“Haaaaah! What depth of magnanimity. As expected, Colonel, you look at the whole picture. Despite it being your own territory, what generous words.”
“Hmph…… more importantly, I want to know how much other Imperial territory will be carved out.”
“What they proposed was Manayata, Lahakat, and Gordia.”
“What. That’s quite few. In that case, an immediate decision?”
“No. Since Lahakat is land held by Colonel Gedol’s uncle, Lord Banueda, I managed to defend it to the death.”
“Hoh…… then, the only ones taken are Manayata and Gordia?”
“That is correct. Both are lands of the Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck faction. Upu, pupupu.”
Major Simanto puffed out his cheeks in delight.
“That is amazing. As expected of Major Simanto. Not only are you capable at work, but you are also skilled at negotiation.”
“No, not at all. This is all thanks to Colonel Gedol training me on a daily basis.”
“……”
What is this farce, Yan sighed heavily.
Half a day later, they arrived at Argeid Fortress. Once again, there was a reception by the Kumin tribe’s Kosaku, but he seemed to completely view Major Simanto as an enemy.
When they headed to the strategy room, Queen Vashia was there. Once again, Major Simanto spread his arms to try and hug her, but before he could, Colonel Gedol knelt before her and held his arm horizontally.
“……!”
“What’s wrong? Hasn’t this girl taught you how to show respect?”
“O-Of course I was taught.”
While wearing an expression of shock, Major Simanto whispered to Colonel Gedol.
“Is it alright? For someone of your rank, a Colonel, to bow to barbarian dogs.”
“Is it alright or not—she is the tribal chief and the [Blue Queen] who unites the neighboring small tribes, you know? In other words, if I treat her as the king of a small nation, there will be no mistake.”
“I-I see.”
In that instant, the smile vanished from Major Simanto, and sweat poured out like a waterfall. It seemed he finally realized how abnormal and out of his depth his behavior was. Yan thanked Colonel Gedol in her heart.
“I didn’t think I would be able to meet you again in such a short period of time.”
“Me neither. You seem well, as always.”
“However, it helped that you agreed to the deal. Argeid Fortress is a key location for us in expanding our flatlands. The demands are strict, but I am relieved that it came together.”
“I was pushed into it by your Major Simanto over there. He is a skilled negotiator.”
“……”
The smooth conversation was too wonderful. As expected, when one reaches the rank of Colonel, they are extremely intellectual. Above all, knowing proper etiquette is wonderful. And, even within the small exchanges, they were mutually checking each other with a [Don’t renege on this contract] vibe. In Hazen’s assessment, the evaluation was [lacking judgment], but really, on the contrary. Well, Major Simanto is so terrible that right now even a normal person might seem divinely majestic by comparison.
“Now then. Let’s leave the talk at that.”
Colonel Gedol took out a Law Quill and the deed of covenant he had filled out in advance. The Law Quill was a type of magic tool used during Contract Magic. It had various uses, but this time, it was to officially preserve the exchanged document between the Empire and the Kumin tribe.
The convenient thing about this was that it could not be forged. If anyone other than the signer tried to use it, their body would instantly be burned by flames, so it was always used when publicly concluding treaties with other countries.
The drafting was done by Yan. It was her first time writing an official document, but the result was such that even Major Simanto, known as the [Reaper of Corrections], groaned and reluctantly signed it.
Of course, it was written in two languages: Imperial and Kumin. A clause stating [In the case that a difference in content occurs between these two languages, the Kumin tribe can annul the contract] was also included.
This was a mechanism to prevent intentional discrepancies in content on the drafter’s responsibility; normally, civil officials would look through the articles and check if there were any parts where mutual understanding differed.
However, this time that couldn’t be done. So, Major Simanto and Colonel Gedol looked through it and signed it based on on-site judgment.
Queen Vashia looked alternately at the Imperial and Kumin articles and nodded. Surely not, she thought, but can she also read and write the Imperial language?
“With this, it should be fine.”
“……”
Ah, she can do it, Yan thought. As expected of someone hailed as the Blue Queen, her specs outside of combat were also abnormally high. This territory exchange was simple in content so she wrote it concisely, but even so, being able to understand important documents of another country was tremendous.
Queen Vashia signed without hesitation.
At this time, from this moment, the territory exchange treaty was established.
After 10 days passed, Koryaote, Nasefuyu, Manayata, and Gordia would become Kumin territory, and this Argeid Fortress would become the Empire’s.
“Regarding the evacuation of the people, I won’t rush you that much, but I would like it done within the year.”
“I am grateful. With that, we can take time to persuade the people.”
A harmonious conversation was exchanged between Colonel Gedol and Queen Vashia. Apparently, it was a good deal for both sides, and both were in good moods.
Yan also stroked her chest in relief.
That night, they returned to the Empire’s fortress. At the banquet held after the contract conclusion, both of them were dead drunk. Yan was also dragged around without question and was exhausted.
“Colonel Gedoooool. I’m going to Captain Lorenzo’s place now, won’t you join meeee?”
“Fufufu…… Hic…… As alwaaaays, you have a bad personality.”
“No waaaaay. I’m just going to state the facts. The overwhelming facts, thaaaaat is…… Hic. And! The closer is, of course, Lieutenant Hazen…… Kukuku…… Hic.”
“Fufu…… Hic…… Reaaallly, you are spiteful.”
The two laughed together with bright red faces.
Minutes later, they entered Captain Lorenzo’s room without even knocking.
“Uwah! W-What is the matter?”
“Noooo~. I just wondered if you were doing well~.”
“Oi, stop it~. It’s not goooood, Major Simanto~.”
“……”
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What is this stupid game, Yan thought. They were completely buddy-buddy. The dynamic was: Major Simanto teases the serious Captain Lorenzo, and Colonel Gedol laughs. Drunk as they were, they probably spent all their time with this kind of vibe.
Originally, Captain Lorenzo was also a member of the faction, so they probably didn’t each other. Rather, there was a sense that Simanto enjoyed making him into a toy because he was so serious; as Yan secretly respected Captain Lorenzo, she wished they would stop.
“By the way, how was the territory exchange?”
“Kukuku…… It’s decided that I achieved a great merit that you, bastard, couldn’t achieve even if you did a handstand~.”
“If that’s the case, I’m relieved.”
Major Simanto answered triumphantly, and Captain Lorenzo showed a relieved expression.
“……”
Just how good-natured is he? Even towards an incompetent superior, to worry about him properly.
“Well, learn from us, and do your best…… w-o-n-t y-o-u, Captain Lorenzoooo. Well, since you’ll be of a status where you can’t talk to us easily anymore, we’ll watch over you from afaaaaar.”
When Major Simanto patted his head pon-pon, Colonel Gedol burst out laughing. What a nasty nature.
“So, which territories did you exchange?”
However, Captain Lorenzo asked without caring even a hair about such things. Originally, he probably had a nature that didn’t care much about official positions. If anything, he was the type who found his own satisfaction in working hard for the sake of the Empire.
“You wanna knoooow? Eh, you wanna knoooow?”
Like a five-year-old excited about a trip, Major Simanto asked.
“Y-Yes.”
“I won’t tell yoooou!”
“Oi oi, don’t be too meaaan~.”
Simanto made a big ‘X’ with his arms in delight, and Gedol threw out a half-hearted attempt to stop him with absolutely no intention of actually stopping him. With the vibe of total drunks, honestly, it was annoying.
“……Haa.”
Of course, Captain Lorenzo’s sigh was deep.
“Can’t be helped then, I guess I’ll tell youuuu. Turururururururu…… Koryaote!”
“Well, that was originally Kumin land, so that can’t be helped, I suppose.”
“What, that’s no fun. React moooore~.”
Major Simanto poked Captain Lorenzo’s cheek.
“……So, next is.”
“Next iiiiis—Turururururururu…… Nasefuyu!”
“Well, that was also Kumin land, so that’s natural, I suppose.”
“Yes that’s why you’re no good! Totally no good! Both of these are Colonel Gedol’s laaaands. Because you’re not attentive to things like that, you fall down to Lieutenaaaaant.”
Yan couldn’t look directly at Major Simanto, who was berating him with baby talk. And, even then, Captain Lorenzo remained calm. Probably, whenever they got drunk, it was the same vibe every time.
It was nothing but disgusting.
“And! The next iiiiis—Tururu…… Turururu, Turururu, Ma-na-ya-ta!”
“……Eh?”
In that instant, Captain Lorenzo’s expression changed.
“Um, Major Simanto. What did you say just now?”
“Your ears are bad too, you are! The land managed by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck! Ma-na-ya-ta.”
“……It’s a lie, right?”
Captain Lorenzo asked back.
“There’s no way it’s a lie, stuuuuuupiiiid! Hey, Colonel Gedol!”
“Umu! It is a document I formally signed!”
While drunk, Colonel Gedol spread a copy of the deed of covenant on the desk. Captain Lorenzo stared at it as if drilling holes into it, and eventually, his expression changed terribly.
“My god…… This is a major problem!”
“Major problem? What are you talking about?”
“What are you saying! Doesn’t Manayata have the grave of the 13th Emperor, Emperor Silgana!?”
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