Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 867

Chapter 867: Chapter 867 - Taming the Fifth Year - Cold Diplomacy

Arturo felt his muscles tense involuntarily while processing the audacity of the proposal, the way the Gold-ranks’ leader presented it shamelessly as though it were a perfectly reasonable option instead of tactical suicide.

Selphira said nothing immediately, but Arturo noticed a subtle change in her posture.

A small inclination of her head indicating she was evaluating the situation from multiple angles, considering not just what they were saying but also what the complete configuration revealed about the true nature of the enemies’ position.

Her eyes were calculating something that Arturo couldn’t quite identify yet but that seemed to be generating conclusions that increased her tension incrementally.

Arturo decided to test the ground with a response that committed to nothing but opened space for additional dialogue.

"Your ’invitation’ is appreciated, Lord Goldcrest," he began with a tone that was diplomatic without being warm. "But surely you’ll understand our hesitation to enter an enclosed space where you completely control the terrain. Perhaps we could conduct these ’civilized negotiations’ out here, where everyone can clearly see all participants’ intentions."

Standard negotiating tactic. Push back, make them work for what they want. See how they respond to resistance.

The noble woman from the opportunists intervened before her leader could respond, her voice carrying artificial sweetness as transparent as glass.

"Certainly we could, Lord Arturo, but I’m afraid this discussion of specific terms requires discretion that a public setting can’t appropriately provide. There are... sensitive... details about Victor’s situation that surely all of us would prefer not to share with every soldier in the field."

Her smile didn’t change, didn’t waver... It remained fixed in place like a mask that had been painted on rather than worn naturally.

It was an argument designed to exploit the natural concern about his brother’s wellbeing but also public image, suggesting that horrible information waited that should only be revealed privately out of respect for the older prince’s status.

Obvious manipulation. But effective in its simplicity.

Because it worked regardless of whether you recognized it as manipulation.

Classic hostage negotiation pressure. Make the rescuers desperate and use that desperation to force compliance.

The younger noble opportunist added his own contribution with a voice attempting to sound reasonable.

"Furthermore, Matriarch Selphira will surely appreciate that conducting negotiations before a ’complete’ army creates... unnecessary pressures. Younger soldiers get nervous. Can ’lead’ to situations that escalate ’without intention’ when tension is visible. Better to handle this as civilized people in a more controlled environment where cooler heads can prevail."

It was a triad of arguments communicating they’d rehearsed exactly how to present the invitation so it sounded reasonable.

Political considerations, logical necessity and ’concern’ for others’ wellbeing.

All angles designed to make refusal seem irrational or cowardly. Not direct pressure... Subtle framing that made acceptance appear to be the obviously correct choice for anyone acting reasonably.

Arturo had to admit it was well done. If he’d been alone, if Victor’s safety hadn’t been at stake, if the entire situation weren’t so obviously designed to trap them...

He might have almost believed it.

But Selphira had been listening with attention going beyond the specific words they were using.

Her gaze had been scanning the enemy forces’ disposition during the entire conversation. Not obviously... She maintained appropriate eye contact with speakers, nodded at appropriate moments, gave all surface indicators of paying attention to the dialogue.

But Arturo knew her well enough to recognize when she was multitasking.

Not just that they thought they could stop her, looking at their highly defensive position lacking offensive positioning. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

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