Gazel's smile, brought on by the mead, quickly vanished as Rimuru began to explain a shortened, slightly altered version of what had happened.
Rimuru started with the issue that had most likely drawn Gazel to Tempest in the first place, Falmuth.
In his version of the story, Falmuth, noticing the potential of Tempest through the few exports they had received, decided to forcibly take control of the nation.
They prepared an enormous army, large enough to catch the attention of Rimuru's spies, who promptly informed him of the unusual movements. This led to Rimuru and Frey teaming up to intercept and demolish the advancing forces before they could even reach Tempest.
In the process, Rimuru personally killed the king and several high-ranking commanders and knights, leaving the kingdom leaderless. Seeing the chaos that was sure to follow, Rimuru decided to step in and reached out to Razen, the interim king. Faced with the overwhelming strength of Tempest, Razen chose to surrender Falmuth, bringing it under Tempest's protection to avoid further bloodshed.
A few nobles were displeased, threatening to incite civil war, but Rimuru and Razen managed to calm them before the situation escalated.
However, that then brought on another problem, as they realized that they had been set up from the very start by someone else, Demon Lord Clayman. Clayman had been hoping to take over Tempest after it had been weakened, using their influence over the forest of Jura to expand his power.
This led Rimuru to instantly focus on dealing with him, reaching out to Frey and Ramiris to be able to attend Walpurgis to prevent any fallout from his fight with Clayman by addressing the council directly.
In the meantime, he sent his own troops to stop Clayman's attack. And during Walpurgis, he got into a fight with Clayman, eventually resulting in Rimuru winning. That victory had been enough for him to be considered a Demon Lord.
So, while trying to protect his kingdom, he accidentally rose to become a Demon Lord, it was definitely just an accident. He was a nice Slime after all, why would he want to become a Demon Lord?.
All the disturbances and fights in the forest eventually led to Veldora's awakening. But rather than causing chaos again, the Storm Dragon decided to join Tempest after taking a liking to Rimuru.
"Like I said, I didn't have a moment of rest. With one thing happening after the next, I am just now getting a break. I was just about to reach out to Dwargon to deliver the news when I found out you were here." Rimuru complained, pretending as if he had simply been caught in the whirlwind of things.
The room fell into stunned silence as Rimuru finished his explanation. Gazel's knights were left speechless, unable to process the sheer scale of what they had just heard. Gazel himself was frowning deeply, his expression darkening with each passing moment.
"What kind of bullshit is that?" He finally shouted, a throbbing vein pulsing on his forehead. "Do you think I am stupid? Becoming a Demon Lord accidentally? What sort of crap is that?"
Sobering up instantly, Gazel had finally snapped after hearing the news of Veldora. Even swearing and abandoning all royal decorum in preference of just plain ol' screaming.
Though it was probably the fact he could see through the innocent act Rimuru was putting on that caused him to break his usual composure.
"Are you trying to start a war with the Humans? Do you think the Church of Luminous will just stand by and allow a Monster Nation to rule over a human kingdom? And what about this business with Frey? Since when did you marry a Demon Lord? Specifically, that Demon Lord! Do you even realize that by allying yourself with Frey, you're potentially making an enemy out of Sarion?"
Gazel felt a headache coming on as he massaged his temples. Rushing to think as to what he should do. After making up his mind, he waved for one of the maids to get another cup of the mead, drinking it in one go.
"Rimuru Tempest, is what you said about Veldora returning and allying himself with Tempest true?" He asked, his eyes focused on trying to spot any lies.
"Yes, he was finally freed around two weeks ago. But, like I said, things were far too busy for me to think of reaching out." Rimuru answered, causing Gazel to sigh and go silent for a moment.
"I swear, all of this could have been avoided had you simply asked for my advice. Now you have to deal with not only the church but Elmesia." Gazel muttered, his frustration evident as he slammed the empty cup onto the table.
"There's no need to worry about the church of Luminous." Rimuru began, trying to dissipate some of his concern.
"I've spoken to one of their high-level representatives and reached an agreement. I can't disclose the details yet, but trust me, they won't be a problem in the future." He paused, considering how much more to reveal before adding, "We'll be putting on a bit of a show later on, but I'll give you the full details once everything is set."
Gazel's eyes widened at the implications, his shock only growing as Rimuru continued.
"As for Sarion, I have a close confidant to the Emperor, Elmesia, on our side. Things might get complicated, but she should act as a buffer for any potential issues. In fact, Sarion's envoys should be arriving tomorrow in the afternoon, so you're welcome to stay until then."
Taking in the information, Gazel leaned back in his chair, holding his head in pain, before giving out one final sigh and opening his eyes.
His entire demeanor had changed to that of a true king, the momentary weakness he had shown vanishing as he sat upright. His eyes were narrowed and focused as he turned to his most trusted spy.
Henrietta, a beautiful blonde woman with long, sharp ears resembling that of an elf, returned the look.
The two of them used Thought Communication to discuss something quietly for just an instant before Gazel turned back to Rimuru.
"So you had all of this planned and under control?" Gazel asked, tapping his fingers on the table in a rhythmic pattern as he focused on his response.
"Somewhat." Rimuru admitted. "Though some things happened unexpectedly, I am good at thinking on my feet."
Gazel's eyes narrowed at the answer. He went silent for just a few moments before adjusting his own position to appear more relaxed. His face changed from that of a king to a friend in an almost practiced manner.
"I meant it when I called you my Sword Brother, Rimuru. So, I will speak to you as a brother rather than as a king. In the short time I have known you, I have learned that you and everyone around you are smarter than they like to let on. I can't help you if you keep lying to me. Though I understand that secrets are important, I can't help you if you won't let me."
His voice sounded earnest as if he was a true brother reaching out. However, Rimuru could see it for what it was. As a true bullshitter, he could smell it from a mile away.
[Notice. While King Gazel is putting on an act to appeal to your emotions, he is genuine in his desire to help.]
[It is believed that he wishes to deepen his bonds with Tempest after hearing your report.]
[The current best course of action is to play along and continue to deepen your friendship with King Gazel…]
Raphael began her explanation, causing Rimuru to chuckle as he turned to Gazel.
"You're right. If I am being honest, I have been on guard with you." Rimuru admitted, being entirely genuine, as he continued playing his words carefully. "I mentioned it before, but I see any type of mind reading as an invasion of privacy, from my own mind to that of my citizens."
Rimuru noticed the slight narrowing of Gazel's eyes as he continued.
"However, you are right. You apologized, and you have been looking out for me. The simple fact you came here personally after receiving the news I might have been attacked is enough proof. So how about we start over again? As kings, and as 'Sword Brothers.' "
Gazel's narrowed eyes finally relaxed as he sighed, allowing a small smile onto his face.
"I agree, let's start again. Then, as my first act as your Sword Brother, allow me to help you deal with Sarion's envoys."
Turning his head to one of the mages that had come with him, the mage instantly moved to pull out some documents and papers from a Spatial Storage bag, quite the advanced spell, though it couldn't hold organic material.
Quickly sorting through the papers, he grabbed a fountain pen and a free piece of paper before asking.
"What is your goal with Sarion? The best advice I can give you is to not antagonize them and be on your guard. The Emperor can be quite the snake, so you must never lower your guard around them or any of their representatives. They will try to take you for all you are worth." Gazel began his hand carefully dipping the pen into the ink.
Noticing Gazel's sudden change, Rimuru found himself slightly surprised. Even Raphael confirmed that Gazel was fully dedicating himself to helping him at the moment.
"The main priority is to get a non-aggression agreement and begin an alliance with Sarion. Their defenses are quite good, so I haven't been able to gather much information on them personally. However, from the records in Englassia's library, I know they are quite advanced. So the secondary goal is creating a technology-sharing agreement."
Gazel shook his head as he heard his answer, his hand moving as he began to write.
"Unless you're comfortable with revealing all of your secrets to Sarion, I wouldn't count on getting much value from them in terms of technology or knowledge." Gazel advised. "Dwargon has had a trading agreement with Sarion for countless years, and while I can't disclose the details, I can tell you this, the few times we've received anything truly valuable from them, it's come at a steep price."
"What would you recommend then?" Rimuru asked.
"The knowledge on how to create Full Potions is quite intriguing, but I am sure that Sarion wouldn't be willing to give you much for a simple supply of Full Potions. You would have to give them a replicable method to get anything of value. Other than that, as far as I know, your technology is yet advanced to the point of drawing their attention."
Sorting through some of the papers, he pulled out a few records before placing them on the table.
"This is where Tempest truly excels," Gazel said, gesturing to the records. "I assume the unique flavors of your fruits and vegetables are thanks to the Dryads. Sarion's ruler has a particular fascination with new flavors and experiences, so you could leverage your produce and food creations to establish a steady trade relationship. Additionally, Tempest has a monopoly on certain monster-derived products like Hellmoth Silk and Sylvibex Wool. You can use that to your advantage as well."
Rimuru looked at the papers, smiling as he realized that they were all records of items Tempest had traded with Dwargon. And as he thought about it more, it made sense.
Most of his advancements had come from using his Skills or the Skills his subordinates had received from being named. He had been quite guarded about all of the information, but that would have to change soon if he wanted to get anything from Sarion.
He needed to create a way for Tempest to run without his interference. Otherwise, he would never be able to retire, which meant he would have to focus and invest even more in his researchers from now on.
He had to create results that could be replicated without fully being dependent on the use of Skills that could be lost with time.
"There is also the fact that Tempest has become a construction powerhouse." Rimuru added, causing Gazel to nod in agreement.
"If you are willing to offer your services to build a road to Sarion, you might actually be able to get many benefits from them."
The conversation quickly devolved into a pure strategy meeting for Tempest. Rimuru knew it was exactly what Gazel had been aiming for, but he couldn't help but find himself trusting the Dwarven King more than ever.
It was as if Gazel had taken a leap of faith in him by revealing so much.
Though none of it would be considered to be entirely confidential information, Gazel was sharing things that Rimuru would have had no hope of knowing at the moment. He was even revealing the flaws in his own kingdom from an outsider's perspective.
In the end, as the night carried on, he got Thought Communication from Frey that everyone had returned from Walpurgis. A message signaling that he should wrap up the conversation for the night.
Gazel shared the sentiment, as he, too, wanted to be fully rested and prepared for when the envoys from Sarion arrived.
By the time everyone began to part ways, the vibe of the room had changed from that of tension to that of relative exhaustion.
Sending a few maids to guide Gazel and his subordinates to their resting place, Rimuru made his way to his office, where everyone had gathered.
— — —
Gazel and his subordinates left the chancellor's building, making their way through the streets of Tempest directly to a large building located nearby. Unlike when they had flown in, a few citizens were wandering the streets.
He had initially been worried that something had gone wrong when he saw how deserted Tempest was, but now he couldn't help but sigh at his own foolishness. If anything, he wanted to go back to before he had met with Rimuru.
The moment they stepped through the doors, they were greeted by a stunning interior, designed with warmth and hospitality in mind. This building was clearly intended for hosting envoys and representatives from other kingdoms, and every detail, from the furnishings to the decor, had been carefully picked.
Once inside, Gazel motioned for the mages he had brought to act. With practiced moves, they began to cast several protective spells before casting one final spell to separate the space inside from outside. A spell designed specifically for privacy.
With all the spells set, Gazel made his way to one of the couches before allowing himself to collapse into it. His mind was somewhat exhausted from the meeting.
His representatives all had somewhat strange expressions on their faces, but they, too, moved to the couches and seats before collapsing as they processed everything.
"My king… do you think it was wise to reveal so much?" Dolph, the captain of the Pegasus Knights, asked, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the room.
Henrietta, Gazel's undercover shadow and Head of the Night Assassins, let out a soft sigh as she heard the question. For the majority of the conversation, she had been in a near-constant Thought Communication channel with Gazel, so she, too, was exhausted.
"No, it was for the best." She muttered, slightly unsure of her own words.
Sitting up, Gazel's tired expression quickly returned to his usual sternness.
"When I first met Rimuru, I saw him as someone I could easily defeat. Even if it came down to pure swordsmanship, I was confident that I could protect Dwargon if he ever posed a threat. But today…" Gazel paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "Today, I realized that has changed. I couldn't see through his strength at all."
There were records from the first king of Dwargon speaking about a potential evolution for monsters that could rival that of Awakened heroes. And his best guess was that Rimuru had somehow unlocked such power since the last time he had seen him.
The room fell into a heavy silence, every eye on Gazel as he continued.
"I always knew he was smart. Our conversations and negotiations showed me so. But I never expected it to get to this point." Gazel continued, his expression becoming even more serious. "I didn't realize it until now, but he had been setting himself up to conquer Falmuth and Jistav since the very beginning."
A ripple of shock passed through the room, and Henrietta, her eyes now wide with understanding, nodded in agreement. The pieces were finally falling into place.
"There were countless small things my spies noticed throughout the forest." Henrietta began, her face stiff as she spoke. "But it's only now that everything makes sense. Rimuru is not someone to be trifled with. He's a strategist of the highest order."
Henrietta reached into her coat and pulled out a few files, laying them on the table. The documents contained vague information about Charybdis, the Orc Lord, and various other movements within the forest. Pieces of a puzzle that now, in hindsight, fit together all too well.
"The only way Rimuru could have orchestrated events of this magnitude is if he truly lived up to his title of Prophet." Henrietta continued, her voice now filled with a mix of amazement and caution. "It's almost as if he knew exactly how things would unfold. It seemed unbelievable at first, but the evidence speaks for itself."
Dolph picked up one of the files, flipping through its contents with a growing sense of disbelief.
"This… is impossible…" He muttered, but even as he said it, he knew the truth of it.
"This means that even if we decided to start a war to try to destroy Tempest before it grew stronger. He would know of it." Vaughn, Dwargon's top military officer, whispered in realization.
"Exactly." Gazel answered, his eyes focusing as he stood up from the couch and paced for a few moments. "Yet, none of you are bringing up the most important issue, Veldora. Even without my skill, I have grown to the point I can tell when someone is lying to me quite well. And I didn't feel the slightest bit of deception when he mentioned that Veldora himself was here."
Countless mutters began to echo in the room before Henrietta stopped them.
"We must act under the belief that Rimuru can see all of our future actions. If he continues to progress at the pace he is at, he will be unstoppable in just a few years. He is a threat unlike any the world has seen."
The room went silent before Gazel spoke up again.
"Thankfully, I don't sense that he has any intention of further expansion, for now. This is our golden opportunity to cement ourselves as an integral ally of Tempest."
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
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