"Is this seriously your plan?" Gazel Dwargo deadpanned flatly. Across from him, Kaede Honjou pouted and looked away, absently twiddling her thumbs.
Three rulers sat around a triangular table.
The Mother of Monsters, Kaede Honjou.
The Hero King, Gazel Dwargo.
And the Sky Queen, Frey.
A soft laugh escaped Frey, warm and melodious. "You'll have to be gentle with her, King Gazel. This meeting was my idea as much as hers. If you're looking for someone to blame, then direct your frustration toward me."
Gazel shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Nothing of the sort, Lady Frey. I understand why you requested this meeting, and I have no objections to it." His gaze shifted back to Kaede. "However, Kaede should learn that simply requesting an audience is far easier than arranging things so that I arrive at the exact same time as you and somehow expecting me not to notice."
Kaede visibly shrank under his stare. "It sounded like a good idea in my head, okay?"
Gazel picked up his cup. "Now then. Since we're all here." He took a sip. "What exactly was important enough to warrant this little conspiracy?"
"Lady Frey." Gazel turned toward the harpy queen. "Perhaps it would be easier if you simply explained what it is you wished to discuss."
Frey smiled. "As you wish." The amusement gradually left her expression. "The Sky Kingdom's trade routes remain limited."
Gazel nodded. That much was hardly a secret.
Unlike Dwargon, which sat at the center of several major land routes, Frey's domain was isolated.
Frey let out a soft laugh. As ruler of Fulbrosia, trade with Dwargon had always been difficult. Most merchants preferred land routes, and few were willing to brave the mountain winds to reach her nation.
"Maple Tree's emergence has alleviated some of those difficulties." Frey continued. "However, there are certain goods only Dwargon can reliably provide."
"Metals." Gazel guessed.
"Among other things."
That was hardly surprising.
The armed forces of the Sky Kingdom relied heavily on imported metalwork.
Weapons. Armor. Construction materials.
Things Dwargon happened to produce in abundance.
Gazel folded his arms. "And you wish to establish direct trade."
Frey raised her glass towards him in agreement.
"Hmmn." Gazel exhaled slowly. "I wouldn't mind direct trade. I've considered it more than once in the past. However, it still comes down to the practical obstacles between us."
"Namely," he raised his fingers and began counting. "Transportation, Security, and the cost of both."
Frey nodded, already aware of this particular issue. "Fulbrosia's merchants are accustomed to dealing through intermediaries. Traditionally, very few foreign caravans travel directly into our territory."
"Exactly." Gazel raised his hand again and began counting. "Too high, too dangerous, too inconvenient."
Frey inclined her head. "Which is why I never pursued the matter aggressively."
That earned a small nod from Gazel.
"But circumstances have changed." Frey continued. "Maple Tree's arrival has altered the balance of commerce across the west."
Kaede blinked. "...Did I?"
"Yes!" Gazel answered immediately, staring Kaede down intensely. "You and Rimuru. Tactless as you both are."
"Oh."
"Thanks to you two, traversing through the Jura forest is now a much safer affair. The roads you built recently makes it even more convenient."
Kaede beamed. "Thanks Gazel. Although Rimuru did most of the work."
"Just take the compliment." Gazel sighed once again.
"Regardless." The harpy queen smoothly reclaimed the conversation. "The existence of those routes changes the calculations."
"Indeed it does." Gazel admitted.
Dwargon already traded with Maple Tree. Fulbrosia already traded with Maple Tree. In a sense, indirect trade between the two nations already existed.
The question was whether there was enough value in formalizing it.
"Let's assume transportation can be solved." Gazel said. "Dwargon isn't exactly in dire needs of minerals and metals. Perhaps Fulbrosia's jewelry will be something we could import, however that is also not something we direly need."
Frey didn't answer immediately. Instead she took a sip from her glass. After a moment, a smile graced her features. "Why Gazel, lest you forget in your old age, but Dwargon still serves as the bulwark against any invasion from the Eastern Empire. I'd say, any source of minerals would be welcome, no?"
Gazel chuckled, even as Frey continued. "And Dwargon does stand to improve their taste in the arts. Our jewelry would do quite nicely."
Gazel snorted. "Flattery now?" Then he rubbed at his temple. "The Empire isn't exactly a concern that keeps me awake at night."
"Of course not." Frey nodded easily. "If they ever attempted to cross Dwargon's borders, they would discover why your people spent centuries building fortresses into mountains."
"Exactly."
"However, maintaining those fortresses still costs money."
Gazel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaede quietly reached for another pastry.
Neither ruler acknowledged it.
"The question isn't whether Fulbrosia can provide value." Gazel continued. "The question is whether that value justifies the effort."
"It does."
"A convincing argument."
"Thank you."
"It wasn't a compliment."
"That's unfortunate."
Kaede looked down at the pastry in her hand. "...I think it was a little bit."
Gazel ignored her.
Frey's smile widened. "The mountain ranges surrounding Fulbrosia contain deposits that remain largely untouched."
"Because extracting them is troublesome."
"Because transporting them was troublesome."
Gazel paused.
A small point. An important one.
Maple Tree had effectively created a commercial highway through territory that had once been considered among the most dangerous regions in the west.
What had been impossible five years ago was merely inconvenient now.
"Raw exports."
"Among other things."
"Such as?"
"Medicinal plants."
Gazel raised an eyebrow. "That's new."
That one genuinely caught his attention. Fulbrosia's altitude produced several rare species that struggled to grow elsewhere.
Most reached foreign markets through multiple intermediaries before eventually ending up in Dwargon anyway.
Direct access would lower costs considerably.
Frey noticed the shift immediately."Interesting?" she asked.
Kaede swallowed her pastry. "You know, if the issue is transportation, Maple Tree could probably help."
Both rulers looked at her.
"...What?"
Gazel folded his arms. "Help how?"
"We already move cargo between Maple Tree and Fulbrosia."
"And?"
"And we already move cargo between Maple Tree and Dwargon."
Gazel's expression slowly flattened, meanwhile Frey's smile became positively radiant.
Kaede blinked. "...Why are you both looking at me like that?"
"Because," Gazel said slowly, "I have a growing suspicion that this meeting was never about introducing Dwargon and Fulbrosia."
Frey covered her mouth politely.
Kaede still looked confused.
Then Gazel pointed directly at her. "You seriously didn't plan for this? You expect me to believe that?"
"Believe what? I really don't know what you mean."
Frey decided to come to Kaede's aid. "What he means is that it looks like you're selling Logistics services. Maple Tree benefits heavily from this. Quite cunning of you."
Kaede's mouth hung open. "I, huh... Yeah?"
Frey's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Gazel stared at the ceiling. "Unbelievable. She didn't even realize."
"But now that you've accidentally revealed the economic angle, I am willing to hear the proposal."
Kaede's eyes lit up. "Yay, for friendship."
Frey's smile sharpened.
Gazel felt the distinct sensation that he had somehow become the target of a conspiracy far more sophisticated than the one Kaede had originally attempted.
Although it wasn't unwelcome, he had the sneaking suspicion that Frey was being affected by whatever happened in the last Walpurgis.
Who wouldn't, really?
Three new Demon Lords appeared for some reason. Two of them, already known to be incredibly powerful. He was not well informed on the third but he had to assume that they were just as powerful as well.
Frey, and the other Demon Lords were likely feeling the urge to move faster now. Her coming to him of all people, instead of focusing on capturing the sorcerous dynasty of Sarion was proof of that.
Kaede was likely already supplying Fulbrosia with equipment.
Whether she was doing so strategically or simply because Frey had asked remained impossible to determine.
With anyone else, Gazel would have assumed a calculated attempt to gain influence. With Kaede, that assumption felt strangely unreliable.
Frey was likely already training more of her people and expanding her forces. His weapons and armour would greatly aid that.
Gazel took another sip from his cup. None of this was particularly alarming by itself.
Frey expanding her military was expected. Every ruler strengthened their forces whenever circumstances allowed.
The problem was that circumstances were allowing a great many things lately.
"Let us assume this arrangement proceeds." Gazel said. "Fulbrosia gains direct access to Dwargon's arsenal."
"A desirable outcome."
"Dwargon in turn gains access to your metal."
"Also desirable."
"Maple Tree gains transit revenue."
"However." His gaze shifted back to Frey. "Trade routes have a tendency to become political routes."
Frey's smile remained unchanged. "Everything becomes political eventually."
"An unfortunate truth."
"One that has kept both of us alive this long." Gazel could hardly argue with that.
The rulers of nations did not enjoy the luxury of separating economics, military affairs, and diplomacy.
Every road became a supply line.
Every supply line became leverage.
Every agreement became an expectation. Which was precisely why Frey was sitting here. She wasn't negotiating for today. She was negotiating for ten years from now.
Perhaps twenty.
It was a sensible move.
The kind Gazel expected from Frey.
His gaze shifted briefly toward Kaede.
And the kind he absolutely did not expect from her.
The Mother of Monsters was currently attempting to balance a pastry on the rim of her cup.
Gazel decided he had seen enough.
"What exactly are you exporting at present?"
Frey immediately answered.
"Jewelry. Luxury goods. Dyes."
"Livestock?"
"A limited amount."
"Food?"
"Only regionally."
Gazel nodded. That matched what he knew.
Fulbrosia's geography wasn't particularly suited for large-scale agriculture.
The nation compensated through trade and specialized goods.
"Then the metal and mineral ore interest me most."
Frey's eyes brightened slightly. "As I suspected."
"Don't look so pleased."
Kaede finally managed to balance the pastry. Then it slid directly into her tea.
Silence.
"Very well." Gazel finally said.
Both women looked toward him. "I am willing to authorize a preliminary trade agreement."
Frey's smile widened slightly.
"With conditions."
"There are always conditions."
"Naturally." Gazel set his cup down.
"Limited volume."
"Reasonable."
"Quarterly reviews."
"Expected."
"Dwargon reserves the right to terminate the arrangement if transportation security deteriorates."
Frey inclined her head. "Acceptable."
"And Maple Tree."
Kaede straightened immediately. "Yes?"
"Since you've volunteered your logistics network."
"We did. Definitely."
"..."
"..."
"...You're responsible for ensuring the route remains operational."
Kaede considered this for exactly three seconds. Then she nodded. "Okay."