Ishura - Volume 7 - Chapter 14

Chapte 14- Premonition

The Aureatia branch of Okafu’s Dignitary Parlor. A reception room that Hiroto the Paradox installed in an upper-class residential area.

However, today was one time when it was difficult to label Hiroto the Paradox as the master of the parlor—as long as it bore the name of the Okafu Dignitary Parlor, then the true lord of Okafu himself needed to always be on the side receiving guests.

“Bestowing special second-class citizenship to all the goblins residing in Aureatia, and an exception from residency taxes, carrying into the future.”

The mustached man with a brawny, bestial physique flipped through the missive dispatched from Aureatia.

He was the self-proclaimed demon king who commanded the Free City of Okafu, Morio the Sentinel. Visiting Aureatia that day in response to a request for a meeting with the Aureatia Assembly, he was consulting with Hiroto, whom he hadn’t seen since the start of the Sixways Exhibition.

“Since this is a first-time privilege for any of the monstrous races, any other goblins seeking Aureatian citizenship will have to undergo a screening process. The various economic sanctions against the Free City of Okafu will be lifted, and Hiroto the Paradox will be allowed to stay and be treated as a high-level secretary… The Free City of Okafu will be officially brought under the Kingdom’s umbrella… What? I don’t like that part one bit.”

Morio arced his eyebrows.

The stamped missive, outlining the details of the settlement on a bunch of high-quality colored paper, carried the same effect here in this world because it lacked a clear common language, like the official proclamations of the Beyond.

“But this isn’t so bad for you, is it? The arrangements in your original plan were that the goblins would gain slave-class status. Hiroto the Paradox, why get upset about second-class citizenship?”

A gray-haired young boy, looking in his late teens, sat across from Morio. The gap in appearance between them was even grander than a normal adult and child, yet in a certain way, they were exactly the same—the two were both visitors arriving from the Beyond.

“Second-class citizenship means the privilege ends after one generation. In order to establish more goblins on this continent than there currently are…going forward, they will need to undergo Aureatia’s screening process to earn citizenship, even if they are born here. That is most likely what the Aureatia Assembly is aiming for.”

“…I get it. A generation for goblins is short. So to Aureatia, exempting them from residency taxes won’t be costly. Once they consent to this agreement, fighting back against the screening process and making more goblins flow in would be labeled an act of aggression.

“Second-class citizenship exempting them from work service will shackle us in terms of our goals. I had imagined that by having goblins settle into a slave class within this society, they could use their hard work to show how beneficial they are, gradually permeating minian society… In the end, now that we have been defeated in the Sixways Exhibition, we don’t have the power to force through only our demands.”

“So then, the other side made this move understanding all of that. Getting interesting now, isn’t it? Well, when I think of who’s sharp enough for this, it’s gotta be Jelky the Swift Ink…”

Morio laughed in delight.

The strong and powerful in Aureatia didn’t begin and end with the one who previously engaged him in a life-or-death struggle, Sabfom the White Weave.

“Mr. Morio Ariyama. Is the Okafu army still maintaining their fighting strength?”

“They absolutely aren’t maintaining it, but they still can fight, at least. Basically, like its heart gave out a long time ago, and your money’s the blood transfusions it needs to keep it alive. Won’t hold out for long.”

Zigita Zogi had been defeated and left behind. Hiroto the Paradox had been politically defeated as well.

The lifting of Morio’s designation as a self-proclaimed demon king in essence meant that, to Aureatia, Morio and the Free City of Okafu could no longer pose any threat.

No matter how many losses the Aureatia army incurred in Alus the Star Runner’s attack, if the two nations were to clash, it would likely be a one-sided loss for Okafu. The outflow of both capital and personnel as a result of suspending mercenary work in exchange for Sixways Exhibition participation had been far too great.

“You’re not gonna start talking about kicking up a war in a situation like this, right? I get that Zigita Zogi got killed, but…I’m sure as hell not going along with your self-destruction.”

Given that Zigita Zogi’s sponsor, Dant the Heath Furrow, wasn’t in the room, Morio had misgivings about the chances of such a proposal. Hiroto might kick up a large-scale uprising that included not only Okafu, but even middle-class citizens he had built connections with in Aureatia, and end up ruining all the results they had gained.

In such a case, what was the correct course of action? At the very least, he’d need to take Hiroto’s head right now and bring it to his negotiations with the Aureatia Assembly afterward.

It ran counter to Morio’s sense of justice to involve not warriors, but civilians.

Not that I really want to do it, though, he thought as he focused on the position of the knife he wore behind his back.

Regardless of how it had all played out, Morio had also gambled on Hiroto by his own judgment. It didn’t make sense that he should cut Hiroto down and be the only one to survive.

Hiroto began to speak. “I won’t deploy the army yet. However, the time when it will become necessary is certain to arrive soon.”

“…The enemy isn’t Aureatia, is it?”

“That’s right.”

Hiroto the Paradox had been defeated. His whole camp was encircled, and with all his power sealed away—he was a helpless child.

However, this man would always make you believe he had something up his sleeve.

“Zigita Zogi bequeathed to me a specific piece of speculation. Now, with the tenth match upcoming, there is bound to be a large upset of the powers here in Aureatia, even more so than with Alus the Star Runner’s attack. I’m not going to have your troops fight to overthrow Aureatia… You’re going to fight to protect it.”

Morio curled up the edge of his lips.

He had joined up with Hiroto the Paradox in order to get the battlefield that he, and all the Okafu mercenaries, wanted.

If Hiroto was going to offer that to them, then Morio welcomed it with open arms.

“Mr. Morio Ariyama. I drew you in as an ally precisely for a day like this.”

“All right, then. Give me all the details.”