Chapter 388: The Kingdom of Thrace
"We... we..."
Dayev gritted his teeth, his expression heavy.
Dispatched by Wilhelm, his main task was to gather intelligence on the Ember Empire. He had little diplomatic authority and no right to make such promises.
However, from the conversation earlier, he could see the immense crisis looming over the Kingdom of Thrace.
This rising red dragon and this new empire were far more terrifying than he had imagined.
If they were to ally with the Kingdom of Kassander and launch a pincer attack on Thrace, the consequences would be catastrophic, even threatening the kingdom's very existence!
Such a situation must not be allowed to happen!
Finally, he made up his mind. A flash of determination crossed his face as he gritted his teeth and responded, "Your Majesty, our Kingdom of Thrace is willing to offer an equivalent amount of gold coins and some magical resources."
"Oh?"
"And what about the two-thirds of your territory?"
Cassius asked casually.
Dayev resolutely refused, "That is absolutely impossible, Your Majesty. The Kingdom of Thrace will not relinquish any of its land."
"I believe you understand that such harsh terms would never be accepted by His Majesty Wilhelm, nor should you even propose them."
"That's not necessarily true."
Cassius grinned again.
If you want to remove the roof, you have to allow for a skylight.
Humanity always leans towards compromise. This negotiation tactic has remained timeless across all ages and places.
"If that's the case, you cannot offer equivalent terms. Why should we forfeit the benefits already at our fingertips?"
"Your Majesty, you've been deceived by the Kassanderians."
Dayev spoke with steady conviction.
"In their rhetoric, the Kingdom of Thrace appears to be a lamb awaiting slaughter, easily toppled—but the reality is far from that."
"I admit, your empire is quite powerful, but what you've shown is not enough to defeat Thrace."
"His Majesty Wilhelm commands sixteen god-blooded dukes, each comparable to legendary figures, along with hundreds of ascended Sunlit Warriors."
"They followed the old emperor in countless campaigns, even venturing into the Nine Hells, the Abyss, and the Gray Wastes, earning unparalleled achievements and spreading the glory of the Holy Fadlan Empire throughout the multiverse."
"If we fight to the death, your empire will undoubtedly suffer significant losses. And by then, the Kassanderians will only gloat; they have always been despicable and shameless."
Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You make a compelling point."
"But it's still insufficient to convince me with mere words."
"..."
The atmosphere grew tense.
Dayev believed he had laid out the stakes and done everything he could.
If this was still not enough to sway the red dragon, war with the Kingdom of Thrace seemed inevitable.
Bowing his head, he spoke solemnly, "Your Majesty Cassius, is there truly no room for negotiation?"
"Hmm."
"Such a headache. I've already said that I am a peace-loving ruler, yet I see no sincerity from your Kingdom of Thrace."
"How about this—we each take a step back. I'll accept only two million gold coins, but you must relinquish the Cartpa Hills south of Anstica. How does that sound?"
"This... this..."
Dayev's face grew heavy as he lowered his head in thought.
While the Cartpa Hills were a vast area, they paled in comparison to Thrace's expansive territory.
Moreover, the region was not wealthy, being overrun by beasts and monsters—practically an ungoverned wasteland within Thrace's borders, annexed only for communication with Anzeta.
If peace on the frontlines could be secured, even temporarily, ceding the Cartpa Hills would be worth it.
However, Wilhelm had not authorized him to sign treaties or cede land. Furthermore, granting the Ember Empire control over the region would destabilize Thrace's northern border.
Caught in a dilemma, Dayev hesitated for a long time before solemnly saying:
"Your Majesty Cassius, personally... I am willing to agree to this condition."
"But such an agreement concerns national territory—a matter of great importance. I must seek His Majesty Wilhelm's approval."
"I understand."
Cassius's face twisted into a mocking smile.
"Tell Wilhelm he has a choice: my friendship or a calculated ambush driven by profit."
"Yes, Your Majesty Cassius."
Dayev replied, relieved.
"Truly a greedy and cunning red dragon..."
Dayev thought to himself.
Still, he had temporarily secured peace with the Ember Empire, buying time for the kingdom's southern campaigns to progress smoothly.
Now, he only needed to convince Wilhelm to make some minor "sacrifices."
Yet, Dayev was unaware that he had merely played into the red dragon's diplomatic gambit—Cassius's strategy of extracting benefits from both kingdoms while giving nothing in return.
The common term for it? Empty-handed schemes.
Tinia watched Dayev's departing figure, her eyes wide and her jaw practically unhinged. "Master, you just talked them into handing over two million gold coins? What if they refuse to pay?"
Cassius gazed into the distance, smiling faintly.
"Wait and see, Tinia."
"Soon, you'll witness formal delegations, magical contracts, and carriages laden with gold arriving from the south."
Tinia giggled, her imagination running wild as she practically drooled.
"Two million gold coins..."
"Master, can I see them when they arrive? I've never seen that much money before!"
The white dragon hopped joyfully and snuggled up against Cassius's leg, wagging her stubby tail with a fawning expression.
"Roar—"
A loud smack followed.
Tinia crouched on the ground, clutching her reddened cheek with her paw. She weakly asked, "Master, how can just a few words make them hand over so much gold?"
Cassius clenched his claws slightly, and a triangular balance scale materialized in the air.
The scale was in perfect equilibrium, with weights on each of its three ends, one larger and two smaller.
"This represents the current situation."
"The three major kingdoms are evenly matched, and this war will remain in a stalemate for a long time. Each side is desperate to break the deadlock."
"All it takes... is an external force to tip the balance."
Cassius snapped his claws.
"Snap!"
A new weight appeared on one side of the scale, immediately toppling the balance toward the added weight.
"That's the role the empire plays—a disruptive external force."
"But for now, I don't want any of them to win. I'll simply watch from the sidelines."
Tinia nodded as if she understood, her eyes gleaming eagerly:
"So, Master, all I have to do is speak like you, and I can earn two million gold coins?"
"..."
The palace fell silent once more.
Cassius gazed toward the sky, watching the slowly descending sun.
Oddly, though it was only noon, the outside looked like dusk.
"As expected... the sun's cycle is faltering. Amanata, the Lawkeeper and Guardian of Time, can no longer maintain stability and is about to fall into slumber."
"The age of chaos is coming."
Bathed in the sunset's glow, Cassius's golden eyes shone brightly.