The signing process was brief.
Kenji sat at the table, watching his old friend seated before him pick up the pen and sign the docunt laid out. Though the paper was thin, each stroke of the pen seed to carry the weight of mountains.
This was her first ti truly wielding power for her country since birth. Yet this singular experience could hardly be called glorious.
Thinking this, she wearily glanced at Kenji.
Kenji's face remained expressionless, as if her pain went completely unnoticed in his eyes.
After finishing, she set down the pen. An attendant swiftly gathered up the armistice agreent.
And so, the conflict between the Sal Kingdom and Calot Empire essentially ca to an end.
But Kenji could hardly feel pleased. Although his efforts these past days had pressured the other side into accepting many conditions in the treaty, to him, the money mattered far less than handling internal affairs.
This ti, Calot had dealt a deadly blow to the northern Sal Kingdom, but their true aim wasn't really to gain material benefits. While Calot had expenses everywhere and their treasury's stores of grain and wealth were steadily decreasing, the Sal Kingdom's reparations and funds were only a modest sum. Moreover, a significant portion would have to go toward repairing Hanyin City's defenses and compensating the families of fallen soldiers and civilians who died in the conflict.
If anything truly mattered to Kenji, it was the treaty forcing the Sal Kingdom to cede territory. This treaty essentially opened relations with the Sorechin tribe for Calot. Faced with this sudden territorial acquisition, the Sorechin tribal envoys to Calot were overjoyed. Almost imdiately upon hearing the news, they visited Kenji personally and promised to report this back ho and persuade their Great Chief to follow Calot's lead from now on.
If this succeeded, it would make further weakening the Sal Kingdom even easier.
Calot needed stable borders - not necessarily annexing their neighbors, just maintaining stability was enough. And for stability, they couldn't let the Sal Kingdom grow too powerful.
But even such a leap forward remained lowest priority for Kenji. His greatest concern now was dostic matters.
With the treaty's signing, so voices opposing Pluvia had quieted down. After all, this was the first war since the new emperor's ascension - though to Kenji and others it barely qualified as a conflict.
This war had significantly boosted Pluvia's prestige. And this ti, Kenji planned to take advantage of Pluvia's high standing to properly clean house within Calot.
...............
The signing ceremony concluded.
A grand banquet would be held in the palace at noon. Her Majesty the Emperor would personally attend to bless the friendship and peace between the two nations. But before that, Kenji had one matter to handle.
He sat formally in his chair, looking at the badly beaten man before him.
Honestly, his subordinates had clearly been too heavy-handed. The new recruits didn't know restraint, reducing a dignified central official to such a sorry state...
"Didn't I say to invite Mr. Luin? Who told you to beat him?" Kenji frowned at the subordinate waiting to be praised.
The man froze, then smiled awkwardly. "Ah ha, Lord Marshal, you know how it is - this guy's stubborn. No matter what we said he wouldn't co with us. We had no choice but to rough him up a bit to bring him back."
"This beating will make it hard for to explain to Her Majesty," Kenji said with a headache. "Fine, at least you completed the mission one way or another. Step up training in the future - never disobey orders like this again."
"Yes sir."
The man left, but Kenji was just getting started with his work.
"Mr. Luin, it's been a while. I rember when I was inspecting the north before, you personally briefed on the northern border situation," Kenji maintained a normal expression as he offered the battered Luin tea. "You have deep insight into northern border issues. Calot's easy victory over the Sal people owes considerably to your contributions."
He fixed his gaze on him: "But I don't understand - as a central official, how could you do sothing so foolish?"
Mr. Luin – Shenya Luin - remained silent.
He only glared fiercely at Kenji, as if staring at a mortal enemy. This man was truly a veteran official of the empire, serving as a governor since the previous emperor's ti before being directly transferred to the capital to oversee other officials. Though not especially high-ranking, he qualified as a central figure.
Honestly, when first learning that Shenya had secret contact with Uheya, Kenji even doubted if he had the wrong person. This Mr. Luin had hardly any black marks against him - the possibility that such a person could commit treason made Kenji question reality.
But the facts were clear - this man had gone to et with Uheya at her residence. Though what they discussed remained unknown, risking such contact at this critical mont was almost certainly suspicious.
After gathering evidence from various sources, Kenji decided to make an example of Shenya first.
The reasoning was simple - the man had almost no partisan backing, making him easier to deal with, plus it would serve as a warning to others.
If Calot's dostic troubles were rely people who opposed Pluvia ascending the throne, Kenji might not have moved so quickly. But these people were betraying their country. Calot could not tolerate such individuals.
"Pah, you dog! You've never loosened your grip on power, and now you dare accuse ?!" Shenya's expression was hideous. He wasn't truly seeking death, so his outburst carried a note of bravado.
"We're discussing your treasonous collusion with foreign powers," Kenji continued.
Goddammit, why does everyone keep saying I'm controlling the governnt? Laughable - if I really controlled things, would I let you all run your mouths like this?
"Tell , how did you communicate with the Sal people? Who was your interdiary?"
Silence.
Kenji knew he'd hit a wall. No matter what he asked, this guy maintained his contemptuous attitude. But Kenji couldn't exactly use so grand mory restoration technique on him.
No choice but to try another approach.
Might as well let Lina interrogate him - she's more professional at this.
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