At first, Rimuru was fully committed to keeping Tempest's technology confined within the borders of his nation. He had even intentionally stifled his sharing of technology with Dwargon in the past. The growth potential was practically unparalleled when it came to his people, so by freely sharing, he would be losing out in the long run.
Back then, their alliance with Dwargon was still new. It would have been risky to share too much too soon, as trust hadn't fully developed yet. Dwargon might have seen Tempest as weak and tried to take advantage of them. In politics, it's often safer to take things slow.
It was fine to wait a bit and evaluate the relationship between nations. Most of his people had long lifespans, and he was practically ageless now. As long as he wasn't killed, he would never die. Even if it took another 50 years to reach all of the technology and research he envisioned, that would have been completely fine, he had all the time in the world
IIn fact, by keeping their technology to themselves, Tempest would have eventually pulled so far ahead of the rest of the world that other nations would have been forced to ally with them just to keep up. Tempest was practically guaranteed to become the leading power in the West in time.
Yet, that was the issue, time.
Even with Raphael, and even with all of his talented researchers, their technology was branching in an entirely different route. They could grow plants unlike any other kingdom in the world. The extremely hard to grow Hipokute Herbs were spreading so fast they would have a practically unlimited supply of Full Potions. However, his people were struggling to create Full Potions without his help.
Then there was the clothing and weapons, all of them of extremely high quality. The clothing was mainly due to the Monsters from which they got the materials. And the weapons were all thanks to Kurobe and his team, all of them working together to experiment and improve.
Kurobe had become a beast of blacksmithing, he had even received a Unique Skill for his efforts. Kurobe could consistently make Unique Grade equipment, and even Legend Grade equipment if he had the proper materials.
Yet even though their weapons became of higher and higher qualities, they were starting to run into a slight supply issue.
They had enough supplies of Magisteel to last them for at least a decade. With Veldora out, as long as they had a supply of Steel, they could continue mass producing it. However, Silver and Gold were not as abundant in Tempest. Without those materials they would not be able to create Mithril or Orichalcum.
Falmuth was mainly a trading country, acting as a bridge between the West and the East for merchants. The mining resources were not enough to supply Tempest. If anything, the one thing they could provide was land to grow more Hipokute Herbs and food.
Fulbrosia offered a different kind of resource. Gems and crystals that held potential for magical and technological applications. However, these resources were still in the experimental phase, and it was unclear how they could be leveraged to address Tempest's immediate needs.
As for Jistav, the resources inside of it were still a relative mystery. It was mostly marshlands, yet he couldn't put all of his eggs in that basket, hoping that the underground city would be stacked with resources. Jistav was unexplored, Clayman had made no efforts to further expand beyond the few small towns and villages that were scattered around his territory.
What he needed now was to prepare for the future, even if that meant sacrificing some of Tempest's secrets. All the secrets and knowledge in the world wouldn't mean anything if Tempest was destroyed.
At this point the stronger Tempest's allies were, the better.
Though he also wouldn't allow the secrets to spread like wildfire, he would work with Gazel and Elmesia to keep the information contained between each other.
"Elmesia, you were right when you said Tempest's relationship with Dwargon was mainly a trading agreement." Rimuru began, causing a curious smile to appear on her face. "However, I believe it's time to evolve that relationship, to forge something more substantial., and I would like you to be a part of it."
"Oh?" Elmesia mused out loud, her smile growing as she tilted her head. "It seems we're dropping the formalities, aren't we? You called me by my name, and I called you by yours. How about it, little Gazel? Do you want to join this little game?"
Her words were light, almost teasing, but Rimuru knew better than to underestimate her. Raphael and Gazel had already warned him that she was someone he shouldn't underestimate. Every word, every gesture, was meticulously calculated.
Gazel sighed as he heard Elmesia, though he nodded nonetheless.
"Perhaps it's for the best if we can be more casual." Gazel conceded, his gaze shifting briefly to Elmesia before locking onto Rimuru. "I am interested, Rimuru, but I need to know exactly what you're proposing."
Looking at Gazel, Rimuru could understand his position. Even though he could tell Gazel wanted to become closer to Tempest, whether it was because they were "Sword Brothers" or for another reason, he still kept his kingdom as his main priority. He wouldn't give in without an actual benefit, especially not with Elmesia watching.
"Our current agreements serve us well. Trade in potions, produce, clothing, and armor, along with the exchange of knowledge. The road Tempest built is already getting plenty of traffic from merchants." Rimuru began, his voice steady and clear. "But I believe there's potential for much more. I propose an expanded knowledge-sharing agreement, one that could propel all our nations to unprecedented heights."
Elmesia's eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned forward, clearly interested.
"How much are you expecting Sarion to provide?" Elmesia asked. "And how much can you provide?"
Gazel, too, felt a slight discomfort. He had warned Rimuru about bringing up technology, but he had still brought it up nonetheless. Yet he simply kept silent, seeing where he would take things.
Rimuru, however, had a slight smile on his face. He had discussed it with Raphael, and they had come up with a plan of attack together. In order to get everything they wanted, they needed to lay out the largest bait they had.
"Sarion and Dwargon both hold countless secrets. Both have spent countless years researching and improving their technology." He acknowledged, his voice respectful but firm. "But every great nation has its failures. Abandoned projects, lost lives, wasted resources. Dwargon, for example, has the remnants of an ambitious golem project that never came to fruition."
Gazel's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable. Elmesia, on the other hand, was more direct.
"And what of Sarion?" She inquired, her tone a touch cooler now. "Are you implying that our advancements have come at a great cost?"
Rimuru met her gaze without flinching.
[Notice. After running a thorough analysis of the Homunculus bodies the Elves are using, a response has been generated. It has an 89.894561% chance of working as planned.]
"I'm not implying anything." He replied calmly, echoing what Raphael had told him. "I'm stating a fact. The Homunculus bodies you're using now—how many lives, how many souls, were lost or damaged in perfecting them?"
Elmesia's eyes darkened, but she didn't respond immediately. The room fell into a tense silence for a moment before Elmesia finally spoke up.
"What are you getting at?"
"Tempest offers something neither Dwargon nor Sarion has ever seen before. A place where innovation can thrive without fear of failure, where even the most dangerous experiments can be conducted without risking the lives or souls of your researchers. A place in which you can obtain in-depth, detailed reports of every single thing that went wrong. In addition, the assistance of our best researchers."
Elmesia's eyes widened slightly as she heard him, clearly interested. Though it was Gazel who caved in and asked.
"What sort of place could possibly offer all of that?"
Rimuru let out a small, knowing smile before answering the question.
"The Labyrinth of Demon Lord Ramiris. The Elemental Queen and my wife."
There was a moment of silence in the room before Elmesia let out a soft chuckle.
"You married Ramiris?" She repeated, a mix of disbelief and amusement coloring her tone. "I'm not sure whether to admire your bravery or pity your inevitable headaches."
Gazel, for his part, couldn't help but sigh as his hand instinctively pinched the bridge of his nose. The moment he thought he had finally learned everything about Rimuru, he gets slapped by another piece of news.
"The Labyrinth…" He muttered, his thoughts turning inward as he recalled ancient records passed down through his family. "If it's anything like the legends describe, then you're right. My grandfather left behind accounts of the Labyrinth in Dwargon, marveling at its mysteries. However, that was before the Elemental Queen's fall from grace, of course."
Elmisia's eyes flickered with surprise, a slight smile slipping through.
"Uncle Guran visited the Labyrinth?" She asked, her voice betraying a fleeting softness before she quickly regained her focus. "But you raise a valid point, Gazel. I've seen the Labyrinth myself in the past, and while I do have a soft spot for Ramiris, it's no secret that her power has waned. She does not have the strength to bring out the full potential of the Labyrinth as she is now."
Rimuru leaned forward, his eyes focused on hers as he spoke.
"That would be true under ordinary circumstances, but as you might expect, things are different now. The Labyrinth is no longer limited by Ramiris's current magicule capacity. Veldora, the Storm Dragon, is lending his power to keep the Labyrinth running at full capacity indefinitely."
Using Veldora as a battery was quite handy. It had gotten to the point where even Veldora himself took it as a point of pride. However it was mainly because it let him release his magicules without care.
"The Storm Dragon…" she murmured, nodding thoughtfully. It was clear that she recognized the gravity of such a powerful entity being involved, yet she accepted it without further question as if acknowledging an inevitability.
"I can't say I envy you, Gazzie." She added with a teasing smile. "You must have had it quite rough."
Gazel sighed, his hand moving instinctively to pinch the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"I would appreciate it if you referred to me by my actual name, Elmesia." Gazel answered, causing her to let out a delightful chuckle.
Taking a few moments to give Elmisia a side eye, Gazel turned to look at Rimuru.
"You're right, Rimuru." Gazel finally admitted, his voice steady. "There are several projects in Dwargon that hold immense potential, but due to malfunctions and inherent dangers, we had to shelve them. In fact, Kaijin personally oversaw one of our failed projects."
"Ah, that project." Rimuru mused, barely containing his smile. "Ramiris actually figured out how to make it work—at least with the scraps that were left behind."
Gazel's eyes narrowed for a moment as if trying to spot any lies before shaking his head to himself.
"Of course she did…"
Elmesia, who had been quietly assessing the situation, took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking up.
"I see… So, by using the Labyrinth, you'll have access to any information that passes through it. In exchange for this resource, we would be revealing all our secrets to you."
She paused, a light smile forming on her lips, a hint of challenge in her eyes.
"I have a few projects of my own that I'd like to experiment with, but I'd rather leave them unfinished than reveal them prematurely. That is, unless you're willing to share more with us. After all, as a friend of mine once said, 'The law of equivalent exchange' applies even in diplomacy."
With a graceful snap of her fingers, one of the elves accompanying her moved forward, producing a Spatial Storage bag. From it, he carefully placed a potion, a small dagger, and several seeds and herbs onto the table. Elmesia's eyes never left Rimuru as she continued, her tone both challenging and inviting.
"If our scientists and researchers are going to be working in the Labyrinth, we want to be part of the research and development process for items like these. Here we have a Full Potion, an almost perfect extract of Hipokute. There's also this dagger, made from a strange metal unlike any we've seen before. At first glance, it seems like simple Mithril, but it has properties that allow it to focus and channel magicules far more efficiently. And these seeds… We've been unable to get them to grow in Sarion. There must be a secret to them."
"Oh? So you are willing to share all of your secrets with Tempest? I must say, you are quite forward, Elmisia." His tone was light, almost teasing, as he asked. She practically asked him to reveal everything for what could amount to useless information.
Elmisia laughed once again as she heard him.
"I am simply being honest. Though impressive, Sarion is an Empire of Knowledge for a reason. The countless records and years of experimentation we hold are worth more than a better lab."
Gazel, too, seemed to get lost in thought as he heard Elmisia. Yet before the conversation could take a turn, Rimuru shook his head.
"You misunderstood me. The Labyrinth is just the cherry on top. The real offer is the collaboration between Tempest, Dwargon, and Sarion. Or, to be more precise, Tempest's assistance".
"We might not have as many secrets and experiments as Dwargon…" With a fluid motion, Rimuru caused a few papers to materialize in his hand. He handed them to Testarossa, who gracefully placed them in front of both Gazel and Elmisia.
The papers contained detailed schematics and analyses that immediately captured their interest. Elmisia and Gazel exchanged glances, their initial reservations giving way to surprise and intrigue.
"This…" Elmisia began, her voice trailing off as she reviewed the documents, her usual composure faltering for a moment.
"... but you can't deny our capabilities." Rimuru finished with a smile.
In front of Gazel lay the schematics of the Golem Ramiris had recovered, complete with experimental improvements and annotations written by Raphael, drawing inspiration from her design of Beretta. The golems held countless potential, but it would be a waste of months, if not years, to recreate all of the information Dwargon held.
Elmisia, on the other hand, scrutinized the papers detailing the analysis of her own Homunculus body. The documents delved into the materials' composition and construction, but the most concerning section addressed the vulnerability of the soul fragment used to control it.
Since controlling a Homunculus requires a fragment of your soul, she had prepared countless defense measures. Enough protection to buy time for the soul fragment to escape and return to the user. In theory, even if an all out fight were to occur, she should have enough time to escape unharmed.
Yet, unfortunately or fortunately for her, Asmodeus' domain was life, death, and souls. Using it, Raphael could clearly see a small gap in her defenses, a weak spot that would allow anyone with control over souls to strike directly.
It was thanks to Asmodeus that Raphael was able to warn Rimuru that countless souls must have been harmed in order to create the current Homunculus. Because she could see just how well protected it was.
For Elmisia, the scariest part was not just the fact that a weakness had been found but that the entire report had been written while they talked.
The analysis wasn't just thorough—it was alarmingly precise, written in real-time during their conversation. The Homunculus bodies she and her knights used were the pinnacle of Sarion's technological achievements, unique and carefully guarded secrets that were never meant to be understood by outsiders. That Rimuru could present such detailed insights so casually spoke volumes about his capabilities.
Had she been dealing with anyone else, Elmesia might have seen this as a veiled threat, a demonstration of power meant to intimidate her into compliance. Under different circumstances, she would have considered retreating immediately, unwilling to risk the security of her nation's most precious secrets.
But something in Rimuru's demeanor, his calm confidence, his measured words, convinced her that his intentions were genuine. Still, she knew she couldn't proceed without addressing the elephant in the room.
Ironically enough, just as he had said before, she saw much of herself in him.
Placing the papers back down on the table, Elmisia's entire body language shifted to something more serious.
"Emperor Rimuru Tempest, before we continue, there is something I want to guarantee." She began, addressing him by his title rather than by just his name.
"What is it, Empress Elmisia?" Rimuru answered.
"In the past, Demon Lord Frey attacked Sarion. Our history has seen its share of conflicts and betrayals, and I cannot ignore the reality of that past. If we are to move forward with any treaties and agreements here today, I must know that they will be honored not only by Tempest but by your vassal kingdoms and allies. Specifically, I need to ensure that Fulbrosia, where Demon Lord Frey reigns, will also uphold any agreements we make. I cannot agree to a trade of knowledge or to an alliance without guarantees that neither Tempest nor Fulbrosia will pose a threat to Sarion."
Rimuru couldn't help but smile as he heard her.
"A pact of nonaggression? Yes, I can guarantee that Frey won't mess with Sarion again. Unless we are attacked first, Tempest has no intentions to threaten any other kingdoms."
Rimuru had to hold back his laughter as he remembered Frey's explanation some time ago.
She simply wanted to be the Queen of the Skies and have her throne set in the highest spot in the world. The tree in Sarion was far taller than her current kingdom, but he was working on building a massive tower for her so that she could claim the highest spot in the sky for herself.
As much as Frey liked to set herself up as a cunning and calculating Queen, she could also be quite simple from time to time.
"Good. In that case, we can finalize our alliance and settle our terms."
— — —
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