45. Negotiation (1)
“My axe is the biggest, so I get to learn the ancestors’ legacy first!”
“What nonsense! I’ve got muscles tough as steel. I’m the one who matches best with the Steel Golems!”
“My fists are the biggest!”
“Wayne! Me first. I’ll introduce you to three dwarf women!”
“What?”
The dwarves all glared at the one who’d spoken last.
“Liar!”
“Beat him so he can’t go to Valhalla!”
“Kill him!”
The dwarf gender ratio was about 2:1, with far too few women. The dwarf who’d made such a reckless promise had no grounds to complain about getting thrashed by his comrades.
Wayne found the scene amusing. Ever since they’d witnessed the Steel Golems overwhelmingly crushing the Magic Knights, the dwarves had become extremely eager to learn their ancestors’ legacy. Having tasted that power once, any dwarf would crave it. And after seeing the dwarves fight today, he figured that if they could produce and operate just a few Steel Golems, they’d be ready to hunt beasts in the Great Forest right away.
Or they could handle defending the territory...
The dwarves’ change was a good omen.
“The one who inherits the ancestors’ legacy speaks!”
At Wayne’s words, the dwarves focused intently.
“Not every dwarf can receive the ancestors’ legacy!”
“Why not? We’re all dwarf warriors.”
“I know that. The dwarf warriors proved their bravery today. And dwarf warriors have their own great uses. But crafting Steel Golems is incredibly difficult, and controlling them requires special talents.”
“Then I’ll learn it! My head’s the biggest here!”
“No! My biceps are the biggest! Behold these massive, sturdy muscles!”
“Mine’s the biggest XX!”
The dwarves all turned to stare at the last speaker.
“Liar!”
“Pupa, we’ll kill you!”
What the hell? Watching the dwarves bicker felt like tuning into a comedy show where idiots were hamming it up. But it also meant they were that pure-hearted. Come to think of it, compared to these warriors, Chieftain Yulih, Great Warrior Brock, and High Priest Huldra spoke quite coherently—like humans.
Did dwarves choose leaders based on eloquence too?
“Everyone, stop!”
Great Warrior Brock approached.
“The inheritor of the ancestors’ legacy is tired from the recent battle! Quit harassing him and pack up to head back!”
As expected, the great warrior stood apart from the regular fighters. As the dwarf warriors began tidying the area, Brock came over to Wayne.
“Wayne! I am the one who holds up the sky. The tallest among dwarves!”
“What?”
“So I’ll learn the ancestors’ legacy first!”
Wayne chuckled inwardly. He hadn’t noticed during King Brass’s intense moments, but dwarves were basically straightforward folk. Truth be told, all dwarves were equal to Wayne. It’d be nice if they were equally skilled, but they were equally lacking in Odd. So he could train any of them. Still, infusing Odd required his personal effort, limiting the numbers. Better to empower those friendly to him.
Brock had commanded the dwarves alongside him today, was young, and held the second-highest rank after the chieftain. Starting with him seemed wise.
It’ll weaken the chieftain’s influence too...
Then, through the red Odd Wayne had scattered, he sensed Snow and a large group approaching from the riverbank.
Here it comes at last.
They were surely the Dresden territory army commanders. And now came the negotiations with the dwarves.
Wayne looked at Brock.
“Great Warrior Brock!”
“Speak!”
“You will be the first to receive the ancestors’ legacy from me!”
“Oh! Wayne! On the honor of the dwarves, I shall learn it!”
Brock’s lips curved upward behind his beard. He clearly wanted to laugh heartily but held it back with the other dwarves around—like a child.
“Line up the dwarves right now! I’ll personally select who among them receives the ancestors’ legacy.”
“Got it! Leave it to me!”
Great Warrior Brock bellowed.
“We now select those to receive the ancestors’ legacy. Dwarves, form ranks!”
“For real?”
“Anyone not lining up properly gets excluded!”
Dwarves rushed in from all sides, swiftly forming orderly lines.
Click-clack!
In moments, the dwarves stood in perfect formation outside the outpost. Wayne walked among them, flashing his Odd Eyes. This was a show for the watching Dresden commanders—proof that he’d fully seized control of the dwarves.
“Young Lord Wayne!”
Wayne turned at Snow Austin’s voice.
“Count Boltain awaits.”
He spotted the Dresden commanders entering the command tent.
“Besides Count Boltain, who else came?”
“The 1st Armored Division commanders.”
“Is Viscount Gunter Rahl there too?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Wayne swallowed dryly.
This won’t be an easy negotiation.
According to Cassnet’s notes, Gunter Rahl was a Dresden staff officer of exceptional intellect and knowledge. He even piloted a 3rd-class Gigant in staff meetings and joined combats, boasting rich battlefield experience. In the past border dispute with the Union Kingdom over the greater Dresden territory, he’d displayed brilliant negotiation skills to expand their lands to the current Barikal Lake.
Hundreds of soldiers and Gigants guarded the tent perimeter tightly. Inside gathered Count Boltain and the 1st Armored Division commanders.
“Division Commander, did you see Young Lord Wayne controlling the dwarves?”
Viscount Gunter Rahl spoke first.
“It’s astonishing. How someone who should be in the territory ended up here, and how he persuaded those fierce dwarves—it defies imagination.”
“I saw it myself, yet I still can’t believe it. But it’s a huge stroke of luck for our territory army. Thanks to him, we pulled off the Reinhardt Crossing Operation with minimal losses.”
“But why the sudden change of heart from the dwarves?”
Count Boltain and the assembled commanders were most curious about that.
Viscount Gunter smirked.
“They saw the front lines turning against them and decided to join us. Our imperial forces have slowed overall, but we keep winning with more magic weaponry—they must’ve felt the pressure. Young Lord Wayne exploited that perfectly to win them over.”
“Hm. Plausible.”
The others nodded at Gunter’s words.
“And since the dwarves betrayed the Estel army to join us, they must want something in return.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dwarves can just retreat to the Sierra Mountains if they lose—they’re impassable to Gigants. But they helped us, so they want compensation. Like the small territory the Estel Kingdom promised them.”
“You mean Estel promised them land?”
“I haven’t seen their documents, but it’s almost certain. I’ve heard dwarves have long struggled with food shortages. The southern Sierra range is rugged with limited flatlands anyway. Estel likely offered that land to block our advance, planning to evict them with Magic Knights after the war—no loss for them.”
Count Boltain nodded.
“So they’ll demand territory.”
“Probably.”
“Then what does Young Lord Wayne gain?”
“No idea yet.”
Gunter could guess the dwarves’ angle but knew too little about Wayne to predict his.
“They’ll likely demand land, so leave the negotiations to me. I’ll give as little as possible and extract maximum cooperation.”
“Fine. Negotiation’s your specialty anyway.”
Snow Austin entered first.
“Young Lord Wayne and the dwarf great warrior have arrived.”
Wayne accelerated his Odd to calm his pounding heart. The dwarves had done their part; now he had to secure as much as possible. His experiences as Karian emperor or King Brass were useless here—powerful rulers didn’t negotiate. Instead, he’d channel his past life as salesman Han Sang-tae.
“We meet Young Lord Wayne!”
“We meet Young Lord Wayne!”
Boltain and the staff rose and bowed. Seeing high-status humans bow to Wayne first, Brock—entering with him—looked mildly surprised. It proved Wayne’s high standing even among humans.
“A pleasure. It’s an honor to meet Dresden’s war heroes in person.”
Wayne returned bows to the 1st Armored Division commanders.
“Please, sit.”
Just before Wayne sat opposite, Viscount Gunter spoke.
“Before we sit, one question. Are you here as a Dresden territory man, Young Lord Wayne? Or as the dwarves’ representative?”
A routine query, but essential to fix Wayne’s position for negotiations. The answer would shape the talks.
“Since you ask, I’ll be clear: I’m here as the dwarves’ negotiation representative.”
“Can the gentleman beside you confirm?”
Gunter eyed Brock.
“I am Great Warrior Brock of the dwarves! Wayne is the inheritor of the ancestors’ legacy. He represents us here!”
“Very well. Sit.”
Even before starting, Gunter adroitly shifted momentum their way. Wayne and Brock sat opposite, with Count Boltain and Viscount Gunter as Dresden’s leads.
Count Boltain eyed Wayne. They’d crossed paths at Winchester Castle’s training grounds, but never this close—or spoken privately. He’d pegged the youngest son, who hung with Bran chasing women, as a wastrel. How he’d reached here representing dwarves was baffling.
Count Boltain spoke.
“Squad Leader Snow gave a brief. The dwarves’ contribution was key to breaching the Reinhardt line?”
“Yes. The dwarves severed their Estel Kingdom alliance and allied with the Barantia Empire—especially Dresden territory forces. As proof, they let us cross the Reinhardt River.”
“Hold on. The dwarves let you cross the river?”
Viscount Gunter tilted his head.
“Wasn’t that mostly Snow’s squad? Without 7th Squad’s Gigants, we couldn’t face Estel’s Magic Knights here, and dwarves alone couldn’t hold it. So we—not them—enabled the crossing, no?”
As expected, Viscount Gunter was no pushover. Wayne nodded.
“True enough. 7th Squad handled the enemy Magic Knights, securing the front easily. But consider how they reached here. Without the dwarves’ tunnels bypassing the month-long stalemate, no flanking or surprise op.”
“But that assumes 7th Squad exists. Gigants are needed against Magic Knights, so they’re the operation’s core.”
Dresden commanders nodded. They’d initially accepted 7th Squad’s report crediting dwarves. But Gunter’s take made it seem 7th Squad’s role was largest.
As momentum swung Dresden’s way, Brock grew uneasy. Despite risking their lives, it felt like their efforts went unrecognized. But Wayne just nodded.
Better not bicker over merits.
Snow would be his anyway—no need to diminish her. And first, instill that Dresden and dwarves were allies, not foes.
“But Viscount Gunter, you seem to misunderstand something major.”
“Misunderstand?”
“We’re not here to haggle merits. Just that dwarves sacrificed for Dresden territory and played a huge role repelling the enemy. Do you acknowledge that?”
“Of course. Their aid in the crossing was invaluable.”
“That’s enough for us.”
“Pardon? That’s it?”
“Yes! Saving countless Dresden soldiers and aiding the territory—that suffices.”
Viscount Gunter tilted his head.
“But aren’t you representing the dwarves?”
“Correct. But before that, I’m Marquis Frank’s youngest son—and a Dresden man. No drawing lines changes that.”
Gunter asked puzzledly.
“So the dwarves truly want nothing?”
Bam!
Wayne slammed the table.
“Of course! Viscount, you’ve been trying to distance us from the start—it doesn’t sit well!”
“Ah! N-no, that’s not it. My apologies.”
Gunter flushed, flustered. Salesman Han Sang-tae’s negotiation basics: it wasn’t you vs. me, but us together. Same with sales—treat buyers as comrades, build rapport, close deals. He belonged to both sides—advantageous, no need to discard it. And conceding small for big gains was key.
Time to raise the stakes...