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I gathered every bit of information I could from Aylia about Belrüsa the Pirate City by reputation.
After that, I prepared the materials and personnel necessary for negotiations.
As a result, the members I would bring along were decided.

“I figured you’d call for me.”

Said the merchant Mao, grumbling while preparing the caravan.

“I usually procure salt in Lotzo, not Belrüsa, you know.”
“But you do sell rock salt there, don’t you?”

Mao sighed.

“That’s right. The governor there is one of my regular clients.”

His company handles all the small necessities required for the journey. Convenient, really.
We were to appear as traders bringing rock salt to sell, and meet with the governor of Belrüsa under that guise.

Mao gave me a long look.

“What is it?”
“My company will take responsibility for the travel, but I can expect that the expenses will be covered, yes?”
“I know. I’ll properly pay you and your men. And leave the security to me.”

With werewolf bodyguards included, no less. Lucky guy.

Beside the anxious-looking Mao was Rasie—the former false Saintess.

“Um, I’m coming too?”
“Yeah. Your illusions could come in handy. I’ll need you with us.”

Rasie’s illusion magic can project wide and precise images—real enough to fool anyone not used to sorcery.
It’s useful for both escape and intimidation, so she’s coming along for insurance.
Besides, she used to work for the Senate. The fact that the Demon King’s Army has absorbed Senate personnel could be a nice bargaining chip.
However—

“Listen, don’t ever act on your own. And during negotiations, keep quiet until I give permission.”
“Y-yes!”

Rasie nodded rapidly.

“I don’t even trust myself, so I promise I won’t leave your side, sir Veit! And I’ll keep quiet!”
“Good. That’s the right attitude. I’ll protect you if something happens.”
“Yes!”

I can trust her capabilities, but her personality, on the other hand…

And lastly, the troublesome senior disciple.

“What’s this, rock salt? Selling salt to a place that produces it? That’s pretty funny. Hm, does it taste different? Let me try it—”
“Can you even tell the taste, Parker?”
“Of course not, I don’t have a tongue! Tehepero! Oh wait—I don’t have a tongue to stick out! Hah-hah-hah!”

Annoying.
A to the No to the Ying.

Since none of these people are reliable in combat, I decided to bring along two squads—eight werewolf soldiers.
The Garne brothers and Monsa are amongst them.
The Garne brothers are strong even without transforming; they can hold their own as regular soldiers when shifting would be inconvenient.
Monsa, on the other hand, is an excellent spy—perfect for watching out for assassins or tails.

“Hey bro, I heard Belrüsa’s by the sea!”
“Yeah. The sea’s like a huge lake—but salty.”
“Whoa, you know everything!”
“Sure, but I hear waves keep crashing into it, so it’s kinda scary.”
“That sounds bad! So Belrüsa’s underwater?”
“No, that’s not—wait, Veit, is Belrüsa underwater!?”

Idiotic brothers.
Don’t worry, waves go back out too.

Originally, I wanted to bring a demon skilled in diplomacy, but those types are all tied up running their cities’ internal affairs.

“Leave the negotiations to me! Despite how I look, I have a silver tongue! Actually, I don’t have a tongue! HAHAHA!”

I grabbed the overly familiar Parker by the shoulder, dragged him to an empty crate, and pushed him toward it.

“Hey, hey, what’re you doing, little brother?”
“I figured if I took you apart, you might fit in this box. It’d be easier for both of us.”
“Now wait a second, you’re trying to make me a boxed older brother?!
“I just want to keep my dear senior disciple in a wrap and bow. Hey, someone get me nails and a hammer.”

I obviously didn’t actually pack him up, but it’s an idea worth revisiting someday.
Parker slumped against the crate and looked up at me.

“You’ve gotten a lot meaner compared to when you first joined…”
“Half of that is your fault!”

And with that, I joined the caravan and departed from Lüenheit—this time traveling by horse.
The road to the seaside city of Belrüsa wound gently through the hills.

“Our ancestors who crossed the sea first landed in Belrüsa. They used it as their base as they advanced north. But as you can see, there’s no land suitable for farming here.”

Mao explained from horseback. Swaying in his saddle, he continued.

“They went further north and found plains where they built a relay settlement. That became Lüenheit.”

That matched what Aylia had told me.
While we were at it, I decided to ask about public sentiment.

“So Belrüsa and Lüenheit are kind of like relatives, huh?”
“Exactly. Same ancestors, similar culture and values. We’re quite close—though it’s a bit like being distant cousins since the trade routes are troublesome.”

That might make negotiations easier.

Curious, I asked about the north.

“If the southern people crossed the sea, then where did the northerners come from?”

I’d asked Aylia the same, but she hadn’t known.
Mao, as a traveling merchant familiar with the north, might have an answer.

But then, Mao made a troubled look.

“That’s… actually unclear.”
“But you’ve been up north often, right? Doesn’t the topic ever come up?”
“Oh, it does. But everyone gives a different answer.”

Mao shrugged.

“Some say ‘We’re natives of this land’. Others claim ‘We’re descendants from a great empire beyond the Northern Mountain Range’. And some say ‘We simply gathered in this land by a Divine Command.’”

Quite the mix.

Perhaps one—or several—are true, but it’s hard to tell.
In any case, they seem to have different roots from the southerners.
No wonder the two sides don’t always see eye to eye. It’s not about who’s right—it’s that their experiences are different, so their ways of thinking differ too.

When I sighed in understanding, Mao looked at me.

“Do you see the fragility of this country called Miraldia?”
“I do. Loud and clear. Hard to believe anyone thought unifying it was a good idea.”

Hearing my opinion, Mao smiled faintly.

“You’re a strange one, you know that?”
“How so?”
“I thought no demon would ever understand. But you, Lord Veit, you seem a bit different.”

Well, I was human in my previous life.
I may have been living comfortably as a werewolf, but I didn’t expect to face ethnic division issues in this world too.

It’s probably best to focus on subduing the south first.
If the southern cities view the north as potential enemies, there’s room for negotiation.
Master, the current Demon Lord, was born of human royalty; she’ll understand once I explain.
But as Mao said, most demons won’t grasp this issue.
Just thinking about how to explain it to the other higher-ups gives me a headache…

Mao, perhaps pleased by my interest, went on.

“I’ve heard it was the north that insisted on continuing the Miraldian Unification War back in the day. They were desperate to bring the southern cities under their control.”
“That’s the southern version of the story?”
“Yes.”

Then I’ll take it with a grain of salt.

According to Mao, the south was like, “Come on, just leave us alone!” But the north kept yelling, “Shut up and ally with us!”
Ultimately, the north won the war, forcing the south into alliance. Quite the troubling story.
Still, I don’t think the northerners are particularly evil. If that story’s true, they must have had their reasons too—reasons they couldn’t tell the south.
I just can’t imagine what that reason could be…