"Well, I just promised that we would attack the Shionel Confederation if the nation allies with those that aim to destroy us," Rui replied calmly. "I suppose that deterrence of yours is not doing you that much good, huh?"
The pri minister stared at him for a second before smiling. "…I don't think so."
Rui eyed him back intensely. "I think you're bluffing." The pri minister grinned. "I don't think you were authorized to make threats in this eting."
"I'm sure that the guildmaster will love to hear that when we deploy our prophetic resources to inflict as much damage with as few people as possible." Rui shrugged. "Calling real threats a bluff is a good way to get yourself killed."
The two sides continued sparring with each other verbally, trying to undermine the other side's position and credibility while opting to garner as much optical and rhetorical dominance as they could.
anwhile, the guildmaster fell into thought, considering everything that he had been hearing.
Admittedly, he didn't expect Rui to rely on threats. Thankfully, they were palatable.
No one would bla the Kandrian Empire for targeting nations that were contributing to its destruction.
If anything, it was the norm for such action to be taken.
Nations were fragile, and defense involved taking the enemies out before the battle began. In the case of the Kandrian Empire, they had the Silas Clan, which allowed them to execute tactical missions that involved the assassinations of just a few people, including himself. This would ensure that the next guildmaster was firmly pro-Kandria, allowing the Kandrian Empire to gain a new ally.
Of course, with a powerful Martial Sage protecting him it was anything but easy. However, it was still very well within the capabilities of the Kandrian Empire, especially with all the power that it possessed now. In other words, the guildmaster would face danger and hostility no matter which side he picked. The Britannian Empire's stick was bigger, of course, but the Kandrian Empire had a bigger shield.
On top of that, he hadn't forgotten the benefits and incentives that the Kandrian Empire had promised. If he was going to be attacked anyway, he would much rather go with the side that promised him greater riches and treasures in exchange for his support and alliance.
Yet, he also hadn't forgotten the free-trade agreent that the alliance very straightforwardly offered.
Both sides had sticks, shields, and carrots of varying sizes that ultimately sumd up to be equal enough that any difference was entirely negligible.
In that case…
"I have made my decision."
The two sides, who had been battling each other verbally, paused as their expressions grew serious. Neither one of them was sure which way the guildmaster was going to favor based on his expressions. The man's poker face was beyond immaculate.
Silence echoed in the room for several seconds.
Neither side said a word as they waited.
The atmosphere was wrung taut while the air grew electric.
"I have evaluated the positions of both sides scrupulously for quite so ti now. I have pored over every detail of every statent that either side has uttered in this eting and prior etings, as well as what has been said by other delegates to convey the position of the Shionel Confederation," he began. "Both sides have offered a lot, promised a lot, and have even threatened a lot. One side has more powerful threats, while the other side has more powerful promises. I have tried weighing them against each other in hopes that I would be able to detect which is heavier than the other, But I'm unable to decide which is heavier."
Both sides sharpened their eyes with bated breaths.
He said he was unable to decide which was heavier.
Yet, he had made a decision?
"Despite this malaise, I have indeed arrived at a final decision." His tone grew more certain. "The answer ca to not from any external factor but from within ."
A serene smile cracked at the edge of his mouth. "I just rembered who I was. Who l am."
Rui's eyes widened with shock at those words.
Yet, the guildmaster was not done.
His eyes grew more certain. "I am a businessman. My greatest strengths have always been identifying potential where others see none and then milking it for the maximum yield. And that is what I have decided to do in this particular circumstance."
He closed his eyes. "In this case, one side has more potential than the other. One side has limitless potential, while the other side has reached its limit. One side has the potential to be the most powerful human force to have ever existed, while the other desperately clings to its stagnating influence while doing everything in its power to oppress the potential of the other in fear of being outshined."
An ecstatic grin erupted on Rui's face while the pri minister's face crumpled with grave reckoning.
The atmosphere boiled as their emotions ran high.
"Guildmaster…" Edward's voice rang with deep peril. Malevolent bloodlust flickered in the depths of his green eyes. "Consider your next words very carefully—"
"With the authority vested in as guildmaster of the Shionel Confederation, I hereby declare my allyship with the Kandrian Empire." His voice bood as he cut the Britannian leader off. His intense gaze fixed itself on the vengeful fury that lingered in Edward's eyes. "My decision is final. I appreciate your offer and detest your disrespectful conduct and audacity to threaten so brazenly and unapologetically while I harbor you as a guest in this nation."
His gaze shifted to the beaming Rui. "I have decided to bet on your potential. Kandria's potential. Do not let regret it."
Rui's grin widened. "I won't. You can rest assured of that."
The air boiled with jubilance for the briefest of monts.
Until it was swept away by a wave of danger and peril.
"He may not let you regret it…" A whisper escaped the pri minister. "But I will."
Rui froze, breaking into a cold sweat.
His heart started beating harder.
His nerves began tingling, prickled by the sharp atmosphere.
His instincts warned of impending danger.
"What…" Rui's eyes widened at the Britannian Pri Minister. "What have you done?"
Edward smiled, opening eyes filled with bloodlust and malice.
He pulled out a communication artifact, activating it.
A single command escaped him.
"Comnce the attack."
RUMBLE!!
The pri minister smiled while Rui and Guildmaster Bradt froze with shock as the very world around them began tremoring with fear.
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