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Chapter 600: Lanchi is About to Deliver a Victory Speech for Lorlen
Chapter 600: Lanchi is About to Deliver a Victory Speech for Lorlen
In the history of the Perlant Empire, the northern Chekel Manor has served as a venue for numerous political and diplomatic events on the northern continent.
Imperial ministers often received foreign leaders here, engaging in bilateral talks, discussing international affairs, and strengthening relations with neighboring countries.
The manor's negotiations took place in a more private and relaxed atmosphere, helping to break the boundaries of formal meeting rooms.
On a misty morning, Princess Hyberrian and the Fallen Lord, escorted by envoys from the Perlant Empire, traversed the seemingly endless, lush gardens surrounding Chekel Manor.
As the ambassador's convoy slowly made its way along the winding road, the true face of the manor gradually revealed itself, with ancient stone walls and spire towers glistening in the dew.
As the princess of the Demon Realm and an ambassador herself, she donned a noble hunting outfit of the Demon Realm, with finely woven silver hair draped over her shoulders, and strode out of the carriage with a steady gait, undoubtedly becoming the focal point of attention on this overcast day.
By her side, the Fallen Lord, Kaliyla, kept her eyes closed, ensuring the princess's safety.
Although the surrounding guards knew that this exotic woman was a legendary ninth-rank arch-demon, they couldn't help but linger their gazes on her a little longer.
"My Lady Kaliyla, I must trouble you to further restrain your magical power."
The Knight Captain, who was leading them to the mansion, requested respectfully in a low voice.
As the strongest eighth-rank imperial general on the border, he personally knew how to immunize himself against Kaliyla's magic.
However, for lower-ranked humans, even without falling under Kaliyla's illusions, they might still become infatuated with her and gradually have their minds eroded by her power.
With the neighboring kingdom of Bliss having fallen, the Perlant Empire was now in a state of panic.
Even with the alliance in mind, they dared not relax their guard against the demons until the negotiations were concluded, hence the choice of this remote manor as the venue.
Chekel Manor, located in a rural area on the outskirts of the city, provided a relatively secluded and quiet environment, ideal for sensitive or highly focused negotiations.
Its hidden location ensured the safety and privacy of the talks, especially when dealing with delicate matters.
Amid a string of bad news on the battlefield, the only glimmer of hope came from the beastmen of the Eternal Night Land, who had opened up a trade route to the Demon Realm, and the Demon Realm supplying a large amount of military equipment to the Perlant Empire at very low prices.
Recently, the royal craftsmen sent by Queen Xechia had successfully forged friendships with several great lords of the beastmen in the Eternal Night Land.
To protect the safety of the craftsmen, their identities were still being concealed by Queen Xechia, but the people's trust in the queen was gradually deepening, and her words carried more weight now.
According to Queen Xechia's opinion, she advocated actively seeking help from the Demon Realm, at least trying to believe in the demons first, otherwise, there would be no turning point.
"I understand."
Kaliyla nodded, responding indifferently.
After spending so much time with the Nameless Lord, she had thought that her passive spell was ineffective, but it was clear that the effect still existed.
As Princess Hyberrian and her entourage passed through the main entrance of the manor, they were led into a spacious reception room. The antique furniture, tapestries, and oil paintings inside retained the original style from when Chekel Manor was built. The fireplace radiated warmth, dispelling the moisture from the garden, welcoming the envoys from the distant Demon Realm.
In this exquisitely decorated reception room, at one end of the conference table, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Duke Moreti, was already waiting.
"Your Excellency Kaliyla and Princess Hyberrian, it is my great honor to meet you at such a critical moment. Allow me to express, on behalf of my country and my people, our sincerest welcome to your presence here."
Duke Moreti's figure emerged from the backdrop of the tall windows behind him, and the thin morning light seemed to outline his silhouette with a golden hue as he bowed.
His posture was steady and relaxed, and he invited the demons to take a seat with a slight smile.
"The honor is mine as well."
Kaliyla replied in an even tone, devoid of much inflection.
The other party seemed convinced that she was the real decision-maker, even placing her as the primary object of respect in their greetings, while the princess was merely an accompanying guest.
Kaliyla could understand this judgment. If it had been a month ago, while it might not have conformed to etiquette, it would have pleased the true power holder in the Demon Realm.
Princess Hyberrian remained mostly silent, maintaining the decorum that Kaliyla had instructed her to uphold, and took her seat alongside Kaliyla.
She now found it quite enjoyable to have a powerful demon like Kaliyla by her side, as she didn't need to do anything except leave matters in Kaliyla's capable hands. Upon reflection, Kaliyla had been very kind to her, almost like a personal bodyguard. Following Talia and the Ice Witch, Kaliyla was like an additional passive skill, always attracting a caring adult female demon to her side.
Beside the negotiation table, the two delegations sat around a dark wooden round table, engaging in casual conversation, soon surrounded by necessary documents and maps.
"Your Excellency Kaliyla, we are all aware of the current uncertain situation on the northern continent. The Perlant Empire has always sought peace and stability, and if the Demon Realm is willing to help us achieve this goal, I believe it will be a mutually beneficial collaboration..."
Duke Moreti cautiously began to elaborate on the Perlant Empire's stance and expectations for the upcoming negotiations.
The room was illuminated by carefully adjusted lighting.
As the sound of the rain outside gradually grew louder, the voices in the room blended with the white noise.
The view outside the manor was blurred by the rain, but one could still vaguely make out the swaying shadows of the trees and the distant green hills, which appeared dull and dark in the rain, making the surrounding sky seem even gloomier.
Princess Hyberrian gazed out the window, her mind drifting not to the discussion in the conference room, but to whether Lanchi had brought an umbrella.
She recalled the time at Boss Cat's restaurant when she had gone downstairs to give Lanchi an umbrella, and they had chatted for a long while under the awning. Those moments hadn't felt special at the time, but now, in hindsight, they seemed delightful.
"I wonder if Duke Moreti has misunderstood our intentions?"
Kaliyla's slightly displeased tone brought Hyberrian back to her senses.
Hyberrian turned to see Kaliyla, her brow already furrowed after a brief exchange.
"It's like this, our Perlant Empire never intended to seek confrontation, nor do we have the strength to oppose the Honing Empire's oppressive army. Even before the fall of the Bliss Kingdom, the cabinet had been actively discussing the possibility of peace talks with the Honing Empire. Now, even the Prime Minister is no longer opposed to seeking peace. I believe that through our joint efforts, we can avoid unnecessary sacrifices. The same goes for the Demon Realm; we would rather use diplomacy and negotiations to find a solution that benefits all parties."
Duke Moreti maintained a polite smile as he patiently and respectfully explained to Kaliyla.
The light was pale and weak, unable to penetrate the gloom above, merely outlining the silhouettes of the objects within the room.
"Duke Moreti," Kaliyla asked, "may I understand that the Perlant Empire has given up on resisting the Honing Empire and the Blood Clan?"
"Not exactly," the duke casually shrugged. "After all, we must retain our last resort for resistance instead of complete submission; otherwise, we would have no leverage in negotiations."
"Then why not try a joint resistance, which has a greater chance of success?"
"I don't think we stand a chance."
"..."
Kaliyla felt that talking to this man was like punching cotton; he wouldn't say anything useful but could easily brush off the demons' true intention to form an alliance against the Honing Empire.
According to Kaliyla's intelligence, the Perlant Empire's parliamentary side was still hesitant about the demons' proposed alliance.
After all, from the Perlantese perspective, the demons' change of attitude was too illogical, and any alliance with them would be a huge gamble.
The Demon Realm was far more powerful than the Perlant Empire.
Moreover, the demons had recently shown signs of seeking peace with the Blood Clan, and a Blood Clan envoy had even visited the Demon Realm, receiving a grand welcome.
There was a possibility that the demons were trying to help the Blood Clan test the Perlant Empire's reaction, aiming to strike a fatal blow and effortlessly annex the Perlant Empire from behind.
However, Duke Moreti's personal stance was clear; he was practically telling the demons not to disrupt the peace talks between the Perlant Empire and the Honing Empire.
As a conservative, he had his own judgment and interests to consider.
"Duke Moreti," Kaliyla took a deep breath and continued, "may I trouble you to contact Prime Minister Wilford? I would like to communicate with him briefly."
"I'm sorry, but the Prime Minister has his work, and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is my duty to handle these matters. I cannot burden the Prime Minister with everything," Duke Moreti regretfully shook his head.
"Then, can you please use communication magic to convey a message to Helsarem, letting them know that I wish to communicate briefly with the Prime Minister, and let him decide whether to speak with me?" Kaliyla took another step back.
"I'm sorry, but you can convey your message to me first. Do you have some secret plot that you must discuss privately with the Prime Minister?" The duke looked at her, smiling calmly and unhurriedly.
"Please convey your thoughts to me first, and I will pass them on to the Prime Minister," he said.
Kaliyla felt her blood pressure rising.
She exerted all her willpower to suppress her anger.
This Minister of Foreign Affairs had no intention of resisting; he only wanted peace with the Blood Clan. Although he didn't have the power to reject the decision to ally with the demons, Kaliyla believed that if she asked him to relay a message, by the time it reached Prime Minister Wilford, the meaning would be distorted.
Now she wanted to meet the Prime Minister, but this duke stood in her way.
The more sincerely she asked him, the more skillfully he evaded the request, toying with her.
Kaliyla now strongly suspected that Duke Moreti was colluding with the Blood Clan.
"Your Excellency Kaliyla, I understand your current enmity towards the Honing Empire and your firm resolve to resist them. However, in this long night, we must seek the light, no matter how faint it may seem."
He paused briefly, ensuring that his words gave everyone time to reflect.
"Our nation, our people, are faced with uncertainty and fear. We cannot lead them into a future filled with bloodshed and destruction. Yes, compromising with the evil forces of the Honing Empire may seem weak, but if it can save countless lives and allow our children to grow up without the shadow of war, isn't it worth exploring at least?"
Duke Moreti scanned the room, his gaze finally resting on Kaliyla. He opened his mouth, his voice steady and persuasive.
Kaliyla's expression was stiff with anger, but she was doing her best to restrain it.
"Don't you think you're being hypocritical?" Hyberrian couldn't hold back any longer and asked, unable to bear seeing Kaliyla endure the insults for the sake of diplomacy, especially since Kaliyla now reminded her of Tata. She had come to regard Kaliyla as a friend and couldn't stand to see her friend treated so unfairly.
Kaliyla looked at Hyberrian in surprise, and Hyberrian shook her head, signaling Kaliyla not to hold back and that they, as demons, shouldn't put up with this treatment.
"Oh? Does Her Highness think I'm not qualified to say such things? But you should know that right now, our choices are not just between war and peace, but between giving peace a chance, even if it seems out of reach. I'm not suggesting surrender, but advocating for wisdom and foresight—using negotiations as an extension of our strength, rather than seeing it as a weakness. That's something you demons probably don't understand, isn't it?" Duke Moreti looked at Hyberrian, unflinching in his question.
"Shut up, you worthless Minister of Foreign Affairs!"
Kaliyla could no longer contain her anger, and the look in her eyes no longer concealed the innate malevolence of the demon race.
She now understood that this noble lord was nothing but a waste of space, either stupid or malicious, occupying a position he didn't deserve.
The air in the reception room froze, the once calm and casual atmosphere turning tense and hostile, with the imperial guards on high alert.
"Oh dear, it seems the demons have no intention of continuing this negotiation. I suppose this meeting is unilaterally coming to an end?"
Duke Moreti maintained his polite demeanor, his eyes glinting with a smile that was hard to discern as genuine or mocking.
He was confident that the Fallen Lord wouldn't resort to violence, as doing so would completely ruin any chance of an alliance between the Perlant Empire and the Demon Realm.
And that would only fulfill half of the deal he had struck with the Blood Clan.
Although he didn't have the authority to seal the alliance, he had plenty of ways to prevent Kaliyla from meeting with Prime Minister Wilford.
Currently, that fool Wilford was still in Helsarem, kept in the dark by him, unaware of the demon envoy's true intentions.
Just the thought of it made Duke Moreti chuckle to himself, imagining the haughty ninth-rank arch-demon groveling before him.
"Duke Moreti, I will remember you," Kaliyla said in a low voice. "But I will find a way to contact the officials in your empire who have the backbone to ally with us. You can't stop those with integrity from joining forces with the Demon Realm."
"I look forward to it," Duke Moreti replied as he stood up, his smile a formulaic one.
It was as if he were telling her that there would be plenty more opportunities for him to irritate her.
Kaliyla let out a long sigh, feeling frustrated. If it weren't for her genuine intention to negotiate a peaceful alliance and the need to show the Perlant Empire their goodwill, she would have killed this duke a thousand times over, given her usual temperament.
But she had to endure for now.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached the conference room, and any guards attempting to stop them were immediately restrained by another group of people.
With the sound of the door opening, a commanding figure strode into the room.
His presence carried the weight of history, each step filled with decisiveness.
He didn't speak immediately, his gaze slowly sweeping the room until it settled on Duke Moreti, and then shifted to Kaliyla.
"Duke Moreti, why wasn't I informed about such an important diplomatic matter?"
He asked.
"..."
Duke Moreti's expression turned gloomy.
"Wilford, how did you find out?"
"That's not the point," Lanchi said, placing his hat on the table and leaning on his cane. "The point is, you must have gone to great lengths to keep me in the dark about the demon envoy's visit and its timing and location. You've worked hard indeed."
"Moreti, why aren't you staying to listen?" Lanchi asked with concern as the duke rose to leave the room.
"There's no need. Since the Prime Minister doesn't trust me, I have no reason to stay here." Without turning back, Moreti's voice was cold.
"I will resign." He added before disappearing into the dim corridor outside.
The resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs would trigger a no-confidence vote, leading to the impeachment of the Prime Minister.
Soon, the parliament's trust in the Prime Minister would plummet to rock bottom.
By then, even if Wilford wanted to act on his own, it would be futile!!!
The room fell silent for a long while.
Lanchi slowly walked over to the demons and took the seat that Duke Moreti had occupied, gesturing for all the other ministers and guards to leave the room.
Kaliyla stood there, still a little dazed.
She looked at this figure, realizing that at a time when the negotiation seemed to have failed and a long-term plan was needed, the Prime Minister of the Perlant Empire, Wilford, had taken the initiative to seek them out.
"My apologies, Mr. Wilford, for causing you trouble. But how did you find out about Moreti's arrangement?" Kaliyla couldn't contain her joy as she spoke, her tone conveying her favor towards the man before her.
"I know more than just the timing of this meeting. I also know that if the negotiation didn't go as planned, you intended to brainwash me and turn me into your slave." Lanchi leaned back in his chair, shaking his head wearily.
"....?"
The Fallen Lord was stunned for a moment, as if she had been petrified and was about to crack.
How do you know... about what I said to the Nameless Lord...
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.
Finally, on the verge of a mental breakdown, she thought of an explanation that she found unacceptable.
"You are...?" Kaliyla asked, her voice trembling as she pointed at the man before her.
Although his appearance had changed, the glint in his eyes was all too familiar.
Lanchi nodded, his affirmation speaking volumes.
"Ah..."
Kaliyla covered her face with her hands, recalling the words she had spoken to Lanchi earlier. Her mind was buzzing with embarrassment.
Although the meeting had barely started, it seemed to have ended just as quickly.
But the Fallen Lord felt like she wanted to flee the Perlant Empire immediately!
"..."
Lanchi looked at Kaliyla, unsure of how to comfort her.
He never expected a ninth-rank arch-demon to blush.
Fortunately, everything was going smoothly, and the negotiation with the Demon Realm was almost settled.
Once he stepped out of this room, he would pretend not to know the Fallen Lord, and he would reopen the live broadcast.
With that, everything would be in place.
Lanchi hadn't forgotten about the one waiting for him outside the shadow world.
"Dean Lorlen, I'm coming." He thought to himself.
Ten more days had passed, and Lorlen was unlikely to turn dark under the pressure.
In this darkest hour, it was time for Lanchi's counterstrike.
(End of Chapter)
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