Trelis Aldon [1]

"I need a couple of samples from your brethren. In return, I will gift you the technology to the portal system."

Hearing the principal words, I had no real idea what they actually entailed. In my head, Aldon should already have access to the technology as they even had a portal in this building. This meant that I had no choice but to wait patiently and hope that their conversation would divulge the information later on.

It didn't take long until veins could be seen on the impeccable forehead of the king, clearly enraged by the reckless words of the principal. Tightening his fist on the armrest of his throne, the air got chilly just at the notion of him opening his mouth.

"You dare... come into my home... and say that you want to use my brothers and sisters as samples?!"

Frosty winds started to gather around the elven man, even making the feathers protected by my suit start to freeze. However, the elderly man was unperturbed by the pressure of the king, just casually continuing with the conversation.

"Please don't pretend like this was something out of the blue. Wasn't it just a hundred years ago when you were one of the people who made it possible for me to start this? Now, I'm not going to ask for all that many, you elves are quite sparse, after all."

'Hmm? What kind of experiment is he talking about?'

I had no idea what that old geezer was up to but, by the sounds of it, it wasn't something that necessarily would ethically align with the morals of this world.

His words made the king calm down a bit, or maybe at least he made his grit his teeth as he didn't appear to be able to refute his words. Still, he wasn't about to take the insult in silence, "That might be so, but why do you think I would ever trade the lives of my brethren for technology that we already have? It has been a long time since we got our hands on portals, thanks to our alliance with Mensch."

Seeing the amused face of the principal, I knew that it was now that I would get the answer to my earlier question. "Do you truly believe that the inefficient portals you are using now are the full extent of how far my technology goes? No, I'm not talking about these small-scale portals that you are thinking of. "

"Then what exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I would give you the opportunity to transport entire armies throughout the continent."

I felt my little bird legs start to get wobbly as I realized just what that crazy old man was saying. In the current world, portals were too inefficient to be used in warfare other than sending out elite troops, but what the principal was saying was that it was possible to send an entire army through a portal.

What this meant was that geographical factors could be completely dismissed, as distance would no longer matter. How could Mensch respond if Aldon sent their entire army straight into the capital? The answer? They couldn't.

Wars weren't just decided by the military force that the nations could deploy, a large part was affected by logistics. Even the Russians got deterred by Finland when they couldn't traverse the harsh winter landscape while at the same time facing their expert snipers.

However, what would have happened if Russia could have just teleported its troops right into Helsinki? It would have been a massacre, and not from the Finnish side.

'He is crazy...'

Even if Tella was at a time of peace right now, there was no saying when the treaties would break. So, if Aldon got their hands on this, it would be safe to say that they would hold an overwhelming advantage. At the same time, it wasn't just me who reacted strongly to his words.

"Is what you are saying the truth? Do you truly have the means for large-scale teleportation?"

The king's face had already paled at the realization of what this meant, and at the fact that it was a citizen of Mensch who held this technology. Even worse was that the principal wasn't about to let the obvious be unspoken.

"That is so. So I assume that you understand what would happen if the king of Mensch suddenly got his hands on it and you don't."

And this was the real issue. It wasn't a question about what the elven king would do with the tool, it was a question of what he would do if someone else got ahold of it when Aldon did not. Just like the trifecta on earth with the super nations holding nuclear weapons. The balance was only upheld because all three of them had the same weapons.

*Crack!*

A piece of the armrest suddenly broke, unable to withhold the pressure of the grip of the king. It was a complete check, and in my mind, he was naturally forced to accept the proposal even if it meant giving up the lives of his citizen.

However, to my surprise, he didn't, "I still refuse. Even if it means that we might bear a heavy burden in the future, I will not give up innocent lives because of your threats. Now, please leave."

'What...?!'

It was such an incomprehensible act that it was hard for me to not yell at him. 'What is he thinking?!' There was not a fraction of me who could understand his decision, much less agree with it.

Even if I hated king George, at least I respected his decision in eliminating possible threats to the country.

Even then, it didn't seem like the geezer was all too affected by the refusal, as he just casually turned around as a portal opened in front of him, "Well then, seems like negotiations have broken down for now. However, please do know that my offer still stands. For now at least."

And with no further notice, he stepped through the portal and disappeared, leaving the king alone with his own thoughts. Or at least, that's how it should have been. With a sigh, the king spoke once again, even though he should have thought that he was completely alone.

"Haa... Little crow, what do you think about all of this?"

For a second, I felt my body stiffen, but it didn't take long until my mind made a connection to a very familiar scenario that I had experienced. 'Do all kings have a hobby of talking to animals?'

Sadly, the second I relaxed as I assumed that he was another crazy king, my naïve thought was quickly ripped away when the king released the full extent of his pressure around him, locking me down in place.

'Ah, shit...'

The king stood up from his throne, turning his body toward me as a clear sign of him knowing that something was up. "Did you really think that I wouldn't notice one of the inhabitants of my country without a mana signature? Either you are too immature or extremely stupid."

If not for the fact that my entire body was frozen in place because of the power he was releasing, I would have flown away immediately. Sadly, this was not possible as he was intently focusing his gaze on me sitting on a branch beside the throne room.

"So? Are you going to come down here and show me who you are, or are you going to make me drag you down?"

Seeing his skeptical gaze, I truly wanted to scream at him that he was a moron but I could still not move at all. Finally, after a couple of seconds, he appeared to have figured out why I wasn't moving, "Oh! You can't move just because of this amount of pressure? Where could someone below [A]-rank have found the courage to spy on me?"

'Well, I'm sorry, I guess!'

Thankfully, he partly stopped the surge of energy in order to let me shamefully fly my way down to the platform, something I did mostly as I didn't want to let go of this opportunity. As this was through the eyes of sub-me, I was never that worried to begin with.

*Tap*

Transforming myself back into my masked self as I touched the ground, I prepared myself for a conversation I didn't expect to have. Although I didn't hate the opportunity to talk with the elven king, I didn't really have a reason to do so right now.

Letting his eyes scan my body, it didn't take long until he realized who I was, "Hmm? So that's how it was... The human who sold his soul to the demons, huh?"

Even though my suit didn't have a single wrinkle, I couldn't help but use a moment to fix it, quickly followed by a deep bow.

"Greetings, King of Aldon, father of the princess Adriana. I am James Jackson, former classmate of your daughter and the one that the nation of Mensch has unjustifiably deemed as a supporter of the demons. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."