Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Diplomacy is Also a Means of War (4)
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Swallow it when it's sweet, spit it out when it's bitter.
Morality books teach you not to stab people in the back...
But almost no one follows that to the letter.
So people keep half of that saying.
They just don't hit people in the back carelessly.
The Chief of Staff of the Marco Kingdom, Fabian, was now measuring the angle to strike just like everyone else.
"If we leave the Empire alone, our Marco Kingdom will be in danger down the line."
The current balance of power on the continent was fairly stable, if not perfect.
That meant there was no guarantee the Marco Kingdom would prosper enormously in the future.
But if things stayed this way, the kingdom wouldn't fall either.
However, there was one problem... the Empire.
"If the Empire's power grows any more, the Marco Kingdom will be in danger."
The first to get crushed would be the Dolce Republic or the Ortz Kingdom.
But when the lips are gone, the cold wind that the lips used to block hits the teeth directly, making them ache.
Once those two nations fell under the Empire's influence...
'The Marco Kingdom could fall too.'
Knowing this, the foreign ministries of other nations, excluding the Empire, were whispering something under the table.
'This isn't the time for us to fight each other. Let's band together.'
Everyone acknowledged the need for an alliance.
"The problem is..."
The devout, faithful, and honest Marco Kingdom would keep its word to the end once an alliance was formed.
But the wicked nations that loved backstabbing—who knew when they'd strike?
'If only the other nations were as honest as our Marco Kingdom...'
Of course, the other nations on the continent were thinking much the same.
That they themselves were too good-hearted, while the others were untrustworthy scum with rotten personalities.
"The Chief of Staff has arrived, Your Majesty."
Fabian shook off his stray thoughts and knelt.
The King of the Marco Kingdom asked with a sour expression.
"What was this secret message from the Empire's Emperor that Major Michael Schumacher brought? I have no intention of accepting any proposals from the Empire... but I'm still curious what they said."
The Empire's growth brought direct and indirect harm to the Marco Kingdom.
So the king had no intention of joining hands with them from the start.
It was just that he couldn't form an alliance because he couldn't trust the other monarchs on the continent...
But someday, before the Empire grew any larger, they all needed to join forces and strike.
"They proposed we attack the Dolce Republic together."
"Attack the Dolce Republic?"
"Yes, that's right."
A sigh escaped the king's lips.
Moments later, he even burst out laughing.
"Looks like the Empire's Emperor has finally lost his mind. Why on earth would we trust those wicked, vile Empire bastards? Was wiping out the 50,000-strong army led by General Dopang 30 years ago and taking Alsace Province not enough?"
Fabian agreed with those words.
With the grudge from 30 years ago still burning in their bones, what kind of nonsense was this?
Seeing them say such things, he half-suspected the Empire's Emperor had gone mad from eating eel jelly from that island nation famous for bad food.
"It's a shame, but the Emperor doesn't seem to have lost his mind yet."
"If even the Field Marshal says so, then he must have brought a pretty good proposal?"
"He said they'd give us the Monaco region."
The king licked his lips at those words.
The Monaco region was once one of the Marco Kingdom's famed granaries.
And now it was emerging as a commercial hub.
If they could acquire it, the kingdom's long-cherished wish would be fulfilled, and its national power would grow tremendously.
'The royal authority would strengthen too.'
Saliva flooded his mouth.
"What does the Field Marshal think? Speak frankly."
"......If we follow their words, the Marco Kingdom can indeed seize the Monaco region."
"Is that your personal opinion? Or are you speaking for the General Staff?"
"Since it's a secret pact, I haven't discussed it with the staff officers at headquarters yet, but..."
Fabian swallowed hard and spoke in a grave tone.
"If we follow the Empire's proposed method, I believe the Marco Kingdom can undoubtedly acquire the Monaco region."
"What method are they suggesting that makes you say that?"
"The Empire says they'll send an expeditionary force to the northern Dolce Republic. At that time, they want the Marco Kingdom army to head to Monaco."
"Not fighting alongside the Empire... so just raiding an empty house..."
The King of the Marco Kingdom licked his lips but remained suspicious.
Unlike the faithful and honest himself, there was no way the wicked Empire would do the Marco Kingdom any favors.
There had to be some evil scheme behind it.
Just like how a 20-year-old F-cup blonde beauty sincerely loving a 70-year-old grandfather must have her eyes on his inheritance after death.
"What did Major Schumacher, the envoy, say?"
"He said the Empire fears the Marco Kingdom striking their flank when they attack the Dolce Republic. That even after winning the war, they'd return empty-handed."
"The Emperor bastard is being awfully frank. For an emperor who only knows how to act superior... he's surprisingly honest."
If it had been a simple alliance proposal, the Marco Kingdom's king would have rejected it.
But he'd honestly explained why he needed this alliance...
And what he asked for wasn't occupying the Dolce Republic together with the Empire's army, just raiding the empty house and leaving.
This was a proposal they had to accept.
"It's true the Empire bastards are getting stronger. But letting them get a bit stronger here... won't directly harm the Marco Kingdom. Right?"
"Yes. Though the Empire is the continent's strongest, it can't overwhelm all the other nations."
"We should grab the profits right in front of us now."
The King of the Marco Kingdom knew it too.
Doing favors for the Empire harmed national interests.
But compared to reclaiming the Monaco region, it was trivial.
And while the need for an alliance was rising in each nation's foreign ministry, the real reason it wasn't forming boiled down to one thing.
'No knife is at our throats yet.'
"We'll tilt the continental situation a bit more in the Empire's favor, then call for an alliance when the sense of crisis peaks. Then our Marco Kingdom might even take the Empire's place."
"As wise as ever, Your Majesty."
The king shrugged.
"Tell that Michael Schumacher we accept the secret pact."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
And then the King of the Marco Kingdom suddenly cackled.
"Oh, and speaking of which, the Empire bastards have finally gone mad."
"What do you mean by that?"
"They're teaching soldiers to read and write on a large scale and abolishing beatings to enforce discipline. They say soldiers are people too, so you shouldn't beat them carelessly? Isn't that ridiculous?"
Elderly folks who've been discharged from the military genuinely believe modern armies are a mess because they've lost the seniors' hot love (brutal beatings).
Because back then, it was just accepted tradition.
The King of the Marco Kingdom thought the same.
Fabian nodded in agreement.
"Soldiers only listen when you crack the whip. Treating them like gentlemen with respect... they've lost their minds."
"In 10 or 20 years, the Empire's army will be a rabble. Green recruits trembling at the sound of gunfire. They should be establishing discipline through beatings, not this."
Not long after, the Marco Kingdom Army's Chief of Staff summoned me again.
Last time, he'd deliberately acted rudely to intimidate me...
Now, he grinned at me and poured tea.
Just from this, I could tell.
The Marco Kingdom's king had accepted our proposal.
"Guess what I have to say?"
"No idea."
"You sure know how to slither around with your words."
Field Marshal Fabian showed me the secret letter.
The contents stated that the Marco Kingdom joyfully accepted the Empire's proposal this time.
Based on his initial attitude toward me, it seemed like he'd break off relations.
But present them with massive gains, and they flip in an instant.
Politicians really can't be trusted.
"His Majesty has decided to join hands with the Empire just this once."
"No next time?"
"If the Empire keeps its promises well, there might be a next time."
We will definitely keep our promises.
Because we can't take the Monaco region with our Empire's power right now.
But do they know that?
That's the hallmark of guys who borrow money and vanish, or pull off proper scams.
At first, they borrow 10,000 or 100,000 and pay it back promptly.
Then they borrow 10 million and disappear.
'For one big score.'
"I sincerely hope friendly relations between our two nations continue."
You plan to stab us in the back too.
So do we.