The Northern Territory Dukedom, a neighboring northern country of the New Moon Kingdom, had transford from a tribal alliance to a nascent nation under the feudal serfdom system just a few decades ago, all thanks to a monarch of great talent and strategy.
For centuries, the people of the Northern Territory were equated with pirates, bandits, and barbarians in the eyes of those from the New Moon Kingdom, the Falling Star Kingdom, and the West Yonette Empire, and they were synonymous with savagery and backwardness.
Even now, the situation had not changed much, even though the Northern Territory Dukedom had already civilized. It still did not fit well with many of the countries in the southern part of the continent, not just because of the technological gap, but also due to significant geopolitical and cultural conflicts.
The human world always had a hierarchy of disdain, as people were accustod to dividing into "us" and "them" and then deriving a sense of superiority from this identity.
Nobles despised commoners, city dwellers looked down upon country folk, and just as people of the Yonette nations looked down upon those from Star Moon, the Star Moon people scorned those from the Northern Territory...
The war in the Northern Land had just ended, when the Northern Territory Dukedom sent an Envoy Group to visit—a quite sensitive timing indeed, considering that, at this very mont, though Castel had beco independent from Bold, it hadn’t yet sworn allegiance to the New Moon Royal Family.
Legally and nominally, Castel was already a direct vassal of the New Moon Kingdom, but without the swearing of fealty, the relationship remained ambiguous.
Especially since, historically, there were not a few instances where nobles of border territories won independence wars and then turned to join neighboring countries.
In the Feudal Era, as they say, legal norms were one thing, reality another.
With weak royal authority, the autonomy of noble lords was quite considerable; for those strong lords, their territories could almost seem like countries within the country.
Of course, Northern Territory Dukedom’s sending of an Envoy Group at this ti was not aid at rallying Charlotte.
More precisely, they ca to negotiate, just like the Violet Duchy.
Charlotte wasn’t too surprised by this.
She still held thousands of Isaac Cavalry rcenaries from the Northern Territory in her hands, and for the North, this was no small number, especially considering that it included several Northern Territory nobles.
Adventurousness was in the nature of the Northern people, whether turning to piracy or becoming rcenaries.
Even though the country had long been feudalized, many from the Northern Territory, including nurous nobles, still tirelessly sought adventures.
The fact that the Legris Family could gather so many Northern rcenaries during the rebellion was for this reason.
And this ti, the Northern Territory had sent the Envoy Group precisely for these captives.
"Kind, wise, wealthy, and beautiful Master of the Northern Land, Lord of Castel, special envoy of the Northern Territory Dukedom, Hamid Kasimir Nowak extends his lofty greetings to you."
"I’m sorry that so of our compatriots caused you so trouble during the Castel war..."
Inside the Count Mansion, with his thick beard, and though now clad in a noble robe resembling those of the Yonette nations, the overall rough style of the envoy from Northern Territory Duke was apparent as he perford an extrely standard Yonette noble gesture before Charlotte.
On the throne of the lordship, Charlotte slightly nodded as she watched these tall and strong representatives from the Northern Territory:
"Welco, Mr. Hamid Kasimir Nowak. I understand your purpose here. Regarding the Northern Territory prisoners, Castel has no intention of detaining them..."
"However, prisoners are still prisoners, and your support for the rebels also caused significant damage to Castel."
"If you wish to ransom those nobles and warriors, you must offer a satisfactory price."
The envoy from the Northern Territory beca even more reverent:
"Of course, Lord, we are willing to pay a redemption price in Demon Beast materials that are higher than the standard riya ransom rates to retrieve our reckless compatriots..."
Hearing the words of the Northern Territory envoy, Charlotte felt a stirring inside.
The Northern Territory Dukedom was sparsely populated with many bitterly cold regions adorned with vast forests.
Although as a nation the Northern Territory Dukedom wasn’t wealthy, the vast forests offered an abundance of Demon Beast resources.
If it wasn’t for the distance being too far from the center of riya civilization and the environnt too harsh, the Northern forests could qualify as the fourth paradise for freelance rcenaries.
Regarding the terms given by the Northern Territory Dukedom, Charlotte was honestly satisfied, as Castel didn’t lack mundane money, but rather transcendental materials.
However...
"Mr. Hamid, if you wish to redeem those Isaac Cavalry, rely these terms won’t suffice."
Charlotte gently shook her head, and said.
The envoy from the Northern Territory imdiately frowned, his heavy northern accent evident as he spoke in the common language of the main roads:
"Lord, I wonder... what are you dissatisfied with?"
"Compensation."
Charlotte paused, then said:
"What you’ve proposed covers only the ransom, but doesn’t include compensation for the damages caused by the Isaac Cavalry’s involvent in the war on the lands of the North."
Hearing Charlotte’s words, the envoy from the Northern Territory fell into thought.
He and his comrades from the Northern Territory whispered to each other for a mont, then saluted again and said:
"I understand, Lord. Then, if, on top of this ransom, we add an additional twenty percent of mineral resources as compensation...?"
Charlotte shook her head:
"Castel does not lack minerals; your compensation will need to co from making concessions elsewhere."
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