I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 84

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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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#84

 

I cut off Viscount Valdir’s words and answered. Everyone’s gaze poured onto me.

 

Not only the diplomats from the Kingdom of Natsha, but even the nobles on our side looked at me as if they were dumbfounded.

 

As expected, they didn’t read the materials I gave them.

 

I had written about Kan’s value in there.

 

“Why can’t you hand over the territorial rights to Kan?”

 

The man next to Diane asked in a sharp tone.

 

“Please take a look at this.”

 

It was much better to show standardized materials than to explain a hundred times with words.

 

Diane’s eyes shook greatly as she checked the materials I handed over.

 

Baron Azef hastily reached out his hand.

 

“Give it here.”

 

The document passed into Baron Azef’s hands. His eyes moved up and down, quickly scanning through the document.

 

The Empire’s nobles stared intently at Baron Azef. Their faces showed curiosity about what the content was.

 

“What does it say?”

 

Viscount Valdir, sitting next to me, even asked subtly.

 

Not feeling it was worth answering, I cleanly ignored him.

 

“Count Tebesa.”

 

Viscount Valdir called me in a sharp tone, but I ignored this as well.

 

Finally, Baron Azef, who had finished reading the document, slightly frowned and put down the papers.

 

I looked at Baron Azef and said.

 

“As written in the document I showed you, the Randel Union was formed about 900 years ago when our Cardin Empire nobles settled on that island.”

 

To be precise, they had been swept to that island due to a shipwreck caused by rough seas and settled there.

 

In other words, the founder of the Randel Union was a person from the Cardin Empire.

 

“So it doesn’t make sense for the Kingdom of Natsha to claim they’re reclaiming the kingdom’s land.”

 

I methodically picked apart their words.

 

“If we’re going by that logic, our Empire should be the one demanding that the Kingdom of Natsha return our territory.”

 

Demanding territory back just because their ancestors were from the Empire was an absurd request, but they couldn’t say anything.

 

Of course they couldn’t. They were the ones who made such an absurd demand first.

 

But foolishly, the Empire’s nobles didn’t notice this and got caught up in their words.

 

Of course, the other side spoke quite logically, and since the Empire had caused damage to the Kingdom of Natsha several times, it was natural for our side to yield.

 

‘Still, we should say what needs to be said.’

 

No matter how much we had wronged them, it was absurd to just take it when they were making strange demands.

 

“Where’s the proof that the contents of this document are true?”

 

The man next to Diane said with a displeased face.

 

I smiled and returned the exact words they had used.

 

“There’s no proof it’s fake either.”

 

The man, left speechless, closed his mouth.

 

I observed Diane’s expression. She looked calm on the surface, but her eyes were shaking.

 

“If you really can’t believe it, I’ll show you the history books the Empire possesses. If that’s not enough, we can borrow history books from other countries as well.”

 

“…There’s no need to go that far.”

 

Diane returned the document she had received from Baron Azef to me.

 

“Because we already know. That the founder of our Kingdom of Natsha was a person from the Cardin Empire.”

 

As expected, they knew.

 

Well, of course they would have investigated. It was an event from 900 years ago, so it would be somewhat difficult to research, but it wasn’t information that couldn’t be found if you dug deep enough.

 

“However, the situation is completely different.”

 

Diane placed her hands on the desk and leaned her upper body toward me.

 

“900 years ago, merchants from the Cardin Empire settled on land that belonged to no one and created the Randel Union, but the Empire stole Kan, which was part of the Randel Union.”

 

“Stole!”

 

Salmon jumped up from his seat and shouted.

 

“Our Empire received Kan through legal procedures!”

 

Diane snorted and shot back.

 

“Legal procedures that the leader of Kan knew nothing about?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Salmon, having lost his words, quietly lowered his tail and sat down.

 

I glared at Salmon. I understood his feelings for the Empire, but he acted too hastily.

 

“Moreover, do you know how much damage our Kingdom of Natsha is suffering because of the pirates who use Kan as their base?”

 

Diane slammed the desk.

 

“Because their plundering is getting worse, trade with other countries including the Empire is becoming increasingly difficult.”

 

The Empire’s nobles, overwhelmed by her momentum, couldn’t make a peep.

 

“Yet we tried to take on the burden that the Empire couldn’t handle with good intentions, but if you’re going to act like this… fine.”

 

Diane twisted her lips sideways.

 

“Instead of Kan’s territorial rights, we’d like you to compensate for all the damage we’ve suffered so far.”

 

As if waiting for this moment, the man sitting at the very end held out a document.

 

The document contained details about damage compensation.

 

To think they had prepared this in advance too. They truly were opponents not to be underestimated.

 

The Empire’s nobles who read the compensation document from the Kingdom of Natsha all gasped and opened their mouths wide.

 

That was because the amount proposed by the Kingdom of Natsha was an enormous sum equivalent to half of the Empire’s annual tax revenue.

 

It would be much better to give up Kan instead.

 

“Choose. Will you give us Kan, or will you provide damage compensation?”

 

Diane asked with a triumphant smile.

 

I stared at her quietly and then nodded.

 

“Fine. We’ll hand over Kan as the Kingdom of Natsha desires.”

 

When I accepted more easily than expected, Diane and the Kingdom of Natsha’s diplomats looked at me with strange eyes.

 

“However, our Empire will not trade with the Kingdom of Natsha until the Kingdom of Natsha eliminates all the pirates.”

 

At my additional words, not only the Kingdom of Natsha’s diplomats but also the Empire’s nobles began to stir greatly.

 

Viscount Valdir looked at me with bewildered eyes. His expression also showed he didn’t understand.

 

Of course he wouldn’t understand. This was something I had contacted Kalian separately yesterday to ask about.

 

He looked like he wanted to ask me what I was talking about right away, but he couldn’t do so with others watching and swallowed his words.

 

Diane raised her eyebrows and glared at me.

 

“Are you threatening us now?”

 

“Threatening? That’s absurd. It’s just that we have no choice but to do so, so please understand.”

 

“What reason could there possibly be that you have no choice?”

 

Diane asked as if telling me to try explaining.

 

Since I had been waiting for those words, I immediately stated the reason I had prepared.

 

“Until now, the Empire continued trading with the Kingdom of Natsha despite the great losses from pirate raids because we wanted to take responsibility for it.”

 

But if Kan was handed over to the Kingdom of Natsha, there would be no responsibility for the problem, so the Empire had no reason to endure losses anymore.

 

At my words, Diane frowned deeply.

 

“The pirates became like that largely because the Empire didn’t properly manage Kan, yet you’re going to dump all that responsibility on us?”

 

“It was the Kingdom of Natsha that said you would take on the burden that we couldn’t handle.”

 

Once again, I returned their own words to them and shut their mouths.

 

“Or would the Kingdom of Natsha lend us naval forces and warships to escort our trading vessels every time they travel?”

 

“…You’re not asking to borrow them just once, are you.”

 

Why ask something so obvious?

 

“Of course not. You just need to provide support until the pirate problem is resolved.”

 

I answered with a smile.

 

“If pirates steal our goods, the Kingdom of Natsha will have to take responsibility for that. Since it’s a matter of escort.”

 

The expressions of the Natsha Kingdom Diplomatic Delegation, who now had to take on not only the pirate problem but also material losses, were all dark.

 

The country that the Kingdom of Natsha mainly traded with was precisely the Cardin Empire.

 

However, if the Empire declared it would not trade, the Kingdom of Natsha would suffer tremendous damage.

 

The Empire would also take a hit, but compared to the Kingdom of Natsha, it was at a manageable level.

 

Of course, if the Kingdom of Natsha made a show of eradicating the pirates, the problem would be solved, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. It would take at least several years.

 

Diane’s expression, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of this fact, inevitably contorted.

 

Baron Azef also showed his discomfort.

 

Diane consulted briefly with the others, then spoke as if doing us a favor.

 

“We’ll arrange for damage compensation instead of Kan.”

 

To say such a thing. She still hasn’t come to her senses. I refused sharply.

 

“I must decline. Kan’s value doesn’t amount to just the sum written here.”

 

Diane bit her lips tightly.

 

“…Do you really intend not to trade with us?”

 

“If the Kingdom of Natsha takes Kan, yes.”

 

“But you refused even when we said we’d accept compensation instead of Kan?”

 

“How can we accept it when the compensation the Kingdom of Natsha wants is unreasonably high?”

 

Whether they understood my answer as meaning we’d accept if they reduced the amount, they whispered among themselves again and presented a new figure.

 

It was less than the initially proposed amount, but still insufficient.

 

“May I propose a different alternative?”

 

“Please go ahead.”

 

“Before that, I’d like to first address the problems with Kan.”

 

Diane nodded with a somewhat suspicious expression, telling me to proceed.

 

“As everyone here knows, due to pirates establishing their base in Kan, not only are Kan’s residents suffering, but trade is facing difficulties in many ways.”

 

I stood up from my seat and looked around at everyone as I spoke.

 

“Therefore, His Majesty our Emperor hopes the Kingdom of Natsha would lend us their strength.”

 

“Are you asking us to eradicate the pirates together?”

 

“Yes.”

 

With the Kingdom of Natsha’s pride – their warships – and the Cardin Empire’s pride – our knights and mages – eradicating the pirates wouldn’t be a dream.

 

“So what benefit do we gain?”

 

Diane asked in a sharp tone.

 

Now the real beginning had arrived.

 

I took a short deep breath before answering.

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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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