I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 101

 

101. Negotiation

 

Countless variables occur in war.

 

Various situations arose, whether in good or bad ways. And the problems that emerged from them.

 

From the Alesia Kingdom’s perspective, it was precisely the supply problem.

 

Currently there were two fronts.

 

Namely the northeastern front and the southeastern front. Originally the main force was planned to move northeast.

 

That changed when the southeastern unit (Count Platice) was annihilated.

 

‘Even when we penetrated so deeply, we thought it was our victory.’

 

The supply route was not completed.

 

And this immediately acted as bad news. But once again that bad news turned into good news.

 

Cliff’s landing on the southern coast.

 

Added to that, though hard to believe, the Alpeo Kingdom’s navy suffered near-annihilation damage.

 

“Heh heh heh.”

 

To Duke Dario who was commanding this war, it was a completely unbelievable report.

 

“Is this information that just came in true? No matter how I look at it… it seems like enemy deception?”

 

“I think so too. But for deception, the rumor is too absurd.”

 

Absurd.

 

The adjutant’s report was exactly accurate.

 

‘It’s information no one can believe.’

 

If they intended to deceive them, they wouldn’t have created such an impossible story. They should have made slightly more believable, plausible information.

 

But reality didn’t need that. Sometimes unbelievable things happened in reality.

 

“…So you’re saying the Elimis Family really won a naval battle against them and succeeded in landing.”

 

“That’s not all. Since Alpeo’s navy suffered near-total annihilation, all their coastlines have fallen under the Elimis Family’s influence.”

 

Supply through the sea would be possible from now on.

 

No means remained for the Alpeo Kingdom to stop this. It was the possibility of securing naval supremacy and definitely leading the war advantageously.

 

“They say whoever controls the sea dominates the continent…”

 

The balance of war had greatly collapsed.

 

Duke Dario smiled broadly.

 

“…Good. Move the troops. Advance the army to where Baron Elimis is.”

 

The rumors seemed to be true.

 

As the Alesia Kingdom moved, the Alpeo Kingdom tried to block their advance.

 

But they also hesitated to send troops to where Cliff was.

 

‘It’s true we need to drive them out. But the fact that dozens of ships of Count Rokaruten’s army were defeated means their military strength is ridiculously strong…’

 

They didn’t know how much force to send.

 

If they sent too little, they’d suffer like the navy, and if they sent plenty, they couldn’t block the Alesia Kingdom army at the front.

 

From the Alpeo Kingdom’s perspective, it became very troublesome.

 

In the end, there was only one choice they could make.

 

“A surrender delegation has come.”

 

Surrender.

 

More precisely, a proposal to end the war.

 

And it was negotiations for this purpose.

 

Around that time, another person visited the command of this battlefield.

 

“…Prime Minister?”

 

“I heard the news. If it’s true, I thought guests from Alpeo would have come by now.”

 

Duke Dario looked at the Prime Minister with a tired face.

 

‘Still a ghost-like person.’

 

The Duke who was the kingdom’s strategist.

 

The reason he still reigned at the kingdom’s peak appeared here.

 

“Just as the Duke predicted, envoys have arrived.”

 

The Duke was a prophet who saw the future.

 

It didn’t mean he could really know the future. Just that he had the talent to accurately predict subsequent events.

 

That alone was terrifying.

 

The Prime Minister smiled.

 

“…Forget about them. Keep them detained here appropriately. Don’t let them know I’ve come.”

 

Then why had such a big shot like the Duke come here?

 

To Duke Dario who was pondering, the Duke with a slight smile said.

 

“The ceasefire negotiations are just a pretext anyway. What they want is justification to hold up our advance even briefly. They probably have no intention of really surrendering or ending this war as is.”

 

So the real negotiation venue wasn’t here.

 

The Duke said.

 

“I’m going… to Serdoin.”

 

The corners of the Duke’s mouth rose as he spoke.

 

‘I never thought I’d reunite with that boy in this way…’

 

He knew Cliff well.

 

And Cliff also knew him well. Probably Cliff too would know he was coming and be waiting.

 

The Duke recalled what he had said to Count Platice in the past.

 

The story of the next generation.

 

‘Perhaps… that matter might happen faster than now.’

 

The Platice Family surpassing his family.

 

Perhaps he might see that sight in his own generation.

 

Timed with that period, secret envoys also headed toward Cliff.

 

“If you come to our Alpeo Kingdom, we’ll give you all the southern seas that Count Rokaruten had, and command authority over the navy.”

 

Naval forces that were already as good as annihilated.

 

It wasn’t simply saying they’d hand that over. It was authority to mobilize navies from all coastal territories.

 

Also, it meant giving operational and command authority when a massive allied fleet was formed.

 

“Also, the Alpeo Kingdom will appoint you as Duke and recognize all your territories on the Yusta Peninsula.”

 

Cliff held the key to this war.

 

That was the Alpeo Kingdom’s judgment.

 

‘The damage from losing all our navy is painful, but that’s why we must make this person our person.’

 

Cliff had absorbed Count Rokaruten’s army almost entirely.

 

So if they absorbed him, the possibility of naval strength weakening was also low. Rather, they could become stronger at sea than now.

 

‘This person is someone we must obtain.’

 

So the Alpeo Kingdom was desperate.

 

“If you wish, we’ll marry you to an unmarried princess of the royal family, give you the status of royal son-in-law, and let you use all taxes from the Yusta Peninsula.”

 

Was that all?

 

“Also, five southern territories will become your vassals to serve you.”

 

Every proposal that came out was indeed tempting for Cliff.

 

There was no stopping them one by one.

 

“…!”

 

The people of the Berkheim and Renheim families looked at Cliff with surprise and awe.

 

Truly incredible results had emerged.

 

‘Just with the victories so far, Baron Elimis has become a tremendous figure…’

 

Gradually they felt fortunate to have bowed their heads to Cliff in advance.

 

Cliff was growing faster than their imagination.

 

Just becoming the heir of Platice was amazing, but securing the route to the Rajahara Sea and such power.

 

And the sight of smashing the Alpeo Kingdom’s navy through this was enough to inspire awe.

 

And now he was receiving the Alpeo Kingdom’s shocking appeasement proposal.

 

“…Please accept it. There’s no loyalty to uphold to the homeland anyway, is there?”

 

Baron Renheim subtly advised Cliff.

 

He had his reasons for this.

 

The Renhain Family was originally a mercenary family.

 

‘I should earn what I was paid for.’

 

He had received bribes from the Kingdom of Alpeo.

 

Among those who actually joined Cliff’s fleet this time, he was the only one who held noble rank alongside Cliff. So from the Kingdom of Alpeo’s perspective, they approached him first.

 

And this too was Cliff’s intention.

 

-Baron, please meet with them personally once. You’ll probably be able to receive a suitable gift.

 

Cliff had said this much.

 

You’ll be able to receive a gift.

 

‘He’s saying he won’t criticize me even if I accept their gift.’

 

And in return for accepting that bribe, Baron Renheim would speak favorably for them.

 

But whether Cliff would actually listen to those words was unknown.

 

‘I felt it before, but this young man is truly frightening.’

 

Through this, he secured benefits for the allied Renhain Family, yet still wouldn’t be swayed by the Kingdom of Alpeo.

 

Though he usually didn’t disregard Baron Renheim, his current indifferent attitude showed this clearly.

 

‘Hehe.’

 

Baron Renheim understood this situation.

 

Cliff’s mouth opened.

 

“Haven’t you looked into where I’m from?”

 

He mentioned his own origins.

 

The Kingdom of Alpeo nobles flinched. It wasn’t because they knew Cliff was the Prime Minister’s illegitimate son.

 

Baron Elimis’s origins hadn’t been revealed to the Kingdom of Alpeo in the first place. Still, there was something they did know.

 

‘The successor of Count Platice who died in this war.’

 

Precisely that he was Count Platice’s son.

 

Though he was adopted, it was difficult to distinguish such details. The Kingdom of Alpeo simply knew him as the successor Count Platice.

 

“The homeland also regrets past events. If you wish, we’ll capture all those who betrayed your late father and deliver them to you.”

 

Regret over Count Platice’s death in battle.

 

Also, the Serpal mercenaries who had betrayed Count Platice. A promise to hand over their custody to Cliff.

 

‘That would make the atmosphere quite turbulent.’

 

It was their will to win over Cliff even if it meant doing that.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Cliff showed interest in these words.

 

That was enough.

 

“Actually, we’ve already brought five of the ringleaders from that time. If you wish, we’ll hand over their custody right here.”

 

Proof that the above promise would definitely be kept.

 

“We have absolutely no intention of fighting with you.”

 

Those words, at least, were true.

 

Right now, Cliff himself held the upper hand.

 

‘As long as I have power, that is.’

 

He was confident he could continue holding the upper hand. Controlling the sea was an undeniably powerful force in this region.

 

“There’s nothing special you need to do. Just leave here and return to the Lord’s Domain. And don’t interfere until the war ends.”

 

There was nothing else Cliff particularly needed to do.

 

Rights without obligations.

 

“How about it?”

 

All conditions favored Cliff.

 

‘But I can’t really join hands with those who would betray the Serpal people who had already come to them.’

 

Still, he gave a positive response for now.

 

There was no other reason.

 

‘This way, they’ll hand over custody of the Serpal figures to us.’

 

That was about all Cliff wanted.

 

However, the real negotiation table wasn’t with these Alpeo nobles. The Kingdom of Alpeo had probably sent a negotiation team to the homeland as well.

 

‘That’s where they’ll be false.’

 

There they would speak as if surrendering while coordinating conditions. During that time, they could halt the war.

 

And they would use this time to win over Cliff himself.

 

Cliff was similar as well.

 

These people weren’t his negotiators.

 

‘It should be about time for arrival…’

 

If it was ‘that person’ he was thinking of, they would definitely appear here.

 

To prevent him from going over to the Kingdom of Alpeo.

 

“My lord.”

 

It was during his negotiations with the Kingdom of Alpeo nobles.

 

Keren approached with a stern face. Soon Keren reported directly into Cliff’s ear.

 

“Duke Aidren has arrived.”

 

Words whispered into Cliff’s ear, seemingly mindful of the Kingdom of Alpeo nobles in front.

 

Upon hearing this, the corners of Cliff’s mouth rose.

 

‘Finally, he’s come.’

 

Duke Aidren.

 

It was a visit from the homeland’s Prime Minister.

 

He would be reuniting with his biological father in a foreign country, something he never imagined when they parted.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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