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Chapter 47
The interior of the conference hall radiated unmistakable grandeur, befitting a place where the heads of the East, West, South, and North gathered to discuss the state of the continent.
An elegant and majestic palace, its vast expanse crafted from white crystal said to be more expensive than gold.
Accents of gold placed throughout enhanced its refined beauty. Chandeliers stretched endlessly from the high ceiling, illuminating the hall, while lights embedded here and there brightly lit the vast space.
At the center stood a round table and four large chairs.
“You’ve all arrived early.”
Ian swept his gaze across the room, narrowing his eyes with an unpleasant smirk. Removing his coat, he walked to his seat.
Leaning back against his chair, he looked at the other three heads already seated and slowly spoke.
“Shall we begin the meeting?”
“As you wish.”
The head of the Snake family, with ink-black hair, casually spun the pen in front of him.
“Let’s start quickly.”
A gray-haired woman waved her hand dismissively.
“They say wolves are impatient and rash in everything. Seems it’s true.”
Lucas, who had been watching, said with a faintly mocking smile. The gray-haired woman with elegant waves leaned back in her chair.
She was Grace Marcos, leader of the East.
“The lazy and slow are bound to be eliminated in competition.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
He replied with a smile.
“Considering you’ve been sitting comfortably as the South’s representative all this time.”
The hand of the Ashila family head, who had been spinning her pen, suddenly stopped.
“By the way, are you alright?”
“There are rumors that a war may soon break out between the Mute tribe of the South and the Mart tribe of the East. Are you sure it’s fine to sit here so peacefully?”
He smiled unpleasantly.
“Weren’t we here to discuss whether to send allied forces to them?”
“Well.”
Ian spoke.
“I don’t see the need to send allied forces to either side.”
Grace crossed her arms leisurely.
“Article 18, Clause 7: When war breaks out in any region, the representative families of the East, West, South, and North shall dispatch allied forces for the purpose of maintaining peace.”
“The goal of the allied forces is to bring the war to a conclusion both sides can accept as quickly as possible, isn’t it?”
The head of the Snake family looked at Ian.
“Surely you don’t intend to let the war continue as it is?”
Ian chuckled lightly and tapped the armrest.
“I wonder if you’ve considered the opposite possibility.”
“Hm. So you’re suggesting we just let the war happen?”
“Have you not considered that sending allied forces might make the war even bigger?”
“On what basis do you trust anything enough to send forces to a place where war hasn’t even started?”
As soon as he spoke, the room fell silent.
“Even if war does break out, I doubt allied intervention will make it end any faster.”
Tap. Tap.
Ian leisurely tapped the armrest.
“It’s more likely to grow larger.”
“Like the war before.”
“Ah, the War of Delight?”
The wolf leader casually removed her coat as she spoke.
“Yes. The War of Delight.”
Ian turned to her with a chilling gaze, his eyes sharp like a blade. They had gone cold.
Ashila’s head curved her black eyes.
“That war lasted long not because of the allied forces, but due to multiple complex factors erupting at once, didn’t it?”
Lucas countered.
“Supply issues, merchant conflicts, and the powers entangled in them.”
“And even problems like monsters, wasn’t it?”
Ian crossed his legs lazily.
“Ah, so you’re saying the North was the problem?”
“That’s not bad either. Maybe the North should cause trouble for once.”
His eyes gleamed coldly, killing intent swirling in his relaxed gaze.
“The North hasn’t really caused any trouble so far… has it?”
He looked like an arrogant ruler who knew he could bite through his prey’s throat at any moment.
“I was only warning about the dangers of monsters. No other intent.”
Lucas shrugged and stepped back.
“Oh, and prices of goods made from monster byproducts have skyrocketed, causing unrest among the people…”
Grace Marcos trailed off slightly.
“I wonder since when other regions gained the right to interfere with the prices of Northern monster byproducts.”
Ian smiled.
“If you wish, I’ll explain in detail.”
He picked up a pen and began writing numbers on paper.
“Monthly living cost for residents: 1 silver. Of that, monster byproducts cost 12 copper.”
“And currently, essential monster byproducts cost 10 copper.”
“That leaves 2 copper per month.”
Tap.
The sound of the pen hitting the table echoed.
“That’s quite generous, isn’t it?”
Resting his chin on his hand, he looked at them.
“If prices are too high, then they’re luxury goods for nobles—not necessities for residents.”
“Only luxury items have increased in price.”
“And noble luxuries are meant for display anyway. The more expensive, the better.”
He continued slowly.
“So what exactly is the problem, Grace Marcos?”
Leaning back in his chair, he smirked.
“Or perhaps, having just become the leader of the East, you feel like indulging in luxury?”
“To show off that you are now the ruler of the East?”
He smiled leisurely at the others.
Grace picked up a candy, leaned back, and bit into it.
As if chewing up her opponent.
“…Sir Allen, why is Sir Ian so scary today?”
The aides whispered in a corner.
“How would I know the mind of someone as lofty as my lord?”
Allen shrugged.
“I’m merely his assistant.”
He calmly summarized the meeting notes.
Another aide watched him, confused.
He remembers everything anyway—why bother writing it down?
Allen Demont was known to be particularly intelligent among aides.
“Still, meetings aren’t usually this intense. Today everyone seems especially fierce.”
“How long will this meeting even last?”
Despite standing far away, the pressure from the leaders was overwhelming.
If an ordinary knight were present, they would have collapsed within minutes.
“I hope it ends soon.”
Scal adjusted his monocle.
“My off-work time is important.”
Everyone stared at him incredulously.
“You’re just going back to the Serdihan estate anyway.”
“That’s true, but…”
“There’s a psychological difference between being off work and not.”
He resumed fixing his hair.
The others nodded in reluctant agreement.
Meanwhile, the fierce atmosphere continued unabated.
“…And regarding the central city, we’re considering opening a road connecting it to the western territory.”
“What do you think?”
“What benefits would that bring?”
Lucas asked sharply.
The Ashila head responded calmly.
“We’ll send more western craftsmen to the central city and increase textile exports to all territories.”
Not a bad proposal… but why is the West pushing this so hard?
Ian thought briefly, then smiled.
“Well, regardless.”
“That sounds acceptable.”
Then Lucas spoke.
“Then let’s create a road connecting all four regions—North, South, East, and West.”
“It would benefit trade and exports even more.”
Also not bad… is he trying to ride on the West’s proposal?
Ian nodded slightly.
Grace Marcos stood, brushing back her gray hair.
“Then it’s decided: we will construct the road between the West and the Central territory, and also a route connecting all four regions.”
“Details will be sent via letters from each family head.”
“As this concerns the central city, special care is required.”
* * *
“How was the meeting?”
A beastman wearing a black mask that covered his entire face asked the person sitting before him. His fiery red hair contrasted sharply with the other.
“Well.”
The man crossed his legs with a subtle smile.
“I wonder if the matter I mentioned was handled well.”
“If you want something—”
He tossed a set of dice onto the table.
“You have to give something too.”
One die rolled off the table, but neither paid it any attention.
“What do you want?”
The masked beastman smiled smoothly.
“If I can answer, I will.”
His expression, however, remained hidden behind the mask.
The other picked up the fallen die and placed it so the blank side faced upward.
Then he asked:
“Why do you hate Ian Cadelion so much?”
