Chapter 196: To the Southern Continent
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 196: To the Southern Continent
Now that the matter of the Southern Continent was settled, it was time to deal with the Eastern Continent.
Quite some time had passed since the Eastern nobles who had attended the coronation with Ophelia had returned home.
By now, the news of Ophelia's capture must have reached the Eastern Continent.
If what she said about having made arrangements for such a time was true, the Eastern Continent was likely in the throes of war preparations.
The same was true for me.
“Borzak, do you think it's possible?”
Borzak, Dresden's fleet commander, shook his head after hearing my plan for dealing with the Eastern Continent.
“I agree that we must defeat the Eastern army at sea. If the Northern Continent becomes a battlefield, our losses will be great even in victory. The problem is… the Eastern Continent's naval power is also formidable.”
“During the great Crusades, the Eastern Continent knew they were coming. Weren't they forced to let them land because their naval power was insufficient?”
“That was before intercontinental trade became active. Things are very different now. Having gained enormous profits from trade, the nobles and merchants of the Eastern Continent have all been increasing their fleets.”
Borzak, Dresden's fleet commander, warned that those ships could be converted into warships at any time.
“Is that so?”
I smiled despite the grim outlook. In truth, it was a question to gauge how much he knew about the Eastern Continent. I couldn't very well give command to someone who didn't properly know his enemy, could I?
“But that doesn't mean we can fight a ground war. The enemy has a history of repelling several large-scale Crusades.”
Duke Signir, who was sitting across from Borzak, raised his voice.
Geographically, the primary target of the Eastern army would inevitably be the Northern Continent, so he vehemently argued that the war must begin and end at sea.
Of course, Borzak's position was different. As a native of Dresden, he had no connection to the Northern Continent.
“Who said you have to face the entire Eastern army? I'm just asking you to handle the few who we fail to repel at sea. I don't understand why you're so angry.”
Borzak continued.
“In any case, there are only a few places where the Eastern fleet can land. Even fewer, since they'll try to avoid heavily defended major cities. In other words, if we set traps in advance, we can win easily.”
“Hah. You only say that because you don't know about their brainwashed soldiers. Conditioned with all sorts of drugs and chemicals, those soldiers know no fear and are two to three times stronger than regular troops. It's not for nothing that the past Crusades ended after capturing just one or two coastal cities instead of reclaiming the Holy Land.”
Duke Signir, who had experienced the immortal army—a taste of the Eastern Continent's brainwashed soldiers—stressed again that they must be defeated at sea, no matter what.
“There are no set paths on the sea! What will you do if they sail while avoiding the common trade routes?”
“Can't we just block every possible route the enemy might take?”
“Where would we get a fleet large enough for that…!”
Their positions were too different, and their arguments went nowhere.
The dispute grew more and more heated. If I hadn't been there, I suspect fists would have already flown.
Both were vassals of my empire, but they still lacked a sense of being on the same side. It was likely the same for all people of the two continents.
‘That's why this war is so important.’
Fighting an enemy on the same side is bound to create camaraderie and a sense of kinship.
“Enough.”
As the meeting devolved into a meaningless emotional squabble, I had no choice but to step in.
Borzak and Signir fell silent and bowed their heads. However, the sidelong glances they shot each other were menacing.
I clicked my tongue and continued.
“We will stick to the original plan and defeat the enemy at sea.”
“Your Majesty. Surely there is no personal bias mixed into that decision?”
“Why, you…!”
Duke Signir pointed a finger at Borzak, glancing at me for my reaction. But Borzak didn't stop looking me straight in the eye.
A smirk escaped me. Borzak's attitude was exactly what Adeleade had told me to expect before the meeting.
“Why? Do you think I'm showing favoritism to my father-in-law?”
“Ahem. Well, blood is thicker than water, is it not?”
“How rude. Then again, that must be why you've never received a title.”
Borzak's rank was that of a commoner, unfitting for his position as Dresden's fleet commander. It was the result of having his titles revoked multiple times due to his blunt way of speaking, regardless of who he was addressing.
For that very reason, there was no need to doubt his skill. With mediocre ability, that kind of behavior would have gotten him beheaded long ago.
“My apologies.”
I waved my hand. It was better than him scheming behind my back.
“There's no reason we can't do what the Eastern Continent does. I will commandeer all ships in the Northern Continent. Duke Signir, you are to recruit the troops to board them. In this war, the Western and Northern Continents will form a joint front.”
“Then the commander-in-chief will be…”
Duke Signir seemed slightly hopeful, but I couldn't overlook Borzak, who was highly skilled and had extensive experience in naval warfare.
“Borzak, you are the naval commander-in-chief. I certainly hope your skills are as great as your insolence.”
If he failed to produce results that met my expectations, Borzak would have to pay the price for his rudeness.
“I will do my best.”
“No, that's not enough. I want an overwhelming victory. One so decisive that the enemy won't even think of invading again after the war.”
“It's not that I don't want that as well. But in a war where any variable can appear, I cannot guarantee a great victory.”
“What if you could launch a surprise attack?”
Borzak froze.
“A surprise attack on the open sea, where you can see for miles in every direction? That's absurd.”
“The enemy will think so too, won't they?”
If even Borzak, a man who'd spent his life at sea, thought it was impossible, there was no need to even mention the Eastern Continent, with its lack of naval experience.
Snap.
I snapped my fingers, and the doors opened. Mollak, who had been waiting, entered the great hall.
He was a merchant under my patronage who traded with the Eastern Continent, having created a new sea route using a map I had given him.
“Your servant, Mollak, has come as you commanded.”
Mollak approached cautiously, knelt, and bowed his head low.
“Mollak. Can we launch a surprise attack at sea?”
“It is possible, if we know the date of the enemy's departure.”
I had asked the same question, but Mollak gave a different answer than Borzak. He lifted his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
“What non—!”
Bang.
Borzak slammed his fist on the table and shot to his feet. His pride was wounded that a mere merchant was guaranteeing something he himself could not.
Mollak met his glaring eyes without fear. He, too, was a sailor who had seen it all.
“The sea has its own obstacles perfect for an ambush. For instance, a windless zone, or a secret island hidden year-round in thick sea fog.”
“Hah. Use a windless zone? How do you propose to use a place where even compasses stop working? And what's this about a secret island? Your Majesty, this plan is utterly preposterous. Any sailor would tell you the same.”
“What if you had an accurate map? A map drawn as if looking down from the sky, without a single inch of error?”
At my glance, Mollak took a map from his robes. He then smiled at Borzak, who couldn't hide the bewilderment on his face.
“No wind also means that the distance you travel is proportional to how much you row. With an accurate map, there's no need to be afraid. In fact, it was a shorter route than the existing shipping lanes.”
This wasn't just empty talk; he was saying he had done it himself.
Leaving the speechless Borzak behind, I pointed to a small island on the map, past the windless zone below the existing trade route.
“We lie in ambush on this unknown island, and when night falls, we cross the windless zone to strike the enemy. They won't expect us to come through the doldrums, so the surprise attack is sure to succeed. Am I wrong?”
Borzak answered my question with a question of his own.
“Since when… since when have you been planning this?”
“Is that important?”
The eyes of Borzak, who had been so confident even before me, now resembled those of an enemy soldier just before my sword pierced him.
“…The problem is that at sea, you can't know the enemy's exact location. Our supplies might run out before they even arrive. To prevent such a disaster, we need to know the time of the enemy's departure.”
Borzak added a warning that even if all conditions were perfect, the plan could still fail because of the fickle sea.
“So, timing is the key.”
This was the moment I realized I needed to send a spy to the Eastern Continent as well. The problem was that finding a suitable candidate would be even harder than for the Southern Continent. The difference in skin color was the biggest barrier.
The solution came from an unexpected place. That night, Jin, who came to my bedchamber, said,
“I will go.”
“Have you extended your reach into the imperial court as well?”
She hadn't attended the court conference, yet she knew everything that had been discussed. Even when I glared at her fiercely, Jin merely smiled.
“Didn't you know it would be like this from the moment you decided to make me your mistress?”
“You were the one who refused the position of a concubine.”
“I did not wish to be jostled among the concubines, waiting for my turn.”
Jin always came to me after my wives were exhausted and fast asleep. Seeing as she never came when I was with more than one of them, or when it was Aenya's turn, she had clearly figured out the sleeping rotation my wives had arranged among themselves.
I wasn't worried. This was just Jin's way of proving her usefulness.
The proof was how she slipped into my arms the moment I opened them, as if she had been waiting.
“If you have a child, you will come to regret this choice.”
“Once you have the Eastern Continent in your grasp, won't you need me, a native of the East, for a smooth rule?”
“So you were the greediest one of all.”
It wasn't enough for her to ignore the rotation; Jin was the one who coveted the most territory among all my women.
However, it remained to be seen if things would go her way. The moment she stepped out of the shadows and into the forefront, Aenya, who had overlooked her arrogance because she was merely my mistress, would no longer tolerate it.
Aenya was just as greedy as I was.
“But you'll go yourself?”
“An opportunity for revenge has presented itself. How could I possibly shy away?”
Her eyes were so resolute that not even a needle could pass through. I sensed that nothing I said would get through to her.
Jin continued.
“Do not worry. No one in the Eastern Continent will know my true identity.”
Jin covered her face with her palm. When she lowered her hand, her face had changed into that of a completely different person. It was the face of a common village woman you might see on any road.
“A disguise?”
“It is sorcery.”
“You had Ophelia's help.”
Ophelia, who had been confined to the tower, was now roaming the imperial palace freely. It was at my wives' request. Since I hadn't restricted contact, it seemed they had managed to become quite close.
“The other ladies have received her help as well, have they not?”
“Well, that's…”
As I trailed off, Jin's lips curled into a smile. She clearly knew why I had turned a blind eye to my wives getting close to Ophelia. And just as I expected…
“Ophelia is worthy of being called an emperor. The Emperor of the Night, that is.”
Ophelia knew all sorts of nocturnal techniques. Even I, with my modern memories, was sometimes surprised when my wives put her teachings into practice. That said it all.
“Hmph…”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, closing the distance, and whispered in my ear.
“And Ophelia's finest student is none other than myself.”
“Still, no means no.”
Jin pouted.
I didn't regret it. If I had agreed so easily, she would have been more disappointed. With six wives and two mistresses, I was now an expert on the hearts of women.
“Is there a better choice than me, a native of the Eastern Continent with outstanding abilities as a spy?”
Jin showered kisses down the nape of my neck. Her hands caressing my body were unbearably sensual.
“Hmm… I will allow it, if you make me a promise.”
“…A promise?”
“I won't tell you not to take revenge. You wouldn't listen even if I did. However, if you judge that your life is in danger while seeking that revenge, you are to turn back without hesitation. And leave the vengeance to me.”
Having obtained a perfect disguise, Jin would surely try to get her revenge. And just as I thought, Jin flinched and avoided my gaze.
“Jin.”
“…I understand.”
They say a person's true character is revealed in the worst of situations. In that sense, Jin's word was trustworthy. In a future that would no longer come to pass, she had kept her word even when facing death.
I stole a kiss from the pouting Jin and whispered.
“By the way, are you going to keep showing me that face?”
“I shall return to my original face.”
I quickly grabbed Jin's wrist as it moved toward her face. Then, avoiding her quizzical gaze, I said,
“Ahem. Is another face not possible? A prettier one… No, why are you looking at me like that? I'm just asking out of curiosity. Really.”
I made my excuses hastily, but the look in Jin's eyes, as if she were staring at a piece of garbage, did not change.