Return of The Martial King

Chapter 249

The economy of Chatan, once renowned for its commerce, also experienced a significant upheaval.  

The slave trade, one of the primary pillars of Chatan's economy, crumbled, breaking one of the foundational supports of the principality. The repercussions were far-reaching and severe.  

Economies are, by nature, intricately interconnected. As countless slave traders went bankrupt, the merchants who had been dealing with them suffered collateral damage, leading to a cascading wave of economic collapse.  

Promissory notes worth vast sums of money turned into worthless scraps of paper, and the merchants who were financially ruined fled Chatan in droves. For the Principality of Chatan, famed as a land of commerce, this was a devastating blow.  

Though Chatan was not so fragile as to collapse entirely, there was no denying that its national power had been significantly diminished. Meanwhile, the traditional superpower of Crovence, which had regained stability after a severe famine, and the emerging force of Antares, which had already proven its formidable military strength, were forces that the Principality of Chatan was currently incapable of contending with.  

"Some of the more belligerent nobles are even hoping that the Principality of Chatan will invade us," someone remarked. "They may not say it outright, but even His Majesty seems to harbor similar sentiments."  

Typically, envoys refrain from making definitive statements, as every word they utter carries implications for international affairs. The fact that Laros spoke so directly indicated that Yubel II was undoubtedly contemplating war.  

Laros casually posed a question.  

"When that time comes, will we be able to fight alongside the formidable warriors of Antares on the battlefield once more?"  

Repenhardt nodded confidently.  

"Of course."  

With a bright smile, Laros bowed deeply.  

"That will surely please His Majesty."  

*         *         *  

After Laros withdrew, only Repenhardt and Karl remained in the audience chamber.  

Repenhardt turned to Karl and asked, "Hmm, at this point, can we consider the Kingdom of Crovence a reliable ally?"  

"Yes. Most of Crovence’s nobles are favorable toward the Duchy of Antares."  

The events of the civil war had prompted the nobles of Crovence to adopt a new perspective on other races. As they continued to hear about Antares’ reputation, their opinions gradually shifted.  

It was a visible change, supported by the relentless efforts of the Duchy of Antares, more specifically, Karl, through lobbying and manipulating public opinion.  

Thanks to this, those who once dismissed Repenhardt as a lunatic gradually changed their tune. Over time, they began to concede that his ideas were plausible, and now, there were even those who praised him as a true pioneer.  

Well, while it might not have reached the level of praise, there was no one left who outright wanted to antagonize Repenhardt.  

Many nobles had witnessed firsthand how Baron Galin, who was close to Repenhardt, had risen to become a prominent aristocrat with his support. As a result, quite a few nobles started freeing slaves within their territories and sending them to the Duchy of Antares to strengthen their relationships with Repenhardt. Most nobles already knew the best way to build rapport with the Fist King of their era. (Repenhardt himself had deliberately conveyed such nuances with considerable effort.)  

Although Crovence’s national laws still didn’t guarantee the rights of other races, making it appear outwardly as if they were simply offering slaves for free, their actions were based on an understanding of Repenhardt’s ideals.  

At the very least, the days were gone when, no matter how loudly Repenhardt proclaimed, "These are not my slaves, but my allies!" he would be met with dismissive laughter and offers like, "Come on, you’re just holding out for a better price. We’ll pay extra, so sell us your slaves."  

“And above all, we’ve got the king on our side, don’t we? That Yubel, he’ll cling to the White King with everything he’s got if it means he can finally get married. He wouldn’t dare betray us.”  

As he spoke, Karl suddenly chuckled.  

“Come to think of it, poor Yubel. Even now, he can’t proudly unite with the one he loves, while I, the loser, am happily dating Tilla without a care.”  

Repenhardt replied in a joking tone, playing along with Karl’s teasing manner.  

“Come on now, you’re not married yet either, are you? Isn’t it because your future father-in-law won’t give his blessing?”  

Karl gave a wry smile and nodded.  

“True. Dwarven stubbornness is as infamous as ever.”  

Suddenly, his expression turned serious, and his eyes sparkled with determination.  

“But give me three years. I’m confident I’ll get his approval within three years.”  

Repenhardt looked at Karl with a startled expression.  

Karl now had the same look he wore when strategizing to take down Zeppelin. Just what kind of underhanded scheme was this man planning to pull off?  

“… I hope you’ll convince him using humane and peaceful methods.”  

“Come on now, it’s Tilla’s father we’re talking about. Even I don’t resort to ruthless tactics… often.”  

"Not often" implied that he might occasionally resort to them, didn’t it? Repenhardt glanced at Karl with an incredulous expression.  

But soon, he averted his gaze.  

‘Well, he’ll figure it out somehow.’  

“Anyway, that’s enough about the Principality of Chatan. What about the reactions from other nations?”  

Dropping his playful tone, Karl reverted to a serious demeanor.  

“They’ve been handled well.”  

*         *         *

In the capital city of Temperad, the heart of the Graim Kingdom that ruled the northwestern continent, a man in his forties sat on the throne of Del Graim Castle’s Grand Hall, overlooking his assembled vassals. This man was none other than the current king of the Graim Kingdom, Hyde el Graim II.  

Lined up on either side of the throne stood his ministers, and before them knelt a middle-aged nobleman, Viscount Perron, who had recently returned as an envoy to the Duchy of Antares.  

"Your Majesty" Perron began, his voice carrying a tone of reverence, "I have returned safely, having fulfilled your orders under your gracious protection."  

From his seat, Hyde II leaned forward slightly.  

"So, Viscount Perron, what was the Duchy of Antares' response?"  

The Zeppelin Raid War, orchestrated by the Fist King Repenhardt, had caused unrest not only in the Principality of Chatan but also in other nations.  

If the Zeppelin Raid had been a simple invasion, it might have been regarded as a bilateral issue between Chatan and Antares, warranting only cautious monitoring.  

However, Repenhardt had clearly set his sights on dismantling the racial slave system. Regardless of whether nations had been directly affected, this was an action that shook the established order of the continent and could not be ignored.  

Moreover, while the evidence was sparse and the losses relatively minor, other kingdoms had also suffered instances of racial slaves being taken by the Duchy of Antares. The disaster of Zeppelin could very well become their problem someday.  

Not only the Graim Kingdom but also major powers such as Hallein, the Vasily Kingdom, and the Teikan Kingdom sent envoys to the Duchy of Antares, applying political pressure. Smaller nations, like the Duchy of Lastil, sought to grasp the situation by carefully listening to news from Antares.  

The demands from various nations were largely the same.  

Although they didn’t adopt an openly hostile stance like the Principality of Chatan, they strongly condemned Repenhardt’s reckless actions and the war that disregarded international protocols. To maintain the continent's order, they insisted that Antares return the slaves taken from Chatan and reinstate the racial slave system.  

As Viscount Perron recalled his audience with Repenhardt, a look of surprise crossed his face.  

"Contrary to his reputation, the White King of Antares is someone who can be reasoned with."  

The Duchy of Antares treated envoys from other nations with great hospitality and appeared to listen earnestly to their demands. This was in stark contrast to their cold dismissal of Chatan’s envoys.  

The Duchy of Antares actions against the Principality of Chatan were carried out solely because the citizens of Antares, along with their families and relatives, had suffered unbearable hardships in Zeppelin. The Duchy had no involvement in nor knowledge of the slave escape incidents that occurred across the various nations of the continent. As for the slave system, it is considered an internal matter, and thus Antares cannot accept interference in its domestic affairs. However, the Duchy does not entirely dismiss the concerns of other nations. Antares assures that such incidents will not happen again in the future. The Duchy of Antares has no intention of waging wars of aggression and respects the order of the continent. Beyond the Principality of Chatan, the Duchy of Antares will never set foot in another country.

If closely examined, it was a cleverly evasive response. To summarize, while Antares had no regrets about attacking the Principality of Chatan, it claimed to respect the positions of other nations.

However, for most other kingdoms, this response was sufficiently satisfying. It made it clear that the hostile relationship was limited to Chatan, while Antares expressed a desire to maintain good relations with other nations.

The Duchy of Antares was not a weak country, and in terms of military power, it was on par with other kingdoms. For such a nation to respond in this way was, in the context of international relations, a humble enough gesture.

Moreover, this was not all that the Duchy of Antares had prepared.

“Bring it in!”

Viscount Perron clapped his hands, and several royal attendants entered the hall carrying large chests.

Hyde II, looking puzzled, asked, “What are those?”

“They are gifts from Fist King Repenhardt to Your Majesty,” Perron replied.

At Perron’s signal, the attendants opened the chests and stepped back. Each chest was filled with splendid fabrics, luxurious leather goods, elegant porcelain, and finely crafted mithril weapons.

The ministers murmured in astonishment as they beheld the contents.

“Good heavens, such magnificent treasures.”

The fabrics shimmered as if woven from moonlight, surpassing even the renowned silk of Hallein. Even the nobles present, who were accustomed to luxury, had never seen such material before. The leather goods were of the highest quality, and the porcelain featured artistic patterns so exquisite that they seemed to be the work of master artisans. As for the mithril weapons, their value was already well-known, needing no further explanation.

Although the chests did not contain gold or jewels, the items within were far more precious and valuable.

Pointing at the chests, Viscount Perron spoke.  

“Though there were circumstances behind their actions, they expressed deep remorse for causing trouble as a neighboring nation and sent these gifts as a token of friendship,” said Viscount Perron.  

An elderly minister stroked his beard with satisfaction, chuckling.  

“To gather such treasures must have taken no small amount of effort. It seems even the mighty Fist King could not help but tremble before the majesty of Your Highness’s reputation. Hohoho.”  

Another minister, standing in line, spoke up.  

“As expected from someone with a background in street brawling. He acted impulsively but seems to have come to his senses now.”  

It appeared that most of them had concluded that Repenhardt, having acted recklessly without forethought, was now retreating after realizing his mistake.  

Of course, a reasonable and ordinary monarch would never manage national affairs so flippantly...  

“That’s just how they are over there,” someone remarked.  

“Well, considering they’re Gym Unbreakable, it’s not surprising.”  

“Their ignorance has been the talk of the continent for generations…”  

The long-standing tales of Gym Unbreakable’s legendary lack of refinement played a significant role in obscuring Repenhardt’s true intentions.  

An elderly minister addressed Hyde II directly.  

“It is indeed a course of action befitting their infamous reputation for ignorance. However, now that we’ve secured firm assurances, it’s unlikely that further disturbances will arise.”  

“So you’re suggesting we just leave them be?”  

“What I humbly propose, Your Majesty, is that since their hostility was directed solely at the Principality of Chatan, it remains an issue between those two nations. There is no need for our kingdom to intervene unnecessarily.”  

Viscount Perron nodded in agreement.  

“This is, after all, an issue for Chatan alone, is it not? I do not see why Graim should shed its blood for Chatan’s sake.”  

Hyde II alternated his gaze between the ministers and the gifts before him, his expression serious.  

Most of the ministers seemed to favor letting the matter go, satisfied with the sincerity Antares had shown. Their demeanor suggested a belief that the Duchy of Antares had been cowed and was now trying to placate them.  

“Hmm…”  

Truthfully, Hyde II found himself inclined to agree. Seeing the treasure piled before him only reinforced that impression. Under ordinary circumstances, he would have brushed the matter aside without much thought.  

The problem was that Hyde II was not only the king of Graim but also a member of the Silver Sages.  

‘What a headache. If I do nothing, the Silver Sages will probably throw a fit.’  

The Silver Sages had already issued a directive to eradicate everything related to Repenhardt. As a member, Hyde II was obligated to comply with that order.  

However, no matter how much, he was a king, he could not impulsively start a war with another nation purely based on his feelings.  

At the very least, there had to be some justification. Yet, the Duchy of Antares had conducted itself so flawlessly that it made finding such justification impossible. Even Hyde II himself found it hard to argue against the notion that Antares’ actions had already resolved the situation.  

But revealing the existence of the Silver Sages to his ministers was out of the question...  

‘Ah, to hell with it. Surely even the Silver Sages will understand this situation.’  

In the end, Hyde II decided to align himself with the will of his ministers.  

“Very well. Let us conclude the matter as such.”  

*         *         *  

“This should buy us some time” Karl said, shrugging his shoulders.  

The situation that had unfolded in the Graim royal court was not unique to that nation. The same declarations and gifts had been sent to every kingdom that had dispatched envoys, Vasily, Teikan, Hallein, and others. And each of them reacted in the same way as Graim.  

Though the actions of the Duchy of Antares were in breach of international protocols, it has since shown respect for continental order and demonstrated sincerity. We shall let the matter rest for now.