138. A request from the council
The Council is a collusion of the countries that surround the Great Jura Forest.
If one had to describe it, the congressmen met first to control profit, and second to manage operations of their countries.
There’s also the need to balance the trade of country specialties, but because speculations and policies of individual countries often get lumped in, these discussions are often difficult.
Issuing subjugation requests to the Freedom Association to mitigate future harm is also the job of the council.
Along with this financial burden is the opportunity to increase the number of one’s congressmen. In other words, gain more say in the council. For example, a large country would need to pay three times as much, but sends three times as many congressmen.
As one’s voice in the council increases, so does the opportunity to get preferential treatment. Thus, even though one would profit from the meeting itself, there is profit to be made there.
There is also a minimum membership fee, failing to meet which results in expulsion.
Membership fees are expensive, and the largest Farmas Kingdom was recently destroyed.
And now terrible news have reached the council.
There’s movement in the Eastern Empire!
This was enough to throw the council into full-blown panic.
The council, currently amidst secession and confusion, was faced with a danger capable of eliminating every country.
The one who summarized the situation was the Ingrasia Kingdom’s congressman.
To the royalty and legislator of each nation this was a self-evident truth.
3 years ago, smart countries had already begun preparations in response to the Eastern Empire’s movement. However, matching the Empire’s military might with their own did not go well.
Therefore, the main agenda of the day was the formation of an alliance against the Empire.
That day’s agenda was looking rough.
Amongst them was the chairman of the Freedom Arbitration Committee was Hinata Sakaguchi.
While a large country can sustain a standby army, a small country cannot afford to do so in times of peace.
Thus, some of them suggested that every nation should send a portion of their fighting power to form a private army under the direct control of the council
「In other words, aside from the parliament guards, the council should also have an army!
Now that the Freedom Association is no more, it should be possible to hire adventurers as soldiers through the Freedom Arbitration Committee, what do you think? 」
This proposition was also the main topic of today’s conversation.
Donations and support has been given to the church, from the Council’s funds.
ED Note: You sure it’s not just the monsters and the church in cahoots?
Thus the congressman demanded people to patrol and a permanent standing army.
Hinata looked at the congressman in amazement, and sighed.
「So, you’re saying that the Adventurers affiliated with the Freedom Arbitration Committee, will be forced under the control of the council? 」
Hiding her tired expression, Hinata asked the congressman.
Previously, the council would determine payment based on the rank of the monster the adventurer would face. The Freedom Arbitration Associaion, on the other hand, subjugates monsters as part of their faith, and require no other reward.
The Freedom Association was an association that had no ties to any country. Therefore, by paying a certain amount of tax, the association had gained the right to settle in a country.
When natural disasters such as monster outbreaks occur, a mobilization order per the agreement with the country would be issued, and they would cooperate with forced affiliated with the country.
However, wars are not natural disasters. There’s no reason for adventurers to join a country in a way.
Sure, directors may have changed and several adjustments were implemented, nut there’s fundamentally no change from the Freedom Association era. Or rather, by being incorporated with the church, the organization’s strength has increased and now rivals that of a nation.
The congressman’s remark of giving the council direct control over adventurers was absolutely absurd.
However, the circumstances have changed.
Hinata was aware of this.
Thus, she decided to assess the attitude of the other party without flat out denying them.
As if facing a roaring waterfall, Hinata watched a portion of the legislators nod vigorously, and
「Precisely. As Legislator Giaban mentioned, it is natural for us to unite and face an unprecedented danger. We presume the association agrees? 」
It’s natural for fellow humans to cooperate. Wouldn’t you agree? 」
And so on.
Not everyone was included, however there were no objections from the rest of the legislators. Besides, having trouble with commandeering at times of war was a problem many countries shared.
But it all proceeded brilliantly within Hinata’s expectations, and in lieu with the evidence.
Now then, what to do? Hinata thought. Or rather, the answer’s a given.
Accept, or reject.
Sure the point is to protect each other, but this is nonetheless a relation of give and take. The Association isn’t so weak that they must follow.
Moreover, the association is indispensable to the council—they prevent illegal activities and suppress criminals.
However, if this ends with a rejection, then the relation between the Association and the council will turn bitter.
I refuse! I want to say, but they won’t take this lying down.
Being callously commanded around is repugnant, and yet it’s hard to reject this. What a pain.
This will likely be seen as the Association’s fall from grace. No doubt within a year, the Association will be forced to lick the Council’s feet.
Sure it’s hard, but the Association must refuse.
And Thus, Hinata made a suggestion.
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
I’ve been given a VIP treatment, they’re prepared a hotel of the highest class. Right now, I wander in the castle town.
Shion is busy training the subordinates, and Gerudo has taken command of various constructions.
Well, they’ll come immediately if I call them, and it’s not like there’s work for them to do here, so I let them do as they please.
And that’s why the four of us travelled to the Ingrasia Kingdom.
We’ve look around at various shops, and Shuna was especially interested in window-shopping the latest clothes and decoration.
Souei has been lurking about, giving me reports from the shadows.
Gobuta has been called to train with Karion, and he suddenly broke into tears, saying he was going to be killed. With a “it can’t be helped”-kind-of-feel, Ranga joined him, but his tail was clear: Ranga too was depressed…
And all’s swell when they are doing well.
Shuna’s holding on to the clothing I bought her happily, and is rather talkative. It’s fun to see such a difference, compared to the sad-excuse-for-a-secretary Shion.
Honestly, I actually don’t give a damn about the council. I came out here with Shuna and Benimaru today to give them a well deserved break.
And that’s why we’re giddily discussing tomorrow’s agenda.
「So, Souei. What’s the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting?」
Souei then let us know.
Doesn’t Souei like to work hard!
And by now everyone knows that I rely on Souei for info gathering.
「Well, we’ve already got the gist of it. We relied on records of country strengths and our own hypotheses…」
We’ve been treated as a national guest, but they probably want something.
Since we would need to lay rails… it would be impossible even if they asked 」
The only ones we’re obligated to help is the Burmund Kingdom?」
「Ah, the empire. There’s that too. It’s about time huh」
Benimaru and I talked about important matters casually.
But thanks to a barrier we’ve erected earlier, no one can hear us anyways.
「What Benimaru said is correct.
The main matter will be on Eastern Empire’s invasion, and possibility of Tempest’s support.」
「Ay. Actually, from the information we grasped, the Empire’s forces are a big deal.
It would be a different story if we forcefully mobilize every race of the Great Jura Forest, though」
I mean, they have prepared for war for many hundreds of years.
Worst case scenario, we might even be asking countries here to cooperate」
And so the conversation between Benimaru and I continued.
That’s because I hoped to conceal our fighting potentials like Sion and Diablo, who are currently enthusiastically strengthening themselves.
Moreover, even if the countries never requested our support, I can’t really imagine a case where we did not join in the conflict.
「I see, there’s probably no problem right?
The council reflects the noble’s opinions, while the association defends the interest of the commoners……
「Huh? They want to use us?」
In other words……」
「This sure leaves a bad taste……
Well, the other party doesn’t seem to have any intention of taking advantage of us but it’s still hard to stomach. 」
We both nodded and concluded the conversation.
Cake.
While a sweet taste can still be prepared to some degree, sugar is still a valuable commodity.
Ah, this nostalgic taste.
The real reason I brought Shuna here today is for the cake.
This way Shuna will remember the taste of the cake and reproduce it. My memory wasn’t enough to recreate the taste, so I had to bring her here.
「Shuna, this is seriously delicious
During your stay here, feel free to eat as much as you want. So, remember the taste to the best of your ability」
Shuna, who was puzzled by my words, tried the cake.
Shuna took a bite out of the cake.
Soon, words were no longer needed. We understood each other on a deeper level. And if she could even replicate ice cream, cake would definitely be a piece of cake.
And so we, completely discarded our earlier discussion and indulged in delicious cake.
The next day, we arrived at the venue of the meeting.
As per Souei’s intelligence, the council’s objective was to utilize our forces in the name of cooperation.
And so began the clash of wits between the raccoon and the fox.