The next day, the Empire showed how swiftly it could act—it was already eager to begin negotiations on the second day of its visit.
The Ceremonial Affairs Department tried to stop this breach of protocol, but failed. Ambassador Franz Koch stood firmly with the Finance Department, so its officials could only write private reports criticizing it.
The Finance Department's reasoning was simple: for every day sooner the Empire established its Gold Depository, its treasury could gain hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of gold Narls. Efficiency came first.
Annan wholeheartedly agreed. He was sick of noble formalities and one banquet after another. The noble ladies kept clinging to him like Slimes, and for the sake of making money, he had to endure their hands roaming over him, just as Lily endured being petted when she begged for dried fish.
But since the Ceremonial Affairs Department was on his side, he showed no sign of supporting the Finance Department.
The negotiations took place in a conference room at the City Lord's Mansion. The entire Imperial Delegation attended. On Annan's side, besides him and the two deputy city lords, there was Ingrid, the finance minister.
The Imperial Delegation had drafted a contract: Free City would share its Gold Depository technology with the Empire, while the Empire would allow Free City to continue opening commercial streets within its borders and protect them.
On the surface, it was a fair exchange of benefits and a fair partnership. But given the Empire's size, fairness itself was a kind of unfairness.
That was without counting the less visible benefits. Once the Empire partnered with Free City, any other power hoping to get its hands on the Gold Depository would have to ask whether it was up to the task.
Annan gave it a cursory glance and