“Speeding up would be a good idea, huh?”

Viscount Negerette made a displeased sound in response to the secret message conveyed through Nirva by Emperor Caletta.

“Well, there’s nothing good about delaying it for too long.”

The only concern was that Nirva was in the middle. Of course, Nirva had also decided to play a part in this war, but Viscount Negerette viewed Nirva’s involvement with suspicion. More precisely, he believed half and doubted half. In the end, they were bright merchants inside.

“Is Nirva also in agreement?”

Nirva envoy Felix Caeca nodded.

“I share the same thoughts. Keeping secrets for too long will inevitably lead to leaks, and the plans will go awry.”

A small trading nation had no choice but to rely on the economic power of a larger country. Therefore, it was necessary to devise a way to diversify reliance among several countries, rather than depending solely on one.

However, Perseta’s influence had still remained as an ’empire,’ and the return of the young emperor, who was so capable, did not allow for the diversification of Nirva’s dependence. Instead, he held onto it tightly.

‘What should I do?’

Nirva wanted to collaborate with both Caletta and Perseta. He wanted to step foot somewhere, then retract his foot.

But civil war, civil war could not allow that. There was a need to take sides. Thus, the head of Felix Caeca was spinning very complicatedly.

After secretly delivering Emperor Caletta’s statement, he returned to the Nirva consulate.

Next door, the Caletta consulate was as bustling as ever. The new consul and employees who came to the new country were busy adapting, and since the consulate had experienced a murder incident, they seemed suspicious.

Of course, there was someone among them who had come alone.

“Hello.”

When their eyes met, Ilaisa Barkova, who only greeted with a bow and salute, suddenly dropped to her knees at the nobles of Perseta.

The Caletta consulate was heavily monitored by the emperor, and there was also the example of the former consul, Countess Plachae, being missing. So, contacting directly with the Caletta consulate was to be avoided.

‘And he also promised to lend a hand through Nirva.’

Viscount Negerette calculated meticulously. To resist the emperor, he needed to draw in some insufficient power from somewhere, and how would security be maintained? As a result, trading-dependent Nirva was a manageable opponent. To survive, a barren and small country that had to trade with the Eastern nobles to maintain a semblance of economic power. That point was unbearable, so instead, it had to join the civil war and establish new trade with the emerging empire.

‘But it’s too risky with the emperor on that side.’

Not that emperor. This side’s young emperor. Of course, the thief who appeared out of nowhere and claimed to be the last lineage of the fallen Belera Empire was frightening, but the man who suddenly appeared one day, claiming to be the last bloodline of the lost Belera Empire 430 years ago and sat on the throne, was also frightening.

No one knew what the emperor was thinking.

Reporters entering and leaving the Shaleria palace, palace attendants and maids, experienced politicians with thick bones, diplomats, soldiers, nobles—no one could easily see the emperor.

Anxiety leads to fear, and fear brings violence. You have to strike before being struck. Someday, you will inevitably be hit, so why not try hitting first? What the Eastern nobles were committing was born from that psychology.

If you join us, we promise Nirva the monopoly right to trade. Nirva will monopolize all trade for the next 50 years!

Caletta, you should also do that. Now that we are starting trade with the outside world, if we leave the compensation to the one who facilitated the trade, there is no reason for us not to.

The Eastern nobles and Caletta had promised a monopoly, so it was a conspiracy that Nirva, as Nirva, had to naturally join. The reward offered was too large for ‘Nirva.’
“I should have demanded more, saying it’s not enough for something like that.”

Regrettably, Felix Caeca couldn’t make such a request. Nirva had to send its navy after receiving only the 50-year trade monopoly of the two countries, which would soon end.

“I wonder what the Emperor of Perseta will offer us.”

Although he couldn’t ask directly, recently, Emperor Perseta had closed the Glera Palace, where his fiancée was, and stayed silent in the central palace. The emperor’s fiancée, also a young Southern sage, was nowhere to be seen.

“Something seems fishy.”

To survive, a small country needed connections everywhere. Especially when trying to sell goods, connections and the information obtained through those connections were essential. Felix Caeca glanced towards the palace and then entered the consulate.

The target that Nirva consul, who was deeply suspicious, was concerned about, Emperor Perseta, was standing in the emperor’s bedroom in the central palace, as everyone was gossiping. He was looking at the missing Southern sage with suspicion.