The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 42
Where does God’s will go (5)
“The Hidden Secret of the Holy Empire…?”
Was there something like that…?
The saintess tilted her head.
Since she had been trained as a saint for a long time, the strangeness of that unfamiliar name must have been even greater.
In the midst of the heightened tension, Archpriest Garden raised his hand to silence the saintess’ muttering.
“… … You already knew.”
“What did you know? The secret that the Holy Empire had to hide? Or what you hoped to gain from this pressure?”
“… … .”
I could feel the end of the shallow questions and answers.
They had lost their justification, and it was I who held the leash of information.
How to block false causality.
However, what they chose was not submission, but pressure backed by power.
“Go ahead. From what I hear, there’s nothing you can’t say, starting with pointing out that he’s the mastermind behind the conspiracy to commit treason.”
“You take so long to tell me to shut up.”
The high priest, whose face was distorted like that of a demon, was struck again by a roar that broke his composure.
But this time, he didn’t back down.
“… … Think as you wish. But be careful. The Holy Nation will not laugh off such falsehoods.”
“Hoo.”
okay?
As expected, it was a conversation style that befitted his strict and closed-minded personality.
If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do.
“Then, I guess we have no choice but to discuss this situation with the Federal Empire.”
“… … .!”
“What!”
bang!
My father stood up from his seat as if he couldn’t believe it.
Didn’t he himself already decide that Carrot was his enemy?
But, how on earth can you so easily say that you will join them… …!
Likewise, in the consultation with the Federal Empire mentioned above, the High Priest turned to me in a thoughtful manner.
“So, does that mean you’re saying you’re definitely going to walk the path of an apostate?!”
“The path of the apostate is a harsh word, High Priest Garden.”
“Ha, but… … .!”
That was probably a different reaction from what they expected.
Because throughout history, Esteban was nothing more than a weak country, stuck between two great powers, as it always has been.
Either way. I clasped my hands together on the marble table, closed my eyes leisurely, and enjoyed the view.
“How could Esteban, with his weak power, be able to withstand the wrath of the Holy Nation? Cooperation with the Federal Empire is the only way out.”
“Hey, if you just accept the Holy Nation’s advice from the beginning, there won’t be any problems… … .”
“suasion?”
Oh, was that the word that referred to the declaration of surrender?
It was so absurd that I forgot about it.
I blurted out an answer as if I was free.
“No way.”
“……yes?”
I answered the high priest who asked with a dumbfounded expression with a bright smile.
“Esteban relies heavily on trade with the Federal Empire. He cannot simply cut that relationship off.”
This was not a diplomatic issue, it was a matter of survival.
Because food from their fertile lands was flowing into Esteban at a cheap price.
In addition, many of the items directly related to the ‘survival’ of the common people were produced through trade with the Federal Empire.
“Well, there’s no need to talk about the dwarves’ demands.”
Thought verification?
It was a ridiculous story, to be moved by such an excuse.
If you had a better excuse, I would have at least pretended to listen.
“I’m afraid we will need some time to review the recommendations. I will give you a detailed answer later, so why don’t you return to the Holy Land now?”
“That’s ridiculous!”
The phrase ‘nonsense’ he speaks of was not limited to the order to return to the Holy Land.
“Your Majesty, your current collaboration with the Federal Empire is an act of apostasy! It is an act that in itself is a threat to the people of Esteban!”
“But what can I do now that things have turned out like this?”
“If you cut off diplomatic relations with them and accept my recommendations as I said… … .”
“therefore.”
I cut the guy off with a sharp shrug.
“Didn’t I say it’s impossible? Do I have to tell you twice?”
“… … .”
The manners that once existed no longer existed.
Chilly.
In it, there is only my figure gesturing in annoyance.
“Then what? You who threaten to restrict even the upward movement, will solve this problem through trade with Esteban?”
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“……that.”
“Oh, that sounds like a good idea. I would also seriously consider this recommendation if you would do so.”
moment.
A dull gaze pierced through the High Priest of Garden.
“But it seems that the disaster that would result from that recommendation was beyond your concern.”
“… … .”
The recommendation was a tool of pressure.
No one would ever accept this, or even think about it seriously.
It’s just a means to demonstrate their power, as always.
The way he tried to coax Esteban had already been proven to be powerful.
“But it seems there is something we are overlooking.”
‘We’ will never cooperate with the Federal Empire for fear of being branded an apostate.
There is no possibility of cooperation between two countries that have not been on good terms since ancient times…
… … Who decided that?
“History is always nothing more than something built on the logic of power.”
“stop.”
At that moment, my father broke his silence and spoke.
“I don’t know what secret you are talking about. However, I do know that the Holy Nation’s plan was behind the creation of this place.”
Break with the apostate Federal Empire.
And besides the verification of the dwarves, something else was revealed.
Even though it was just a secret that had not been revealed to anyone, the fact that there was impurity in the intention was no longer a suspicion but a confirmed fact.
I shrugged.
That’s right.
And the worst-case scenario they predicted was that the secrets of the Holy Empire would be exposed by the dwarves.
But the current situation was a ‘real’ abyss that the guys had not anticipated.
‘I already held the secret.’
What if, in the meantime, we establish a cooperative relationship with the Federal Empire under their pressure?
In this way, the bridgehead toward the heart of the Holy Nation will be wide open.
This is in a situation where the absolute justification for forming a religious group, that is, ‘faith’, has collapsed.
I slowly got up from my seat.
“It seems like it will be difficult to find a suitable point of agreement at this meeting.”
“… … !”
Break up the talks.
“If the next meeting takes place, I hope we can have a good talk then.”
I don’t know if that meeting will actually take place, though.
It was at that time that I was leisurely strolling towards the exit.
“… … Please wait.”
He was the Archpriest of Garden.
When I turned my head to look at him, he was getting up from his seat, trying hard to suppress his trembling body.
I shrugged and said,
“what?”
“As you have said, I will fully permit the trade of basic necessities between the Holy Land and Esteban.”
“… … Hoo.”
The lofty land of the gods that stood shoulder to shoulder with no other nation.
The end of that arrogant prestige was ultimately surrender.
But my smile was gradually growing deeper.
“So, should we accept the advice and cooperate with the Holy Empire?”
“… … .”
“You don’t like it?”
“Th, what is that… … .”
Bang!
It was an unbelievable answer.
The chair was thrown to the floor by the body of the high priest who had risen up in a hurry.
“Are you really saying that you want to stand against the Holy Nation?!”
Unexpectedly, the high priest’s expression broke down a dozen times a day.
But the look on my face was a clear sneer.
I went back to my seat, perched on the marble desk, and stroked my chin.
“The grains from the Federation Empire are cheap and of good quality, and they help to relieve the hunger of the people. And their price is about 80% of the normal food price. Is the Holy Empire willing to provide grains at this price?”
“That, that much somehow… … .”
“But, that wouldn’t make sense.”
Yes, it wasn’t just a question of food prices.
“To accept the advice would mean to turn our relations with the Federal Empire hostile. If we were to receive the grain at the same price, it would be better for me and my people to continue on as we are now.”
The smile on his face was no more.
“75%.”
“… … !”
“In addition, the Holy Empire should support the reinforcement of the eastern border area of Estevan that borders the Federal Empire, and the defense of any military forces that may be present.”
The scope would be reinforcement of the walls, provision of materials, and free dispatch of healing priests.
In fact, it was a proposal close to tribute disguised as a cooperative relationship. Nevertheless, it was a recommendation that they had no choice but to accept.
I looked down coldly at the high priest who had risen from his seat.
What would the Holy Empire pay in return for keeping Esteban and the Federal Empire in check?
And what can we suggest to prevent false causality?
My eyes were telling me so.
“… … .”
In the momentary silence that fell over the room, the high priest hesitated, wiping his sunken face.
“This is not something I can decide on my own.”
“okay?”
“This is such an unbalanced agreement. I doubt the high priests of the Holy Nation will accept it… … .”
“Is that unbalanced agreement the recommendation you brought up first?”
“… … .”
It’s silence.
Yeah. I guess I have nothing to say.
It’s ridiculous that you’re complaining now after pressuring Esteban with your extremely selfish greed.
Okay, enough with the whip, now for the carrot?
I pretended to think hard and crossed my arms, then moved my hands.
“Do it like this.”
At that moment,
Ding-! Tegurururur-
“… … !”
The high priest’s agony was buried, and the sound of clear water drops echoed throughout the hall.
A small turquoise ingot thrown onto the desk.
It was an object so refined and transparent that the marble material was clearly visible.
“This, this is… … .!”
The object rolled vigorously and was blocked by the body of the high priest who quickly stood up from his seat.
It was something I was familiar with both as a high priest and as a saint.
That would be the case, didn’t the name itself reveal its essence?
“This is… … .”
“… … Shin Seong-cheol!”
The ultimate metal that the Holy Empire was searching for.
That is, it was Mithril.
That wasn’t the end.
“A mithril mine was recently discovered in Estevan.”
I took another mithril ingot out of my pocket and turned it around, taking in its shape.
A treasure of incomparable value, even compared to gold of the same volume.
And the opportunity had already become Esteban’s.
“However, coincidentally, I was in a difficult situation because I couldn’t find the seller.”
“Th, those words… … !”
“okay.”
I nodded as if doing a favor.
“If we can reach an amicable agreement, we might be able to export this.”
If an amicable agreement is reached, that is.
The implication was simple.
No one could stop the steps of the chairman as he finally left.
“I expect to have new recommendations by tomorrow.”
However, if you do not satisfy me, the end will only be catastrophe.
