Chapter 339: Everything is a Mess (2)
Chapter 339: Everything is a Mess (2)
Grand Duke Schneider hadn't originally thought there was much for him to do here.
He had never harbored any grand ambitions of expanding the Schneider Duchy into a massive kingdom. However…
I failed to consider the people of the Yuzef Kingdom.
Hearing his son’s words, he realized that now was not the time to take a step back.
The Yuzef Kingdom had just lost a war after turning the entire continent into its enemy. It was all too obvious how the victors of the Allied Forces would treat the common folk of the defeated nation.
Knowing that, it was impossible for him to simply stand by.
As Grand Duke Schneider took such a firm stance, the others couldn't help but feel flustered. No matter how great Patrick’s achievements were, his status was still that of the Grand Duke’s son. In international society, to demand something and have it accepted in negotiations between nations, one must first hold a corresponding rank.
And Grand Duke Schneider held that rank.
Until now, they had ignored him, thinking of him as nothing more than a good-natured pushover, but…
Dammit, this complicates things…
Even so, this is going too far.
Do they have no conscience? They want to take it all for themselves?
The conversation was beginning to derail. Just then, a man who appeared to be a noble from the Harbor Duchy spoke up.
"I understand the Schneider Duchy's position well. However."
He scanned the room, sending out a silent plea for support before continuing.
"Even so, monopolizing the vast territory of the Yuzef Kingdom all by yourselves is excessive. Is it the way of the Schneider Duchy to commit such an act of tyranny without a legitimate justification?"
Immediately, supporting fire rained in from all sides.
"That is correct."
"The war was carried out by everyone joining forces, yet one party takes all the spoils? This is unfair."
"We hope the Grand Duke of the Duchy will uphold justice and morality."
At this, Grand Duke Schneider wavered.
In truth, his son’s demand was excessive. No matter how much the Schneider Duchy had contributed, to swallow the entire territory of the Yuzef Kingdom, they lacked the justification…
"Ah, justification? So, if we have a justification, it’s okay for us to take it all, right?"
It was then.
Patrick stepped in, as if he had been waiting for that exact moment.
The assembly turned toward him with ominous glares. That overconfident expression—it was the look of a man who had an ace up his sleeve.
Patrick smirked at the crowd and spoke.
"Of course there’s a justification. Did you really think Patrick Schneider, the very symbol of fairness and integrity, would gobble up the Yuzef Kingdom without a reason?"
You’re exactly the kind of guy who would.
You’re definitely that kind of guy.
Every leader of the Allied Forces thought the same thing simultaneously. This included his own father, Grand Duke Schneider.
Regardless, Patrick grinned and called out.
"Knight A."
Patrick called for Oliver, who was standing behind his father.
"Could you at least call me Sir A?"
"Nope. Not happening."
"……."
It wasn't happening. It really wasn't.
"Go outside and bring in my guest."
"A guest?"
"You’ll know when you see them."
"I mean, how am I supposed to know—Gah!"
Whack!
Oliver, who had been grumbling, was promptly smacked. As Oliver clutched his forehead and grimaced, Patrick barked at him.
"The kid’s gotten unnecessarily cheeky lately. Hurry up, will you?"
"Yes, sir. Understood."
The leaders of the various nations watched with their mouths agape.
Was it really okay to treat Oliver A like that? Even in the Empire, a 7-Star Knight wouldn't be treated so dismissively. Furthermore, Oliver A had performed remarkably in this war and was considered a powerhouse even among 7-Star Knights.
To treat such a master like a servant running errands…
Just what kind of place is the Schneider Duchy?
What an incomprehensible neighborhood.
While they were lost in thought, Oliver returned with a guest. Or rather, three guests.
A woman with red hair, a sturdy-looking knight standing behind her to protect her, and a very young infant cradled in her arms…
"Gasp?!"
"You are…?"
Schwing!
The leaders of the Allied Forces were struck with horror. Some even drew their swords. Standing before them was…
"Allow me to introduce her. This is the Princess of the former Flame Kingdom and a descendant of the Spirit Royal Family. She is also the Queen of the Yuzef Kingdom, Queen Catherina bin Yuzef."
Catherina, once known as the Salamander Princess, had revealed herself.
And standing behind her was…
"The Black Knight."
"You were alive."
"How dare you show your face here?"
It was Matthias Carvan, the right hand of the Overlord and the man famous across the continent as the Black Knight.
Matthias stood tall, not even blinking at the vicious killing intent directed at him.
Then, Patrick spoke.
"Now, now, everyone put your swords away."
"But…!"
"Double Dragon. That man is the Overlord’s right hand."
"To be precise, he was the right hand. I’m sure everyone here knows it’s been quite a while since they turned their backs on him, right?"
At those words, those who had raised their swords reluctantly lowered them.
It was true that just before the Overlord started this war, his two closest confidants had both betrayed him. Noah Gregory had died attempting to take the Overlord’s life. Matthias Carvan had risked his life to help the Overlord’s wife and child escape the capital. In that process, several entire knight orders of the Yuzef Kingdom had been annihilated.
I figured there was some story behind it, but…
Mmm… to show up at this exact moment.
This isn't good.
A few quick-witted individuals frowned, realizing the significance of Queen Catherina’s appearance.
Currently, the Yuzef Kingdom had been defeated by the Allied Forces. However, this hadn't been formally acknowledged yet. The Overlord, who should have acknowledged it, was dead, and the politicians remaining in the capital had yet to show any significant reaction.
In such a situation, Queen Catherina appears? Moreover, the child in her arms was undoubtedly Prince Freed, the son of the Overlord.
Queen Catherina held her son tightly, stepped into the center of the room, and raised her head.
"As the Queen of the Yuzef Kingdom, I hereby make a formal declaration. Our Yuzef Kingdom will…"
"Wait, this is too sudden!"
"Stop!"
Several people desperately tried to silence Catherina, but she continued her statement to the end.
"…surrender unconditionally to the Schneider Duchy."
"Dammit!"
"Blast it all!"
"This is a scam! This is a total scam!"
Men stood up all around the room, shouting and screaming at the top of their lungs.
Queen Catherina had just expressed her intent to surrender unconditionally to the Schneider Duchy, not the Allied Forces. And she had done so right here, in front of the leaders of every nation.
If this stood, the right to exercise the victor's authority over the Yuzef Kingdom would be limited to the Schneider Duchy alone, excluding the rest of the Allied Forces.
It might be a transparent trick. It might be mere wordplay.
However, this was a formal gathering of the continent's leaders with public credibility, and the Schneider Duchy was a nation with the actual power to push this "wordplay" through. If that happened…
"As you can see, the Yuzef Kingdom has surrendered to our Schneider Duchy."
"No, but…!"
"Wait a moment. Isn't this too much?"
"What about the Empire and the Holy Kingdom? Are you going to permit such tyranny?"
Some of the leaders tried to drag the Empire and the Holy Kingdom into the fray to break Patrick’s forced argument. However…
"Ahem, our position… we would have to ask His Holiness the Pope to know for sure. Until then, we shall reserve judgment."
"Our Empire also needs to consult His Majesty the Emperor on such a grave matter… Put that hand down, Count Pandora! Are you trying to ruin the country…?"
Both nations were remarkably passive. It was as if they were doing their absolute best to avoid clashing with Patrick.
To the distraught leaders of the various nations, Patrick spoke as if driving in the final nail.
"As you can see, the Yuzef Kingdom has surrendered to our Schneider Duchy, and my disciple, Persona, will officially notarize this fact."
At that…
"Disciple? A disciple?"
"What right does she have to notarize anything?"
"This makes no sense. What meaning does the notarization of a mere woman have when she is neither the Emperor of the Empire nor the Pope of the Holy Kingdom?"
"It is impossible. We cannot accept this."
The leaders of the nations protested vehemently, as if they had finally found a weakness to exploit.
Watching them, a smile played on Patrick’s lips…
"Heh… hehehe… You’re asking who my disciple is?"
It was a smile that couldn't have been more villainous.
Patrick tapped the shoulder of Persona, who was standing behind him.
"Disciple. These people say they can't trust your notarization. What should we do?"
"Sigh…"
Persona’s sigh clearly conveyed the sentiment: Sigh, these bastards are really asking for it.
She took a step forward and spoke.
"As the daughter of the Sword Dragon Arcana and the current Dragon Lord, I, Persona, command as the Arbiter of the Middle World."
Crack!
It wasn't a joke. That sound actually echoed through the room. It was the sound of everyone’s mouths falling open and their jaws hitting the floor in unison.
In that state, Persona revealed the Lord’s Seal on her forehead and declared:
"I officially recognize the treaty between the Yuzef Kingdom and the Schneider Duchy. Anyone who objects to this treaty shall face the Guardian’s punishment."
That was the true finishing blow.
*
Conclusion:
They took it all.
The Schneider Duchy monopolized the massive landmass of the Yuzef Kingdom. Even if the law of war was "to the victor go the spoils," this was a bit much.
The other nations decided to bill the Schneider Duchy for the resources and manpower spent in this war, converted into currency. And the Schneider Duchy agreed to pay it off slowly in installments. Of course…
[Why should we—Mmmph! Mmm-mmm!]
Patrick tried to protest vehemently, but Grand Duke Schneider covered his son’s mouth and agreed with a hearty laugh.
[Even if I have to empty our family coffers, I will ensure that your hard work in striving for peace and justice is rewarded.]
[I don't agree—Mmmph! Mmm-mmm-mmm!]
[Hahaha. So, do not worry.]
[Mmmmmmph!]
Patrick tried to object with everything he had, but the Grand Duke’s decision was firm.
In fact, even with those payments, the Duchy had made a deal that was more than profitable. The territory of the Yuzef Kingdom, expanded under the Overlord’s reign, was larger than even the Empire or the Holy Kingdom.
Occupying such a vast territory was essentially laying the foundation for the Schneider Duchy to be reborn as a kingdom—no, an empire. Considering the tax revenue and future value that could be gained from such immense land and population, the war expenses to be paid to the other nations were merely a drop in the bucket.
"Is it… really okay to let this happen?"
"Sigh… how could it be okay? Dammit, I’m going to get shredded when I return home."
"Getting shredded would be a blessing. I’ll be lucky if I’m not held responsible and dismissed."
"Uuugh…"
The nobles of each nation sighed. Despite winning the war, they were returning home with nothing. How were they supposed to report such a foolish outcome to their home countries?
"As I thought, we cannot tolerate such tyranny."
Someone stood up indignantly. He clenched his fists and looked around.
"Let us all unite and protest with one voice. We cannot just sit back and take this, can we?"
His voice, inciting those around him, was very firm.
However, the assembly merely looked at him with indifferent eyes.
"And if we protest?"
"Huh?"
"What do you plan to do after protesting?"
"Uh…"
"The Empire and the Holy Kingdom backed out long ago, and the Tower of Truth is already on the Schneider Duchy’s side."
"……."
"So what if we gather and protest?"
"……."
"And this is a treaty notarized by the Dragon Lord herself. Do you even realize what it means to object to that?"
"It hasn't even been confirmed that she’s the real Dragon Lord, has it?"
"Sigh…"
Everyone had seen the massive Black Dragon breathing fire on the battlefield. Would such a stubborn denial even work?
No. Setting all that aside…
"Even if she isn't the Lord, it’s the same."
"What do you mean, it’s the same?"
"The fundamental reason the Schneider Duchy can push such an unreasonable claim is because they proved it in this war."
The speaker paused for a moment, looked around the room, and continued.
"They proved that they are the indisputable powerhouses."
"Mmm…"
"That is certainly true."
The unreasonable demands of the weak are nothing more than nonsense, but the unreasonable demands of the strong become legitimate justice. That was the logic of international society.
And in this war, the Schneider Duchy had proven that their military strength was, in name and reality, the strongest on the continent.
To stand against such a Schneider Duchy and claim one’s share?
That would be madness.
If a fox gets greedy for a lion’s prey, even ten lives wouldn't be enough.
"In the end, there is no way."
"Sigh… the atmosphere in the Schneider Duchy must be like a party right now."
"That Double Dragon must be receiving everyone’s congratulations."
"The Grand Duke will be boasting about his son and praising him to the skies. Dammit."
Just imagining the scene made the leaders' blood boil.
It might not be much comfort to them, but…
"You brat! Hey! Do you have a brain in that head of yours or not?!"
"Ow, ow! Dad, it hurts!"
"What do you mean it hurts?"
"Let go of my cheek!"
"Let go of what?! You troublemaking son of mine!"
"Ow, ow, I did it for the family… Aaaah!"
"How could someone with your status cause such a mess?!"
Patrick’s situation wasn't exactly great either.