102 Episode 9 Yesterdays enemy is todays friend, so ... (1/2)

”A hundred ships captured. ...... How many of them are usable?

Hercule asks Christos.

Christos reads the report from his men.

Fifty can be used without any problems.

So let's keep those fifty ships and ...... sell or dismantle the rest. I'm sure Antonio can handle it.

It's been a week since Hercule and his crew returned to Rosa Island after rescuing the fallen soldiers.

The battle against the Rosa pirates is still ongoing.

I'm sure they'll surrender now.

I'm not so sure about that.　Well, I don't know. I've been cut off from all information, good and bad. In the meantime, I'll have Raus I write a letter saying that we can't help them anymore. ...... I wonder if he'll believe it.

It could be a ploy by the Lemurian Empire!

The Lemurian Empire may be behind this!

In the end, it's just a matter of how long the Rosa pirates' spirits will last.

”By the way, what should we do with the ...... prisoners and Raus I?

”Treat them with respect. They are still of use.

”Aside from the prisoners, the value of Raus I as king of a country is high.

How much ransom can we get?

”Ransom. ...... If I'm right, I don't think there will be any ransom.

What's the ...... forecast?

It's ......

Just when Hercule was about to tell Christos what he thought, ......

”Your Majesty!　Excuse me for interrupting!　I have an urgent report from the secret agent we sent to Cerda!

Hercule received the report from his messenger.

He broke the seal and opened the report from the secret agent.

”What does it say on ......?

”As I predicted, it seems that the Dauphin Hilderic has staged a coup d'etat and ascended to the throne as Hilderic II.

Hercule smiled with amusement.

Thus, Hercule's plan had entered the next stage.

The ransom is going to be expensive.

Rouse I sighed.

Rouse I is in a small room that was assigned to him by Hercule.

It was a renovated room of a relatively large mansion on the island of Rosa.

Fortunately for Rouse I, he was treated better than he had expected. ......

The unfortunate thing was that it was almost impossible for him to escape.

But will ...... Hilderic be able to get my ransom in order?　I'm ...... worried.

Rouse I and his son, Hilderic, did not get along very well.

This is because they are at odds with each other on political principles.

Raus I is, needless to say, a warbeast supremacist and an ardent western messianist.

Therefore, he persecuted the wealthy non-Warbeasts, non-Western Messianic sects and religions, and sometimes imposed heavy taxes on them.

His son Hilderic, on the other hand, is much more conciliatory than Raus I.

He advocates equal rights for warbeasts and non-warbeasts, and believes that religious persecution should be stopped.

However, Raus I has the upper hand.

This is not surprising, since the Kingdom of Chelda is dominated by the Western Messianists of the Beast Race (Warbeasts).

If we stop taxing the non-warbeasts and non-western messianists heavily, where will we get the money from?　That is the question.

If the tax revenue is left to decline, the cost of public works and military spending will be reduced, and the national strength of the Kingdom of Chelda will decline. ...... On the other hand, if we try to maintain the current tax revenue, it is obvious that the wrinkles will go to the warbeasts and western messianists. .

But but but ......

There are more than a few forces that support Hilderick, so we can't be too careful.

”Your Majesty, King Chellda. Excuse me. May I come in?

Of course, come in.

As soon as King Raus I gave his permission, a girl with peach-colored hair appeared.

Raus I frowned.

The girl had black horns on her head and a black tail.

”Nightmare ......, get out of here!

This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing. You're still the same as ever,......, and you're still the king of a country. It's not like you're a weakling or a scumbag.

Nia smiled bitterly.

The lower class citizens of Nova Lemuria changed their attitudes as soon as Nia became a nobleman.

However, Raus I would not change his attitude even if he was a prisoner of war.

To Nia, Raus I is a more consistent and reasonable person than the lower class citizens of Nova Lemuria.

The Emperor has asked for a meeting with you. If you're not feeling well, I can tell you that. ...... What can I do for you?

I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure I'm in a position to say that. ...... Lead the way.

”Okay. Then follow me.

Then follow me.” Nia said, and led Raus I down to Hercule.

”Your Majesty. I've brought His Majesty King Chelda.

”Oh, thank you. Thank you, Nia.

Hercule thanked Nia and ......

He turned to Raus I.

”Please, take a seat. My ally, King Cerda.

”Ally?　Hmm, the Emperor of Lemuria seems to be quite fond of a joke.

Raus I said sarcastically to Hercule as he sat down and faced him.

The servants prepared tea and sweets for the two men.

Hercule takes a sip of the tea and then tells Rouse I. ”Let me get straight to the point.

”Let me be frank with you, my friend.

”Let me tell you something first. I have never been your friend.

”Yesterday's enemies are today's friends. I went toe to toe with you fair and square. What do you call me if not a friend?

When Hercule said this, ......

When Hercule said this, Rouse I looked at him in dismay.

Are you serious about that?　If so, you need to see a doctor. At least in the kingdom of Cerda, you don't call winning a battle by having your men hit you on the head from behind 'fair and square'.

Hercule cowered.

”That's harsh. Now, let's get down to business. Your son, the Dauphin Hilderic, staged a coup d'etat and ascended the throne as Hilderic II.

Hercule told him. ......

Raus I's face twisted in anger.

”That stupid son of a b*tc* ...... took advantage of the sweet talk of the lowlifes and heretics. Reconciliation is not the way to govern a country. It would only cause more confusion. ...... Why don't you understand ......?

Such is the case with Rouse I. ......

There is no sign of anger, but no sign of surprise or embarrassment.

He must have been prepared for this to some extent.

”Now then, my ally. I have a suggestion for you, .......

”Proposal?　You're not going to help me return to the throne, are you?　If so, you are more than welcome to accept. ......

How can that be?

It's not a big deal, anyway.

He was about to say, but Hercule interrupted him.

That's good to know. That's good. I'm ready to help you get back on your throne.

”...... Are you serious?

”If my friend is in trouble, I'll give him a hand. It's the natural thing to do!

...... No matter how good the content of the statement, if the speaker is Hercule, it will not be convincing.

If you agree to my terms, I'll release all the prisoners. If you reorganize the prisoners, it should be a good enough army. In addition, I can lend you some money for your army, as well as food and weapons.

”What are your demands for this extraordinary support?

Raus I asked. ......

Hercule grinned. The grin was not a friendly one, at least not to a friend.

”Your Majesty, come in.

”Sorry, Nia.

Hercule unrolled the map that Nia had handed him on the desk.

It was a highly accurate map that clearly showed the entire Album Sea.

”We are on the island of Rosa. And ...... to the west of it are Crenos, Marne, Sicily, Sardia, Corus, and the Balmeras Islands. All six of these islands are in your territory or under your influence.

The islands mentioned by Hercule were the key islands of the Album Sea, which the Kingdom of Cerda had once fought against and taken from the Lemurian Empire.

I demand the cession of ...... Crenos and Marne. I demand the cession of Crenos, the Marne, the leases of Sikelia, Sardia and Corus, and the permanent abandonment of the Balmeras Islands. ...... What do you think?

”That's a very excessive demand. ...... You think I'm going to accept that?

In short, give us all the islands in the Album Sea that are controlled by the Kingdom of Cerda.

Erkur is saying, ”Give us all the islands in the Album Sea that are controlled by the Kingdom of Chelda.

I can't just nod my head.

Is that so?　I don't think that's too much to ask. ...... The only islands ceded are Crenos and Marne. The islands of Sicily, Sardia, and Corus, which you demanded to be leased, are like collateral for the loan of military funds to you. As soon as you pay me back the money I loaned you, including interest, I will return the three islands to you. As for the Balmeras Islands, they are hardly your territory to begin with. It's close to the Kingdom of Tretum, and I hear there are many native nobles who are pro-Tretum.

The Balmeras Islands are a disputed territory between the Kingdom of Cheluda and the Kingdom of Tretum, and as soon as the navy of the Kingdom of Cheluda was destroyed, it was as good as a territory of the Kingdom of Tretum.

In other words, there is no such thing as permanent abandonment, and we have no choice but to abandon it in the first place.

It is simply a matter of accepting the current situation.

In the first place, ...... the current Kingdom of Cerda is ruled by Crown Prince Hilderic. You have nothing more to lose. In addition, the Chelda Navy has been destroyed. Whether you accept these terms or not, my country intends to take these islands back, and I believe it is possible. Of course, it will be easier for us if you accept the terms.

Rouse I thinks for a moment, then asks Hercule.

'...... If I refuse this, what will you do?

”If I do, I have no choice. I'll have to negotiate with my ally King Hilderic, who has similar political views, for your custody.

The best outcome for King Hilderic II would be for Raus I to die.

Then King Hilderic II can ascend to the throne without any guilt.

On the other hand, the next best outcome is for Raus I to be imprisoned in the Lemurian Empire forever.

As long as he's alive, he's in danger. ...... At least as long as Hilderic II maintains friendly relations with the Lemurian Empire behind the scenes, the Lemurian Empire will never release Raus I.

What would not be so good is if Hercule returns Raus I to Hilderic II.

Then Hilderic II will be forced to either kill, imprison, or reinstate Raus I as king.

Since the former has more supporters than the latter,......, Rouse I's presence in the country would be dangerous for Hilderic II.

And the worst possible outcome is ......

The worst outcome is that Hercule unleashes Raus I.

In other words, Hercule can negotiate with Hilderic II that if he doesn't want Raus I to be released, he should give him the island if he wants him killed.

In other words, even Raus I can be killed by Hilderic II.

In other words, both Raus I and Hilderic II can go to ......

It doesn't matter to Hercule as long as he gets the island, and he gets it no matter what.

There is one weakness to this .......

However, there is one weakness to this: if both King Hilderic II and King Raus I refuse the terms.

If Hilderic II says, ”I would rather release my father than give you the island,” and Raus I says, ”I would rather be killed than give you the island,” then ......

If Raus I were to be unleashed and try to harass Hilderic II, Raus I would lose nothing and the possibility of being reinstated as king would roll over.

On the other hand, if Hercule kills Raus I, ...... Hilderic II will lose nothing and will be able to become the king with dignity.

Game Theory: ......

This is a little different from game theory, but if both sides reject Hercule's demands, then one side will gain without giving anything to Hercule.

But ......

That is, if both refuse.

There is no relationship of trust between Raus I and Hilderic II in the first place.

If you ask King Raus I who he would rather have as a son, Hercule or King Hilderic II, he will answer the former without hesitation, and if you ask King Hilderic II who he would rather have as a father, Hercule or King Raus I, he will answer the former without hesitation.

Of course, Raus I's answer was obvious.

”So there is no choice in the first place. Fine. I'll sign it!