Gathering everyone in an outside meeting area because there aren't enough seats inside, I choose to lead the discussion this time.
{Notice- Extra Skill [Fearless] has been activated.}
Shuna walks up and introduces all the attendants of this meeting. The Beastketeers, Fuze, Gazel, Erald and of course Rimuru and I. As soon as the introductions are complete I immediately stand up and walk to the middle. Once there, I begin by saying, "Alright now to begin, Rimuru and I have become Demon Lords, as King Gazel brought up in our private conversation before and a few others have pointed out in private meetings, this brings some problems with it. During our transformation we killed over 20,000 human soldiers in a one sided slaughter which could bring us some problems later on. Once other nations find out they will at best become wary of us and at worst become hostile. Given Rimuru's goal is to set up friendly relations between humans and monsters, that's pretty inconvenient to say the least."
{Notice- Ultimate Skill [Saul] subskill [Tempest Link] has been activated.
Connection 2 being accessed.
Connection has been confirmed.
Opening conversation with Veldora Tempest.}
"Yo, Veldora, so is it okay to use your name to help with this situation because I'm planning to blame what Rimuru and I did on you."
"Wha, oh, yeah, it's fine Migeru."
"Thanks."
{Notice- Ultimate Skill [Saul] subskill [Tempest Link] has been deactivated.)
"Now, this is where he comes in." I point out Veldora. "Yes, he is in fact Veldora the Storm Dragon if some of you still don't know. He's back after his two year "vacation" per say and is ready to help us out of this bind. He is critical to fixing this issue. Now, as Gazel pointed out, if people find out we did it, they will blame what they see as an atrocity on us, however, what if we say Veldora did it?"
Gazel puts his hand to his chin and thinks, "I see, I think I understand."
"You see, Veldora is known for his rampages, so much in fact that at this point he's seen more as a natural disaster than a monster at this point." I hear Rimuru laugh confidently in the background after hearing me call him a natural disaster, "We can use this to our advantage. The thing with the attack is thanks to Rimuru there was no evidence, no bodies, no survivors, no anything, that means..."
Erald interrupts, "We can change the story."
"Correct. Because there is no evidence we can change the story that is spread around to our hearts content. That will make it so we can change the story to say that Veldora reappeared and killed the army; they would be forced to accept it with no counter evidence to disprove it."
Gazel thinks about what I said carefully before responding, "I approve of this plan."
Erald continues, "I will also enforce this plan. I much prefer this plan over the possibility of my daughter being resented over being partially responsible for the creation of two Demon Lords."
Rimuru turns to Veldora, wanting to make sure he is okay with us using his name, asking, "So what do you think Veldora? Are you fine with us doing this?"
Veldora finally looks away from a manga for the first time in 4 and a half hours and says, "Kuahahaha! It's fine Rimuru, I have decided to share your karma! I give you permission to freely use the name of the Storm Dragon as much as you want!" Rimuru smiles after hearing this.
Gazel then remembers, "You mentioned that you captured some prisoners. What might be your plan for handling them? They could also spill the truth."
"Oh, that. I have two skills called [Subjugate] and [Alpha's Call] respectively. [Subjugate] let's me subjugate the target given that they have either pledged their loyalty to me or are weaker than me allowing me to forcefully subjugate them. [Alpha's Call] on the other hand gives me control over my subjects. What I'll do is subjugate them and then forbid them from giving away our plan. That should work."
"I see, that's quite the terrifying combination of skills you have."
"I guess. Now for the next part." I walk to my seat and sit down. "Rimuru should be able to handle this part."
A little caught off guard, Rimuru stands up and continues, saying, "Well, I guess what comes next is our plan with Farmus. We're planning on taking down the Farmus Kingdom in one fell swoop."
Elrald intrigued asks, "Straight to the point I see, are you planning to go to war?"
"In a way, but we are not going to war with an army. First, we will release the current king and have him pay reparations to our country."
Fuze brings up, "Even with Lord Migeru's skill controlling the king it's highly unlikely that the nobles would comply even with the demands of the king in that situation."
I jump in saying, "Exactly!"
Rimuru continues, "The real objective isn't the reparation money. Our real goal is to spark a civil war within the Farmus Kingdom." Youm stands up after Rimuru motions to him, "Once it has fallen it will be reborn as a new nation with champion Youm as its newfound king."
I comment, "He's pretty popular, you know, he's a pretty decent choice." Little conversations pop up discussing the plausibility of our suggestions.
Gazel turns to Youm. "I could accept this idea, but...while your will is commendable," he activated his [Champion's Haki], "are you prepared to become a king!?"
With a stupid grin he responds, "You can count on me, I'll give it my all! After all, don't you think it's natural for a man to want to look cool in front of the girl he fell in love with."
"You plan to become a king to look "cool!?" He questions. A stare down is started as Gazel tests Youm's resolve.
This continues until Grucius steps up, "King of Dwarves! While I can guarantee this guy is a fool, he's not irresponsible. Until the day he is heralded as king I will watch over him."
"Is that so? Alright then, you may rely on me if anything happens." He calms back down and sits back on his chair.
Fuze raises his hand and asks if he may speak. After Rimuru says it's fine he states how Blumund may be able to help as the King has a distant relative in Farmus. He says that that could possibly make negotiations easier.
Hearing this I tease, "Huh, not bad Fuze, guess you weren't useless after all."
A loud laugh is heard. Elrald says, "All this friendly cross-country negotiations and information sharing. I guess I was a fool for being on guard." He turns to Fuze, "Allow me to ask one question Fuze, why are you in diplomatic relations with Tempest?" His eyes open just that tiny bit, when the guy with the closed eyes does that that's how you know he's serious, "You are here under King Blumund's approval so I want to know, what's going on in his mind?" Waving his hand in front of Fuze to signal that he isn't trying to start anything he says, "While it may be small, Blumund is good at negotiating beneficial deals so wouldn't it have made more sense to wait for the Western Saints Church's response first?"
He tenses up a bit, "Yes, it is as you say, waiting for the Church's response might have been better, but forming a good relationship with Tempest was our only option. As the nation that defeated the Orc Lord and Charybdis in order to ensure our own survival we are forced to develop good diplomatic relations with Tempest to avoid going under. That was the king's decree and in the end it seems that was the correct choice. Ruminism isn't very widespread in Blumund so between putting our fates in the hands of the church or Tempest we were better off putting our faiths in the hands of the Twin Rulers."
Huh, even he's saying it. When did it even start?
{Answer- 10 months...}
It's a rhetorical question [Solomon].
{...}
Now you're giving me sass. Don't think I can't feel that, you're part of my soul.
I look back at the conversation. "So in short it was for your survival. That's why you did it. Thanks, I see now, I think I understand a little more."
Gazel interrupts and says, "Your skepticism knows no bounds, unlike you I trust the two wholeheartedly."
I comment, "Well, I mean, in his shoes I would do the same."
Erald responds, "As Sir Migeru has possibly considered, forming diplomatic relations with a nation of monsters is not a thing to decide frivolously."
Gazel closes his eyes, "I understand, but have you made your decision?"
"Before I answer that I have one final question for the so-called Twin Rulers."
Rimuru hears this and walks up to him before activating [Demon Lord Haki] right in front of him. I watch behind him while releasing a tiny amount of my own Haki to add to the intimidation but not make it impossible for Erald to stand "Alright, let's hear it."
With a sweat mark he responds, "Well then, Demon Lord Rimuru, what might be your goals? What do you two intend to do with your power?"
His aura calms down as he smiles, "That's it? As Migeru said, I simply want to make a world that is convenient for me, a world where everyone can live in comfort and happiness."
"To believe in such a pipe dream? Do you truly believe you could accomplish that!?"
"Of course." Simple minded as ever aren't you Rimuru. Not that my goal is any more complex. Rimuru continues, "Power without ideals is rubbish and ideals without power is pointless, don't you think? It's not my thing to only seek power."
He laughs, "I see. What about you, Demon Lord Migeru?"
I laugh a little, "Honestly, it's pretty much the same as Rimuru but through a different way. I would say I'm more selfish than Rimuru in a lot of ways but I do believe in his goal and hope to be there to help achieve it. It's kind of my job to support him as his more mature brother even though he's technically older." He turns around and pouts. "Ha, that's funny."
He watches this and smiles, relieved in a way. He bows, "I see, I think I understand why you two awakened now, apologies for my rudeness. As an envoy of the Sorcerer Dynasty Sarion I would like to formally request for friendly diplomatic relations with the Jura Tempest Federation."
Rimuru and I both accept, however after accepting I cross my arms, lean back and say, "But of course, given how you were already going to join us anyway, that was a given."
He chuckles, "I see, nothing truly can get past you. As you have probably foreseen, as long as you have the power of Sir Veldora we cannot be hostile. I will say the final decision to establish relations was based on you two, however you passed that in our private meeting. I was quite surprised. I didn't expect you two to act so casually around us."
Rimuru apologizes. "I apologize."
Eren hugs Erald as he walks away. What evil spirit possessed her there?
{Notice- No spirit was detected inhabiting subject Eren.}
Rhetorical question, [Solomon].
"Alright, with that over let's take a short break for now, we still have the other half of the discussion to go but I believe its time for a small break."