Having overcome his psychological barrier, Guarman Rodlin finally returned to the Shang League, and with the help of Duke Kaman, he would establish a government in exile in Southern Madur in the capital of King Kaman. From the rout gathered by the Shang Alliance, select enough Southern Madur soldiers to form Rodrin's guard. The follow-up work will be decided in consultation with King Lucius.

However, Guarman's own intention was that once the government-in-exile was formally formed, they would return to Southern Madur as quickly as possible, where the New Third Army was still holding out. In Gualman's words, "That's her land, and she has to take that responsibility." ”

The internal affairs of the Business Alliance are progressing in an orderly manner, but the diplomatic mission to San Jose has encountered great difficulties. Let us once again turn our eyes away from the turmoil of the merchant alliance and look east, where a great controversy is taking place in the capital city of Kyoto, San Jose.

The diplomatic corps of the Merchant Alliance was personally led by the Duke of Tra. Duke Tra, a middle-aged man over forty years old, his name is Windsor Tra, and he has always been inconspicuous within the Business Alliance, and rarely participates in the affairs of the Business Alliance. But once a special event occurs, the Duke of Tra is always able to actively cooperate with the Shang Alliance, as was the case with the last Mozart rebellion, and this time the war between the Shang Alliance and De Rec is also the same.

In Duke Tra's mission, there is also a special person, Princess Lolita of San Jose. It's been half a year since she last left San Jose, but Lolita feels like a world away. In the past six months, the situation on the mainland has undergone tremendous changes, and half of the territory of the Shang Alliance has been lost, and it has been captured by the arrogant Desiks.

So this time back in San Jose, Lolita's mood was also uneasy.

Perhaps because the country of San Jose evolved from the Coalition Scholars Organization, the country's attitude towards war has always been disliked, even if the current war situation between the Shang Alliance and De Sick, the people of San Jose do not want to see De Sik sit big, and they still can't make up their minds to fully aid the Shang League.

In the first meeting between the Duke of Terra and the Emperor of Benin, the Duke of Terra expressed the meaning of the current headquarters of the Shang Alliance: with the current military strength of Desik, it is completely impossible to resist De Sik by relying only on the strength of the existing three southwestern countries of the Shang Alliance and the remnants of tens of thousands of troops. A unified Desik Empire is not in San José's interests, and a merchant alliance that stubbornly resists Desik should be what San Jose would like to see the most.

The Emperor of Benin did not object to the arguments of the Shang League's envoys, and San José was willing to help the Shang League against Desik. But, in the words of Dirk, the chief minister of the San Jose cabinet: San Jose is not ready for war, and they cannot and are not willing to start a war with De Rec right now. In the final analysis, the war is still between the two countries of Desik and the Merchant Alliance.

San Jose was willing to drag Desik back and stumble, but it would not be in the interests of the Empire and sorry for the people of the Empire to let San Jose directly participate in the war.

The Duke of Tra was silent for a long time before he spoke again, "Then the Emperor of Benin, what do you mean?"

"Limited military contributions, negotiable financial assistance. We can provide a large number of interest-free loans to the business alliance to purchase our military supplies and daily necessities. At the same time, our diplomatic envoys will send a diplomatic initiative to Desik, calling on the two countries to sit down and negotiate a peaceful settlement of the dispute. ”

Duke Tra almost laughed angrily, "According to the intention of the Emperor of Benin, our merchant alliance can borrow your San Jose's money and buy your San Jose's military supplies, and then our lost territory will be retrieved through your San Jose's mediation with De Sick?"

The deputy envoy behind the Duke of Tra hurriedly grabbed the Duke and whispered a few words in his ear, and the Duke of Tra stopped his anger and bid farewell to the Emperor of Benin very unpleasantly, saying that the envoys of the Business Alliance wanted to discuss the proposal of the Emperor of Benin internally.

Lolita also left as a representative of the Shang Alliance, and before leaving, she glanced back at the Emperor of Benin and said nothing.

The merchant alliance who returned to the embassy couldn't help but scold, and Duke Tra was even more angry to smash the furnishings in the embassy, and then said to the embassy staff in San Jose who came to check, "You stand aside and take a note, and I will compensate you three times for all losses." ”

Naturally, the staff of the embassy did not dare to offend Duke Tra, who was a duke, so they had to silently let him vent. It is no wonder that the Duke of Terra is so angry that the proposal given by the people of San Jose is completely insincere, and is basically based on the interests of San Jose. In the words of the Duke of Tra, the whole country of San Jose got into the eyes of money, and they wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune in the war.

Lolita on the side is nothing, although she is a princess, she doesn't have much affection for the country of San Jose. Duke Terra, who calmed down after getting angry, was a little frustrated, no matter what, even if San Jose was not sincere, the Shang Alliance had to pinch his nose and make compromises. After all, with the current situation, without the help of San Jose, the blade of the Desik people is something that the merchant alliance cannot resist.

"Princess Lolita, what do you see?" asked Duke Tra in a low voice to Lolita.

"You don't need to say it, Lord Duke, I know what I should do, and in the evening, I will go to the Red Keep and ask my father again. In any case, no matter how powerful and profitable the people of San Jose are, a complete and unified De Rec should not conform to San Jose's last wishes. ”

That night, Princess Lolita quietly entered the Red Keep without a single guard or servant.

"Lolita, I know why you're here. In the first words of the meeting, the Emperor of Benin was in good spirits and looked very satisfied. Lolita looked at the "spirit lamp" on the table that had not been taken away, and at the same time saluted Master Moning on the side. Mage Mourning is a high-level mage of court magicians, and Lolita, who is also a court magician, still respects him quite a lot.

"I know why you're here, Lolita," the Emperor of Benin continued, "though you're from San Jose, you've lived in the Chamber of Commerce for too long, so are you here to persuade me to accept the League's proposal?"

Lolita nodded, "Yes, my majesty. In any case, we and the business alliance have the same interests in this matter. ”

The Emperor of Benin smiled, "Do you know what profit is paramount? I may be a mediocre emperor in your eyes, but I am not a fool, Lolita." Dirk and his Imperial Council also had their opinions, and all the decisions they made were for the benefit of San Jose. However, the interests of San Jose are not necessarily the interests of our royal family, so there are some things, even if I am the emperor of San Jose, I have to compromise with them. ”

Lolita was silent for a moment and continued, "No matter what the cabinet thinks, it is definitely not a good thing to completely unify the Desik Empire in the western region. Once they have completely conquered the west, the Desik Empire will become a huge super-empire that spans the north and south of the continent, and they will have the fertile lands of the Shang Alliance and the upper reaches of the Morro River, which will militarily form a multi-bread clamp for San Jose. My Majesty, will this be a good thing?"

"Of course I know what you mean, and so does the Imperial Council. Cabinet ministers are experienced politicians, they are not fools. But once we send direct military aid to the Merchant Alliance, it is tantamount to declaring war on Desik. Fighting is a death story, Lolita, and we in San Jose aren't prepared for that, you know?"

"The question is", Lolita also looked a little angry, "Even if you don't want to directly intervene in the war, will Hinder Silke stop them?Since they have already eaten a merchant alliance, will they mind eating another San Jose? The corpse of the Magic Empire has been cold for a thousand years, and the city of Kyoto in San Jose is not the next Magic Empire!"

The Emperor of Benin froze, he didn't expect Lolita to say such a thing, but in retrospect, this illegitimate daughter had always been such a maverick. Thinking about the dead Prince Ferdinand, the former crown prince of Desic, Benin somewhat understands why Lolita is on the side of the merchant alliance. yes, Lolita herself hates Desik quite a lot.

"Okay Lolita, I think I get what you mean. In fact, the cabinet ministers of the Imperial Council themselves are also arguing about this matter, and tomorrow we will hold another cabinet meeting, you go back and appease the Duke of Tra, and we will inform them as soon as we have a decision. ”

Lolita didn't get up immediately, "My Majesty, it stands to reason that I am your illegitimate daughter and a native of San Jose, but the experience in the Shang Alliance in the past few years has made me deeply fall in love with a business alliance country like Kaman, I hope His Majesty the Emperor can consider my words carefully and not be blinded by interests." Momentary benefits are not necessarily benefits, and momentary efforts may be able to get more rewards. ”

Lolita, who returned to the Merchant Alliance's Embassy Pavilion, was immediately surrounded by everyone, and Duke Tra asked anxiously, "How is it?" Lolita shook her head, "The attitude of the Emperor of Benin is uncertain, according to his meaning, it seems that the San Jose cabinet has not made up its mind how to intervene in this war for half a year. But I think it's time to make up your mind. ”

Duke Tra stood for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, "It seems that we must find a new way out, and it is not foolproof to pin our hopes on San Jose." ”

Lolita suddenly pulled Duke Tra aside: "I mean, even if San Jose is not willing to give us military aid, we can take as much as we can." I have a hunch that the ambitions of the Desik people are not just business alliances!"

"What do you mean?" Duke Tra instantly understood what Lolita meant, "You mean, the Desic still covet San Jose? That's San Jose, with a population of tens of millions, hundreds of thousands of standing troops, advanced mechanical technology, and court magicians!

"Nothing is impossible!" Lolita shook her head, "The Desiks have gone mad. I mean, we will take as much benefit as we can get first, and we will guard the three southwestern countries and wait and see what happens!"

Duke Tra nodded approvingly, "That's it." ”