448

Episode 448: The General Manager must have written it well. (1)

Claude took the documents out of a large box and handed them out to everyone.

"What is this?"

When one of the messengers asked, Jiselle answered with an expression that said it was nothing serious.

"Since the timing is right, we have already drafted the agreement in advance to expedite the process. The details can be adjusted later depending on the situation, so please sign first."

"… … ."

The agreement was full of clauses favorable to the Kingdom of Rutania.

The messengers who had first seen this way of handling things were speechless. Should they be thankful that they had prepared this in advance?

'This guy had it all planned from the beginning.'

'This is how you tie us up?'

'How on earth are you going to handle things this way later on?'

When everyone was grumbling in half anger and half bewilderment, Claude, who had handed out the agreement to everyone, said with a smile.

"Well, worrying about it will only waste time. I, as an expert, have written it well. There is no bad content, and it is about everyone working hard together, so please sign quickly. If we all do this, we will create a family-like atmosphere."

"Ugh… … ."

There certainly didn't seem to be any problematic content. It was mainly about support and decision-making authority when conducting military operations.

The problem was that the priority was in the Kingdom of Rutania.

When everyone hesitated to sign, Claude passed out another document.

"Someone has to take the lead anyway, right? Hurry up and sign and take a gift each."

"gift?"

The messengers looked at the newly received documents. They listed the items and quantities of additional food and medicine to take with them when they returned.

But the amount was so huge that everyone started coughing in embarrassment.

"Ahem ahem… … ."

He's definitely not the type of guy who just takes things away. When he gives, he gives with certainty.

At first I was very upset, but when I looked at the list of support items, my heart calmed down a little.

'Can we consider this as the price for supporting the military?'

'I'll save some face.'

'Anyway, the most urgent thing right now is the support supplies.'

There was chaos throughout the territory and food production had dropped drastically. For them, supplies were more important than the lives of their soldiers.

But one messenger tilted his head and asked.

"What does a 50% discount flyer for Volume 3 of the Chronicles of the Earl of Fenris have to do with this? Should I buy it?"

Giselle glared at Claude. That bastard is doing something again while she's away. It's clear.

Claude quickly ran over and exchanged the documents.

"I'm sorry. I think it got mixed up with something else. This is just my humble apology."

Claude took a small jewelry box out of his bosom and handed it to the messenger. His movements were very natural.

"Ah, no. What is this now… … ."

The messenger began to panic. Where in the world would you find someone who would openly offer a bribe like this?

But Claude gestured to the administrators who followed him, as if he was going to just go ahead with it.

Then they took out a bunch of jewel boxes from the box and distributed them to all the messengers.

"Come on, everyone, please don't refuse. It's just a small gift, a gift. Think of it as a souvenir."

Claude also gave a jewel box to each of the Lutania royalist nobles who were speechless in shock.

The Marquis of Branford also received one by chance and looked dumbfounded.

'Wow, is this guy really the one who stopped Rodrik's army in Silverlight?'

The atmosphere became very awkward. Since everyone received it at the same time, it really felt like a souvenir. So everyone just looked at each other.

Before anyone could say anything, Claude shouted first.

"Okay! Let's sign quickly! The banquet is also prepared! You're going to do it anyway, so why are you worrying so much? It's temporary, temporary!"

"Ahem, I would gratefully accept the souvenir."

One of the messengers finally expressed his gratitude and signed. He was already in a good mood because of the aid. There was no reason to refuse anyway.

If they say anything in your home country, you can just say it's a temporary agreement.

After all the messengers had signed, Claude quickly ran out carrying the bundle of signed agreements.

Jiselle said, turning her head away from the Marquis of Branford's gaze.

"It wasn't me who ordered it… … Anyway, now that the foundation of the alliance has been laid, let's work together to fill in what's lacking."

Clap clap clap clap.

"Yeah, yeah! Let's do our best! My nephew must have foolishly prepared it himself!"

Morris applauded with a joyful expression and shouted. He was just happy to receive the jewels and for the Kingdom of Rutania to become the head of the Allied Powers.

When Maurice came forward, the other pro-royal nobles and envoys had no choice but to follow him and applaud.

The messengers decided not to think too deeply about it since it had already come to this. They could fix problems as they arose. The alliance had only just been formed.

Before moving to the banquet hall while exchanging pleasantries, Jiselle spoke to everyone.

"The Duke of Delphine will be moving soon. You must send troops as quickly as possible."

"Don't worry. We're already fighting the cracks, so it shouldn't be difficult to move our troops right away."

"We will provide you with provisions, so you just need to send people."

"Haha, that's nice to hear."

In any case, the messengers were also people who had been through a lot in social life. Once a decision was made, they didn't show any signs of discomfort.

Giselle has excused herself from attending the banquet, using battle as an excuse. Socializing with the envoys can be left to the Marquis of Branford and the other nobles.

As Giselle returned to the northern camp with Claude and the administrators of Fenris, a knight came running up to report.

"Oh, my lord! There was an elf waiting to see you!"

"Elf?"

"Yes. That, but it's very strong."

"What does that mean?"

"Actually, there was a bit of a fight… … Captain Kaor and Alfoy charged at each other, got injured, collapsed, and were carried away. They were so strong that they couldn't even do anything. The fighting has finally stopped thanks to Lady Vanessa's intervention."

At those words, Giselle's expression hardened.

Both of them were ignored in Fenris, so Kaor was now a knight of the highest rank. And Alfoy was a 5th circle wizard.

They are powerful people who can attain high positions in any territory.

But two people got into a fight and got carried away?

Such elves are rare, especially among the enslaved elven races.

At that moment, Jiselle suddenly felt a huge energy spreading out from inside the camp and narrowed her eyes.

'This energy… … .'

It was familiar. It was definitely an energy I had felt in a past life.

There were some pretty strong elves in my previous life, but even they weren't strong enough to subdue someone as powerful as Kaor in one breath.

There is only one elf who can do that.

'Erenes.'

An elf who is one of the seven great powers of the continent and is called the 'Guardian of the World Tree'.

That powerful aura was clearly hers.

'Why now?'

Erenes was not on good terms with the Human Federation. At first, he helped them, but at some point, he started acting independently.

Originally, he did not like the leaders of the Human Federation, but he became distant with some of the figures in the Human Federation.

She was more enthusiastic about striking the Salvation Church than cracking down on it. No matter how many people tried to tell her to leave that cult alone, she wouldn't listen.

'In retrospect, she was right. The rift was caused by the Salvation Church.'

She must have known something and acted that way, but Erenes was strangely secretive about herself and why she acted that way.

The fact that she, who had distanced herself from the Human Federation, came to us first means that the future was changed by her actions.

'It must be because of my performance.'

The army that was currently fighting the most rifts on the continent was the Northern Army led by Jisel. It was he who revealed the conspiracy and identity of the Salvation Church.

Of course, Erenes would have heard the news and come here first.

If she had come to help me deal with the rift like in my previous life, then it would have been a very good situation.

Because she was such a strong elf.

"Let's meet up first."

As Giselle entered the camp, Erenes, who had already sensed Giselle's presence, approached her. Dozens of elves were following her behind.

She approached with a deliberate aura. The aura was so strong that it was suffocating, making all the northern troops tense.

Vanessa and Tennant in particular were prepared to attack at any time.

Belinda and Gillian, who were accompanying Giselle, also became tense and took out their weapons.

"Ah, everyone, don't be so nervous. We're not enemies."

Jiselle looked around and said, but still no one could relax.

Her aura was that intimidating.

Erenes stood in front of Giselle and remained silent for a moment.

'Hmm... ... The podium is really good, just like the rumors say.'

He deliberately emitted superhuman-level energy to see the opponent's reaction. However, the opponent just looked at him with an indifferent expression.

She pulled down the hood covering her ears, gathering her spirits.

"Are you the Earl of Fenris?"

"Yes."

"My name is Erenes. I am the chieftain of the elves."

There are many elven tribes, but only one chieftain. Only the elves who guard the great tree called the World Tree can have that title.

It is a meaningless position, though, since most of the elven tribes have been destroyed and most of the surviving elves have become slaves.

Still, the name of the Chieftain still had a ripple effect. People were surprised when they heard her true identity.

'Chief? Could it be the Guardian of the World Tree?'

'You mean that legendary elf?'

'I thought you were a character from a fairy tale. Was it real?'

The name Guardian of the World Tree has been well known on the continent since long ago. There is a legend that he lives in hiding with the World Tree in a barrier somewhere.

People dismissed it as nothing more than a fairy tale. But when an elf appeared, claiming to be the chieftain, it was no wonder that everyone was surprised.

Of course, Jiselman knew her identity from the beginning, so he asked Erenes without being surprised at all.

"I think my greeting was a little rough."

"I didn't mean to. But they kept bothering me. The redhead kept asking to fight, and the wizard kept asking to gamble."

As Giselle looked at Vanessa, she nodded repeatedly. She understood what was going on.

Kaor would have wanted to fight a tough opponent who seemed stiff, and Alfoy would have wanted to rip off a customer who didn't know his tricks.

Jiselle sighed, shook her head and asked.

"Yes, you don't seem like an ordinary person. What brings you here to see me?"

I had a rough idea, but I pretended not to know. I couldn't bring up a connection from a past life.

Erenes answered with a soft smile.

"I have come to see the Earl of Fenris."

"Can you tell me what's going on?"

"There are a lot of eyes watching here, so why don't we talk somewhere quiet?"

"Let's do that."

Jiselle got off her horse. She planned to go to the command tent and have a detailed conversation.

Erenes, who was following Giselle, looked around and stopped at one place. It was where the cavalry archers Lumina, Ascon, and the elves of Fenris were gathered.

Galvarik and the dwarves who followed her as engineers turned their heads away as soon as they saw her.

"It seems like they treat elves differently here than other places."

"They are great forces."

"Aren't you going to treat me like a slave?"

"Yes, within the territory. Because freedom was promised."

Erenes smiled slightly. He looked quite satisfied.

"Good. We'll talk about that later. Anyway, thank you for being considerate of the elves… … ."

She stopped talking and her expression hardened. Her steps following Giselle also stopped.

"Why are you doing that?"

Jiselle looked back and asked.

He simply walked away, using his mana to clear away the dust in front of him. But in that split second, Erenes felt something ominous.

As an elf, she could see all the energy of nature. She clearly saw a flash of crimson energy that passed by for a moment.

She raised her energy to get a little more clarity on what that energy was.

Ddddddddd… … .

A green light flashed across Erenes' eyes, and a huge blast of energy began to emanate from her.

Chaang! Chaang! Chaang!

Everyone around them was surprised, drew out their weapons, and raised their mana.

A fierce momentum was pressing down on Jiselle's body. If she remained still, her entire body would surely become distorted.

Jiselle's eyes twitched and he raised his mana. His eyes also began to glow red.

As she fought against Erenes's aura, a stronger aura came out of Giselle's body.

She clenched her teeth, clearly sensing an ominous aura.

'Red eyes, black aura.'

It cannot be said that it did not exist at all, but such mana cultivation methods were not common on the continent.

It was subtly different from what I knew, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the fundamentals were the same.

At best, I would say that it seems to have changed a little over time?

Knock knock!

Vines sprouted from beneath Erenes' feet and began to wrap around her body.

Erenes, wrapped in vines, asked in a very cold voice.

"What is your relationship with the Salvation Church?"