Published at 3rd of January 2021 05:09:10 PM
Chapter 111
Chapter 111: The Head of the Organization
「I was surprised to be honest . To the extent of losing my own voice . 」
During the starry night of the sky, Matia whispered in her office as she waited for the sun to open its eyes again . Rather than the usual documents, Matia looked at a map with the surrounding lands of Garoua Maria . She blinked her sleepy eyes .
The slight bitterness from the chewing tobacco, which spread in her office room, relieved her drowsiness . She didn’t speak well because of the remaining drowsiness consuming her eyes .
「I do not know what to think of this . I am still astounded . Perhaps, for you there is no concern since you always want step in the direction of danger . 」
What an abysmal way to describe me .
Despite all the wars, I did not remember wanting to fight it out . However, I did remember stepping on the soil of battlefields for my own selfish purposes .
「I don’t know what you mean . But I don’t feel like denying it either . 」
Why was she in the office so late at night? Because it was not easy to respond to this alliance’s attractive invitation . She did not find an answer to this sudden invitation, which looked too good to be true .
Matia sighed as she kept her eyes fixated on the map and parchment in front of her . Meanwhile, the pen continued to drown in ink .
How dexterous . Talk or do the work . What was she waiting for? Phew, I chewed the tobacco in my mouth and exhaled the bitter smoke that spread in her office . My lips were extremely cold and tough .
「Well, anyway…I thought you would always respond promptly to possible alliances . 」
Garoua Maria and Belfein’s alliance was not finalized yet . However, for me, the answer was rather obvious .
I would refuse this alliance, of course .
It was a trap, wasn’t it? I could feel it even if the document had the infamous magic seal . As an example, it would be suspicious for a person to bow to someone who still had nothing . Quite weird to step up when they had nothing to gain from this alliance .
To reach us out in order to form an alliance where it would put us with enough power was too surreal . Were they willing to be dominated by the Heraldic Order after all this time? They could be willing to do so if they had a great deal of belief or if they were the devil per se .
However, neither were the answers . It was obvious that the city-state of Belfein would not want to be dominated by anyone when they were a powerhouse themselves .
I moved my shoulders, as I stared at the ceiling . I blinked my eyelids constantly, because my eyes felt exhausted . Not only the eyes, but also my brain, which I overworked for the first time in a long time . I felt it so hot that it almost tore my skull .
I knew it . My persona was not suited for desk problems . I was not a book person myself .
Every time I learned a new piece of knowledge or something that came into thought, it would take my brain a long time to swallow it up . I had to chew it many times, season it, and throw it, so to speak . However, my head was not always that flexible .
The amount of information on documents and maps were too much for my brain to handle . However, the map that Matia held on her hands had crucial information about Garoua Maria and its surrounding lands .
As expected, Garoua Maria was only the central city around this area and a center for eastern and western supplies . The map showed several details of the roads to and from Garoua Maria . From small paths to large roads, and even the swells of the horizon .
Maps were normally created in the shape of a letter, but this map was rather detailed in size .
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Garoua Maria was the sacred place for the Heraldic religion . Naturally . This city was a place where culture and supplies gathered, meaning that it was a place where knowledge accumulated . Nevertheless, to make it work, one would probably need a brain like Matia or Filaret to operate it .
Matia closed the map at the table . Apparently, her decision was not going to last much longer .
Matia sharpened her lips while thinking about the whole situation .
「Oh my, is that what you think? Good to know . It seems that you finally understand the value of knowledge after you began to walk side by side with the teachings of the Heraldic Order . 」
I thought this Saint was heading toward the parchment in front of her, but no . Instead, she seemed to monitor my actions . What a disgusting person .
Sure, I asked her permission to read some books in her office in order to borrow some knowledge . Nevertheless, I still had qualities that never left me because of my upbringing . Was it really my duty to learn new things and change my whole foundation?
I once bowed to the Great Holy Religion, and I spent my childhood in the back streets . I never had the opportunity to learn new things . In fact, inferior ordinary people could not even access or touch books .
I could read and write because Mrs . Ninz taught me at the orphanage . Rather, I was the lucky one among those who had a lowly upbringing .
Regardless of that, I had to survive in the slums . I had to learn how to live in the slums so that I could eat . I learned where people hid their purse bags and who the careless people were among them . Well, that was a slightly different story for another time .
「No, that’s not what I think . In fact, learning is your duty, Lady Saint . I just need the bare minimum to have a general idea . Anyways, about Belfein . What is your reply?」
My cold lips hurt as I spoke, and I felt my voice stuck in my throat .
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I thought the Saint woman would be a little stuck in words when it came to answering to a sudden alliance proposal . However, Matia opened her mouth plainly, as if she ridiculed my shallowness .
「I don’t want to form an alliance . Isn’t their initiative a fake one? If possible, I would’ve killed the messenger right before he left . 」
Matia’s fingertips touched the pen before she wrote on the parchment . It had been like this since a while ago . However, her stance did not weaken at all, and she spoke with a resolute voice . It was as if she had decided about everything right from the beginning .
Matia stretched her eyes as she continued to speak .
「But as the head of the organization, I can’t do that . Besides, fake or not, there is presumably an alliance . But, it is best to consider them an enemy at the deepness of our stomachs . 」
Her words were undeniably true .
In particular, if the person who offered the alliance were repelled innocently, then the power of Garoua Maria would fall rather than the Heraldic religion . The status of Garoua Maria was at stake . Retaliating with violence would not be very wise . After all, there was no guarantee they were trying to backstab the Heraldic Order . Just assumptions, rumors, and nothing else .
That was why Matia was willing to accept the alliance, open her arms and grab it, and then cut the enemy at the bottom of their stomach .
Indeed, that would be quite reasonable . Of course, it would have been ideal to prove ourselves with our own strength instead of relaying in other powerhouses . It would be the greatest if we could show everyone that the Heraldic Order was strong, invisible monolithic force, with the strength to crush any opponents .
Unfortunately, that was not the case .
Some say that countless people in the Heraldic religion were obedient but had an antipathy toward Matia in their stomachs . Therefore, it was hard to say that our strength was perfect . That would make us hypocrites .
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That was why Matia decided to turn Belfein into an ally, and not into an enemy . Those with ambitions and those without could come together to create something new .
There was a sufficient difference in fighting power between Garoua Maria and Belfein . Going to war now would prove to be disastrous, since we lost many soldiers and resources in the previous two wars . So, having Belfein, the famous mercenary nation, as an ally would be quite advantageous .
After all, there was no choice but to make an enemy our ally . Of course, cutting off the enemy’s throat would be too dangerous, even if we thought of this alliance as a trap to lure the Heraldic Order to its downfall . Violence retaliation during peaceful negotiations would bring bad light to the internal organization of Garoua Maria, even if a single individual performed the act . Of course, everything came with its own risks . Stain the name of the Heraldic Order and the fall of Garoua Maria or accept the enemy’s trap .
「Listen, Lugis . Despite my thoughts, we mustn’t be transparent . We have to be careful with our actions . There is a large number of people in the Heraldic Order that still think that we should form a good and peaceful alliance with Belfein . 」
Not everyone could draw conclusions by calculation like Matia . Of course, some people thought of this alliance as a great opportunity .
I see . It was a problem when it came to make decisions that could change everyone’s minds . The alliance was one of those tough decisions to make . I knew it . Being the head of an organization was quite a hassle .
「I will be asking Ann to give us her opinion so that the organization would not fall apart . She is a very good coordinator, and she can perform her tasks without much complains . 」
Matia professed strange words as she wrote in a piece of the parchment .
Her intention was clear . Yet, it pierced my heart at the same time . Whether it was Filaret or Matia, both misunderstood me as someone with “indistinguishable hunger” .
Well, although she pierced my heart for not suggesting my name, I did understand her choice of words in the depths of my viscera . I was someone who prioritized my emotions . An organization had to be led by someone with a clear mind and not by someone who acted on emotions alone . I always kept getting myself into deep holes of hell . Despite disheartening me, I did understand her suggestion .
Well, yes, on the other hand, her choice was better and easier in a way . I breathed slowly, while taking the chewing tobacco away from my mouth .