The nobles were taken aback by Jack’s bluntness. The king didn’t even let them present their case.

“Your Majesty, please let us…”

Jack lifted his hand giving Hans Orline the sign to stop. “I understand that you surely have a very compelling reason to suggest what I think you want to suggest, which is outlawing orc presence in our cities. Am I, right? Is this what you want to suggest?”

“That is not wrong, but we also…”

“In that case, let me explain to you why I’ve taken the step to make peace with the orcs,” Jack again cut Hans’ speech. He was now standing up and motioned for Hans to sit down. Hans had no choice but to comply.

“I believe everyone here is aware of the war that has ravaged Hydrurond. This war ended with a loss on the draconian’s side. They are now taking refuge inside our country. Now, the thing I want you to focus on is not the fact that the draconians are in our country. What I want you to pay attention to is what causes them to end up like that, and what is that?”

The six nobles looked at one another before Sean Ramos answered, “The Liguritudum and Aurebor?”

“Exactly!” Jack exclaimed. “Now, you might think this is just a faraway war of other countries that has nothing to do with us. But I can tell you this war has everything to do with us, with our world. I know the Liguritudum ruler. I have crossed paths with him several times, and I can tell you for sure that he will not rest until this whole world, including our great kingdom, is in his grasp.

“Now, we can waste our time here fanning our grudges with the orcs while he built his army. He already conquered three countries. Liguritudum, Aurebor, and Hydrurond! We can’t afford to think this has nothing to do with us. They will come for us, sooner or later!”

“But… Aurebor is not conquered…,” Julian Delsodo said.

“The current Queen of Aurebor is an outworlder, who is also Liguritudum ruler’s consort! Aurebor might as well be his!” Jack declared.

Grace was speechless. She knew that although Mistress was Master’s cohort, she was not his consort. Jack just made things up. But the fact that the two were working together was not wrong, so Jack was not entirely lying.

“If we waste our time here, fighting with Verremor, who do you think this will benefit?” Jack continued his sermon. “Once we weakened ourselves with these endless and pointless grudges. Liguritudum will come and sweep us like they sweep Hydrurond. At that time, we are the ones who will have to find refuge in another country. Do you want that to happen?”

“How do we know Verremor does not have the same thought?” Lisa Halward asked. “How do we know that they won’t stab us in the back when Liguritudum comes.”

“I have spoken to Verremor’s grand chief,” Jack answered. “Both of us want peace for our two countries. Our two countries have been trapped in endless squabbles rooted in misunderstanding. I know you have all suffered and lost someone due to past conflicts with the orcs, but the orcs have also lost someone. Continuing this vengeance-fueled crusade will just bring ruin to all of us. For the good of our country, I ask that you see the big picture. It’s time we bury the hatchet! Verremor is not our enemy. The orcs are not our enemy. Liguritudum is! Our two countries have to work together to make sure that we stand strong against the inevitable invasion from Liguritudum!”

𝑛𝑂𝗏𝓮𝒍𝐍𝔢xt.𝑪𝐎𝑀

The six nobles were speechless as they looked at one another.

“Now that everyone is clear about this, please excuse me. I…”

“Your Majesty, I still don’t think it is wise to trust Verremor just like that…”

“Your Majesty, if Liguritudum is such a threat, we have to eradicate Verremor which is closer before they come…”

When Jack thought he had settled the matter with his speech and wanted to leave, all six nobles instead expressed their opinions without any sense of order.

Jack gritted his teeth. This was why he hated court matters. He had no patience for this game of politics where he had to change people’s minds. If this happened in the guild, he would have pulled his swords and beat these people senseless until they agreed with his view.

And he almost did. He was just a thought away from brandishing Storm Breaker when he heard Grace’s voice, “Everyone, please calm down.”

Grace had her hand on Jack and guided him back to his seat.

“Now that the king had expressed his opinion, he will now hear yours,” Grace said.

Jack gave her a face that said, ‘Do I have to?’

Grace just had her hand on his, telling him silently to stay still.

“Lord Orline. As the most senior, we will hear yours first,” Grace said.

“Thank you, My Lady… If I may be so bold, may I enquire your name?” Hans Orline asked.

“Her name is Grace. She is my newest advisor,” Jack announced.

Jack didn’t look at Thaergood, but he could imagine the man lifting his eyebrows. All the formal advisor positions in the monarch system had been filled, but Jack thought it shouldn’t be a problem to give Grace an informal position.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, and My Lady, Grace, for this chance. First, let me give you an account of the background of my family…”

Unlike Jack who just dove directly into the heart of the matter in his speech, Hans spent a considerable amount of time telling everyone about his family and his station. This pissed Jack off even more, but Grace’s hand kept him in check.

Hans finally got to the main point of his speech where he expressed that orcs were a barbaric race and couldn’t be trusted. The recent incidents at the border towns had shown that he was right. He demanded that all orcs were banned from entering Themisphere settlements.

Jack almost jumped up and kicked the noble in the face. What Hans proposed was the same as treating Jack’s starting speech as non-existent, but Grace’s hand again held him back.

Grace thanked Hans and then asked Lucy Marken to speak next.

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