[The Next Day]
News about the Perth family spread everywhere overnight.
Under the manipulation of Saint Garling, almost every allied nation had heard about it.
"Saint Rosse!"
When Rosse entered the conference room, all the kings immediately stood up, bowing deeply in utmost respect.
Not one dared show even a trace of fear or hesitation.
"Sit down, all of you. The Five Elders won't be attending today. I'm just here to observe. Today is your time to speak freely. If there's something you really can't agree on, I'll make the decision."
Rosse took the main seat, raising his hands slightly to signal for everyone to sit.
At the same time, his gaze swept over the room, the corner of his lips lifting faintly.
Garling had made yet another foolish move.
The kings who had the guts to oppose Rosse had all been summoned yesterday to witness Maureen's fate firsthand.
As a result, those who once had courage had lost it after seeing that scene with their own eyes.
And those who already didn't dare to oppose him, just hearing what had happened, were already terrified beyond belief.
The kings of the allied nations held very high status.
Especially those allowed to attend the World Conference. They were the top fifty among all allied nations.
One could say, they stood above millions, second only to the World Government itself.
But unfortunately, Rosse represented the World Government. He embodied the absolute military might of the entire world.
As long as he didn't push them into total desperation, these kings, rich in land and wealth, were the easiest to make compromise.
Commoners and pirates had their reckless defiance because they had nothing to lose.
But nobles had palaces, land, servants, too much to protect. And the more they owned, the less courage they had to resist.
Of course, Rosse did hope that someone would rise to the challenge, at least that would be amusing.
But sadly, today, there seemed to be no such brave soul.
The kings' voices were much quieter than yesterday.
And perhaps to keep Rosse from interfering, they had all voluntarily pushed Otohime forward to act as today's chairperson.
As for the originally scheduled presiding chair, King Ramen, he had already turned into a turtle hiding in his shell.
He had elderly parents, children at home. And though he hadn't brought them to the Holy Land, he still feared Rosse might personally visit the Flower Kingdom one day.
Otohime, however, wasn't intimidated.
She had her own ideals and convictions, and boldly voiced them.
Peace, peace, and still peace.
Peace between races, peace between nations, peace between individuals.
No matter how Otohime spoke, the kings below her were like quails, agreeing with everything she said without the slightest hesitation.
Under Otohime's proposals, even the conflicts between some allied nations were quickly resolved.
After all, if a country gave up a bit of profit, that was only some loss.
But if they made Rosse unhappy, then their entire family might get "wiped off the board."
By noon, the session ended, and Rosse left the conference room with Otohime.
He had to give the kings some breathing room. Squeeze them too hard, and it would backfire.
"How does it feel?"
Carrying Otohime on his shoulders, Rosse asked with a grin.
"Mm... hard to describe. But you've won again."
"Ah... why can't people just trust each other sincerely? Why must they always start with threats first?", Otohime sighed helplessly.
Of course, she'd already heard about what happened to Maureen and the others.
In fact, before the bodies had even been taken out of the Jaygarcia Palace, Nia had already told her everything.
She did mind such things, a little. But knowing that Rosse must have his reasons, she didn't press him about it.
In fact, before coming here today, Rosse had made a bet with her.
They bet on whether the kings' attitudes would change, and how much.
Otohime guessed they would change, but in a direction of fear, because she still believed that violence couldn't truly make people submit.
Rosse also guessed they would change, but he guessed that today the kings would be very cooperative.
And the results proved Rosse right.
The kings weren't just cooperative, they were eager. Even when signing peace agreements Otohime proposed, they did so with remarkable enthusiasm.
Before, when the Fishman Kingdom had just been founded, she'd tried to open trade with other allied nations.
It could only happen through Rosse's intervention, because those nations wanted nothing to do with fishmen or merfolk.
Now, it was still thanks to Rosse, but it felt different.
Back then, it was through the World Government's channels.
Now, those kings were afraid of Rosse, and thus willingly offered concessions to please him.
"Relationships between people work like this," Rosse said calmly, "To connect with someone, whether for good or bad, you have to do something."
He wasn't surprised at all. He understood human nature far too well.
"In the end," Rosse said, "Everything comes down to interest."
"Forcing people with power, so that everyone becomes equal, is that also interest?"
Otohime curled her tail and nestled against Rosse's broad chest. Being held like that gave her an immense sense of safety.
Every time Rosse stayed with her, she liked to rest in this same position.
"Of course," Rosse nodded lightly.
"Physical coercion threatens their lives and interests. So, weighing the pros and cons, they'll choose either to resist or to submit. Equality works the same way. If equality brings them benefits, they'll consider accepting it."
"But they're already the unequal ones," Otohime murmured, "They live by oppressing others. So they'll never accept my ideals."
She sighed softly. She had matured, no longer the naive woman she once was.
"That's why," Rosse said quietly, "you have to make them understand that refusing you will cost them far more than agreeing."
"Every choice comes with gain and loss. But because every chooser differs, personality, knowledge, experience, their results differ too."
Rosse's tone was flat. He'd seen through all this long ago.
The best way to solve a problem, of course, was to kill.
KILL until no one dared resist.
KILL until only the willing remained.
But that wasn't the world Rosse wanted.
If everyone was too afraid even to think of defiance, then life would be far too boring.
An occasional "chosen one" rising against him? That wasn't a bad thing at all.
Especially now, when he stood, almost, above the very sky itself.
"I understand now!", Otohime's eyes brightened, "So when you said before that proper use of force combined with benefit exchange makes people willing to serve you, you meant this! Then, by gradually promoting those whose interests align with ours, and removing the ones with misguided beliefs, the system reshapes itself!"
"Exactly," Rosse smiled, "That's the true meaning behind the Employment Association. The nobles who serve it aren't nobles in the old sense anymore. It might look like we're funding them, but in truth, every extra berry they earn means the old nobles lose one. They're natural enemies."
"As the old aristocracy fades," Otohime's eyes shone with realization, "Human rights will slowly rise, and ordinary people will live with more dignity..."
After this experience, she finally understood.
Words alone couldn't reach the shore of peace.
You still needed the deterrence of power to get there.