The eastern gates of Shattered County had never received visitors like this before.
Liang Chen stood from the balcony overlooking the courtyard as the envoy from Blackthorn Territory entered through the reinforced gates. There were only five of them—but each was clad in polished armor bearing the sigil of a black rose wrapped in iron thorns.
Disciplined.
Silent.
Professional.
Not raiders.
Soldiers.
[External Political Entity Confirmed: Blackthorn Territory.]
Military Strength Estimate: Superior
Economic Output: Unknown
Diplomatic Hostility Rating: Neutral–Cautious
Hidden Agenda Probability: 67%
Liang narrowed his eyes slightly.
They hadn't come with an army.
Which meant—
They didn't need one.
Minutes later, the council chamber doors opened.
The envoy entered first—a tall woman in her early thirties, dressed in layered black and silver robes over light armor. Her eyes were sharp, observant, constantly moving as if measuring the room's dimensions, its exits… its weaknesses.
A strategist.
Not a diplomat.
Behind her followed two guards and a scribe.
She bowed—not deeply enough to be submissive, but not shallow enough to be disrespectful.
"I am Envoy Mara of Blackthorn," she said evenly. "I bring greetings from Lord Darius Vane."
[New Character Detected: Envoy Mara.]
Political Influence Rating: High
Deception Probability: 42%
Negotiation Skill: Advanced
Liang gestured to the seat opposite him.
"You may speak."
Mara sat without hesitation.
"Blackthorn Territory has observed recent developments within Shattered County. Infrastructure reforms. Raider suppression. Increased militia organization."
So—
They had been watching.
"For years," she continued, "this region has been unstable. A liability to surrounding territories. But your recent actions suggest… potential."
Potential.
Not strength.
A test.
"Our lord wishes to offer an opportunity," Mara said. "Blackthorn proposes a mutual defense pact. In exchange for trade access and limited taxation rights along your eastern trade road."
The council erupted instantly.
"That's extortion!"
"They want our resources!"
"Taxation rights?!"
Liang said nothing.
Instead—
He opened the system's predictive interface.
[Diplomatic Proposal Detected: Mutual Defense Pact.]
Option 1: Accept
Immediate Military Support
Trade Income +15%
Autonomy -20%
Option 2: Refuse
Maintain Sovereignty
Risk of Military Pressure: 48%
Option 3: Renegotiate
Moderate Trade Access
Reduced Taxation Demands
Increased Diplomatic Tension
There it was.
This wasn't a gift.
It was a leash.
"If we accept," Liang said calmly, "Blackthorn gains influence over our internal trade routes."
Mara's lips curved faintly.
"A fair exchange for protection."
Protection from who?
Raiders were already suppressed.
Which meant—
Protection from Blackthorn itself.
"You're positioning yourselves as both the shield… and the sword," Liang said.
Silence fell across the chamber.
The envoy didn't deny it.
[System Analysis: Blackthorn Territory likely testing political submission thresholds.]
Of course they were.
Shattered County had grown stronger.
But not strong enough to ignore.
Liang leaned forward slightly.
"We will agree to trade access," he said.
Murmurs spread instantly.
"But taxation rights remain under our authority. In exchange, we propose a shared patrol initiative along our eastern border."
Now it was Mara's turn to pause.
Shared patrol meant shared responsibility—
Without shared ownership.
[Renegotiation Outcome Probability: 58% Success.]
Not perfect.
But acceptable.
"And if we decline?" Mara asked quietly.
Liang met her gaze.
"Then Shattered County will continue securing its own borders."
A bluff.
But a necessary one.
Seconds passed.
Then—
The envoy nodded.
"Blackthorn accepts your counterproposal… provisionally."
[Diplomatic Agreement Reached.]
Trade Income Projection: +11%
Border Security: +8%
Diplomatic Tension: +4%
The first move had been made.
And neither side had blinked.
As the envoy departed later that evening, Captain Wei approached Liang in the war room.
"You trust them?"
"No."
Wei nodded.
"Good."
The system chimed softly.
[New Event Detected: Blackthorn Scout Activity Beyond Eastern Ridge.]
Liang frowned.
"They accepted the agreement," Wei said. "Why send scouts?"
Liang didn't answer immediately.
Because he already knew.
Trade agreements built roads.
Scouts found weaknesses.
[Possible Intent: Military Assessment.]
Liang turned back toward the map.
Blackthorn Territory lay just beyond the eastern hills.
Watching.
Waiting.
Calculating.
Raiders had tested his strength.
Now—
A rival lord was testing his resolve.
And this time—
Failure wouldn't cost a village.
It would cost a kingdom.