Chapter 338 : Chapter 338
Chapter 338. It's a Total Mess (2)
Grand Duke Schneider had initially thought he had no role to play in this place.
He didn't particularly think about greatly expanding the Schneider Duchy to create a huge kingdom.
However….
‘I hadn't thought about the people of the Yusef Kingdom.’
Listening to his son's words, he realized that this was not the time to be standing back.
The Yusef Kingdom had just fought a war that made an enemy of the entire continent and had been defeated.
It was all too obvious how the victors of the allied army would treat the people of the Yusef Kingdom.
It was impossible for him not to step forward, knowing that full well.
And as Grand Duke Schneider came out so strongly, the others could not help but be flustered.
No matter how great Patrick's performance was, his status was that of a Grand Young Master of a duchy.
In the international community, to demand and have something accepted in negotiations between nations, one first needs to have a suitable position.
And Grand Duke Schneider had that.
Until now, they had just thought of him as a good-natured sucker and had paid him no mind, but….
‘Damn it, this complicates things….’
‘No matter what, this isn't right.’
‘Have you no conscience? To take everything for yourself?’
This complicated things.
At that time, a person who seemed to be a noble from the Harbor Duchy spoke.
“I understand the Schneider Duchy's position. However.”
He looked around the assembly, sending a look that pleaded for help, and then continued.
“Even so, to monopolize the vast territory of the Yusef Kingdom alone is excessive. Is it the way of the Schneider Duchy to commit such an act of violence without a just cause?”
At that, supporting fire came from all directions.
“That is a valid point.”
“Everyone fought the war together, but one person monopolizes the spoils? This is unfair.”
“We hope that the Grand Duke of the duchy will uphold justice and righteousness.”
At that, Grand Duke Schneider also faltered.
In fact, his son's demand was excessive.
No matter how much the Schneider Duchy had made the greatest contribution, the justification to swallow the entire territory of the Yusef Kingdom….
“Ah, justification? So if we have a justification, we can take it all, right?”
It was at that moment.
Patrick, as if he had been waiting, stepped in.
At that, the assembly once again looked at him with an ominous gaze.
That confident expression.
That was the look of a man who had something to rely on.
And Patrick looked around the assembly with a grin and said.
“Of course there's a justification. Do you think Patrick Schneider, the very symbol of fairness and justice, would just swallow the entire Yusef Kingdom without any justification?”
‘You're more than capable of doing just that.’
‘You're more than capable of doing just that.’
All the leaders of the allied army thought the same thing at the same time.
Including his father, Grand Duke Schneider.
Regardless, Patrick grinned and said.
“Knight A.”
Patrick called Oliver, who was behind his father.
“Can't you at least call me Sir A?”
“Nope. Can't.”
“……”
So I can't.
So that was it.
“Go outside and bring my guest.”
“A guest?”
“You'll know when you see them.”
“No, how would I know if I see… Keok!”
POW!
Patrick, who had been grumbling at him, was quickly hit once, and to Oliver, who was holding his forehead and grimacing, Patrick said.
“This kid has gotten unnecessarily defiant. Aren't you going to hurry?”
“Yes. I understand.”
The leaders of each country's jaws dropped.
Was it okay to treat Oliver A like that?
Even the Empire would not treat a 7-Star knight like that.
Moreover, Oliver A was a powerful individual who had played a considerable role in this war and whose skills were evaluated as being quite high among the 7-Stars.
To treat such a powerful person like a mere servant running errands….
‘What kind of place is the Schneider Duchy, anyway?’
‘A town I can't understand.’
In the midst of that, Oliver brought a guest.
No, to be precise, there were three of them.
A woman with red hair and a knight with a dependable impression standing behind her to protect her.
And a very young baby held in her arms….
“Huk?!”
“You are?”
CLANG!
For a moment, the leaders of the allied army were horrified.
And some of them even drew their swords.
What was before their eyes was….
“Let me introduce you. This is the princess of the former Flame Kingdom, a descendant of the Spirit Royal Family, and also the queen of the Yusef Kingdom, Queen Katherina bin Yusef.”
Katherina, who had been called the Salamander Princess, had revealed herself.
And the one behind her was….
“The Black Knight.”
“So you were alive.”
“How dare you come here?”
It was Matias Karvan, the Hegemon King's right-hand man and the one who had made a name for himself on the continent as the Black Knight.
Matias stood tall without batting an eye at the vicious killing intent pouring down on him.
And Patrick….
“Now, now, everyone, let's put down our swords.”
“But….”
“Double Dragon. That man is the Hegemon King's right hand.”
“To be precise, he ‘was’ his right hand. I believe everyone here knows that he turned his back quite a long time ago.”
At that, those who had raised their swords reluctantly lowered them.
Certainly, just before the Hegemon King started this war, his two closest aides had both betrayed him.
Noah Gregory had died trying to take the Hegemon King's life.
Matias Karvan had escaped the capital with the Hegemon King's wife and child, risking his life.
In that process, several of the Yusef Kingdom's knightly orders had been completely annihilated.
‘I thought there must have been some circumstances.’
‘Mmmph…. To show up now, of all times.’
‘This is not good.’
A few quick-witted people, knowing the meaning of Queen Katherina's appearance now, frowned.
Currently, the Yusef Kingdom had been defeated by the allied army.
But this had not been formally acknowledged.
The Hegemon King's head, which should have acknowledged it, was gone, and the politicians who would have remained in the capital of the Yusef Kingdom had not yet shown any reaction.
In such a situation, Queen Katherina appears?
And the child held in her arms was undoubtedly Prince Priad, the Hegemon King's son.
Queen Katherina held her son tightly in her arms, came out to the center, raised her head, and said.
“As the queen of the Yusef Kingdom, I now formally declare. Our Yusef Kingdom…”
“Wait, this is too sudden.”
“Stop.”
A few people urgently tried to stop Katherina's mouth, but Katherina continued to say what she had to say until the end.
“...will completely surrender to the Schneider Duchy.”
“Damn it!”
“This is bullshit.”
“This is a fraud! This is a fraud, I say!”
There were those who stood up from all sides and shouted at the top of their lungs.
Queen Katherina had now expressed her will to completely surrender not to the allied army, but to the Schneider Duchy.
And she had done it in this place where the leaders of all the nations were gathered.
If this were to happen, the one who could exercise the rights of the victor over the Yusef Kingdom would be limited to the Schneider Duchy, not the allied army.
It might be a case of covering one's eyes and pretending not to see.
It might be a play on words.
But this place now was a place with official authority where the leaders of the entire continent were gathered, and the Schneider Duchy was a country with the practical power to forcefully push through this play on words.
If that were to happen….
“As you can see, the Yusef Kingdom has surrendered to our Schneider Duchy.”
“No, but….”
“Wait a minute. Isn't this too much?”
“What about the Empire and the Holy Theocracy? Will you acknowledge such an act of violence?”
A few of the leaders tried to drag in the Empire and the Holy Theocracy to break Patrick's forced argument.
However….
“Ahem, our position…. We will have to ask His Holiness the Pontiff. Until then, we will reserve our judgment.”
“Our Empire also has to ask His Majesty the Emperor about such a grave matter…. Lower your hand, Count Pandora! Where do you think you're going to ruin the country….”
These two countries were quite passive.
As if they were trying their best to avoid confronting Patrick.
To the crestfallen leaders of each country, Patrick drove in the nail as if to say.
“As you can see, the Yusef Kingdom has surrendered to our Schneider Duchy, and my disciple, Persona, will formally attest to this fact.”
At that….
“A disciple? A disciple, you say?”
“What is she going to attest to?”
“This is ridiculous. It's not the Emperor of the Empire, nor the Pontiff of the Holy Theocracy, so what meaning does the attestation of a mere woman have?”
“Impossible. We cannot accept it.”
The leaders of each country vehemently protested, as if they had found an issue.
Looking at them, on Patrick's lips was….
“Khk… khkhkhk…. You ask who my disciple is?”
…a most evil smile.
And Patrick patted Persona on the shoulder, who was behind him, and said.
“Disciple. These people here say they can't trust your attestation. What should we do?”
“Hmph….”
Persona's sigh openly expressed the sentiment of, 'Haa, these bastards really.'
And she stepped forward and said.
“I, Persona, daughter of the Sword Dragon Arcana and the current Dragon Lord, command as the coordinator of the middle realm.”
CRACK!
No joke.
That sound really was made.
A sound as if the jaws of the people had collectively dropped to the ground.
In that state, Persona revealed the Lord's seal on her forehead and said.
“I formally acknowledge the treaty between the Yusef Kingdom and the Schneider Duchy. Those who object to this treaty shall receive the punishment of the guardian.”
This was the real final blow.
* * *
Conclusion.
They ate it all.
The Schneider Duchy monopolized the entire vast land of the Yusef Kingdom.
No matter how much the law of war was 'winner takes all,' this was a bit too much.
The other countries decided to bill the Schneider Duchy for the supplies and manpower consumed in this war, converted into money.
And the Schneider Duchy had agreed to pay it slowly in installments.
Of course….
[Why should we… Mmmph. Mmm.]
Patrick had vehemently tried to oppose, but Grand Duke Schneider had covered his son's mouth and, with a hearty laugh, had said he would do so.
[Even if it means emptying our family's fortune, we will repay the efforts of all of you who have striven for peace and justice.]
[I don't agree…. Mmmph. Mmm mmm.]
[Hahaha. So do not worry.]
[Mmmmmmmmmmmph!]
Although Patrick had tried to vehemently oppose, Grand Duke Schneider's decision was firm.
In fact, even if they did that, the duchy had made a profit that was more than enough.
The territory of the Yusef Kingdom, expanded under the reign of the Hegemon King, was wider than that of the Empire or the Holy Theocracy.
To have occupied such a vast territory was no different from having laid the foundation for the Schneider Duchy to be reborn not as a kingdom, but as an empire.
Considering the tax revenue and future value that could be obtained from that vast territory and population, the war expenses that had to be paid to each country were nothing but a drop in the bucket.
“Really…. Is it okay to do this?”
“Hmph…. Of course not. Damn it, I wonder how badly I'll be scolded when I return to my home country.”
“It would be a relief if it was just a scolding. It would be a relief if I wasn't held responsible and dismissed.”
“Kugh….”
The nobles of each country sighed.
They had won the war but were returning without having gained anything.
How were they supposed to report this foolish act to their home countries?
“This kind of violence is definitely unacceptable.”
Someone stood up resolutely and said.
He clenched his fists, looked around, and said.
“Let's all band together and protest with one voice. We can't just sit back like this, can we?”
His voice, inciting those around him, was extremely firm.
But the assembly just looked at him with a bored expression.
“And then what?”
“Huh?”
“So what if we protest?”
“Uh….”
“The Empire and the Holy Theocracy have already backed out, and the Tower of Truth is already on the Schneider Duchy's side.”
“……”
“So what if we gather and protest?”
“……”
“And it's a treaty that the Dragon Lord personally attested to. Do you even know what it means to protest that?”
“It's not even confirmed that she is the real Dragon Lord, is it?”
“Haa….”
Everyone had confirmed the giant Black Dragon breathing fire on the battlefield.
Would such a forced argument work?
No. Leaving all that aside….
“Even if she is not the Lord, it's the same.”
“What do you mean, it's the same?”
“The fundamental reason the Schneider Duchy can push through such a forced argument is because they proved it in this war.”
The person who was speaking paused for a moment, then looked at the assembly and continued.
“That they are the undisputed powerhouses.”
“Mmmph….”
“That is certainly true.”
The forced argument of the weak is nothing but nonsense, but the forced argument of the strong becomes a just cause.
That is the logic of the international community.
And in this war, the Schneider Duchy had proven that their military power was, in name and in reality, the strongest on the continent.
To stand against such a Schneider Duchy and claim one's share?
‘It's a crazy act.’
If a fox were to covet a lion's prey, even ten lives would not be enough.
“In the end, there's no other way.”
“Hmph…. By now, the atmosphere in the Schneider Duchy must be like a party.”
“And that Double Dragon will be receiving everyone's congratulations.”
“The Grand Duke will be proudly praising his son. Damn it.”
The leaders were getting angry just imagining that scene.
It might be a comfort to them, but….
“You rascal! Huh? Do you have a brain or not?”
“Ouch, th-that hurts.”
“What do you mean, it hurts?”
“P-please let go.”
“Let go of what! You troublemaking son of a gun!”
“Ouch, fath-er, let g-o…. Aaaah.”
“How could a man with some decency cause such an accident?!”
Patrick's situation wasn't so good either.