The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 422 Checkmate
Whether it is a party or a meeting, there is always a tone at the beginning, and the tone of this meeting is very bad.

It wasn't a happy meeting to say the least.

This should be a tactic of diplomatic intrigue. Although I don’t know the reason behind it, the purpose of this stupid prince is probably to provoke them, leave a bad impression in everyone’s mind and anger everyone.

But what he didn't expect was that Zun Zun didn't play by the rules at all.

No, judging from the prince's expression, he probably didn't expect Zun Zun to appear here. At least he has been staring at Zun Zun since just now, and seems to be very obsessed.

At this time, just when everyone was worrying about how to clean up the situation.

"What are you arguing about?"

A man with ordinary appearance but wearing finely crafted clothes and a mustache walked out of the castle leisurely.

Apparently he was a high official in the kingdom.

"Prime Minister!?"

One of the retainers revealed his identity.

So that's it. This man is the prime minister I heard in the restaurant. In response to Sato Kazuma's inquiring eyes, he nodded in understanding.

Alice had also heard about the intelligence of this kingdom. Besides, since the other party was the prime minister of a country, she would not neglect him and saluted again.

"Nice to meet you. I am the first princess of Belzeg, my name is Alice. It is an honor to meet the Prime Minister."

"I don't deserve it. Your Highness is so lovely, she doesn't look like the Belzerg family as rumored. I am Ragcliff, the Prime Minister, please give me your guidance."

See, this is how a mature man should deal with things, completely different from that dead kid over there.

Hey, stop staring at this!

After instantly calming down the commotion, the prime minister bowed politely, then walked away with his back to the crowd.

"Well, Your Highness Alice and your companions, please follow me. We are ready to entertain you... Eh, Eh!? Priest, what's wrong? Is there something on my back?"

The prime minister couldn't help but ask this.

Aqua came close to him and started touching his back randomly.

Aqua, the instigator, tilted her head and said, "I don't really understand, but I always feel that this uncle is weird, but he doesn't smell like a demon, nor does he have the scent of the undead... I say, uncle, do you have any demon friends, or do you raise wild undead or something like that?"

Oh, it’s Aqua as expected.

Her nose is really more sensitive than a dog's.

As the nemesis of the undead, Aqua is undoubtedly an expert in this area, and the team members also trust her very much, but she chose the wrong occasion and timing.

Darkness held her head and apologized frantically, but the Prime Minister, who was touched randomly by Aqua, said stiffly that it was okay.

By the way, you damn kid over there, stop staring at me!

Zun Zun clenched his fists.

Then everyone came to the castle.

Just as the prime minister said, they were entertained, but for such a prosperous country, the banquet was really simple... no, it was even shabby.

The food they eat is only slightly better than that of ordinary adventurers.

Huihui, who didn't get to eat the delicious food, and Aqua, who didn't get to drink the premium sparkling wine, were about to scream.

And at this time——

"Please help me with this matter!"

Alice suddenly said this loudly, and it spread throughout the entire venue.

That’s right, it costs money.

"Even if you ask me for help, I can't do anything. Our country's finances are also very tight."

The prime minister looked embarrassed.

But apparently, just like the news that came out before, Elrod was not going to give money, and even the original support funds were going to be cancelled. He also said that the funds were not enough to support the banquet, leaving Alice with no way to start.

There is undoubtedly some political entanglement involved, but to be honest, Zun Zun has no intention of listening.

Alice pleaded without giving up, "But, from what I've seen in this kingdom, it doesn't seem like the finances are tight..."

"No, that's just the perception of other countries. The people of this kingdom are all living in poverty, and there is really no extra money to support your country."

"That's it..."

Hearing the Prime Minister say this, Alice lowered her head.

Honestly, this excuse is too low-level. It would be better to tell Alice that although the people are rich, the treasury is empty. Once forced taxation is imposed, it will cause dissatisfaction among the people and lead to instability in the kingdom. So please bring people to help first, and then pay. In fact, this is just delaying time, which will make the kingdom isolated again... and so on.

Although Zun Zun has many ways, he is not on the prime minister's side, so he will not tell him the methods.

In addition, although Alice was sensible and well-behaved, she was still not good at dealing with the old fox, and she evaded him with just a few words.

Damn it, can't help.

Because this was a conversation among the kingdom's top brass, no one else was at the table except Alice, the prime minister, and two retainers.

Also, I’m going to tell you something that you may not believe, but Zun Zun has no right to sit at the table and speak.

That's right.

Even though Sato Kazuma can speak, Zun Zun can't, which is really annoying.

And prince over there, don't look at me straight!

Aren't you supposed to be discussing important matters with Alice and the Prime Minister? Why are you laughing heartily with your retainers in a corner of the banquet?!

Zun Zun signaled with his eyes to the man who was ready to go, and Sato Kazuma walked towards Alice after receiving the signal, and a black kitten lay on his shoulder, which looked a little weird. Therefore, when he intervened in the topic, the prime minister was slightly unhappy. But it was okay, now he could hear their conversation.

"In short, no matter who comes to negotiate, our country can no longer support them. I'm very sorry, but please give up."

I don’t know if he was wary of Sato Kazuma, or the kitten on his shoulder, but the prime minister spoke in a firm tone and refused to give in.

It's impossible to take action against him.

Sato Kazuma was not panicked at all. He had already considered this and said, "Is that so? There is nothing we can do... Alice, let's go ask Prince Levi for help. If the prince says he will give us money, there should be no problem."

"What!? Didn't I tell you that I have no money? And I am the one who manages this kingdom now, so no matter what the prince does..."

"I heard rumors on the street that the prince also has the final say, right?"

Sato Kazuma acted like a mean man and said these words in a vicious way to the prime minister whose face changed drastically.

"And everyone on the street is saying they want to thank the Prime Minister, saying that the good economy is all thanks to the Prime Minister... Wait, everyone is saying the economy is good, isn't that weird?"

Hearing him say this, the prime minister showed a miserable expression.

It was obvious that further conversation would only be disadvantageous to him.

However, maintaining a stalemate was not a solution, so the prime minister wisely distanced himself from the matter.

"I understand. But if you want to negotiate with the prince, please do as you please, because I don't have the right to express my opinion to the prince."

"Thank you very much."

So far everything is ok.

In fact, before coming, Zun Zun and Sato Kazuma, who had heard the intelligence, had already rehearsed it in advance. After hearing about the hardworking prime minister and the dandy prince, the two planned to lead the topic here.

All that's left is to deal with the prince.

however--

"The truth is, Prince, regarding defense costs..."

"No."

Before Alice could finish her words, he had already rejected her outright, leaving no room for maneuver. And strangely, he showed the attitude of a royal family member in this situation.

"I heard from Gracliff that the answer was decided from the beginning: absolutely not."

"Excuse me, why is that? If our country loses the war due to lack of support and becomes a demon lord territory, then this kingdom will be the next victim, right?"

Alice tried hard to make him understand the truth that if one's lips are gone, the other's teeth will be in danger.

Rather, this kingdom should understand this principle even more because it is the second closest kingdom to the Demon King's army.

But Prince Levi insisted on his own way.

"You don't need to worry about this. I've already figured it out. I don't plan to be an enemy of the Demon King's army in the future, so supporting you would only cause trouble."

"What...!? In that case, what about our alliance?"

"We can continue the alliance, but we don't want to provoke the Demon King's army. By the way, since things have come to this, our engagement will end here."

I didn't expect that the original plan could be accomplished so easily.

But the method is really unsatisfactory.

"Anyway, it was our parents who decided the marriage on their own. I didn't want to marry the barbaric Princess Belzeg from the beginning. Who would want to marry you when they heard that you were a girl stronger than a man?"

"Varied--!"

I don’t know if it was because of my eyesight, but Alice’s face was obviously happy, but soon tears welled up in her eyes.

"I have no objection to canceling the engagement, but if your country completely cuts off its support...!"

“It’s no use making that expression, if you’re still a royal… Stop, don’t do that, my neck… Stop it, don’t do that…!”

Alice grabbed Prince Levi's collar, causing his face to become paler and paler, and the surrounding retainers were so frightened that they hurriedly tried to stop her.

"That's enough, Alice."

Zun Zun gently placed his hand on hers.

“Your Excellency…”

"Respected?"

Levi's expression obviously froze, but he still held his head high and refused to admit defeat. No one knew what he wanted to prove.

"I understand what Prince Levi means. In other words, your country wants to avoid friction with the Demon King's army, or to cooperate for mutual benefit, right?"

"That's right. So we must not provide support, otherwise it will provoke the Demon King's army."

"I see. So that means your country has formed an alliance with the Demon King's army... No, it should be said that your country has become the Demon King's territory, right?"

"W-what, wait, I didn't say that!"

"Isn't that so, Prince Levi? It seems to me that you are telling us that you have joined the Demon King's army and are standing against us. In other words, you are standing against all humans!"

This left him speechless.

Yes, that's the flaw.

Zun Zun only needed a few words to push the kingdom to the opposite side. Whether he denied it or admitted it, Prince Levi had no choice but to pay the money.

——Checkmate!

(End of this chapter)