Published: July 4, 2025
And two days later. On the day of the conference.
Ryo and Abel were heading to the venue in the prepared carriage.
Previously, preliminary negotiations had been conducted by the foreign officials of each country, and it was said that a basic agreement would likely be reached.
"We just need to sit back and look impressive."
Abel gave Ryo a dubious look in response to his words.
"What do you mean, Abel?"
"I mean… Ryo's casual attitude just overflows... how should I put it..."
"That's rude! What I said comes from trusting the officials to do their job."
Ryo boldly asserted.
"Well, we are just advisors, after all."
"The main actors are the Eastern Nations."
Abel shrugged his shoulders, and Ryo nodded in agreement.
Yes, the two of them were advisors.
Therefore, they wouldn't sign anything.
In reality, they were just sitting there.
However, they were officially invited by the host country, the Duchy of Atinjo.
At that time, Ryo's title was 'First Duke of the Naitorei Kingdom'.
This means that the Duchy of Atinjo knows that Ryo equals Duke Rondo.
"Surely they have sent spies into the Darwei Imperial Palace as well."
"Well, since the Chououchi Empire is making a fuss, it's only natural they would gather information on all countries."
Ryo's words made Abel nod in agreement, as if it were obvious.
"If they come south, the first line of resistance will be Darwei. Frankly speaking, if Darwei can't hold them back, the other countries will fall as well."
"That's quite a heavy role."
The carriage carrying the two arrived at a stunning three-story building made of white stone similar to marble, overwhelming to those who looked at it.
The contrast with the dark stone three-story Free Parliament next to it was beautiful.
"I heard it used to be the Supreme Council, but it really does have a strong presence."
"The white Supreme Council and the black Free Parliament... Neither of them is in use now."
The Supreme Council is closed, and the Free Parliament is permanently dissolved.
Although there is an autonomous government, there are no remnants of the era when it was a 'Free City'.
At least, not in political terms.
"Even so, the citizens' lives are not bad, and commercial activities are active."
"If they can enjoy a rich physical life, the populace tends to be docile."
Ryo nodded in agreement with Abel's words.
Throughout history, revolutions and rebellions arise when the people's lives are in distress.
"Will our Naitorei Kingdom be alright?"
"It should be fine. We're an agricultural powerhouse."
There are two keys to whether the people's lives are in distress.
Energy and food.
This truth of history and politics remains unchanged in any era or world.
Abel shouldn't know such knowledge, but as expected of a current ruler.
As a former king, he seems to understand the essence of state governance.
"If a bad king raises taxes too much, it leads to rebellion."
That ultimately invites soaring prices for many goods, including food and energy.
"I'm not a bad king, so the kingdom will be fine."
"What confidence..."
"If I look like I'm about to fail, Count Heinlein will stop me."
"Relying on the chancellor, huh! What if Count Heinlein goes astray as a person?"
"In that case, the First Duke Ryo will take care of it somehow."
"Eh..."
Abel said it casually, while Ryo shook his head slightly with a look that said that was impossible.
Marquis Alexis Heinlein, the chancellor of the Naitorei Kingdom, is an extremely capable individual.
Not only is he exceptional as the head of administration, but he is also said to be the best in espionage among the Central Nations and was once the commander of the Royal Knight Order.
Even now, the Heinlein Marquisate's knight order is known for its elite status, and Phelps A. Heinlein, the son managing the marquisate as the lord's deputy, is also an active b-rank adventurer.
Clearly, he is an overwhelmingly powerful vassal.
Typically, a king would try to diminish the strength of such a massive vassal.
After all, it would be a serious matter if they were to cause a rebellion in times of emergency.