Porol leaned forward.
“…..Hey, tell me. Why didn’t you place the focus on the battle with the huge dragon?” A trace of tension could be felt in his voice.
“What does that mean?”
“There’s no need to keep up the pretense. The news that it was [No Name] that defeated the huge dragon is known throughout the [Draco Greif] Alliance. I had thought that you would focus on your accomplishments at the conference.”
-----For example [We saved your lives from the palm of the Demon Lord, so you should form an Alliance with us] along those lines.
Porol had been wary and on the lookout for those lines.
Saving others from a Demon Lord’s battle game is definitely a matter that deserves gratitude. However if the [No Name]s had used that as a debt to be repaid, it would be intolerable and unacceptable.
However to reject it in a wrong way and cause the news of the Alliance request rejection to get out in the wrong way, they would be seen to be an ungrateful lot.
A Combat specialized Community having saved the Commerce Specialized Community usually sank into such a complicated relationship.
“But you didn’t choose that method…. Why? Was it pride that forbade you from committing such an act?”
Porol’s words had no deeper meaning and neither did it carry any grudges against Jin’s strategy. It was purely out of curiosity as to the reason why his opponent did not choose the method which he was so guarded against.
Seeing it plainly on Porol’s face, Jin replied with a question: “I ……May I call you Porol directly?”
“Eh? Yeah, sure. I already called you by name already by the way.”
“Nn. Having been on guard against me if I decided to use the gratitude vote, Porol must have planned many counters to that right?”
“Of course I did. I prepared forty eight counter plans----Okay, that was just a joke. But I did have some cards up my sleeve to counter that move. Is there a problem with that?”
Porol frowned in surprise though he may have also felt a little underestimated.
Instead, Jin laughed heartily.
“----Precisely. Since I know that that strike would be bounced away, what use is there for the treasured sword? Hence from the start, this bout of negotiation had an unspoken rule that I had to follow. And that is ‘To win without depending on the gratitude you may have’.”
Hearing that, Porol’s eyes grew big and round and blinked before it was his turn to burst into a loud laugh while slapping his knees.
“Haha! So that’s how it is! Jin already guessed that I would come up with a few counter strategies.”
“No. It is I believe you would do the preparation. I assume that the other party whom I approach to be my Alliance partner will at least be able to do that much. Or else, it would be quite a bother.”
These words caused Porol to laugh more heartily.
“Okay, got it! Since you think so highly of [Six Scars], to continue to cut edges would be a blemish to our name! We will provide assistance to the best that we can. But for the investment and the dispatching of manpower, we would like to walk the grounds first to determine the estimates before we can proceed. Moreover, we need to draw up the estimated revenue and other matters. But in view of the opening ceremony that would be starting soon, let’s end it with the agreement to the Alliance. Would that be fine, Jin?”
“Yes. I will be in your care, Porol.”
The two youths, leaders of the Alliance shaked hands solemnly. Porol then stood up, stretching his body at the same time.
“Good! Today will be the first day of the Alliance between us. If you are free, I can be your host for the Harvest Festival. Those two behind you must be hungry as well already. Especially that one with of a shorter stature seems to be in her stage of puberty.” Though Porol tried to tease her, Percher pretended not to hear it and ignored him.
“Oh, right. Please introduce me to the people of [Will-O’-Wisp] next time.”
“Okay, a trade deal?”
“No, it’s to give personal thanks. Because my dad had been in the care of Jack----.”
His words broke off.
Porol’s expression became serious as he seemed to repeat the words he just said in his mind.
“----Crap! No wonder I’ve lost. Only focusing on the negotiations, I actually forgot the most important matter.” Maintaining his seriousness, he turned back to face the trio and looked at them in turn.
“Eh?”
Those words weren’t aimed at anyone but as a warning for himself.
Steadying his gaze on the [No Name]s,
“---Jin Russel and the two aides of his, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my comrades of [Six Scars] from the grasp of the Demon Lord. As long as [Six Scars] continues to exist, we will never forget this debt.”
The serious and sincere gaze from his eyes weren’t that of a common youth expressing his gratitude.
“……Please forgive my faux pas. Being the newly appointed leader, the first thing I should do should be to express my thanks.”
“Don’t take it too hard on yourself, you needn’t worry about it. However, if you really want to thank, then you should say it to them, those comrades of mine.”
“Got it. I will be sure to thank them personally…… Oh right. Jin’s comrades are quite something aren’t they?”
That question carried the curiosity of a normal youth having seen a strong hero.
“Of course. They are the pride of [No Name]. One of the top few players in the East.” Jin replied with confidence.
“Oh Ho….. If compared to my Shifu, who do you think is stronger?”[3]
“Shifu? Porol has a Shifu?”
“Nn. I heard that he had gone into recluse to meditate and didn’t make it for the Harvest Festival -----Hnghng~ I think you would at least hear of the name of my Shifu before, after all he is the famous Ja,,,”
Suddenly, a person pushed kicked the door and rushed into the room, panting heavily.
While wiping off the sweat that beaded her forehead, the Tora mimi Kemono girl, who just rushed in, took in the sight of the Evergreen Longhouse interior.[4]
“Ex..Excuse me! Is Jin Russel-sama here?”
“Eh? Oh, that’s me. Jin Russel”
“Please proceed to the plaza immediately! We aren’t able to control them anymore! May Jin-sama go and stop them personally as the leader!”
“….Don’t tell me….” Jin’s face immediately paled.
Shirayuki-hime also backed away having felt a very bad omen about this news.
Percher was the only one who felt that this sounded like fun as she smiled slyly.
“Ma,May .. I ask what is happening at the plaza?” Jin asked stutteringly.
The Tora mimi Kemono girl took a deep breath.
“In the opening ceremony of the Harvest Festival, some [No Name] members and the leader of [Two Wings]-----Griffith-sama the Hippogriff, seemed to have some kind of dispute----- the situation is now very tense! If we let it continue, both Communities will be starting a fight----!”