After the topic of the now 'Slain Theocracy' was past us. The rest of the diplomatic meeting was rather peaceful.
The Roble Holy Kingdom was also a theocracy, although not nearly as invasive and domineering as the gone Sloane Theocracy. Draudillon said she was acquainted with the saintess and that they should be able to reach an agreement without any need for violence. And so, I assigned her that territory and the Wyvern Rider Tribe mountain range to the north of their borders. I also allowed her to establish a diplomatic tunnel with the Argland Council State, to which Ophis and Galadriel would help her. If she managed to convince them to become a colony, she could have that territory as well and manage it as she wished.
In the case of Orloff, he wasn't interested in territories but rather, resources from the surface that the underwater community needed to survive and recover. They had starved for aeons and were unable to develop their society because the surface was hostile towards tritons and mermaids. No kingdom or country would take mermaids as slaves or even eat them if given the chance; therefore, the skirmishes between both groups were usually very violent. It didn't help that the rulers of the underwater world that Galadriel overthrew were all tyrants.
In order to compensate him, I assigned the underwater community the right over 20% of all the mined armatista in the world over the next century. It may not look like much, but due to the increasing faith of the sun church, more and more ores have begun to sprout more particularly in the Baharut Empire. With this armatista, they could either trade it for cash, resources or even use it themselves to strengthen their army. Suffice to say, Orloff was satisfied and put his army at our disposal, saying that tritons and mermaids not only wouldn't trouble fishers anymore, they would even aid them to find the best spots for fishing.
Win-win situation for all.
Finally, the person I left for last was Leone.
Anna was satisfied, Draudillon and Orloff were happy… only Leone remained, and she looked at me as if she was already aggrieved with how many 'gifts' I had been giving to everyone else. I even allowed the Slain Theocracy to remain autonomous, even if just for now.
"Don't look at me like that, Leone… did you think I'd leave you out?" I smirked.
"I believe my lord will be merciful with his servant" She nodded.
"Are you my servant?" I squinted my brows. So far, she has respected Tsunade and Azrael more than I. It is the first time she has called herself my servant.
Leone stood up from her seat and walked up to me, attracting gazes. She then knelt down and kissed the back of my palm.
"I am. Although following Lady Tsunade and Lady Azrael's vision at first. I have checked with my own eyes that the Sun God is indeed wise, benevolent, and strong… as such, I indeed hope to be your servant and hope you will be merciful to my Beastman country that has sacrificed plenty for all your operations to be successful".
She then looked up at me, "But even if you were not to be merciful, I'd still feel grateful you allowed us to be part of such an amazing conquest".
Leone then looked at the floor, awaiting my response, but I raised her small chin to look at me once more.
"I know, Leone… I know".
She lost territory to both Draudillon and Jicniv; she took the most slaves, fed them and accommodated them according to their resources. She sent a small army to help Anna, even when no one asked her. She even sent a group to the shores of the sea to help fetch the disabled mermaids and tritons into the moonlight mist. Leone worked more alongside Aqua than she communicated with me. So it was only thanks to Aqua that I got to know everything the three of them did.
Leone's contributions were the greatest, so I had to compensate her.
"I want the Beastman country to become a central community for all races to coexist. Although racism is not something we can get rid of immediately, due to the immense past grievances in this world. I want your territory to be a place where all races can see each other to the eye equally, including humans. Can you do it?"
"If that's what my lord wishes, I will work steadfast towards that objective".
Leone's answer was always a 'yes'. Not a 'no' or a 'how will I do it?' or a 'how much will it cost me?'
I have to thank Tsunade once more for finding me these subordinates. She moved me every time.
"Good. Aqua, I want you to build a church in the capital city of the Beastman Country, and I want this church to be our main church," I declared.
"E-Eh? Won't it be in the Elf Empire?" Alana asked.
"No, I want it to be in the Beastman Country. Aside from that, for the first century, you are all compelled to send tributes to the Beastman Country, at least five per cent of all cattle, ores, minerals, food and every resource that two hands can pluck out of the earth".
!!!
I just made the Beastman Country into the biggest powerhouse on the continent in the next century. But I didn't do it without good intentions.
"In exchange. I want you to focus on education, Leone. Create an environment in which all races can learn and be educated; your role is very important. You are the one who is going to get rid of this generational hatred and I hope... humans can grow out of their stuppor as well, and from within one of those academies, a human will rise to become the next ruler of the Slain Theocracy, who knows... maybe he will change its name and give it a better name worthy of humans".
"I agree with my dearest's plan", Galadriel stood up.
"I think it is great~" Anna also stood up and she applauded. The whole room ended up standing up and applauding me. It was quite embarrassing.
"It shall be done as you wish, thanks, my lord... I, too, believe that's a splendid idea," Leone said, and I got to see her smile for the first time. A smile that said 'all sacrifices were worth it'.
She stood up and sat back on her seat as per my orders. I heard gossiping next to me.
"Well, as long as she is a servant and not a pet~" Solution, Kurumi and Haku giggled.
"I also agree with your plan and believe that in the future, the hatred of us humans will greatly diminish thanks to it. But, could I know why the Baharut Empire, which has tried to stabilise such a relationship between Demi-humans and beastkin for ages, unsuccessfully, can't take over this role, my lord?"
"You failed in the past, and you will fail in the future too, Jicniv. Because you have in sight the betterment of your empire, not the world in itself. I don't know if the plan will be successful or not; it is not something you can force with a strong hand. But at least I know I tried".
"I apologise, my lord. Please be assured we will try our hardest to make this plan successful".
"Very well, I believe all main topics are already discussed. We deities will retreat for now, but you can feel free to keep discussing whatever is necessary. Aqua will remain and give me a report later this evening".
I raised my cup for a last toast, and they all did the same. So I said words that would firmly imprint in their minds. The words of a God who could see more than they could as mortals.
"Remember that all those who sit here now are no different from family. If there is any dispute, any disagreement... There is no need for war and bloodshed. You only have to sit down like this, eat some sushi, drink some sake... and discuss, reach an agreement... never forget that it took a group of gods to fight to attain this peace, don't throw it away so easily. My only desire for all of you is that you won't fight, that you will all live in peace and be happy, but that you will also allow others to be happy and live a satisfying life in family union. Far beyond the limits of this world, there are many worlds... a lot more worlds than there are grains of sand on a beach. Not all of them will be friendly... we can't tell whether another individual, like Avarice, won't come again. Therefore, it is your responsibility to treat everyone who resides in this world like family... like an invaluable resource. Every life is worth keeping because you don't know who is on the other side, how strong they are... or how many they are. Understood?".
"YES!" The rulers of this world clamoured, Jicniv's wife, Anna, Alana and the Moon Elves, were even tearing up.
"Then let's toast to the peace of this world. Peace is not a commodity, it is a necessity!".
"LONG LIFE, THE SUN GOD, OSIRIS! THE SAVIOUR OF THIS WORLD!"