"This is about ," he said, his tone serious. "I don’t want them to say my father accomplished nothing good. Here I am! I am the son of the forr king."
"What’s your plan now? I heard that the countries of Moonatoria and Dreamithrio are asking for help?" (Hmm, they’re in trouble, and they need us now? Convenient.)
"That’s what I was thinking. It’s a great benefit for our country to help them to strengthen our alliance, but just because they’re asking for help doesn’t an they can just take advantage of us easily." (They’ll have to earn our trust and our aid this ti.)
"I think you shouldn’t be so concerned about making the alliance a good one... back when your father was king, they were like leeches, clinging and sucking... but when your father died, they abandoned Englondraz as if they didn’t get any benefit from it." (I’m still bitter about how they left us.)
"The country was gradually sinking while no one ca to help us back then. What they did was like a slap in the face... That’s why your mother was forced to quickly enthrone you in the position your father left. You know how hard it was to run the palace back then... we failed many tis. But you proved to what a good leader you are." (I was so proud to see you rise from that adversity.)
"Grandfather, may I ask you sothing?" Chroffer said.
"What is it?"
"If you were to choose?" Chroffer began. "What weighs more for you: choosing the suffering kings or a happy and safe child?" (I wonder what he’ll say. It’s a heavy question.)
"Hmm... that seems like a riddle. Grandson, this isn’t an ordinary situation where you just choose based on what you prefer or what weighs more for you... Think carefully, a choppy water may seem dangerous, but calm water is more dangerous because you can’t asure its depth." (The answer isn’t so simple, Chroffer. You have to look deeper.)
"It’s sad to think that I don’t quite understand this riddle because I don’t have enough basis to do what is more appropriate," Chroffer replied. (He’s right. I’m lacking a key piece of information.)
"If that’s the case, then your decision earlier was correct, wasn’t it... You need the inscription to understand this." (It all connects to the inscription.)
"Grandfather, you know I’m counting on you because with your help, I was able to raise the country of Englondraz, but sothing is bothering , and he gave this riddle."
"What is it, grandson?" said the old man Ozerio. (What is it that’s bothering him so much?)
"I know this isn’t the right thing to say, but I think the Ti Entity spoke to ." (I still can’t believe it.)
"The Ti Entity!" The old man Ozerio replied in shock. (This is huge. This is more than a simple riddle.) "There’s a story about that, that’s right... according to a legend based on prophecy... There is a being whose power controls the flow of ti. He can play with all the events in a person’s life, repeating what happened without stopping. But the legend says that sotis the being chooses a person to serve as a history and future fixer for the people of the world, but the weakness of man is what weakens the force of ti. Grandson, that’s not a kind of challenge to asure your intelligence, but a prophecy that has been revealed to you," he continued. (This is a significant mont in history.) "If you’re sure about that being, you must find out what he wants to convey, especially since you are the one chosen for that challenge."
"Let talk to a person who lives in the country of Dreamithrio, and he happens to be visiting now and will introduce his new player."
"Are you referring to Mr. Genmonth, Grandfather?" (Genmonth? What does he have to do with this?)
"Yes, him—we’ve been friends for a long ti, and I heard he knows sothing about the inscriptions. He can help."
"A player?" Chroffer thought. "His son has been dead for a long ti. Does that an he found a new player as good as his son?" (Who could possibly be as talented as his late son?)
"I don’t know, grandson... But I know Genmonth’s taste, he doesn’t just choose soone who doesn’t et his standards."
"It’s better to have him fetched now." (The sooner, the better.)
A soldier arrived, and as Chroffer expected, he was accompanied by a person. "Your Majesty, the friend I was talking about is here."
"Honorable leaders, a respectful greeting from you." Chroffer saw that this was not a rich or influential person but a normal person whose livelihood was business. (An ordinary man? This is not what I expected.) "I am the friend of your soldier, Khanid. I am just a rchant there in the northern town of Englondraz. I am Derfu."
"A respectable profession you co from, what is your connection to the inscriptions?" Chroffer said.
"He knows about the inscriptions?" Chroffer’s grandfather was astonished. (This man? How could he have any connection?)
"Yes, that’s right." He replied firmly. "I know the person who bought the antique inscription, and I think my friend brought here for additional information." (My friend needs , and I can also make a good profit.)
"Tell , if that old inscription is really alive... I can’t believe it... isn’t it possible that the contents of the Inscription were secretly copied? To be used as a business." The old man said, who seed to have a secret about the inscription. (This is a dangerous ga. They shouldn’t be ssing with these.)
"After all the inscriptions about prophecies, legends, and visions were collected—the forr king imdiately burned them before the reign of Chroffer’s Father." The old man still rembered the whole event, so he was surprised that an inscription was appearing now, as he witnessed the inscriptions being burned back then. (I was there. I saw it all burn. How could one exist?)
"But Your Majesty, I was there when the inscription was opened, but I just couldn’t understand its every line. Only the wise can understand or give an interpretation."
"Let’s assu there is one... but it’s not the original." The old man replied. (It can’t be.) "I’m too old to be mistaken in my suspicion. So I know what I’m talking about."
"If that’s the case, tell now, where the inscription is, and I will buy it." Chroffer said. (I will do whatever it takes to get this.)
"What I know is that the person is in the country of Rhinoccarus. I was with him when he delivered that inscription to his ho. He’s a rich and influential person, I don’t know what drove him to buy that antique."
"A rich and influential person?" The old man said. (Just like the one I’m thinking of.)
"Do you know him, Grandfather?" Chroffer said with a sigh. Iniiwasan kasi ni Chroffer ang mga tao na kasing tulad ng kanyang ama na ginagamit ang kapangyarihan at yaman para sa impluwensya. (Here we go again. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.)
"No," said Ozerio, his gaze wandering with old age. "Just forget about it. I’m not sure either." His silence deepened as if he was rembering a nightmare. (I don’t want to bring up that horrible mory.)
Derfu’s eyes were like an arrow with a blurred mind, "What is the true value of that inscription, Your Majesty?" (He’s hiding sothing. What is the real value?)
The king leaned back in his soft chair and comfortably breathed freely. "I want to know sothing, and I think that’s the only way to resolve the thing that’s bothering my mind." (I need to know what the Ti Entity wants.)
Derfu’s face, looking up at the seated king, seed enlightened by a ray of light from the king’s response. "Is that so... I can help you talk to the owner of the inscription." The line of his smile grew longer, and he expected a good answer from the king. (This could be a big business opportunity for .)
The king felt relieved of the tightness in his chest from all the worries and responsibilities he had to prioritize. What Derfu said pleased the king, so he showed Derfu how generous he was. "Well, when you get on the owner’s good side, I will give you a reward, let’s just say a bonus for your business." (I’m willing to pay anything for this.)
"Oh, Your Majesty, your kindness is too much." Derfu said as if the heavens had thundered a golden blessing upon him. (This is even better than I thought!)
"I am serious about my words. Oh, alright, I’ll send people to accompany you, and when you successfully bring the inscription, I’ll even increase your paynt." Chroffer added. (This is a matter of utmost importance.)
"In that case, I can’t refuse this offer." Derfu said. His body was invigorated as if he was fed by the king’s promise. (I’m going to be a rich man!)
Agad na nag-utos si Chroffer ng mga kawal para sumama kay Derfu. At pagkatapos sinalubong noon dumating ang hari ng Dreamithrio. Para sa personal na pag-uusap tungkol sa negosasyon. Nagpatawag din ng pagtitipon ang hari sa mga lupon ng mga ambassador para sa pagsasaksi ng negosasyon nila. Mga importanteng tao sa Englondraz na nagbabahagi ng karampatang suhesyon at patnubay para sa mas hayag at malinaw na pagkakaintindihan.
The Negotiation
"Why are you treating like this?" His hot voice exploded as he began to speak, his eyebrows raised and his gaze like fire. He looked around the smooth, porcelain-like table surrounded by the ambassadors of Englondraz dressed in appropriate diplomatic attire. In front of him were the vibrant colors of their old age in their hair, but in the middle of it was the king with shiny hair as black as coal, with a baby-like face. The companion of the king of Englondraz was wrinkling from a long period of service. "Our countries used to be allies. If there’s anyone you should be stricter with, it’s not us." He was like a serpent spewing venom and striking with that last word. (Who does this young king think he is? We were friends with his father!)
"I’m sorry, king of Dreamithrio... Tis have changed, this is not the old Englondraz you know and can easily manipulate," said one of them. (We’re not going to be taken advantage of anymore.)
"You’re taking what happened back then too personally... you know that the king’s father was my friend, but it just so happened that we also had a deeper responsibility within our country, we couldn’t prioritize others at that ti." (It was just bad timing! Not our fault!)
"If you want our help, let’s follow this agreent," Chroffer said. (My terms are non-negotiable.)
"You have a lot of guts to propose such an agreent." Klopheous said and scowled, facing them. "Elanthro seems to be better than the training your soldiers are doing here?" (He’s insulting our soldiers! How dare he?)
"We don’t have a problem if you don’t agree with the agreent. But that doesn’t an their training is weak. And we don’t have ti to listen to useless things." (I’m not going to be provoked.)
"If only the forr king were still alive, we would probably be drinking coffee now. There wouldn’t be as much blathering as this non-diplomatic agreent." (Your father would have agreed with .)
"The crooked ways of the king back then... are being fixed now, so don’t think that this didn’t go through a ticulous study," said the highest-ranking leader of the ambassadors. (We’re doing things the right way now.)
"There’s no point in arguing with you. After all, money isn’t a problem for us; it just so happens that— you ruined my good relationship with you," said Klopheous. (This is all your fault, not mine!)
"You’ve also said that money isn’t a problem, so you’re making it seem like we’re just after money and not the policy reform?" (This isn’t about money.)
"We spent years studying this new agreent for a better and fairer one. Are you just going to say that you can buy it with money?" (He’s devaluing our efforts.)
"What’s the point of this anyway, isn’t it just about money?" (It’s all about the money.)
"When you pay the soldiers the right amount, it doesn’t an you no longer care about their lives. We’re lending lives, so we want lives in return. Just because you bought them doesn’t an you can just let them go into a war without certainty." Chroffer said. "I don’t want us to misunderstand the agreent now, that whatever happens to them, it’s your responsibility to support the families they leave behind. Let’s just say, it’s still your duty to support their families even after the war is over, for a whole year." (My people’s lives are priceless.)
"This agreent seems too complicated, I’m just buying the soldiers, not their whole families. What is this, am I buying the whole population of Englondraz?" Klopheous’s eyes narrowed in great dismay, and he winced at the confusing agreent. (This is completely outrageous.)
"There’s only one answer to that, do you agree or not?" Chroffer said. (There’s no middle ground here.)
"Wait a minute, you seem to be pressuring too much... I’m not the only one behind this... Let talk to king Harthur, the king of Moonatoria; I think the wind will change here." His feet suddenly landed, and he stretched from intense annoyance. His nose snorted in great dismay. (I’m not the only one you’re dealing with.)
"We are not swayed by the sparkle of your wealth or Moonatoria’s." Chroffer’s chest expanded, and he calmly expressed his feelings. "I know that Moonatoria will face Thallerion again. But what pushed you to ddle in soone else’s fight?" (I know why you’re here. Don’t play dumb.)
"Oh, now I understand why you’re treating like this, because you don’t understand the point of having an alliance." Klopheous said. (You’re too young to understand how this works.)
"And you also proved to how much you belittle just because I’m young and my experience in leadership isn’t enough, didn’t you?" Chroffer said. (I can read you like a book.)
"Anyway, this isn’t going anywhere good, we might as well et again in the next few days." (I’m done with this conversation.)
"Don’t take it the wrong way, but we have no intention of ruining your forr relationship with the forr king here, and as the son of the king, I just want to clarify to you that, what we’re doing is for internal security and a proper agreent." (This is for the good of my country, not a personal attack.)
"I’m not dumb enough not to understand that, I know about these things but it’s just disgusting to think that you’ve beco too personal in our negotiation." (He’s right, but I’m still angry about it.)
"In that case, king of Dreamithrio... We expect your proper response." said one of the ambassadors. He just stared blankly with his eyes and left with a sigh and an eye-roll. His soldiers followed him back to Dreamithrio. (I’ll show them.)
Chroffer and his grandfather t again, but the old man was accompanied by a guest he knew. He found out it was Mr. Genmonth, accompanied by a young man who looked to be his age. The man nad Lebriel was introduced to him.
Lebriel showed a gentle deanor, so he knew that Lebriel ca from a family of a low-class status. Sotis, Chroffer could easily identify people based on their manners of speech. (This guy is humble, but there’s sothing about him.)
"He is the one I told you I’m proud of." Said Genmonth, the full tone of his confidence in Lebriel’s talent was heard. He sat on a silver chair with a rich design. (Lebriel is my masterpiece.)
"This young man seems kind and trustworthy." The old man said as his eyes scrutinized him. Masyadong natahimik si Lebriel dahil sa ganda ng lugar na kaniyang nakikita, lalo’t siya’y hamak na katulong lamang. (He seems too quiet. Why is he so intimidated?)
"Don’t be shy, Lebriel." Genmonth said because he felt Lebriel’s silence was cold because the gap in his social status was too wide. "They are my friends, and the man in front of you, is none other than Chroffer, the king of Englondraz." Lebriel beca a little flustered when he heard about Chroffer, who was a king. (Just be yourself, Lebriel.)
"Good afternoon to you, Your Majesty, the king of Englondraz." He poured his full respect as much as he could in front of the king of Englondraz. "... and also to you, Sir." (Oh, my god, I’m talking to a king. What do I do?)
"You’re making too young, I’m an old man, boy, you can call old Ozerio." Said old Ozerio. (I want him to feel comfortable.)
"If you’re proud of Lebriel, I’m sure he has an extraordinary quality." Chroffer said. "What is his job?" (What makes this boy so special?)
"I am just a servant of Heshun and I take care of Mr. Aritheo’s horses." Said Lebriel. Ang kaamuhan ng kanyang tinig na nagpapakilala ng kanyang mababang loob ang nagpahanga sa matanda. (I’m just a simple guy. I don’t belong here.)
"A servant but he learned how to ride horses?" Said old Ozerio. "It’s hard to be poor, all things in the world beco..." (How did a boy from his background get such a skill?)
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