Continental Conference (6)
As Zahir walked down the corridor after leaving the conference hall, his legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
"Father!"
Edwin, who had been following behind, rushed over in a panic.
But Zahir refused even his son's help, staring fixedly at the ground.
Only one thought swirled endlessly in his mind right now.
How in the world...
A nonexistent theft. A serial number on a dagger that had never been stolen—how could they know it?
When Beltria first presented the dagger as evidence, his heart had nearly stopped for a moment. But he quickly composed himself and sneered inwardly.
It must be a fake made by Lunaria.
So he casually claimed it had been stolen. The lie slipped out surprisingly easily.
And when Cassius immediately stepped in to turn his falsehood into truth, Zahir was certain of complete victory.
Who would dare doubt the emperor of the continent's strongest empire?
But...
I never imagined it would lead to this.
Unease had begun to creep in ever since Haven's captain suddenly intervened.
"How can you be so certain that dagger is the very one that was stolen?"
That calm yet razor-sharp question sent a chill down his spine.
He had an instinct that the gears were starting to slip out of alignment.
And when he demanded the dagger be brought to verify the serial number, Zahir realized he had fallen into a massive trap.
The serial number engraved on the dagger was surely some arbitrary figure etched onto Lunaria's meticulously crafted fake.
There was no way he could know it.
"Father, you need to get up. Time is..."
Edwin's voice sounded distant, like it was coming from deep underwater.
Zahir pressed a trembling hand to his forehead.
Cold sweat soaked his palm and trickled between his fingers.
"Edwin..."
"Yes, Father."
"You know it too."
Zahir's voice was hoarse and cracked.
"That the dagger isn't real. But we just admitted with our own mouths that it is."
Edwin's face went pale.
"We can't take it back now. And since it's fake, there's no way to know the serial number either."
"B-but we can still somehow..."
Edwin stammered desperately.
"You need to get up first. We'll find a way..."
"No."
Zahir gave a bitter smile.
His demeanor no longer held any kingly dignity—it was just the look of an old fox caught in a trap.
"We're finished."
Zahir's voice was already filled with resignation.
"If we go back like this... illegal occupation of Crimson Gorge, contempt of the Continental Conference through false testimony, and..."
He paused. The most terrifying charge stuck in his throat.
"Deceiving the Lunaria Empire on top of it all."
"What? But this was all Lunaria's scheme—surely they'll show some leniency?"
Zahir raised a hand to cut off Edwin's naive protest, a bitter smile on his lips.
Even in a situation like this, you're still the same.
He pitied his son, who had received a crown prince's education yet still didn't grasp the brutality of politics.
"Edwin. No... my son."
Zahir looked straight into his son's eyes.
"Letting us off would mean admitting to this whole plot. Do you think Cassius would make that mistake?"
Edwin's expression slowly hardened as reality crushed his innocent hopes.
"Instead, they'll feign outrage and crush us thoroughly. Acting the part of the deceived victims to perfection."
Zahir leaned against the cold wall and continued.
His voice grew quieter, but its weight grew heavier.
"We'll have to pay Beltria astronomical reparations, and Lunaria will slap us with trade sanctions in 'betrayed fury.' And then..."
Deep despair seeped into his eyes.
"A small kingdom that lost the trust of the continent's strongest power... will collapse slowly, very slowly, its blood drying up like a tree withering in drought."
A heavy silence settled over the corridor.
That was when it happened.
"Ah, seriously! This place is a maze every time I come. Why'd they make it so complicated?"
A lighthearted voice, utterly out of place in the despair-filled corridor, echoed through.
"It's because you're directionally challenged, Demon King."
A calm reply followed, laced with subtle playfulness.
"If you're so good at finding your way, why don't you lead?"
"How could I walk ahead of the Demon King?"
"Admit it. You can't find your way either."
"You're the one who's lost, not me."
"Hey, son, we haven't even entered the conference hall yet—try calling me 'Father' just once."
"No."
"Aww, you're no fun!"
Footsteps grew closer, and soon two figures appeared around the corner.
They stopped upon spotting the father and son slumped on the corridor floor.
"Hm? What are you two doing here? Is the meeting already over?"
At that voice, Zahir's lowered head snapped up.
He staggered to his feet and hastily bowed.
"I-I see the Demon King of Darkteria."
* * *
The conference hall was steeped in heavy silence.
The kings fidgeted restlessly, stealing glances at Cassius.
Like the calm before a storm, no one dared speak first.
I was sorting through my thoughts amid the quiet.
Then Cassius broke the silence with his characteristic leisurely tone.
"By the way, Astra, may I ask something?"
"What?"
"If Carmen fails to state the dagger's serial number... what do you plan to do?"
What to do with Carmen...
I hadn't thought deeply about it.
Carmen was just another pawn played between Lunaria and me, after all.
"I merely pointed out the inconsistency. No matter what truth emerges, I have no intention of taking further action."
Cassius fell silent for a moment after hearing me.
"Then let me propose this: If he can't produce the serial number, leave his punishment to me. How about it?"
He continued slowly.
"If it turns out to be false, it becomes deception of the Lunaria Empire. It's only natural we hold him accountable."
I recalled Zahir's pale face as he left and felt a flicker of pity, but I replied calmly.
"I don't mind."
A satisfied smile spread across Cassius's lips.
"Thank you. Then Carmen's matter... I'll handle it cleanly."
He paused, then snapped his fingers as if the thought had just occurred to him.
"Ah, right."
Cassius turned to look at Beltria's Leonid.
"Almost forgot. If this all proves to be Carmen's doing, Beltria will receive just compensation—no need for war. More than enough to cover the damages so far... and beyond."
He paused again, seizing the hushed moment in the hall to declare solemnly.
"I promise it in the name of Emperor Cassius of Lunaria."
A subtle ripple spread through the conference hall.
Invoking the emperor's name was no mere rhetoric.
It was a firm declaration of intent and responsibility to uphold the promise.
"Thank you."
Leonid and his son Jin bowed deeply in unison.
I turned to look at them, and my eyes met Jin's. He bowed politely, conveying his gratitude.
Affinity boost successful.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the hall.
It sounded like a massive beast approaching slowly.
The door creaked open, revealing a towering figure over two meters tall, covered head to toe in blood-red hair and beard like a crimson billboard.
Darkteria's king, Demon King Zeke.
Following quietly behind him was his son Bael.
In stark contrast to his father, he had gray hair and an air of composure.
"How've you all been, friends? A bit late."
Cassius let out a dry chuckle at the sight of him.
"Zeke, did you get lost again?"
"Kahahaha! Of course! That's why I said put a guide out every time I arrive!"
"How could we keep one stationed when we never know when you'll show?"
"Fair point."
Zeke strode in boldly and was about to take his seat when he spotted me.
His red eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Oho? New face? Which faction are you with?"
Before I could answer, Balderic spoke first.
"Newly appointed captain of Jin Gang Regiment."
"Ah, yeah! Think I've heard."
Zeke laughed heartily and extended a hand.
"Nice to meet ya! Name's Zeke, king of Darkteria."
Bael, standing behind him, bowed politely as well.
"I'm Bael. Pleased to meet you."
I needed to stay on good terms with him since I'd be heading to Darkteria after this conference.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Astra."
I clasped his massive hand.
"Astra, huh... Good name! But you weren't waiting for me instead of holding the meeting, were ya?"
"Hardly."
Having heard the full story from Cassius so far, Zeke nodded.
"So you weren't waiting after all. Disappointing."
He laughed boisterously.
"Well, can't wait forever, right? As punishment for being late, I'll cooperate to wrap this up quick—be grateful."
He bellowed toward the door.
"Hey! Don't stand outside—come in!"
At his words, Zahir staggered in.
His face was ashen, his eyes clouded with despair.
Thud!
Zahir dropped to his knees in the middle of the conference hall.
"It's all... my fault!"
His voice trembled.
"On my own initiative, I occupied Beltria's mines, and when I noticed the dagger missing, I made a false report to Lunaria Empire claiming it was stolen!"
Zahir slammed his head to the floor, wailing.
"Everything happened due to my sole discretion! Punish me... but please spare the kingdom!"
The conference hall plunged into heavy silence in an instant.
I watched Zahir and thought.
What the hell did he do to be so consumed by terror?
He had despaired and resigned when he realized it all, but not to this extent of fear. Something even greater must have threatened him.
"Zeke, what did you do?"
Zeke grinned.
"Kuhaha... There's always a way."