Chapter 118: Fist Diplomacy (Part 1)

  Tatalia is located on the northwestern edge of the Barbarian Highlands. It is the only nation on the continent whose territory borders the Barbarian Highlands. A small part of its land lies within the highlands, while from east to west, it forms the slope descending from the highlands towards the great western plains. The westernmost extension of the Sanderfirth Mountains protrudes into this country, leaving behind vast areas of hills and swampland. Seemingly tainted by the aura of the Highlands and the Sanderfirth Mountains, the vast majority of its land is barren and desolate. This forms a stark contrast with the fertile and prosperous Erathian plains to the south. Only after the establishment of Oufu, a purely commercial hub, did this nation see some economic improvement due to its proximity.

  Erathia and other nations with long histories and deep cultural heritage had always shown little interest in this region. Instead, several indigenous tribes scattered here, after long periods of struggle, alliance, and dispersion, evolved from a tribal alliance into the Kingdom of Tatalia, distinct from other cultural forms. Within this kingdom also resides a tribe of lizardmen, making Tatalia the only nation on the continent besides Oufu that recognizes sub-humans.

  The Tatalian royal lineage has now passed through eleven generations. A year ago, the old King Talos X suddenly passed away before he could leave a final testament. Although the old king had always been diligent and vigorous in producing heirs, whether by fate or human agency, among his fifty-eight descendants, only two were sons. Thus, the two princes, backed respectively by the five major tribes, began a struggle for the right of succession. After more than half a year of overt and covert conflict, the elder prince, Brown, finally achieved victory with the support of three major tribes, becoming the eleventh king of Tatalia.

  This eldest son, born of the principal queen, naturally grew up doted upon. Furthermore, he was handsome, eight feet tall, and imposing, far more pleasing to the king than the younger prince, Taze, who was ugly and comical in appearance. So, from childhood, he took it for granted considered himself the future master of Tatalia and consequently immersed himself in sensual pleasures. Among his many strange and numerous hobbies was a passion for raising swamp lizards. It was said one of his greatest joys was watching his beloved pets slowly devour slave girls.

  The primary reason for Prince Brown's victory in the political struggle was simple, summed up in four words: mediocre and incompetent. This was Sedros's conclusion after reviewing the gathered intelligence.

  Although the three tribes supporting him were indeed stronger than the two supporting the younger prince, the truly decisive factor was one person: Tatalia's Shadow Sage, Nimbus.

  Tatalia, whose culture and magic were as primitive and barren as its land, was able to maintain its dignity and status before other nations precisely because it possessed this enigmatic mage, Nimbus. Legend said he once fought three advanced formally trained mages alone, simultaneously defeating each with magic from their respective schools of expertise. He had also caused a Cardinal of the Church to concede defeat in a scholarly debate on magic. He once used a world-shaking great spell to kill over a thousand members of a rebelling clan, causing the remaining routed soldiers to collapse instantly, their morale shattered. In Tatalia, he was almost synonymous with a god of magic walking the mortal world.

  Many years ago, the old king found himself in a desperate situation during a hunting trip. Fortunately, this sage happened to be passing by and intervened in time, turning peril into safety. The king had long admired the fame of the Shadow Sage, and coupled with the debt of saving his life, he immediately invited Nimbus to take the position of Royal Preceptor of Tatalia. Unfortunately, this sage had a strange personality, lived in seclusion, loved to travel afar, and cared nothing for mundane affairs like politics, calmly refusing the offer. Only at the old king's earnest request did he command his sole disciple, Roscoe, to take the post of Court Mage.

  For some unknown reason, this usually reclusive and taciturn sage expressed appreciation and concern for the elder prince. After his disciple, Roscoe, became Court Mage, he also became inseparable friends with Prince Brown. With Roscoe's strategizing and the Shadow Sage's influence behind him, Prince Brown was able to defeat his younger brother almost effortlessly, without shedding blood. After ascending the throne, he immediately appointed the Court Mage as Chancellor. In today's Tatalia, the Shadow Sage Nimbus holds a status in people's hearts almost equal to that of a deity.

  But recently, this great sage has also seemed a bit strange. Already rarely seen, he has now been completely without trace or news for the past few months. It seems even his disciple, the Chancellor Roscoe, does not know his whereabouts.

  Gru strode down the red carpet, lowering his head to read the document in his hand as he walked. This document had been delivered to him the moment he arrived in Tatalia. The parchment was densely packed with small script, describing as detailedly as possible the current general situation in Tatalia, all important figures, and their positions, status, personalities, and so on. The portion describing the Shadow Sage, a man who had never expressed any political stance and rarely even appeared in public, occupied a considerable part. This alone showed the importance the compiler placed on this sage.

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  Of course, this description, which must have cost immense effort and shrewd judgment, was now, in Gru's view, superfluous. But he was still satisfied. The person who had covert reconnaissance and compiled this intelligence in Tatalia did not belong to Oufu's highest leadership and naturally wouldn't know the true identity of the Grand Sage of Shadows or the real reason for his recent disappearance. To be able to analyze and identify these intricacies and key points through one's own judgment demonstrated a mind and discernment of the highest caliber. More importantly, he included not a single comment, inference, or guess in the intelligence he compiled; he merely described. He clearly described what he considered important, without forgetting his responsibility.

  Talent. A rare smile touched Gru's lips. Then, the proof of this talent was folded shut in his hand. With a light rub, it silently crumbled into fine, wool-like fragments that scattered onto the carpet with his steps.

  Before the great hall's doors, four guards and a herald watched him nervously. The herald offered him an awkward smile, about to speak and announce him. But Gru didn't even glance at him. With a push of his hands, the heavy doors swung violently open, crashing against the walls on either side with a deafening roar that echoed through the hall. Yet the sound of his seemingly not-so-loud footsteps was not drowned out by the noise; it reached every ear with perfect clarity. Each step fell with the same rhythm, each heavy and immense, as if he brought a thousand troops and horses with him, planting each step squarely on everyone's heart.

  From a distance, the man seemed small, yet the vast hall felt completely filled by him alone. Filled by his walking posture, the expression on his face, the sound of his footsteps, filled by this combined aura. Everyone felt a sense of suffocation.

  "Has Master Sage not returned yet?" King Brown subconsciously turned his head away, not wanting to look at the man, and asked Roscoe beside him.

  "Master Sage's whereabouts have always been unpredictable. Perhaps he has gone wandering again," the Court Mage and Chancellor replied slowly. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Once he learns of the current situation on the continent, Master Sage will surely deduce the variables facing the kingdom and will definitely rush back."

  "If only Master Sage could return now," King Brown said, his plump face, showing signs of gaining weight, twitched slightly. He didn't know why he suddenly had this thought. Although he was the king, the nominal master of Tatalia, in his heart, it was the Shadow Sage who gave him a sense of security, who was his master. Even just calling him 'Master' along with his disciple felt like an unparalleled honor.

  If Master were here, what would this fellow be? King Brown thought to himself. He was too distracted to notice the pet at his feet. The two swamp lizards, usually utterly obedient to his commands, had swiftly slunk away the moment this man stepped into the hall.

  Gru walked up to the conference table. He didn't speak, only sweeping his expressionless eyes over everyone present. Those dark pupils seemed like two bottomless abysses. Everyone who met his gaze felt the illusion that they might be sucked in and crushed at any moment. No one even cared whether such an action was proper etiquette before a king.

  Roscoe coughed. He felt strangely that everyone had merely been waiting for this man to attend the meeting, yet for some reason, the moment he appeared, he had completely overwhelmed everyone's spirit. It was as if he had become the master here, while the others had become the uninvited guests awaiting his judgment. The king remained completely silent, so Roscoe had no choice but to cough twice to break the atmosphere. "General Gru. His Majesty and the four tribal leaders are all present. Now that you have arrived, could you please tell us what this extremely important matter Oufu mentioned is?"

  The king finally snapped out of it and quickly nodded, saying, "Ah, yes. General Gru, please have a seat. The letter from Lord Sedros was written with utmost sincerity and urgency, stating there is a matter of extreme emergency concerning the survival of Tatalia, and insisting that I and all the tribal leaders must discuss it with you, General Gru. What exactly is this matter?"

  Gru didn't answer directly. Instead, looking coldly at King Brown, he asked, "I wonder where Prince Taze and the Chieftain of the Lizardfolk are?"

  King Brown replied, "Oh, I have already sent them to lead troops to the northeastern border."

  "I wonder what Your Majesty sent them to do?" Gru's gaze fixed squarely on King Brown's eyes.

  "I sent them to attack several beast dens there, to expand our nation's territory in the northeast," King Brown answered. Under that dark gaze, he seemed incapable of thought, mechanically and honestly answering question after question.

  "I hear there are quite a few Mud Fiends there, and also a Cyclops's lair. Your nation has always striven to defend against the harassment of such monsters. Why suddenly send Prince Taze with only the Lizardfolk's limited forces to attack there?"

  "Uh... that's because... because..." King Brown began to stammer.

  "That is because Your Majesty has now ascended the throne. Tatalia is peaceful and prosperous, a time ripe for military expansion abroad," the Court Mage and Chancellor quickly interjected, answering for the king. "The northeastern border is rich in mineral deposits. Expanding the territory and securing the border will greatly benefit the nation. Prince Taze has always been an able commander, and the Lizardfolk are fierce warriors. Naturally, they were sent to serve the nation."

  Gru's gaze shifted to Roscoe's face, his expression and tone still coldly indifferent. "I hear Your Majesty also had Prince Taze and the Lizardfolk Chieftain sign a military pledge. If they fail to eradicate the monster colonies there, they will face military justice. Is that so?"

  "Yes. If they cannot achieve merit, it not only wastes the nation's manpower and resources but also damages morale and the people's trust. What use are such people?" Roscoe unconsciously stood up as he answered, feeling as if this posture could help him avoid appearing insignificant and powerless under that gaze. His tone also became as sharp as possible. "General Gru, these are our nation's internal affairs. There's no need for Oufu to worry about them. Judging by recent events, you should be too busy with your own problems to spare attention for others. Please, let's get to the point. What have you come to discuss? To apologize and explain the atrocities committed by your people within our borders recently? We are all waiting for Oufu's explanation."

  "Actually, I didn't come here to discuss anything. I came to help you decide on one matter." Gru's gaze swept over everyone's faces again, finally landing on King Brown's. He said flatly, "Abdicate. Give the throne of Tatalia to your younger brother, Prince Taze."

  The great hall fell instantly silent. Everyone was stunned. Their minds couldn't process this sentence. Even if the old king had crawled out of his grave, such words couldn't have been spoken so casually. Yet this outsider's tone was utterly flat, more casual and natural than telling someone to "change your clothes" or "change your shoes."