ speech.
A man with a mustache, who was sitting in the center seat and Ram Hwayeon, who was sitting on his right. The two of them still had a detached expression.
At such a meeting, the spirit of Ram Hwayeon, who was the eldest daughter of Hong Kong’s largest conglomerate, the Ramlong Group, was clearly different from ordinary people.
“Therefore, we must propose to His Highness the conclusion of the peace treaty. If Marquis Hujak-nim and Count Quintum help, even Lotzak won’t have any more reason to refuse-”
“Excuse me, please wait a minute. What did Browless-nim say?”
“Hmm? ”
“I am Ram Hwayeon, I manage the overall administration of Castle Dale, including commercial activities.”
It was then that Ram Hwayeon stood up. She politely greeted Browless. Leeha smiled next to him.
‘That’s right, speak up and finish it, Ram Hwayeon! Please help me this time!’
What kind of senses did Ram Hwayeon have? Looking at Leeha, who was standing next to Browless, there was no way she would not be able to grasp what kind of flow was happening.
And Leeha had an unfounded belief that she would help him.
“Yes, Ram Hwayeon-nim. Master of Hwahong.”
“Right. Thank you for knowing.”
“It was nothing. As you are in charge of a castle, I think you also feel the need to sign the peace treaty quickly.”
Browless asked her softly.
The only user among the members of the nobles in the room. Ram Hwayeon’s red hair shook violently at the question that was like a pressure-like question toward her.
“No. Rather, I stood up to give you an opposing opinion.”
“Hmm?”
“May I tell you my opinion, Marquis Hujak-nim?”
She looked at the black-mustached man in the center seat with a bright expression. Marquis Hujak nodded.
“Please speak.”
Browless’ expression had already slightly hardened. Leeha barely held back his jaw from opening.
Looking at Ram Hwayeon’s expression, an expression of finding a weakness, Leeha understood why he suddenly thought of Luger.
‘T-This. She’s not on my side-’
He thought it was too easy. How can Ram Hwayeon change in a place where ‘profits’ was mentioned?
“If what Browless-nim just said is true, we should ignore all of Minis’ suggestions as much as possible. Of course, it is impossible to propose the conclusion of a peace treaty first.”
If Luger was a fighter in the battlefield, Ram Hwayeon was a fighter in negotiations, Leeha had forgotten for a moment.
Browless’ expression was completely crumpled.
“Can…… Can you explain what that means?”
“It is as I said. Currently, we have presented the term of the peace treaty to Minis. This means that we do not have to hurry to conclude the peace treaty by lowering the terms first when Minis has not responded yet.”
“Do you remember what I said?”
“The chimeras of Ghibrid has appeared, and Bluebeard is leading and stirring them…… Of course I remember. And I also remember where it is.”
“awhere it is?”
It was the difference between Browless and Ram Hwayeon. It did not immediately reach Browless, who was envisioning a human alliance against the Fragment of the Demon King. However, Ram Hwayeon, a user who had adapted to life in Middle Earth more than the NPC in Middle Earth, knew exactly that.
“They are causing trouble…… in ‘Minis’…… right? Besides, it is in the southwestern part of Minis, and if the chimeras can’t fly, they will not be able to enter our country, right? It means they are running around and playing inside Minis. Then there’s no need for us to get ahead and lower the conditions. Now that the people in Minis are impatient, we need to offer them stronger conditions and make them accept. I don’t want to lower the conclusion of the peace treaty, but rather, shouldn’t we withdraw the conditions we recently proposed?”
Like how a person is in a hurry digging a well. In negotiations, those who act in haste are unconditionally at a disadvantage. Ram Hwayeon was trying to take advantage of the current situation.
“Surely……. You must be kidding. How much damage will it do to Minis-”
“So. If Minis doesn’t want to take too much damage, they will have to accept our terms. Don’t they? Isn’t that so, Marquis Hujak?”
“As expected. That makes sense. She’s right, Sir Browless.”
Leeha looked at the atmosphere in the hall.
All the people who had succumbed to Browless’ persuasion until just now became all opposition again!
‘T-this is crazy!’
Leeha looked at her face. And he thought it was fortunate that it wasn’t reality. Because in Middle Earth, there was a way to communicate without being noticed by others.
Leeha: What are you doing, don’t you know why I am here? This is my quest!
Ram Hwayeon: Hmp, you think I don’t know? I sensed that much.
Leeha: What? S-So why are you doing this? Help me!
Leeha frowned at Ram Hwayeon and she shrugged her shoulders with an ambiguous expression.
Ram Hwayeon: It’s because you are stupid! Don’t you know why I’m doing this right now?
Leeha: Hmm? What? Interfering with my quest?
Ram Hwayeon: ……Interfering? Interfering!?
At Leeha’s words, Ram Hwayeon’s expression began to freeze. He didn’t express something well! Alas, Leeha wanted to change his words, but it was already too late.
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