Annan and Olmedo exchanged glances.
This answer was close to what they had hoped for. As for the amount of compensation, they could negotiate that later.
"What about the land and people the Blade of Freedom has occupied?" Olmedo asked.
"You have no use for the land, I imagine. I'm willing to buy it back. As for the people, they're your spoils of war. Do with them as you wish."
Vitalig kept his tone humble, treating himself as the defeated party.
Olmedo had no objections, and neither did Annan.
Next, they had to draft a contract and send Beludona a generous gift.
His coffers were about to be emptied, yet Vitalig still thanked Annan. "I hope all that bargaining hasn't damaged our friendship."
Annan felt strangely uncomfortable. "You don't have to act like this," he told Vitalig earnestly. "This war and the hostility between us had nothing to do with you."
Vitalig froze and looked at Olmedo, who wore a friendly smile.
"We were all once people of the Kingdom. It's less about our interests and more that we don't want to lose another old friend," she said.
His shock gave way to gratitude, and Vitalig flashed the radiant smile he had worn as the Second Prince. "I understand."
The contract was straightforward: once Vitalig became King, Free City would return the occupied land, and the Rikaner Kingdom would pay war reparations over ten years.
After drafting it, Annan still felt something was missing. He wanted to add one more clause: Agawar had to die!
"Agawar... did he offend you?"
"Not me personally. Star-Moon Bay is still young; I haven't had time to pour much into it. But Olmedo lost Breeze City, which her father left her. The warriors of Snow Mountain Fortress lost their lives, and the people of