Not long after Muria and Fernand concluded their discussion, Creek Mountain Kingdom indeed sent a delegation to negotiate an alliance. Although the delegates tried to maintain an air of composure, their desperation was impossible to hide. On the battlefield, they were repeatedly defeated and forced into retreat by Mikaela's forces.
Given the situation, Muria, already renowned for his thick skin and cunning mind, wasn't about to agree to an alliance so easily. With Fernand backing him, the Creek Mountain delegation faced a deliberately prolonged negotiation process. Muria instructed his ministers to stall for time, and as Creek Mountain's desperation grew, they exploited the opportunity to impose increasingly onerous demands.
This opportunistic behavior left the Creek Mountain delegation gritting their teeth in anger. But there was little they could do. As the side seeking aid, they had no choice but to swallow their indignation.
By the end of the negotiations, the demands escalated to an audacious proposal: Creek Mountain should cede part of its territory as payment for the alliance. This suggestion immediately touched a nerve. The delegation erupted in fury and resolutely rejected the demand.
For Creek Mountain, territorial integrity was the final line they could not allow to be crossed. Their land was already being steadily eroded under the advance of Mikaela's armies. What's more, they had already lost the option of retreating to what they once dismissed as the "barbaric lands" of the Ymir Plains. At this juncture, even the thought of surrendering more territory was unthinkable.
Having tested Creek Mountain's bottom line, the negotiating minister from Muria's court wisely chose to back down. Instead, he shifted to securing substantial material tributes and granting his kingdom extensive privileges within Creek Mountain. Finally, the two sides signed an alliance treaty—a treaty Muria had always intended to tear up when the time was right.
After the treaty was signed, Creek Mountain incessantly urged Muria to send troops to assist them against Mikaela's forces. However, Muria instructed his generals to stall until Creek Mountain had fully delivered the promised resources. Only then did the army reluctantly set out.
The contrast between the army's movements before and after crossing the border was striking. While traveling along the finely constructed highways of the Ymir Plains, the troops moved with astonishing speed. But once they entered Creek Mountain territory, their pace slowed to a crawl.
The shift was so jarring that the Creek Mountain envoys accompanying the army were left stunned and speechless. The stark difference was almost comical.
When Creek Mountain pressed for an explanation, Muria's generals deflected with a single excuse: "Your roads are simply too atrocious. None of us have ever marched on such abysmal terrain before; we need time to adapt."
This response left the Creek Mountain delegation both frustrated and embarrassed. While they were desperate to push for faster progress, they couldn't refute the criticism of their roads.
Ultimately, Creek Mountain had no choice but to offer additional concessions to spur the troops into picking up their pace.
Upon reaching the battlefield, Muria's army engaged Mikaela's forces in a grand, meticulously staged confrontation. The result left Creek Mountain in stunned disbelief: for the first time, Mikaela's forces—who had been steamrolling through their territory—were finally held at bay.
The unexpected victory was met with jubilation across Creek Mountain. For three days, celebrations rang out throughout the kingdom. Any resentment toward Muria and his army vanished, replaced by gratitude. They felt the resources and privileges they had given up were a small price to pay for salvation.
Little did they know that this apparent victory was an illusion, carefully orchestrated by Muria and Mikaela. In reality, this was no war but a staged military exercise. To the uninformed observer, the fierce clashes and devastating losses seemed entirely genuine. In truth, both armies were merely actors, following a script. The one being fooled—Creek Mountain—was none the wiser.
Of course, even a staged war could not avoid casualties entirely. Some soldiers did die, but their numbers were negligible compared to the toll of a real conflict.
In the aftermath of this "battle," Creek Mountain's dependence on Muria's army only deepened. They fully recognized their own forces were no match for Mikaela's. Consequently, Creek Mountain's strategy shifted: Muria's army became the central pillar of their defense, while their own forces played a supporting role.
This led to an unusual dynamic. With Muria's army taking over key defensive strongholds, Creek Mountain was forced to relinquish significant control. While they clung tightly to their most vital strategic points, even these were eventually infiltrated by Muria's forces.
Time passed, and Muria continued dispatching reinforcements to Creek Mountain under the guise of assisting their defense. Meanwhile, the occupying forces squeezed every ounce of advantage they could, demanding supplies and resources from Creek Mountain at every turn.
To the Creek Mountain leadership, Muria's forces were no better than bandits—shamelessly extorting, stealing, and grabbing whatever they pleased. Yet, as much as they resented this behavior, Creek Mountain had no choice but to tolerate it. After all, these "bandits" were the only thing standing between them and annihilation.
"Has your army had its fill in Creek Mountain yet?" Mikaela's voice teased as it resonated from Muria's yokai avatar, now strung on her wrist as a black gemstone.
"Why don't you ask them? I haven't taken a single thing for myself," Muria retorted.
"Their gains are yours, aren't they?"
"Not quite," Muria corrected.
"How is it not the same? You're their king. Everything they acquire ultimately belongs to you."
"Technically, yes. But they're independent beings with their own thoughts and desires. I don't control their every action."
"So, you're content to let things continue as they are?"
"Are you suggesting it's time for a change?"
"It is," Mikaela replied. "By now, your army has likely infiltrated Creek Mountain to the point where the kingdom is riddled with holes. It's time to drop the pretense. There's no need for further delay."
"Don't you think it's a bit early?"
"It's a waste of time to drag this out any longer. The world is vast, and there are countless other nations waiting to be conquered."
"I understand."
"Time to harvest the fruit," Muria declared in his royal court, issuing a succinct yet momentous order.
In the peaceful interior of Muria's kingdom, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Citizens went about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing elsewhere.
But in Creek Mountain, Muria's occupying forces began enacting long-prepared plans. Quietly and efficiently, they moved to tighten their grip.
"I've been waiting so long for this order," one officer remarked.
"About time," another grumbled. "I've had enough of this acting business. That's a job for actors, not soldiers like us."
"Don't sell yourself short," another chimed in with a chuckle. "Not everyone can pull off a performance like this."
"True, but still... I'll miss the easy life."
"What's there to miss?"
"All the free food, drinks, and resources we've been leeching off these fools, of course."
"Once Creek Mountain is ours, you can do as you please back home," another soldier joked.
"Yeah, right. If I tried this at home, the king would have my head!"
Among the soldiers, one voice brought up an ominous possibility:
"When Creek Mountain falls, do you really think we'll get it all? Don't forget, the Crimson King is still in the picture. Her army's resilience is something we've all experienced firsthand."
"True. If a fight breaks out, it won't be pretty. Those lunatics fight like they don't value their lives at all."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," another soldier murmured.
But one soldier, bolder than the rest, voiced a hopeful thought: "I heard the Crimson King is a woman. If that's true, maybe our king could..."
"Shut up! Watch your tongue!" A boot landed squarely on the bold soldier's backside, cutting his words short. "How dare you speak nonsense about the king!"
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