The free city 'Demidera' was not involved with any country, and literally it was a 'free neutral city.' The other three big countries also admitted the necessity of Demidera, so the city had existed as a neutral city for hundreds of years.
"Come this way."
The 'Mayor' of Demidera, Engolo, lead the embassy of Greenriver himself. The great merchants were the nobles of the free city, and they voted for the Mayor every 6 years, and Engolo was elected as the 19th Mayor.
(ED Note: wtf are these names, McGedie, Engolo… sounds like gigolo??)
"What about the other embassies?"
"We lead them to each guest mansion."
Demidera remained neutral with the support of the three countries. Of course, they had luxurious guest mansions for each country. It was superior to most of the giant luxurious mansion in the continent, 20 percent of the city's budget was used for maintaining such guest mansions.
"You may use this guest mansion. And for His Highness the Crown Prince, please use that special mansion over there. It's only for the most precious guest."
(ED Note: rip forgot if it was highness for prince and majesty for emperor… Is that right?)
Indeed, there was the biggest and the most luxurious mansion, inside of the other mansions. The Crown Prince looked at the mansion.
"Hmm. Not bad, indeed."
As satisfied, the Crown Prince nodded.
He would stay there for a week, and it was quite an outstanding mansion.
"Hey, Tower Lord. Are there any other schedules for a while?"
The Crown Prince asked the Tower Lord.
His unique arrogance had come back.
"Until the council, we don't have any specific schedules."
"Hmm, is that so?"
While touching his chin, he smiled. There were many days still left until the council. He was looking forward to enjoying all the entertainment of the free city.
"Good. Everyone take a rest. Ian, you come with me. Come on."
After that, the Crown Prince headed to the inner side of the great mansion, followed by Ian, Oliver, the 2nd royal knights and servants.
"Tower Lord."
After a while, the 5th prince Ragnar called the Tower Lord.
His voice was in a little bit of a hurry, and a very tiny expression that most people wouldn't recognize.
"Yes, your Highness."
Ragnar went into the guest mansion.
The Tower Lord followed him quietly.
They needed a place for their secret conversation.
"I won't blame you for this."
That was Ragnar's first word after arriving in the room.
'This' meant Ian's unexpected interruption.
"But, the mage who sticks next to my brother,"
Ragnar also had been looking forward to this council.
It was his political debut stage. While the idiot Crown Prince was wasting this precious chance, he planned to become a hero of this council. However, an unexpected interruption had just appeared at the last moment.
"He keeps making me uncomfortable. This time again, I feel something bad about him."
"I understand."
The Tower Lord agreed.
He also felt uncomfortable about Ian, especially today.
"However, do not worry too much. Ian Page has great magical talent indeed, but we are dealing with diplomacy here."
Ian was only 17 years old. He was not royalty, nor a noble. Although he showed many unexpected achievements, but diplomacy was out of his profession. Where he could learn the art of diplomacy?
"There are very little things that he could do with magic. He wouldn't have a chance to speak. Even if he has a chance, he will have nothing to tell. What can that little boy think of?"
Archmages invited to the council were just decoration, a decoration to show off each country's magical power. Only the Tower Lord might have a chance to speak.
"All processes and results of diplomacy is decided by only speeches and plans. Your highness, you will be the hero of this council as you have prepared."
The Tower Lord also felt uncomfortable and anger in his mind, but they had planned this for many years. The empire of the Ivory Tower, its key was the 5th prince. The Tower Lord tried not to sway the 5th prince's mind.
"Sigh, I see. I see, but still his existence makes me feel uncomfortable. As soon as possible, deal with him, please."
During past the 5 years, Ragnar's hatred towards Ian had grown like a snowball. He tried many things to persuade Ian, but every time he failed. Most of time, he didn't even have a chance to say hello to Ian.
'You dare ignore me?'
Ragnar's surface characteristic was artificially made by himself. Talented, but gentle and kind, a prince who planned to be a great Emperor. Until he had social power, he decided to live like that. However, the bastard ,Ian, drew out his true characteristics for the first time.
"Eliminate him, by any means of necessary,"
"Do not worry about him as well."
The Tower Lord had prepared many things since 5 years ago, to obtain the dangerous weapon called Ian Page. From dark magic, incantation of shamans, to various voodoos from far away continents.
"Soon, it will be done as you wish."
"That's good to hear."
While the Tower Lord and 5th prince were having a secret conversation, Ian went into the great mansion with the Crown Prince. It was nothing inferior to the mansion Ian received from the Emperor.
"Let's see. As I know, Demidera's night street festivals are quite fascinating, it must be so fun. Haha!"
The Crown Prince's mind was already full of playing. He had no single awareness of responsibility of the council. If the Emperor saw him, it would make him sigh, and Ian and Oliver felt same.
'No way.'
It would be Ragnar's debut stage, and the start of the Crown Prince's fall. Although it was a few years earlier than his former life, its essence was the same.
'Dividing the army power of the conquest, and perfectly dividing territory and aboriginal slaves.'
Ragnar created many benefits for the Greenriver Empire through this council in his former life. In addition, he solved this tricky problem of dividing territory. It must be similar to his former life.
'Only if I let him do so.'
Of course, Ian wouldn't let him do that. He would do his best to prevent Ragnar from receiving any credit. To do that,
'I need that idiot.'
Although it had been 5 years, the Crown Prince was still an idiot. However, he was the only chess piece that Ian had. Although he wasn't a good chess piece, Ian had no choice. The Crown Prince had an authority to speak first among this embassy.
"Sigh….."
After sighing, Ian approached the Crown Prince.