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Chapter 533
Chapter 533
Chapter 533: The Emperor's Resolve
One week after Ansem, the third prince of the kingdom and the supreme commander of the kingdom's entire army, left the Duchy. I was still in the Albatro Duchy.
"Lord Arnold, another noble from the Duchy wishes to see you."
"Unless it's an introduction from Prince Julio, please decline."
"You're going to respond like that again... Prince Julio will be busy, you know?"
"That's the plan. If we create the impression that even the Imperial Prince can't refuse an introduction from Julio, Julio's value within the Duchy will increase."
The Albatro Duchy isn't a nation with strong royal authority.
Rather, the role of the Duke is more of a mediator among the powerful nobles.
It's different from the Empire, where the Emperor holds absolute power.
But this can't go on forever.
The one who has the potential to change this is Julio.
In the recent battle, Julio showed clear merit and results as the next successor.
In the Duchy, there is no one else who has shown such results at the successor stage.
Many nobles must have looked up to Julio. If we accelerate that, the Duchy will become a stronger nation.
And that would secure the south of the Empire.
"Lord Arnold. There's a guest."
"Tell them I'm busy."
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine. I'm going to sleep."
I've already sent a report to my father.
After this, there will probably be new orders coming for me, but until then, it's my free time.
I've been helping with the reconstruction of the Duchy for a while, but now it's the people of the Duchy's job.
Julio should take the lead, even if he has to borrow the power of those around him.
As I was thinking this, the door slowly opened.
"As usual, Arnold."
"Uncle!? Why are you here?"
"I came to check on my nephew who has a habit of slacking off. It seems I was right."
"Just to let you know, I've done what I had to do. The reason I didn't greet you is because our butler didn't tell me the guest was you."
"I wasn't asked."
Sebas calmly responded.
After shooting a glare at the butler in question, I turned my gaze to my uncle.
There's no way he would come to the Duchy without a reason.
"What's the matter? Any movements in the Empire?"
"Are you curious?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
"Right. On the surface, the Empire's movements are calm. There are no signs of an invasion into the Kingdom yet."
"I suppose so. The south has finally stabilized, and there are prospects for a significant naval force deployment."
"That's right. But naval forces are only necessary when we push the enemy into the Kingdom's territory. The battle will first take place at the border. Leonard is keeping an eye on the western border, but my brother has yet to move. However..."
Uncle cut his words there.
And then he looked at Sebas.
Probably to check if there were any people around.
Sebas disappeared as if he understood.
After a while, Sebas came back.
"There's no problem."
"Then I will excuse myself for a bit."
Anticipating that an important conversation was about to take place, Finne bowed and tried to leave.
However,
"Miss Finne. You should listen too."
"But I am not a member of the military."
"Still, you have the right to hear this as someone who stays by Arnold's side. You have earned that right through your achievements. It may not be very convincing since I'm not in the imperial capital... but the Adler family trusts you."
"Tha-thank you... I'm flattered."
Finne glanced at me.
When I quietly nodded, Finne stood next to me and waited for my uncle's words.
Then, my uncle opened his mouth.
"My brother...is serious about attacking the Kingdom. There are no overt movements, but he has been discussing with the Adventurer's Guild numerous times. It's because there might be a connection between the Kingdom and the demons. The Mystical Corps. In the sense of exposing their darkness...my brother intends to dispatch the Kingdom's punitive force with Leonard as the general."
"So, in a situation where we don't know if the demons are really gone, he wants to start a big war... does this also mean to lure them out?"
"That's right. No matter how much we investigate the Kingdom, we can't find any trace of the demons. However, it is a fact that demons were lurking in the Kingdom, and the Adventurer's Guild doesn't believe it's over with that. That's why my brother... is intent on creating chaos. If the world is in chaos, the demons will also start moving."
"I understand the reason. Originally, it was a hair trigger situation with the Kingdom, and it wouldn't be strange to go to war at any time. Just one more reason isn't surprising. However... if we move first, the Empire will end up losing, right?"
The balance between the three powers of the continent, the Kingdom, the Empire, and the Holy Kingdom, did not break because if two countries fight, the third country will start moving.
That's why there were small skirmishes, but there was never a war to the point of annihilating each other. That's because we would suffer the appropriate damage.
My father is prepared to take that damage.
The Holy Kingdom will profit.
"What do you plan to do if the Kingdom has nothing to do with the demons?"
"The actual power of the Kingdom lies in the hands of the Crown Prince, who has imprisoned the King. This is certain information. It's the testimony of a Griffin Knight who fled to our side out of respect for the Saintess."
"So, you'll make it a war to restore the King's power?"
"That's the way it's going to be. We have the Saintess here. We can prepare as many justifications as we need. If anything, my brother would want it to be that way."
"I see. I'd rather have it that way than involving the demons."
If the demons don't get involved, it's a normal war.
The problem is that the opponent is troublesome, and the movements of the Holy Kingdom are uncertain.
"I want to ask things like what will the Holy Kingdom do, and what will happen if the demons come out... but for now, the thing I want to know most is what is the planned scale of the punitive force?"
My father is serious enough to decide that.
He must be organizing a very large army.
"The preparation is still in progress... but it's about 150,000 in total. Elna is set to be the deputy general, and Theodore will be Leonard's bodyguard. The names of other generals with achievements are being added to the recruitment list one after another."
"150,000...!?"
Finne raises her voice in surprise.
If the Empire gets serious, the number can still increase. But, that's if we include the defense forces of each region.
It's rare to gather an army of 150,000 while maintaining the defense forces.
That's on par with my father's personal expedition.
Being entrusted with such a large army is a treatment similar to the Crown Prince.
Moreover...
"Elna, along with Theodore?"
"If it's against demons, Elna is essential. And for Leonard's safety, they plan to attach Theodore, who is an expert bodyguard."
"Adding to 150,000, the 2nd and 3rd Imperial Guards. That's enough force to annihilate a country... but..."
"I understand your concerns. The Kingdom will likely bring an army of about 100,000. Led by Prince Ansem. It won't be an easy fight."
"Far from easy, the sheer number may become a hindrance. Leo has no experience leading such a large army, and it's his first time invading another country. On the other hand, for Prince Ansem, it's a situation he has experienced before. After all, the Kingdom has been invaded by the Allied Kingdom before."
"My brother is considering that point as well. After all, he probably doesn't intend to win with just the Empire. He's dispatching envoys to the vassal states."
Sending envoys to vassal states is a strange move.
The vassal states are already moving according to Brother Trau's intentions.
In that case, they want someone in the vassal states to move.
"Are they planning to move Queen Marianne, and get the Allied Kingdom to participate in the war too?"
"That's the Empire's strategy. The Empire from the land, the Allied Kingdom from the sky, and the Duchy from the sea. They are creating a form to attack the Kingdom."
It's a grand scheme.
But, how many Dragon Knights will the Allied Kingdom send?
That's the problem.
They will participate in the war, but depending on their level of seriousness, the reliability of the Allied Kingdom will change.
I suppose that's where Queen Marianne comes in.
"If the Dragon King moves as well, the odds of winning should be more than half, right?"
"If the demons don't appear, yes. Eventually, you will receive orders too. Then, you will be the commander of the combined fleet of the Empire and the Duchy. You could say it's the trump card to deliver the finishing blow to the Kingdom. You understand why my brother entrusts this to you, right?"
"To increase the targets. We have to avoid repeating what happened during my eldest brother's time."
"That's part of it... but it's because he trusts you."
"I'm well aware of that. That's why I have a request for you, Uncle."
"What is it?"
"Could you tell my father and the Prime Minister this? I cannot accept being the commander of the combined fleet."
Upon hearing my words, my uncle narrows his eyes.
Then, he quietly nods.
"So, what position do you desire?"
"The navy will be dispatched when we have pushed the enemy deep into the Kingdom. By that time, Leo's fame will be greatly increased. Being the commander of the combined fleet alone won't be enough. I want to be the supreme commander of the combined forces of the Empire, the Allied Kingdom, and the Duchy. And please let them know I want the blue mantle."
Upon hearing my rather presumptuous request, my uncle opens his eyes wide.
Only a Marshal can wear the blue mantle.
There is no talk of Leo becoming a Marshal.
This means, even if it's only formal, I would stand above Leo.
Well, to become the supreme commander of all forces, one needs the position of a Marshal.
Only by doing that much can I stand shoulder to shoulder with Leo. It would make our adversaries uncertain who to target.
"You never cease to surprise me... but it's interesting. I'll make sure I win it for you."
"Thank you."
Once the war with the Kingdom is over, Leo will likely become the Crown Prince. No matter how hard Erik tries, he won't be able to bridge the gap.
That's why the target is just before that.
During the war.
That's when I will step forward as the Marshal.
Surely everyone will think.
The spent prince has revealed his ambition.
But that's fine.
Those who have the power to see through people will realize that I'm behind Leo's accomplishments.
If someone like me steps forward, they won't be able to ignore the threat.
"Arnold. But if you go that far, you'll be in trouble afterward, won't you? Do you intend to become the Emperor?"
As he's about to leave, my uncle asks me.
To that, I don't answer, just shrugging my shoulders.
Perhaps that alone was enough for my uncle to understand, he leaves the place with a small smile on his face.
TL's Corner:
Yo the author has been pulling out 2k word chapters out from nowhere :skull:
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