Meeting

I look at the people that get down from the carriage. Two men get out of the carriage. One of them is a massive man around 196 cm tall with a broad body full of muscle. The other is not as big but still tall, around 186 cm tall. However, instead of the body of a bodybuilder, this man is lean but still packed with muscle.

"Welcome to my palace."

"Thank you for receiving us, your highness. My name is Bakun Xerias, a Duke of Variks Empire and the said empire's prime minister. This man is…."

"Jafariun Veltur, a Duke of Variks Empire."

I nod my head before saying.

"My name is Isaac Lionheart. Please let us get inside. The food has already been prepared and ready to eat."

Richard and I led my guest to the dining room, where both Lucina and Elizabeth were already waiting for me. When we get inside the dining room, I introduce them to my guests.

"Let me introduce my wives to you. This is Lucina Lionheart, and Elizabeth Lionheart, both of them are my wives."

If I'm still on Earth, I will be labeled as a weirdo or even be arrested by a cop as I broke the law for marrying two people at once. However, when I introduce both Eli and Lucina, my guests just nod their heads in acceptance.

"Please take a seat. You must be tired and hungry. We can begin the meeting later. Right now, we eat."

Both of my guests sit down on the chair while their guard stands behind them. I sit down on the lord chair and begin to eat. While eating my food, I decided to break the ice.

"So, lord Bakun. How is your journey?"

"It is fine, I guess. There was a problem with pirates attacking our ship when we first departed. However, when we arrive at a certain part of the sea, they decide to stop attacking us and even give up their hunt. I heard from the sailor; it was because of the rule of Sea Dragon City. Do you know anything about it, your highness?"

So he wants to know about our force, huh?

"Of course. Let's just say that the pirate will have an unfortunate accident when they reach a certain part of the sea near Sea Dragon City."

What I mean is that they will be hunted down and destroyed by our fleet. With the newly built enchanted ship, our navy increases in power and easily destroys all the pirates who try their luck in my territory.

After the Black Heart Pirate gets destroyed by Ophis, no pirate group is brave enough to invade Sea Dragon City.

"I see. What an unfortunate accident. How unfortunate indeed."

"Indeed."

We continue to eat our food in silence for a few minutes. After we eat the main dishes, the servant brings a dessert and drink to the dining room.

"Please enjoy the dessert and drink."

I can see Bakun take a glance at a bottle of bourbon whiskey the servant brings and says.

"Is that a new type of drink?"

"Well, not really new. I just decided not to sell it to an outsider yet. It was called whiskey."

"Oh? Is it the same as your vodka?"

"Why don't you try it yourself."

The servant served Bakun a glass of whiskey. I can see him take a good sniff before drinking it in one go. I can see him enjoying the warmth the alcohol gives to his body before saying.

"It is good. Excellent, in fact. It has a sweet taste and a beautiful aftertaste. I like this more than the Vodka you sold to us."

Of course, this is better. The Vodka I sold was mass-produced and did not have the beautiful taste of well-aged vodka.

"Thank you. Now, while we are enjoying this drink, shall we start the business?"

I can see him look at both Eli and Lucina but decide to hold his opinion. Good.

"Very well. First thing first, we want to apologize for what our crown prince did to you. We come here not for you to forgive our Crown Prince but rather to give us a second chance to prove that the people of Variks Empire are not as bad as their royalty."

I look at Bakun and Jafariun bowing at me from their table. Even the soldier near the entrance also bowed toward me. I sigh a little before saying.

"Raise your head. I cannot forgive your crown prince, but I can give your empire a second chance."

Bakun nods his head and says.

"Thank you. That is all we asked for."

"Now that it is out of our way, can I ask the reason why you come here?"

"Then I will be straight to the point. Food. We need your food. We did not ask you to give it to us for free. What we want is for you to give us the usual price you give to the others. Our people have suffered enough, and we cannot take your wrath. I know what our prince did was unforgivable, but I beg you. We beg you, O Lion King. Please reduce the price of your food!"

Once again, the duo Duke bowed their heads so low that their forehead touched the table in front of them.

"Raise your head."

At my word, I can see both dukes raise their heads and see their eyes looking at me.

"I never thought in my entire life to see a duke bowing their head toward me, and one of them is a prime minister of an empire."

"Pride comes from what we achieve in life, and I am proud of my achievement. However, pride cannot feed my people. If by bowing my head to the point of bleeding I will get the food needed to feed my people, I will do it."

I looked at him and tried to trick him in his eyes, but after a few seconds, I found none. Not only that, the deception detector necklace around my neck did not vibrate, meaning that he is telling the truth.

I sigh a little before saying.

"Very well. I will give the Variks Empire their second chance but remember; there will not be a third chance. Take this chance as a blessing and curse. A blessing because you can feed your people and MAYBE create a good relationship between our two nations. A curse because if the people of Variks Empire crossed the line once again, your nation would become the enemy of my kingdom."

"Understood. Thank you so much for being so kind, your highness."

"Good. Now, let us continue to drink and eat!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

|Bakun Xerias POV|

I sit down on the sofa inside our room. Sitting next to me is my friend Duke Jafariun.

"We are really fortunate, don't we?"

"We are indeed fortunate, my friend."

Our venture here is successful. I'm really glad to do my own research about the people of Northern Vulux Kingdom beforehand. They are the people that like a direct and to-the-point conversation. The more you speak honeyed words, the more they will think of you as a sneaky sneak.

"Twenty thousand kilograms worth of food. We successfully secured that much food with the price from before the disaster."

"I think you should negotiate more so we can get more food."

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, my friend. We already receive this boon from someone that can make our empire suffer even more with a snap from his finger. We are lucky to get here fast enough before the news of our empire's embargoed by the Lorian Kingdom spread far and wide. Many merchant families are more than happy to lick the boots of the Lion King to keep their trade with his kingdom."

Jafariun sighed heavily before emptied another glass of Whiskey.

"I guess you are right. If only I watch my nephew more carefully."

We stay silent and enjoy the drinks given by King Isaac for a few minutes before I suddenly say.

"Jafariun, do you want to become an emperor?"

"Are you thinking what I think you are?"

"Yes."

"You know that kind of thinking is treason. A coup is punishable by death."

"I know. However, you can see how the empire's future will be if your brother continues ruling the empire. The only reason why there is no rebellion is that I work really hard fixing all the fuck up he created. I don't know how long I can hold the dam, my friend. Once the dam is broken, it would be the biggest flood we will experience. There is nothing more effective to fuel a rebellion other than desperation, and I know the people in the empire are already desperate for change."

"... They are my family, Bakun. I cannot fight against my family, especially my blood brother."

"I know, my friend. I just hope you are prepared for the flood that will come soon."

Jafariun sighed once again and emptied another glass of whiskey before getting and saying.

"One more time. Give them one chance. If they fuck this chance up, I will call the army."