"Who wants Chronos-kun!?"
Nobody raised their hand, and nobody would meet my eyes.
The Latarnia Ambassador had already told me flat out: "Annexing them is currently impossible for us."
Latarnia was so exhausted they’d actually established friendly relations with the Taikyoku Nation.
Though in reality, they still loathed them! They were still dead set on slaughtering them eventually!
The Taikyoku Nation had to keep playing the victim card to maintain that facade of friendship with Latarnia.
Specifically, they had to take out long-term loans and keep up with the repayments.
Otherwise, a rejuvenated Latarnia would just wipe them out.
So, the Taikyoku Nation borrowed from Latarnia to buy time.
Beyond that, they just had to hope their private sector could work hard enough to make them indispensable—creating a situation where Latarnia thought, "They're annoying, but we're screwed without them."
Latarnia was a mad dog, but at least they were a mad dog you could talk to.
In short, the Taikyoku Nation was still fighting a desperate battle for survival.
Neither country had an ounce of leeway.
"But seriously, why the Galactic Empire?"
We had no connection to them at all.
As far as we were concerned, the safe zone ended at Latarnia and the Taikyoku Nation.
I figured we just needed to scare the Zen God Race enough that they wouldn't mess with the Empire.
Basically, I didn't want any detached territories!
This didn't even qualify as a negotiation. It made no sense!
The Fairy chimed in with an explanation.
"Apparently, they liked the political system. The Galactic Empire operates on a franchise model."
Comparing it to a restaurant chain?
It was true that the Galactic Empire didn't meddle in local politics.
Lords of the Empire were obligated to provide troops in wartime, handle infrastructure, and pay taxes if they were profitable.
In exchange, they got access to various subsidies and education systems during the startup phase or when a new lord took over.
The economy was free, and the Empire even helped attract major corporations to regional sectors.
They even provided management guidance from wealthy lords... though yeah, that part had rotted away and turned into the Duke Association.
Still, even though the Galactic Empire had its share of absolute garbage, the actual rule was loose.
In Latarnia, they'd 'dispose' of people just for rioting or going on strike.
They were also incredibly harsh about things like unpaid wages.
...The Chronos people must have researched all of that.
"Was it the ruling class that suggested this?"
If it was the elites, I could just give them some meaningless peerage and leave them to their own devices. That'd be easy.
They only cared about maintaining their own power anyway.
I wouldn't help them in a real emergency, though!
The "This isn't one of our official franchises" defense!
Or the "An emeritus professor isn't actually a professor" defense!
"It was the Citizen Class Leader," the Fairy replied.
"Ugh, what a massive pain!"
That was a genuine request from the people.
The kind of situation where any half-hearted answer would paint me as the villain.
And the most terrifying part?
This representative didn't actually have any legal authority.
If I dealt with them, I'd be cast as the bad guy for generations.
But if I ignored them, I'd also be treated as a villain.
Historical 'pariah' nations must have faced choices just like this and pulled the wrong straw.
If I'd learned anything from human history, I knew the answer to this problem.
Don't seek personal gain.
Give them the bare minimum.
Draw a hard line.
Humanitarianism? Never heard of it.
We'll do business.
Because that's a citizen's right.
As for the rest? Not my problem.
I'd provide some basic supplies, maybe.
If you want to negotiate, bring me a national representative.
At least give me the military, a governor, or a City Council Member.
I couldn't make any promises to someone whose only title was 'Our Leader.'
Even Old Man Eyens's group was properly organized.
If a major Chronos corporation that worked with the Latarnia Bank said, "Please protect our employees," I could say, "Fine, I guess."
Since Latarnia had the records, I'd know exactly who I was negotiating with.
That's how these things are supposed to work.
Otherwise, it's just an invitation for future trouble!
When some guy shows up with no credentials claiming to be a 'resident leader,' I start wondering if he's trying to pick a fight.
Could they spare a single thought for the person they're negotiating with?
And don't give me that "Mr. So-and-so is a good, trustworthy man" crap.
The moment a Ministry Official brought that up, Official-chan’s career would be over.
I didn't ask for your personal feelings!
"I'm going to be a bit firm with Chronos. Lower the rank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official handling them."
"Also, someone claiming to be a City Council Member is asking to get in touch."
"Yeah, yeah. Inquire with Latarnia first. They should have records on people like City Council Members. Until then, insist that I'm not in the field."
"Roger that~"
Another difficult one.
We had our own data, so we'd cross-check it.
I had the authority, but if I treated this guy as a leader without a thorough background check, it would be a one-way ticket to a civil war.
There were always plenty of people trying to climb the ladder like looters at a house fire.
Agh, seriously!
I'm a soldier!
I might be a Brigadier General, but I'm not a general-general!
I'm a Grand Duke, but I'm still just a fledgling!
I'm definitely not letting you lot arm yourselves!
I can see exactly where this is going—you're all going to turn into Mohawk-sporting 'Hyahhaa' punks!
"Verification complete. He is indeed a member of the Planetary City Council. However, we've confirmed the entire Council was wiped out during the Locust Swarm attack. Which means he wasn't at the Council chambers that day."
"I can't trust him for a second!"
"Thought so!"
I finally understood why the Ogre God Nation loved Kiba-san—who died protecting the crowd at a wrestling match—and Master Tank and Master Zaurus, who joined the military to avenge him.
They were just so overwhelmingly trustworthy!
Even Shiyun still wouldn't look at me.
I know, I know!
Nobody wants to deal with this mess!
"I'll meet him... after the preliminary background checks are done..."
I hate this so much.
But if I abandoned my post, the burden would fall on Wifey.
Leo-kun was exhausted before the work even started!
"Fine... We're going with Operation Plan YAKUZA. Rikochi, I need you in full armor. Isono, get the 'collaborators' ready."
"Got it! Okay everyone, start your makeup just like we practiced~"
Ed looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.
"Ed... I don't like this any more than you do. Shiyun! Tatiana! One-oh-one! Wait here and eat your snacks!"
"Okay!"
Ugh, I really hate this!
I summoned the folks from the Ogre God Nation and everyone else who loved calling themselves my underlings.
"Anything for Big Brother Leo!"
The day of the meeting arrived.
Rikochi and I greeted them, both clad in combat suits.
Surrounding us were my tough-looking 'underlings,' all dressed in the most thuggish clothes imaginable.
"Eep!"
Start them off with a scare.
Is the crystal ashtray ready?