Chapter 135

“We’ve gone and done it now…”

Claudia said in a tone of exasperation, and Gwen averted his gaze.

The four of them gathered around the carriage, a short distance from the chief’s house, for a session of reflection.

Gwen didn’t intend to say anything wrong. He couldn’t bring himself to put on a submissive smile there for the sake of those who had died and those who needed to be kept alive. However, whether that behavior was the correct conduct for a negotiator was undoubtedly a mistake.

Enduring the unbearable to seek only results was a challenging concept for Gwen, who was just starting his career as a ruler. Claudia also understood Gwen’s sentiments well, so she refrained from blaming him any further.

“Well, I don’t think continuing the conversation there would have led to successful negotiations, right?”

“Isn’t that so?”

“We’ve just made it impossible to carry over to the next negotiation.”

“Oh yes…”

When parting ways, it’s essential to leave a positive impression and maintain connections. However, in this case, it wasn’t as if they would have been well-received if they had continued the conversation. Claudia recognized this to an extent. While resolving matters through discussion was vital, thinking that everything could be solved through discussion was a mistake.

“So, what do we do from here?”

Ricardo asked in his usual unaffected tone. His role was that of a guard, so he didn’t care whether the negotiations succeeded or failed.

…I was in that position not too long ago.

Gwen found Ricardo’s casual attitude both irritating and somewhat enviable.

“We’ve done all we can, but it didn’t work out. Shouldn’t we give up and look for another profitable opportunity?”

In response to Lutz’s words, Claudia placed her hand on her chin, lost in thought.

This caused Gwen to become agitated. Initially, he had joined them as a guide, but since feeling the necessity to enrich the entire country, he had become the most enthusiastic advocate for trade.

“Wait, are we giving up just like that?”

“We’ve come this far; that’s why we’re giving up.”

They had exhausted all options; anything more would just be in vain. Claudia’s eyes conveyed this message. The fact that they were in a foreign land and enemy territory also reinforced Claudia’s judgment.

Pushing too hard might turn it into an international problem, or they might be attacked again.

The war had only just ended, and the embers of hatred were still smoldering. Even individuals with a good sense of ethics, who were not bandits, might think that anything was permissible when dealing with people from the kingdom.

…Are they abandoning us? No, did we push away the hand that was extended to us?

Gwen wanted Claudia to reconsider, but he couldn’t come up with any alternative solutions. Furthermore, he was the one who had disrupted the negotiations or brought them to an end. He couldn’t speak too presumptuously.

Remembering the chief’s rude attitude, Claudia felt a sense of detachment, as if the matter were unrelated to her.

Compared to that stubborn old man, the fact that the Third Princess Listille always adored her as “Claudia-sama” was truly endearing. They needed to find a new profitable opportunity for her sake. There was no time left to invest in this country.

“Well then…”

Just as Claudia was about to suggest going back, Gwen stopped her with his hand.

“Hold on, there’s no need to rush. Shouldn’t we take a look around the village? We might find some hints for a solution.”

It might be pointless, but since Gwen had guided them this far, they couldn’t ignore his suggestion. If it would appease him, everyone else also agreed.

The village seemed gloomy no matter where they looked, lacking vitality overall. And yet, the guards were strangely spirited. Somehow, even the livestock appeared thin and underfed.

As an organization, it wasn’t particularly healthy. Gwen’s mood sank even further.

Shouts could be heard from the direction of the stable. Upon looking, it seemed that a slave with a neck shackle was being scolded. There appeared to be some problem with cleaning the horse manure, as the man who seemed to be the owner of the stable was angrily berating him, his face beet red.

The slave appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but his hair and beard were unkempt, making it hard to determine. It seemed that he wasn’t from this country. Perhaps he had been captured during the war and then made into a slave.

If the princess were to learn that soldiers who had fought desperately for the country were turned into slaves, she would undoubtedly be saddened. However, if they were to unconditionally accept such unfortunate individuals, the pioneering village would quickly fall into ruin.

Claudia intended to look away and pretend she hadn’t seen, but she was a little too late, as she was noticed by the man.

Faced with irrational anger, the man who had been bowing his head submissively now approached them with a look on his face as if he had met an angel in hell, jingling his ankle chains as he hurried over.

“Hey, are you folks from the kingdom? Help me out, rescue me from here!”

His pace was slow, and he was immediately seized by the man who resembled an ox in build, grabbed by the collar and slammed to the ground.

“Quite the guts you have, running away when someone is talking. I’ll smear horse manure all over that filthy face of yours.”

“Sto… stop it! Please, stop!”

The man smiled with satisfaction at the slave’s screams. Naturally, he had no intention of stopping; if he abused the slave, he would cry out in an even more pleasing voice.

“Oh, what’s this? You wanna show off, huh?”

The man resembling an ox responded with a menacing growl, but Ricardo, who was becoming increasingly irritated by the sight of his compatriot being harmed, stepped forward.

“If you’re not here to show off, then take your little performance back home. Making a shameful ruckus like this on a public road is disgraceful.”

“It seems the brats from the kingdom have no manners, huh?”

The ox-like man and the hero glared at each other, and a proxy war of inevitable escalation ensued.

“Ricardo, don’t draw your sword.”

If they couldn’t avoid a fight, then at least spare them from killing each other, Lutz advised. Ricardo grinned and rotated his right shoulder in response.

“Leave it to me. I’ll put them to sleep with one satisfying blow.”

“Don’t stand and talk in your sleep!”

A tree-trunk-like arm swung, and a fist pierced Ricardo’s face. It was a powerful blow so intense that one might think his head would be severed from his body.

However, Ricardo didn’t fall. The moment the fist hit, he twisted his own neck to kill its momentum. While he didn’t escape completely unscathed, he managed to remain conscious.

As if returning the favor, Ricardo clenched his fist and drove it into the man’s side. The impact was so strong that Ricardo’s footprints were clearly imprinted on the ground where he stepped.

“Grrgh…”

Groaning while vomiting stomach acid, the man fell to the ground in agony.

“What a peculiar country where a two-legged pig blabbers.” 

Ricardo said while looking down at the writhing man. His nose was still bleeding, so his appearance wasn’t particularly impressive.

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