Kalmar was left completely speechless by the reports from the front lines.
“Annihilated…?”
According to the report, the army attacking the borders of the Lota Kingdom was annihilated.
Moreover, over ten thousand soldiers were captured as prisoners.
But that wasn't all.
It was also reported that all the members of the White Lion Order, including their leader, Roberto, were killed.
On the other hand, it was estimated that the number of casualties on the Lota Kingdom's side was less than 300.
In other words, the Lota Kingdom suffered almost no damage, while the Cherokee Kingdom experienced such a severe blow that its national strength was severely shaken.
"……"
Kalmar remained silent for a moment, his jaw clenched tightly at the unbelievable report.The silence lasted for a full hour.
No matter how much he mulled over the report, it didn't make sense to him.
Even the cavalry of the Kingdom of Lota, which had been rampaging through the territory, had slipped away so effortlessly that the Cherokee troops in pursuit were like dogs chasing chickens.
At this point, it was clear that he had suffered a great humiliation just as he ascended to the throne.
"Recover the fallen soldiers and…. reorganize the troops. The funerals for the fallen…. will be held as state funerals."
Having suffered such a crushing defeat, he couldn't even imagine how much the public sentiment would worsen if they didn't properly honor the fallen soldiers.
"I'm tired, so I will go in and rest for a while."
Kalmar said that and left the royal hall, heading to his chamber.
When Kalmar arrived at his chamber…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
A roar of anger erupted from Kalmar’s mouth.
He couldn’t show his emotions in front of his ministers, so he held it in and only let his feelings out once he was alone.
*Smash*
*Crash*
*Pow!*
Kalmar smashed everything in sight furniture, mirrors, glassware, tables, and more.
He felt that he couldn’t calm his anger in any other way.
“O-Our… army… hehe…”
Kalmar, with his eyes wild and painted with madness and rage, mumbled like a person out of his mind.
“To… lose… hehehe… such… a… damn… humiliation… heh.. hehehe….”
Kalmar, who had barely ascended to the throne, never imagined he would suffer such consecutive defeats.
At the very least, he needed to inflict some damage to save face. With such a defeat, it was certain that he would become the laughingstock of everyone.
The incompetent king who lost a war as soon as he ascended the throne.
"I will definitely… definitely tear your Kingdom apart… and devour it…"
Kalmar gritted his teeth, imagining Otto de Scuderia, King of the Kingdom of Iota.
*Crack*
He clenched his teeth so hard that one of his molars shattered into several pieces.
But Kalmar didn't even feel the pain.
"I will cut you into thousands, tens of thousands of pieces… Otto de Scuderia… I will make sure to repay you for this humiliation… Kahaha."
And so Kalmar stifled his anger in private, finally regaining his calm and collected self.
But his feeling of composure was short-lived.
Some days later.
"‘…How much did you say the ransom is?’"
Kalmar doubted his hearing.
Because they have demanded a ransom for the soldiers captured as prisoners by the Kingdom of Lota, a sum greater than the Kingdom's annual budget.
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"….."
Kalmar was left speechless by the unimaginable price of the ransom.
Currently, there are 25,000 prisoners being held by the Lota Kingdom, which is a significant headache.
Turning a blind eye to them would only enrage the public.
Even if we were to pay a ransom, it would be too expensive.
For Kalmar, it was a situation where he couldn't proceed in either direction.
‘Damn it.'
A part of him wished the Lota Kingdom would just slaughter the prisoners.
If that were to happen, the people's animosity toward the Lota Kingdom would intensify, making it more advantageous for conducting future wars
But the cunning Lota Kingdom was treating the prisoners very well.
They provide them with meals at the proper times.
And they provide them with sleeping arrangements.
They even go so far as to treat the wounded.
Given the situation, it was very difficult for Kalmar to refuse the Lota Kingdom's offer.
"Send an envoy… and ask them to lower the ransom for our soldiers a bit."
In the end, Kalmar had no choice but to express his regrets to the Lota Kingdom.
He must bring the prisoners back after all, but the ransom was too steep.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The diplomat who received the order immediately traveled to the Kingdom of Lota to relay Kalmar's words.
“Did he request a reduction in the ransom?”
Otto asked, looking down at the diplomat from the Cherokee Kingdom.
"‘Yes, Your Majesty. We earnestly request that you lower the ransom for our soldiers.’"
“And if I refuse?”
"….."
"The war was started by your Kingdom. Did you not launch a surprise invasion of our borders without any declaration of war?"
"That is not the case, Your Majesty."
The diplomat, being as cunning as a fox, did not admit to any wrongdoing.
"This war is an unintended consequence of mutual misunderstandings…"
“Twice.”
Otto wouldn't allow the diplomat to bullshit his way out of this.
Diplomats, by nature, like to beat around the bush and are often prone to sophistry.
If one were to get caught up in that style of speaking, it was inevitable to be swayed by the other party's intentions.
“From this moment on, for every word of falsehood you speak, the ransom will be doubled.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
The diplomat from the Cherokee Kingdom was flustered by Otto's resolute demeanor, sweating profusely and not knowing what to do.
They came to negotiate a reduction in the ransom, only to find it doubling instead.
“Do not try to deceive me."¹
Otto warned the diplomat.
"Our country does not negotiate with a nation that has committed war crimes. If it were up to me, I would kill all the prisoners, but out of pity for the young lives who were mobilized for an unjust invasion without understanding anything, we are showing mercy."
"….."
“If you cannot pay the ransom, we will have no choice but to subject the prisoners to forced labor in your country."
Otto added.
"They will be used to produce military supplies for future wars against your country."
"….."
“Of course, they will be treated humanely as prisoners, but they will have to labor until they grow old and die, at least until my Kingdom is destroyed.”
The diplomat, who had hoped to negotiate a lower ransom with his eloquent speech, was struck with despair and could not speak for a while.
“Y-Your Majesty.”
The diplomat pleaded earnestly."
"Please, at least show mercy by restoring the original ransom."
"I said it would be double."
"My attempt to lower the ransom was merely an act of loyalty to our king. Please, show mercy.’"
Realizing that Otto was not open to negotiation, the diplomat tried to at least restore the ransom to its original amount.
If he returned with the ransom doubled, it was certain that his head would be cut off.
"In that case, I will make an exception just this once. Inform your king, Kalmar, that the ransom must be paid within a month.’"
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Reluctantly, Otto restored the ransom to its original amount.
“Oh, and.”
“Yes?”
“I, as a King, do not accept unmanly payment methods such as installments. Therefore, make sure to pay in a lump sum.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
"If you cannot pay the ransom in full, know that a 30 percent interest will be added each month."
“I Understand, Your Majesty….”
The diplomat from the Cherokee Kingdom returned to his country with slumped shoulders.
With no justification.
And without even a declaration of war.
As a Kingdom of war criminals who suffered a crushing defeat after launching a surprise invasion, they couldn't protest against Otto's tough stance.
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Shortly after the departure of the diplomat from the Cherokee Kingdom.
“Your Highness?”
Camille turned and asked Otto.
“Are you ill by any chance?”
“What? I'm perfectly fine. Why all of a sudden?”
Otto scratched his head at Camille's sudden concern for his health.
“You doubled the ransom amount and then lowered it back.”
“What's wrong with that?”
“I'm just saying that you never….”
“Hey.”
Otto growled at Camille.
“Do you? Think I’m such a bloodless and tearless human being?”
"Isn't that usually how it is?"
“No!!!”
Otto screamed at the top of his lungs.
“If I doubled it, I wouldn't get a penny, so I'm just pretending to concede a loss!!!”
“Is that so?”
“The initial amount I asked for was ridiculous!!!”
“Ah.”
Finally, Camille realized why Otto had pretended to be merciful.
The amount Otto had demanded from the Cherokee Kingdom was so outrageous that it was highly unlikely that he would ever receive it.
Given the circumstances, it seemed likely that he would get it this time.
An amount that was twice as much would have been a demand so difficult to meet, even for the Cherokee Kingdom.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“I think.”
Otto replied and started to walk away.
“I'm going to walk a bit and think about it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Otto strolled through the palace with Camille.
“The Cherokee Kingdom will not give up.”
“Of course not.”
Otto agreed with Camille's opinion.
"Once they’ve finished reorganizing, they’ll probably invade again, right?"
“We need to prepare.”
“Of course we should be ready.”
Otto nodded with a smile.
“For now.”
Otto said to Camille.
"Contact Drake and have him come over."
“Drake's in the Navy, right? Our home kingdom and the Cherokee Kingdom are landlocked, so there's no need for a navy….”
“There is.”
“……?”
“The navy will play a big role in the next war.”
Camille couldn't understand what Otto was talking about.
Why would a navy be necessary in a war between landlocked nations that had no oceans or large rivers?
“It's all because I have a plan, so just call Drake.”
“Understood.”
After giving those orders to Camille, Otto summoned Ego, the goblin merchant.
"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"
"What are the prices of medical supplies right now?"
"What specific medical supplies are you referring to?"
Ego asked with a tilt of his head.
“Well. Various potions, herbs, bandages, blankets, medicines, that sort of thing," said Otto.
“As far as I know, the prices aren't that high.”
“Then let's buy them all.”
“Eh?!”
Ego's eyes widened.
“Are you saying you want to buy up all the medical supplies on the market?!”
“Yes.”
Otto nodded in response.
"I would appreciate it if you could get as many as possible."
"Your Majesty, if you’re not careful with hoarding, it could lead to significant losses…"
“Ah.”
Otto answered, indicating with a gesture that he understood what Ego was saying.
“The medical supplies are not meant to be sold for profit, don't ask for any questions, just do it.”
“……?”
“Then, I ask you to please do it.”
With those words, Otto hurried on his way, this time meeting up with the dwarves.
“We're going to start large-scale civil construction from now on.”
"What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"
Dwarf Erickson was puzzled when Otto suddenly mentioned starting civil engineering work.
Understandably, as there didn't seem to be any obvious need for civil engineering work.
"We'll be building levees in areas with rivers, lakes, or low-lying terrain."
“When you say levees… are you worried about flooding?”
“That's exactly right.”
Otto nodded at that.
“Since there’s no harm in being prepared in advance, I’d appreciate it if you could handle this.”
“I understand.”
“Oh, and.”
Otto added.
“Can we produce a lot of lifeboats?”
“How many boats do you need?”
“More is better. About… ten thousand ships?”
“What?!”
Erickson was so stunned by Otto's words that he almost fell over.
Why on earth would they make ten thousand lifeboats?
“Your Majesty.”
Erickson said to Otto.
“We dwarves can help you with anything you need. But we need to know why….”
“Around October.”
Otto replied.
“There's going to be a great flood.”
** ** **
TL/N:
1.
귀관은 (gwigwan-eun): “you” (formal, often used in historical or formal contexts)
과인을 (gwain-eul): “me” (used by a king to refer to himself) **TL/N: Got to Love/Hate, King/Emperor back then always use 3rd person pronoun for themselves.**
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