"Come in... and don't forget to introduce yourself"

At Larz's words, Thar could only smile. He had tried hard and thought he had successfully hidden his nerves, but if the butler who guided him had noticed, the people in front of him would likely notice too. But it didn't matter anymore; all he could do now was move forward. Taking a deep breath, the man gathered his courage and stepped through the door.

*Slam*

Behind him, the door closed, leaving him locked in with six beasts who could make him disappear with just a breath. Or at least that was what he was told when he was assigned this terrible task.

As he moved forward, six pairs of eyes were fixed on him, leaving the poor man unsure where to look. He didn't want to make eye contact and risk offending them, yet avoiding their gaze might also be seen as disrespectful. Time seemed to slow down, and no matter how much he walked, it felt like he would never reach his destination.

"Thar Eldur, delegate of the principal kingdoms, greets Your Majesties"

The man knelt down in front of the six individuals and bowed his head, trying to show as much respect as he could. He was nervous and even scared, but at this point, he couldn't afford to make a mistake.

"Forgive my sudden visit, and I am deeply grateful for having been received. Allow me to present this modest gift as a token of my gratitude"

Still on his knees, Thar places a beautifully decorated wooden box into their outstretched hands. With a reverent gesture, he opens the box towards the kings, revealing inside a blood-red stone the size of a fist, carefully wrapped in white cloth.

"It's quite an ostentatious gift for a visit; now I'm interested in knowing the reason for your coming"

"No matter what you have to say, we are busy, so be brief with your words"

Thar first heard a man's voice that gave him a sense of mystery and sent chills down his spine, followed by a woman's voice that gave him an incredible sense of calm, like when you are traveling and camping under the starlight. However, he also had the feeling that if he let himself be swallowed by this feeling, it could be the end of him.

"Enough, don't forget your position. Proceed, Thar Eldur tell us the reason for requesting this audience so urgently"

"Thank you, Your Majesty"

There was no need to see him to know to whom the voice belonged. Despite its low volume, it was as if thunder had struck the merchant's body, causing him to tremble slightly and a few drops of sweat to roll down his forehead. Nevertheless, he dared not be negligent. The man stood up, made a deep bow before the sovereigns who watched them attentively, and took a mental breath before beginning the speech he had prepared.

"Your Majesties, the reason for my visit is urgent and crucial for the future of the entire world. The alliance of the Principal Kingdoms has sent me with a proposal that we sincerely hope you will consider. They wish for the Raiskar to accept the responsibility of occupying the lands of Várnalok"

Thar expected to see some reaction, but all he received were looks inviting him to continue his words.

"The reason behind this request is grave. Várnalok has become a place that affects the world order, threatening the balance of power that allows all races to thrive. The alliance plans to launch a crusade against this kingdom, seen as a symbol of chaos capable of ending countless lives if prompt action is not taken"

The merchant was beginning to panic. He was expecting some question that would allow him to assess whether they were interested. But all he received was silence, making the man feel uncertain. Nevertheless, he proceeded with his story.

"We have full confidence in the ability and justice of the Raiskar to restore order once these lands are liberated. The alliance hopes that these lands will be taken under your government, thus allowing Várnalok to become a bastion of stability and security, ensuring a more peaceful future for all our peoples"

The silence persisted for a moment before the king responded.

"Merchant, your proposal raises important implications. As the king of the Raiskar, it is my duty to safeguard my people. So, before making a decision, tell me, what will we gain as a kingdom by accepting this responsibility? What specific benefits will the Raiskar receive from getting involved in this?"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Thar nodded respectfully. As a merchant, he knew it would be illogical for them to accept immediately. But he felt relieved with the king's questions. At least now he could bring out his profession.

"Your Majesties, the alliance recognizes the strategic value of Várnalok and its wealth. Under your leadership, these lands can become a bastion of stability and the center of the world. The alliance is committed to render all necessary assistance"

"So, we will occupy Várnalok but we will be accountable to the alliance, is that what you're saying?"

Despite the harsh accusation, the words did not faze Thar, who kept his composure. This was a negotiation and he was in his element, but he knew that every sentence could tip the balance for or against his proposal.

"I sincerely regret if my words have caused any concern or misunderstanding among Your Majesties. Allow me to assure you that the Alliance seeks no intention to usurp or interfere in your governance. The Alliance desires for these prosperous lands to be led with wisdom and harmony, something that the Alliance believes can only happen under your sovereignty"

"Are you saying they do it out of pure altruism?"

"We hope that our assistance will be considered, and that we can strengthen ties with the Raiskar. This would greatly benefit us by acquiring the resources our people need, which the current king of these lands refuses to provide. With this union, our territories will prosper alongside the new Várnalok, managing to maintain the balance"

"I must assume that your words reflect those of your sponsors?"

"Yes, Your Majesty"

"Merchant, your proposal should not be taken lightly. The decision to participate in this crusade will affect my kingdom and the lives of my people. We will need time to consider this proposal. Is there anything else we should know before making a final decision?"

Thar bowed his head in a gesture of respect, knowing he could have said more in his favor, but with the king's words, he knew he would not be allowed to speak further.

"Your Majesties, I only wish to emphasize the urgency of the situation. Várnalok is developing rapidly, and we fear it may be too late if we do not act promptly"

"Understood. We will inform you of our decision once it has been made. You may withdraw"

"It has been an honor to be received by you, Your Majesties. With your permission"

Thar bowed again and walked towards the door, He thought that everyone present would ask him questions, but in the end only the king spoke. He had doubts, unsure whether he had achieved his objective or failed, but there was nothing more he could do to sway the balance. Now they could only leave and hope that, with luck, the Raiskar's answer would be positive.

"So, what do you think?"

After the middle-aged man left the room, Draegan Fulguris, the head of the Fulguris clan and the current king, asked for the opinion of the other clan chiefs.

“We've been silent for so long that our neighbors think we're stupid”

Lyra Mwezini, chief of the Mwezini clan, was the first to respond, and all present nodded in agreement with her words, as everyone shared the same sentiment.

"I can only think that they are cornered; a nebulite of that size is a very valuable gift to make just a simple request"

The next to speak was Theron Ebusuku, the chief of the Ebusuku clan, who was carefully examining the rock in his hands.

"Either they do not understand the importance of the nebulite; maybe their knowledge hasn't advanced as much as ours"

Indeed, the words of Kaelan Grianach, chief of the Grianach, were correct. This rock had been stolen from the possessions of the king of Várnalok. According to the person who stole it, it was something the man guarded jealously. However, they never found anything significant about it, except that it was indestructible.

"It's rare for them to materialize, and even rarer for them to retain their shape. It wouldn't be surprising if they stumbled upon it by accident; after all, there's a fountain in Várnalok"

This was something they had recently discovered when one of their Nebulists visited that place. Many believe that the Raiskars did not participate in the Blutreich war because of their lack of interest, and in fact they did. But they regretted not participating, if they had known that there was a fountain in that land that appeared overnight, they would have taken advantage of the chaos to claim it.

"Now we're presented with another opportunity to claim the fountain, despite the merchant's words. Do you think it's worth it, Theron?"

The last person to speak was one of the two current chiefs of the Aetheris clan, Selene Aetheris. Despite being the youngest in the room, her words were backed by her strength. Also, the likelihood of the queen's crown being placed upon her head in a few months was high, so everyone took her opinion seriously.

"Already thinking about the future, eh? You'll be a better queen than this old man”

Theron spoke as he gestured towards the king seated to his right.

"Hahaha, I look forward to it, I look forward to it"

"About 70% of the capacity of the fountain of origin, we could take over the place, but it won't be easy. Dorian knows what the fountain is and guards it closely; it was even difficult for me to approach. In fact, I couldn't even see the fountain; my percentage is just an estimate"

Seeing the silly grin on the king's face, pleased at the idea that he might soon leave his position as king, Theron decided to ignore him and answer Selene's question.

"In other words, it's worth it, but we would lose many lives and risk being invaded and losing the fountain of origin"

"It's an important issue that must be carefully considered. For now, let's move on to the next point"

The king halted the conversation and proceeded with the topics on the agenda. Outwardly, it seemed like he was giving them time to think, but in reality, he was just postponing things in hopes of passing all his problems onto Selene and Selara.