Princess of the Fallen Kingdom
In [Civilization Rate War], not only physical warfare but also diversified diplomacy was designed as a massive keystone that would sway the war for unification across the Central Continent.
War and diplomacy.
Diplomacy, too, is an extension of war.
One must coordinate the shifts between alliances and hostilities through superb worldly wisdom.
An unidentified faction crossing over from the East.
Having trampled the indigenous power, the Karakur Sultanate, it intervened as a new faction participating in the Civilization Rate War. Naturally, the giants vying for supremacy at the peak were bound to feel dread and vigilance at the sudden intrusion of an uninvited interloper.
-Diplomatic Relationship Scores with Neighboring Factions.
[Burgund Star Empire: 42 points.]
[Principality of Vladimir: 65 points.]
[Theocratic Kingdom of Kemet: 60 points.]
****
To the west, the Burgund Star Empire.
To the north, the Principality of Vladimir.
To the south, the Theocratic Kingdom of Kemet.
These were the factions whose borders began to meet ours upon sweeping across the Sultanate's territory.
Whether the numerous nations of the Central Continent had finally gathered intelligence on the unidentified faction, the diplomatic relations with neighboring factions were calculated through the system a week after conquering the Sultanate's capital.
"The Principality of Vladimir in the north and the Theocratic Kingdom of Kemet in the south are at an average level, and... the Burgund Star Empire is stingy, just as I expected. As an empire claiming to be the guardian of the Orthodox Church, the Star Empire is extremely touchy when it comes to heretics and barbarian factions."
The diplomatic relationship score was the absolute metric that distinguished between alliance and hostility.
0 points - 24 points: Irreconcilable Enemies.
25 points - 49 points: Hostility, Discord.
50 points - 74 points: Neutral
75 points - 100 points: Alliance
The Principality of Vladimir and the Theocratic Kingdom of Kemet maintained relations where organic diplomatic ties and trade routes were possible even while bypassing diplomatic formalities. On the other hand, with the Burgund Star Empire, diplomatic ties and trade routes would only open after sending an envoy delegation to raise the diplomacy score to a certain degree.
-Closed-off and exclusive.
-Stricter than any other faction when it comes to diplomatic relations.
-Look at Empress-mamang's massive boobies.
Such was the typical evaluation among players who chose Central Continent factions other than the Star Empire.
[An envoy delegation from the Burgund Star Empire has begun its journey to visit the Turkic Khaganate.]
"The Star Empire sent an envoy delegation first? The Golden Empress must be terribly bothered by an unidentified faction crossing over from the East."
They sent an envoy delegation to a barbarian faction.
It meant they intended to request formal diplomatic ties.
There was no reason to reject them.
For the Star Empire was the supreme hegemonic power commanding the Central Continent.
Therefore, I ordered the Turkic Beys to be sent forth to courteously receive the Star Empire's envoys.
"We have prepared your bedchamber."
"A fresh change of clothes and bathwater have also been prepared."
"Great Khagan..., please look favorably upon our loyalty and humble efforts."
Pondering the negotiations and terms the Star Empire might propose, I entered the Sultan's bedchamber. There, slender Persian beauties boasting bewitching allure knelt down to welcome me.
Hijabs veiling their faces.
Challis precariously draped over voluptuous breasts.
Thongs barely covering their lower abdomens, and shalwars wrapping around their slender legs.
They were dancers truly worthy of a sultan's harem.
Sareuk-.
Soon, the thin fabrics that barely covered the dancers' private parts dropped softly to the floor.
The dancers attended to their new master with gentle caresses and soft voices, as if fondling a lover. Having been professionally trained in the Sultan's harem, the dancers displayed natural and seasoned expertise in comforting and satisfying a man.
"Yabgu Bey."
"Did you summon me, Great Khagan?"
While I was relishing the pleasures of the harem in which the Sultanate took pride,
a giant boasting a rugged build entered the Sultan's bedchamber.
It was Yabgu, the war chief of the Turks.
"Command all Beys to halt plundering and requisitions. Having permitted extensive plundering and requisitioning for four days, the steppe warriors should be satisfied by now. All nobles and commoners of the Karakur Sultanate have become the new subjects of Ashina. Instruct the people of the Sultanate to return to their livelihoods, and also oversee public order in the cities and villages."
"I shall obey the Great Khagan's command."
To the Turks, pillaging and abduction were prime forms of entertainment and economic activity. They were also rewards that encouraged the warriors' efforts and sacrifices.
Yet even in plundering that permitted free indulgence, strict control existed.
One week.
Or three to four days.
No further plundering was permitted.
For it was no different from cutting open the belly of the goose that laid golden eggs.
The Karakur Sultanate had developed into a kingdom governing affluent urban centers by conquering the eastern region of the Burgund Star Empire. Because it was a financial wellspring providing stable resources and conscripts each year, there was a need to consider the people's sentiment and public security.
Moreover—.
[Capital] Ordu Baliq
-Recruiting Karakur Sipahi (Tier-2: Noble Military Unit).
-Recruiting Karakur Azak (Tier-2: Noble Military Unit).
[City] Bulak
-Recruiting Karakur Azak.
[City] Qala Candalo
-Recruiting Karakur Azak.
[Castle] Oddhon
-Recruiting Karakur Light Cavalry (Tier-2: Regular Military Unit).
[Castle] Tamatarka
-Recruiting Karakur Slave Cavalry (Tier-2: Regular Military Unit).
[Castle] Kenesiyal
-Recruiting Karakur Slave Cavalry.
[Castle] Sulai
-Recruiting Karakur Ahdas (Tier-2: Regular Military Unit).
Every year, military units could be conscripted from occupied cities and villages.
From the capital, two Tier-2 Noble Military Units,
From the cities, one Tier-2 Noble Military Unit,
From the castles, one Tier-2 Regular Military Unit,
And from subordinate villages, one Tier-1 Regular Military Unit.
The conscription of military units was determined in proportion to a stronghold's public security and economic viability. That was why, as soon as the four-day period ended, I ordered the Turkic Beys to cease plundering.
"Is there anything else to report?"
"Reporting to the Great Khagan. On site, we captured the princess along with the Sultan's concubines. She has currently been escorted to the royal palace."
"The Sultan's daughter... I heard she was the valiant warrior princess of whom the Sultanate was proud. I heard she staged a last stand with the remnants in the final city? Good work. It must have been difficult capturing a warrior princess alive."
"I am deeply honored."
Dismissing the harem dancers, I raised a hand.
At that, the royal guards protecting the harem dragged in the Sultanate's princess, who had been reduced to a slave.
Cheolkeok-!
Chalgeurak-!!
The heavy metallic clanking of iron chains rang out.
Simultaneously, the beauty's shrill, fierce cry burst forth.
"Kill me! Kill me right now! The Sultan's noble blood does not beg and grovel for life! If you intend to make me a decorative trinket in your harem, I would rather bite off my tongue and drop dead this instant!!"
She was a black-haired beauty boasting a fierce, venomous countenance like a desert leopard, the desert's renowned predator. Even while bound all over in iron chains, she did not cease resisting.
Tightly braided black hair.
Crimson pupils seething with hostile emotions.
Sensual skin and a long, slender figure proving her Saracen descent.
It was truly an appearance worthy of the moniker of warrior princess.
I gazed at the Sultanate's princess boasting exotic Saracen beauty. For the moment I faced the Sultanate's princess dragged in by the guards, the system appeared with its characteristic chime alert.
[Name]
Scheherazade bint Mustafa Alsharif
[Affiliation]
None.
[Status]
Slave.
[Stats]
Leadership: 89 Martial Might: 88 Intelligence: 75 Politics: 40 Charm: 85
[Preferred Military Unit]
Cavalry (S). Infantry (A). Archer (C).
[Specialty]
Desert Leopard Breakthrough: When commanding Karakur cavalry, Karakur cavalry's movement speed and shock damage increase by 30%.
****
Upon destroying the Sultanate, I had encountered numerous system windows accompanied by chime alerts.
However, this was the first time a system window related to an individual had appeared.
Scheherazade.
A name fitting for her beautiful appearance.
Slowly perusing the suddenly appearing system window, I confirmed that the Sultanate's princess was the caliber of a cavalry commander boasting the might of one who could match a hundred.
"Ashina Barka. Ruler of the steppes and Khagan of the Turks. And the very person who slew your royal father and destroyed the Sultanate. Judging by your disheveled state... you must have put up quite the resistance while being escorted to the royal capital."
I signaled by raising a hand once more. At that, the guards who had been forcefully pinning down Scheherazade's head and shoulders backed away.
"Scheherazade bint Mustafa Alsharif! Daughter of Sultan Mustafa and First Princess of the Sultanate! O invader from the East who destroyed the Sultanate! If you have any courtesy and consideration for the defeated, let me die in the Sultan's capital!!"
"Let you die? Do you think I would grant such merciful freedom so obediently?"
"Having seized the Sultan's royal capital and palace, bringing even the Sultan's handmaidens into the Sultan's harem...! Are you saying you even intend to violate the Sultan's princess in the harem?!"
"You seek to embrace death far too easily. It seemed you were shouldering a great deal, though."
The more an unbending personality values responsibility and a sense of duty, the more weaknesses are bound to exist. That was equally true for the First Princess of the Sultanate, who had been escorted to the royal capital.