Chapter 399 Negotiations

"Delegates of the many sovereign states you represent, as the delegate of the Kandrian Empire. I thank all of the participating nations for your acceptance of our invitation as well as your willingness to enter negotiation regarding the matter of the Serevian Dungeon."

In a large extravagant hall in the Royal Palace in the town of Vargard was a round table with many figures seated at it. Yet, among all of them, only one was physically present. The remaining figures were projected three-dimensional images projected using esoteric three-dimensional projection technology. Before the only physically present individual, the delegate of the Kandrian Empire was a device that tracked his movements and relayed the information to several locations in different countries that would project a three-dimensional image of the Kandrian delegate.

This was a high-level form of communication that allowed individuals to communicate with each other as though they were present in the same room.

"As all of you are surely aware. The Serevian Plateau has become home to a dungeon at its very core. The purpose of this meeting is to cooperate or come to a compromise on the matter regarding the claims on the Serevian Dungeon and the resources that lay within; the vast amount of Featherblood Mercury and the Nereneal Flintstone detected to be present in the fruits of the Serevian Dungeon." The delegate of the Kandrian Empire continued. "We shall commence the deliberations and negotiations immediately. The first proposal I would like to offer to all the representatives and delegates present is the collective denial of the acknowledgment of any claims to the Serevian Dungeon made by sovereign states more than one sovereign state away from the Serevian Plateau. The Kandrian Empire is firm in the belief that sovereign states separated from the Serevian Platea by more than a sovereign state do not have any right to stake a claim on the territory occupied by the Serevian Dungeon. All in favor?"

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Immediately, all the delegates in the room raised a hand, indicating their agreement with the proposal made by the Kandrian delegate. The proposal effectively prevented sovereign states from very far away from trying to infringe on the Serevian Dungeon. The sovereign nations, the delegates of which were present in the currently ongoing summit hosted by the Kandrian Empire were all those nations who weren't too far away enough to not have a valid claim onto the territory of the Serevian Dungeon.

All of them were more than willing to not acknowledge the claims of even further nations on the Serevian Dungeon as valid. The fewer the sovereign states they had to acknowledge as legitimate contenders for the Serevian Dungeon, the few the people they would be forced to share the pie with.

"A unanimous agreement." The delegate of the Kandrian Empire nodded. "With that out of the way, the floor is open to any delegate that wishes to make a proposal or a statement."

Immediately, one of the figures raised two fingers, indicating their desire to speak.

"King Jurrian Fil Nochus." The delegate of the Kandrian Empire acknowledged.

"As the ruler of the Kingdom of Nochus, I would like to declare the Serevian Dungeon as the property of the Kingdom of Nochus. As the nation closest to the Serevian Plateau, to the point that the border of the Kingdom of Nochus overlaps that of the Serevian Plateau at several points. The validity of our claim is the strongest and the only truly valid claim to the Serevian Dungeon. I point to the way claims over neighboring uncolonized lands to states are treated. Uncolonized land is generally treated as belonging to and the responsibility of the closest bordering sovereign state. Following this rationale and international custom, the Serevian Plateau and the Serevian Dungeon belong to the Kingdom of Nochus." he concluded.

Several delegates raised their hands.

"Delegate of the Sekigahara Confederate." The Kandrian delegate nodded at the closest individual to him.

"The Sekigahara Confederate does not acknowledge the validity of King Jurrian Fil Nochus' statement or claim over the Serevian Plateau and Dungeon."

"The Republic of Gortea seconds the Sekigahara Confederate." Another delegate chimed in.

"The Britannian Empire also seconds the Sekigahara Confederate."

One by one, all of the delegates followed suit as they supported the Sekigahara Confederate delegate in the refusal to acknowledge the claim over the Serevian Plateau and Dungeon.

It didn't matter whether King Jurrian had a point or not. No one gave a damn about that. None of them were willing to completely fork over a city-wide mine of featherblood mercury or nereneal flintstone over something like international customs.

"The Kandrian Empire also seconds the Sekigahara Confederate in its stance against King Jurrian's claim over the Serevian Plateau and Dungeon. The Kandrian Empire would further like to point out that the Kingdom of Nochus has neglected the responsibilities that generally come with being internationally recognized as the bona fide owner of Serevian Plateau." The Kandrian delegate added. "Thus, the legitimacy of such a conveniently timed claim over the Serevian Plateau is highly questionable and not acceptable."

The Kandrian delegate turned back to face all the other delegates. "The Kandrian Empire proposes a division of the territory of the Serevian Dungeon among all the sovereign nations present in this summit. This proposal aims to eliminate the waste of Martial Art resources that would undoubtedly ensue in a conflict in the Serevian Dungeon over the Serevian Dungeon itself."

This was a more controversial proposal from the Kandrian Empire. The proposal favored those sovereign nations that were among the smallest and weakest of nations that were doubtful to even be able to successfully seize and keep a portion of the Serevian Dungeon if there was a war over it. On the other hand, it was a proposal that did not necessarily favor the larger and more powerful nations that were present at the summit.

"The Britannian Empire strongly refuses the proposal offered by the Kandrian Empire." the delegate of the Britannian Empire sternly replied. "We are more than capable of seizing what's ours."