Herald of Steel

Dividing the loot evenly three ways between the three factions might sound like a fair move, but to Ptolomy it made no sense.

Why should the royal family get the same portion as a former slave?

Was the question that popped up in Ptolomy's head.

So he denied Alexander's request and countered, "Three provinces is too much. I can give you Zanzan in exchange for Adhan. I can give you Kuleef for helping me defend Adhan and I will give you Abu Hamam once you help me win the civil war."

Ptolomy offered by pointing to the two coastal provinces south and southeast of the country.

This proposal sounded generous on paper, but Ptolomy conveniently left out the fact that Alexander would still have to fight and conquer them, which were a thousand and two thousand kilometers respectively from Zanzan, and this was not to mention how those two provinces bordered Ankoot and Aqliah- two ultra-royalist provinces.

Alexander was not happy being denied a whole province, but also not unhappy with the proposal as this was adequate to keep him busy for the next ten to twenty years.

He however chose to hide his pleasure and instead lament in mock sadness, "Fine, two it is. I certainly can understand Your Majesty's concern about letting too much land landing in the hands of nobles."

Then using this jumping point Alexander opened his maw gaping wide and taking the most important bite, "But then Your Majesty, I want the legal permission to add territories of other countries as my own without any repercussions!"

The brazen, almost ludicrous proposal stunned Ptolomy and for a moment he became muted in shock.

'If I grant him that, then what will be the difference between him and me? Separate taxation, judiciary system, religion, ability to appoint nobles, and now the freedom to annex other territories. All these add up to make a free country!' Ptolomy at least had that much IQ to understand what Alexander was proposing.

So he roared out in anger, "What! Has power driven you mad? I always knew you were ambitious but this is reaching for the trees and trying to grab the moon!"

"Denied! Denied! Absolutely denied!" Ptolomy burst like a raging, broken record player.

Alexander only sneered at the tirade and got Ptolomy to calm down, "Your Majesty, then tell me how do you expect to win the civil war that will inevitably happen?"

"That…" In a swift mercurial change of mood, Ptolomy's face began to change to various colors as he contemplated the problem of opposing nine provinces with the strength of three scattered ones, with one being a cripple.

But even faced with his reality, Ptolomy understood it was a supremely bad idea to give Alexander this power, "That… we can defeat them on our own. Anyway, there's no point giving you that power as you would then become a free country."

"Haaaah," Alexander let out a heavy sigh.

If he couldn't get permission to annex foreign territories, Alexander would seriously contemplate leaving Adhnaia with the temple loot.

But before that unfortunate finality could occur, Alexander offered his last tender, "Your Majesty, it seems we have reached an impasse. So let me provide two options- I want five provinces for helping you- Zanzan, Ankoot, Kuleef, Abu Hamam, and Jahruba."

"That…" Ptolomy flared up but was stopped by Alexander raising his hand, and saying, "Let me finish."

Alexander then continued, "Without me, you would have nothing. No city, no throne, no land, and likely not even your life. When Arazadm, wanted you, there were many that wanted to exchange you to avoid the war, just ask Petricuno if you don't believe me. But I went to war for you."

"Alexander that's…" Ptolomy awkwardly stammered.

But Alexander paid no heed, "Giving five provinces away to rule over the other seven provinces is a deal you would have taken in a heartbeat when you were running away. But now, you don't want to?"

Alexander when gave his ultimatum, "Give me five provinces or give me the power to annex foreign lands."

Then after showing the stick, Alexander decided to sweeten the deal, "Choose the latter and I will give you the billions of ropals I got from the temple."

"That…when did that loot become yours?" Ptolomy asked incredulously.

And Alexander replied with narrowed eyes, "The day I decided to take it from the temple!"

He then asked with a sneer, "When did that loot become yours?"

"I…that…" Ptolomy had just assumed it to be his as the loot of hundreds of tons of gold coins was being stored in the palace.

Alexander here decided to clear Ptolomy's confusion, "Your Majesty never hired us for a specific price. So the loot is the mercenaries' properties."

"When did mercenaries start costing billions of roplas?" Ptolomy raged in indignation at this daylight robbery.

Alexander quickly quipped, "The day the mercenaries captured the jewel of the east and helped a stray, pauper rebel sit on the throne. From that day, they started costing billions of roplas."

Ptolomy's face darkened like the moon clouds at Alexander's mockery and he felt immeasurable fury at how, in his mind, was being ripped off.

But Alexander ignored the king's foul mood and restated his demand, "So, Your Majesty, please choose- five provinces or billions of ropals and the permission."

After Alexander finished, a song of silence and quiet descended upon the room, as Ptolomy struggled between the two options or the potential third one of firing Alexander.

And while Ptolomy thought, allowing his brain to calm down, he began to think that the second option might not be as bad as he thought it to be.

Alexander would be given a poor, underpopulated, malnourished, and infertile province, surrounded by hostile nobles and provinces.

For him to just protect his existing territory would be a huge challenge, so expanding his territory seemed almost out of the question.

Thus Ptolomy, with a fake mask of reluctance, said, "Fine, I want my billions of roplas."

"Hehe, you have made a decision you won't ever regret," Alexander congratulated, though in his heart he sneered, 'Hehe, you have made a decision you will sorely regret.'

Ptolomy then asked Alexnader, "Alexander, how do you intend to give me all the money? That money by law belongs to the church. Many nobles, even many pashas won't like this."

Alexander though had a perfect answer for this, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I never really stole from the temple. That wealth was given to be as a gift by the temple!"

"What?" Ptolomy wondered if he was having hearing problems or if the translators had got it wrong.

So Alexander told Ptolomy the full story, "Over fifty priests and priestesses, and hundred of my men bore witness that it was Azura and Azira who picked up the coins and put them in my hands."

"They did what?" Ptolomy for the second time in a row thought he was having hearing troubles.

So Alexander reassured him, "That's right Your Majesty, you can ask them if you doubt me."

"That..that..tha.." Ptolomy's grin widened with the utterance of each syllable, as he could not believe such a difficult problem had been solved so easily.

'*Sigh*, if only the boy could be tied down to me.' Ptolomy lampooned.

Then he loudly cheered, "Excellent commander. With this, we can say that they were giving the coins to you, who really was my representative. And thus I can get the money with no problem. Hohoho" Ptolomy burst into boisterous laughter.

Alexander only lightly smiled and then raised another issue, "Your Majesty, speaking of money, there is still the issue of payment for the mercenaries- both for yesterday's battle and for the battle three weeks from now."

This mention of to be expenditure rapidly deflated Ptolomy's mood, who sulkily asked, "So, how much do you want?"

"One hundred million roplas," Alexander gave a huge number.

"Haaah, why don't you ask for a billion," Ptolomy almost screamed and felt like storming out of the study instead of being forced to listen to such absurd words.

But Alexander remained cool and collected and reasoned, "Your Majesty, the number is really not that large once you think about it."

"Oh! It's not really that large, huh? Pray tell, commander! Pray tell!" Ptolomy sarcastically urged Alexander.

Alexander, who didn't seem to get the sarcasm, seriously gave the answer, "One thousand roplas shall be given to the fifteen thousand brave men that helped win us the war. That's fifteen million roplas".

"The sixty thousand men that will fight Amenheraft will also be given a thousand roplas each. That's sixty million roplas."

"The various supplies and logistic personnel will cost ten million roplas. That comes to a total of eighty-five million roplas."

"The rest of the fifteen million will be used by me to reward my officers, captains, and the other mercenary leaders."

Alexander gave the full breakdown of the expenses.

Then finished by slyly saying, "So, you see Your Majesty, one hundred million roplas is not an excessive amount. In fact, it's barely enough."