Hansa City, Governor’s Mansion, Banquet Hall.
The welcoming banquet was held with grandeur.
Attending the banquet were the main officials of the Governor’s Territory, senior officers of the Fourth Fleet and officers of the newly ford garrison troops in the Governor’s Territory, along with distinguished guests from various fields.
Most of these guests were elites from the business community.
Although the last Hunting Operation targeted only the Samaritan rchants, making rchants from other countries cheer, it left them deeply anxious in its aftermath.
This ti, it was the Samaritan rchants, who will it be next? In these tis, how many can withstand strict scrutiny when doing business to earn money?
Indeed, there are honest rchants, but most have been outcompeted and gone bankrupt.
The rchants present generally make money based on their abilities, but there’s always so unsavory elent involved.
They are truly afraid of being cleared out, but considering the terrifying naval power of the Fourth Fleet, they dare not flee, enduring great tornt during this period.
This invitation to the welcoming banquet organized by Empress Sylph slightly eased the anxious rchants.
They eagerly wanted to know the Empress’s attitude towards rchants.
Are they to be raised like pigs for slaughter, or would it be a mutual benefit, or a one-sided exploitation?
The rchants’ demands are not high; they are here to make money. As long as they aren’t deprived of both their money and their lives, anything is negotiable.
The banquet was lavish, and the musical and dance performances were impressive, with Count Sif even taking the stage to present a lodious song to everyone.
Listening to the song, so rchants started to discern the underlying ssage.
This song is a folk tune from the distant East, telling the story of a law-abiding rchant and forty thieves.
The song is humorous and witty, with the story concluding with the demise of the thieves in a cave.
The Sassanid rchants, familiar with this story, smiled knowingly.
Count Sif, representing the Empress, was signaling that as long as they roughly comply with the laws and refrain from misconduct, Hansa offers plenty of opportunities for profit.
Sassanid rchants, whose footprints span the globe, are not as famous or as wealthy as the Samaritan rchants primarily because they adhere to taboos.
Their business philosophy contrasts distinctly with that of the Samaritans, as they prefer to establish good relations with trading partners and always leave room for profit so that everyone gains.
If the Empress keeps her word, this would be their version of things.
The Talia rchants also understood the ssage.
They were slightly disappointed but not entirely so.
If illegal profit can be made, Talia rchants would not adhere to the law. Their disregard for the law can rival that of the Samaritans.
However, their business philosophy is flexible and they adapt to local customs.
If their trade partners are in a country with strict laws, they will be more law-abiding than anyone. If their trade partners are in a lawlessly chaotic zone, they will be more uninhibited than anyone.
In Empress Sylph’s Territory, of course, they must conduct business lawfully.
Although this might impact their profits, making less money is better than making none at all.
Exchanging glances, the Talia rchants decided that Hansa could beco a trade partner and including Hansa in their trade routes was at least worth trying.
Most rchants resolved to increase their investnt in the Hansa Region.
They might not fully trust Roland, but since this is the Empress’s promise, it is worth trusting.
Understanding the ssage conveyed by Sif made the banquet much more pleasant.
The rchant representatives joyously toasted the Governor and Count.
The Empress sat high above, her face stern and silent, and they dared not act presumptuously.
Representatives from countries big and small, including the Jin Yuan Kingdom, Weimar Federation, Prudon Kingdom, and Oden Kingdom, also attended the banquet.
Hansa is not the Empire’s capital, so there are no embassies, but as it is where the Empress’s Palace is located, there are consulates. These consular representatives extended the best wishes of their governnts to Empress Sylph, congratulating her on rectifying the business environnt and cracking down on illegal rchants.
Although they congratulated her, so did so sincerely, while others did so with a sarcastic tone.
With an expressionless face, the Magic Mirror playing Sylph responded politely. The real Sif, playing Count, sitting beside her, listened with so discomfort.
This is understandable; you can’t expect everyone to be your friend unless you’re gold.
The Mirror Empress raised her wine glass to accept the toast from the Jin Yuan Kingdom representative, rely wetting her lips without taking a sip.
She didn’t even want to give polite acknowledgnt to "blessings" filled with ill intentions.
As Sif sat with a stern face, the Oden Kingdom’s consul, Glen Shire, stood up, holding his wine glass, and approached Empress Sylph.
Roland and Sif exchanged a glance—a significant event was approaching.
Just before the banquet began, they had received intelligence from Alina, revealing that the Oden Kingdom Army’s surprise attack on Oro Town failed, and in their embarrassnt, their organized assault failed again, forcing them to await reinforcents from the artillery units.
The advance of the Oden Kingdom was swift, with the artillery arriving two days later. However, before they could bombard Oro Town, Jes’ light cavalry arrived.
Cavalry against artillery resulted in a massacre.
Jes’ cavalry bypassed the infantry formations and charged directly at the artillery in the rear, killing hundreds and destroying over seventy cannons by throwing bombs, completely shattering the Oden Kingdom’s offensive.
After the great victory at Oro Town, Roland decisively ordered a nightti evacuation.
Defending the border can only repel the enemy but cannot annihilate them.
It’s better to cut off one finger than to injure all of them; only through extermination battles can the enemy be truly hurt.
Roland let the enemies co in, frustrated their montum, and then surrounded and exterminated them.
This way, he could eliminate the most enemies with the least cost and complete his logging task.
He was sowhat curious about what the representative of the Oden Kingdom intended to say. Could it be a declaration of war?
Under his watchful gaze, the representative of the Oden Kingdom toasted to Mirror Empress Sylph, and then took out a sealed letter.
"This is a personal letter from His Majesty Sven for you."
Roland and Sif were both a bit surprised.
The war had already begun, what use was a personal letter now? Did Sven the Seventh think he had the upper hand and wanted to take the opportunity to extort?
He couldn’t be that foolish.
Sylph opened the personal letter, quickly skimd through it, and was stunned for a full five seconds. She asked incredulously:
"Mr. Glen Shire, does your king an for to marry him and then rge our two countries?"
"Yes."
"What if I disagree?"
The Magic Mirror’s tone was icy, but her expression towards Sif showed a hint of pleasure, completely ignoring how displeased Sif’s face looked.
"Then it would be an offense to our country, which ans war."
This arrogant statent was akin to Yelang declaring war on the Great Han and left Roland stunned on the spot.
A king seeking marriage with a foreign empress was quite normal; it was impolite but at least legitimate diplomacy.
Launching a war after a failed proposal, while disgraceful-sounding, has happened nurous tis in history and is reluctantly considered normal.
But from where did the Oden Kingdom have the confidence to wage war against the Sussex Empire?
This arrogant behavior from Oden was truly absurd.
Roland did not rage; instead, he furrowed his brows with caution. This was too abnormal, there was likely a conspiracy behind it.
While he was pondering, Sif was not pleased.
Under the table, she pinched Roland’s hand ferociously, almost tearing off a piece of flesh.
She was indeed very angry; how could Roland not lose his temper over such a disgraceful act?
Sif’s anger awakened Roland.
Whatever conspiracy might be there, this impertinent person had to pay the price now, imdiately!
He turned his hand over and held Sif’s hand, writing two words.
Refuse, kill.
Sif showed a satisfied smile; this was what her Guardian Knight was supposed to say.
She imdiately passed on the command to the Magic Mirror.
Sylph snorted coldly and said icily: "Both my body and soul belong to Sussex, including my marriage. The savages from the wilderness think they can reach higher, they are delusional."
The Empress’s refusal, which was totally out of character for her usually elegant and icy image, nevertheless thrilled the Sussex people present.
Where did these country bumpkins think they could lay a finger on the Empire’s White Rose?
Her Majesty the Empress’s aning was clear, she would only marry a Sussex person.
Well, they also had...
Well, they had no chance at all. Her Majesty the Empress already had Governor Roland.
Damned, then let them bless the couple instead.
While the emotions of the young Sussex people were on a roller coaster, Oden’s envoy Glen Shire replied calmly:
"In that case, I, on behalf of His Majesty the King, declare war on your nation. The reasons for the declaration of war are the insulting rejection of marriage alliance and the naval battle of one hundred and fifty-three years ago."
The Mirror Empress cast her gaze towards Sif and slowly asked:
"Count, how should we deal with enemies?"
"Kill!"
After asking and answering herself, Sif grabbed the first segnt of a three-part Long Spear from beneath the table and threw it out.
"Pfft!"
The spear point pierced through Glen Shire’s chest, killing the unlucky fool on the spot.
Sif walked to the center of the hall, pulled out the spear tip, took out a piece of letter paper, and dipped it in Glen Shire’s blood, writing a flamboyant line.
"Crown Prince and Acting Emperor Sylph Sussex York, ready for battle."
She grabbed the letter paper and flung it towards Glen Shire’s deputy, calmly saying:
"Get lost!"
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