After the chaotic dinner had passed, one unwelco guest had left, but three more remained.
It was a headache, but Elric had to resolve whatever was at hand.
“It was quite a spectacle. I didn’t know Valentina was such a delightful person,” Elric remarked late at night in the reception room, after sending Tyria back to her room.
Elbus, to whom he narrowed his eyes in visible annoyance, rely shrugged nonchalantly.
“Would I have co here if I had known? It’s all a remarkable coincidence.”
“That’s hardly sothing I want to hear.”
But that didn’t an he didn’t understand why they had co. As ntioned before, Elric was sensitive enough to the news of the west to sowhat anticipate their objectives.
“Your Highness, it’s been a long ti.”
Elric gave a small nod.
Only then did the third prince, Credon Mahir, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, remove his bowler hat.
Blond hair, red eyes.
The handso man with sleek features exhaled deeply before responding.
“It has been a long ti, Kasha.”
“You know that’s not my na anymore, don’t you?”
“What I need is that na.”
For Elric, this was the second eting since the imperial banquet years ago.
Years had passed, but that blunt personality seed unchanged.
“Can I take that man with first?”
Credon pointed at Edward, who was fidgeting with so snacks.
“Hm?”
After cocking his head, Elric eventually drew a sly smile.
“Are you going to make feel left out like this? I ca here with a purpose too.”
“Isn’t your business with Valentina?”
“Oh dear, sir. I already admitted my mistake, didn’t I?”
Edward raised his eyebrows as if unjustly accused.
Indeed, Edward had apologized as soon as Ygrett left. He had emphasized several tis that the whole incident was an accidental mistake and clarified that there was no malice intended.
But could that really make him look favorable?
Even if it was a mistake, it had led to an accident, and that couldn’t be denied.
Furthermore, the feelings towards him were already not very favorable.
“You should be thankful this happened within the manor walls.” Elric expressed his feelings succinctly.
At that, Edward’s face fell flat.
However, he didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving quietly.
“Ah… I have no allies here.”
“If you know that, perhaps it’s ti for you to leave.”
Edward pointed at Credon and Elbus.
“Let’s be frank. You ca here to recruit Elric, didn’t you?”
“I’m not foolish enough to discuss such matters with a military leader of a rival nation.”
“The answer is already clear, isn’t it?”
A sharp tension flowed between Credon and Edward.
Elric furrowed his brow.
“…If that was the case, a letter would have sufficed.”
He did not want his peace disturbed.
The thought of returning to the battlefield was also fading.
Yet here he was, drawn into inviting these people into his domain, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
What was all this fuss about, just to gain an advantage?
“Please leave. There’s nothing to discuss.”
As Elric was about to rise from his seat:
“What if we really need to discuss sothing important? It’s a crucial matter.”
“I agree. It’s a matter of life and death.”
Credon and Edward were in agreent.
At this point, Elric couldn’t help but be curious.
‘Is there sothing happening on the battlefield that I’m unaware of?’
No, if there truly was sothing he didn’t know, it would likely be related to the empire.
Edward’s goal was probably to protect Zerdia, the major shareholder, and maintain a state of stalemate on the battlefield.
Having spent a long ti on the battlefield, Elric knew.
The absence of information was as frightening as anything else.
It was necessary to listen.
His decision was made.
“…Let’s hear what the prince has to say.”
“And ?”
“You may leave. I’m not inclined to hear your business.”
“What?”
Panic blood on Edward’s face.
He scratched his head and sighed deeply, then leaned forward.
“I’m not here to be as direct as him. I also have no intention of holding anyone on the battlefield.”
His imdiate response was an offer, in other words, a proposal for a deal.
Edward’s proposal was simple yet profound: “Just swing your sword once on the battlefield, wherever it may be—you know where. If you do this for us, we’ll make sure you’re well compensated. If you wish, we can take asures to ensure you’re never involved in battlefield matters again. I’ve said it before, haven’t I? I oppose the idea of you returning to the battlefield.”
It was essentially a plea to save Zerdia.
The conditions attached were indeed tempting to Elric, especially since they implied protection against incidents like today’s, under his own na.
After the troubles he had already faced, it was natural for him to hesitate.
Edward, sensing this, deepened his smile and looked over confidently at the imperial side.
However, his smile was short-lived.
“Ha…!”
Elbus, who had been quietly listening until now, chuckled.
His smile was tinged with his characteristic slyness.
‘What could possibly be so amusing?’
Just as Elric began to wonder, Elbus spoke up.
“Look here, friend.”
“None of the rewards you’ve offered actually benefit him in any real way, do they?”
A look of confusion spread across Elric’s face.
Edward’s forehead creased with tension.
Amidst this, Elbus remained nonchalant.
“Look here, Goldsmith.”
“What is it?”
“Hmm, how should I put this?”
Tap, tap.
Elbus tapped his cheek with his index finger, then flashed a sly smile.
“You’ll have to deliver on what you’ve promised, whether Elric steps onto the battlefield or not.”
“What?”
“That friend of yours is your shareholder.”
“What are you talking about…”
Edward’s expression went blank.
A passing thought struck him.
‘Wait a minute.’
The relaxed deanor of Elbus.
Kasha’s seemingly clueless face.
The ntion of a shareholder.
And the silent 6% stake in EW known as KS.
As soon as the puzzle pieces clicked into place regarding KS, Edward’s mind raced.
“Kasha. Kasha. KS?” The conjecture completed itself in a mont.
“What are you talking about?”
“I told you. I invested the money you entrusted to .”
Elbus gestured towards Edward with a nod.
“It’s in there.”
Suspicion turned into certainty.
Edward acted swiftly. He slid off the sofa and gracefully knelt on the floor, embodying the picture of deference.
His posture could have been taken straight from a textbook.
“So you were here?”
Edward looked up at Elric with a desperate gaze, like a puppy that had found its lost owner.
“Shareholder…?”
To Edward, ‘shareholder’ and ‘lord’ were synonymous.
Whining faintly, Edward’s eyes sparkled with earnestness.
Recruitnt and agendas aside, his primary concern now was to make a good impression on his shareholder.
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