Chapter 340 The Canaria-Ferguson Diplomatic Summit ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Fine. You have the floor,” King William said.
The one granting permission to Prime Minister Dan, Marquis Samoro, was King William of the Ferguson Kingdom. There was no formal moderator; this was a summit, not a structured committee. The Marquis had raised his hand not out of protocol, but as a calculated display of courtesy.
”The struggle against the two Great Dragons¹ and the subsequent ‘Stampede’²… I can only imagine the hardships you have endured,” Samoro began. “First, allow me to offer my deepest condolences for the lives lost and express my profound respect for your bravery. However, as the man entrusted with the Prime Ministry of the Canaria Kingdom, I must pose a question. Was it truly impossible to resolve this crisis within your own borders? And had those beasts not turned eastward, but instead continued to ravage your sovereign lands-what, then, was your design?”
The air in the chamber curdled. Stripped of diplomatic pleasantries, the subtext was scathing: “Couldn’t you have tried harder? Or did you just give up and hope they’d become our problem while you watched from the sidelines?”
Naturally, he didn’t put it so bluntly, but the implication was sharp enough to cut. King William and General Sachet both visibly bristled, their brows furrowing in unison.
Still, considering the blood we’d shed on our side, it wasn’t a question we could just ignore. It was likely a “dirty work” play-where Queen Cecile should have been the one to press the issue, Marquis Samoro had stepped in to play the villain. It was the grim reality of post-war damage control. No one wanted to have this conversation, but with a Stampede on the books, it was unavoidable.
As I sat there mulling it over, General Sachet raised a hand.
”To answer that would be to attempt the ‘Devil’s Proof’³-proving a negative,” the General said heavily. “Perhaps it could be proven if we laid bare our entire military strength, our logistics, and our transport networks, but even between allies, such a demand is… excessive.”
Samoro likely hadn’t expected a straight answer anyway. He remained a wall of stony silence in the face of the General’s evasive maneuvering. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t push further.
Regardless, the point was made: our nation understood their “feelings,” but we remained officially dissatisfied with the “situation.” Establishing that friction was the goal. I expected the talk to pivot toward reparations or aid, but then the General’s tone shifted.
”Actually, I wish to ask the opposite,” Sachet continued, his voice dropping an octave. “How was it possible for your nation to subjugate those monsters? Forgive my lack of decorum, but in my heart, I could not envision a single scenario where those Great Dragons were brought to ground. Those… those are not beings meant to be hunted by the hands of men!”
For the first time, raw emotion leaked through Sachet’s professional veneer. It was terror. A man of his stature, a General of a kingdom, had fists that were visibly trembling. Marquis Samoro seemed momentarily overwhelmed by the intensity; he glanced back at Duke Roost Badcage. When he saw even the Duke nodding in grim agreement, Samoro let out a low grunt and conceded the point.
”Was it truly that dire?” Samoro asked quietly.
”It was,” Sachet replied. “Therefore, I ask of you: tell us how you struck down two Great Dragons.”
There it was. The Ferguson Kingdom’s true objective. They needed to identify the nature of the military power that could slay two Great Dragons. General Sachet had effectively traded his pride for information-a move that proved he earned his rank.
”So that is the heart of it. What say you, Queen Cecile?” King William asked.
”I see,” the Queen said.
The parrying between subordinates ended, and the ball was back in the monarchs’ court. King William turned his gaze toward Her Majesty. He looked composed, but I bet he was sweating bullets inside. He was essentially asking for a verdict: does Canaria intend to sever ties, or will we remain allies?
”Cooperation with the Church, military support from the Coalmine Kingdom, a fortuitous alliance with the dog-beastmen clans… there were many factors,” Cecile said. “But I suspect that isn’t the answer you seek.”
”It is not,” William said.
”We refer to it as… the ‘Ultra-Compact Magic Power Weapon’,” the Queen stated.
Her Majesty shot a quick, pained glance my way as she said it. It looked like she couldn’t bring herself to say “Ddo-Buddy Cannon” in this setting. Yeah, fair enough. Her ex-fiancé was right there, and her little brother, Prince Roland, was watching. Even the Queen had a limit to how much embarrassment she can take.
”An ultra-compact… magic weapon?” Sachet asked. “But my reports said this new weapon pierced the hide of a Great Dragon…”
Cecile cleared her throat. “It seems your spies have been busy, then.”
”My apologies,” William interjected. “But one could hardly ignore such a development. What kind of weapon is it, truly?”
”To be precise, the ‘Ultra-Compact’ tech is merely the core,” Cecile explained. “The actual implementation is far more complex and required a significant leap in theoretical logic. For now, I can only acknowledge the weapon’s existence. Anything further is a state secret that extends beyond our borders.”
”I see,” William said.
’Beyond our borders.’ King William surely caught the reference to the Coalmine Kingdom. It was true; the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon” would have been impossible without the help of their Chief Court Mage, Kushe.
But how was William processing this? The fact that we were co-developing super-weapons with other powers? He stroked his chin, lost in thought, before slowly choosing his next words.
”It seems your ties with Coalmine have deepened significantly since last year’s war,” William noted. “Given the friction of the last few decades, this shift is… remarkable.”
He realized he wouldn’t get the blueprints for the cannon, so he shifted to geopolitics-the second litmus test of our intentions. Cecile’s response was immediate.
”We found a convergence of interests,” Cecile replied. “We are currently moving to form a ‘North-South Trade Sphere’ involving Coalmine, Canaria, and Sylvaol. A corridor of commerce spanning the continent. Our ultimate plan includes welcoming your kingdom into the fold as well-a ‘Western Trade Alliance’ that unites the coast. I had hoped to discuss the Stampede further before broaching this, but…”
She trailed off, being vague again. I get it. You can’t exactly pitch the “Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere” to your ex and your brother without dying a little inside. I’m starting to feel a bit lonely now that the ridiculous names are being sanitized.
”A ‘North-South Trade Sphere’? And a ‘Western’ one?” William asked. “Cecile, what are you planning?”
William forgot his kingly mask for a moment, staring at her in shock. Her Majesty met his gaze with eyes like flint. For the first time, awe-and perhaps a bit of fear-crossed William’s face. The silence was broken by a voice far too young for the gravity of the room.
”Uncle, you should accept the proposal immediately,” the girl said.
”Unia?” William asked. “You truly think so?”
It was Lady Unia Greter, the Duke’s daughter, who had been silent until now. She sat there with the expression of a porcelain doll, looking perfectly composed. If you only looked at her face, you’d believe she was nearly twenty, but that voice…
Is she even younger than the reports suggested? If so, is she targeting Prince Roland? More importantly, why didn’t King William silence her? He looked at her with the deference one shows a venerable, lifelong advisor. He stroked his chin again.
”Queen Cecile, answer me one thing,” William said. “Where is your gaze fixed? What is your ultimate goal?”
”Rest easy,” Cecile replied. “My desire remains unchanged: to hand this kingdom over to Roland in its most perfect, invincible form. That has been my sole focus for ten years. How he chooses to lead the nation I have built… that is for him to decide.”
Queen Cecile looked toward Roland, who was sitting beside her. Every eye in the room followed her gaze. The boy who had been pacing nervously in the waiting room was gone. In his place sat a prince, shoulders back, radiating quiet authority.
When he spoke, his voice was steady-the deep, resonant tone of a young man who had found his footing.
”I desire a kingdom that brings no shame to my sister, my late parents, or the people who dwell upon this land,” Roland said.
Those were the words of the future King Roland. The scribes’ hands trembled as they raced to record them. King William looked at the boy and gave a slow, respectful nod.
”Then we accept,” William said. “We are twin kingdoms; Ferguson shall honor the ambition of its better half.”
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Summary:
A high-stakes diplomatic summit between the Canaria and Ferguson Kingdoms unfolds following a Great Dragon attack. Queen Cecile navigates accusations of negligence while revealing the existence of a new super-weapon. The chapter concludes with the formation of a grand trade alliance and Prince Roland demonstrating his kingly potential.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Ddo-Buddy Cannon’ is the actual name of the weapon, but Cecile sanitizes it to ‘Ultra-Compact Magic Power Weapon’ for dignity.
- General Sachet is literally suffering from PTSD/terror after seeing the Dragons.
- William is Cecile’s ex-fiancé, adding personal tension to the political talk.
- The ‘Trade Sphere’ is actually called the ‘Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere’ in the protagonist’s mind.
- Unia Greter is acting as a high-level advisor despite her young age and doll-like appearance
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Character Insight:
Prince Roland undergoes a significant moment of growth, transitioning from a nervous boy in the waiting room to a dignified future king whose words command the room’s respect. Queen Cecile reaffirms her lifelong devotion to building a perfect kingdom for her brother.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Devil’s Proof’ is a common Japanese legal trope (Akuma no Shoumei) referring to the impossibility of proving a negative.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
• Sachet – A General of the Ferguson Kingdom. An old soldier who is deppuri (corpulent/fat) but possesses thick muscle beneath the fat.
• Cecile – A queen in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Unia – The third daughter of the house of Duke Greiter. Has blonde hair tied in an intricate style, dol-like beauty, and expressionless face.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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