Struggle in the Steam Age

"They're finally back." Lawrence showed a relieved expression on his face. This negotiation started from the release of Vieques Island, and it has been almost two months now. Fortunately, the return of the negotiating team showed that this issue was finally over, and he could very well know the final result.

Although it is said that before this, the White Eagle Federation also handed over many factories and farms confiscated from those evil people near Huguang City in the northern part of the Federation to Lawrence as a thank you for sending troops before, but that kind of commercial real estate It is completely incomparable with this kind of real territory.

However, it was not until more than two hours and nearly three hours later that Lawrence was notified that the envoy he had sent before and several guests were about to arrive here. Thinking about it, when Nora saw the boat after flying into the sky, she estimated that it was some distance away from the island, so it would naturally take a while to dock.

"Welcome, welcome!" After saluting each other, through introductions, Lawrence learned that these so-called guests were actually diplomats from the Holy Visby Empire participating in this negotiation. Obviously, this time the situation is likely to be as Lawrence imagined. In that way, he should have reaped the harvest corresponding to his previous efforts.

"Nice to meet you, my lord." The leader of the diplomatic personnel bowed to Lawrence very seriously, then took a folder from a staff member behind him and opened it for a look. Then handed it to Lawrence and said. "This is the process and result of our negotiation, please read it."

"It's really hard for you this time—" Lawrence opened the folder in front of him while speaking. This folder looks a bit thick, because the main part inside is the previous negotiation records. Of course, the negotiation record sent to Lawrence has omitted most of the content of small-scale negotiations, and only retained the content of major negotiations.

Otherwise, there would be so many negotiations in two months, even if only the records of those negotiations related to Lawrence and New Sauer were included, the folders needed would be several times the size of the current folders. So in order to avoid spending too much extra effort, they simply deleted the content that has little to do with the current situation.

"Let me see—" Lawrence looked at the negotiation record. Obviously, when everyone's strength is similar, it's time to present facts and reason. From the previous records, it can be seen that all parties are trying to present the facts and reason. Try to get enough benefits for your own side bit by bit.

From these records, Lawrence can also see that both the negotiators on his own side and those sent by the empire have done their best. Do your best to point out Lawrence's contribution to this war. With their hard work, Lawrence found that he got more things than expected this time.

"That is to say, the main spoils I have been assigned this time is a new territory." After seeing the last page of the pile of documents in the folder, Lawrence finally saw his list of spoils. The entire list was written on five or six sheets of paper, but the real value was only the two lines on the last sheet of paper.

And other things are obviously just gimmicks. For example, because the prizes allocated to Lawrence have territories, there are not many kinds of ordinary wealth. The most valuable are six old sailing ships ranging from 150 to 350 tons That's all, other than that, there are various things that seem to be worth some money.

"Cruz Islands - if I remember correctly, this place should be the territory of a baron in Elysium, right? Why is it being given to me like this now. Is this place written wrong." Look carefully Lawrence asked puzzled about the specific situation of the island given to him.

"Your Excellency, there is no mistake about this place." The diplomat of the Holy Visby Empire, who should be the second secretary of the White Eagle Federation Embassy, ​​said. "The reason why we negotiated for such a long time before was that a large part of our energy was spent on coordination among various countries."

"Through a series of coordination, we have successfully carried out several important territorial exchanges. After all, for those countries, rather than accepting an enclave far away from their homeland, they are more willing to accept some territories around their own islands as their new territories. Territory," the diplomat explained to Lawrence.

"For example, two of the four new territories, including Pine Tree Island, have been assigned to the White Eagle Federation. After all, they are the real main force this time, and they have not gained anything in the war." The diplomat said Looking at Lawrence, it was obvious that everyone knew that Lawrence took away the spoils from that monster.

Although it is true that whoever defeats the monster can get all the spoils of the monster according to tradition, but if it is in other people's territory, it is traditional to leave some for the local owner, unlike Lawrence and Nora before. Cleaned up the whole thing as done.

Of course, if some people really need those things, they can be completely taken away. But this is also equivalent to expressing to the local master that I took more during the battle, so in the subsequent loot distribution, I will naturally give up part of the loot in order to balance the whole.

"Obviously, the other party overestimated the value of the loot we got earlier." Nora's voice rang in Lawrence's mind through the soul connection. "But there is really no way. After all, we cleaned up the site too clean this time. And for some reason, we can't show them what we have gained this time."

"That's right." Lawrence looked a little frustrated, because this meant that the spoils he got this time were less than what he really deserved. But think about the benefits that monster brought to him before. Lawrence regained his energy all of a sudden, and he felt that it was worthwhile to get less from these external things based on his previous gains.

"—So during this operation, the White Eagle Federation acquired a total of 1,100 square kilometers of land and 37 islands. In addition to Pine Tree Island near Vieques Island, there is also a place not far from the mainland of the Federation. The Cervantico Islands. These islands are not very fertile, but fortunately, the location of these islands is good. So after the Federation takes over, it should be able to develop well."

"What about the Republic of New Island?" Nora asked next to her. As the puppet who has been with Lawrence all the time, Nora is quite famous. Therefore, when she asked the question, the diplomat only showed a slightly surprised expression, and then quickly answered seriously.

"The Republic of Xinzhou only obtained an archipelago of more than 220 square kilometers this time," the diplomat said.

"The largest island in that archipelago only has an area of ​​more than 60 square kilometers, and even most of the islands don't even have fresh water. However, after obtaining that island, they can be regarded as eradicating the biggest pirate on the side of the canal near the Sea of ​​Stars." Dens, and by the way, set up an outpost on the periphery of their own territory."

"As for the Cruise Islands we got this time—" when the diplomat was about to continue his introduction, Lawrence interrupted him by raising his hand, and then said, "I know the Cruise Islands, because this is the distance It is the nearest island to Nova Sauer, and I have visited the baron before."

"Ah, then I don't need to introduce." The diplomat nodded, and then talked about the exchange of territories. "Because of the things you did for the empire before, the Elysian Empire is very willing to help you exchange territories. After a series of territory exchanges, they exchanged the island closest to us to you."

"According to the original allocation method, you are allocated Carlos Island with an area of ​​275 square kilometers. But that island is three days away from here, and there is a vast ocean between us and our New Sauer Island. But now After the exchange, we switched to the current island which is slightly smaller in size, but is closer to the mainland and easier to control."