Chapter 33

"Since I will offer tribute, can't you give me a week? I need time to decide how much tribute to offer and on what schedule, in terms of months."

"Since you put it that way, I can't refuse. However."

Yong smiled threateningly.

"In order to satisfy Lord Ventura, you must do your best."

"If you trust me, I will meet your expectations."

"Very well. I will come back in a week."

After Yong left.

"How do you plan to teach them a lesson this time?"

Camille asked Otto.

"Hmm."

Otto smiled coldly.

"Let's wait about three days and see how it goes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Exactly three days later.

A diplomat from the Bem fief, located about 70 kilometers away from the Iota Kingdom, came to visit.

The matter was exactly the same as in the Seoden fief.

"Lord Fernando is greatly angered by your arrogant attitude. While it's understandable that you have ascended to the throne, what is the reason for continuously expanding your military power? Are you not threatening the long-term security of our fief?"

"Absolutely not!"

"How will you prove that? If things continue this way, Lord Fernando will find it difficult to show mercy."

"How can I quell Lord Fernando's anger?"

"Well... if you show some sincerity, Lord Fernando might be appeased."

Following Seoden, Bem was now also being asked to pay tribute to Iota.

"I will offer tribute regularly. Please give me a week."

"Since you say so, I will return to Lord Fernando and seek his understanding."

"Thank you very much!"

Immediately after the diplomat from Bem left.

"These guys are so eager to tear us apart, their eyes are bloodshot."

Otto smiled coldly.

"What do we do now?"

"We need to show them what we're made of."

Otto answered Camille's question.

"Can we just let them take advantage of us?"

"This time as well..."

"Of course, I have a plan."

Otto smiled.

"Contact Seoden fief tomorrow. Let's see what happens."

"Understood."

* * *

Two days later.

"What is it that you called me for? Is there something urgent?"

Yong, the diplomat from Seoden fief, asked Otto after receiving the news.

"Yes, the matter is... "

Otto spoke cautiously.

"A diplomat from Bem fief came to visit."

"What? Those bastards?"

Seoden and Bem fiefs share a border and are always at odds, so it was natural for Yong to react sensitively.

"What did Bem fief say?"

"Well... that... "

"Speak quickly!"

"They said that Seoden fief doesn't need to pay tribute, only they do."

"What?"

"Though it's difficult to say, Bem fief plans to launch a surprise attack on Seoden fief soon."

"Is that true?!"

"Is there any doubt? I am not lying at all."

"Those damn bastards!"

Yong, who was easily deceived by Otto's blatant lie, could hardly contain his excitement.

"I understand. I will report this immediately."

After Yong left.

"Contact Bem fief now."

"Are you trying to stir them up?"

"Exactly."

Otto smiled at Camille's question.

"Since they are already at odds, Seoden and Bem are ready to fight to the death if given the chance."

"I agree."

Seoden and Bem are geographically very close, and their size and military strength are similar.

Moreover, both fiefs have been growing rapidly recently, and it was time to start thinking about conquest.

However, even though both Seoden and Bem wanted to do something, they were wary of each other and only watched each other.

They were acting as deterrents to each other.

"Have you made a decision about the tribute?"

Steg, the diplomat from Bem fief, asked Otto after receiving the news.

"Not exactly... there's a problem."

"Problem? What kind of problem?"

"Seoden fief says Bem fief shouldn't pay tribute."

"Seoden? How dare they?"

"Well... Seoden fief plans to launch a surprise attack on Bem fief soon."

"......!"

"Since Bem fief is about to be destroyed, there's no need to pay tribute to them, they say."

"Those damn bastards!"

Steg, like Yong, was greatly angered.

"I will report this to Lord Fernando immediately!"

Steg immediately left the Iota Kingdom for Bem fief.

"Lord Fernando, that bastard, is finally showing his true colors!"

"Lord Ventura, that despicable man, dares to invade our fief? I will not forgive him!"

Lord Ventura and Lord Fernando were extremely angry upon receiving the reports and immediately ordered their armies to gather and prepare for battle.

As a result.

"Lord! The movements of Seoden's army are suspicious!"

"News that Bem's army is gathering!"

Thanks to the almost simultaneous gathering of their armies, both forces were completely deceived by Otto's lies.

When they gathered their armies because of Otto's deception, it seemed that the other side was also preparing for war, making the situation worse.

"War is about to break out between Bem and Seoden."

Camille immediately reported this to Otto.

"Of course. They can't help but be suspicious of each other now that they've seen the movements of their armies."

"That's right."

Camille smiled.

"Do you plan to wait until the two fiefs fight each other and then expand your territory?"

"Of course."

Otto replied as if it were obvious.

"But just waiting would be boring."

"Excuse me?"

"Since we're going to fight, it should be exciting. That way, it's more fun to watch."

"What kind of evil plan are you concocting?"

"Evil plan?"

Otto looked hurt.

"This is after-sales service for our customers."

"......?"

"Contact Seoden and Bem and offer them information. They'll come running."

Otto smiled sinisterly.

Otto knew that with the two forces so evenly matched, they desperately needed a surefire strategy to outmaneuver each other.

Thus, the information Otto provided was a sweet temptation to both forces.

They were more likely to be blinded by the greed in front of them than to suspect Otto.

After all, no one would have thought that a young man like Otto could manipulate both forces simultaneously.

* * *

Two days later.

"A diplomat from Bem fief has proposed that we help them attack Seoden fief."

"Is that true?"

"The strategy of Bem fief is... "

Otto called in the diplomat from Seoden fief, Yong, and fed him false information.

"Is this reliable information?"

"I can stake my life on it."

"Very well. If what you say is true,