“I, too, would like to ask for more funds for Krauhen. One of the North’s issues is the relative lack of trade routes. Trade with Rolmund has grown in recent years, but the mountain range separating our nations limits how much we can feasibly trade with them. On the other hand, if we create too many mountain passes for traversal, Rolmund could use them against us if they ever choose to invade.”
Says the guy who had his engineers dig a secret tunnel to Rolmund for Eleora. That tunnel was still used today, but it was a convenient means of traveling between the two countries, so no one complained about it. Just in case, there was a regiment of elite Demon Army troops stationed there, but they were mostly for show.
The other northern viceroys all wanted more funds for their cities as well, so they nodded in agreement with Belken’s words. Every city had started importing demon laborers to meet development demands. They needed money to cover construction costs, housing facilities for the new laborers, and more guards to keep the streets safe.
Myurei, the viceroy of Lotz, raised his hand and replied, “Mister Belken, the southern port cities are struggling just as much. With the increase in ships arriving at our shores, we’ve needed to rapidly expand the number of docks and cranes in our ports, as well as hire many more translators and customs officials. We’re barely keeping up as it is.”
Myurei was speaking the truth too.
“Now is the time to invest heavily in Lotz and Beluza. If we miss this opportunity, trade will decline, and eventually, Wa and Kuwol will trade only with each other. We’ll lose all the foreign capital currently flowing into Meraldia, which would devastate our long-term finances.”
This would also mean less money for the Commonwealth, hurting everyone. Upon hearing Myurei’s points, Yuninel and Belken exchanged glances.
“I understand Myurei’s perspective, but...” Yuninel muttered.
“We’re also suffering from a lack of funds,” Belken added. “We need to strengthen our defenses in case Rolmund changes its approach, and construction projects in mountainous terrain like ours are quite costly. Our space is limited as well. Altering the mountain landscape will impact the snowmelt, which feeds into our irrigation systems.”
“I understand, but...” Frowning, Myurei glanced in my direction, seeking support. Aram and Forne also looked my way.
In my opinion, investing more in harbor infrastructure was our top priority, but I didn’t voice it. Or rather, I couldn’t. The northern viceroys already thought the Demon Army favored the southern cities too much; it didn’t help that our current Demon Lord was also a viceroy of a southern city. I didn’t want to give the northern viceroys more reason to suspect favoritism. Meanwhile, the southern viceroys believed Airia and I could solve any problem they faced. We were caught between a rock and a hard place.
Airia also looked in my direction, unsure if she should speak her mind. Everything said in these meetings was recorded and made public, so we all had to be cautious about our words. At long last, I’d advanced so far up the ladder that I couldn’t even express my thoughts. Even if the meeting wasn’t recorded, every word I spoke held weight. This meant I had to maintain a safe, neutral stance at all times.
All this posturing made me understand why politicians back in Japan often spoke in such roundabout, indecisive language. Clearing my throat could be interpreted in a dozen ways. But if I said nothing, I was merely an ornamental figurehead. I needed to take a stance, even if it cost me something. But before I could speak, Ryuunie, the viceroy of Doneiks, raised his hand.
“I would like to remind everyone that these meetings are a forum for us to understand each other’s positions. In Rolmund, we have a saying: ‘Steal from your neighbor, and you will both starve. Share with your neighbor, and you will both feast.’”
Ryuunie was an exiled prince from Rolmund—the nephew of the previous emperor, Ashley, and the current empress, Eleora. Because his late father, Ivan, staged a coup, he could never return to Rolmund. However, his exile was precisely why the viceroys of Meraldia’s northern cities trusted him. The southern viceroys liked him as well, since he’d been my protégé during his time at Meraldia University. Myurei, in particular, was one of his best friends. Ryuunie’s broad popularity gave him considerable influence, especially among the younger viceroys.
Everyone stopped arguing and waited to hear what Ryuunie had to say. Smiling gently, he looked at each viceroy in turn.
“Everyone here, myself included, has come to this meeting to advocate for the needs of our cities and the people living there. I understand why it’s difficult to reach a compromise. In fact, it was because my father and grandfather could not resolve their differences peacefully that I lost them both and was exiled along with my uncle.”
The uncle he referred to was Woroy, the man who’d built the Battleball City, Doneiks. His extensive list of deeds made him a national hero. Ryuunie mentioned him to leverage that fame but kept his expression neutral to show he wasn’t trying to lord that status over anyone.
“I learned a great deal from Professor Veight during my time at Meraldia University, but one lesson stood out to me,” he continued. “‘If you seek compromise, you must be bold.’ Since we don’t have enough funds to meet everyone’s demands, we must compromise. Therefore, I will be bold in suggesting mine.”
Now he’s using my name to give himself legitimacy. Well, that’s advice for when you’re trying to compromise with someone you’re not already close to... Oh, whatever. Let’s see how well you make this work.
Myurei raised his hand and asked, “In that case, what compromise should Lotz be making, Ryuunie?”
Are you sure you want to ask that of another viceroy? In a public meeting that everyone can read if they want? I was surprised by how willing Myurei was to make concessions without even negotiating. It seemed Ryuunie had anticipated this, and he clapped his hands together.
“Lotz is already providing more than most other cities to the Commonwealth’s coffers, so I wouldn’t ask anything more of you,” Ryuunie answered. “Still, you cannot expect to receive a proportional amount of that wealth back.”
“Why not?”
“The Commonwealth Council’s job is to equally redistribute wealth. It wouldn’t make sense for Lotz to get more when others are making less, would it?”
“Well...you’ve got a point there.”