CHAPTER 2341: OPPOSING CARROTS

Rui scoffed at his words. "Yes, why don't I just crown you Emperor of Kandria while I'm at it?" Sarcasm was not the recommended route when in a vital diplomatic negotiation with an important ally, yet he figured their relationship was good enough for just a bit.

"Have you forgotten that you owe me a favor?" Guildmaster Bradt raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to go back on your word? You would be dead if not for me showing you grace that day."

He was not lying.

Chairman Deacon would undoubtedly have found have, and he would have suffered death or worse. It was not possible to escape him in his primary domain of influence without the guildmaster's power.

It was indeed true that Rui owed him one. And Rui had certainly anticipated that he would use that to get some of the things that they were offering for free.

"I do indeed owe you, and I do not have any intention of bailing on my debt," Rui replied. "However, even then, one must not forget a sense of proportionality. Even if I were to exert myself to the same degree that you did, your demands are too excessive. On top of that, you utilized your power to do me a favor, not your nation's. Thus, I will fulfill my debt to you with my power, not my nation's. It is I who owes you a debt, not the Kandrian Empire. Most of the things that I mentioned are coming from the Empire, so I cannot give them to you for free."

His words were sensible to the point where the guildmaster could not object. Still, he wasn't pleased by Rui's rejection.

"Then what about the things that you can provide for me?" He leaned forward with interest.

Rui shrugged. "I am more than willing to fulfill my debt with them. In fact, I'm looking forward to it. This burden has grown weary, and I would rather get it over with sooner than later."

"Well, I do not know if you believe that, Prince Rui," Guildmaster Bradt retorted. "I recall asking you for the Squire Evolution upgrade that you pioneered when we met at Her Highness' event, but you refused me."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "I did, but that was because you were asking for an incongruent favor. I am more inclined to give you a one-time favor in exchange for the one-time favor that you gave me. An exercise of my service is fair in exchange for the exercise of your service."

The guildmaster simply stared at him with a poker face.

Rui couldn't read his mind with his mind sense due to the impediment of Sage Sariawar behind him, but he could tell that the man wasn't pleased by Rui's continuous rejection. "It seems to me that you intend to rationalize your way out of paying your debts."

"Not particularly. It's just that I do not intend to disenfranchise myself," Rui replied. "You expressed interest in breakthroughs, did you not? I can provide as many breakthroughs as I am able to muster across all three Realms at any given point in time. A one-time service of my power in exchange for exactly that."

That interested the guildmaster.

Although he wasn't in the Martial industry, Martial capital was still extremely vital and useful to his company.

His distribution and transportation dispatches and convoys required security and protection from spontaneous threats like bandits and robbers, as well as beasts and animals, as well as protection from third-party sabotage, which were extremely expensive. If Rui could give him Martial Masters, Seniors, and more Apprentices, it would have been more than worth saving his life all those years ago when he was just a weak Squire.

"So you are willing to give me many breakthroughs this time free of cost without any strings attached?" Guildmaster Bradt raised an eyebrow.

Rui shrugged. "We can start right now if you want. I will pay back my debt. I have no intention of dishonoring it."

A hint of appreciation flickered in the guildmaster's eyes as he fell into thought.

Rui had passed his little trustworthiness test.

The Kandrian Empire was more credible in his eyes than before to be able to give away its greatest trump card for free.

However, things weren't so simple.

"What did the Britannian Prime Minister come to tell you?"

Rui's words were sharp.

"As far as I can tell, this deal should satisfy your every requirement, issue, and interest. We have gone above and beyond to satisfy you, yet you have not even signaled your willingness to proceed into negotiations," Rui keenly noted. "I'm quite confident that it's not from our side. So, I can only presume that it must be why you chose to have a meeting with the Britannian Prime Minister before me today."

The guildmaster regarded Rui with appreciation.

It was this insight that had convinced the guildmaster to accept his partnership offer twenty years ago.

"He has a big stick, Your Highness," Guildmaster Bradt remarked. "Your carrots are tasty, but I'm just wondering if it's worth getting hit by the stick to have them."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "...No."

"No?"

"No," Rui repeated himself. "I don't think so. He always had a big stick. And we have proven without a shadow of a doubt that our shield can protect our allies from their sticks. I don't think that you are such an indecisive man that you will let information that is half a year old impede you this much. There must be something else. A new variable must have come in-" Rui paused as realization dawned on him. "...I see they made you an offer."

The guildmaster didn't respond to that.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

But his silence was telling.

Rui simply stared at him as he processed the current circumstances.

For the first time in a war for allies, the alliance had resorted to not just threats but also offers.

They came to rely on not just the stick but also the carrot.

That did not bode well for the Kandrian Empire.