Mage? Spell Engineer!.

Chapter 514 Secret Agreement
“Leaving the center of power?”

"Yes. The situation in Valois has gotten out of control." Maxime didn't want to reveal more to the young man. The mutual attacks between the committee and the National Assembly had reached an incredible level, and everyone wanted to use him to sentence his political opponents to death. Maxime was even forced to sign the death sentence of Georges Jacques, the original military commissioner and his good friend.

Like many commissioners, George was not clean, and while seeking benefits for the country, he also did not forget to put good things into his own pocket. According to the law, he was not guilty of the crime punishable by death, but George himself sent many conservatives to the guillotine for the same crime.

Now it's his turn.

Maxim originally wanted to be a fair judge who corrected the status quo, but the more he avoided being arbitrary and asked for advice from those around him, the more people used him to kill others. Over time, all the people seemed to regard this "unshakable man" as the source of terror and the biggest executioner.

"If I represent terror, then I am willing to end terror at the cost of my political career and put us on the right track." As a result, Maxim decided not to interfere in the affairs of the committee.

“So are today’s negotiations still valid?”

"Yes. Legally speaking, I have not resigned yet and can represent the committee. On the other hand, I am not portrayed as a hateful person in the army. On the contrary, I have many supporters. Finally, I am the only one in the committee who dares to contact the 'enemy'." Maxim sighed.

Go to the occupied areas and secretly contact representatives of Byng. The crime of executing Charles XVI was treason. But Maxim believed that the Republic needed him to stand up now.

Rorschach nodded: "I personally pay you my infinite respects, then we can start signing the agreement."

Bain will ensure that when taking over the occupied areas, the facilities and order of the occupied areas will not be destroyed, and that no atrocities of the invaders will be committed. It will take over the factories, mines and other production departments in the occupied areas, and 20% of the mineral output will be secretly delivered to the Valois Republic.

Maxim and other negotiators did not expect the terms to be so generous: "Is 20% too much? Also, how to transport such a large amount of materials."

"The transportation will be handled by the Magic Guild, and there will be spellcasters to provide cover. As for the 20%, I must first state that a large part of it will be controlled by the Tower of Stars."

"No, I mean the Empire."

"The Empire has always underestimated our production capacity. Take the steel plant as an example. The Logistics Department now records that our annual output is 260 million tons, but that was the data of Kempson Plant a year ago. Today, Byrne's actual production capacity has tripled. What limits us is the input of iron ore." Concealing steel production was a traditional skill of a certain big country before Rorschach traveled through time. It was a must-try. The sponsorship that was secretly imported to Valois was just the tip of the iceberg of concealing production.

"Wait, you mean that what is transferred to us is not raw materials, but primary industrial products such as steel ingots?" The negotiator accompanying the Valois side was stunned. What was there to talk about? He didn't expect the other party to offer such good conditions.

"have opinions?"

"No, no. I just can't understand why Byrne treats us so well."

"It's not a preferential treatment, but a requirement, which is also the final clause of the agreement." Rorschach ignored the negotiators who were confused about the situation and locked his eyes on Maxim: "Valois cannot surrender. Even if the last drop of blood of the Valois people is shed, they must at least hold on until the end of December this year."

"There is no need to set a time limit. The Valois people will never, ever, ever, ever surrender to the Empire!"

Rorschach complained in his heart, but he still had to show approval on the surface: "Okay! There are two final clauses:
"Valoiana can hold out against the offensive of the Imperial Army's Eastern Front until December, during which time the National Guard's Western Front can achieve a major victory. "Once both conditions are met, Bavaria will return all occupied areas to the Republic."

The two sides engaged in a detailed discussion over the details of the agreement, such as what constitutes a "major victory", whether the "20%" has a specific number, and the method of delivering materials.

At midnight, during the halftime break, Maxim was eating an orange prepared by Bayern. His entourage was a little confused: "Does this mean that Bayern will turn to us after December?"

Maxim shook his head: "You seriously ignored what Rorschach said at the beginning. He now represents the main body of the Byrne Agreement, as well as the Magic Guild and the Senate of the Arcane. The point is not the former's attitude towards us, but the latter's attitude towards the Empire is already clear."

Two secret agreements are being negotiated tonight. One in Besan City is almost about to be signed, while on the other side, the situation in the majestic Imperial Palace is not so pleasant.

The chairman of the Imperial General Association of Magic Guilds had a very unpleasant expression on his face, not only because the magic-forbidden devices in the palace had been torturing the senses of the spellcasters, but also because of the emperor's refusal to cooperate: "Your Majesty, William II, are you really going to do it your own way?"

"You insist on having your own way? I am the country! It is your guild that is going against your will!"

"If the bill is really implemented, it will be a blanket ban on all spellcasting in the city. Will the spellcasters who are loyal to you in your country also be treated in this way?"

"This is our country's internal affairs. Please don't bother with it, Chairman." The emperor waved his hand impatiently. "There is no need to talk about the 'Magic Weaver' anymore. My meaning is very clear. Only an absolute ban is safe. Most members of the Imperial Parliament think so too."

The chairman gave up trying to persuade the emperor. He bowed deeply to the emperor and said, "Then, unfortunately, we have not reached an agreement."

"Yes, I will not compromise like the previous emperor and ancestors. The empire does not need magic guilds that cover the world, nor does it need uncontrollable spellcasters." William II felt like he had won a great victory. At this time, the chairman was no different from an ordinary person under the suppression of the device, while he was the one with power and the real superior. The emperor raised his head and picked up the scepter, commanding the guards to rudely invite the chairman out of the palace.

When they reached a place where there was no impact from the device, the chairman's expression eased a little. He quickly wrote a letter, recording the unpleasant conversation with the emperor tonight on paper.

Soon, all the elders of the Olympic Court received the report.

In the lounge, Rorschach, who had been waiting, stared at the portable communication scroll. When the letter from the chairman of the Imperial General Assembly arrived, he opened it, scanned it quickly, and then burned it clean.

"The negotiations over there have broken down. The result is out. Please ask Mr. Maxim to return to the negotiating table."

The dawn sunlight shone through the window onto the final document. Rorschach did not sign his name, but instead drew his own mark with alchemical ink. When he finished the last stroke, inspiration suddenly flowed onto the paper.

This was not Bain's defection to Valois, but the first death sentence issued by the Offa Senate against the empire.

(End of this chapter)