Kosho - "Ahahah, excuse me, but how does this change from what I just proposed?"
I was kind of expecting this, because in an alliance, there is often one party that takes advantage of the other and ends up totally subduing it.
I think that this is the vision of an alliance that Kosho has in mind.
Me - "You offered me to be under your command. Which is a categorical refusal on my part. But what I am proposing is that we both be on the same level, two leaders in short.
Kosho - "And what would I gain by joining forces with you?"
Me - "Fourteen extra men under you. That's not bad, is it?"
Well, I probably lied a bit, because in the 14, I counted, Angelo, Shiro, Selstine and Sonya, Nomiko, Shanlen, Ojoth, Chauk, Menelle, Isobe, May, Vasoros, Rujin and Alia."
Even though I'm sure Shanlen and his men will never get into his service, the same goes for Nomiko and Alia.
I have to sell him a dream for now, even if he rebels later. That's a risk I have to take.
Kosho - "14? How can I believe what you say?"
Me: "This afternoon at 5pm, we all meet to finalize our pre-war plan. If you accept my proposal of alliances, you will be welcome to attend this meeting."
Zilfius - "Kosho, I think it's a good idea to accept his proposal, we are still too few to hope to make it in the middle of this war, 14 new companions will not be unwelcome."
Leona - "Ah, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who finds his alliance proposal advantageous for us."
Kosho - "Yes, I understand what you are saying, but if they are really 14, at any moment they can take over us is satiate us. Lysis, Zera, what do you think?"
Zera - "I don't trust this kid, I don't trust him.
Thank you, it's a pleasure.
Apparently, she was aiming at me without hiding because she was staring at me while answering her.
Lysis - "This kid is annoying me with his condescending air, but I think that for the moment we should accept his proposal.
Kosho - "Well, apparently we are 4 to 1 to accept your proposal, so with the agreement of the rest of our group, we join your alliance."
Well, my proposal went much better than expected, I didn't expect them to accept it the first time.
Me - "Perfect, at first I was afraid you would all refuse my offer."
Kosho - "Don't get too excited, if we don't like your buddies, we won't stay in your alliance."
Me - "Don't worry, they are all nice."
Lysis - "You see chief, it's when he smiles like that that I can't stand him."
For once, I hadn't even smiled on purpose, it came naturally.
Kosho - "And your meeting, where is it?"
Me - "Don't worry about that, Kana will take care of showing you the way."
Kosho - "Well Kana, you know what you have to do."
Kana - "Don't worry, I don't need your advice."
Me - "Well, since I'm done here, I'll go back, I still have work to do."
Yeah, unfortunately I have to give Alia some explanations and I have to find Shanlen to tell her to join us.
So I came out of this cellar and went towards the exit door.
I don't know why, but they all followed me to the entrance. That's good for me, because I had forgotten to say something about it.
Me - "Don't come after 5pm, otherwise our proposal will be cancelled, okay?"
Kana - "No problem Yùichi."
Kosho - "You see? If your mother says so, then that means we'll arrive before 5 o'clock."
And without saying another word I walked out of that old dilapidated house, lucky it didn't fall on our heads.
[ 08/07/499 15 h 30 ]
[ Dorta - The Central Square ]
As for going, it took me a little more than thirty minutes to return to the central square.
And it was not long before I found Alia sitting on a bench.
Me - "How long have you been waiting here?"
Alia - "Don't you think you have more important things to tell me?"
Well, given the situation, there can be two important things to say.
The first one is to apologize for making her wait and to give her a reason that could convince her.
The second is to explain to her what happened while I was away.
Me - "So, where to start."
Alia - "When you left to go to the central square, it was to find your mother, wasn't it?"
Me - "So, it was planned like that. But in fact it wasn't."
Alia - "What do you mean, "but actually not?"
I don't really like it when she tries to take the same tone as me and imitate me.
But I had no choice but to tell her everything that has happened since we parted ways an hour and a half ago.
[ 08/07/499 15 h 45 ]
It was only an hour and a half, but it took me more than ten minutes to tell her everything.
And apparently, she didn't seem very surprised by what I had just told her.
Only one detail bothered her.
Alia - "So you're planning to bring Shanlen and his seven friends with us?
Me - "Yes, it seems normal since we are all part of the same alliance.
Alia - "I think I'll always have trouble understanding you. Some times you don't hesitate to lie and do something on the sly. But this time, you want to be a good Samaritan and introduce everyone to each other.
Me - "This might take a while to explain, but I have to explain something to all of you during this meeting, that's why they all have to be present. If it would have been easier to do, I would have explained it to each of them separately, so that they would avoid meeting and we would remain as discreet as possible."
Alia - "And what is this long-winded thing to explain?"
Me - "So, to make a long story short, during the almost 6 months we have left, we are all going to go away to train."
Alia - "What? What do you mean, train for 6 months? "
Me - "Wait, you weren't planning to participate in this war without a minimum of preparation? If the war starts and our strength remains the same as it is now, I'm 100% sure we wouldn't survive a whole week."
Alia - "Are so many people that strong?"
Me - "It's not so much the strength that's the problem, it's more the technique and the number. No matter how strong we are, if 10 people came to attack us at the same time, we wouldn't get out alive. That's why I'm recruiting more people and why I want us all to train.
Alia - "Yes, but why not recruit even more in that case?"
Me - "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to answer all your questions. I still have to find Shanlen and convince him to come to this meeting. You can ask me your questions once I've made my speech."
Alia - "Yes, go ahead, I'll tell your sisters and your father that you've found your mother?"
Me - "No need, just go back to the hotel and have a rest."
Alia - "Okay, as you wish."
And without asking any more questions, she went back in the direction of the hotel and I was able to leave in the direction of the bar where we had first met Shanlen.