“If it’s an insult to tell the truth, whose fault is that?”
Giada pressed the viscount’s vassals as the captain of the republic. The situation was disadvantageous for the viscount’s side.
There was no backing from the surroundings, and Johan’s power was in full swing.
Time was needed. Even the vassals most loyal to the Emperor did not refuse to make peace with Johan.
The problem was that Johan’s side had no reason to accept it. If so, something had to be taken from the other party.
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Send a high-ranking relative of Your Excellency as a hostage. You’ll have to do that much for us to believe you.”
“!!”
“At the same time, as an expression of your repentance for the past sacrileges, make offerings to the church.”
The vassals’ faces stiffened. Of course, they didn’t think the other party would just accept it, but it came out stronger than they had anticipated.
To send a high-ranking relative of the viscount as a hostage and make offerings for what they had done to the church. Both were difficult conditions to easily accept.
“That. . . that’s too much to ask.”
“Right! To take your excellency’s own flesh and blood as hostage. Isn’t that absurd?”
“Then let’s just say there was no peace agreement! It doesn’t seem like either side would regret it!”
Giada bluffed with confidence. As always, he could yell loudly from the advantageous side.
The vassals sweated as they begged for time. It was too extreme a demand that they needed time to discuss.
“Do you think they’ll accept it?”
“They can’t completely reject it, but I think they’ll accept it to some extent. How far are you willing to accommodate them, Your Excellency?”
Giada asked, counting with his fingers.
“Sending a lower-ranking relative among the kin and reducing the amount of the donation is acceptable.”
Of course, the donation was to the church, not shared between the church and Johan.
Perhaps the viscount’s circumstances were dire now, so he would not be able to contribute it all at once, but would send it steadily over several years.
At Johan’s cold remarks, Giada was honestly surprised. For a young count with a reputation around here, he was too composed.
If it had been his cousin the bishop or other knights, they would not have accepted such a compromise.
As the situation was advantageous, they would have tried to get everything.
However, Johan was showing restraint here. It was a rare virtue.
“Don’t you feel tempted? You must be seeing them as an eyesore.”
“This Carquilano is a nice place to defend, but not so nice to come out of, so it’s not much of a threat. If they swear not to attack by sacrificing their relatives as hostages, I can turn a blind eye.”
He would like to get this fief or gain the loyalty of the viscount, but world affairs can’t always go as you want. Johan was prepared to compromise.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.’
A siege, if it went wrong, could waste years for nothing. Johan, who had just completed his territory, was not allowed such waste.
“Your Excellency is truly wise.”
Johan had one more expectation that he did not tell Giada.
Would the Emperor stand still after the viscount makes peace with Johan?
Of course, there was friendship between them, so the Emperor might understand.
However, the viscount was old.
After the viscount dies and his children inherit the position, will the Emperor still trust them?
This hospitality and negotiation was a process of planting seeds. They may not know now, but these seeds will sprout later.
Even if he can’t capture it now, later. . .
“!”
𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠!
While walking lost in thought, Johan felt something dart towards him and grabbed it with his hand.
𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡━
A well-made arrow was caught firmly in his palm.
“. . .?!”
“!”
The situation was so sudden that even the soldiers escorting Johan couldn’t react. They still hadn’t realized something had flown towards their employer.
“. . .Fall down, Your Highness! Fall down!”
In this chaotic situation, Giada came up with an amazing idea next to him. Hearing Giada’s whisper, Johan immediately understood his intention.
“Ugh!”
Johan bowed his body pretending he was hit by the arrow. The mercenaries screamed late. Giada shouted loudly.
“His Highness was hit by an arrow!! His Highness was hit by an arrow!!”
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
“I’m fine, calm down.”
The escorts were crying before they froze in surprise. Johan’s voice was perfectly fine.
Huh?
“What are you doing?! Cry, Your Highness!”
“Ah, I see. Sorry. I’ll cry again.”
“Uh. . .sob sob! Wah wah!”
“Take His Highness to a safe place!”
As the day was getting darker quickly, torches lit up everywhere in an instant. The mercenaries had screamed so loudly.
“Get out of the way! Get out of the way! His Highness has collapsed!”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
̇ȧ̇𝚠𝚎𝘣ṡ̇𝚝𝐨𝐫𝔦𝙚s.ᴄ𝔬𝐦
Emergency was declared in the Viscount’s camp.
Due to his old age, the Viscount couldn’t move around vigorously like Johan and was resting his tired body inside the castle. The etiquette of hospitality had also worn him out.
Even such a Viscount jumped up with a scream upon hearing the news.
“What kind of nonsense is that!”
“Could it be. . .a lie?”
“Sev. . .several slaves who were there saw and confirmed it! They said an arrow really flew in!”
The retainers’ faces were ashen blue, unable to get any paler. If an arrow really flew towards the Count. . .
The only ones who could have shot it were nobles under the Viscount. Outsiders couldn’t enter wherever the Count went. Only nobles under the Viscount were possible.
“What lunatic did that!”
“We must find and kill him!”
“This is not the time for that! How are the Count’s soldiers reacting?!”
A loyal army goes berserk several times more frighteningly when enraged. Upon hearing that their employer was hit by an arrow, the mercenaries must have been extremely furious.