＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

□ [Saint Knight] Ray Sterling

- "Unarranging the nomination of the Master".

That was the second condition cited by the Empire.

More precisely, it reads: 'In the period leading up to the establishment of this Treaty of Reconciliation, the nomination arrangements for < MASTER >, arranged for nomination in the Kingdom and Empire, have been lifted'.

…………

That wasn't even taken into account in our discussions the day before.

I thought that conditions relating to the annexation of the kingdom and marriage to Azrite would be included after all......

"... may I ask why I made this a condition"

"It's a simple story. If nomination arrangements are unified in the kingdom and the empire, both of us will be lacking. There are moves in other countries, including Cardina, although we are not willing to wage war with the Kingdom in the future. Reducing the power of Super against that country will lead to a serious lack of defense for the Empire."

I understood why the Empire would ask for it.

This condition is to absolve the Imperial Master, who was appointed in the Kingdom, of the crimes of the Imperial Master, who was appointed in the Empire.

In other words, there would have been no sin on Franklin or [the Demon General].

I guess His Highness Claudia wants those two not for a war with the kingdom out of her heart, but as a preparation for another country, than there is no way anyone's "veracity judgment" has been activated and there is no reward from Luke that it is a lie.

... but in the first place, I feel strongly angry that those two have been arranged for nomination because they have been committing terrorism.

…………

Azrite would do the same.

But it is also true that conditions are somewhat lighter than annexation or marriage.

Even if the pact doesn't work, those two will go wild.

Given the prevention of future terrorism, there may also be no alternative to exonerating sins here......

'... waited'

But when I and Azrite were worried about doing so, my brother, who was next to me, remarked.

Since the beginning of the harmonious meeting, my brother has so far only been keeping an eye on [the Beast King] and Leviathan, who are behind His Highness Claudia, but why have he spoken now?

"What is it? I hope the escorts don't speak during the pageant."

His Highness Claudia condemned him with a troubled, murky, slightly childish look.

But my brother didn't mind that.

'I'm sorry, but you can't make no comment here.... Princess, if you haven't noticed, definitely stop disarming that nomination arrangement'

"Notice, don't you?

"Though the nomination arrangements for the Master were cancelled by the time the Convention was signed."

His brother pointed to the second condition of Azrite's material at hand, with a bitter face inside the wearer.

"If that's true, the [King of Crimes] I sent to“ prison "and the [King of Plagues] that Glasan defeated there will be able to solve the nomination arrangements and use the Kingdom's savepoints."

……!?

I'm told, I realize.

Yes, the Master will be sent to “prison" because the nomination arrangements will make the existing savepoint unusable and there will only be a place to go to “prison".

What if, after entering “prison”, the crime is absolved and the savepoint outside becomes available… What happens to the criminals in "prison”?

Outside, will you be able to get out?

I'm sure we haven't had a case of that happening yet.

But this condition is more than threatening to be mine.

Look, Marie also looks like she chewed up a bitter bug. [Plague King] would mean so many opponents.

At the same time, I can feel the horror of [the criminal king] because of my brother's desperation.

That's how His Highness Claudia realized the danger hidden in this second condition...

"That's really dangerous! I get it! Now let's change the terms!

Lightly, the conditions were withdrawn.

"Then you can just arrange the nomination of < super > who is in the Empire. These are the people who have made the case in the kingdom, but the Empire still needs people."

That's what His Highness Claudia said and amended the terms.

Behind this, [the Demon General] has his chest stretched against the statement that 'the Empire still needs talent'.

"Can I change it so lightly on this occasion?

"I don't mind. Your brother reserves the right of discretion. We can afford to fill a hole in the conditions here!

That said, now His Highness Claudia strained her chest.

[It's possible it was a woven hole from the beginning.]

[I see...]

Convinced by the words conveyed by my brother in [telepathic cuffs].

First make a big demand and let the opponent reject it, then present a scaled down demand and swallow it. It's a basic technique in negotiations, something even amateurs have heard of.

Franklin and [the Demon General], who had some psychological problems, are now on the verge of being de-appointed.

Seeing as we are in the process of drawing on new concessions instead of passing through the second condition, there will be a pact of conciliation if that compromise is put in place.

When it is over, the renunciation of the former Lunnings territory, which as a kingdom was ready to accept from the outset, is all that is needed, and it is an extremely peaceful flow.

Both the crisis of war with the Empire and the danger of terrorism will now be distant.

... but why not?

I feel like I'm missing something.

In the end, instead of passing the second condition of the Empire, an increase in compensation and the transfer of resources were added as new concessions for the Empire.

Apart from that and the second condition of the Empire, it is also accepted in the terms offered by the Kingdom, including the supplementary rules.

Because there was more unanimity than the original, the meeting time taken to fill it would have been precise and about two hours, which would have been a short consultation with the end of the war between nations.

Ultimately, it became the following pact of conciliation:

◇

○ Treaty of Reconciliation

An act of war will be forbidden between the Kingdom of Alter and the Empire of Drife for the next hundred years.

Acts of war include the following:

① Launch of the War Boundary for the other country after signing the Treaty of Reconciliation.

② Invasion of troops into the other country after the signing of the pact of peace.

③ Illegal occupation of the territory of the other country after the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation.

④ Request for an armed attack, kidnapping of dignitaries, targeting the other country after the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation.

Or an armed attack, kidnapping of dignitaries, by inducing a < master > belonging to the state.

○ Reconciliation conditions

With the signing of the Convention, the Kingdom of Alter and the Empire of Dreiffe will carry out the following acts:

① The Kingdom of Alter transfers the territorial rights of the former Lunings territory to the Empire of Dreiffe.

② After the signing of the Treaty on Reconciliation, the nomination arrangements shall be common between the two countries.

(Persons who meet the conditions of ④ are exempt from commonalization until the nomination arrangement is lifted)

③ Within one week, the Empire of Drife will make the transfer of compensation and resources appended to the Kingdom of Alter.

• Within one week of the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation, the Kingdom of Alter shall cancel the nomination arrangements for the following two persons:

[Archprofessor] Mr. Franklin.

[Demon General] Logan Godhardt

◇

There is room for terrorism to be filled wherever possible.

If the [Pledge] of this content is signed by the Heads of State of the two countries or their agents, the Treaty of Reconciliation will be signed.

In the case of the Kingdom, the First Princess Azrite, acting for the King, falls under it, and in the case of the Emperor, His Highness Claudia, seconded by the King as a plenipotentiary agent.

"I got it."

First, His Royal Highness Claudia signs the [Pledge] with 'Claudia L. Drife', and the [Pledge] is given to Azrite.

Azrite has checked the text to see if it is inconsistent with the content of the negotiations.

From what I've seen, there's no mistake in the content.

Azrite also seems to be sharing skills and tools to check in detail.

"No more! You don't have to look into it so enthusiastically, I'm not working on [the pledge]!

That's what His Highness Claudia said, plus it seems that no one's "verdict of authenticity" was activated, and Azrite exhaled a little relieved.

"... I see."

Azrite takes the brush.

The signing will be completed without incident and the Treaty of Reconciliation will be signed.

But again... I have a strong chill and a sense of crisis for some reason about the way I try to sign it.

What... am I missing...?

"Ray?"

Without knowing the identity of the sense of crisis in me, Azrite put the tip of his brush on the [pledge]...

"... ah"

That's when [General Demon] came into my sight.

At the same time, one conversation I had with Marie before flashes back.

At that moment...

"... Waited!!"

The moment I remembered that... I was shouting like that seizurely.

Azrite, who was about to sign, stops the brush and looks at me as surprised.

The sight of the entire venue gathers with me.

Most of those were due to doubt......

- Only His Highness Claudia's gaze emitted machine-like cold.

"... suddenly you'll be in trouble if you scream. Even though this is a moment of harmony, a page of history. I didn't think you'd be allowed to bathe in cold water like that. Brothers together. What is it?

"Ray......?

Her Royal Highness Claudia said she smoked, and Azrite looked at me worried.

But still, I had to scream.

Because I've noticed.

The moment I saw [General Demon], I meant the person who defeated it in a duel.

Once, Marie used to talk about the person like this.

- By the way, this “Four Seas Sealed” thing, you're stealing the national treasure of Gran Barroa and fleeing the country. Instead, he's a well-known nominee on that side now.

The person who defeated [the Demon General], the current number one duel of the Empire.

of international nomination arrangements - [Bandit King].

"Why..."

"Why... is there no [Bandit King (...)] in the second condition of the Empire (...)?"

Why is there no [Bandit King] 's name among the < Super > of the Empire to cancel the nomination arrangements?

In the first place, just now... that's what His Highness Claudia himself said.

- It's a simple story.

- in the event of unification of the nomination arrangements in the Kingdom and the Empire,

- Both of us in our country (...) will be missing something.

From the beginning…, [Bandit King], which is an international nomination arrangement and should also be nominated in the Kingdom, was not in the number.

And in response, the True or False Judgment was never activated.

…………

To my words, Your Highness Claudia - Claudia's gaze adds to the coolness, and Azrite confirms the [pledge], as she has noticed.

"Oh. There really is. Look, he's not making a case in the kingdom."

"No, right?

Among them, there is no [Bandit King] name, not because I forgot.

"At a time when the harmonious conditions were perfectly read out, we should have noticed"

Because it was swallowed by the shock itself.

Or was that even part of the plot?

"If it's been read through, it means it'll be taken backwards"

"What do you want to say?

Claudia is inclined to her little neck, but I'm sure that's not true.

I must already know what I'm trying to say.

"On the first condition of the Kingdom, reference is made to the request made after the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation. But..."

There's the biggest blind spot there... there's a hole that exists because it was being read.

"If you had been asked to do so before the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation (...)... otherwise"

"Huh!"

Prohibited by the Treaty of Reconciliation are requests made after the signing of the Convention.

I have requested in advance and there is no mention of it being transferred to action after the signing of the Convention….

"If you were reading through our thoughts, or if you were confident to direct them on the spot, you could ask for terrorism in advance."

"But Ray. Even so, it is an attack by the Empire. Fear of conflict with the Treaty of Reconciliation itself…"

"None"

Azrite is right, and indeed some of the pacts of harmony contain the phrase 'an armed attack by inducing a < master > belonging to a state, kidnapping of dignitaries'.

Even if the request itself is before the Treaty of Reconciliation, there would be a risk of conflict here.

So......

"So the name of [Bandit King] is not there"

…………

"- Because [Bandit King] is already a free < Master > who doesn't belong to the Empire"

So even in what I said earlier, even now, there was no mention of [Bandit King].

If [Bandit King], who is already free, is also involved and the defense of the Empire is… etc., it is because there was a risk of hanging on the True or False Judgment.

"I do not violate the Treaty of Reconciliation because it is a request I received beforehand, and because I do not belong to the Empire. So whatever [Bandit King] does in the kingdom after the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation... [Pledge] penalties will not accrue to the Empire"

Regardless, there would have been a possibility that the imperial side could not read through the thoughts of the kingdom.

It could have been another treaty altogether, or one that filled this shortcoming.

All you have to do then is issue a stop order for the request.

Because an order to stop an attack, not an attack order, wouldn't even catch on to the treaty.

"And this is the biggest problem from here"

Yes, it's only a prerequisite that [Bandit King] can move.

The biggest problem for the Kingdom lies in the Treaty of Reconciliation itself.

"Like that Franklin case... even if someone was taken away by [Bandit King] to the Empire, we can't get it back"

If they take someone away, they can't get it back.

Alternatively, it would force extremely unfavourable negotiations.

Because…….

"If the Treaty of Reconciliation is concluded, the Kingdom will seal any retaliation against it"

"Ah..."

You noticed that problem, Azrite speaks up.

We cannot resume the war.

You can't send a Master to the Empire to get it back.

Because the Pact of Reconciliation penalizes the kingdom by attacking the Empire.

A pact of harmony for peace, which, on the contrary, seals the move.

In a way, conditions would be better than surrender or annexation.

Because if we become one nation, we will bring the rebels into it.

If a hostile nation is bound by a chain called the Treaty of Reconciliation, its fangs will never reach the Empire.

Yeah, I know now.

That's why Claudia came to say hello to Azrite before the meeting began.

- Because I'm sure the wishes of the empire and kingdom go hand in hand. There's no way you're gonna ruin things at this pageant!

To let you know in the Verdict that there is no lie in that statement (...).

Oh, that would be so.

The aspirations of both countries… the conclusion of a pacific pact of harmony is unanimous.

I also want to end the harmony meeting without making things rough.

There will be no traps or anything else in this pageant.

Because the imperial trap will be effective (...) after the Treaty of Reconciliation is concluded.

It's terribly peaceful on the surface - above all, it's a nasty measure.

"... is there any proof that it is true?

"There is no evidence."

This is what I thought from Claudia's remarks and the blind spot on the terms set out in the [affidavit].

Just because you can, there can't be any evidence or anything.

So......

"If all my speculations are wrong, make it clear here that 'everything is wrong'"

Because if there is a lie, you can tell it by the Verdict.

"If there's no falsehood there, I'm going to jail as an idiot who messed up the pageant with his own delusions."

If this concern is nothing more than delusion, it is no surprise that it does so.

…………

Claudia's response to my words...

"- You're all right (...)"

It was all affirmative.

"Claudia, are you...!

"... Franklin told me, 'I'm terribly smart at the earthen pit'. I didn't think you'd notice from that triviality. It's a big deal to see through your brother's plans."

"... but it doesn't."

Perhaps even my brother and Luke would have noticed usually.

But my brother was mindful of [the Beast King] 's one-by-one throw, and Luke was focused on Claudia, who said he couldn't see the inside.

Neither of us could afford to turn our attention to the shortcomings of the Convention itself.

In that situation, I just stumbled upon it.

Even now, my brother is watching silently.

Because the situation on this occasion is already about to disappear - not at the Conference.

"With harmony, the total damage would have been the least... there's no choice."

Claudia sighed so,

"Then I'll pull the trigger and move things around."

Take out some switch, like Franklin one day,

"She was supposed to move in the news that a pact had been reached, but she changed it to Plan B."

- I pushed it in to mark the beginning or the end of something.

To be continued