I! Cleaner!-Chapter 790 - 724: Two Outsiders

It seems that the Northern Kingdom might have threatened Prince Lucian, or made some promises... or perhaps both?

Queen Veronica, after glancing at the Northern Kingdom's foreign minister and guessing the possible tactics of the other side, did not ask directly. Instead, she gazed intently at the lean, dark-skinned middle-aged man and calmly reminded him:

"Prince Lucian, this matter is of great importance to both our nations, so you do not need to make a decision right now. You can certainly wait for a few days, send someone to contact Queen Sena to see her true stance, and additionally..."

After glancing at the Northern Kingdom's foreign minister, Queen Veronica slightly raised her voice, as if speaking both to Prince Lucian and to all the envoys:

"The interests of the kingdom may not completely align with yours, but if your kingdom, due to your rash decision, loses what it should have gained, I'm sure it's an outcome none of us wish to see."

This response speed… impressive!

Watching Queen Veronica, who had guessed his private negotiation tactics with only a few seconds of silence and immediately started countermeasures, a flicker of surprise flashed through the eyes of the Northern Kingdom's foreign minister.

Though his negotiating methods with various countries' envoys were not identical, the core idea had not changed: separate the "messenger" temporarily from the kingdom behind them, then escalate the situation to a level where they can't bear the possible impact, thereby forcing them to remain silent.

To resolve the current situation, most people would think to counter each move, reduce the pressure faced by each country's envoys, and downgrade the importance of the matter to regain allies' support.

But not only did Queen Veronica not do that, she even added fuel to the fire, choosing to escalate the situation further. Her words, though light, contained a deeper layer of threat.

If the envoys from allied nations did not show support, she, though unable to fend off those wanting a piece of the pie, holding the knife to cut the cake, could ensure that the retreating allies only got the smallest piece.

Kingdoms able to become allies usually have deep intertwining interests, making it difficult to openly tear apart from each other.

So just as she couldn't attack an allied nation for not supporting her, the few allied nations that suffered a significant loss in the distribution of interests, also found it hard to directly retaliate.

And the inheritance of the Crolock Kingdom is simply too massive; no kingdom could not covet it. Losing such a big piece due to diplomatic slip-ups must mean someone would stand up to take responsibility. As for who that person would be…

Who else other than us?!

Realizing the meaning behind Queen Veronica's words, the gathered envoys from various countries felt a tightness in their hearts, as if a black cauldron heavy enough to crush an elephant was silently hanging over their heads, ready to drop with a clang at any moment.

Although the kingdom's interests might not be their own, should the kingdom lose the immense benefits it should have gotten, what they stand to lose goes far beyond mere interests!

"Regarding the issue of the Crolock Kingdom's remnants, I have a few words to say."

Soon, an envoy stepped forward, speaking solemnly on behalf of the kingdom behind him:

"For them, having lost their homeland and just settled down not long ago, there should not be any more upheavals; maintaining the status quo is most suitable!"

"I second that."

Seeing someone take the lead, another envoy immediately stood up, following suit to state:

"Since the only surviving princess of the Crolock Kingdom's royal family, Princess Feiliya, has endorsed the current situation, we ought to show respect."

"Indeed, that's reasonable!"

With Queen Veronica's light comment, the allied envoys who had hesitated due to threats from the two major kingdoms, now stood up one after another under increased pressure to show support for Queen Veronica.

As these envoys voiced their support, the previously one-sided situation flipped instantly. So much so that, due to the envoys' eagerness to express themselves and the louder voices, the seemingly weaker side began to show signs of holding their own against the more powerful parties.

...

Confirmed, politics is indeed something I can't comprehend.

Watching the envoys argue more fiercely, each one brandishing verbal guns and swords and mocking with erudition, Leon, who felt as if his head might split from listening, rubbed his brow and then cast an admiring glance towards Queen Veronica.

In terms of sheer intellectual level, he might not be inferior to these individuals, perhaps even superior. Yet each of these envoys, carefully selected as specialized verbal combatants from millions, were naturally talented and had undergone state-level training, at least a decade or two of targeted practice, able to weave three or four convolutions in a single sentence. Sometimes it took him a while to figure out what they were implying or mocking.

And Veronica, being the youngest among them, handled these argument-adept envoys with ease. She could deftly tackle any sharp question posed to her, sometimes offhandedly replying with a comment that left the opponent red and white in the face, unable to respond for a good while.

To be frank, if this weren't a private banquet but a more formal setting like a conference room where there were rules and conditions for speaking, it felt like Veronica alone could out-debate all twenty-plus envoys opposite her. Her abilities in argument… diplomatic negotiations are truly maxed out.

"Hey!"

Just as Leon was trying to analyze the meaning behind the heated discussions, seeing if he could earn a "Diplomatic Mastery" badge, a familiar voice suddenly piped up from behind.

"Hic…care for a piece?"

After handing him a tray, the female Cleaner, satisfied and her belly slightly round, commented:

"Your wedding's a bit low-key, but the pastry chef you hired is quite brilliant; the cream tastes soft yet airy, and the cake's texture is exceptional. It's better than any cake I've had in the North… hic… want to try? It's really tasty!"

Huh?

Glancing at the cake on the tray she handed him, seeing its somewhat familiar color and appearance, Leon's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He spun around, looking towards the wedding cake Queen Veronica had specially ordered for this banquet.

Sure enough, the towering cake that had stacked up nine layers from bottom to top, initially meant to be sliced by the armored elderly man and shared among all important guests, had completely vanished—leaving only two "crumbs" barely larger than a palm on the plate he held.

щ(ﾟДﾟﾉ)

No way… that cake was meant for 150 people! Did you eat the whole thing by yourself?!