The Goddess Granted Me the [Hatching] Skill and Somehow I Became the Strongest Tamer, Commanding Mythical and Divine Beasts - 170

Chapter 170: The Dinner Party the Night Before the International Conference 1

Four days after the Yggdra Empire arrived in Stesia, representatives from Cyrus and Granz also gathered, and a dinner party was held.

On the surface, the four countries had formed an alliance, but in reality, there were all sorts of problems like economic gaps and friction.

This international conference was a place to negotiate for mutual benefit.

It was a venue for such exchanges, but that didn’t mean they could push forward while suppressing their emotions.

The Yggdra Empire and Stesia Kingdom had gone to war a hundred years ago, and Granz Kingdom and Cyrus Kingdom weren’t exactly on good terms either.

In fact, due to the Evil God Cult’s manipulations, there had been a chance that surrounding countries would invade Stesia, so if things had gone just a bit differently, this conference probably wouldn’t have happened at all.

At the dinner party, which was set up with round tables, people of similar standing sat at each table to build closer ties.

At the table for representatives’ aides, there was Second Imperial Princess Louise from the Yggdra Empire, First Princess Vivian from Granz Kingdom, the elf warrior Knox from Cyrus Kingdom, and First Princess Olivia from Stesia Kingdom.

They were all so strikingly handsome and beautiful that they took your breath away, and the servers found themselves staring in admiration at the refined way these nobles moved and carried themselves.

Meanwhile, at the seats where the representatives from each country sat, four figures were gathered.

They were Emperor Kasis of the Yggdra Empire, King Kings IV of Stesia Kingdom, King Gilbert Moon Granz of Granz Kingdom, and the representative from Cyrus Kingdom, Eleonora.

Eleonora was an elf woman whose age was impossible to guess from her appearance, while the other three were all men in their forties.

As they drank their wine, they chatted idly.

“That’s for sure, it was quite the ordeal this time. Emperor Kasis.”

King Kings IV addressed Kasis. It felt a bit abrupt, but Kasis didn’t flinch.

“Did something happen?”

Perhaps because he’d steered the conversation that way, Gilbert reacted. In response…

“The truth is, we got attacked by a huge swarm of monsters on the road. It was pretty thrilling.”

Kasis took a sip of his wine and brushed it off like it was no big deal. In reality, two knights had died, but he had no intention of making a fuss about it here.

“Attacked along the highway, at this time of year?”

Eleonora fixed them both with a sharp look. Hosting important guests had been planned well in advance. She figured monster hunts along the roads would have been routine.

Depending on the details, this could spark the first conflict at the international conference.

Gilbert and Eleonora both felt a bad premonition…

“Most likely, it was the work of the Evil God Cult.”

But Kasis casually pinned the blame on the culprits.

“Yes, our country got pestered endlessly by them last year too. Utterly unforgivable.”

There was no actual proof, but looking back at recent events, the Evil God Cult was by far the most likely suspect.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible that Cyrus or Granz had set it up, but as the most convenient scapegoat, the two of them steered things in that direction.

“I’m sorry to cause worry right before this important conference. But as you can see, I’m perfectly fine, so rest easy.”

Talk like this would spread anyway, even if they kept quiet.

In that case, it was better to get it out in the open now with Cyrus and Granz—it would save trouble later.

He and King Kings IV had already discussed and settled on a compromise beforehand.

“They’re infiltrated deep in each of our countries, after all. They must have gotten hold of the emperor’s travel plans.”

Thanks to that, Gilbert and Eleonora could fall in line too.

“You’re right, Evil God Cult followers lurk everywhere. We all need to stay on guard so we don’t fall for their schemes.”

With that, they’d aligned their intent that now wasn’t the time for infighting—right before the conference even started.

“Exactly. If the four of us stay united, peace on the Setra Continent is as good as guaranteed.”

The four countries that dominated the center of the continent held the most power, so as long as they didn’t fall apart, there wouldn’t be any issues.