Chapter 86

Today is the third update.

Please pay attention.

Lezard has five enemy countries.

First are two neighboring countries, Gehenna and Nemes, which are also Kirishia-related cities.

Lezard's suzerain state, Claris, is in a hostile relationship with Alt, the suzerain state of Gehenna, and Telvai, the suzerain state of Nemes.

They also compete in maritime trade, vying for commercial territories, which is why their relations are poor.

However, since they are of the same ethnicity, they will not wage a war that would lead to the destruction of a country.

While they may fight, their relationship is not so bad that they are close friends.

The next two are Persis and Pheonia.

The Persis Empire and the Kirishia city-states have been at war multiple times, so this is to be expected.

However, since Persis has not advanced to the Western Tethys Sea, it is impossible for it to clash with Lezard.

On the contrary, there is a possibility of a fierce clash with Pheonia.

Pheonia is located just off the Adelnia Peninsula and is vying with Kirishia for the Trisikyria Island, which is separated by the continent.

The three Kirishia city-states in Adelnia, which also serve as frontline bases for Trisikyria Island, are naturally always exposed to the threat from Pheonia.

However, since there is no current war, it is not an immediate threat.

Lezard's greatest enemy at present is the country of King Berberdil.

There are small states scattered between Lezard and the country of King Berberdil.

The reason there are many small states in the south is due to the mixed presence of local Adelnians and colonists from Kirishia and Pheonia.

Between Lezard and the country of King Berberdil, there is a small state of Kirishia-Adelnian origin, and both countries are vying for control of the region.

The small states switch sides depending on the situation, so no resolution has been reached.

This is likely the reason why Lezard wants to form an alliance with our country.

The country of King Berberdil has a population of about 100,000, while Lezard has about 60,000.

Lezard allocates much of its national power to the navy, so its army is weak.

Therefore, if they were to clash head-on, Lezard's chances of winning are slim.

Our reliable suzerain state is wary of the suspicious movements of the Persis Empire and cannot move.

However, if we form an alliance with our country, the situation changes.

We can attack from the north and south.

At the very least, Berberdil will be wary of our country and cannot fully commit to fighting Lezard.

This is likely Lezard's strategy.

"I would like to decline the military alliance."

I rejected Lezard's proposal.

Disappointment was visible on the faces of the councilors, but they quickly regained their composure, as if they had expected it.

"May I ask for the reason?"

"I do not want to provoke the country of King Berberdil. Our country and the country of King Berberdil are not enemies."

The country of King Berberdil is a neighboring country.

I do not want to worsen our relationship.

I do not want to provoke a foreign country when our own country is not yet fully united.

Even if the country of King Berberdil is a much weaker opponent in terms of national power.

Moreover, merchants traveling between our country and Lezard must pass through Berberdil.

A border closure would be difficult.

"However, I have no problem with a friendship treaty. Regarding the disputed territory between your country and the country of King Berberdil, we will declare neutrality."

"Neutrality... I understand. Let's start with a friendly relationship."

A handshake was made between me and the chairman of Claris.

Friendship is important.

Starting as friends... it sounds like a romantic relationship. "Let's start as friends because we like each other"?

"Next, regarding trade. Our country's merchants pay a considerable amount of customs duties when entering your country. I would like to eliminate this."

This is a condition from Lezard.

In other words, they are asking for special treatment for Claris merchants.

While customs duties are a source of income, I have already monopolized paper and salt.

I also plan to monopolize whiskey and vodka.

Therefore, I think it is fine to eliminate customs duties.

Even without customs duties, I will still collect sales taxes.

Ultimately, more merchants coming will increase tax revenue.

But eliminating customs duties for free...

"Alright. In return, I request full cooperation regarding Kirishia technology and manuscripts."

"Understood. We will handle it appropriately."

That's it, most of the business is done.

The rest is more like a bonus...

"Also, if it's not too much trouble... could you provide information on the situation in Pheonia and the Eastern Tethys Sea? We have gathered some information, but there are limits to what we can do alone. It would be greatly appreciated if your country could provide information."

From the information gathered by Kirishia merchants, it is already known that Persis is building a large fleet and conducting large-scale military exercises.

There are rumors that the Third Persis-Kirishia War will break out between Kirishia and Persis in the near future.

Although the Adelnia Peninsula is far away, its impact will certainly spread.

If Kirishia were to lose to Persis, the power balance in the Tethys Sea would change dramatically.

It is never a disadvantage to have information.

"Sure, I understand. I will inform you as soon as the situation develops."

"Thank you. I am grateful."

That's it, the business in Lezard is done.

Next, I will visit Nemes and Gehenna in that order and conduct similar diplomacy.

While I will not form a friendship declaration with these two countries, I will conclude similar treaties with Lezard regarding economic fields such as tariffs, technology, and human resources.

These two countries have been actively sending love calls since I became king, perhaps because they do not want Lezard to have all the advantages.

"By the way, are you heading to Gehenna next?"

"Gehenna is after Nemes, but yes, I plan to visit. What's the matter?"

Einz suddenly asked.

I thought he already knew that I intended to visit all three countries...

"Please be careful of the tyrant of Gehenna, Mr. Abraham."

What exactly should I be careful about...

Chapter 86.5: Newlyweds

"Hey, Alek. Aren't you going to see it?"

"See what?"

Alexios and Melia's elopement was a resounding success.

They entered a Kirishia colonial city immediately after arriving on Trisikyria Island and moved to the Adelnia Peninsula in three days.

They completely shook off the pursuers from Pheonia.

Since the elopement involved a general and a sorceress that Pheonia had high hopes for, they set up a thorough dragnet, but it all came to nothing.

Pheonia gave up the search after a month.

They do not have the leisure to chase after those who have fled abroad indefinitely.

However, the Valca family, a prominent Pheonian family, is still searching for Alexios with all their might, so we cannot let our guard down.

The elopement went relatively smoothly.

After all, both were military personnel and had a plan.

They bought land and slaves with the private funds they had secretly transferred to Lezard and were operating a farm of considerable size.

Of course, their standard of living was several levels lower than when they were in the military, but since both had always lived modestly, they had no complaints.

"The new king of the country of King Rosais is coming to a Kirishia colonial city in Lezard... It seems to be the first time in history that the king of Adelnia is coming here himself."

The rumor of the paper that the country of King Rosais exports has spread throughout Lezard.

Currently, the country of King Rosais is a lucrative market for Lezard merchants.

The citizens of Lezard also had no ill feelings, so there was a welcoming atmosphere.

"Ah, the famous person. He just returned from a war with a neighboring country and, without disbanding the army, launched a surprise attack and eliminated the opposing forces. That's impressive. There are few kings who can end a civil war in an instant. Soldiers and nobles hesitate to kill their own people."

However, the new king of the country of King Rosais achieved this by boosting the morale of the soldiers with the victory.

The enthusiasm of the soldiers created an atmosphere where the nobles could not oppose the actions as being excessive.

Alexios admired the new king's skills.

"Is that so? I thought it was unusually noisy today."

"Right, so are you going to see it?"

"No, it's fine. I'm not that interested."

Saying that, Alexios shifted his gaze back to the book he was reading.

It was a book on Eastern military strategy.

A needle-like pain pierced Melia's heart.

The fact that Alexios was reading a book on military strategy meant that he still had lingering feelings for the military—war.

"Hey... do you regret it?"

Alexios looked up at Melia.

After a moment of confusion, he quickly closed the military strategy book.

"No, I don't regret living with you at all."

"But do you regret leaving the battlefield?"

"No... to be honest, yes. It seems I really liked the battlefield."

People realize things after they lose them.

However...

"But I have no intention of returning to Pheonia. I'm tired of fighting for that country. The parliament constantly interferes with the battlefield. There have been times when we lost a victory because of their interference. And they execute generals who lose even once. I can't deal with that."

Alexios shrugged.

Alexios's patriotism towards Pheonia was very thin.

Melia did not know the deep reasons for this. She was not indifferent to it, but she would not force him to talk about something he did not want to discuss.

However, she could easily imagine that it was due to his resistance to his estranged family.

Alexios and his family had a very poor relationship.

Alexios's family was so devoted to Pheonia that his aversion to the family directly translated into anti-Pheonia sentiment.

Melia had not heard the reasons for the estrangement between Alexios and his family, but she thought it was because of Alexios's eyes.

Alexios had heterochromia, a condition where the irises are of different colors.

In Pheonia, there is a tradition that children with different colored eyes are cursed.

Something must have happened because of this, Melia speculated.

But to Melia, Alexios's family was irrelevant.

She would never meet them. They were like strangers to her.

Melia was from an orphanage... more accurately, a facility that separated children with sorcerer potential from their families and raised them to be loyal to the state, commonly known as an "orphanage." She did not know what her parents looked like.

She did not even want to meet them. If her so-called parents appeared now, it would only cause trouble.

Therefore, she could not empathize with the general sentiment of cherishing parents, nor could she empathize with the intense hatred Alexios felt towards them.

"What about being a general in Lezard?"

"Maybe I would do it temporarily if asked, but I wouldn't swear allegiance."

Alexios's existence is known to the upper echelons of Lezard.

The fact that Alexios has not been found by Pheonia is partly due to the cooperation of the Lezard upper echelons.

Kirishians generally favor democracy, equality, and fairness.

Therefore, they are favorable towards the two who eloped.

However, the main reason the Lezard upper echelons are cooperative is because of the card they can play against the influential Pheonian noble family, the Valca, and because Alexios is an excellent general.

Lezard is a merchant state, so it is not difficult to gather mercenaries, but it is difficult to command them.

The Lezard upper echelons are likely thinking, "Just in case..."

"Besides, the most important thing to me is you. The second most important thing is right here."

Alexios touched Melia's belly.

Melia's lips softened.

Their lips touched.