‘Well, every one to his trade, they say.’
During this week, that was Ian’s evaluation of the Crown Prince. He was not bad at memorizing . Of course, Ian supported him with a few supportive spells to reduce his tiredness, but still, he did much more than Ian had expected.
‘He actually impressed me.’
Since Ian had no expectations of him at all, the Crown Prince’s passion for learning moved Ian deeply. It was the best moment of the Crown Prince Ian ever had experienced.
‘Of course, dealing with the real situation is a different story though.’
The council would be held at the town hall of the neutral city, Demidera, the biggest meeting room in it. Only the retainers of each country, one high ranking soldier who could made a decision about their armies and supplies, and two Archmages who could discuss of magical support were allowed to attend the meeting.
‘There are many familiar faces.’
Ian had rewound his time, and was the main hero who united three countries into one. He knew most of celebrities from each country.
‘I hope he doesn’t get too pressured.’
Would the Crown Prince manage to make his own speech? Ian started to worry even before its start.
‘Wait. Why I am worrying about him?’
Ian scratched his cheek with awkwardness. He never imagined a day would come when he worried about the Crown Prince. Except his mother, Ledio, and Douglas, it was Ian’s first time worrying about someone in his new life.
‘Maybe, it’s not my first time.’
Suddenly, he recalled 5 years ago that he had sent advice to the Crown Prince about the fashionable society. He did it because he worried about the Crown Prince.
‘…… Let’s stop thinking about it.’
While Ian was in denial,
The arbiter of this meeting, mayor Engolo, had entered the great council room. He wore very formal clothes.
“My name is Engolo Navil, 19th mayor of Demidera and arbiter of this council. From now on, every word spoken here will be recorded, and I have authority to halt this meeting, in emergency. Please remember that.”
With this introduction from the mayor, the council started. Since it had been 10 years since the last meeting of the 3 countries, the atmosphere was heavy and full of nervousness. There were more than 3 thousand of soldiers from each country staying near the city. A direct intermediary was definitely required between the 3 countries..
“As you know, since our Principality’s path to the great grass field is narrow and rough, we can’t operate large squads and supply chains. So, we want to support this conquest by mages and elite knights rather than soldiers, and money rather than supplies.”
The starting topic was deciding army supports and its method.
The true social power holder of the principality of Lo, Duke Benart, his son ‘Maxwell Benart’ spoke his first claim with the continent official language. Even if it wasn’t his mother language, he spoke it fluently.
“Actually, we already discussed this with Coldwood Empire before. Ah, do not misunderstand, though. If the Greenriver Empire minds this decision, we will gladly renegotiate it.”
While saying that, Maxwell looked at Hayden Greenriver. Soon, other people looked at him as well. The problem was only their ‘eyes’ were heading to the Crown Prince.
‘Their ears are focusing on Ragnar.’
They already have enough information about the Crown Prince. The succession issue of Greenriver Empire was quite famous. The great current Emperor tried to keep the Crown Prince as his successor Crown Prince, but this stupid Crown Prince hadn’t made it easy. They also knew of the 5th prince’s talent.
‘Say it like you practiced.’
In the meeting room, only Ian had hope that the Crown Prince would give a proper answer . So, Ian was more desperate.
“…….”
However, the Crown Prince Hayden couldn’t open his mouth easily. The 5th prince Ragnar, who was sitting next to him, prepared to start his speech as he knew it. He was sure this idiot Crown Prince wouldn’t able to answer.
“Instead of the Crown Prince highness, I…”
When Ragnar was about to start his speech,
“…… About the army supports,”
The Crown Prince started his speech as he decided.
Soon, everyone’s ears focused on the Crown Prince.
“I would give authority to our Empire’s great commander, the flawless strategic leader, Dunken Mitos. I already have an expert of war here, so I do not have to talk about this personally, do I?”
The Crown Prince’s voice was full of nervous.
Although his voice shook little bit, but he didn’t falter
“Sir Dunken.”
“Ah, yes. I will give an answer instead.”
Complimented, the great commander quickly organized his thoughts. He wasn’t embarrassed because of the Crown Prince’s compliment, but his attitude. He hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to say it like that.
“This old man thinks, about the request of Principality of Lo…..”
Although he was confused about the Crown Prince’s action, Dunken Mitos did his best as he was ordered. He had thought Ragnar would be a better Emperor, but he was still very loyal to the current Emperor and his country. He did what he could for his Empire.
‘Good start.’
With this scene, Ian was relieved.
The beginning of the meeting was much better than Ian had expected. Although the Crown Prince simply answered an expected question, he chose correct answer among those many answers he had prepared with Ian.
‘Just keep going.’
Not just worrying, now Ian started to cheer for the Crown Prince.
(ED note: Confirmed Crown Prince x Ian??lel)
Ian didn’t deny it now.
That man was doing something good.
The man who Ian thought was just an idiot was doing a great job.
‘Let people reconsider about your real talent.’
After that, the council flew relatively fluently. The Crown Prince spoke when he had to, and kept silence when he had to. He strictly followed what Ian had taught him, which he had practised more than a thousand times.
‘The last moment is coming.’
Ian felt comfortable now.
As he expected, soon they would discuss about ‘dividing’ territory and resources of the great grass field after conquest.
‘The most important part of today’s meeting.’
Not only Ian, but all of the others’ thought this was the most important one.
The great grass field was affluent. Plenty of resources were expected to come out of the field. Dividing it fairly, or take some advantage in this process was the biggest aiming point of today’s meeting for the three countries.
“Let’s deal with this straightly.”
The Crown Prince of Coldwood Empire, ‘Hector Coldwood’ said while tapping his knee. Unlike the Greenriver Empire, the Crown Prince was the core of Coldwood’s political power.
‘He killed all of his brothers except those born from his mother.’
Contrary to his cool voice, he was cold and a serpent-like man. The man that was the biggest block for uniting three countries in Ian’s former life, continued his words.
“Dividing into three spaces equally? That wouldn’t be fair. Each territory has different kind and amount resources, and its quality is various. Who would want to play random number game here?”
Although the great grass field was an affluent territory, there were huge differences between its areas. Furthermore, considering hidden resources under the ground, the difference was bigger. If they just considering its distance to their own country and divide this land into three pieces equally, one of them might regret it.
“If we do so, there must be at least one country who would receive extra benefits over others. And it will ruin our relationships. And ruined relationships will easily lead to war , don’t you think?”
He was right. All of these countries were ‘big countries’ who desired to unite the continent one day. These three countries had survived by conquering many smaller kingdoms. A small spark would easily bring the flames of war into this land.
“At least, my country doesn’t want such disaster now. It would not be bad to remain at peace for a thousand years. So, if any of you have good plan, please tell me. Let’s divide it without any trouble, and go home satisfied.”
After the manly speech of Hector Coldwood, the meeting room remained quiet.
“Tower Lord.”
On the other side, Ragnar’s eye contacted with the Tower Lord.
They were about to release their ultimate blow that would turn the tides.
Ragnar didn’t have single chance until now.
The unexpected situation made him nervous.
‘Ian Page, you bastard….!’
It was obvious. It must have been him who made this situation. That bastard must have persuaded his idiot brother to speak like that. Otherwise, that idiot, how could he do this?
‘I have to fix it from now on.’
The Tower Lord nodded.
Ragnar started to open his mouth.
To the people in the council.
“I humbly suggest you one th……”
All of sudden
“A perfect method!”
Unlike Ragnar with careful voice, someone shouted loud and confidently. There was only one who could make such confident voice which was rather arrogant sounding. He was born to it.
“I have a plan.”
It was the Crown Prince Hayden.
Thanks to that, Ragnar’s speech was silenced.
“Then tell us everything what you know your highness Crown Prince.”
The arbiter of the council, Engolo spoke in haste.
He had authority to do so,
At least in this council.
“Our Empire’s Ivory Tower, precisely, at the mage tower, we invented a new magic. It is a mass detecting magic that allows us to detect hidden resources under the ground, and also let us estimate its amount.
By his word, every people in the council’s reactions were various. Most of the celebrities from the other countries doubted such magic, but Ragnar and the Tower Lord couldn’t manage their faces.
‘H, how…?’
They both thought the same thing. ‘Detect Resource Spell’ was their trump card. For today the Tower Lord invented it himself, and of course he never introduced it to the Ivory Tower before.
“Is that true?”
Other countries’ embassies asked him about its very existence.
The Crown Prince on fire said while pointing at Ian.
“Of course. I am sure all of you have heard of him before. The youngest Archmage in the history of our Empire, Ian Page, has invented it himself.”
With his word, the Tower Lord’s hands shook.
He felt like his spell had been stolen.
However, it wasn’t likely to have happened. He could’ve made the magic by simple imagining it, couldn’t he? If he wanted to make it, he could. But problem was.
‘Did he also know that a Detect Resource spell would be required for this meeting?’
He couldn’t believe that. He thought Ian was an innocent brat who was only interested in magic. He didn’t expect this youngster to see through the key point of this meeting.
“Wow…..”
Many people were amazed. It was an ultimate key that would solve the problem of the meeting. Furthermore, it was unique technology that only the Greenriver Empire had. They had to admit it.
“By using this magic, we will make a type of ‘resource map’. Of course we also have to check the quality of the soil, as well. And after that, according to the map, we may divide it into several pieces.”
The Crown Prince was on fire.
He now lead the whole council.
“And we will divide those pieces fairly to three countries. Considering the soil quality itself, and the resources under it. Borders may be confused, but we may spend more than 10 years just focusing on developing and mining, won’t we?”
“Hmm…..”
Positive reactions came out from the council.
Except the Tower Lord and Ragnar, everyone nodded.
“I am sure there is no other better plan.”
As long as the Detect Resource spell existed, there were no other better options. Basically, they desired hidden resources of the territory, rather than its soil itself. And such ultimate magic was exclusive to the Greenriver Empire.
“I guess everyone agrees with this.”
Soon, the Crown Prince gave the final blow to this meeting,
The final blow that only his Empire had authority to do for this meeting.
“That’s all.”
The main hero of today’s council was obviously, one man.
The Crown Prince of the Greenriver, who had numberless infamous titles, such as;
Idiot
Good appearance, empty can
Trouble maker of the Greenriver royalty
.
.
.
.
Hayden Greenriver was the main hero.
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