Chapter 38: The Envoy’s Temptation and the King’s Scheme

Originally, the King possessed every means to capitalize on the mistake, accepting the village’s thousands of inhabitants under the guise of impersonation. However, such an approach was ill-advised for two critical reasons.

First, the village’s unique geographical placement, nestled amidst the borderlines of eight nations, meant that any unilateral absorption of its populace could easily provoke the animosity of neighboring states.

Second, while thousands of people constituted a substantial number, it was nowhere near enough to sate the appetites of the ambitious. That fateful letter, the King knew, held a far more advantageous purpose.

Driven by the principle of maximizing his gains, the King made his way towards the military tent where the man had been taken. This particular tent, typically reserved for foreign dignitaries, now served to host an unassuming, yet cunning, villager.

That evening, a lavish banquet was held within the tent, requiring all those skilled in superficial charm and diplomacy to make an appearance. Their collective task was to collaborate with the King in entertaining this crucial guest. The man, in turn, was treated to a truly grand feast, a stark contrast to the coarse grains he had consumed since childhood; the dishes laid upon the table were exquisitely prepared.

The banquet, accompanied by song and dance performances, featured a mere seven main courses. Yet, this represented the highest level of welcome banquet offered by the Kingdom of Sero. Dance maidens, while performing, diligently served each dish. Every course was generously portioned, some even sculpted into the forms of volcanoes, mythical beasts, and other elaborate designs. Inferior blended wines had no place here; only the finest vintages, meticulously brewed and distilled to their very essence, were poured into the goblets.

Overall, the man immensely enjoyed the meal, feeling his happiness index soar dramatically.

“Envoy, are you satisfied?”

As the man drifted in a haze of pleasure, the King, seated at the head of the table, raised his cup. Though their acquaintance had begun just hours prior, their camaraderie now seemed as intimate as if they had just sworn brotherhood.

“Satisfied? I’ve never been this satisfied in my life! I never knew living could be such a joyous thing!”

After several rounds of wine and many dishes, the man believed he had truly experienced the pinnacle of earthly bliss.

Seeing that his guest had completely dropped his guard, the King steered the conversation towards the matter at hand:

“We’ve eaten quite enough for now. Regarding your village’s request for asylum…”

The man’s ears immediately caught the crucial keywords. Instinctively, he set down his chopsticks, craning his neck forward, his gaze fixed intently.

Perhaps sensing his earnestness, the King drained his cup in a single gulp, the resounding thud of the goblet against the table lending greater weight to his words:

“Originally, as the general commanding the entire camp’s soldiers, I ought to report to His Majesty the King and exert all my efforts to persuade him to accept your village’s plea…”

“Sir, are you facing some difficulty? Please, don’t hesitate to tell your humble servant clearly. I will surely do my utmost to assist you!”

“Are you certain? You’re truly willing to help with anything?”

“Aside from life-threatening endeavors, like climbing a mountain of swords or plunging into a sea of fire, this humble one will offer my full support.”

This was precisely the answer the King desired.

“Then, I require you to transcribe the letter’s content verbatim seven times, referencing the ancient script passed down within your village. Each copy must be completed in the form of a letter!”

“If you didn’t hear me clearly, I shall repeat: you are to make seven copies of this letter, and the sooner you complete them, the better!”

The King toyed with the rim of his goblet; since it held no wine, there was no possibility of liquid overflowing. His expression remained impassive, yet the color drained from the man’s face, as if his blood had entirely evaporated from his veins.

Perhaps due to this sudden plummet in health, a tremor entered the man’s voice as he spoke:

“Sir, are you saying… you want me to, on my own authority, forge seven additional copies of the letter the village chief sent?”

“How can you call it forgery? The content is identical, and the handwriting will be indistinguishable. I am simply asking you to write a few more letters.”

“C-could you tell me why?”

Listening to the man’s trembling voice, the King felt a profound disgust for this cowardly ‘two-legged dog.’ Yet, years of experience navigating social circles allowed the King to conceal his true emotions. On the surface, he maintained his composure, gently guiding his target into the trap:

“It is thus: this letter, containing your village’s terms of submission, must pass through several layers of review and approval before it can reach His Majesty the King. Therefore, creating multiple backups is essential.”

“But I am not the village chief; I cannot arbitrarily increase the number of letters.”

“Are you implying that I, a distinguished officer of the royal army, am inferior to a mere village chief from the countryside?”

The King’s smile, unchanged from moments before, sent a shiver down the man’s spine. His immediate response was born almost entirely from an instinctive will to survive:

“No, no! Sir, you are of course far superior to common folk like us. It’s just that before I departed, I was repeatedly cautioned…”

“Forget your previous instructions. Now, *I* am issuing a command! You need only convince yourself with the rationale, ‘This is for the good of the village.’”

The King clapped his hands, signaling his shrewd subordinates to redouble their hospitality and bring more fine wines and rare delicacies to the table. In addition, attendants on standby, already prepared, carried out several heavy, large chests, placing them directly before the man.

“If you deem this insufficient, more can be provided.”

The King snapped his fingers, and the attendants sprang into action, flipping open the lids of the chests one after another. There was no blinding glare, but a soft, golden glow instantly emanated from within. The radiance of wealth—or rather, of desire—dazzled the eyes of all who beheld it!

The man’s palpable reaction, naturally, did not escape the King’s keen observation. The King understood perfectly: once one discerned what another desired, controlling their thoughts, and even their actions, became a trivial matter.

Faced with such numerous temptations, the man ultimately failed to maintain his moral integrity.

Witnessing this, the King instructed trusted retainers to step forward and escort the man to a quiet chamber, allowing this ‘two-legged dog’ to peacefully transcribe the letters.

Once certain that no unreliable individuals remained within the tent, the King summoned a competent confidant and instructed them to use communication magic to notify the spies deployed across the Seven Great Nations. Those spies from the Kingdom of Sero were, for the foreseeable future, to do but one thing: specifically, they were to deceive people with lies!

The following morning, the man duly handed over the copied letters. The King, pleased with his cooperation, verbally promised the several chests of gold, silver, and jewels that had been brought out the previous night as a reward, then dispatched him back to his village.

As for the remainder of his reward, the King stated that his subordinates would deliver it to the village in its entirety within a few days. To further demonstrate its sincerity, the Kingdom of Sero specially presented the man with a purebred, superior horse, so he could return as swiftly as possible.

All in all:

The man was overjoyed, believing he had not only completed his mission but also reaped significant benefits.

The King, too, was delighted, for he had finally conceived a method potent enough to effectively weaken the power of the Seven Great Nations. The dream of transforming Sero into the strongest kingdom seemed, at last, within reach!