Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Diplomacy is Also a Means of War (3)
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I'd heard something like this once before.
The poor have their own worries fitting for the poor, and the rich have theirs fitting for the rich.
When I first heard it, I wondered what the hell that even meant.
"Even having flowers in both hands isn't easy."
If I'd just brought Lina or Monica alone, I wouldn't have had to stress like this.
But with the two of them competing to claim me...
All sorts of problems cropped up.
When Lina fed me cake, Monica insisted on doing the same with dinner that evening.
To avoid suspicion, we had no choice but to share a room, but when I tried sleeping in the corner...
'They even talked about all three of us sleeping in the bed together.'
"......Does this even make sense?"
On the way back, we're planning to stop by the beach for some swimming...
I couldn't even imagine what swimsuits they'd show up in.
"At least right now, being alone near the Marco Kingdom's Staff Headquarters is a relief."
If all three of us were together, Monica and Lina would've been tugging me back and forth like a tug-of-war.
"Halt! Who goes there!!!"
The soldier guarding the Marco Kingdom Staff Headquarters aimed his spear at me.
"This is the Marco Kingdom Army Staff Headquarters. Any suspicious behavior, and we'll open fire immediately."
"I'm Major Michael Schumacher, envoy from the Empire. I wish to speak directly with His Excellency, the Chief of Staff of the Marco Kingdom."
"Do you have papers proving your identity?"
I pointed to the medal pinned to my chest.
"I can't show classified documents to a mere guard. But you know what this medal signifies, don't you?"
"......The Empire's highest military honor."
"Exactly. That should at least prove I'm not some shady character."
The guard's tone softened a bit.
"Please wait a moment. I'll report to the Staff Headquarters that a major has come to visit."
"Do that."
It wasn't long before word came that the Chief of Staff would meet me personally.
The Marco Kingdom's Chief of Staff frowned the moment he saw me.
He hadn't even greeted me yet, but here he was receiving me so graciously.
Should I express profound gratitude for the honor?
"Thank you for granting me this audience on such short notice."
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire has a proposal for our Marco Kingdom, so of course I had to make time."
The Chief of Staff of the Marco Kingdom said that and let out a smirk.
"My introduction's overdue. I'm Field Marshal Fabien Eclair."
"Major Michael Schumacher."
After the introductions, Fabien picked up a stack of papers from his desk.
He deliberately flipped through them page by page, reading aloud.
"June 23rd, showing off feeding food to Lieutenant Lina Chaplin and Lieutenant Monica Dorthea at a café... Room 24, entering a jewelry store hand-in-hand with Lieutenant Chaplin..."
This guy's reading that to pressure me.
A warning that they were watching everything I did here, so don't try anything stupid.
Well, after dealing with that Rierson bastard plotting terrorism, I got it completely.
I'd react the same way.
"Rising to major at your age and parading around with two beauties? I'm jealous. Must feel like the world revolves around you."
"I'm not that arrogant."
"Sure you're not."
Field Marshal Fabien propped his legs up on the desk, crossing them.
A signal that whatever proposal the Empire made, he'd reject it.
Throwing in some insult to make it clear: you and I are enemies.
A field marshal wouldn't make that gesture out of personal feelings...
So this was exactly how the Marco Kingdom viewed the Empire.
Well, if an overwhelming power appeared on the continent...
The Marco Kingdom's survival would be at risk, so they had no choice but to be on guard.
That's why I came here—to carve out a path to survival against those trying to crush our Empire before it grew too big.
"I'll hear you out. But keep this in mind."
"Mind what?"
"The Marco Kingdom has no intention of joining hands with the Empire. I'm listening only to demonstrate His Majesty the King's magnanimity."
"Allow me to express my thanks for His Majesty's magnanimity on this occasion."
"Polite, I like that. So spit out whatever you want to say and get lost. You've got two beauties for tourism—hit the beach, go swimming. Young, with girlfriends... Nights must be something to look forward to."
For a split second, my teeth ground together.
I could stomach insults to me, but to those two? Tough.
Still, they were posing as my girlfriends right now.
What could I even say?
No—didn't the Marco Kingdom already think of them as my girlfriends anyway?
Sitting here taking it would make the Empire look weak.
If they started a pissing contest, they had to be ready to get splashed back.
"I won't deny that those two are my girlfriends."
"Right, this old man's just giving advice out of envy. Enjoy the nights while you're young. Once you get old, you might have power and money, but... sometimes the little guy downstairs won't cooperate."
"Yet you try to cut me down by talking about my girlfriends..."
"What exactly do you want to say?"
"I can't just sit here and take it."
Our continent still breathed the romance of the medieval age.
That's why even lowly privates could kick a sergeant's or master's shins and get away with it sometimes...
But no Imperial field marshal would kick a lieutenant's shins without cause.
Why? In the Empire—no, on this continent where medieval romance lived on, you could challenge someone to a duel.
"......What are you gonna do if you can't sit still?"
"Isn't a duel in order?"
"Are you insane? Lost your mind?"
An old saying goes: to catch a tiger, you enter its den.
To seize control of this secret meeting and secure the Empire's interests, I needed to risk my life and completely break the opponent's spirit.
Pretending to be crazy could be a negotiation tactic too.
"......Do you think you're some knight from centuries ago?"
"If word spreads in the Empire that I sat idle while my women were insulted, my social reputation would hit rock bottom. It wouldn't lead to forced discharge, but..."
Even a scumbag could keep commanding if truly capable.
But tagged with 'the pussyhead who did nothing when his woman was insulted'...
That label would mock me everywhere I went for life.
'And that guy couldn't duel me beforehand anyway.'
"Your military career, Excellency, would be stained with dishonor."
"......"
Across the continent, officers showed each other minimum respect.
A general or field marshal rarely bashed a lieutenant without reason.
Why? If the lieutenant snapped and challenged to a duel?
You could die in it... But win or lose, the higher-up gets slapped with a stigma.
How rotten must your character be to get challenged like that?
'Tremendous dishonor.'
"......Damn bastard."
Field Marshal Fabien ground his teeth.
"Can I get to my point now?"
"Fine, speak."
"Join hands with us and attack the Dolce Republic. In return, we'll cede the Monaco region to you."
"Monaco... You think that's feasible?"
Obviously not with your strength alone.
Monaco was the Dolce Republic's core interest zone, a booming commercial hub.
Would the Dolce Republic just watch you invade it?
No way in hell.
But if the Empire and Marco Kingdom attacked simultaneously, victory was possible.
"If our Imperial Army strikes into the Dolce Republic's north, they'll naturally pull troops from Monaco back. Strike then with Marco Kingdom forces... Plenty of chance for success."
"Sounds too good for the Marco Kingdom..."
"Not entirely."
The Empire was surrounded by enemies right now.
So if we crushed the Dolce Republic decisively...
The Marco Kingdom would turn on us.
Why? The bigger the Empire grew, the more unstable other nations' positions became.
"The Imperial Army Staff Headquarters well knows we need Marco Kingdom cooperation to securely hold northern Dolce Republic territory."
Imagine Marco Kingdom reinforcements showing up in Dolce north we'd already occupied.
Or our western front suddenly raided by those sneaky Marco bastards?
All occupations halt, we'd have to rush there.
"As long as we don't flip the board, you'll help us take Monaco."
"Yes."
Field Marshal Fabien smirked at my words.
"Fine. We'll consider it positively."
With that, he issued the order to see me out.