Chapter 5: Colloquy
UTILIZING a body double opened up the ability for Takuto to go more places. This new tactic was none other than a gift from heaven to Takuto, who strove to err on the side of caution when there were enemies with unknown abilities lying in wait. He was going to make full use of this tactic and then some.
And so, Takuto was currently visiting the Phon’kaven capital of Crescent Moon. He put his new mobility to use by going straight to see Pepe in hopes of resolving the stagnant relations between their two nations.
“Hi there, Pepe. Long time no see. Sorry for suddenly dropping in. I wanted to talk to you in person,” Takuto said.
“Don’t worry about it, buddy! I’m always disappearing at random, so I’m good to talk until the sun sets!”
“I-I see. I know I shouldn’t comment on another country’s affairs, but try not to make your people worry too much,” Takuto advised.
“No worries! It’s all good!”
Just like Takuto, Pepe was the Commander of Phon’kaven. He wasn’t as big of a target as Takuto, but his position still put him in danger. Whether he was self-aware or not, Takuto seriously worried about the boy being cool with casually conferring with the leader of another nation who showed up unannounced, even if they were allies. Setting aside that worry, Takuto decided to thank Pepe for all the things he had done for Mynoghra since the last time they had talked.
“Anyways, I wanted to thank you as the king of Mynoghra for your aid during our conflict with the Divine Nation of Lenea. Your support was just what we needed. Thank you.”
“Well, we owe you guys a lot for all you do for us. What you asked for was a small price to pay in return. The northerners are mean to us, so we were happy to prevent them from coming here too!”
“Not even you can befriend them, Pepe?”
Takuto was offering his official thanks and acknowledgment of their actions as the King of Mynoghra. It was only thanks to Phon’kaven holding military exercises in the borderlands that they were able to restrain a division of Lenea’s Paladins during Mynoghra’s conflict with the Divine Nation.
For Takuto, the battle with the TRPG forces was a close one that required speed and stealth, so Pepe’s flashy maneuver was a helpful distraction. The original plan was for Phon’kaven to dispatch their army and take effective control of the borderlands, but they ended up ceding the land to Mynoghra.
Is it really okay for us to keep receiving and not giving much in return since Dragontan? Did we worsen our alliance with this arrangement? Takuto worried about all these things and then some, but once he pulled back the curtain, he found the reason lay elsewhere.
“By the way, how’s the gun training and land cultivation going?” Takuto inquired.
“Right! That’s it! That’s what I’ve been wanting to thank you for!” Pepe exclaimed. “Those…Spirits of Ruin, or whatever they’re called, that you lent us have been doing such a good job making Phon’kaven’s lands more fertile by the day! Now we no longer have to spend a small fortune buying food from traveling merchants! Their looks leave a lot to be desired, but they’re amazing regardless! So I’d love to talk business with you regarding that and similar matters, Takuto!”
The ability to cultivate barren land—that was why Phon’kaven ceded their newly acquired fertile borderlands to Mynoghra. What was the trick to cultivation? Putting the Earth Mana and Earth Military Magic to full-scale use.
Earth Military Magic was a highly effective magic that strengthened a nation domestically by enhancing and improving its lands. The Dark Continent was rife with barren terrain where crops struggled to grow, but by using this magic, it was possible to transform the barren land into fertile land where crops could grow.
Phon’kaven currently had its hands so full cultivating the land around its capital and cities; having to deal with a newly acquired territory far detached from the rest of its territories was nothing more than an unwanted burden. And so Phon’kaven came to the consensus that it would be more profitable to sell the territory they had obtained amid the chaos of war to the neighboring Mynoghra.
They made off with a lot of additional guns and ammunition in the deal, but I suppose that’s cheap when bartering for land. There are only major disadvantages if we fall out with Phon’kaven now. It’s far more beneficial to keep them friendly and powerful, since they aren’t tied to any Players.
“I’m happy taking things in this direction. So why don’t we get this all put into an actual contract during the official negotiations later? Do you mind doing the legwork on your side to make that happen, Pepe?”
“Happily! It looks like things are still tight between our countries!”
Both Commanders nodded with satisfaction. Takuto was pleased that his relationship with Phon’kaven remained strong and that his various concerns had been resolved. Pepe was happy that Phon’kaven was continuing its lucky streak and that there were still many opportunities on the horizon to further increase its national power.
“Glad to hear it,” Takuto said. “Things are getting tense across the continent, after all. It’s best to get along with who we can, while we can.”
Both nations adhered to this policy and had no ulterior motives at the time.
“You’re talking about the big lady from the other day, right? She had huge boobies!”
Their conversation moved on to a new topic. Takuto wanted to gather more information on this front, so it was a blessing that Pepe brought it up first. He wanted to find out how Phon’kaven and the other Dark Continent nations had taken the recent proposal.
“I agree. Everything about her was…huge. What are your thoughts on her proposal, Pepe?” Takuto prompted.
“I would love to be friends, but who knows? I plan to send an envoy at least!”
“An envoy, huh?”
“I want to be cautious of interactions with the northerners. I don’t have a personal issue with the north, but there are a lot of people on this continent who despise them. I’m sure the other nations feel the same.”
It was a surprisingly passive and unmotivated response. Or maybe it was the right call considering Phon’kaven’s situation. As a neutral nation located far from El-Nah, there wasn’t much benefit for Phon’kaven to proactively march into their lands for a conference. And from what Pepe said, the other neutral nations had taken a similar stance.
“But I will say while most aren’t all too interested in this All-Faction Conference thingamajig, I believe there are many people who want to speak with Mynoghra’s Takuto Ira.”
Oh? Takuto masked his surprise about this subtle proposal. It was easy to get the wrong idea with how amiably he was able to converse with Pepe, but Mynoghra was an evil empire through and through. They merely kept relations with Phon’kaven because it benefited them.
Why would the other neutral nations want to cozy up to Mynoghra? Avoiding the embodiment of evil tends to be one of the basest instincts of living creatures. Phon’kaven was the exception to the rule because they had a common enemy in the Demon Lord’s Army that resulted in their alliance.
Hm? Have even the neutral nations with territory in the remote hinterlands begun to panic? I should see what else I can learn.