When Ghislain arrived in the capital, news of his arrival spread quickly, drawing crowds eager to catch a glimpse.
"It's the commander of the Northern Army!"
"I heard he's eliminating the rifts all by himself."
"They say he's the kingdom's hope."
By now, Ghislain's name was known throughout the kingdom.
Since the emergence of the rifts and the plague, the kingdom's economic situation had become worse than during the worst drought. Without Ghislain and the Northern Army, things wouldn't have improved so quickly.
On top of that, his scolding of negligent lords and his distribution of medicine to the people had earned him widespread admiration.
At some point, Ghislain had become the hero destined to end this chaotic era.
As Ghislain entered amidst cheers, he was greeted warmly by Maurice. It was rare for the commander-in-chief of the kingdom's army to personally welcome someone.
"My nephew's here?"
"…"
"Ah, my poor nephew has been through so much."
Maurice laughed heartily as he patted Ghislain on the shoulder.
To the commander-in-chief of the royal army, Ghislain was truly a blessing. He had been handling the Northern Army on his own, solving the kingdom's toughest problems.
This allowed the kingdom's army to focus entirely on guarding the southern borders and keeping the duchy in check.
Ghislain, however, found himself wondering when he had become Marquis Macquarie's "nephew."
"Come on in. Everyone's waiting."
Welcomed by Royalist nobles, Ghislain entered the royal palace and soon met with envoys dressed in elaborate attire.
Already present were Marquis Branford, key royal officials, and leading Royalist nobles.
"You've arrived."
At Marquis Branford's words, Ghislain gave a slight nod. Seeing his face, Ghislain clicked his tongue internally.
'He's not what he used to be.'
While the marquis's sharp demeanor remained, his eyes and face were filled with weariness.
Given the series of crises and the uncooperative lords, it was no surprise. After all, it was the Northern Army that had solved many problems by force.
'No wonder he's handed me so much authority and uses me as his sword.'
Soon, the envoys from various kingdoms and the nobles of Lutania introduced themselves and took their seats.
From the nearby Kingdom of Seiron, which had brought Claude, to the farthest western Kingdom of Lombars, many nations had sent their envoys.
One envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell cleared his throat and spoke.
"While some kingdoms have yet to arrive, we cannot wait indefinitely. Let us begin discussions now. We can gradually involve others in the alliance. After all, most major kingdoms are already here."
The Kingdom of Grimwell was a powerful nation comparable to Lutania and had been the first to propose an alliance of humanity in Ghislain's past life.
However, now it was receiving substantial aid from Lutania, making it impossible to refuse the invitation.
Officially, Grimwell framed its participation as a response to Lutania's initiative, but everyone knew better.
In a way, this was thanks to Ghislain as well.
Marquis Branford nodded.
"I don't believe anyone here came without thought or purpose. Though we initiated the proposal, you are all here because you agree with its intent, right?"
"Indeed. This is a disaster that has befallen all of humanity. We must cooperate more closely than ever to combat the Salvation Church and the rifts. I believe we are all in agreement on this point. That is why we have prepared a draft proposal."
The envoy from Grimwell distributed documents they had prepared in advance, clearly intending to take the lead.
"Hmm, border openings, resource support, dispatch of armies and commanders, creation of a unified organization, establishment of an allied council, election of a chairperson…"
While the proposal contained many elements, nothing was particularly groundbreaking. It suggested easing existing restrictions between kingdoms, creating a unified structure, and enhancing cooperation.
The only potential issue was the number of initiatives Grimwell sought to lead.
For Lutania, however, this wasn't a bad deal. After all, the rifts and the plague required a united effort to eradicate as quickly as possible.
This was why Lutania had been providing substantial amounts of food and medicine to other kingdoms.
The envoy from Grimwell smiled broadly and said, "We are all grateful for Lutania's humanitarian support. We must join forces to resolve this crisis swiftly. This is not a problem any one of us can solve alone."
"Fair point. Judging by the document, it suggests that the Prime Minister of Grimwell should serve as the chair of the allied council, correct?"
"If entrusted with this responsibility, we will lead the alliance effectively."
Marquis Branford nodded. Grimwell's Prime Minister had a solid reputation and was certainly capable of leading the council.
Stabilizing Lutania by dealing with internal enemies wasn't enough. If other regions fell, it would mean endless war.
Branford turned to Ghislain and asked, "What do you think?"
"I don't like it."
"Hmm?"
Marquis Branford looked puzzled. Ghislain had always been a strong advocate for supporting other kingdoms. It was he who had pushed to gather the envoys so quickly.
But now, to suddenly say he didn't like it was surprising, to say the least.
'Does this brat want the chairmanship?'
Ghislain had never shown much interest in titles or power, focusing instead on money and military strength. This sudden change was unexpected.
The other envoys were equally taken aback. After being summoned in such haste, to hear that it wasn't satisfactory left them wondering what exactly he found lacking.
Ghislain, wearing an indifferent expression, opened his mouth.
"Actually, I was hoping to settle some accounts during this meeting."
"Accounts… you say?"
"We are currently providing immense amounts of food and medicine to various kingdoms. However, we can't continue doing this forever. Resources are not infinite, are they?"
"…"
The envoys were at a loss for words.
In truth, most kingdoms outside Lutania were being ravaged by the Salvation Church and the rifts. They hadn't been as prepared as Lutania.
Some had hoped the alliance would justify asking for even more support.
The envoy from Grimwell cleared his throat and said, "We are deeply grateful for Lutania's aid. However, smaller kingdoms are facing crises as dire as candles in the wind. Without assistance, they will soon fall. Wouldn't you agree?"
The envoy from Grimwell looked toward the envoy from Seiron. The envoy from Seiron quickly nodded.
The Kingdom of Seiron, a small nation neighboring Lutania, had a total military force of barely 100,000.
Currently, the forces are barely managing to defend the area around the capital. Without Lutania Kingdom's support, even basic military supplies couldn't be maintained.
The envoy from the Kingdom of Grimwell turned to Ghislain and said,
"We are still able to hold on, but not every kingdom is in the same position. Surely, you can't just stand by and watch. If other nations are completely taken over by the Salvation Church, the Lutania Kingdom will also suffer greatly."
Ghislain scoffed.
"Who doesn't know that?"
"Then, what exactly do you intend to do…?"
"You'll have to pay the price."
Marquis Branford gave Ghislain a curious look. It had been Ghislain who argued that the kingdom must offer unconditional help, without treating this as a transaction.
But now, having gathered the envoys, his stance had shifted. Clearly, he had something in mind from the start.
'Of course, that's typical of him. He wouldn't give anything for free.'
It seemed he had deliberately distributed food and medicine first, helping to put out the immediate fires, while tightening a leash to extract something in return later.
The envoy from Grimwell sighed in frustration.
"Few places are as well-stocked with food and medicine as the Lutania Kingdom. Smaller kingdoms are struggling to even breathe!"
"I'm not asking you to pay back with food and medicine. Bring something else."
"What do you mean?"
"First, bring us jewels, artworks, and precious metals equivalent to the aid we've provided. Surely, you can manage that much?"
"Ugh…"
The envoys exchanged awkward glances. Luxury goods were of little practical use in times like these. However, it was obvious that their value would rebound after the war ended.
It was painful to part with items that would lose value now but regain significance later, even in exchange for resources that would soon be consumed.
But survival was more important than anything else. Without Lutania Kingdom's support, they wouldn't last.
"Ahem, can we agree to the current market prices?"
"That's acceptable."
The envoys, who had already tasted the aid provided by Lutania, couldn't refuse. If they hadn't experienced the benefits, they might have declined, but having tasted the sweetness, they couldn't let it go.
Once all the envoys agreed, the Grimwell envoy quickly spoke up.
"Then, let us begin discussing how the alliance will actually operate. We need to establish a framework and implement policies to quickly recruit talent across the regions…"
Hoping to move away from further negotiations about transactions, the envoy tried to steer the discussion toward formalizing the alliance. However, Ghislain interrupted.
"Troops."
"…Pardon?"
"Send reinforcements to us first."
The envoys looked puzzled. How could they send troops when they were already struggling to fight the rifts? Asking them to send forces to the strongest region, Lutania, seemed absurd.
As the room fell silent with confusion, Ghislain continued.
"Why? Isn't forming an alliance ultimately about fighting together? Sending reinforcements is already mentioned in the draft you provided."
"Well, yes, but… you want us to send them to Lutania first? Isn't this kingdom already managing the situation far better than anyone else? The other nations are in dire straits."
"The Kingdom of Grimwell is still holding up reasonably well, isn't it?"
The Grimwell envoy closed his mouth. It was true. Compared to other nations, they were better off. Their initial response had been slightly delayed, but their military strength and royal authority far exceeded the rebellious nobles.
Still, they didn't want to send troops. Grimwell's own rifts were far from being fully managed.
Ghislain looked around at the envoys and said, "We are probably the fastest at stopping the expansion of the rifts on this continent."
"That… that's true. Your reputation precedes you."
"If our forces come to assist your kingdoms, it would be an enormous help."
The envoys smiled faintly at this.
In truth, this was the main reason they wanted the alliance. They sought the help of Lutania's northern army, which handled rifts faster than any other force.
"But Lutania also has the Delphine Duchy, which has allied with the Salvation Church."
At Ghislain's next words, the envoys' expressions darkened.
The power of the Delphine Duchy was well-known among the neighboring kingdoms of Lutania. Even nations farther away had some understanding of their might.
Ghislain's eyes gleamed as he continued, "The Delphine Duchy is strong. Moreover, to claim Lutania Kingdom, the Salvation Church's priests must have come here in greater numbers than anywhere else. Tell me, would it benefit you if we were defeated?"
"…"
Thanks to Lutania, the other kingdoms had managed to scrape together armies and medicines. It was the only nation currently dominating the rifts on the continent.
In a sense, Lutania gave people hope that they could continue fighting.
But what if the Delphine Duchy, allied with the Salvation Church, won the civil war?
The morale of other kingdoms would plummet. Humanity might even spiral into despair, believing total defeat was inevitable.
Ghislain delivered the finishing blow.
"The Delphine Duchy must be dealt with first. Only then can Lutania's forces help you. So, any kingdom with even a shred of capacity must send reinforcements. Understood?"
"…"
The envoys looked troubled.
This wasn't something they had considered before coming here. Their intent had been to establish the alliance first, then negotiate terms to secure benefits for their respective kingdoms.
It was going to be a drawn-out and challenging process, but that was the nature of diplomacy. The envoys were all seasoned negotiators accustomed to slow, arduous discussions.
But Ghislain didn't care about any of that. He had no interest in drawn-out diplomacy. He planned to proceed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
In my past life, things dragged on, and the damage only worsened.
He had already experienced this once. Everyone prioritized their own gains, and proper negotiations never took place.
By the time an agreement was reached, humanity had already been pushed to its limits.
To prevent that, Ghislain had used Marquis Branford to swiftly gather the envoys.
"The Salvation Church's priests are now openly participating in the war. This is a different situation from my past life."
In his previous life, the Salvation Church had hidden its true nature, which allowed them to endure.
Victory depended on gaining the upper hand early. While the balance of power was still precarious, it was critical to dominate the battlefield decisively.
"We must destroy the Delphine Duchy and the Salvation Church first."
Ghislain was resolute on this point.
If the kingdoms wanted to join the alliance, they would have to send reinforcements to Lutania first.
[T/L: Please support me and read 385 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]