After taking his seat, Nalant looked ahead and saw that the one leading the Beastfolk delegation this time was none other than the Beast King.
The Beast King no longer carried his former overbearing air upon seeing Nalant.
Instead, he quickly rose from his chair, stepped forward two paces, and bowed respectfully in accordance with human etiquette.
"Honored Baron Nalant, it is a great honor to meet you."
"In the past, there were some conflicts between the Beastfolk and you, but all of that was a misunderstanding. I hope you will not take it to heart."
"The Beastfolk guarantee that from this day onward, we will live peacefully alongside humanity and face the foreign invaders together!"
The Beast King was very well-informed. Through merchant caravans and other races, he had learned all the details of this decisive battle.
When he learned that the invader army had been annihilated and the five divine envoys killed all because of Nalant, the Beast King naturally developed a reverent fear of him.
That fear was not born from gratitude that Nalant had saved Aio Continent.
It came from terror at Nalant's immense strength—the knowledge that with a mere gesture, he might bring utter ruin upon the Beastfolk.
"Hehe, is that so?"
This was not Nalant's first time meeting the Beast King.
Especially back in the Withered Bone Hills, the Beast King had cut an imposing figure. Now, however, he was remarkably adept at reading the wind, coming to seek peace the moment he caught word of the situation.
"Baron Nalant, the past disputes between the Beastfolk and humanity were not truly my intention. They are problems between our two races that have been passed down since ancient times."
"Even as the Beast King, it has not been easy for me to bring about change."