Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Handover of Culprits
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Sancho finished the handover and immediately went into seclusion.
Because he believed the fall of the capital was only a matter of time.
He was waiting for an official punishment for the defeat, or for the sound of enemy shelling.
"A letter has arrived from the palace."
A maid approached him as he idly fiddled with his teacup and handed over the king's letter.
Assuming the king's letter would detail his punishment, he carefully opened the envelope and read it calmly.
He had some inkling of what punishment might come, so he wasn't greatly shaken at first.
"...The articles have already been decided."
He sensed something off while reading the early part explaining the agreement with the Empire.
"..."
He was at a loss for words at the passage about handing over the main war criminals to the Empire.
"Ha. Haha..."
He let out a hollow laugh at the final directive to enter the palace immediately for discussions.
The king hadn't mentioned it directly, but it wasn't hard to guess what would happen the moment he stepped into the palace.
"I'm the tail too, am I."
Using a hostage as a pretext to eliminate rivals was a tactic nobles had employed for generations, so as a noble of the Esperia Kingdom, he was all too familiar with such ploys.
"...Ha."
Of course, familiarity didn't make it any less bitter.
He'd focused so much on his duties that he'd largely ignored domestic politics, so he hadn't been entirely blindsided by the possibility of this happening.
But being asked to shoulder responsibility not just for the defeat, but for the entire war as a bargaining chip, was anything but welcome.
"..."
Yet the moment the discussions concluded and this letter reached his home, he understood there was no refusing the order now.
He knew the palace atmosphere had been off for some time, and his own clear culpability left no room for denial.
He tried to console himself that it was better than cannon fire rumbling and the castle walls crumbling,
"Hoo... Fine."
but his footsteps toward the palace were leaden all the same.
The next day.
Led by Emilio, eight nobles approached our encampment.
There was no need to let them know we wanted negotiations, so I waited for them in a separate tent I'd prepared for talks.
I'd ordered them guided along a route where they could get a good look at the siege guns we'd cooled down.
"Esperia Kingdom's negotiation delegation has arrived."
"Let them in."
"Greetings."
"Mm."
Emilio entered with his greeting, his expression perfectly managed, but several of the nobles trailing behind him couldn't fully mask their pallor.
Of course, the expressions of these non-responsible nobles hardly mattered, but it wasn't bad that they contributed to the mood.
"Shall we get started?"
"...Yes."
Emilio took the prepared seat, while the other nobles stood behind him as if on standby.
"War reparations of 13% of the kingdom's annual revenue for five years, and recognizing Al Kante, the Betaviya Plains, and La Tredo as Dragonia Empire territory."
"That's correct."
"If it's war reparations, shouldn't it cover the damages we've suffered in this war? Did you bring the relevant data?"
"Yes. Here it is."
After reading the documents handed over by one of the nobles standing behind,
"A normal army might find this sufficient, but the Crimson Dragon Legion, with all its new technologies, has far higher costs. Adjutant."
"Yes, General."
I tossed the documents they'd given me and provided our own cost breakdowns, with sensitive parts appropriately redacted.
"...Aren't these figures exaggerated?"
"No exaggeration. It's just the inevitable consumption from using gunpowder synthesized from rare materials, precisely cast bullets and shells. No need to explain why dwarf-forged weapons cost a fortune."
"..."
Emilio rolled his pen between his fingers, deep in thought,
"Your choice. 20% of annual revenue for five years, or the previously proposed lump sum. Personally, I prefer the latter."
I had no intention of giving them time to mull it over.
Esperia Kingdom's proposal wasn't bad, but since they'd offered it so readily, it likely wasn't their best hand.
"We..."
"We could light the fuses right now if you like. For us, spending a little more isn't a bad option. What do you say?"
Was this proposal born of true desperation, or were they still deluded enough to think they were 'negotiating'?
I needed to prod a bit more to gauge their bottom line.
"..."
"What's it to be?"
"His Highness would prefer a bit more... Hup."
Unlike the tight-lipped Emilio, the other accompanying nobles seemed unaccustomed to this kind of pressure.
Just eavesdropping on their chatter gave me a decent read on the kingdom's internal strife.
"...Our situation isn't easy either. How about 16% for five years?"
"Hmm. Vice Legion Commander. Are preparations progressing?"
"Yes. Just give the word, and..."
I borrowed a madman's tactics, pressing them relentlessly.
"We have hardly any funds left! If you insist on a lump sum, grant us one year!"
"...Baron Ega."
One of the sweating nobles from the back burst out desperately.
Emilio clutched his forehead,
"One year? If I open fire now, we could recoup it in a month. Why should I wait?"
"If you keep attacking, we'll fight to the bitter end..."
"Fi—one-third as a lump sum, and the rest in quarterly payments to the Empire!"
"Haa..."
As I kept the pressure on the noble who'd spoken up, he kept coughing up better terms.
They were even shooting glares at one another.
I had no idea what issues simmered internally, but their presence in the delegation was undoubtedly a boon.
"Complete withdrawal from La Tredo as well."
"...Yes. We won't lay claim to it again."
"Hm..."
The negotiations proceeded steadily in our favor,
"...Is the list of main culprits prepared?"
"Yes. Here..."
Now came the part I'd personally been looking forward to: discussing the list of those to hand over to us.
Keen to preemptively eliminate promising nobles, I scrutinized the list carefully.
"Hmm... It's a bit different from what I had in mind."
"What do you...?"
High-ranking nobles like counts were on it, but the key figure I'd pegged was missing.
"Sancho Gonzales. He's not here."
"...!"
The mastermind who'd dragged out what should have been a smooth Esperia campaign, the Esperia Kingdom's military hope incarnate.
To crush Esperia completely someday, we'd need to pry him out of the kingdom first—then the next expedition would be a breeze.
"Wasn't he the one commanding the battles?"
"He..."
"I can't fathom why he's not on the list. Were all those excuses about responsibility just that—excuses?"
I figured they'd accept.
I didn't know the exact state of affairs in the kingdom, but from memory, the western kingdoms were hotbeds of cutthroat noble infighting.
Someone else had briefly led the forces before, and after such a crushing defeat, Sancho couldn't possibly hold an unassailable position.
"He's opposed the war from the start..."
"I'm curious if that's really the reason. Are these nobles on the list truly the war hawks who deserve to pay?"
"..."
"Just add Sancho Gonzales, and we won't need to alter the rest."
Emilio leading the delegation suggested he wasn't aligned with these post-defeat power losers.
"...Then we'll make the payments, so please return some of the prisoners."
"If the payments are fair, that shouldn't be an issue."
As expected, Emilio voiced acceptance after some deliberation.
He'd probably discussed it internally already.
Or maybe he'd picked up on my reaction from yesterday.
The pity was that Sancho would be hard to put to good use.
If I could've managed his loyalty with gifts and promotions, he might've plugged gaps in my staff, but that seemed unrealistic.
Still, I'd talk to him.
Hard to fully trust an enemy noble and officer outright; he'd probably end up like Antoine, comfortably housed in the capital.
Be that as it may,
"Tomorrow, bring the agreement drafted as discussed today."
"Hm, hm."
He knew the sting of a homeland that had served faithfully now selling him out.
Even I, who'd once considered defection, hadn't relished the thought when it happened to me.
How would Sancho, portrayed as fiercely loyal, take it?
Just imagining his reaction upon hearing the news was satisfying enough.
Who knew.
Disgusted by his fellow nobles' antics, he might even accept defection.