Hero without Blood or Tear - Chapter 72

Chapter 54.  What is Diplomatic Rhetoric. (1)

The preparation for the trip to Vienne has started.  I only needed Philly, but it was a different story for Kalione.

She was a true princess who was born into the highest royal bloodline of the demon race.  She certainly required the appropriate level of dignity and accompanying delegation.  We did not have any human resources, so Roelin hurriedly dispatched the needed resources.

“Here are the servant girls and body guards, horse handler, cook, magician, physician, dog handler, cavalry and troops, 512 people all together.”

I shook my head widely as Krulark, the hobgoblin vampire, reported.

“The princess’ travel is surely extravagant.  Make sure there are no setbacks.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I opened up the status window after delegating all the details to Krulark.  We must leave for the empire’s capitol city.  I wanted to double check to make sure that there aren’t any issues as it would require a half day for getting ready.

Suddenly, one curious topic came up.  What was my current achievement score?  I have completely forgotten about it for a while that I thought it would be a good opportunity to look into it once.

The fact that the achievement score notification was deactivated was the reason that the score hasn’t been popping up.

Ting!

I was pleasantly surprised after having entered the achievement score section.

“Ah…..”

It has gone up so much during the time that I haven’t been looking.

It was 45,122,120 points.

Even I, who was ranked the 1^st in the world, was surprised.  The great war hasn’t even started, yet.  And still this much!  I could not close my mouth from being surprised, and I opened the detail page to check.

* Kalione, the daughter of Keyumarus, has been made a servant.  1,150,000 achievement points.

*Defeated the demon king Odgarsh, the 3^rd in the line of power, prior to the great war.   1,050,000 achievement points.

*Received help from the one who was crouching near the grave.  3,500,000 achievement points.

*Discovered the way to win Walpurgis’ heart for the first time.  100,000 achievement points.

Besides those, a whole bunch of achievements were crowdedly listed.

The total score was 45,122,120 points.

My all time high score was 545,620,000 when I had played as the hero of the humanity.  However, at this pace, I thought that even 1,000,000,000 points was possible.

On top of that, not just a hero, but I have also obtained the position of the hero without blood and tear.  I had a hope that I might be able to clear it this time around.

*****

We left after four days.  Having descended the mountain, we went through Bels, Lintz, and arrived at Vienne after ten days.  All the people’s interest was on the itinerary of this beautiful princess, whose fame has gone through the roof.

“I can’t understand why they all want to get a peek at me.  My lord.”

However, she did not appear to mind all the attention.

“It’s expected.  The curiosity would follow since the pitiful story invokes sympathy, and that you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire empire.  Wow!  Even though you’re one of my underlings, your beauty certainly striking!  Slightly lowered head imitates a lily, and laughing quietly is reminiscent of a tulip.”

“….It won’t work, no matter how much you beguile me.”

There was a reason for me, talking this way.  I intended to hold a parade before the people of Vienne once we get there.  Especially, an open horse carriage was already prepared, so that Kalione’s beauty could be shown to the whole world.

“Now, come on, go and ride that horse carriage.  Your face is like a strategic weapon.  Must use it.”

“Is this part of the diplomacy that my lord has been talking about?”

“Certainly.”

I promised Kalione that I would show her the basics of diplomacy in Vienne.  Perhaps, that was why she didn’t appear to be too happy when she nodded.

“If you say so, I will obey, for now.”

“Great.  Now, try to put on a marketing smile.”

Kalione was displeased when I pulled up the ends of her lips with my fingers in order to put a smile on her.

“Eeeewk!  I’m not the kind of woman who sells booze at the bars!”

“They are both same thing when it comes to service business.  Come on, put on a smile.”

After a little bit of struggle, I finally had her put on an optimal smile.

“I don’t like it one bit, but since we started, I’ll do my best.  My lord.  But, do remember.”

“What?”

“I do not do such things even if someone was to offer me 1,000,000 Florins.  I only do it because you want me to do this.”

“I know that.  You are truly a loyal servant.”

After everything was settled, we entered Vienne.  Then people came out in droves, and formed a cloud like crowd to see us.  The parade of about 500 was enough to incite their attention.

Especially, the view of Kalione, who gracefully sat in the horse carriage, and waving her hand to the crowd was the main feature.  She surely appeared to be a princess in a painting.

“Wowww!”

“It’s the princess!”

People yelled from everywhere.  The servants who were escorting the horse carriage sprinkled silver coins around the vicinity.  Riding Philly, I led the march from the front.  People focused on me, wearing a cool looking black armor and long cape.

“Who is that noble looking man?”

“Could that be the Duke Valer who was said to have defeated the demon king!”

“If so, he certainly looks dignified, fitting the fame!”

There came praises from everywhere.  The welcoming was more than he had imagined.  With that, I finally thought I had earned the favor of the locals, and demonstrated my being to the capitol’s powerhouses, which had been my goals all along.

There were people that I had to face before I meet the emperor.  The mayor of the great capitol city, the prime minister of the empire, and the head of the parliament of the empire were the three.  As the true influential ones, they impacted the emperor’s decisions in the biggest way.

Perhaps, the people who came from the Rajter knight family also went and met the three in order.  As soon as the parade ended, I called the spy king Kubalt.

-You have information that I want.

-Just say it.  Selling such things is what I do.

-I need the information on the people who were dispatched from the Rajter Knight family.  And I want to learn their activities.

-Um… 3,000 Florins should do.

It was so great to be able to talk to the spy king Kubalt, directly like this.  I, soon, listened to the information on the people sent by the Rajter knight family.

-The name is Gerberhart.

-The brother of the head of the family?

-Oh?  You knew it?

While working in the past scenarios, I had a few run-ins with the Rajter Knight family.

What could I say… They were a strict warrior family, perhaps.  They were knight only in the name, as the family were more like mercenaries who lived off of the money they earned by selling goods and land which they attained during the wars to other aristocrats.

The family was lined with strong knights, and their ability to put together troops was tremendous that they had the experience of declaring feuds and winning against many strong cities.

-Gerberhart is the right hand of the family.

-That’s right.  The head of the family recognized this mission to be a critical one, and has sent the most trusted person.

-Thank you for the important information.

-Their daily activities that you want will be reported by my men every day.  By the way!  I have special information.

-What is it?

-Gerberhart was said to have brought an incredible young swordsman with him, this time.  According to the swordsman himself, he calls himself the last master of the great swordsman, but whether that is true or not, his skill is truly amazing.  I heard that he is, even right at this moment, annihilating many guilds of swordsman in the capitol city.

The last master of the great swordsman?  Most likely a protector.

-Thank you for the information.  Your Highness.

However, the first priority was the war of diplomacy.

The next day, a report came immediately, saying that Gerberhart was meeting the mayor of the capitol city today.  So, I put in a message saying that I’d like to meet the mayor as well.  Then a reply came back two days later.

“Here, follow me.  I will teach you how the diplomatic rhetoric, unlike in ordinary conversations, should be used to determine the outcome.”

Because of her stand out beauty, she used magic to turn herself into a boy.  She looked like a seed of a knight.

The house of the mayor of the capitol was truly a display of the ultimate ostentatiousness, itself.

“Welcome.  Duke Valer.  Your distinguished military service is well known even here.”

“Thank you, mayor, for your kindness.”

“Here, take a seat.”

I explained to him about what I came prepared with in advance.  It was on the subject of moving the embargo from Reselant to Altfelberk.  However, his response wasn’t too receptive.  On this, Kalione asked using her magic.

-My lord’s opinion is really logical, but then why is he responding that way?

-Listen carefully.  In diplomacy, transactional element may need to be applied in order to trigger negotiations.  That is, a payment may need to be made.

-I see.  Diplomacy in humans does not work with only logic.

-Did you not see the gold that was painted all over the place, on the way here?

While he was speaking internally like that, he was continually carrying on the conversation with the mayor of the capitol city.

“Mayor.  I’ve heard that a knight by the name of Gerberhart paid you a visit a couple of days ago?”

“Hum!  How did you know.  You have a good information channel.”

“I beg your pardon, but could I learn how the conversation went?”

The mayor did not seem to be too bothered by my directed question.

“We exchanged our honest opinions.  Currently many things are being examined.”

To that, Kalione expressed a concern.

-Are we too late already since they have discussed honestly?

-You’ve a lot to learn.  Did I not tell you already that diplomatic rhetoric is different from ordinary conversation?

-Then what does he mean?  My lord.

-The mere exchanging of honest opinion implies that they did not enter into a negotiation, yet.  And the fact that they are examining means you bastards, too, have an opportunity to offer money as you see fit.

-What?  How do you come up with that from that?

I already told you to just listen.

“Gosh, that is weird.  Gerberhart knight must have made thoughtful gestures, I would think?”

In response to my question, the mayor nonchalantly said while stroking his beard.

“Well, if the conditions are right, the things could fit well, also.”

Kalione, once again, asked a question.

-My lord, now, what does that mean?

-Since the conditions are not right, he was not ready to accept their request for a favor.  This is a green light for us.

-Aaaa… This is still very difficult for me.  However, I’ll see if I can get it right, next time.

-Try harder.

I expressed my regret towards him.  Then burying himself into his chair, he replied.

“Still, we’ve reached certain agreements.  I told knight Gerberhart that I would look over.”

Kalione interjected once again.

-My lord!  I think I understand it, now.

-I will wait for your answer.

-Having reached a certain level of agreement means, he has accepted some amount of money.

-Right!

-And to have it examined means, he will think about it some more and will go with the team that offers him more money.

-Excellent!

I praised my student who was learning quickly, and I handed the item that I came prepared with to the mayor.

“Mayor.  I have always respected you for all your concerns on behalf of the well being of the empire.  This is a small gift which I have prepared for you.  I’d be grateful if you’d accept it.”

“Well, this is not necessary.  This is not appropriate.  Take it back.”

“Haha.  Aren’t people the same everywhere.  As I prepared it in my appreciation, please do open it and see.”

As I spoke while keeping my smile, the mayor, who was like a toad, spoke without able to hide the ends of his lips rising.

“Is that so?  Well, I suppose I could just open it.”

Although he was speaking that way, he couldn’t take his eyes off of the heavy box that I brought with me.  And when the box was opened, he couldn’t hide a satisfying smile, such that everyone could easily see.

“Mayor.  It is 20,000 Florins.  Please do use it for the empire.”

The mayor had a completely satisfied expression.

“Hmm!  If you leave it, I will use it for the empire.  And I see that your opinion is rather logical.”

“Thank you.  Mayor.”

After taking a deep bow, I talked to Kalione by magic as walked out.

-What does his last saying mean?

-If you leave it, I will use it for myself.  And that you have brought a lot more money than those Rajter panhandling bastards.

Kalione, you are my proud apprentice.

-By the way, my lord.  Tossing golden coins make things much easier?

-That’s how life works.

-For some reason, I feel like everything has no meaning.  However, there are things that cannot be bought by gold coins, too?

-My princess is speaking such naïve things.  It is not that gold coins don’t work, rather it is that there is not enough of it, that’s all.

-Aha!

Exclaiming, Kalione said that she would surely keep that in mind.  That was how the princess, who was as pure as snow, was becoming stained with my materialistic attitude.