Chapter 657 (Patreon)

The next few days were extremely busy for the regular soldiers in the camp. Despite the battle just ending their victory had been so clear that the enemy was forced to retreat at such a high speed that they had left a lot of their supplies behind. Supplies they at least tried to destroy before leaving but not all of it was that easy and for a country that was suffering a lot of shortages due to the war the supplies could be worth a lot. 

“Has there been any other inquiries about prisoner exchanges?” Ajax asked Aranor who was better connected with the rest of the war. 

“Not yet.” Aranor shook his head. “But the beastkin did manage to capture one of the dwarven champions, in a surprise move they haven’t yet killed them so we are expecting them to reach out soon in one way or another.” 

Ajax knew that he meant the beastkin wouldn’t bother reaching out to the Republic about this but rather they would try and get Brightstone to do their dirty work by threatening them with the death of their champion. It was actually one of the nastier things that could happen since Brightstone itself had no hostage to trade with. 

“How did they catch him?” Ajax asked but he could see that the question was a little sensitive since the dwarven champion stationed with them was close enough to hear it and he got a little red in embarrassment. 

“The reports say that he got news of our victory and… he got a little too drunk… before he chased the enemy too far and got ambushed.” Ajax could tell Aranor was trying to be as diplomatic as he could but it was hard not to blame the victim for their own stupidity in such a scenario.

“I hope we aren’t doing something similarly stupid.” Ajax mentioned as he looked over the active camp that was in the process of moving up the border and absorbing the former enemy camp and turning it into their new one. “I haven’t seen a scout patrol sent out in the last six hours.” 

“Its rather safe for us to do so.” Aranor shook his head. “They don’t have the forces to challenge us right now, even if they assume you are unable to fight following your previous performance that still leaves the two of us and Aurexion. On top of all that even they have to know the elites of Gryndor are coming, the group is too big to hide and they are to arrive today. No way they are going to attack us.” 

“Lord Hearthbound.” Regis approached and even went as far as to bow to Ajax which made him wary since he knew something was to follow. “If we could talk in private for a moment I have a message for you from the Duke.” 

There was no need to mention which Duke it was, this was clearly about their prisoners, since they were asking for a meeting now despite the impending arrival of the Gryndor royal who Ajax had publicly stated would take the prisoners Ajax was surprised. 

“No need to look so worried.” the dwarf seemed happy the topic had moved on from the failure of his fellow champion. “I know you’re new to being nobility but this is just the way things go sometimes, see if you like the offer.” 

Aranor must have read the confusion on Ajax’s face because he explained the situation further. “Duke Fieldwealth has reached out to the enemy following the battle, my guess is he already got a response. This is them trying to reach a private deal with you while they are still your champions, since it will be a deal between Dukes there is no need for further scrutiny, once you pass your prisoners to Gryndor the Republic has to weigh in the deal to balance out Gryndor trading with one of their Dukes.” 

Ajax remembered how that worked, when Archduke Goldmancer helped him sell the beekeeping method to the Empire there had been a Gryndor official to oversee the deal, he had also taken a large cut of the deal for Gryndor though Ajax was more than happy with his own cut considering his standing and power when that deal took place. Now that he was a Duke he could see why the crown taking their cut might be something he would want to avoid. 

“You can hear him out and make your decision after.” Aranor advised him. “You are a landed Duke of Gryndor now, there will be times in the future where the best move for you won’t be the best move for Gryndor as a whole. Kings expect this and so long as it's nothing too big they accept it as just a part and parcel of having strong and independent nobles.” 

This gave Ajax a lot to think about. So far the Gryndor royal family had been nothing but supportive of him, with the sole exception of Xavier and even that had been for a short period after they met. He was feeling rather loyal to the kingdom that helped him grow but now that he was becoming a lot more than just a single citizen there would obviously be times when their interests would come into conflict. 

“Lead the way.” Ajax nodded towards Regis.

The two of them didn’t walk too far, Ajax still remained within easy reach of Aurexion as they were trying to sell a much harsher drawback on his Pseudo-Mythic Skill than there actually was. While he wasn’t fully recovered over the past couple of days Ajax had gotten back enough of his strength that he was confident in holding his own against a champion. 

“As Aranor mentioned, Duke Fieldwealth has heard back from his inquiry regarding his the exchange with his son.” Regis wasted no time once they were a small distance away and he put up a privacy screen, Ajax also picked up how over the weeks before the battle the tension between Regis and Aranor had grown to the point the former wasn’t referring to the latter as Lord unless he was addressing him directly. “We have just had confirmation that the deal is still available so he has an offer for you.”  

Ajax was very surprised to hear the deal was still standing despite what happened only a few days ago. Thinking about it for a moment longer he came to the conclusion that this must be a morale strategy on the side of the beastkin. After taking such a large loss they were upholding the favorable deal to show that despite the loss they were still supporting their decorated general whose heir was at stake to increase morale and loyalty among the soldiers.

Regis also extended a scroll to Ajax. Upon reading it Ajax was surprised at the offer he was being made. Exclusivity contracts, guaranteed low rates on imports for as far out as two centuries following the end of the war. It was clear that this was good for House Fieldwealth’s coffers and they were willing to part with that wealth post war to get their heir back now. 

Ajax’s merchants Skills were straining just from reading the contracts on offer. He knew enough to know he didn’t know enough to properly evaluate the offer he was being made. What he did know however was enough to read between the lines of the offer. Everything that was being promised was both tied to the end of the war as well as contingent on the current Duke Fieldwealth and his heir.

Ajax assumed the deal was tremendously favorable but it was clear House Fieldwealth had no power to push against the Republic so their autonomy, at least until the end of the war was heavily restricted by the country's need for their resources, they might be compensated for it but they had no flexibility. 

By tying it to just the current Duke and his heir was a smart way of trying to rope Ajax into playing bodyguard for said heir after the exchange happened, should the heir die all the old Duke would need to do is step down and the deals would have no legitimacy.  

“Is there a time limit on this offer?” Ajax asked, pushing his social Skills to hide just how out of his depth he was with the merchant side of things. 

“None.” The answer itself told Ajax that this offer was essentially also being extended to Gryndor on the sly, they would just need to use Ajax as the intermediary to carry it out without the Republic being able to poke their nose into the deal. 

Ajax didn’t have to wait longer than an hour before Gryndor’s elites arrived and with them the prince as well as another of Gryndor’s champions. 

“His request for a delve has been granted.” Aranor didn’t waste any time after greeting the prince and guessed the reason for a second champion arriving was to replace Ajax and Aurexion who would soon be departing.

The prince responded with a nod. “My brother was quite the visionary.” The prince bragged in his usual manner. “He managed to get Ajax permission to delve both of the capital’s dungeons, not only that but all the champions there recovering will be joining him to let him push himself as far as he can.” 

“The Republic accepted this?!” Regis was worried about the concessions Gryndor must have made to allow for this seeing as this would not just be removing Ajax from the battle but might even extend the time some other champions were out of action.

“I was told it was a lengthy deliberation with the council but the deal went through after it was pointed out the time difference with the dungeons might actually speed up the recovery of some of those champions that just need the time to rest.” The prince simled. “Also us giving them one of the prisoners Ajax captured helped sweeten the deal.” 

Regis was ecstatic at this development since now that the Republic had a hold of the prisoner it was a lot easier to pressure them into the trade for Duke Fieldwealth since it would no longer risk pissing off foreign champions.

“Gryndor also doesn’t forget its allies.” The prince became a bit more serious as he turned towards Aranor. “We tried to get dispensation for Arianwyn to delve the capital’s dungeons along with Ajax but they didn’t go for it. The best we could do was for one of their other dungeons, and you’ll need to provide the booster ideally your recovering champion since the time difference there should make up for him straining himself to boost her as long as he spends a few weeks after finishing in the dense Mana of the higher floors.” 

Aranor was a little disappointed Arianwyn wouldn’t get to delve the capital dungeons just yet but it was still progress and he was thankful for Gryndor’s helping hand. He responded with a grateful nod and headed to let Arianwyn know while also making plans to report to his own king of the development and the small favor they now owed Gryndor.

Ajax wanted to ask about the other prisoner but he would have plenty of time to do that on the way to the Republic’s capital. The news the prince delivered in private afterwards that the royals were also sending him potions for after his delves improved his mood further and cemented his decision in not taking the deal House Fieldwealth offered him. He did however make a mental note of not showing his sister or his grandfather the offer he passed on, there was no way it would be good for him in the short term.