"With Free City at its head, we'll form a mutual-aid alliance for western Middle Earth..."
Olmedo spoke at length beside him. Annan smiled, recalling what Olmedo had told him about this "mutual-aid alliance." It sounded like a loose partnership centered on trade.
Selling weapons counts as trade too, doesn't it?
Claire sat first on his left. As an ally—and one of Free City's most important allies at that—the Duchy was naturally a member of the alliance.
As for why the Grand Duke himself hadn't come, Claire had Girardi under house arrest.
Whatever the reason, raising a white flag the moment he heard the horn of war was going too far.
Olmedo discussed trade, commerce, transport routes, and joint defense with the lords. He focused mainly on commerce and barely touched on defense against outside enemies, the issue the lords cared about most.
"We're willing to invest in Free City!"
The lords had no choice but to resort to the solution used everywhere in Allen World: money.
Dream on, Annan thought. Free City was still growing. Anything they did there could make money; they could even buy a house and wait for its value to rise. How was their "investment" any different from demanding a slice of the pie?
But Olmedo agreed without batting an eye, giving them a share of the profits.
Annan said nothing and waited to see what Olmedo would do next.
Dozens of minutes later, the Contract for the Alliance of Mutual Aid was signed, with Claire serving as witness.
"Alliance of Mutual Aid Among Free City and Various Powers"
1. Free City will assess the stability of alliance members and consider whether to build Freedom Streets in their territories.
2. Goods from Free City shall not be subject to miscellaneous taxes in alliance members' territories, and