The Martial Unity

Chapter 3382: Motivated Reasoning

Rui’s consideration of her request changed with the reasoning that she offered. Indeed, it was much more convincing when he realized that he and the Panama Continent had something to gain from it, too.

”...I don’t believe you yet,” Rui remarked, deep in thought. ”But, for now, I will tentatively take you at face value. What will happen if the Empress dies?”

”If Empress Morlien dies, the monarchy in the Hlakaschken Trade Empire will be abolished,” the Whispere replied, gently stroking her whiskers. ”She does not have any progeny to serve as heirs, due to fertility issues by virtue of her hybrid race.”

”I thought all races were reproductively compatible with each other.” Rui raised an eyebrow.

”Generally, they are. But there are exceptions due to practical reasons,” the Whisperer replied. ”One exception is that dwarven women cannot, in practice, bear children of other races due to anatomical incompatibility, even if they are genetically compatible with seed from other races. The size difference makes it lethal for them to bear children of other races. The Empress’ father was a dwarf while her mother was an elf, making her a dwarven-elven hybrid that partially retains the same problem. This has proven to be beneficial for the Hlakaschken Trade Empire. Once she passes away, the Hlakaschken Council will vote to alter the fundamental structure of the nation to become more democratic.”

”I forgot that the Hlakaschken Trade Empire is a constitutional monarchy,” Rui remarked. ”Yet, it appears that the balance of power is skewed away from the monarchy, given that it doesn’t seem like she can just do whatever she wants in this country.”

”That is correct,” the Whisperer nodded. ”The monarchy was established eons ago when the Island of Grinolia was still quite poor and didn’t have the capital needed to launch a powerful trade hub. We received wealthy and affluent members of several races from the six continents who came together to form the aristocracy of the country. They gained special privileges and authority in return for their wealth that kick-started the development process of the island, and eventually formed a royalty by mixing blood and establishing a monarch. This continued for a long time until a few centuries ago, when a revolution came about from the people, which led to the abolition of the aristocracy and created a democratic council that kept the Empress in check.”

”...I see,” Rui replied, getting a better understanding of the situation. ”And since then, the power of the monarchy has dwindled, and now with no progeny to continue her bloodline, the Empress will likely be the final monarch of the Hlakaschken Trade Empire.”

The Whisperer nodded. ”Correct. You have surmised the situation accurately. It was just a matter of time, but now...”

Her brown eyes sharpened. ”Now, I would rather she die sooner than later. I don’t wish for this country, for my homeland, to be dragged into a conflict because of that foolish Empress Schlieffen. The prosperity of this land comes from our absolute neutrality, openness, and harmony. Being displaced by the Panama Continent has indeed been very painful for everybody, but that does not mean that we want to be dragged into a vain war with no possible good outcome.”

Rui wasn’t entirely sure how much he could trust this woman on this particular piece of information, but it would be easy to find out if she was lying about such a major matter. If what she was saying was true, then many of the reasons that he had for not wanting to assassinate the Empress were gone.

In fact, he even had a bit of an incentive to kill her, assuming what the Whisperer informed him was true.

The Kandrian Empire didn’t need countries funding their enemies. He wasn’t able to contact his father at the moment, but he could estimate what his father would do if he were in Rui’s situation.

”So you mean to tell me that the only thing that you want me to kill the Empress is simply because you’re this great pacifist soul that does not want to see war?”

”I am half-elven,” she offered with a light shrug. ”I have inherited their scorn for war.”

”You are also half-therianthrope,” Rui reminded her. ”They don’t have an aversion to war, and it doesn’t look like the species that you have picked are averse to conflict either.”

”It doesn’t work that straightforwardly,” the Whisperer shook her head. ”One of the reasons I decided to become an intelligence broker is that I wanted to avoid conflict. It is also partly because of the fact that I’m a citizen of this nation. My aversion to war comes from having lived in a relatively peaceful and thriving commercial hub. Be honest with me...”

Her brown eyes bore deep into his.

”What was your first impression when you came to this land?”

”...I was amazed,” Rui admitted. ”To see so many different races and ethnicities that are so different from each other living with each other in harmony. This was something that I wouldn’t have imagined possible had I not seen it myself.”

”That’s how I feel every day,” she remarked as a soft smile cracked at the edge of her mouth momentarily. ”It is in many ways a miracle. This certainly isn’t the only country that harbors different members of the six races, but no other country has achieved the level of harmony in plurality that we have. I believe it is something that is precious and should be protected. I believe that the peaceful trading way of life that we have is one of the reasons we have peace. I’m sure you have seen it for yourself. The elves sell their flora products, the dwarves sell their crafts, the therianthropes, evolutionaries, and tekvores sell a variety of miscellaneous services centered around combat power, while the giants offer manual labor. We are not forced into war, thus we don’t develop a martial culture, and that helps with harmony.”

”That’s very noble of you.” Rui raised an eyebrow. ”Are you telling me you have absolutely nothing personal to gain from this mission that you’re requesting from me?”