The Great Khan's Unyielding Charisma: Negotiations Before Sword Empress Marianne
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Lady Marianne? Your expression suddenly changed.”
Geum Taeyang spoke with a natural look of concern, his tone gentle as he addressed the Sword Empress, whose eyes had widened while staring at his sword.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I’ve been focused on indoor duties lately, and it’s been a long time since I crossed the desert for so long. It seems I suffered a brief bout of anemia.”
Marianne Nahoja, the Sword Empress with her pale skin, placed a hand lightly on her forehead as she explained. It was a lie. She had clearly flinched the moment she saw Geum Taeyang’s sword. Still, the anemia itself wasn’t entirely fabricated—she did suffer from that chronic condition.
“Then, if the Great Khan permits, may I be allowed to meet with Chief Cassandra?”
Afterward, Sword Empress Marianne politely requested Geum Taeyang’s permission to face Cassandra. After all, it was Geum Taeyang who had captured her.
“Of course, Lady Marianne. The Grace Kingdom and the Mohican tribe are in an implicit alliance. Much of the support we’re receiving comes from the Grace Kingdom, so it’s only natural that I accept your request.”
Geum Taeyang readily stepped aside, still displaying his massive half-erect member. The situation was delicate. It was true that Geum Taeyang had captured the Amazoness warriors centered around Ivy, and it was also true that he had defeated Cassandra in single combat. Yet the fact that he could handle the envoy procession without interference owed much to the Grace Kingdom’s protection and support. Despite being an outsider who had rolled in, Geum Taeyang showed respect to Sword Empress Marianne.
“So we meet like this, Chief Cassandra.”
Marianne stood before Cassandra and looked down at her as she spoke.
“Indeed. I had hoped our official meeting would take place in a more formal setting. But it seems things have turned out this way.”
Cassandra, seated in a wretched state, replied with a smile full of regret. The two had seen each other a few times before, but only from afar. When Marianne heard of Cassandra’s appearance, she arrived late and merely exchanged glances with the departing Cassandra. Though it was only a glance, much had passed between the two masters. They had expected to clash soon over great destinies or meet in an official political negotiation, but the devil known as Geum Taeyang, Great Khan of the Mohican tribe, had barged in and overturned everything.
“As you can see, Chief, I’ve brought not only the private soldiers of House Nahoja but also the cavalry of the Noble Alliance. I trust you understand what that means.”
Sword Empress Marianne intended to escort Chief Cassandra of the Ragnarok tribe all the way to the Grace Kingdom. For the Grace Kingdom, which frequently used the eastern desert routes, and especially for the Noble Alliance, the Ragnarok tribe had long been their greatest enemy. Their leader, Cassandra Viola, had earned the title of Great Foe, and an enormous bounty had been placed on her head.
“Then promise me this. I, Cassandra, will go quietly. After my escort, please refrain from any further subjugation campaigns.”
“Since I don’t hold full authority, I can only make a definite promise regarding the current situation. After the escort, the trial will proceed, and the outcome may change things.”
“I understand.”
Knowing full well that if she refused the escort, the cavalry would be deployed and the Life Water Tribe—already stripped of its main forces—would be reduced to ruins, Cassandra had no choice but to make her tearful request. In response, Sword Empress Marianne promised that at least during the escort and the subsequent trial in the Grace Kingdom, there would be no additional subjugation.
“My beloved people of the Life Water Tribe.”
Afterward, Geum Taeyang’s group, Marianne’s group, and Chief Cassandra began preparations at the entrance of the Life Water Tribe village for a smooth escort. Even though Marianne’s side promised no subjugation, that didn’t mean fighting wouldn’t break out. Naturally, the Life Water Tribe people wouldn’t stand idly by while their chief was taken away. Cassandra stepped forward voluntarily to prevent that. When she declared she would handle it herself, Marianne refrained from binding her with the mages’ special ropes and shackles.
“We have lived worshipping the desert god, the god of life water, Icarus. Thus, we have accepted everything as his will, giving thanks in happiness and enduring in hardship.”
Thousands of Life Water Tribe members had all gathered. Before them, Cassandra continued speaking in a low yet firm voice.
“My defeat is also Icarus’s will, and being escorted away is likewise his intention. While I, Cassandra Viola, am away, I will deeply contemplate Icarus’s will and ensure that warm light once again shines upon our Ragnarok tribe.”
Unlike other barbarian tribes, the Ragnarok tribe had a firmly established theocratic structure, and the chief was regarded as Icarus’s representative. By appealing to that absolute faith in herself, Cassandra persuaded the Life Water Tribe members to prevent further bloodshed.
“Huuuugh…! Chief…!”
Thud…!
“Please come back without fail…! We can’t imagine the Ragnarok tribe without you, Chief…!”
“Chieeef…! Huuuuugh…!”
At the chief’s request, the Life Water Tribe members erupted into chaos. They collapsed to their knees, weeping, their hostility toward the external forces they had summoned to protect her melting into profound sorrow as their absolute leader gently reassured them.
“Hmm…”
Geum Taeyang, the very man who had essentially created this situation, watched with folded arms and an enigmatic expression. And from the side, Marianne’s disciple, the head of the Mandu group, Josephina, kept stealing glances at him with eyes full of curiosity.
“First, I must offer my apologies, Great Khan. You must have heard from Princess Nadia or Lady Jasmine. I harbored great doubts about your abilities. I admit it was an arrogant reaction on my part.”
The escort of Cassandra Viola had begun. Not only Cassandra but also those listed under the bounty as Great Foes were being taken away: Cassandra’s daughter Ivy, the other Amazoness executives, and her deputy Rubio. Additionally, the regular Amazoness members who had attacked Geum Taeyang’s caravan were included.
On the first day of the escort, as the sun set, Geum Taeyang’s group set up camp at another oasis and began a meeting with Marianne’s group in a temporary tent. The attendees were Marianne and her disciple Josephina, who also served as secretary for the Noble Alliance. Representing Geum Taeyang’s side were, naturally, Geum Taeyang himself and advisor Camila Jasmine.
As the meeting progressed, Marianne offered an appetizer-like apology laden with multiple meanings.
“It was a natural reaction. A leader of a large group must be all the more cautious. Even I, before seeing the Sword Empress in person, had the audacious thought that perhaps your reputation was exaggerated. Hahaha!”
Despite already knowing from playing World Conquest Record just how formidable Marianne was, Geum Taeyang joined in with a smooth lie to lighten the atmosphere.
After easing the mood, the meeting’s content began in earnest.
“Hmm… That will be difficult. Narsha, Tia, and Bianca are clearly classified as bounty targets. Entrusting their custody to the Great Khan would be…”
The topic was rights over the prisoners. Geum Taeyang had captured them, but this Sahara Desert was officially Grace Kingdom territory, and furthermore, Geum Taeyang’s procession was under the Grace Kingdom’s protection and support. Their authorities were evenly matched. In that context, Geum Taeyang had proposed taking some rights over the Narsha sisters for himself.
“Well, I’ll be honest. The Ragnarok tribe holds considerable potential in my eyes. They’ll likely create quite a difference in perspective with the Grace Kingdom, so I want to put some safeguards in place.”
Geum Taeyang hadn’t courted the Ragnarok tribe merely to obtain heroines. In World Conquest Record, the Ragnarok tribe was a supporting race with significant screen time and no small number of advantages. Since he had to protect the heroines Cassandra and Bianca while also utilizing the Ragnarok tribe, Geum Taeyang had no intention of relinquishing his stake.
“The Ragnarok tribe… holds considerable potential?”
To Sword Empress Nahoja, Geum Taeyang’s assessment of the Ragnarok tribe seemed like news she was hearing for the first time. The Ragnarok tribe was so shrouded in mystery that other kingdoms knew little about them beyond their abilities as raiders.
“And also, to make handling the prisoners easier.”
But Geum Taeyang, having played World Conquest Record, knew this all too well. Still, he had no intention of revealing everything just yet. He smoothly changed the subject.
“After interrogating them, I’ve determined that keeping them together would be worse than separating them. That’s why I’m asking to take custody of the Narsha sisters as the Mohican tribe’s Great Khan.”
Anyone who knew what had transpired between Geum Taeyang and the Narsha sisters would see his proposal as blatantly self-serving. Yet the meticulous Geum Taeyang made it persuasive, and his reasoning was solid enough to convince Marianne.
“Honestly, I defeated the chief in single combat. Wouldn’t it be reasonable for me to demand rights over her? But since the Sword Empress herself has come, I’m requesting the Narsha sisters as a gesture of goodwill toward the Grace Kingdom.”
With that, he puffed out his chest in an overwhelmingly charismatic manner, acting as though a mere barbarian tribe’s Great Khan was graciously bestowing favor upon Sword Empress Marianne, representative of the Grace Kingdom’s Noble Alliance.
“As expected of the Great Khan who unified the Mohican tribe after three hundred years. Your spirit is truly impressive.”
Smirk…!
The twenty-eight-year-old Sword Empress Marianne Nahoja responded with an enigmatic smile to the bold display of the twenty-three-year-old upstart Great Khan Geum Taeyang.
“Very well. I’ll entrust the Narsha sisters’ custody to the Great Khan. However, when the trial is held, please cooperate fully with the Grace Kingdom.”
“Of course. Thank you for accepting, Sword Empress Marianne.”
And so she granted Geum Taeyang’s request.
“M-Master—I mean, Chief Secretary…!!”
Secretary Josephina was flustered by Marianne’s unexpected decision.
“I know what you’re thinking. But Josephina, as you saw, the Great Khan’s achievement this time was truly remarkable. Showing respect for it is just as important as following protocol.”
“Y-Yes…”
Marianne gently explained to Josephina her belief in balancing conviction with flexibility.
“And this isn’t so much a request as a favor I’d like to ask.”
Geum Taeyang continued in a slightly different tone and expression than before.
“A favor?”
Marianne, who had been looking at Josephina, turned her gaze back to Geum Taeyang.
“When the prisoners enter the Grace Kingdom, I’d like you to forgo the public shaming procession.”
Normally, when a Great Foe was captured, they would be bound and shackled, paraded through the streets while enduring the people’s curses. Geum Taeyang was asking to skip that.
“That is a rather difficult request. The resentment of the Grace Kingdom’s citizens and nobles toward the Ragnarok tribe raiders is simply too great.”
Sword Empress Marianne’s expression was quite firm as she indicated it would be hard.
‘Honestly, it’s not the citizens, is it, Marianne? The Noble Alliance holds the strongest hostility. What grudge would ordinary citizens even have against the Ragnarok tribe?’
Geum Taeyang knew full well the flaw in what Marianne had said. Ordinary citizens conducted commerce within the Grace Kingdom. Even if they went outside, it was only trade with neighboring kingdoms. Large-scale commercial activities using the eastern desert routes were the domain of the Noble Alliance or the Grace Kingdom itself. Thus, the common people held little real grudge, but since the state told them to hate, many reflexively followed. Still, he couldn’t exactly point that out as a factual assault to persuade her.
“Great Khan…?”
Afterward, Sword Empress Marianne’s eyes widened.
“I beg you.”
Thud…!
It was because Geum Taeyang had suddenly stepped beside the table and dropped to one knee before Sword Empress Marianne.