Are you going to Zenobia again?

　The maid, Satie, who had been ordered to prepare for the journey, gave a rare look of surprise.

''Ah, I've come to that conclusion. Anyway, we can't do anything about it if we don't solve the food problem first.''

'But my master, Master, Master Etruria, our ally in the Trade Federation, has told me that he cannot supply us with more food.

'You certainly did say that. I said it to Cephiro just the other day.

　I'm not saying that you remember it well. This girl is smart and has a good memory.

"And if we want to distribute more food, we'll have to bring in more ships. This would inevitably attract the attention of the League of Kings, and the League of Kings and the Trade Federation would be at odds with each other," said Etria herself. That's what Eltria herself said, and I'm aware of that.

'Your master does not wish to involve the people of the Trade Federation in a war, does he?

I don't want to get involved.

　I speak my mind.

'So what are you doing here, then?'

　I answer that question with clarity.

"To draw us into the war.

..........

　Hearing those words, Sati exclaimed, but continued to reassure her.

'No, I know it's a contradictory and selfish concept. No, I know it's contradictory and self-serving, but I've decided that this is the only thing I have left to do,

..........

　Satie exclaimed, and I added.

'I'll drag them into the war, but I'll make sure they're protected. I swear it to God. No, I'm not a religious man, so I guess that word is inappropriate--

　So I separated the words and chose them carefully.

'Yes, I swear on my grandfather's name.

　Sati seems to be relieved to hear those words.
　I guess it's because she knows how much I respect my grandpa.

''I made it clear before that I didn't intend to involve Eltria-san in the war, but I'm no longer in a situation where I can say such things. Right now, the war situation between the Demon King's Army and the Alliance of the Various Kings is almost at odds with each other. I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. You're not a man if you don't take a gamble here.

　"Besides," I continue.

"With the situation so close, the League of Kings may be asking the Trade Federation to not only provide food aid, but also an army and a flank attack from the Demon King's army. "I'm not just asking for food aid, but also for an army to flank the Demon King's army.

'The same thing happened the other day with the Elven Kingdom.

　Sati adds.
　I nod slowly.

'Right. I'm sure you'll find that the situation is such that neutrality is no longer acceptable. We have to make sure that our flag is clear here.

'So you're going to ask the Demon King's army to side with you? ''My master.''

Yeah, directly.

　Alternatively, they could continue their current relationship, i.e., remain neutral and let the secret trade continue. That might be the best option, but the only way to procure food in such a short period of time seemed to be to deepen relations with the Trade Federation.

So now," he said, "I'm going to the Trade Federation. I will go to the Trade Federation to confer with its ally, Eltria.
You're going to negotiate.

'I wonder if Miss Eltria would call it 'business'. If it's ultimately in the interest of the Trade Federation, she'll be on our side.

Then you'll succeed.

　Sati says that with a smile, but now, will I be able to live up to her expectations?

　I have made a habit of acting confidently in front of my subordinates and colleagues, but in front of this girl, I sometimes revert to my bare skin.

　The offer I'm about to make a request for is quite selfish, and the likelihood of them agreeing to it is slim to none.

　You can't help but be amazed at how thick your skin has gotten since you knew that when you went to ask for a favor.

''But, well, I still have no choice but to go, but...''

　As soon as I said that, I decided to start selecting people.

　This trip to Zenobia can't be called a journey.
　It's because we'll be using the space between transitions and heading there at a moment's notice.

　When we made a secret pact with Etria, the leader of the Trade Federation, we were given permission to use the Transitional Chamber at our leisure.

　Therefore, we should be able to minimize the number of people we're taking with us.
　Having come to that conclusion, I proceeded with my selection.

　The maid girl smiling in front of me - she would naturally be a candidate.
　In the past, when I went to Zenobia, the capital of the Trade Federation, she played a valuable role.
　And someone to take care of her personal affairs would be inevitably needed.
　I don't know how many days it will take to negotiate with Eltria, but I have no reason to leave her behind.

　I blurt out a single word to the girl who keeps smiling, "Hiring".
　She doesn't seem to be able to gauge what it means, but she seems pleased nonetheless.

'I'm happy to be by your side, sir.

　And she smiled happily.
　Now, the other attendants, but who should they be?

　There was no danger on the journey to Xenovia. It was natural since they would be using the time between transitions, but there would be zero chance of being attacked by a bandit gang or attacked by a flying dragon during the journey.

　However, it's also difficult to say that it's completely safe.
　If you go to Zenobia without a plan, there is also the possibility that you will be arrested without any thought.
　The woman named Ertolia is a merchant.
　And that's not just any merchant.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more than you've ever seen in this world.

You can't deny the possibility that if a high-priced item comes to you without warning, you will capture it and sell it.

　What I'm trying to say is that it would be a foolish plan to walk down the street without an escort.

　I jokingly told Sati about it, but she said, "How is that possible? He asks back.

　I say.


I heard there's a saying in Zenobia," he says. Treat your friends better than your family, because sometimes you can sell them for more than gold. Because sometimes they can fetch more than gold.


..........


　Hearing those words, Sati is speechless.
　I feel sorry for her, so I hurriedly follow up with her.

'--Well, that's just a joke. But I guess we should at least take an escort with us.

　It's a complete joke to say that Eltria will betray you, but if you head out without an escort, you'll disappoint her.

　I'm sure she will say that when she sees me arriving in such a careless manner.

I'm sure she will say, "A person of your status appears in a negotiation place without an escort, alone. It's a step, but I've lowered my opinion of you.

　-- and.

　I didn't want to be sold to her, but I also didn't want to be disappointed.
　At the very least, I should take an escort with me.
　The contingency could happen at any time.
　We have to consider every possibility.


　For example, I could be attacked by pirates as soon as I arrive in town.
　Or, as soon as I arrive in the city, there could be a civil war in Zenobia.
　Or, as soon as I arrive in the city, I could be attacked by assassins hiding in Zenobia.


　If that happens, a battle might break out, regardless of my or Eltria's will.
　It was the responsibility of the person in charge of the legion to anticipate such things and act accordingly.

　Having come to that conclusion, I decided to call Lilith and Anemone.
　I'm taking the succubus Lilith to serve as an escort in case of an emergency.

　She would be able to at least hurt and capture even a somewhat skilled assassin to the extent of 'not killing' them.

　And if you don't take her with you, she'll be May. If you take her with you, she'll be May, but if you're the same May, let's at best be useful.

　The reason for taking Anemone, the elven warrior chief, with you is to broaden your horizons, right?
　She comes from the elven forest and can be a bit naive.
　Show him the city of Zenobia, which is far more urban than this Ivalice, and he'll be delighted.
　No, they might sit back.

　Sati heard the choice.

It's all women this time.

　He pointed out sharply.

'.........................

　As expected of a girl with a keen sense of intuition. She seems to have an idea why I chose this member of the team.

''If you take a lot of women with you, I'm sure Ike's 'fiancée', Yulia-sama, will bake cakes for you, too.

I hope you're right.

　He visits his fiancée with three beautiful women.
　Her fiancé is jealous and declares that the engagement is broken.

　I thought it would be better if that happened, so I chose this person, but now, will Miss Julia take advantage of this intention?

　Or something more interesting than negotiating with Eltria, but whatever, I call Lilith and Anemone.

　A few minutes later, Lilith and Anemone appear.

I've asked them to accompany me as my bodyguard for these negotiations.

　Hearing those words, Lilith, as expected, was delighted to be with Master Ike.
　Anemone spluttered that she could go to the big city.
　I let out an exhale at the sight, but I didn't dare point it out.
　I didn't dare to point out that this is my job.
　I had no intention at all of having these two men assist in diplomacy from the beginning.
　However, I greatly admired the skill of the two of them as mages and spirit users.

''Well, let's hope those skills are of no use.

　The fact that they are active means that something rough happens.
　I wanted to avoid that.
　I let this slip through my fingers and headed for the transition room with Sati, Lilith and Anemone.

　But it seems to be true that the more you wish for trouble, the more likely it is to happen, and when I went to the Transition Room, there stood an elderly man with a bandage on his face.

　He was a man in a butler's uniform with a magnificent moustache.
　I remember the man's face.
　We had fought on the ship together, and I had been under his care during our stay in Zenobia.
　As I rushed over to him, I asked.

'What in the world has happened?　Sir Hans?

　When he called the name of the Octave family's steward, the steward, whose bandages were smeared with blood, said stoutly.

''-- Miss Julia is in danger. Lady Ike, please save her.

　Hans, the butler, collapses at the same time.
　I support him with one hand and cast a recovery spell as it is.
　Then, after confirming that the wound was closed, I supported Hans' collapsed shoulder and transferred to Zenobia.