Terms for Peace Talks

Ishgar, Dragon Clan Secret Realm

"Livia, let's handle this matter the way I just suggested!"

"I understand, Grandiere! I will send someone to handle it immediately, and it will definitely not delay your plans."

Grandiere glanced at his capable subordinate with satisfaction, then suddenly noticed a hint of hesitation on the man's face. Grandiere stopped Livia, who was about to leave, and asked softly, "Livia, is there something you want to ask me?"

Livia's body trembled, and he abruptly stopped retreating. He glanced at Grandiere with a flustered look, then knelt on one knee before him, saying with trepidation, "It is not that I doubt Grandiere's decision, but I am worried that we, along with the dragons of the Kingdom of Donagunov, are capable of withstanding the attack of the Western Continent's dragons."

Grandiere forward and patted Livia on the shoulder, reassuring her, "You don't need to worry about that. It's not just our two families that will be fighting. Igneel, Metalicana, Vyseria, and Skiadrum will all lead their own tribes to participate in the war."

"If that's the case, then I'm relieved. I'll go and inform them to prepare for battle!"

"Um!"

Having resolved her doubts, Livia slowly rose from the ground, preparing to go down and complete the task assigned to her by Grandiere. Just then, a rough, unrestrained shout drifted over their heads.

"Grandiere, where are you? Come out quickly, I need to talk to you urgently, it's very, very urgent!"

Upon hearing this shout, Grandiere's face darkened. Didn't this idiot Igneel know that you can't just barge into a girl's room? And even if you did barge in, why shout like that? What are you trying to do? Do you want everyone to know that you, Igneel, have broken into my room?

Seeing the dark clouds gathering over Grandiere, threatening a downpour and thunder, Livia wisely and quietly left her side. At the same time, he silently mourned Igneel's impending fate... well, and also felt a pang of schadenfreude.

"Whoosh"

A flash of white light appeared, Grandiere's figure vanished from his spot, rushing towards the source of the noise. Igneel was searching the sky for Grandiere when a white dot of light grew larger and larger in his eyes.

"Bang"

"Ah"

A sharp pain shot through his abdomen, Igneel instinctively opened his mouth and screamed, spitting out mouthfuls of saliva that scattered in all directions. Immediately afterward, Igneel felt himself being shoved by a tremendous force, flying towards the outside of the secret realm. Soon, Igneel and Grandiere, who had attacked him, transformed into shooting stars and disappeared into the horizon.

After leaving the secret realm, Grandiere stopped and quickly left Igneel's side. Igneel, who had deduced the attacker's identity based on the force and method of the blow and the attacker's skin color, stood obediently in place like a schoolboy who had made a mistake, awaiting judgment.

After calming himself down and taking a deep breath, Grandiere a dark expression, "Speak! What urgent matter do you want to see me about?"

Igneel chuckled awkwardly, then asked sheepishly, "Um... could you tell me where Sordil lives?"

Suppressing the urge to punch Igneel again, Grandiere asked incredulously, "Is this what you meant by 'very urgent'?"

Igneel nodded shyly, then complained, "Actually, I didn't want to bother you with such a small matter, but Atlas Flame's conditions were just too outrageous, so..."

"The Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu, the Cuyis Tree Sea."

Grandiere gave Igneel an awkward but polite smile, leaving behind this bland remark. After that, she ignored him, leaving a bewildered Igneel standing there as he disappeared into the sky.

The Kingdom of Donagunov, capital city

Royal Palace, Council Hall

"Your Excellency, did you sleep well last night?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! Last night, I and everyone in the delegation had a good rest, so we are ready to begin negotiations at any time."

"In that case, let's begin now!"

After exchanging greetings, Irene led Sordil and the others to the prepared negotiation venue. Once everyone was seated, two waiters entered the venue carrying two documents. Irene then said, "Your Excellency, this is the alliance treaty we prepared in advance. Please take a look and see if there are any areas that need modification."

As Irene finished speaking, a waiter presented Sordil with the alliance treaty, while another waiter placed a document in front of Irene. Sordil opened the document and browsed through it page by page, finding the contents somewhat familiar. After reviewing the entire document, Sordil was overjoyed. Every clause in the document was one he had proposed when negotiating with Irene on behalf of Fostadu. This alliance treaty simply changed Fostadu's name to the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu. Looking at the treaty before him, Sordil recalled the generic labor contracts he had signed during summer jobs in his previous life.

Suppressing a smile, Sordil passed the treaty to Diphiya and the others sitting beside him for review. Once everyone in the delegation had finished reading, Sordil looked at them, and they all nodded, indicating that the treaty was acceptable and could be signed.

After receiving everyone's affirmation, Sordil smiled slightly and then said to Irene, "Your His Majesty the King, we have no objection to the alliance, but before we can sign it, Your His Majesty the King needs to agree to one condition!"

Upon hearing Sordil's words, everyone in the Peace Negotiation Delegation frowned, but due to Sordil's status and their own circumstances, they all swallowed their objections. Irene, sitting opposite Sordil, blurted out, "I can arrange a marriage between myself and the general to ensure the establishment of the alliance."

"Puff!"

Sordil, who had just taken a sip of water, spat it all out upon hearing Irene's reply. Facing the strange looks from the crowd, Sordil desperately wanted to explain that he only wanted to learn Augmented Magic from Irene. However, if he said it aloud in front of Irene, not only would he hurt the goddess's feelings, but the alliance between their nations would also be broken. He feared that then they would never have another chance to leave the palace, and all his hard work over the past few years would be in vain. Faced with this dilemma, Sordil wanted to slap himself.

Just then, a bone-chilling cold enveloped Sordil. Sordil subtly turned his head and scanned his surroundings, finally pinpointing the source of the chill. Looking at Diphiya, who was gritting her teeth at him, Sordil instantly devised a perfect solution.

"Buzz"

A barely perceptible fluctuation of magical energy emanated from Sordil. Immediately afterward, Irene, who had been staring at Sordil, frowned abruptly, her face turning pale and then flushed, as if something bad had happened.