Just as Yaharu Sumi had predicted, an audience and formal discussion with the Duke of the Mimaka Principality were arranged for that evening.
The venue was the Royal Palace, located roughly a two-minute ride by golem carriage from the Guest House.
"I am the Duke of the Mimaka Principality, Gaspar de Mimaka."
"It is an honor to meet you."
Gajue Tsuga offered greetings on behalf of the three delegates.
"I am Gajue Tsuga, a goodwill ambassador dispatched by the World Security Guard. Standing behind me are deputy envoys Fione Fias and Manon."
As their names were called, Fione Fias and Manon bowed in turn.
"I hear you brought a large quantity of magi-stones. You have my thanks."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"..."
Inwardly, Fione Fias was taken aback.
The current Duke was merely an eleven-year-old boy.
Standing beside him was an elderly man who served as Chancellor, sporting a magnificent beard that contrasted with his thinning gray hair.
His gaze was sharp, making it easy to imagine that he was the one truly running the country.
"And your business today is that you wish to learn the exact situation regarding the Four Principalities, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What is your purpose? I would like to hear it once more from the envoy's own mouth."
"Understood."
Gajue Tsuga concisely stated their desire to end the conflict among the Four Principalities, the World Conference's wish to assist toward that goal, and the fact that they had come this time to gather information.
"Hmm. I have heard of the World Conference....Very well, I understand your arguments. Speak of the rest with Old man... the Chancellor."
Having said that, the Duke rose from his seat and departed the room, accompanied by a petite woman waiting nearby who appeared to be a secretary and lady's maid.
"I am the Chancellor, Moitz Myas Rohdai."
Despite his sharp gaze, he carries himself in a gentle manner, Fione Fias thought.
"From here on, please feel free to speak your minds, everyone."
With that permission, Fione Fias felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.
"Now then, having heard your side, allow me to explain our current situation."
"Please do."
"His Majesty only ascended the throne last year. His parents... the late Duke and Duchess passed away from illness....The reason His Majesty referred to me as 'Old man' just now is that I also served as his tutor, so the old habit slipped out for a moment."
"I see, so that was it."
While a culture that kept no secrets in moments like this was refreshingly straightforward, Fione Fias couldn't help thinking it also made things tricky, as they couldn't fall back on diplomatic pleasantries.
"Our national power was low to begin with, and with the new Duke being so young, it is a fact that the other three principalities look down upon us."
The Chancellor laid it out candidly.
(When he speaks so openly, it leaves us with no choice but to offer aid... In a way, that makes things harder to navigate.)
Being unable to rely on deflection, stopgap measures, roundabout phrasing, or ambiguous language meant that standard negotiation tactics were practically useless.
Fione Fias felt a pang of frustration.
"We believe the root causes are a lack of resources and low development capability," Gajue Tsuga offered his own analysis.
"The World Conference is more than willing to assist member countries. However, to become a member country, there are several hurdles that must be cleared."
"That is only natural, I suppose." The Chancellor nodded.
"One of those hurdles is peace among the Four Principalities... Or rather, since that is too vague, putting an end to the fighting among the Four Principalities, perhaps?"
"Not much of a difference, is there?" the Chancellor said with a wry smile.
"Thank you for your candid opinion." Gajue Tsuga thanked him, before pressing a bit further. "Going forward, official envoys will arrive from the World Conference to mediate among the Four Principalities. We have come to investigate the actual conditions in preparation for that."
He offered a slightly more detailed explanation.
"As we understand it now, the Jagus Principality is the most warlike and aggressive toward the other three principalities. We wish to know the truth of these circumstances."
"I see. I understand your purpose."
Chancellor Moitz Myas Rohdai nodded with a convinced expression.
Gajue Tsuga then delivered his core point.
"In short, we want to know what the Jagus Principality is trying to achieve and what kind of preparations they have made."
"You have spoken to me honestly." The Chancellor seemed satisfied. "Knowing that there is at least one honest soul in the outside world, we have no objection to establishing diplomatic relations."
"Oh!"
Though it was merely an informal remark, Fione Fias, listening from the side, was delighted to learn that the Mimaka Principality was receptive to joining the World Conference.
"So, you seek information regarding the Jagus Principality, correct?"
"Yes."
"It is shameful to admit, but there is not much that we know."
Prefacing his remarks with that caveat, Chancellor Moitz Myas Rohdai shared everything within his knowledge.
"I have heard that country turned bellicose roughly a century ago."
From around that time, their national power reportedly began to expand at a rapid pace.
"Specifically, it is said to have begun during the reign of a ruler named Niestol Armazov Jagus."
"I have heard that name. If I recall, his clan originally came from Melkana."
"Indeed. I do not know what occurred to drive them across the border, but there must have been some feud. As proof, every generation of that lineage has treated the Melkana Autonomous Region as a bitter enemy."
Fione Fias wondered if the Jagus Principality's relentless hostility toward the Melkana Autonomous Region might have simply stemmed from an ancient familial feud between parents or siblings, one that had metastasized into a blood vendetta across generations.
"Presently... from what little we hear through rumors, the situation there is quite abnormal."
"Abnormal, how?"
"There are no opponents to state policy whatsoever."
"What...?"
Normally, no matter how benevolent or competent a ruler might be, there would always be a faction harboring discontent and pushing back.
Yet there was allegedly not a single dissenting voice.
"That is certainly abnormal."
"Does Tsuga-dono think so as well?...Either they are handling the opposition with extraordinary finesse, or they are quietly disposing of them..."
Either way, the Chancellor noted, it was far from normal governance.
(Perhaps the dissidents are... No, what if everyone has been brainwashed...?)
Fione Fias worried over that dark possibility.
They listened to several more details after that, all of which painted an eerie picture of the Jagus Principality.
"That said, it is mostly hearsay, so I cannot guarantee that all of it is factual."
"No, this has been extremely informative." Gajue Tsuga thanked him.
"So, where do you plan to head after this?"
"We intend to visit the Darato Principality."
"Hmm, is that so? In that case, allow me to offer a small token of assistance."
With that, the Chancellor wrote something down smoothly on a sheet of paper.
"If you show this to their Chancellor, I believe you will receive a much warmer reception than arriving empty-handed."
He handed the paper over.
"Thank you very much. That will be a great help."
Gajue Tsuga bowed his head in gratitude once more.
"Think nothing of it....Now then, I would love to hear a little about your lands as well."
"With pleasure."
And so, the party passed the time in pleasant conversation until the hour came to retire for the night.