Book 3: Chapter 2-2: Double Agent
A hostage huh.Raffa if that was the situation then why didnt you say anything?
If I did would you have helped!?
Of course. Remember we had some Nobles held hostage. If I had known then I could have exchanged hostages with them in the negotiation. Those were Noble lives. If things went well we could have exchanged them for at least one or two elves.
That is of course, predicated on the fact that they were still alive.
N-nob-but you saidw-we needed money. You wanted to exchange hostages to get money right?
Honestly, if its money then I have plenty of ways to obtain it. I would absolutely prioritize our family and friends. Raffawhy couldnt you believe in me? If youd just told me thenI could have helped.but now we dont have any cards to negotiate with the Empire
Thats why we should just offer up the Fire Foxes!! Thats right! Its not too late. As the Chief you can officially trade the Fire Foxes for the Elves and
Raffa. As the Chief of Erucyit is my duty to treat both Elves and Fire Foxes equally. I will not offer lives in exchange for lives. You have made a horrible mistake. It would have been far better if you had simply talked to us before you attempted betrayal. Of course, if the captured Elves are truly still alive and in captivity I will try to save them. If we obtain some prisoners of war I will attempt an exchange.
Upon hearing my words Raffas eyes opened wide as he cried out.
Whywhy is it like this!? Whyare the people who should be in our village not here!? Why are the Fire Foxes who shouldnt be in our village living here!? Isnt it weird!? Traitor! If youre an elf than you should prioritize elves!!!
He stared at Kuu as he repeatedly mutter why seemingly broken.
Whats more Cyril! You asked Why didnt you tell me sooner? right? Then let me ask YOU! Why didnt you rise up sooner!?? Youre strong! You can do anything! Thenwhywhy didnt you stand up two yearsno even one year ago!? If you had I wouldnt have lost my wife. Why? Why didnt you do it if you could!? Is it that if Lucy isnt in danger you couldnt care less what happens to they others!?! What do you say Cyril?
He screamed with a ghastly expression. Certainly, there were elves who thought similarly.
Why hadnt I done something sooner? Those words burned in their chests.
Because at that time I had neither courage nor power.
As I said that Raffa suddenly shook off the people holding him down and swung at me. Roleau caught his fist and captured him once more before speaking.
Resenting the Chief is barking up the wrong tree Raffa. Why didnt you fight at that moment? Why didnt you act instead of leaving it to others?
Im not a superman like Cyril! Im a normal Elf!
Just by saying that so easilyyou have no right to throw blame on the Chief.
Roleau stated simply as Raffa seemed to collapse.
Raffa I have only one job for you.
In this situation there was only one good option.
Raffa of course didnt respond.
Double Agent. When the Empire comes to contact you, you will leak the information I give you. Your recompense will be that I will prioritize retrieving your wife first during hostage exchanges.
At those words Raffa raised his face.
In the first place why do you believe that your wife is still alive after being taken by the Empire?
Shes alive.they said she was.
So in shortthey could be deceiving you.
At my words Raffas opened mouth froze making him look like a simpleton. By all rights the first thing he should have done was suspect their words..Elves naturally had a more trusting nature that did not wish to suspect others. However, they must have taken advantage of Raffas weak heart and deceived him.
I will add one more thing. I will confirm whether or not your wife is indeed alive. If youre so desperate for the Empires answer you may use this.
I took out a single Fire Magic Stone and placed it in Raffas hand.
When you leak the information to them give them this magic stone and say you stole it from Erucys storehouse. Bring up the idea of trading for a chance to see your wife. If they immediately refuse, insist until you can ask them while staring straight into their eyes. If when you look at them they hesitate before answeringshes probably dead. If they agree to it then at the meeting I will sweep in and immediately recover her.
I had obtained Kuus permission for this beforehand. This was one of their mementos. Kuu had said we could use it to save some of our Elven comrades.
II.
Raffa struggled for a while before
Illbe your double agent.
He said.
This was the only path to saving his wife now. There was no way he could refuse.
I see. Then the next time you meet with the Empire you will tell them thisErucy offered their iron-working technology and their crossbow blueprints to the Choline Kingdom and received food, money, and the support of their armed forces.
Oi Chief if we do that then
Roleau cried out in a panic.
Theyll desperately come to attack us. To the extent that theyll push themselves too hard to increase their forces and arrive here as soon as possible.
After all, the Empire had an advantage in trade and military might because they were the only ones with an advanced iron-working technique. They would be unable to bear the losses that would come from a large country like the Choline Kingdom having even more advanced techniques than they did.
Furthermore, just this kind of compensation would be enough for the Choline Kingdom to send soldiers without hesitation. There would be a few thousand at least.
In truth this had been one of my previous plans. This method would guarantee our victory. However, it would be at the expense of creating a new and even more powerful enemy at our backs. It was a dangerous proposition.
If I was one of the leaders in charge of the Choline Kingdom I would definitely want to erase the source of the information to prevent any leaks after the fact.
Chiefif you say this knowing thatyou must be stirring something up.
Itd be best if theyre hobbled as much as possible right? The plan this time is
Then and there I began outlining our plan for this coming battle.
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