This Chat Group's Vibe is a Bit Off

At those words, Manfred let out a sigh of relief. He understood now—they were trying to put him in his place.

Bring it on. No matter what storm comes my way, I will...

"Frost, you're a marquis of Ursus now. Your status is no lower than that Sarkaz general's. Considering a place like Kazdel, coming to Ursus makes him nothing but a country bumpkin here to beg. I suggest he move his own chair," Qianyi said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Frost nodded and shoved the chair he had prepared for Manfred back into place.

Manfred's brain crashed.

There was too much information for him to process. He could not decide whether he ought to be shocked first that Frost, a Sarkaz, had actually become a marquis of Ursus; or that he himself had been mocked as a country bumpkin begging for food; or that these people had never intended to make him kneel from the beginning, nor had they even planned to make him stand. The harshest thing they had said was to make him move a chair himself.

Under everyone's gaze, he froze for three seconds—perhaps longer—before barely recovering enough awareness to congratulate Frost. "You... actually became a marquis. Ursus actually allowed a Sarkaz Infected to become a noble, and a marquis second only to a duke at that. You must have rendered them tremendous military service."

Frost fell silent. He did not know how to respond to his former superior.

Was he supposed to tell his former superior that he had not fired a single shot, that he had merely followed his boss to Saint-Junburg and somehow picked up a marquis title?

If he said that, Manfred would definitely think he was messing with him.

Seeing Frost ignore him, Manfred sighed inwardly. Frost was already a traitor to the Sarkaz. We are no longer of the same race. You are now a noble Ursus, while I remain a lowly Sarkaz of Kazdel. A thick barrier now stands between us.

Talulah, seated at the head of the table, suddenly exuded a sharp, imposing aura as she questioned the young general who had come to discuss matters of state. "Manfred, state your origins."

"I have come on behalf of Victoria's Regent King, seeking to sign a Non-Aggression Treaty with Ursus." Manfred chose a seat and sat down, making his purpose clear to Talulah.

"Oh?" Talulah smiled. "State your demands."

Manfred straightened his back and presented the treaty terms he had memorized in advance. Alina rose, took the document, and handed it to Talulah.

1. Both contracting parties guarantee that they will not use force against each other, whether independently or jointly with other nations, nor commit acts of invasion or attack. 2. Should one contracting party go to war with a third country, the other contracting party shall not provide the third country with any support. 3. Neither contracting party shall participate in any national bloc that directly or indirectly opposes the other contracting party. 4. Both parties shall resolve all disputes between the contracting parties through peaceful means. 5. The treaty shall remain valid for ten years.

"Let me see." Qianyi leaned over and glanced through it.

"What do you think?" Talulah placed the document in front of Qianyi so he could read it more easily.

"I think it's great. But why should we agree to it?" Qianyi tore open a bag of chocolate-flavored potato chips and spoke as he ate. "The treaty is fair enough, but Theresis clearly didn't come here to sit at the table and have a friendly meal with Ursus, did he?"

"Don't eat potato chips on an occasion this serious!" Listening to the crunching from Qianyi's mouth, Talulah sighed. But when she noticed that the packaging was a flavor she had never seen before, her gaze sharpened. "And what flavor is that? Let me try some too."

"Chocolate flavor. A Lupo probably can't eat it." Qianyi held the open bag out to Talulah.

"I want some too." Kiana yelled, reaching out to grab some.

"Potato chips come in chocolate flavor?" Hiiragi Tina asked.

"Chocolate, cucumber, tomato—they have all kinds of flavors. By the way, I like cucumber flavor. It tastes really refreshing. But the chocolate flavor is new, so I bought a bag to try. It tastes good, just a little expensive," Qianyi said.

"Cucumber..." Toyokawa Shoko remembered that her childhood friend, Wakaba Mutsuki, liked growing cucumbers. When Tsukushi's cucumbers ripened next time, she could give some to Qianyi.

Manfred truly did not want to listen to this utterly pointless conversation any longer. He wanted to get up and leave immediately, but he could not. The Sarkaz desperately needed a war to revive themselves, and they had to ask these people for help. So he could only lower his head awkwardly and pick at the cloth on the table.

After a long wait, the group finally finished dividing up that bag of chocolate-flavored potato chips. To avoid any further accidents, Manfred immediately seized the opening. "As for the matter of compensation, I have prepared it in advance."

He opened the parcel he carried with him. Within the folds of scarlet velvet, a crown lay sleeping, now beginning to awaken—this was no mundane golden ornament. It was a golden olive-leaf laurel crown, each olive-leaf pattern engraved with Aslan blood oaths, while Drac script floated around the inner rim like bronze branching fractals.

Even after being reforged, this crown still retained traces of the Drac, because it had originally belonged to the Drac, not the Aslan.

"The Crown that symbolizes Victoria's supreme authority. I hope it can become the beginning of our friendship."

Manfred presented the Crown. In Theresis's hands, it was a tasteless burden—too wasteful to melt down into gold to subsidize Kazdel, yet useless to keep. This thing could only serve a purpose atop the heads of an Aslan or a Drac.

But Victoria's legitimate royal Aslan had reached the point where they trembled even while breathing. If they dared let moonlight reveal their true faces, they would most likely melt into water for no apparent reason. Then there would be a vessel with the bloodline of their enemy that could ascend the throne. People who could barely protect themselves could never offer Theresis a good price. Originally, the Drac could not afford one either, but after Talulah took the throne as Emperor of Ursus, everything was different.

"Pfft—!" Qianyi could not hold back his laughter. He forced himself to swallow his smile, but once he thought of what had happened with this Crown, how could he possibly stop laughing? "No, dude, you're using this thing as proof of friendship? After the Aslan took power, they wanted nothing more than to slaughter every last Drac. The Drac also wanted nothing more than to gun down every last Aslan. Those two are really the picture of friendship."

"...Your Majesty, mind your manners," FrostNova reminded him.

Your Majesty?

Manfred was stunned. Were these people not even going to pretend?

Talulah was a Drac by blood, and the publicly acknowledged Emperor of Ursus. Yet this group was calling someone else Your Majesty right in front of her. Was that not the same as pointing at Talulah's face and telling her she was nothing but a puppet emperor?

He could already imagine Talulah's expression as she sat at the head of the table. Her face had to be livid, yet as a puppet they had installed, she had no choice but to smile along. Deep down, she must have been swearing that one day, she would pin this mastermind controlling her to the ground.

"Why can't I wear this one either, just like the Ursus Crown? I'm trembling with rage from the cold—are they discriminating against the Drac?" Talulah took the Crown Manfred had presented and tried to put it on her head. With her horns in the way, she simply could not wear it, as though it had been designed specifically to prevent horned Drac from wearing it.

She pulled Qianyi over, took the golden olive-leaf Crown, and placed it on his head. It fit surprisingly well, making him look like a deity from ancient Greek mythology, one representing wisdom and courage.

The atmosphere suddenly became loyal.

Manfred: "???"

Holy shit! How could a puppet treat her master like that?!

No, wait. Thinking about it carefully, Talulah had snatched this man's snacks earlier too. That clearly was not the relationship between one who controlled and one who was controlled. It was something more intimate, like they could entrust their backs—and even everything they had—to each other.

Was that the kind of relationship that should exist on the Terra Continent?

"The Crown isn't much use to us." Qianyi took it off and casually hung it on one of Aibrana's horns. "But I'd be pretty happy to see a Blitzkrieg, so let's agree to sign with you."

At those words, Manfred felt his scalp go numb.

Damn it, how did he know we were planning to launch a Blitzkrieg against Kazimierz?

"Your Majesty," Patriot reminded him.

"What does it matter? It's just a Blitzkrieg against Kazimierz, not some huge deal. There's nothing shameful about it," Qianyi said casually.

In an instant, Manfred felt as though he had been seen through completely. The blitzkrieg plan his teacher Theresis had painstakingly devised was nothing more than a trivial matter in this man's eyes?

Just from a Non-Aggression Treaty and such a brief period of contact, he had deduced that the Sarkaz intended to launch a blitzkrieg—and had even seen through their target, Kazimierz, completely. What a terrifying enemy. No wonder Ursus had fallen so quickly.

With that thought, Manfred stopped concealing anything and bluntly stated his purpose. "No wonder Fyodor only dared flee like a stray dog and never dared contend with you. You truly are a mighty overlord of extraordinary talent and vision. None of our plans can escape your sight. In truth, Lord Theresis has already decided to abandon Victoria and launch a blitzkrieg against Kazimierz, using Kazimierz as a new base of operations."

FrostNova:?

Patriot:?

Aibrana:?

After hearing Manfred's words, Patriot, FrostNova, Frost, Aibrana, and the others all looked at Qianyi with newfound fervor.

As expected of His Majesty. He had never been talking about his own plans to launch a blitzkrieg against Kazimierz; he had been baiting Manfred. With just a couple of casual remarks, he had tricked Manfred into revealing his ultimate move and brought the entire situation under his control. Such overwhelming dominance truly befit an Emperor!

Qianyi was startled as well. He had not expected Theresis to have the same plan as him. Since that was the case, he might as well "help" him out a little.

"Kazimierz will not be an easy opponent to deal with. In Ursus's name, I can lend you some resources." Qianyi took a sheet of paper, casually listed more than a dozen crucial supplies, then wrote an enormous figure after them.

When Manfred took it and looked, his eyes widened like lightbulbs. Like a sponge soaking up a massive amount of water, he instantly swelled with excitement. The contents of the list nearly made the Sarkaz general kneel before Qianyi and cry, "If you do not disdain me, I am willing to acknowledge you as my adoptive father," or, "I want to take care of you in your old age."

There was no other reason: the resources on that list were simply too immense, immense enough to support Theresis in a monumental war involving entire nations.

Even his hands began to tremble, but his reason told him that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. "Then... what is the price?"

"After taking Kazimierz, restrain your troops. Shed less blood, and treat the people well." Qianyi stated his demand. "As for those supplies, I will allow His Excellency the Regent King thirty years to repay them."

Who are you trying to fool?!

Manfred knew very well that the man before him had practically slaughtered every Ursus noble from top to bottom. Even the Blood Demon Great Lord, famous for his cruelty, had nearly dropped to his knees upon hearing of that feat. Would such a butcher possess this kind of compassion? Could there really be a ruler this kind anywhere on this land?

I don't believe it.

But what did that have to do with him?

As long as he got the supplies, that was enough. Kazdel had no intention of repaying the debt anyway. Once they got the supplies and took Kazimierz, they would simply default. Even if Qianyi came knocking and asked, "Brother Theresis, when do you intend to repay the supplies for those several armies?" they still would not repay him.

Though that was what he thought inside, Manfred still had to put on a show outwardly. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. You are Kazdel's eternal friend. We will certainly repay these supplies as soon as possible!"

His tone was so impassioned and earnest that those who knew him would think he was a naturally evil, treacherous Sarkaz; those who did not might have thought an honest man had arrived.

Both sides were very pleased with this transaction. Ursus obtained Victoria's crown and the right to go to Victoria and ascend the throne at any time. Theresis obtained a Non-Aggression Treaty and a shipment of aid supplies. It was simply a win-win.

After seeing Manfred off, Qianyi was already excitedly planning to pop champagne. "Wonderful! Kazimierz can actually get blitzed twice. We're going to make history!"

"Blitzed twice?" Talulah was baffled.

"Yeah. Once Theresis is done blitzing Kazimierz, we'll go blitz the Kazimierz ruled by Theresis. To be blitzed by two nations in succession—Kazimierz is definitely going to love that." Qianyi casually said something that would destroy the friendship between two nations.

"No, didn't you just sign a Non-Aggression Treaty with Theresis? How are you planning to tear it up right away?" Toyokawa Shoko felt that Qianyi ought to be dragged out and shot soon.

Qianyi casually tore the Non-Aggression Treaty he had just signed in half and explained, "Yes, but the treaty I signed was with Victoria's Regent King, not Kazimierz, much less the Kazimierz occupied by Theresis. What does my blitzing Kazimierz have to do with signing a Non-Aggression Treaty with Victoria's Regent King?"

On the Terra Continent, only we who possess Seele were qualified to wage blitzkrieg!

"Since you were already planning to tear up the treaty, why did you aid them?" Talulah did not understand.

Qianyi smiled faintly and said to Husky Qi beside him, "Kiana, leave some spatial coordinates in the supplies. Later, take back everything we gave them, principal and interest included. As for whatever they use up, consider it payment for helping us take Kazimierz."

"Theresis is going to cry." Seele thought about it. After Theresis went through all that trouble to take Kazimierz, he would find that all his logistical supplies had vanished, while Qianyi brought troops to launch a second blitzkrieg against Kazimierz. Just imagining it was despairing enough.

At that moment, Artoria timidly raised her hand and said, "Um, that Manfred from earlier was thinking of defaulting on the supplies Qianyi gave him and refusing to acknowledge the debt."

The room fell into brief silence. A moment later, the calm turned into a raging tide.

"That bastard Theresis—he's trying to scam us?!" Qianyi slammed his palm onto the table, his face twisted savagely. "I kindly gave him supplies, and he actually wants to default? I'll give him the cruelest, most despairing death in the world!"

"This is no ordinary Sarkaz. We must strike hard!" Talulah said indignantly. "It's time these lowly bastards learned the might of Ursus!"

"Is this the adult world? Scheming and deceiving each other... how terrifying." Toyokawa Shoko sighed. Fortunately, she was on the scamming side. Otherwise, with so many supplies going down the drain, she would really be crying her eyes out in the rain.

"Boss, give the order!" Hiiragi Tina rose to her feet.

Everyone else stood as well, waiting for Qianyi's command.

"Within three days, prepare three army groups for me. Resources are to be supplied without limit, and no cost is to be spared. At the same time Theresis takes Kazimierz, I want to launch a blitzkrieg against Kazimierz!"

???

Victoria, the royal capital Londinium.

After Regent King Theresis learned that Manfred had achieved his objective and even secured an additional shipment of aid, he wearily reclined in his chair and let out a breath.

Too many major events had taken place across this land recently.

Ursus Emperor Fyodor had fled. Talulah Aetlyas had been crowned Emperor of Ursus. Ninety percent of the nobles had died unnatural deaths, their estates confiscated. A new group of nobles, mainly composed of the Infected, had been promoted into power. In barely a few days, Ursus had almost become an entirely different nation.

The instant he received this news, Regent King Theresis, who was in Victoria, had nearly collapsed to his knees in fright.

Where had this Great Western King come from? Even the Blood Demon Great Lord, the most notorious figure among the Sarkaz royal court, would not dare kill like this! Had some ancient Tigaz predecessor resurrected from Originium?

Those nobles all commanded private armies, and the forces behind them were tangled in a complicated web. Killing even one would provoke the hostility of an entire interest group—yet the ruthless new Emperor of Ursus had killed them all at the slightest disagreement?

After slaughtering all the nobles, how was Talulah supposed to control such a vast Empire?

When he thought Ursus would erupt into unrest within days and collapse into fragmentation, he was shocked to discover that Ursus had suffered virtually no impact. There had only been a few insignificant disturbances, and they had been resolved the instant any sign of them emerged.

Theresis suddenly felt an intense sense of urgency.

The ruler who had married Talulah had effortlessly seized Ursus. What would he take next? Yan, Leithanien, Kazimierz, Kazdel—or perhaps... Victoria.

Compared to Victoria, with Leithanien and Kazimierz lying between them, Theresis was more inclined to believe that the other party would attack the nearer Yan.

Only by going to war with Yan could that dying Grizzly Bear set its blood flowing through battle after battle and regain its vitality. Yet for some reason, Theresis had an intuition.

The other party's target was not Yan, nor Leithanien or Kazimierz, and even less Kazdel—that godforsaken place where there was nothing to gain after conquering it, leaving one only to poison Point B and, after a night of passion, receive a Sarkaz maiden's gift of Originium Infection.

From beginning to end, the other party had only one target: Victoria.

Victoria had to be abandoned. Making an enemy of that force was simply too irrational.

"Make preparations. Ursus's new king is exceptionally generous—generous enough to offset the losses from abandoning Londinium. The long-awaited hour of Sarkaz vengeance has finally arrived."

Theresis opened his eyes. Two figures stood before him: one was a handsome man with white hair and red eyes, while the other was an old man wrapped head to toe in bandages.

The Blood Demon Great Lord Ducare, and the King of Scavengers, Nietzre.

"Are you certain you wish to do this?" the handsome Blood Demon Great Lord questioned Theresis.

"Kazdel has no room left to retreat," Theresis said.

"If you fail, Kazdel—even the Sarkaz—will be buried alongside your mistake." The King of Scavengers, Nietzre, knew well that Ursus's new king was no easy opponent. The more generous the man appeared, the greater the price would be.

"This was never what I wanted. Kazdel has only one chance at revival, and I must seize it. If I cannot save it from the failure of the Sarkaz Royal Court, then let the Terra Continent burn." Theresis had made up his mind.

Kazdel was truly far too impoverished. Over tens of thousands of years, it had suffered destruction more than a thousand times. The Sarkaz did not even have their own means of livelihood; they could only rely on their formidable strength to serve as mercenaries, summoned and dismissed at others' whims. Sometimes, on a battlefield, they even stood against their own blood relatives and accidentally killed them.

Even when the occasional Sarkaz awakened and realized that this land should not be this way, it made no difference. The Sarkaz and this land could no longer reconcile.

Kazdel had only one chance to win survival and rise again: wage a war of vengeance against every nation across Terra that had invaded Kazdel, and show the nations of Terra the Sarkaz's fury, the Sarkaz's rage, and the pain the Sarkaz had endured.

Unless the nations of Terra were made to feel pain, there could be no future or hope won for the Sarkaz.

"Ursus's new king needs a war, and so do we. The day Ursus's silver coins fall into Kazdel's holy spring will be the day the Sarkaz's death knell rings for the kings of Terra."