Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 389: I Refuse

Raising his hand, Lord Draco was allowed to speak. “I believe it’s best that we’re direct with our intentions. It will speed this up and help us understand each other without needing to read between the lines. Having said that, what verdict was reached regarding my previous accusations toward Lord Zrand?”

Smiling, Slazza answered, “Lord Zrand was given the minimum punishment of three years of house arrest within God Toseko’s palace. The next time you’ll see him shall be at the quadrant finals, where’ll he’ll be allowed to attend before being released.”

“Very well...” Isaac sighed in annoyance.

“Continuing, I’ve now placed two mid-king guards at the mine’s entrance. I ask that the gorilla clan construct a temporary home for them in the clearing outside the mine. Is that something you can handle?” Slazza motioned toward Bradok for an answer.

Lord Draco replied instead, “It’s more than possible. I expect it to be done within a day, two at most.”

Unable to speak, Bradok nodded alongside Isaac’s answer.

Slazza nodded as well, moving on. “In that case, we’ll now discuss how the mine’s resources shall be divided and distributed. The quadrant will begin mining their portion the moment the guard’s house is completed. In total, the quadrant will be collecting seventy-five percent of the mine’s resources. Is that clear?”

.....

“Yes,” All three prefecture lords answered without hesitation.

“Good. Now, I give the floor to Lord Draco, then to Lord Treeda, and then to Lady Inka. Please, state your proposed solution and why that solution is reasonable.”

As Slazza sat down, Lord Draco stood up. Isaac didn’t even look at his fellow prefecture lords as he stated, “The remaining twenty-five percent shall be collected by my Nova Prefecture. We will not be sharing any of it, though I welcome anyone wishing to contend for the property through forceful means.”

Lord Draco then sat down without asking anyone for their responses.

That being the case, Treeda stood up and shook her head. “I’m not so easily decided on the matter. I feel it is unfair that Nova Prefecture takes full custody of the remaining resources. This region was once a part of my prefecture, but in a deal to have my daughter learn under Lord Draco, I gifted him this region a few hundred years ago with my daughter at the helm.

“However, my daughter was slaughtered here. She was not protected by Lord Draco, nor was the infraction enforced by Lord Draco. I was forced to take action personally, as Lady Narja and Sir Slazza already know, taking Brak, Lord Zrand, and Lord Draco to trial before God Toseko. At that time, it was decided that both Tempest Prefecture and Nova prefecture owe me a debt that was left to be determined among us three nations.

“Yet, each time I organize a gathering of we three prefecture lords, Lord Draco has conveniently been busy. Now, I ask, before Sir Slazza and Lady Narja as witnesses, for the return of this region into the custody of Toxic-shadow Prefecture as recompense. What say you, Lord Draco?”

Scoffing, Isaac shook his head, “Impossible. Disregarding the mine, this region was my payment for hundreds of years of guidance that I gave to your daughter. I’ve already earned my keep of this region.”

“Then, Lord Draco, what do you offer as repayment for the damages you failed to prevent?” Treeda questioned.

“... Lord Draco, you must answer,” Lady Narja spoke up. “If we must, we can postpone the discussion of the mine and resolve this matter first. Which would you prefer, Lord Draco?”

Irked, Lord Draco stated, “I’m still uncertain as to why I must pay the bulk of the repercussions when it was Tempest Prefecture to cause the infraction. For that reason, I’m unable to give a proper estimate without Tempest Prefecture first deciding what they’ll be offering Toxic-shadow Prefecture.”

“You heard him, Lord Treeda, Lady Inka.” Slazza looked to the women, asking, “What say you to that?”

Lady Inka replied first, “Tempest Prefecture offers any benefits we would’ve received from the discussion of the mine to Toxic-shadow Prefecture as repayment.”

Slazza’s, Narja’s, and Isaac’s eyes bulged slightly after hearing such an unexpected offer.

“Toxic-shadow accepts those terms of repayment,” Treeda stated, nodding to Inka. “Now, Lord Draco, what will you offer?”

“... In my opinion, those are terrible conditions, as I refuse to freely give up any of the magicite.”

“Then how about this? I’ll ask for no portion of the magicite, which would then mean Tempest Prefecture would also make no claim on the ore,” Treeda stated, flooring all three of them yet again. “However, I still ask for the return of the Rhyner Region into Toxic-shadow Prefecture’s control. What say you, Sir Slazza, Lady Narja? Does that sound fair?”

Both Slazza and Narja nodded, a bit surprised they already found a fairly even conclusion.

That was until Lord Draco emphatically disagreed. “I refuse. Again, the ownership of this region is no longer in question and has nothing to do with the matter of the mine, unless you choose to go to war for the region.”

“Either I want the ore, or the region that was once mine,” claimed Treeda, refusing to sit and pass the floor to anyone else. “I find my offer to be fair. Please, describe to me how it is unreasonable?”

“I gave your daughter hundreds of years of teachings. That’s worth more than a simple region with so few contributions to my prefecture. Apart from the mine, there’s never been a major contribution from this land,” reasoned Lord Draco. “So, my teachings have long paid for it.”

Treeda retorted, “If the region is worth so little, why do you refuse to give it up in exchange for the peaceful extraction of the magicite?”

“Because, giving up a region is no small matter. It’s a smear on any prefecture lord’s title,” refuted Isaac.

“Then what do you propose? Do not spit in my face without a proper response,” ordered Treeda, refusing to stand down. “Sir Slazza, what is your opinion of my offer?”