https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-99-Maple-City-Duke-Seaver-and-the-Negotiations/12824927/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-101-The-Princess-s-Affection-Increases-Main-Quest-14th-Ring/12824929/
Chapter 100: Buying Time
Chapter 100: Buying Time
After the negotiations concluded, Su Yu's mission log updated.
Chime! "Glory of the Golden Rose Empire (12/100) completed, gained 500 experience points."
The next phase of the mission will begin in 60 minutes. Stay tuned.
Is that it?
Leaving Howling Wolf Castle, Su Yu rode Dimah through the affluent streets, stretching lazily.
But his mind was still replaying and analyzing the negotiations.
The negotiation seemed absurd and comical, barely getting started before it had to be halted due to special circumstances.
However, Su Yu knew that beneath the surface, a complex game of strategy was being played out.
And in this game, there were no losers. All three parties involved had achieved their goals.
Why was this the case?
It was simple.
The princess, Duke Seaver, and Duke Lantilus each had different objectives, but their actions were surprisingly consistent—buying time.
All three were delaying.
First, let's talk about the princess.
She appeared to be the most eager to reach an agreement, arriving in Maple City with a minimal entourage to expedite the process.
But Su Yu knew that the princess was actually buying time.
She didn't truly want to reach an agreement with the rebels. Instead, she was using the negotiations as a pretext to buy time for her father to gather his forces and to finalize her own secret plans and contingency measures.
Next, Duke Anzu Seaver.
Seaver wanted to prolong the negotiation period as much as possible, ideally until the royal army was fully assembled.
This way, the Cattler forces would be unable to advance south, and he could achieve his goal without engaging in open conflict with the royal family, instead consolidating the territory he had already captured.
Seaver also had a broader perspective:
While the Golden Rose Empire was the most powerful human nation in the world, there were two other major human empires.
If Lantilus's plan to completely eliminate the royal family succeeded, the empire would be severely weakened, and the other two empires might see an opportunity to act.
Thus, he favored a delay.
Lastly, Duke Lantilus. He, too, was buying time.
Lantilus's first attempt to assassinate the princess had failed, but they were already planning a second attack!
They needed ample preparation time, and the longer the princess stayed in Maple City, the more ready they would be.
This was why the envoy was taking so long to arrive.
All three parties wanted to buy time, leading to the comical scene at the negotiation table—where the talks were called off after just a few words.
...
Su Yu carefully analyzed the situation and quickly pieced together the entire sequence of events.
But he was just a player, and these insights were of little practical use to him.
This level of political maneuvering was beyond his reach. He would focus on completing his own tasks.
...
Using the hour before the next mission phase, Su Yu went to the market to pick out some high-quality fodder for Dimah.
Once Dimah was well-fed and watered, Su Yu rode her to the leveling area.
Maple City's 20-25 level area was the Frostcliff to the east.
The monsters here were scarce, but Su Yu encountered an old acquaintance—the multi-headed serpent.
[Frost Multi-Headed Serpent LV20]
Health: 1750
Attack: 48
Skills: [Frost Breath], [Ferocious Bite], [Frost Skin (Passive)]
Description: A multi-headed serpent with a fearsome maw, moving swiftly and relentlessly.
Apart from the Frost Hydra, this region also houses the Cliff Hydra at Level 22 and the Rock Hydra at Level 23.
The last time Su Yu saw a hydra was when he entered the Zangar Marsh with Diana.
This made Su Yu admire the hydra's incredible survival capabilities.
"Hydras can survive in any conditions! They can thrive in swamps, on steep cliffs, and even in lava, where the Flame Hydra can be found. They are truly a formidable race!"
Su Yu gave a mental thumbs-up to the hydra.
However, this admiration didn't affect his leveling up. Su Yu put Tima's horse card back into his backpack and began his grind.
After reaching Level 20, the monsters in the wild became much sparser, and their overall attributes increased, slowing down Su Yu's leveling speed compared to when he was at lower levels.
But Su Yu didn't mind; even small gains were still gains.
Besides, he wasn't very familiar with Maple Leaf City, and there wasn't much else to do besides leveling up.
...
About 40 minutes later, an NPC guard in armor rode up to the edge of the grinding area on horseback.
The guard looked around and quickly spotted Su Yu, who was casting spells at the hydra. He waved his hand urgently, "Master Kesing, it's me, Keldron!"
The person who arrived was the princess's personal guard, Keldron. He had asked passersby for directions and eventually found Su Yu in the grinding area.
"Oh, it's you!"
After dealing with the hydra in front of him, Su Yu turned to look at him, "It's so late, what do you need? Is there a Bluebird Street in Maple Leaf City? Do you want to take me there?"
Su Yu had long heard of the Bluebird Street in Goldfinch City, but it wasn't open to players.
He had heard that NPCs could possibly bring him inside, which is why he asked.
"Hey, no way." Keldron awkwardly shook his head, "We're here on official business, not for any pleasure-seeking places... Princess Eliza sent me to find you. She has important matters to discuss with you!"
"Oh? The princess wants to see me?" Su Yu was somewhat surprised.
It was 10 PM, and the princess wanted to meet him at this hour. It couldn't be...
But then he remembered that the princess was only 14 years old, and he felt a giant crab monster staring at him from behind.
His expression tightened, "Since it's the princess's request, let's hurry up and go!"
"Alright, I'll lead the way." Keldron turned his horse around.
About ten minutes later, Su Yu and Keldron returned to Maple Leaf City and arrived at the residence where Princess Eliza was staying.
The mansion provided by Duke Seifer for the princess was very large and beautiful.
Even though it was 10 PM, the mansion was still brightly lit.
Everywhere, there were rare flowers, sculptures, fountains, and ponds.
The mansion was bustling with all sorts of servants and maids, but these servants and maids were likely Duke Seifer's eyes and ears.
After entering the mansion, Keldron kept his eyes forward, leading the way to the deepest part of the estate.
Su Yu naturally followed closely behind.
In the grand hall at the deepest part of the estate, Su Yu met Princess Eliza again.
At the same time, Su Yu's main quest updated:
"Ding! Your main quest has been updated! [Glory of the Goldfinch Empire (13/100)]."
"Quest requirement: Understand Princess Eliza's concerns and complete her request."
"Quest reward: Random reward based on completion."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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