Chapter 505: Model Representative
In the beautiful and tranquil villa, Robert sat comfortably in a chair on the balcony, holding a cigar while looking at Ma Aide, who was seated beside him with a fawning expression. Seeing his desperate attempt to curry favor, Robert felt a wave of disgust, but he didn’t show it on his face. Instead, he continued calmly speaking to Ma Aide.
“Indeed… we did have some investments and interests in the original Adus, but investments always come with risks. With the situation involving Shadi, losing some money is inevitable.”
“Losses and gains are normal in investments, but the key is whether we can cut our losses in time and turn a profit… Mr. Robert, now that Shadi’s bandits are occupying Adus and harming the interests of our allied nations, if nothing is done now, many of these losses will be irretrievable…”
Ma Aide continued speaking to Robert, clearly trying to persuade him from the perspective of their interests. Robert glanced at him and then continued.
“It seems… His Highness is quite anxious about the current state of Adus… Perhaps he is suffering from homesickness?”
“Well, of course. I and other members of the royal family residing in Kankdar miss Adis every day,” Ma Aide replied openly when he saw the conversation becoming clearer. Robert flicked the ash from his cigar into an ashtray and continued indifferently.
“As someone far from their homeland, I understand your feelings of missing home, but please remain patient. The newspapers have reported that the envoy group sent by the Church had unsuccessful talks with Shadi. Their trust will soon completely break down, and once the Sacred Summit’s Holy Army arrives, you will be able to await the restoration of your country.”
“Oh, Mr. Robert, those newspapers are only for the common folk. We know they’re unreliable! Now that Muhetar, who was opposed to Shadi, has died, the entire rebel army is under his control. With his attitude towards religion, it’s impossible for him to sacrifice himself for heresy. He’s currently pretending to clean up the rebels’ internal heresy, but after he finishes, he’ll immediately kneel to the north before the Sacred Summit. By then, it will be impossible to rely on the Sacred Summit for military support!”
After hearing Robert’s words, Ma Aide became anxious and blurted out his concerns and the purpose of his visit.
“Mr. Robert, I know that the allied nations have been hesitant to act against Shadi because they want the Church to take the lead. As long as Shadi cannot resolve his internal religious issues and the main faith in Adus remains unclear, the Church will inevitably step in to help us restore our country, allowing the allied nations to reclaim their interests in Adus without having to deploy troops.
“But now… the situation has changed. Who could have predicted that Muhetar would d*e? Shadi now has the possibility of integrating internally. If Shadi officially declares his break from heresy and allegiance to the Three Saints faction, the likelihood of the Church deploying troops will greatly decrease. At this moment… the only ones who can help us restore our country are the allied nations. Mr. Robert, considering our long-term cooperation, please help us at this critical juncture!”
With a pleading tone, Ma Aide spoke to Robert, almost on the verge of tears. Seeing Ma Aide, Robert remained silent for a moment before slowly responding.
“You are aware of the current situation. It is difficult for us to make a decision to send troops given how things have developed.”
“This… Mr. Robert, if the allied nations feel they have received too little from Adus, we can offer more! As long as we can restore our country, we guarantee that the allied nations will receive even more benefits in Adus than before! Whether it be taxes or troops! Even the legal rights to excavate all ancient ruins and tombs within Adus… these are negotiable!”
Ma Aide continued speaking to Robert, attempting to persuade him with extravagant promises. However, Robert remained unmoved, continuing to smoke his cigar while listening intently.
“Can’t you see, Your Highness? This is not just a matter of interests; it’s a matter of circumstances! That young nun went to Adis and successfully negotiated. Once both sides announce the results, it’s as good as recognizing the entire Shadi Revolutionary Army by the Church. Shadi’s revolutionary army will certainly be promoted by certain factions within the Church as a model for their work, effectively binding the entire Church to provide protection for Shadi’s regime. If we were to intervene in Adus now, it would be seen as slapping the Sacred Summit in the face, and no amount of benefits could repair the deteriorating relationship with the Sacred Summit!”
Robert sternly addressed Ma Aide, explaining the implications of the current situation. Ma Aide stood there speechless for a moment.
In a sense, Robert and his allies brought their own predicament upon themselves. When the Adus Revolution made significant progress but had not yet fully defeated the Baruch Dynasty, the Baruch nobles had already sought aid from Robert’s allies, citing the need to protect their interests in Adus. However, the mainland powers had their own hidden agendas. They all agreed to help verbally but delayed sending troops, hoping others would bear the brunt of the conflict first.
When the close ties between the Adus Revolutionary Army and the Heretic Savior faction were exposed, these powers became even less inclined to intervene. They knew that if a heretical regime took control of a country, the Sacred Summit would inevitably launch a crusade to correct the faith. Thus, they all hoped the Sacred Summit would take the lead, while they waited for the opportunity to benefit later. This way, they could reclaim their interests in Adus without bearing the cost of sending troops.
During the civil war in Adus, the mainland powers verbally supported the Baruch Dynasty but failed to act. They believed that the heretical revolutionaries would quickly take control of Adus, forcing the Sacred Summit to intervene. Then they planned to join the crusade and restore the Baruch Dynasty during its weakened state.
The revolutionaries faced no foreign intervention forces throughout the war, and after Muhetar and Shadi killed the Red Tier of Baruch, the battlefield was easily swept through.
The mainland powers wanted the Sacred Summit to intervene in the Adus situation so they could reap the benefits, but they never expected that instead of a crusade, the Sacred Summit would send a young nun to negotiate. Initially, the representatives were surprised by this decision, but they settled when they learned that the nun’s mission was related to internal Church conflicts and the powerful heretical forces within the Adus Revolutionary Army. They awaited the failure of the negotiations and planned to enter Adus behind the Sacred Summit’s crusading forces.
Unexpectedly, a sudden thunderstorm shattered their plans. Muhetar was struck dead by lightning, and the young nun almost succeeded in the negotiations. Suddenly, the Adus Revolutionary Army transformed into a significant educational achievement for the Sacred Summit. Not only would they not be targeted by the crusade, but they also couldn’t afford to act rashly, lest they provoke the Sacred Summit. This unexpected turn left the mainland powers who held interests in Adus unprepared. They realized they couldn’t recover their lost interests and wished they had sent troops earlier, despite the heavy costs.
Due to someone’s secret machinations, the mainland powers suffered an unexpected loss. However, they couldn’t voice their frustrations, leaving them feeling bitter. Now, Ma Aide came to Robert with numerous promises, but Robert remained unmoved, knowing it wasn’t worth provoking the Sacred Summit over Adus’s interests.
“Alright… I think it’s getting late. Your Highness should return. Although the war chariot you brought is precious, I have no intention of enjoying it… You can take it back. Consider it a small accumulation for the Baruch Dynasty. Though you’ve lost your country, with the wealth you brought from Adis, you can still maintain prosperity.”
Robert waved his hand and said directly, dismissing Ma Aide. Hearing Robert’s words, Ma Aide sat silently in his chair, speechless.
Although Robert had shown his intent to dismiss Ma Aide, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he remained seated where he was. Seeing this, Robert looked at him again. Just as he was about to speak, Ma Aide looked at Robert and said directly.
“Mr. Robert, actually… I have something here that I want you to look at…”
“What is it?” Robert asked curiously. Ma Aide searched inside his robe and soon found an envelope, which he handed to Robert.
“Please take a look, Mr. Robert…”
Listening to Ma Aide, Robert took the envelope, checked it, and opened it to examine the contents. After a few glances, he frowned and said.
“This is…”
“This is a joint letter signed by several kings, including Harige, Najis, and Kuliah… These countries, like Adus, are kingdoms in Northern Ufeiga. The allied nations have different interests in these countries.
“You can see from the letter that the kings of these countries sympathize with the cruel treatment the Baruch Dynasty has endured. They are also worried that what happened to the Baruch Dynasty might happen to them. This is not mere speculation, Mr. Robert. Look, many of these countries indicate that the rebels within their borders have become increasingly rampant, making it harder to suppress them. This is because Shadi’s success serves as a demonstration. Shadi is now a hero among the rebels in these countries, and they are using him as a role model…
“Mr. Robert, do not assume that losing Adus means the allied nations have lost only their interests in Adus. The power of example is boundless. Once Shadi’s story succeeds and the Adus Revolution is fully victorious, the entire Northern Ufeiga will be unstable. If we do not cut our losses in time, the interests the allied nations will lose will be far greater than just Adus.
“Look, Mr. Robert, the nobles and kings of these countries… are worried that the rebellion within their borders might turn into what happened in Adus. They worry whether the allied nations can truly protect them. They fear their future might become like ours. Therefore, this joint letter was written. For them, I believe the allied nations should have some necessary explanations…”
With an absolutely respectful demeanor, Ma Aide slowly spoke to Robert. Listening to Ma Aide’s words and seeing the different signatures and royal seals on the letter, Robert fell into silence.
After a long period of silence, with his cigar nearly burned out, Robert slowly said.
“I need to report this, seek opinions from above and my colleagues. It may take some time.”
“Then… I am grateful, Mr. Robert. The future of Baruch rests in your hands…”
Listening to Robert’s words, Ma Aide stood up from his seat, knelt on the ground, and expressed his gratitude deeply.
…
Late at night, in the same suburban area of Kankdar, in Robert’s villa.
In the deep night, the villa was still lit with lights. In the luxurious living room of the villa, Robert, dressed formally, sat in the main seat. Before him, several semi-transparent figures sat on the guest seats. Upon closer inspection, these figures were all men dressed in the attire of gentlemen from the mainland.
The well-dressed men sat in their respective seats, engaging in intense discussions. Most of their conversations were in imperfect Faraluo language. Occasionally, they would switch to other languages, indicating that these virtual figures came from different countries.
Robert sat in the main seat, focusing intently on the virtual figures before him, carefully listening to their discussions. He rarely offered his opinion but would interject to remind them when the discussion became heated, guiding the topic as if he were the host of the discussion.
This discussion lasted for several hours. During this time, the figures occasionally disappeared and reappeared, and people were replaced at intervals.
Finally, in the early morning, after a lengthy discussion, it seemed the meeting had reached a conclusion. After everyone had spoken, Robert finally stood up from his seat and addressed the virtual figures before him.
“So… tonight, we have reached some consensus. Mr. Wat’s previous statement was correct. The Baruch people want to use us to restore their country, although their motives are base, their demands cannot be entirely ignored. After all, the royal families and rebels in other Northern Ufeiga states have shifted their focus. No matter how this ends, it will affect the entire Northern Ufeiga.
“Adus will be a model, either positive or negative. Our task is to ensure that this model remains positive. To stabilize the future situation in Northern Ufeiga, we must take action.”
Robert said, and most of the virtual figures nodded in agreement. One figure spoke up.
“But… leaning towards Baruch on the Adus issue is also equivalent to opposing the Sacred Summit’s deities…”
“Not at all… it’s not that time yet. Before the declarations from both sides are issued, the Sacred Summit’s stance hasn’t aligned with Shadi’s side… Therefore, we still have some room to maneuver.”
Robert immediately responded. Another virtual figure spoke.
“Room to maneuver? Mr. Robert, specifically, which side do you mean? Shadi… or…”
“Shadi is too far away. What I mean is the young nun arriving in Kankdar…”
Robert responded immediately.
