第１７８６堀：北の町の現状 (Part1)
Chapter 1786: The Current State of the Northern Town
Side: Stasia
"Yo, thanks for your hard work."
The one who entered my office with those words was my husband, Yuki—the leader of Weed and, more importantly, the central figure of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance.
He is a wonderful husband who calls a woman like me, scarred as I am, a beauty without hesitation. Yet, lately—or perhaps ever since I first met him—it feels like Yuki, who is always so incredibly busy, is the one who deserves to be told "thanks for your hard work."
But, setting that aside.
"Thank you for coming all this way, despite your busy schedule."
The reason Yuki went out of his way to visit my quarters in the northern town of Oue is because I had summoned him.
As for why...
"It’s fine. We’ve reached the stage where we can hear what Baroness Siana has to say. Since Kagura and you, Stasia, have been the intermediaries, there shouldn't be any issues."
Indeed. We had captured—or rather, accepted the surrender of—Baroness Siana, the first commander-class enemy we’ve taken. Kagura and I had been interrogating her, and the time had finally come for her to meet Yuki.
Under normal circumstances, a leader of a grand alliance like Yuki would never bother meeting a mere baroness from a hostile nation—if it’s not too rude to call her a small fry.
However, the war currently swirling across this continent could cause us collateral damage if left unchecked. To secure our future standing, and more importantly, to gather intelligence and gain allies, this meeting was essential.
"Well, I don't expect any groundbreaking new information to come out of it. Not when we’re already getting intel from the undead."
"That is true. But for the sake of putting Baroness Siana at ease, this is the best course of action. You understand that, don't you, Yuki?"
"I do. If I show up, she’ll realize we’re treating her with a certain level of respect. Hopefully, that puts her mind at ease."
"She will surely side with us. After all, if she doesn't cooperate, she knows full well what will happen to her subordinates' lives, and in the worst-case scenario, the fate of her own ancestral lands."
"Haha, that’s a nasty threat, but it’s the truth, isn't it?"
Yuki doesn't naturally prefer negotiations that rely on holding hostages as shields. After all, such tactics are predicated on souring the mood and exploiting weaknesses. You can’t hope for a healthy relationship that way.
However...
"In this specific instance, since we were originally enemies, we have to start from that point, or she won't trust us at all."
"You're right about that."
Yuki’s kindness is a virtue. But kindness, too, is a tool. When an enemy acts kindly, it only breeds suspicion in the other party. He understands this himself, which is why he agrees. I’m not worried; he is perfectly capable of negotiations that include such threats when necessary.
"How are the other prisoners?"
"Thanks to Baroness Siana’s cooperation, they are behaving. Though, it also helps that their physical strength hasn't fully recovered yet."
"Are they still bedridden?"
"No, more than half are gradually becoming mobile. It seems those who were the most patient and self-sacrificing are the ones suffering from the most severe exhaustion."
"Ah, so they were sharing their food with those around them?"
"Yes. Also, the prisoners who have recovered enough to move are currently helping with the land reclamation around Oue."
"Reclamation, huh... Are the fields being restored separately?"
"Yes. Even though they were ravaged, the owners of those fields are still here. They are restoring them with their own hands. We cannot have the prisoners help with that just yet."
"I suppose that's true."
With the enemy army annihilated, the northern town of Oue has finally been able to resume food production. However, since the fields were devastated, the work begins with restoring the soil itself. It would be insensitive to have the very people who ravaged them—even under orders—assist in that process.
"Come to think of it, what about the envoys to the neighboring regions?"
"It seems they’ve decided to gather information first, now that the enemy army has been defeated."
The envoys in question were meant to seek help from neighboring areas or, at the very least, ascertain the current situation. We needed to grasp what was happening amidst this abnormal crisis, so we had initially intended to establish contact and cooperation with neighboring countries. However, since the results came so quickly, they seem to have decided to move with a bit more composure.
"I see. That might be for the best."
"Yes. Initially, it was a high-stakes gamble to send a small number of envoys through the gaps in the enemy lines. If we send them now, with official escorts..."
"We can broadcast the fact that we repelled the enemy army to the surrounding regions. It took longer than I expected."
"Longer? Or perhaps our actions were simply too fast. After all, we confronted the enemy army and immediately captured them—or rather, rendered them incapable of action."
"Ah, I see. Our sense of time is skewed. I keep defaulting to Weed standards."
"That cannot be helped. Faster is always better, and in Weed, this pace is the norm."
With the development of information transmission technology and advanced logistics, things move incredibly fast in our home. However, countries like Oue still rely on horses for basic communication and travel, so their speed is dictated by the horse. While they have unique methods involving magic, they have reverted to using horses for information exchange now that the immediate threat has been removed. After all, high-speed communication comes with a corresponding cost.
"Well, it’s a relief that our preliminary reconnaissance using drones and familiars is proving useful."
"Yes. I believe it would be best for you to discuss that matter through Kagura."
It is certain that Oue will send envoys, but Yuki is the only one in a position to offer advice or intervene in that process. Not that we couldn't do it, but from Oue’s perspective, it is better coming from Yuki.
"Understood. I’m sure I’ll get a report from Kagura on that. Sorry for getting sidetracked, but are the preparations for the meeting with Baroness Siana ready?"
"Yes, everything is in order. We aren't behind schedule, so there is no issue with us chatting about the current situation."
Yuki avoids scheduling that leaves no room for error. He understands that taking the time to talk, even while chatting, is important.
"I see. The schedule is... in about 30 minutes, then?"
"Yes, that is the plan. Baroness Siana’s health is fine, and there have been no changes."
"Then, Stasia, let me ask you something."
"Please, ask me anything."
"Thanks. From your perspective, is there anything you’re struggling with right now?"
"From my perspective?"
"Yeah. I mean as a general, but also regarding your interactions with Oue or the townspeople. You’re the one most involved with them right now, aren't you?"
"I see. That is what you meant."