第６４８堀：酔っ払いは酔ってないという (Part2)
It sounded like a reasonable plan, but it could also be interpreted as a demand to provide a sacrificial lamb. Regardless of how the dialogue is framed, there is no escaping the fact that someone must put themselves in harm's way. After all, a negotiation lacking sincerity only breeds distrust.
Given our respective positions, I couldn't accept a sacrifice from Kagura and her group, nor from Princess Carrie and the others. Naturally, I couldn't allow any harm to come to my wives or Agil and her companions either. By process of elimination, the burden would have to fall on the Goblin squad. They say all lives are equal, but that depends entirely on the situation.
"Well, it would be rude to keep them waiting any longer. Let's end the discussion here and prepare for the dialogue."
"E-eh?"
Kagura and the others looked surprised at my words.
"B-but, Yuki, your subordinates will be..."
"I know that perfectly well. Putting their lives on the line is a soldier's job. I recognize the value of this dialogue myself. If it succeeds, the payoff is huge. It will certainly result in fewer casualties than an all-out war. That said, the important thing is that I am the one making the call. I can't have a princess or a prince using my subordinates as they please."
"…Yuki-sama. I am sorry for the trouble."
"…We will repay this debt someday."
"I know it's useless to tell you not to worry, but this is beneficial for me as well. I’ll take the necessary precautions, of course. I have no intention of losing my excellent subordinates due to carelessness."
I had intended to agree to the talks from the start. But it was crucial that it remained my decision, not something I was coerced into by the princess, the prince, or Kagura. I couldn't have them under the impression that they could manipulate us for the convenience of Hayden and Findall. I needed to make them think it through and realize the potential pitfalls for themselves.
"So, what are the specific countermeasures?"
Agil seemed to understand, but she asked as if she were in the dark for Kagura’s sake.
"Simple. We’ll have them wear the restraints we provide during the talks. They claimed to be allies and asked to surrender. They should be willing to accept that condition. If they won't, then there's no dialogue."
"That sounds reasonable. The restraints are special, right?"
"Of course. Handcuffs that suppress mana discharge. That should limit them to nothing more than running away. Steve and his team can hand them over, and we'll have them put them on themselves."
"I see. Having them do it themselves is the key."
"Exactly. If they can't do that, there's no problem in treating them as hostile. After all, they tried to enter using the RS name in the first place."
As expected of General Agil. She’s been through enough battles that she answers with precision, which makes things much easier for me. Kagura and the others seemed convinced as well. Princess Carrie and the Prince probably would have realized this on their own under normal circumstances, but they were under a lot of pressure this time.
"As a trump card, I’ve brought Sui along. She can read minds, so we can judge their intentions from that as well."
*Indeed. I will be able to tell if there is even the slightest abnormality in their spirit.*
Sui floated beside me, manifesting as a small dragon. Honestly, I wanted to summon the copy of Sota-san from the academy, but we decided against it because we didn't know what would happen if the two met. Sota-san, Sui, and I all agreed that since they are technically separate existences, it shouldn't be a problem, but since this was a negotiation, we decided it was best not to invite unnecessary confusion. There was also the risk that if they turned out to be enemies, the academy's control could be compromised.
"Alright, it’s settled. No objections?"
I checked with everyone. Seeing them all nod, I contacted Steve.
*Yo. Is it settled?*
"Yeah. How are things on your end?"
*Nothing special. They wanted supplies like blankets and warm soup, so I delivered them.*
"So you made contact safely?"
*Yeah. Since they’re 'the dead,' they only had the clothes they wore for their funeral, so they’ve been without food or drink. Well, since they're already dead, they don't technically need food to survive, so it wasn't really an issue.*
"Still, they’re attached to their habits from when they were alive."
*They were genuinely grateful. Oh, and how should we handle the talks?*
"Right, sorry. Proceed as planned. Hand them the cuffs and have them put them on. Then, bring them into the main headquarters. The location will be the Cathedral."
*Understood.*
Now, I just hope they behave themselves... But things rarely go according to plan. Why does everything always spiral in directions I can't predict? I just hope no more troublesome issues arise. I need to get back to the intercontinental exchange soon, so I’d appreciate it if everyone could just handle things on their own. Please. I’d pray to the gods, but the gods are the ones bringing me all this trouble in the first place.
"Haa..."
There is nothing less reliable than a drunkard claiming they aren't drunk.