As soon as Celeste finished speaking, Berichi fell silent.
Negotiation could only be called negotiation when there was room to bargain.
At this moment, this could no longer be called a negotiation. It was more like a one-sided notice.
Either run or die. There was no third choice.
After a brief silence, Berichi stood, bowed, and said, "Your Excellency, I will report your words truthfully to His Majesty. As for today's negotiations, shall we end them here for now? What do you say?"
"Fine." Celeste stood and answered.
After seeing the other party out of the hall, Berichi's originally calm expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.
Holding on to the doorframe, he stood there for a long time before Berichi turned to look at the two level-eight knights beside him and said in a deep voice, "What happened today stays buried in your stomachs."
"Yes."
The two level-eight knights answered with solemn expressions, then left the hall.
Standing at the entrance to the hall, he looked up at the sun in the sky. The sunlight was so warm, yet his heart felt an incomparable chill.
After stopping there for a moment, Berichi put away his despondent bearing, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the Royal Palace's Administrative Hall.
Inside the Administrative Hall at that moment, Damian sat on the throne. He was not reviewing documents, but had his eyes closed, waiting for the result of the negotiations.
"Your Majesty, Minister Berichi has arrived."
The voice of the black-armored knight rang by his ear. Damian's eyes snapped open, and he stared at the black-armored knight kneeling below, disbelief in his eyes.
"How long has it been since the negotiation began?"
"Half an hour," the black-armored knight answered truthfully.
"Half an hour... In such a short