LN Vol 15 Chapter 24

Instant Decision

She is flirting with the idea of giving them half of the fertile land on the assumption that they will never agree to it.
They have only one goal: to land at the point where they have made the best offer they could, but have been unable to reach an agreement due to opposition from the Huplide side. Princess Freyaas is definitely getting close to that point, and now she is on step two, and in the next few steps, or step three, she will try to force Huplide to terminate the agreement.

### Part 8

(Not so fast. I'm willing to be reckless.)
Hiroto smiled and opened his mouth.
I will gladly accept the return of all of North Pyrrhus, with no restrictions on the vampire race.
Princess Freyaus gave me a hostile look.
'Greed is frowned upon, frontier count.
So, no restitution, but a total ban on vampires crossing the border?
Don't be ridiculous, Hiroto.
You'll be in Gesellkiah in no time.
"Such a thing, Master Hiroto..."
Princess Raquel reacts. Zeldis looks at Hiroto in silence.
'The Count of the Frontier seems to be deaf.
Princess Freyaas sarcastically flies. Hiroto returns it with a cool face.
Zerdis looked at the royal family of North Pyrrhus and said, "Then, in exchange for no restitution, I would like you to allow me one day a year to visit either the royal family of North Pyrrhus or the Pyrrhus side of the Terminus River. In exchange, what if I told you that I would prohibit the vampires from flying into the vicinity of the royal palace in Babylos, the capital of Pyrrhus?"

### Part 9

Freyaus was silent. The Prime Minister Jessel, General Gardel, and everyone else who had their mouths open were taken aback by Hiroto's proposal.
All of the conditions that had been demanded were a partial border crossing ban for the vampire tribe, which was a big deal. The return of half of Beok State. Not a total ban, not a total restitution of the former North Pyrrhic territory, but a big restriction, a big restitution. It was so big that its establishment had become impossible. But Hiroto offered a combination of minor demands and minor concessions. He offered a small compromise that both sides could realistically come to terms with. While Freireas was caught off guard, Hiroto came at him in one fell swoop.
If you can make a decision on the count of three, I will do everything in my power to persuade the vampires. One."
Gardel's lips moved faintly.
Two."
Freyaas was in a hurry, but there was less than a second left to go.
(Wait! Don't proceed on your own...!)
We should discuss and decide this matter carefully.
He went to call a halt.
"Three."
Hiroto did not wait. Mercilessly... and as predicted... the end was in sight.
"It's over, and I'm withdrawing my proposal."
(Payback, after all...)
Freireas glared at the frontiersman in disgust.
Is that your way?
No, it is not. No, it is the way the princess pressed my king.
Hiroto answered tightly. Freyaas was mortified by the unexpected retort. When he tried to accuse Hiroto, he was met with a counter-hunch based on his own actions a few months earlier.
And the counterattack didn't end there.
We thought we had made a good offer to the princess," he said. But we regret that she did not agree to the flight to the royal palace in Babylos, the capital city of the Vampires, which I am sure the Vampires would have considered.
They beat me to it! The sentence that I had intended to give to Hyuplide was used by Hiroto first! The sentence I was going to give to Hyuplide was given to Hiroto first!　I was going to use it myself!
Freias glared even harder at the frontiersman. Huplide's best orator had a cool expression on his face.
Such an important matter should not be decided in a breathless moment, but after a thorough discussion.
Gardel came in late to check.
I counted to three, and that's enough time to decide whether to discuss it or not. I said it was a decision, not an acceptance.
Hiroto replied coolly. Freyaas thrust a narrow, sword-tipped gaze at Hiroto.
(He is an inedible man...!)
Are you trying to get back at me?
No. I am not trying to get back at you. No. I was purely making a proposal. But it was a very last-minute proposal for us. It might damage our relations with the vampires. It may not be in the best interest of our country. We had no choice but to limit our time in order to make the best compromise possible. There is no backing out of a last-minute proposal, Princess Freyaas. And the door was closed.
You are not very forgiving, my lord.
Gardel rejoined the group.
The vampires are very hostile toward the fetters. If they cannot agree on a proposal, they will immediately withdraw it. If we don't show that kind of attitude, the vampire tribe will not be convinced. You know that the vampires are against the fetters, don't you?
Hiroto coolly replied again. Freyaus opened his eyes.
No excuses are needed. He wants to avenge the king's grudge against me by doing to me what he did to the king. Since when is a negotiation a place for revenge?
"Utsun..."
Hiroto looked puzzled.
I thought it would be too long for the brilliant Princess Freyaas to count to three..."
Next to him, Gardel fell silent. The originally taciturn vizier Jesel has been silent for a long time.
It was a nasty stab of irony.
Freias looked directly at the inedible man. His first impression was that he was indeed a clever man, but not an unmanageable one. He seemed troubled and did not seem as bright as rumored. When he started smiling at me after we met, I thought he was a creepy guy. Is this man a lunatic? But as soon as the meeting started, the Count of the Frontier, hiding behind his anguish and eeriness, attacked us with his mighty fangs, with his sarcastic sarcasm, with his fury!
It was a brilliant turn of events. The first absurd condition he proposed was to offer a third, compromisable proposal. He made one, then two, in quick succession of foolish proposals, to make himself look foolish, and then he cut right to the chase with the third, compromisable proposal. On top of that, he cut off the time.
The king's retaliation had been accomplished.
But Hiroto's retaliation was not yet over.
As for us, we have nothing more to say to you now that you have not accepted our minimal proposal. We have no intention of returning North Puris to you. We have no intention of allowing you to impose your fetters on the Umpire people. Everything is a parallel. There is no need for either of us to spend any more time on this. Let us end these negotiations."
Hiroto suddenly stood up. Princess Raquel was surprised. Hiroto winked at her. Panobutikos, sensing his intention, stood up, followed by Princess Raquel.
(Wait, wait, ..... You're going to end this already?)
Freias panicked again. He was caught off guard again. If negotiations were to be terminated here and now, he would not be able to seize the initiative that Puris had been trying to seize.
Of course, he could not stop Huplide's momentum by sending Hiroto to defeat. On the contrary, Hyuplide would regain the initiative and break the trend that was leaning toward Puris.
Hiroto turned his back.
Wait for me!
Freyaus shouted.
What is it?
Hiroto turned around with a cool, gifted look on his face.
The first proposal is worthy of consideration as a Puris.
After a long delay, they agreed to discuss it. Hiroto smiled.
Princess Freyaas. As I told you earlier, luck has no hair on my back. There is no hair on the back of your proposal either. The proposal is no longer acceptable. Zeldis, Gesellikia, may I reiterate the proposal?"
Don't be silly. Vampires are not bound by any fetters.
Gezelkia refused.
Our freedom will not be violated by those who cannot fly.
Zeldis followed suit. The two representatives of the vampire tribe rejected the proposal.
Freyaus' lips trembled in frustration.
Had they agreed to this before the war?
I don't know.
I don't even know how it came to this. Before the negotiations, the Pyuris tribe had the upper hand. The negotiations had to break down, and the initiative should have gone to Pyrrhus. And Hiroto, who could do nothing, should have tasted defeat, and Hyuplide's momentum should have been halted. And yet, in an instant, the tables had turned. What in the world had I done in this short period of time? What had I said? How could I have let this happen⁉
My lips trembled with anger, humiliation, and frustration.
Then..."
Hiroto turned his back again.
Ah!
Isn't he just like me who met Mordius I? I turned my back and shook Mordias I.
Just as I shook Mordius I by turning my back on him, the Count of the Frontier is shaking me by turning his back on me!
Wait, my Lord Hiroto! I beg you to give me a moment with Galdel here!
General Gardel, to my right, offered with a brave voice. The general's voice startled Freias. Hiroto slowly turned around. He looked back slowly, just as he had done to Mordias I. "If the general tells me to do something, I'm going to have to do it.
I can't leave when the General tells me to."
Hiroto smiled. But his expression immediately tightened.
I will not place any fetters on the vampire tribe. No one is allowed to violate the freedom of the vampire tribe. If that's all right with you."
Reyas realized with a start. No fetters will be placed on the vampire tribe.
(That is the same result discussed at the second Palladium meeting! Hiroto only wants to confirm what was decided at the Palladium! That's no progress!)
Immediately, he came up with the opposite proposal.
Let me make a proposal! Once a year, the royalty of North Puris shall be allowed to visit the former capital of North Puris! In exchange, the flight of the vampires to the capital city of Babylos shall be prohibited!"
Princess Raquel looked shocked. The face of Panobutikos, the Prime Minister of Hyuplide, turned pale.

Seeing Hiroto seemly off guard, Freyas began to count onto 3 like Hiroto but Hiroto immediately refused before the princess just counted 1. Hiroto then said that sh suspected

I do not believe the safety of the royal family of North Puris during their visit can be assured. As the frontier count of Huppriede, I cannot agree to put the lives of the royal family of North Puris in danger. As I said before, the condition for resuming negotiations is that the freedom of the vampire tribe be granted, that is, that no fetters be placed on them. If that is not acceptable, we will leave this place. Now then."
Hiroto turned on his heel again.
It's a lie.
He will definitely come back. You're pretending, aren't you?
I went to the door, but I didn't mean to leave.
I just pretended to leave. You did the same thing, didn't you?
Hiroto moved a few meters away from Tean Pulu. He walked out of the garden and into the street. He never looked back.
The only one looking back is Princess Raquel. Gezelkia and Zeldis have begun to follow Hiroto.
A lie.
It's a lie.
Look back. Stop right there. I will not be swayed....
The depths of my heart were shaken. The depths of my heart were shaken violently.
Do you think I can be defeated by you⁉I am the royalty of the Kingdom of Pyrrhus? I read through the movements of Generals Métis and Gardel, and I was able to get Mordias I to agree to it.
But I will be defeated by a younger enemy general like you!
Hiroto's back is getting farther and farther away from me.
Stop it.
Stop.
Stop...
Wait! I accept your terms!
Gardel's voice stopped Hiroto. Another voice, that of the Prime Minister, Jesel, also joined in.
Your conditions are acceptable!
Hiroto finally stopped. Panobutikos, Princess Raquel, Zeldis, and Gesellikia also stopped. Hiroto slowly turned around.
As soon as Freias saw Hiroto's smile, he knew he was hit.
(Gardel!　　Why did you accept it! They shook us! We are defeated! We can't regain the initiative, we can't defeat Hiroto, we can't stop Hyuplide's momentum⁉)
I would like to make a further request: I would like to take a short break."
Gardel offered to take a break.
'Then let's take a break.

## Characters (By Appearance Order)

* Metis
* Hiroto Kiyokawa
* Freyas
* Raquel