Wolves Do Not Tolerate Insults.
The Burgund Star Empire did not take the unidentified force that swept in from the east seriously. For that reason, they ended up committing the fatal blunder of appointing Count Clermont, a man packed to the brim with vanity and arrogance, as the representative of their diplomatic delegation.
The Turks?
Just some new barbarians driven out from the power struggles of the steppe, most likely.
A nomadic tribe.
Or perhaps a tribal confederation.
They were undoubtedly beggars without a single fistful of land.
Having judged them as such, the Star Empire intended to placate these new barbarians under the condition of ceding back at least half of the imperial territory that the Sultanate had occupied. This was because they needed servants to fight proxy wars against the barbarian forces threatening the empire's frontiers.
1. Half of the Karakur Sultanate.
2. Full-scale supply of materials.
3. The opening of trade routes and exchange between merchant caravans.
4. Appointment as Margrave.
It truly could not be seen as anything other than a generous and merciful proposal.
Far too gracious.
Bestowing such grace upon mere barbarians.
It was to the extent that the nobles who received the Golden Empress's command had pushed back, if only for a moment.
Count Clermont thought that uncivilized wanderers from the east would weep with joy the moment they heard the Golden Empress's proposal. After all, it was no different from relief aid providing food, clothing, and shelter to impoverished beggars of unknown origin.
However,
"Aaaargh!!"
Kkwaaaang!!
A heavy axe slammed down, splitting the table with a loud crack.
Count Clermont and the nobles of the delegation were startled out of their wits by the thunderous boom that crashed down like a bolt from the blue.
"Return the territories? The Karakur Sultanate has already become the spoils of war conquered by the brothers of the steppe! Furthermore, the vast territories conquered under the hooves of the Turks are entirely the sole possession of the Great Khagan, descendant of the Golden Mountain's Ashina and the Silver Wolf, so with what shamelessness and pretext do you bastards dare blabber about handing over land?!!"
Deopseok-.
He seized the axe that had struck the table once more.
And he took a stride toward the trembling, cowering nobles.
"Please quell your wrath! How could you attempt to harm a foreign delegation?! In no nation is it the law to kill envoys!!"
"We Turks do not kill guests either. The more foreign the guest, the more sincerely we welcome them. But you bastards forgot the duty of a guest and demanded the master's exclusive property!"
You bastards are not guests.
You are nothing more than bandits extorting territory.
Barka gripped the axe in one hand and aimed its heavy blade. At that, Clermont looked toward the Turkic warriors, hoping someone would mediate this situation that had spiraled into the worst.
"Boil them in boiling oil!"
"I will tie them to the hind legs of a horse and ride until their breaths cease!"
"Give the order, Great Khagan-iyeo! We shall tear the limbs off those bandits!"
Mediation?
Not a single soul mediated.
Even though it would bring about war.
Even though the wrath of the Star Empire would erupt.
Rather, the Turkic warriors heightened the agitated atmosphere by clamoring for extreme punishment.
These things were not human.
It was as if he were facing demons from hell who did not fear death in the slightest.
"Any last words to leave behind?"
"Chieftain, you are about to bring upon yourself irreversible ruin and slaughter! The Star Empire is an empire of sacred knights that defends the Central Continent, and the great Golden Empress is a conqueror monarch who repelled countless barbarian forces on the frontier and reclaimed imperial territory! There is still plenty of opportunity to reverse your decision, so please, Chieftain, quell your anger and accept Empress-pyeha's proposal...,"
Clermont's message, which he had tried to push through even while trembling violently, was cut off. It was because the heavy blade of the axe dropped, tearing Clermont's mouth apart.
Peoheok-! Peoheok-! Peoheok-!!
Every time the axe came down, blood poured out and chunks of flesh were torn away.
Yet Barka seized Clermont by the collar and brought down the axe repeatedly.
Everything was stained in blood.
The stench of blood reeked, blanketing the royal court.
Watching the Great Khagan's bellicose display, the Turkic warriors poured out ecstasy and madness.
Dduk. Dduk.
Blood dripped down his cheek.
Wiping his blood-drenched face, Barka checked the system window that popped up with a notification chime.
[You have slain an envoy of the Burgund Star Empire.]
[Diplomatic relations score drastically decreases.]
[Burgund Star Empire: 42 points → 15 points (Sworn Enemy)]
[By slaying the envoy, you have displayed the valor and majesty of the Turkic Khaganate. Fame: +600]
[You have violated the custom and unwritten rule of diplomatic inviolability. Infamy: +2500]
****
"Who is the special envoy in charge of serving as the delegation's second-in-command?"
"Uh, ugh...! I-It is me...!"
Barka, drenched in blood from head to toe, raised the hand-axe that was dripping with blood. At that, Viscount Berman, who had been watching the heinous slaughter, raised a trembling hand.
"I will not kill you lot. Take the envoy's head and return. And tell the whole story to that woman you call the Golden Empress."
"I am..., deeply grateful."
Cheolpeok-.
A large chunk of meat landed right before Viscount Berman.
It was the head of Count Clermont, who had been running his mouth until just moments ago.
Viscount Berman and the nobles of the delegation left the audience chamber with pale, astounded faces. Perhaps terrified that the barbarians might act on a whim, they escaped the Turkic Khaganate with swift footsteps.
He had an eccentric, peculiar habit.
Namely, personally washing and maintaining the hand-axe he had used to chop up a person.
Dalgeurak-.
Deolkeok. Deolgeureok-.
He washed the sharp hand-axe in running water.
Devoid of any ornament, the dark hand-axe was sharp and hefty enough to shatter tough collarbones and ribs in a single blow. For that reason, he mainly drew this hand-axe whenever executing someone.
"Were you in the audience chamber?"
"Yes.... I was watching."
He asked, turning his head.
Then, his gaze met with a beauty with flowing black hair.
Scheherazade bint Mustafa Alsharif.
She was the First Princess of the Sultanate.
She had witnessed the spectacle of the Star Empire's envoy, who had proposed negotiations, being brutally slaughtered. Perhaps because she never imagined such an extreme move would unfold, Scheherazade lowered her gaze and trailed off.
"I didn't intend to kill him in a single stroke. Things are going to get noisy from now on."
"If I may offer an observation from my narrow perspective..., the Star Empire is the strongest hegemon commanding the Central Continent. Countless nations have fallen to the empire's spears and swords. Furthermore, the Golden Empress, who ascended the throne after usurping it from the previous emperor, is even a great figure respected for her outstanding governance and military strategy."
"So you're asking what made me think I could get cocky against a hegemon."
"......."
She had no reason to kindly elaborate.
Because the man before her eyes was the mortal enemy who had slain her father and destroyed her homeland.
She wanted to know.
She merely wanted to know.
The purpose behind resolutely slaying the hegemon's envoy.
Scheherazade gazed at Barka, who had picked up the hand-axe, with a serious look in her eyes. At that, the Great Khagan of the steppe shrugged his shoulders and spoke to the First Princess of the Sultanate.
"If you grant them one thing, you have to grant them ten, and once you grant them ten, you end up granting them a hundred. Would the Star Empire's true intention really stop at just the past territory that the Sultanate had conquered? I think not. If it is the Star Empire styling itself as a hegemon, they would surely bring up all sorts of pretexts to bleed us dry."
"If it is the Golden Empress's Star Empire..., that is highly likely."
"Naturally, the art of deception—pretending to meekly follow their demands while squeezing full-scale support out of the Star Empire—would have been the very best strategy. But I am the Great Khagan representing all the warriors of the steppe. Lowering my head is something that must never, ever happen."
"...Yes."
Pride and honor, once cast aside by one's own hand, do not return.
They are merely trampled upon.
The Great Khagan.
The King of Kings commanding the steppe.
The deputy of Heaven, the Sun, and the Moon, representing all tribes.
He always kept it etched into his mind that he was a sovereign commanding the steppe. That was why Barka had ruthlessly slaughtered the Star Empire's envoy right where the Turkic Beys were watching, all to defend the pride and honor of the steppe.
"I heard you have not yet held the Sultan's funeral. It might sound like a hypocrite's mockery to you..., but I intend to preserve the dignity of the defeated. I shall see to it that Sultan Mustafa's funeral is held with the courtesies befitting a monarch. Although he was assessed as an incompetent sultan while he was alive..., in his final moments, he was a man who resisted more bravely than anyone."
"......."
All great figures deserved appropriate respect and courtesy, regardless of their origin or status.
Barka said, shaking the moisture off the hand-axe.
At that, Scheherazade's face was painted with countless emotions.
It was hypocrisy.
They were words of mere empty formality.
Swallowing her thirst for vengeance, the First Princess of the Sultanate bowed her head.
"I heard from merchant caravans traveling to and from the Star Empire. That the Golden Empress of the Star Empire has three imperial princesses who boast outstanding troop command and military strategy. If a full-scale war unfolds alongside a declaration of war..., I will surely face one of those imperial princesses the Star Empire is so proud of."
"There is a high probability that you will face the Second Imperial Princess on the front lines, as she has been the one dealing with the Sultanate all this time."
I'm looking forward to it.
Barka said, sliding the hand-axe into his arm guard.