In the Name of Empress-Chapter 573 - 344: Whose Side Is He On? The Middle

Chapter 573: Chapter 344: Whose Side Is He On? The Middle

The formal documents inviting peace negotiations were being circulated among the nations.

With the end of the Battle of White Mountain, there was a tacit ceasefire among the countries, awaiting negotiations.

In some places, people couldn’t wait to take to the streets to celebrate the arrival of peace.

Not everyone was so optimistic.

Negotiations don’t always yield good results. The collapse of the last continental conference foreshadowed this short but highly damaging war. Who could guarantee a good outcome this time?

People longed for peace, but peace cannot be awaited.

As paradoxical as it may sound, peace must be nurtured with the blood of war to thrive.

Various countries were also scheming over the time and place of the negotiations.

Sofia’s opinion was to negotiate at Saint Rurik Palace, or if not, Val City, with no other places considered.

The Sussex Empire’s opinion was to negotiate in the Imperial Capital, or if not, Val City, with no other places considered.

The Jin Yuan Republic’s opinion was to negotiate in West City, or if not, Val City, with no other places considered.

Considering these options intersect, Val City seemed to be the optimal choice.

However, the final negotiation location was chosen to be Francis City.

This city can be considered a sister city to Frank Castle.

Frank Castle guards the entrances to Hansa and the Northern Great Plains.

Not far from it, the Prudon Kingdom also had a similar fortress named Francis.

In times of peace, Frank and Francis were trade frontiers; in times of war, they became the mouth of the meat grinder.

The Prudon Kingdom’s reasoning was simple; the war started here, it should end here.

If the Wende Empire heard this reason, they’d likely helplessly raise a question mark, but they’ve been partitioned, their opinion doesn’t matter.

The Prudon Kingdom proposed this location also to declare to other major powers that the partition of the Wende Empire was undisputed and didn’t require negotiation.

Their stance was so firm it was almost aggressive. King Otto VI of Prudon bluntly warned other countries that if the negotiations didn’t take place in Francis, he would refuse peace talks and continue waging war.

The Tirol Kingdom firmly supported the Prudon Kingdom.

Although he didn’t quite understand where Otto VI got such courage, Roland intended to refuse based on the principle of not making deals on the enemy’s preset ground.

Just as he was personally drafting a politely phrased yet adamantly toned reply, Sofia appeared.

"Negotiate." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Her words were few but left no room for dispute.

Since Sofia made the decision, Roland shrugged ritually, saving himself the trouble of writing the letter.

He summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, instructing him to first protest with standard diplomatic rhetoric, then accept the arrangement, not forgetting to add that it was an offense to the Empire.

Since the outcome couldn’t be changed, they might as well gain something; that’s diplomacy.

Sofia agreed, so naturally Roland did too.

With Roland in agreement, Sif and Alina had no objections either.

The peace negotiations in Francis City were thus settled.

The dispute over the negotiation location was indeed significant, but if the power disparity was vast, where the negotiations were held hardly mattered.

Roland couldn’t understand why the Prudons were bold enough to defy Sofia.

The massive crevice stretching from White Mountain to the Rodinia River still quietly lay there, and someone couldn’t wait to court death?

Before the Divine Punishment Legion descended, Roland couldn’t imagine anyone who could defeat Sofia by force.

He even thought Sofia could remain invincible until the Divine Punishment Legion was obliterated.

By sticking close to the powerful, Roland was filled with confidence about the negotiations.

Until Sofia sent words to him, "I’m very disappointed with the Prudons’ rudeness. I won’t be attending this negotiation; the Cardinal will act on my behalf."

Roland: "..."

This was a matter of national importance, even determining the continent’s future, so why not go?

Roland stared at the messenger, Angelina, and after a brief silence, smiled, "It’s time to showcase the charm of diplomacy."

Angelina breathed a sigh of relief.

Roland couldn’t fathom why Sofia wouldn’t attend, nor could she.

Sofia’s official reason publicly given was a response to the Prudons, but her private reason to Angelina was to repair the Bright Blue Fury at the Arctic Glacier.

Angelina wanted to say that the Divine Artifact could be repaired anytime, but negotiations were more important, yet the words turned into "Yes, Your Majesty."

She was accustomed to obeying Sofia’s orders, and this time was no exception.

But this time, her thoughts differed from before.

Angelina was startled by her bold thought and quickly took her leave.

Faced with Roland’s perplexity, Angelina too felt helpless.

She didn’t understand the Empress’s arrangement, only able to internally justify it as unwillingness to argue with the mundane.

Angelina vaguely felt that Sofia seemed different from before, but couldn’t pinpoint how.

She could only dispel her worries and discuss the diplomatic event with Roland.

Roland’s arrangement was simple; Angelina would go first to feel out the situation, and he would show up during the final confrontation.

This arrangement was normal; after all, many countries had their Prime Ministers doubling as Foreign Ministers, and if the national leader couldn’t attend, the Prime Minister could substitute.

If Angelina didn’t attend, it would seem somewhat impolite.

Roland’s reason for not going was his sensitive identity, being the Vice Emperor of the Sussex Empire, Prime Minister of the Jin Yuan Republic, and Cardinal Minister of the Vladimir Empire.

If the interests of these three countries conflicted, who would he side with?

Better not to attend.

Angelina expressed understanding but couldn’t guess Roland’s true intentions.