Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 681

"......Well, I suppose I should be flattered. It seems I misunderstood."

Luva's expression softened as she broke into a gentle smile.

Looks like I managed to navigate that minefield.

The tension in the room dissipated, and I quietly let out a sigh of relief.

I’d thought Luva was more level-headed than the other chieftains, but it seems she’s just as dangerous—just in a different way.

"Aha... Glad we cleared that up."

*Fufu.* "Lord Rid, Amon, and Lady Chris—you all look wonderful in our attire. We’ve prepared an artist, so after the talks, we’ll need you to pose for a portrait."

Luva smiled brightly as she glanced around the room.

A portrait… So we’re being painted again.

At this point, I’ve decided not to think too hard about it.

"Now then, shall we proceed to the meeting room? Everyone is waiting."

"Understood."

Following Luva’s lead, we moved to the conference room.

With Luva at the helm, the talks between the Ratmen, our group, and Baldia began.

We started with brief introductions before the Ratmen presented their main agenda: **"We want support supplies from Baldia and the Foxmen, delivered through Christie Trading."**

Apparently, small-scale conflicts along the border between Toga and Zveira were constant, primarily because Toga kept pushing into Zveiran territory to expand its own.

The defense was being handled by the Catmen under Beast King Sekmetos, the Wolfmen led by Chieftain Jackal, and volunteers/mercenaries from various tribes and nations.

However, maintaining the frontlines required steady supply routes for food, medicine, and weapons.

The Ratmen were responsible for managing those supply lines, and as rumored, Luva served as Sekmetos’ right hand, assisting in both politics and military strategy.

She allocated resources and personnel from various tribes to the necessary fronts, keeping a close eye on Toga’s movements.

But with Toga’s incursions increasing yearly, there was a growing risk of supplies running short.

*"Unlike Zveira, Toga is entirely governed by its pope. They buy slaves from Balst, ship them in by sea, forcibly convert them, and brainwash them into believing they’re ‘holy soldiers saving the divine kingdom’ before throwing them onto the frontlines. Even our own people, sold to Balst, end up attacking us as ‘holy soldiers.’ It’s not conversion—it’s indoctrination."*

Luva’s icy, resentful tone filled the room, plunging it into silence.

**Elliot Orasion**—one of *Toki Lera’s* romance targets—was supposedly in Toga.

But in this world, that country was undeniably the most volatile.

Even digging through my past-life memories, I didn’t recall Toga being this unstable.

Maybe this darkness was always part of the original story.

Not that I, the guy who skipped through most of it, have any right to say.

Either way, there’s no way to check now.

As the heavy atmosphere lingered, I cleared my throat.

"I see. So you need us to supply resources. But if Baldia—an Imperial territory—openly provides aid, Toga won’t stay quiet. They might retaliate by invading Kelvin Territory."

Kelvin Territory, on the Empire’s western border, was already a frequent target of Toga’s provocations.

If Baldia openly supported Zveira, things would get messy.

*"Which is why we want it disguised as aid from the Foxmen, with Christie Trading handling transportation using the charcoal vehicles you’ve provided."*

Luva’s eyes gleamed as she continued.

*"Of course, we won’t ask for free. Considering your house’s achievements in road construction to the Imperial capital, we intend to commission Baldia to build roads connecting the Foxmen’s territory, the royal capital Bestia, and our own. Sekmetos has already approved this."*

"That… is an incredibly appealing offer."

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Roads spanning the Ratmen’s lands, the capital, and the Foxmen’s territory would be a massive public works project.

And if properly maintained roads linked Baldia to Zveira’s capital, the efficiency of charcoal vehicle transport would skyrocket.

Christie Trading—and by extension, Baldia’s market reach—could spread across Zveira in no time.

*"And this is the estimated compensation if you accept, along with a detailed breakdown."*

At Luva’s signal, a Ratman noble handed us documents.

I’ve been through countless negotiations, but this might be the first time the other party presented such thorough paperwork upfront.

Paper was expensive, and formal proposals weren’t common.

*"I modeled it after the documents Lord Rid showed during the chieftain assembly. Was it helpful?"*

"...It’s extremely well-made. Almost *too* well-made."

I kept my tone neutral, but internally, I was reeling.

The document meticulously detailed cost calculations for the project—labor, materials, fuel, estimated construction periods—everything was accounted for.

Worse, the numbers were eerily close to our actual figures.

*Did Baldia have a ‘black-furred Rat’ spy or something?*

No, impossible.

I looked up from the papers and met Luva’s gaze.

"This is impressive, but may I ask how you arrived at these numbers?"

*"Fufu, of course. Let me enlighten you about the Ratmen’s intelligence-gathering prowess."*

With a smirk, Luva began fluently listing Baldia and Christie Trading’s past projects—down to the exact figures.

Every number was frighteningly accurate. I swallowed hard.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chris’s expression darken.

*"...And that’s how we calculated these estimates. Not exact, but close enough, no?"*

"I’ll refrain from commenting on that."

Luva’s eyes narrowed, her smile not reaching them.

As I scratched my cheek wryly, I recalled Bearman Chieftain Kamui Majenta’s parting words:

*"Next is Luva’s place. Well… good luck."*

So this was what he meant.

Luva Gandarsika—Zveira’s most financially astute and, consequently, its most troublesome negotiator.

This might be the toughest bargaining session yet.

Taking a deep breath, I met Luva’s gaze squarely.

"I understand the basis for these numbers. However, they’re still too harsh. Even if we use the Foxmen as cover, Toga might still notice Baldia’s involvement. If they suspect deliberate interference, the risks outweigh the rewards. If you want us to cross this dangerous bridge, the compensation must reflect that danger."

*"My, Lord Rid. You know just where to press, don’t you? This is what real negotiation should be."*

The light in Luva’s eyes vanished, replaced by something sharper—not quite bloodlust, but the focused intensity of a predator locking onto prey.

The mask had slipped.

Or rather, the cat had finally stopped pretending to be a mouse.

Either way, this won’t be easy.