Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

Allen signaled to Somei to continue talking, and he nodded before looking at the other 2 patriarchs again, while the warden leaders were ready in case a fight broke out.

Soon there was a knock on the door and various dragonkin servants entered with new tea and snacks. After being served, Allen ate one of those sweet snacks particular to the divine realm.

(This is good. Hmm, you are what you eat…what world did that saying come from? Anyway, I never thought I'd end up involved with politics.)

In just a few months Allen would turn 17, meaning he had lived in this world for a long time.

Now his memories were starting to blur together, he was an office worker in his past life, but here he had been a serf, a servant for a noble family, and then had to rescue Cecile who was part of that family, as she had been kidnapped by a group trying to overthrow the late king.

Even now there was a constant strife between the scholar faction and royal faction.

Allen felt like a similar conflict was brewing here now, but while he was lost in thought, Somei continued talking the way they had rehearsed.

"I appreciate that you embarked in this long journey to meet us. Just as I informed you in the letters, I'd like your support and recognition to hold me as the Supreme Chief…"

"Wait, don't get ahead of yourself."

"Huh? What do you mean? The other 6 clans already agreed though…"

Somei reacted with confusion to Tokugara's incitation.

"I heard you only gained that position by selling stone?"

(Well, that's not exactly wrong. But why do they still feel confident enough to act so arrogantly?)

"Who told you that? I merely want to increase the wealth of all dragonkin. That's all."

"The Heavenly King Shandar, of course! Right, Dakkai?"

"Yes, that's correct, Protector Tokugara."

"Hm? Protector?"

"Yes. Dakkai, show them."

Tokugara spoke to the warden leader Dakkai who was next to him, who stood up to stretch out some sort of roll on the table for everyone to see.

It was a royal decree from the king, assigning Tokugara as Protector, and Nonfura as Protector Aide.

"Oh, and you'll be moving to the capital Rabul…"

Somei's eyes were wide open, showing his shock. The king's order appointed Tokugara as Protector of the Royal Family, and Nonfura as Protector Aide.

(Alright, the Heavenly King finally saw Somei as a threat.)

Tokugara had always had a good relationship with the king, and Nonfura followed him around.

Now those both had been given a joint assignment, as Somei had other clans with him as well which was seen as a threat. Tokugara and Nonfura's clans were also given a district of the capital.

"Yes, our clans are going to relocate soon. So we're pretty busy, Somei. And that's all we had to discuss."

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Tokugara announced firmly that they would not accept Somei as Supreme Chief.

"Lord Tokugara, could I have a word!"

Allen stood up and spoke loudly, just like they had rehearsed.

"Hm? What does a human like you want to say?"

"Well, this piece of paper comes from the king, so he'll probably just go back on his word as soon as he can. Or have you forgotten just how much they oppressed dragonkin before!!"

Everyone looked at Allen.

The king had already driven the dragonkin out of the capital Rabul before, and split them into 9 clans so they would not be able to gather enough power.

The decree was also made to separate the dragonkin.

But Allen wanted to free the dragonkin from the rule of the Heavenly King.

"...S-so what? You said your name was Allen? What are you trying to get by deceiving us then?"

"I just couldn't stand seeing how much the dragonkin were oppressed…"

"Do you really now?!"

(Umm, could you intervene like we rehearsed already?)

"W-w-wait!!"

After a moment, Somei nervously interjected.

"Wake up already, Somei. This human has been playing you along all this time."

"I know, to be honest I still feel stressed having to be the Supreme Chief."

"Huh? What's this all of a sudden?"

"Tokugara, given your close relationship to the king, I'd like you to be my aide."

"Wha-?! Lord Somei, that's not what we agreed. I thought I told you to elect an aide with the votes of all other patriarchs!!"

Allen pretended to be outraged.

"That was before I saw this decree. I can't think of anyone better than Tokugara who has the trust of the king."

"Wait, why are you two moving on without listening to me!!"

Tokugara felt like he was being left behind.

"As I mentioned, I don't think I can lead the 9 clans on my own if everyone joins hands. So I'm picking an aide from amongst the other patriarchs."

"Aide… Lord Tokugara, doesn't that sound good?"

"Nonfura, did you go crazy too!"

Now that Somei offered Tokugara a special position, he was starting to hesitate.

"Somei, please reconsider. You don't know how much you can trust these two, they're already serving the Heavenly King."

"Allen, I'm telling you to stay out of this. We all are under orders of the Heavenly King to hunt ghosts. Isn't that right, Dakkai? But hunting ghosts is no easy task. Bring it in!!"

"Hm? Lord Somei?"

Tokugara looked confused as the conversation was directed to him suddenly.

Somei raised his voice and clapped, and then a group of dragonkin servants entered with glistening armor, one set of orichalcum armor for Dakkai, and one set of adamantite armor for the other warden leader. They also carried 2 orichalcum spears and 2 adamantite swords.

"Somei, what's the meaning of this?"

"Tokugara, we can't forget our duty to hunt ghosts."

"Hmph, do you think you can buy our pride and honor with this?"

(Well, I'm the one who got those weapons and armor though…)

"Lord Tokugara, maybe this isn't as bad as we thought…"

The large orichalcum armor dazzled Dakkai, who began trying to convince Tokugara.

"Did they get to you too now?!!"

"I assure you I'm not trying to sour your relationship with the king, we'll just be closer allies."

A different dragonkin brought some documents on a tray. They were the contracts placing Somei as Supreme Chief and Tokugara as his aide.

"There's no way you could've prepared these so quickly…"

Tokugara did not look convinced, and the other 3 remained silent.

(Well, if they refuse now, the dragonkin will split apart even more.)

"So what do you say?"

"This is too important for me to decide on a whim! I'm going back to the inn."

They had refused Somei's invitation to stay at his mansion, and instead stayed at an inn in Boaso.

"I see. Then I'll be eagerly awaiting your reply."

Without replying to Somei, Tokugara and the rest left.

"You two, why did you take that… I'm so done!!"

Dakkai and the other warden leader had accepted the gifts of new armor and weapons.

They did not know if they would get another chance to obtain such items if Tokugara refused, so they had accepted the gifts just in case before leaving the mansion.

There was a momentary silence in the room, and then Abigayle seemed to finally wake up.

"Allen, are you sure that was for the best?"

"Of course, I think it went pretty well actually. And we got to see the Heavenly King's response."

Allen felt like the conversation had gone well.

"Are you sure it'll work out the way you planned though?"

"We'll see, Cecile. At least it's going well for now, and the Heavenly King won't say more."

Everyone still looked doubtful, so Allen explained how he expected things to go.

First the Heavenly King would catch wind of the arrangement sooner or later, but since he trusted Tokugara, and Tokugara would be Somei's aide, the king would be convinced that they would continue obeying his orders. Namely hunting ghosts.

With Tokugara so close to Somei, the Heavenly King would be able to know everything the dragonkin planned, and know if a rebellion was brewing or not.

"But they left without signing anything. Are you sure they'll come back?"

"I doubt Tokugara will have the possibility of refusing. He didn't reply right away because…"

Now Allen explained what Tokugara had been thinking.

He was in the unique position to deal with the king, and he could be Somei's aide as well.

Agreeing was a no brainer, but either he wanted to consult with the king first, wanted to demand more benefits, or simply did not want to seem like he was falling into Somei's hand.

"More benefits, huh."

"Yes, he might even demand that all stone being sold to the capital must pass through his hands."

Allen also said that they should agree to something like that though.

"I see, so we dragonkin might unite after all. And if the Heavenly King has someone he trusts amongst us, then he won't interfere either."

The dragonkin would continue with their duty of hunting ghosts, though their living conditions would also improve greatly.

"But we might've painted you in a bad way, Allen. And we also handed out some of the items you gave us…"

Somei had acted in a way that made it seem like he had more authority over Allen, which would speed up Tokugara's decision. Though it also made Allen look bad.

"Hmm, that's true. Just tell us if there's anything we can do for you."

Abigayle also felt that way. But seeing where that was going, Cecile could only sigh.

"Huh? Are you sure?"

Allen's grimace grew gradually more menacing.

It was never a good idea to offer something like that to him.

"O-of course."

Somei was a little intimidated by Allen's face, but he could not walk back his offer now.

"Yes, we'll do anything you ask."

"Then I'd like you to get me 100000000 Spirit Stones."

"100000000?!"

"100000000?!"

Somei and Takaguchi were shocked hearing that outrageous number.