Ains, good to see you. Feeling a little sluggish?

　Ains, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, was slender and thin.
　His face was blue and his eyes were shaded.
　I can imagine why, but I dare not say.

　''Yes, thanks.''

　Ains laughs vaguely.
　His eyes aren't smiling.

　I don't think he's in a pleasant mood.
　Ains is a pro-Rosaisian.

　He must be shrugging his shoulders in Rezad right now.

　'Well, I thought Rezad had declared neutrality... what do you want?
　"We have declared our neutrality regarding your civil war. And we have sanctioned punitive action against those who supported it. ....but anything more is a violation of the treaty.

　The treaty would be the treaty that was signed with Rezad Gehenna after the surrender of King Belbedil's country.

　It was a treaty on how to divide the territory of King Belvedil's country and the area between King Belvedil's country and Rezad.

　As a result of the treaty, the northern part, where the majority of the population was Adelnian, and the central part, where Cilician and Adelnian people lived together, were to be given to our country, while the southern part, where most of the population was Cilician, and the area between it and Rezad Gehenna were to come under the influence of Rezad Gehenna and to be independent.

　This time, the civil war took place in the central part of the country, a miscellaneous area.
　And it was the city-states in the region between the south and the intervening region that supported the civil war.

　And the result of the second southern conquest....
　Half of the city-state in the region between the south and the intervening area came under our control.

　To the extent that we brought the southern end under our control, both Rezad and Gehenna would have acquiesced.
　But our country has brought half of it under its control.
　I guess they thought it was not good enough.

　But let me excuse myself, I didn't do it on purpose.
　After the battle, the number of cities that surrendered quickly increased.

　We didn't even recommend surrender, but they bring us emissaries of surrender and tribute.
　Naturally, there was no particular reason to refuse, so they continued to accept them.


　'Most of the cities offered to surrender before they fought our country... or even sent us a surrender notice. This is probably a lack of control on your part.

　I cower my shoulders.
　Ains retorted with a stronger tone of voice.

　''That's absurd. Do you intend to violate the terms of the treaty?
　"We have not transgressed. "We have not trampled on it," he said, "but it has offered to surrender to our country and to make an alliance with us on its own accord. I am in trouble, too. You must persuade him to stay.

　Well, there's no point in doing that.
　Even if I were to return to the Rezad and Gehenna umbrella with only a formality, they would betray me in an instant just by me sending in a letter of intent.

　The centripetal force has been reduced to the point of no longer being able to recover.

　''........It's fine. You can't blame them for forming an alliance once. Let's accept what your country has to say. We demand that you stop your march.
　I would like to say that I understand but of course we need to stop the military actions of the cities of Cilicia and the support of your merchants first.

　At my words, Ains looked like he'd bitten down on a bitter worm.

　''Your Majesty. You may no longer believe me but our government has remained neutral throughout this war.
　But it's true that your merchants have supported your arms and your troops.
　...and there are no laws in our country to regulate it.

　From what I've heard, the country of Rezad is a very 'small government'.
　The country only does security, national defense and public works.

　.........No, security maintenance and national defense are mercenaries hired by merchants, and many of the public works are also volunteers from merchants.

　So the government has little or no power.

　The image is the United Nations.
　Each country is a merchant.

　When push comes to shove, the merchants can do whatever they want.
　That's the kind of state system we have.

　I don't trust the country of Rezad. But, Ains. I trust you.
　Well I'm glad to hear that.

　Ains gave a small sigh.

　'We have already put a halt to military operations in the Cilicia cities. The merchants have also already given up on the cities and stopped supporting them.
　Well hmmm, okay. Would you excuse us for a moment?　I have something to discuss with my advisor.

　I said and forced Ains to step back.
　Then I asked Ial, Raimondo, and Bartolo, who were standing on either side of me, "Do you think we should have a ceasefire or not?

　'Do you think it's better to have a ceasefire or not? I'd like to hear what you guys think.

　I asked, and Raimondo was the first to speak.

　''The truce should be called immediately. The problem has been solved, since the cities that surrendered are helping us with our supplies, but if we continue to maintain an army of 40,000 troops any longer, it will be a great hindrance to our agriculture.

　Raimondo's opinion, in one roll, is that the war should be stopped. That's what he said.
　'I suppose that's what he thinks as a politician and home secretary,' he said.

　'What do you say, sir? 'This is a good time,' said Raimondo. If we march on, we can conquer all the cities of Cilicia. If we do well, we will be able to drink all the way to Rezad. Rezad is an economic powerhouse. If we can incorporate it into our territory, it will boost our national strength. We won't see any hindrance to our agriculture.

　Bartolo is of the opinion that the war should continue.
　That's what he thinks as a soldier and military officer.

　Raimondo is quick to retort: "Agriculture is the foundation of the nation.

　'Agriculture is the foundation of a nation. "Agriculture is the foundation of a nation and must not be neglected. Besides, the refusal to do military service has just ended in our country. If we allow our farmers to neglect their land any longer, they will be impoverished. If that happens, the same thing will happen again. We should make peace now. Besides, if we march any further, the Alexios Barca of Rezad will come out!

　Raimondo shouted aloud.
　Alexios Barca's military capabilities had been known to the nations since the siege.

　If this was combined with the mobility of the Germanic mercenary force, it was a great threat.

　''You think I can lose to Alexios Barca?''
　'I wouldn't say that, but like twisting a baby's hand ... you can't say that, can you?

　The two men glared at each other.
　For now, they both seem to have finished expressing their opinions.

　'Ial. How about you?
　You must make peace.

　Ial said once and for all.

　'The war between the pro-Rosaisites and the anti-Rosaisites is currently raging in Rezad. The pro-Losais faction is accusing the anti-Losais faction of being 'bad because you have irritated the country of King Losais.' On the contrary, the anti-Lossians accuse, 'Your friends have conquered our people. If left unchecked, it will naturally lead to internal divisions. When that happens, it will be an opportunity for conquest. On the contrary, if we continue our march now, all at once the anti-Rosaisers will have the upper hand, and Rezad will be united in its opposition to our country.

　You've turned your attention to the internal strife in Rezad.
　That's a diplomat's opinion.

　Well, what to do...

　I meditate for a moment and think.　
　Then he opened his eyes.

　'All right, let's proceed with the peace. Now we must steadily gain a foothold.



　I then called Ains back and asked him to mediate a peace.






　1 Rezad and Gehenna and the cities of Cilicia grant the primacy of the Kingdom of King Rosais to the cities newly allied with the Kingdom of King Rosais.

　2 The kingdom of King Rosais shall recognize the primacy of Rezad and Gehenna and the independence of Rezad and Gehenna over the cities with which Rezad and Gehenna are in alliance.

　3 There shall be no interference in mutual or internal affairs.

　4 Rezad and Gehenna and the kingdoms of King Rosais shall establish embassies and ambassadors to each other.

　5 The property of the merchants of Rezad in the country of King Losais that have supported the Cilician cities shall be confiscated.

　6 The Confederation of Cilician Cities shall make immediate reparations to the Land of King Losais in the sum of five hundred tarrant.




　Hmm, not bad.
　I'll read the clause that was made to both sides.

　I'm going to make sure there are no holes in the treaty.
　I'm Adelnian, but this text is written in Cilician.

　There was concern that it could be fooled by some trickery, but...
　It seems to have been a no-brainer.

　Well, I guess it's rather well known that I'm fluent in Cilician.

　I suddenly looked at the representatives of the Cilicia cities.
　They had a look on their faces as if they had bitten down on a bitter worm.

　Five hundred tarrant must be a big burden........
　Well, I guess I deserve it.


　I sign the text and then put a gold stamp on it.
　The representatives of the Cilician cities also signed their names with a bitter expression on their faces.


　Thus, the second conquest of the South had come to a successful end.






　Two weeks after the war ended, the loot and reparations were sorted out.

　'The total gain from the plunder is about two hundred tarrant. The total amount of the supplements is two hundred tarangs, and the reparations recently paid are five hundred tarangs. And the assets confiscated from the Rezad merchants in the country are one hundred tarangs.

　Raimondo reads the document and reports.
　That's a grand total of one thousand tarrant.

　It's more money than I expected.
　War is so lucrative.

　"We also anticipate increased tax revenues due to the increase in the number of allied cities.
　The rebellion worked out for the better as a result.

　It's a good thing I'm a horse," he said.
　If it weren't for this civil war, I wouldn't have been able to invade the cities of Cilicia and gain a thousand tarrant and increased tax revenues.

　All that was left to do was to steadily upgrade the military structure at home.

　In a year's time, let's conquer Rezad.

　I couldn't help but smile.


　'And I've got one more strange vegetable in my possession.
　Vegetables?

　I nodded my head.
　Raimondo instructs his men to bring the vegetable or whatever it is.

　A few moments later, a red-fruited plant in a flowerpot was brought in.

　"This vegetable.
　...the tomatoes.


　It's also....
　You got some subtle vegetables.

　...I would have preferred soybeans, or potatoes, or corn if I could.