There was no such thing as a forever ally or forever enemy in diplomacy.
Siegfried could still remember this one lesson Michele had emphasized numerous times, and it was the basis of the strategy he came up with this time.
‘George the Third is almost screwed right now, right? What will the other kingdoms think? Will they be willing to help him?’
The answer was a resounding NO.
George the Third was on the verge of conquering the entirety of the Kyiv Kingdom, but what was likely going to happen if he ended up conquering the Kyiv Kingdom?
The Salut Kingdom would become even more powerful, and it was something that nobody would welcome regardless of whether they were friends or foes.
Anyone could tell just how much more arrogant George the Third was going to become once he conquered the Kyiv Kingdom, and no one wanted to see a stronger Salut Kingdom, as they knew the kind of person George the Third was through his actions in international gatherings.
Besides, the alliances formed by these kingdoms were more for their own benefits rather than so-called blood-forged alliances, so it was difficult to say they would be willing to stick their necks out for him.
This was the rift Siegfried was planning to exploit against George the Third, and the first thing he did was to call one of George the Third’s closest friends, King Stallone.
King Stallone ruled over the Ephedrine Kingdom, which was a powerful kingdom considered to be on par with the Salut Kingdom.
“Hello, King Stallone.”
— Hmm? If it isn’t King Siegfried van Proa...
King Stallone did not seem to be happy with Siegfried’s call, which was expected as one of George the Third’s closest friends.
— What business do you have with me that you’d call me? I don’t think we’re acquainted enough to call each other.
“But I do have business with you.”
— You do?
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
—What is this business you speak of? I’m a very busy person, so get to the point.
“I will,” Siegfried replied. He acted as courteous as possible while cursing King Stallone as a jerk inwardly. Then, he said with a smile, “I have a proposition for Your Majesty that will surely be to your liking!”
— Hmm? What can someone like you offer to someone like me?
“...”
— Pfft!
Siegfried had the urge to smash King Stallone’s head open, but he displayed superhuman self-control to not act on his impulse. Then, he put on his salesman face once again and courteously made his pitch, “I am well aware Your Majesty is in good relations with George the Third.”
— Hmm... I do, but I believe that’s none of your concern?
“I have spread the Curse of Decay all over the Salut Kingdom.”
— Ah, sure... Why should I care if you spread the Curse of Decay all over the Salut Kingd—huh?
King Stallone doubted his ears for a second.
— What?! You spread the Curse of Decay in the Salut Kingdom?!
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he explained, “I had some issues with His Majesty, George the Third, and I unleashed it out of anger...”
— Haha... You’re crazy... You’re on borrowed time knowing George’s temper...
“I am aware of that, and that is why I have called Your Majesty.”
— Hmm?
“This is an opportunity, Your Majesty.”
— An opportunity?
“I have heard that His Majesty, King George the Third, had publicly denounced your opinions and humiliated Your Majesty!”
— T-That was...! Ahem!
“But what do you think is going to happen once His Majesty, George the Third, overcomes this crisis and successfully conquers the Kyiv Kingdom? I believe he will become even more brazen in his attempts to humiliate Your Majesty!”
— ...!
“He is already rude despite your kingdoms being of equal strength and Your Majesties being friends! Does Your Majesty really think that he will treat you better once he conquers the Kyiv Kingdom? That couldn't be further from the truth!”
— T-That is...! Ahem! I think...
“I have heard tales and songs of Your Majesty’s reputation. You were a man of honor and loyalty before you were king, and people look up to you for your righteousness!”
Of course, there were neither such tales nor songs circling around regarding King Stallone, and this was a lie Siegfried cleverly improvised and crafted on the spot.
“But George the Third had repeatedly betrayed Your Majesty’s loyalty, and he even dared to humiliate you in front of others!”
— He did... do that...
“Your Majesty! A good friend is someone who understands you even if you do not say a single word! But what about George the Third? Has he ever understood Your Majesty?”
— Ahem...
“Your Majesty! I am well aware you are an honorable and loyal person, but why would you remain loyal to someone who does not value your honor and loyalty? Alas! It is only wise for Your Majesty to sever all ties with such a dishonorable friend and focus on your kingdom’s benefit instead!”
— My kingdom’s benefit... Yes, that’s right. I am a king, and I should prioritize my people before others.
“Ghouls currently overrun the Salut Kingdom, and they neither possess vaccines nor cures for the Curse of Decay! If Your Majesty makes a big decision right now, then...”
— A big decision...?
“If Your Majesty may forgive me for my insolence, I would advise Your Majesty to act with haste. George the Third has a lot of enemies, and helping him will be the last thing on their minds at this stage...”
— ...!
“I do not doubt one bit that Your Majesty, King Stallone the Wise, will make the right decision. Then, I will excuse myself...” Siegfried said and hung up. Then, he smirked and muttered, “Another one has bitten the bait.”
He proceeded to call the next king and repeated the exact same thing. He hung up with that king and dialed the next one and then another one...
***
The next morning, good news was delivered to the throne room of the Kyiv Kingdom.
“Your Majesty! The rebels have started to scatter! Most of the officers have either surrendered or committed suicide!”
But that was not the end of the good news...
“Your Majesty! We've managed to capture Count Oslo alive!”
Count Oslo was the strategist who had helped Taranis with the rebellion, and he was also the traitor who had coaxed George the Third into invading the Kyiv Kingdom. He was dreaming of a rosy future riding on the backs of George the Third, but his dreams were shattered the moment George the Third pulled his armies back. Then, he was captured while trying to escape and seek refuge in another kingdom.
The knights dragged him in and forced him to his knees, “Kneel to the king, you filthy traitor!”
“...”
Count Oslo did not utter a single word. His head was down, and he did not move a single muscle.
“Oslo! You colluded with the traitor, Taranis, to overthrow His Majesty! On top of that, you even coaxed another kingdom to invade your homeland! Do you call yourself a human being after doing that?!” Duke Undertaker shouted.
“...”
“You deserve to be ripped into a thousand pieces and fed to the fishes, yet His Majesty is gracious! What are you doing?! Hurry and seek forgiveness for your sins from His Majesty at once!”
“Seek forgiveness... for my sins?” Count Oslo muttered before he looked up, smirked, and sneered, “You’re going to kill me anyway, so why should I seek forgiveness?”
“You dare to insult His Majesty?!”
“Just kill me and get it over with,” Count Oslo scowled. Then, he flashed a defeated smile and said, “I don’t plan to beg for forgiveness from a kid. I’ve accepted my fate, so don’t expect to hear what you want from me—“
“Excuse me~” Siegfried raised his hand. Then, he asked, “May I say something~?”
“Of course, Uncle,” King Allen replied.
“Thank you, nephew~” Siegfried coyly said. Then, his eyes flashed as he suggested, “Let’s not kill him.”
“Y-Your Majesty! A traitor like him deserves to be killed a hundred—no, a thousand times over! Why would you spare a traitor like him?!” Duke Undertaker retorted.
“It’s a waste to kill him.”
“Pardon me...?”
“We can make him suffer until he dies a natural death from old age, so why should we grant him a painless quick death?” Siegfried said with a shrug.
“...!”
“I have this mine at my kingdom where criminals get sent to work, and they usually end up begging for death after spending a week there.”
“T-There is a place like that...?”
Siegfried shrugged once again and replied, “I was bored, so I made one. Whoever enters that mine suffers excruciating agony, yet they will never be able to die. Why? I’ve placed the best Healers in my kingdom to heal them just enough so they don’t die—everyday. Hehehe...”
“H-How can someone be so evil...?!”
“Ah, I even ask the Saintess of the Constantine Holy Empire to save those on the verge of dying.”
“...?!”
“We also have a special course designed for our VIPs. We burn them alive on a stake with a hose pumping healing potion directly into their heart, which allows them to roast quite nicely for thirty straight days without dying!”
Silence fell upon the throne room the moment Siegfried finished speaking.
‘H-He’s a demon!’
‘How can a human being think of such torture methods?! That’s not something a human would come up with!’
‘W-Who in their right mind would use a Saintess’ holy powers for torture...?’
The officials of the Kyiv Kingdom turned ghastly pale after hearing of Siegfried’s ingenious torture methods. This was their first time hearing of someone burning a person alive while making sure that they wouldn't die, and that was probably the cruelest thing they had ever heard of in their entire lives.
“I think he’s trying to act tough, but I guarantee you he will drop his act the moment the flames lick his skin. Ah, I forgot one important step before that,” Siegfried said with a smile. Then, his eyes flashed once again as he continued, “He will definitely change his mind when he watches his family burn the same way right in front of his eyes. I will guarantee this personally.”
“...!”
“Let’s see if he can keep up the same act while watching his wife and kid he had abandoned for his own ambitions—“
“P-Please! No! Anything but that!” Count Oslo cried out. Then, his eyes shot wide open as he asked, “Are... Are they still alive?! They’re not dead?!”
Siegfried flashed a spine-chilling smile and sneered, “Oh~? Look at how he reacted the moment I mentioned his family~ Kekeke! You were prepared to replace them like a pair of old boots a few weeks ago, so how come you've changed your mind after hearing that they were still alive?”
“S-Sir! No, King Siegfried! Your Majesty! If they are indeed alive, then please spare them at least! B-Burn me instead! That should be enough to make amends with King Allen!”
“Then what about the soldiers who died because of the rebellion you instigated?”
“...!”
“What about the Kyiv Kingdom’s citizens that were almost exploited by the Salut Kingdom you colluded with?”
“T-That was...”
“You seemed fine toying with other people’s lives, yet you don’t want your wife and kid to suffer?” Siegfried said in a tone so spine-chilling that everyone listening to him shivered in horror. Then, he continued, “You also tried to sprinkle chili powder on my rice bowl, didn’t you?”
“I-I apologize! I beg of you like this! Please, spare them—“
“Nope~ Drag him away~” Siegfried waved his hand and ordered the Proatine Kingdom’s marines waiting beside him.
The marines replied with a salute, “Yes! Your Majesty!”
Then, they grabbed Count Oslo and dragged him out of the throne room.
“N-No! Aaaack! Noooo! King Siegfried! Your Majesty! I am begging you! Please! Pleaaaseee!”
Count Oslo’s desperate screams reverberated throughout the throne room, but Siegfried did not rescind his command.
“It’s time for you to reap what you sow,” Siegfried muttered under his breath.
Siegfried seemed aloof, but he knew how to be cold when needed.
***
A few days later...
“Your Majesty! Our eastern front has fallen!”
“Your Majesty! Our armies returning from the Kyiv Kingdom have been afflicted by the Curse of Decay!”
“Your Majesty! The Ephedrine Kingdom has invaded from the south and has conquered multiple forts!”
“Your Majesty! Infected people have started to appear in the capitol!”
George the Third received one bad news after the other while bedridden after suffering a stroke from high blood pressure.
Then, the worst of the bad news arrived...
“Y-Your Majesty! The coalition forces have started dividing our lands...!”
The Salut Kingdom was a powerhouse on the continent just a few days ago, yet it was now in danger of being ripped to shreds and divided as spoils.
This was the worst-case scenario, but there was nothing he could do while his kingdom was getting ravaged from the inside out.
A powerhouse? What could a powerhouse do without the vaccine and cure?
The Salut Kingdom boasted five hundred thousand soldiers, powerful knights, and a thriving economy. However, all of these were nothing in the face of the Curse of Decay spreading throughout its lands.
“Is this... the end...?” George the Third weakly muttered.
Then, shouts suddenly started ringing throughout the royal palace.
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
There was no such thing as a forever ally or forever enemy in diplomacy.
Siegfried could still remember this one lesson Michele had emphasized numerous times, and it was the basis of the strategy he came up with this time.
‘George the Third is almost screwed right now, right? What will the other kingdoms think? Will they be willing to help him?’
The answer was a resounding NO.
George the Third was on the verge of conquering the entirety of the Kyiv Kingdom, but what was likely going to happen if he ended up conquering the Kyiv Kingdom?
The Salut Kingdom would become even more powerful, and it was something that nobody would welcome regardless of whether they were friends or foes.
Anyone could tell just how much more arrogant George the Third was going to become once he conquered the Kyiv Kingdom, and no one wanted to see a stronger Salut Kingdom, as they knew the kind of person George the Third was through his actions in international gatherings.
Besides, the alliances formed by these kingdoms were more for their own benefits rather than so-called blood-forged alliances, so it was difficult to say they would be willing to stick their necks out for him.
This was the rift Siegfried was planning to exploit against George the Third, and the first thing he did was to call one of George the Third’s closest friends, King Stallone.
King Stallone ruled over the Ephedrine Kingdom, which was a powerful kingdom considered to be on par with the Salut Kingdom.
“Hello, King Stallone.”
— Hmm? If it isn’t King Siegfried van Proa...
King Stallone did not seem to be happy with Siegfried’s call, which was expected as one of George the Third’s closest friends.
— What business do you have with me that you’d call me? I don’t think we’re acquainted enough to call each other.
“But I do have business with you.”
— You do?
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
—What is this business you speak of? I’m a very busy person, so get to the point.
“I will,” Siegfried replied. He acted as courteous as possible while cursing King Stallone as a jerk inwardly. Then, he said with a smile, “I have a proposition for Your Majesty that will surely be to your liking!”
— Hmm? What can someone like you offer to someone like me?
“...”
— Pfft!
Siegfried had the urge to smash King Stallone’s head open, but he displayed superhuman self-control to not act on his impulse. Then, he put on his salesman face once again and courteously made his pitch, “I am well aware Your Majesty is in good relations with George the Third.”
— Hmm... I do, but I believe that’s none of your concern?
“I have spread the Curse of Decay all over the Salut Kingdom.”
— Ah, sure... Why should I care if you spread the Curse of Decay all over the Salut Kingd—huh?
King Stallone doubted his ears for a second.
— What?! You spread the Curse of Decay in the Salut Kingdom?!
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he explained, “I had some issues with His Majesty, George the Third, and I unleashed it out of anger...”
— Haha... You’re crazy... You’re on borrowed time knowing George’s temper...
“I am aware of that, and that is why I have called Your Majesty.”
— Hmm?
“This is an opportunity, Your Majesty.”
— An opportunity?
“I have heard that His Majesty, King George the Third, had publicly denounced your opinions and humiliated Your Majesty!”
— T-That was...! Ahem!
“But what do you think is going to happen once His Majesty, George the Third, overcomes this crisis and successfully conquers the Kyiv Kingdom? I believe he will become even more brazen in his attempts to humiliate Your Majesty!”
— ...!
“He is already rude despite your kingdoms being of equal strength and Your Majesties being friends! Does Your Majesty really think that he will treat you better once he conquers the Kyiv Kingdom? That couldn't be further from the truth!”
— T-That is...! Ahem! I think...
“I have heard tales and songs of Your Majesty’s reputation. You were a man of honor and loyalty before you were king, and people look up to you for your righteousness!”
Of course, there were neither such tales nor songs circling around regarding King Stallone, and this was a lie Siegfried cleverly improvised and crafted on the spot.
“But George the Third had repeatedly betrayed Your Majesty’s loyalty, and he even dared to humiliate you in front of others!”
— He did... do that...
“Your Majesty! A good friend is someone who understands you even if you do not say a single word! But what about George the Third? Has he ever understood Your Majesty?”
— Ahem...
“Your Majesty! I am well aware you are an honorable and loyal person, but why would you remain loyal to someone who does not value your honor and loyalty? Alas! It is only wise for Your Majesty to sever all ties with such a dishonorable friend and focus on your kingdom’s benefit instead!”
— My kingdom’s benefit... Yes, that’s right. I am a king, and I should prioritize my people before others.
“Ghouls currently overrun the Salut Kingdom, and they neither possess vaccines nor cures for the Curse of Decay! If Your Majesty makes a big decision right now, then...”
— A big decision...?
“If Your Majesty may forgive me for my insolence, I would advise Your Majesty to act with haste. George the Third has a lot of enemies, and helping him will be the last thing on their minds at this stage...”
— ...!
“I do not doubt one bit that Your Majesty, King Stallone the Wise, will make the right decision. Then, I will excuse myself...” Siegfried said and hung up. Then, he smirked and muttered, “Another one has bitten the bait.”
He proceeded to call the next king and repeated the exact same thing. He hung up with that king and dialed the next one and then another one...
***
The next morning, good news was delivered to the throne room of the Kyiv Kingdom.
“Your Majesty! The rebels have started to scatter! Most of the officers have either surrendered or committed suicide!”
But that was not the end of the good news...
“Your Majesty! We've managed to capture Count Oslo alive!”
Count Oslo was the strategist who had helped Taranis with the rebellion, and he was also the traitor who had coaxed George the Third into invading the Kyiv Kingdom. He was dreaming of a rosy future riding on the backs of George the Third, but his dreams were shattered the moment George the Third pulled his armies back. Then, he was captured while trying to escape and seek refuge in another kingdom.
The knights dragged him in and forced him to his knees, “Kneel to the king, you filthy traitor!”
“...”
Count Oslo did not utter a single word. His head was down, and he did not move a single muscle.
“Oslo! You colluded with the traitor, Taranis, to overthrow His Majesty! On top of that, you even coaxed another kingdom to invade your homeland! Do you call yourself a human being after doing that?!” Duke Undertaker shouted.
“...”
“You deserve to be ripped into a thousand pieces and fed to the fishes, yet His Majesty is gracious! What are you doing?! Hurry and seek forgiveness for your sins from His Majesty at once!”
“Seek forgiveness... for my sins?” Count Oslo muttered before he looked up, smirked, and sneered, “You’re going to kill me anyway, so why should I seek forgiveness?”
“You dare to insult His Majesty?!”
“Just kill me and get it over with,” Count Oslo scowled. Then, he flashed a defeated smile and said, “I don’t plan to beg for forgiveness from a kid. I’ve accepted my fate, so don’t expect to hear what you want from me—“
“Excuse me~” Siegfried raised his hand. Then, he asked, “May I say something~?”
“Of course, Uncle,” King Allen replied.
“Thank you, nephew~” Siegfried coyly said. Then, his eyes flashed as he suggested, “Let’s not kill him.”
“Y-Your Majesty! A traitor like him deserves to be killed a hundred—no, a thousand times over! Why would you spare a traitor like him?!” Duke Undertaker retorted.
“It’s a waste to kill him.”
“Pardon me...?”
“We can make him suffer until he dies a natural death from old age, so why should we grant him a painless quick death?” Siegfried said with a shrug.
“...!”
“I have this mine at my kingdom where criminals get sent to work, and they usually end up begging for death after spending a week there.”
“T-There is a place like that...?”
Siegfried shrugged once again and replied, “I was bored, so I made one. Whoever enters that mine suffers excruciating agony, yet they will never be able to die. Why? I’ve placed the best Healers in my kingdom to heal them just enough so they don’t die—everyday. Hehehe...”
“H-How can someone be so evil...?!”
“Ah, I even ask the Saintess of the Constantine Holy Empire to save those on the verge of dying.”
“...?!”
“We also have a special course designed for our VIPs. We burn them alive on a stake with a hose pumping healing potion directly into their heart, which allows them to roast quite nicely for thirty straight days without dying!”
Silence fell upon the throne room the moment Siegfried finished speaking.
‘H-He’s a demon!’
‘How can a human being think of such torture methods?! That’s not something a human would come up with!’
‘W-Who in their right mind would use a Saintess’ holy powers for torture...?’
The officials of the Kyiv Kingdom turned ghastly pale after hearing of Siegfried’s ingenious torture methods. This was their first time hearing of someone burning a person alive while making sure that they wouldn't die, and that was probably the cruelest thing they had ever heard of in their entire lives.
“I think he’s trying to act tough, but I guarantee you he will drop his act the moment the flames lick his skin. Ah, I forgot one important step before that,” Siegfried said with a smile. Then, his eyes flashed once again as he continued, “He will definitely change his mind when he watches his family burn the same way right in front of his eyes. I will guarantee this personally.”
“...!”
“Let’s see if he can keep up the same act while watching his wife and kid he had abandoned for his own ambitions—“
“P-Please! No! Anything but that!” Count Oslo cried out. Then, his eyes shot wide open as he asked, “Are... Are they still alive?! They’re not dead?!”
Siegfried flashed a spine-chilling smile and sneered, “Oh~? Look at how he reacted the moment I mentioned his family~ Kekeke! You were prepared to replace them like a pair of old boots a few weeks ago, so how come you've changed your mind after hearing that they were still alive?”
“S-Sir! No, King Siegfried! Your Majesty! If they are indeed alive, then please spare them at least! B-Burn me instead! That should be enough to make amends with King Allen!”
“Then what about the soldiers who died because of the rebellion you instigated?”
“...!”
“What about the Kyiv Kingdom’s citizens that were almost exploited by the Salut Kingdom you colluded with?”
“T-That was...”
“You seemed fine toying with other people’s lives, yet you don’t want your wife and kid to suffer?” Siegfried said in a tone so spine-chilling that everyone listening to him shivered in horror. Then, he continued, “You also tried to sprinkle chili powder on my rice bowl, didn’t you?”
“I-I apologize! I beg of you like this! Please, spare them—“
“Nope~ Drag him away~” Siegfried waved his hand and ordered the Proatine Kingdom’s marines waiting beside him.
The marines replied with a salute, “Yes! Your Majesty!”
Then, they grabbed Count Oslo and dragged him out of the throne room.
“N-No! Aaaack! Noooo! King Siegfried! Your Majesty! I am begging you! Please! Pleaaaseee!”
Count Oslo’s desperate screams reverberated throughout the throne room, but Siegfried did not rescind his command.
“It’s time for you to reap what you sow,” Siegfried muttered under his breath.
Siegfried seemed aloof, but he knew how to be cold when needed.
***
A few days later...
“Your Majesty! Our eastern front has fallen!”
“Your Majesty! Our armies returning from the Kyiv Kingdom have been afflicted by the Curse of Decay!”
“Your Majesty! The Ephedrine Kingdom has invaded from the south and has conquered multiple forts!”
“Your Majesty! Infected people have started to appear in the capitol!”
George the Third received one bad news after the other while bedridden after suffering a stroke from high blood pressure.
Then, the worst of the bad news arrived...
“Y-Your Majesty! The coalition forces have started dividing our lands...!”
The Salut Kingdom was a powerhouse on the continent just a few days ago, yet it was now in danger of being ripped to shreds and divided as spoils.
This was the worst-case scenario, but there was nothing he could do while his kingdom was getting ravaged from the inside out.
A powerhouse? What could a powerhouse do without the vaccine and cure?
The Salut Kingdom boasted five hundred thousand soldiers, powerful knights, and a thriving economy. However, all of these were nothing in the face of the Curse of Decay spreading throughout its lands.
“Is this... the end...?” George the Third weakly muttered.
Then, shouts suddenly started ringing throughout the royal palace.
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
“For the Proatine Kingdom!”
