Chapter 193: A Country for the Weak
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: A Country for the Weak
[Progen Republic Strongly Decries Valkania’s Illegal Invasion!]
[Italic Kingdom Declares It Will Join Economic Sanctions Against Valkania]
[Statement from the Robrus Eastern Union: “Immediately Halt This Anachronistic and Barbaric War of Aggression!”]
As expected, the continent's major powers condemned the war of aggression one after another. Simultaneously, they severed all trade with Valkania, cutting off its supply of strategic materials and food.
All of this was done under the noble pretext of supporting the small nation of Mekerel.
Yet, while the entire continent isolated and condemned Valkania, the Empire alone remained silent.
“You look quite dashing.”
I had summoned Professor Ruben to the Imperial Capital and fitted him with the finest bespoke suit.
“Ah, thank you…”
The brand was ‘Exinon,’ a high-end tailor favored by the nobles of the Imperial Palace, and the very same one that exclusively crafted the uniforms for the Sentinel Knights.
“Professor Ruben. Remember this: no matter what you hear from the person you are meeting today, you must make it a habit to respond with nothing but praise.”
As I personally adjusted his attire, I drilled him on how to handle Reutern II.
“Words of praise…”
“Even if, for example, he spouts absolute nonsense about the current situation in Valkania.”
The nobles of the Imperial Palace—especially men like Reutern—were often at odds with scholars. In fact, they found them intensely disagreeable.
The reason was simple. Scholars couldn’t stomach the nonsense nobles spouted while pretending to be knowledgeable, and they constantly interrupted to point out their ‘errors.’
“Even if there is only the slightest grain of truth in his words—” I stared into Ruben’s eyes, emphasizing my point. “It’s fine to exaggerate your expressions. Raise your voice if you have to. Pour on the praise without restraint.”
“...Yes. I understand. But,” Professor Ruben asked cautiously, “what if… there’s absolutely nothing correct in what he says?”
“Not a single thing?”
“Yes. Not a single thing.”
“...It doesn’t matter. As long as the conclusion drawn from that flawed logic aligns with our objective.”
Our objective was to incite and solidify a specific perception within the Imperial Palace: Valkania is an incompetent nation of no use to the Empire.
“Academic right or wrong is completely irrelevant.”
Reutern II was incompetent and frivolous, but as a megaphone for swaying public opinion in the Palace, his value was second to none. He was a royal with exactly that much influence.
Therefore, we had to delude Reutern into believing he was an ‘expert on Valkanian affairs.’ Only then would our intentions reach the Emperor’s ears.
“Professor Ruben. This is a critical mission, with the Empire's security and future at stake.”
Of course, Reutern might earn the Emperor’s ire in the process, but Valkania’s incompetence would be proven soon enough regardless.
They were the type of fools who couldn’t even properly defeat a small nation without the Empire’s help.
“...Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Professor Ruben took a deep breath.
* * *
The midday sun streamed into Reutern II's lavish private chamber.
He lounged on a sofa, gazing intently at Professor Ruben, who sat opposite him in a stiff, formal posture.
“Hmm… Listening to you, Professor…” He swirled the teacup in his hand. “So you’re saying these Valkanian bastards are no good as allies for our Empire?”
“...Allies, you say?”
“Yeah. That’s the rumor going around the Palace these days.”
“Aha… May I be so bold as to ask for your esteemed opinion on why you believe they are unsuitable?” Professor Ruben asked cautiously.
“Isn’t it obvious? Supply is the lifeblood of war. Materiel, equipment, and machinery are the most important factors. Didn't you say it earlier? They carve their tanks by hand. That means they can't produce them in any real quantity.”
“Yes! Precisely!”
Reutern flinched at the sudden shout. “You startled me.”
“You've hit the very core of the issue.”
“...I have?”
“Yes. To see through their lack of mass-production capability—the very essence of modern warfare—in a single stroke! To so sharply grasp a blind spot that even academia often misses… Your insight is truly remarkable.”
“Hmph.” Reutern tried to maintain his composure despite Ruben's flowery words. He pressed his twitching lips together to hide a smile and straightened his posture. “Is that so? Well, this is just my personal opinion, but isn't their justification for the war a total stretch? Does it make sense for them to claim that land is theirs now just because it was their territory hundreds of years ago?”
“Hah… Indeed, a truly brilliant line of thought.” Ruben clasped his hands together as if he couldn't contain his admiration. A lock of Reutern's curly hair practically stood on end from the thrill.
“...Why is everything I say brilliant?”
“I am sincere. The point you just made is one that many political commentators overlook.”
“What’s with them overlooking so much?”
“It merely goes to show how exceptionally outstanding Lord Reutern’s wisdom is. In the first place, Mekerel was never part of Valkania's official territory.”
“Oh, really? So they were just making it up?” Reutern II’s eyes widened.
“Yes. Mekerel and Valkania were once bound together in a single nation called Balkan, but Balkan is not Valkania. Valkania merely unilaterally claims to be its successor.”
“Hmm, I see.” He listened to the professor while casually picking up a snack.
“Furthermore, the tribes of the Mekerel region had clear sovereignty and identity even back then.”
“Aha! So from the start, the Mekerelians thought of themselves as a completely different stock from the Valkanians? A different race, too?”
At that moment, Professor Ruben gasped, his eyes flying wide.
“Wh-what is it? Did I say something wrong?” Reutern asked, flinching.
Professor Ruben exclaimed in a voice filled with awe. “Incredible, Lord Reutern! To grasp the essence of the matter before I even had a chance to bring it up! Yes, that is exactly right. Race. The fact that their racial roots are entirely different is the core of this entire situation.”
“Ahem. Is that so?” Reutern cleared his throat, trying to play it cool.
The words he had tossed out so casually were being validated by one of the Empire's top experts.
Could I be a diplomatic genius? Someone who intuitively grasps current affairs and complex political situations?
“How can they claim to have been one nation when their primary races are different? Just look at our Empire.”
“Right. Of course. That kind of talk would cause a massive uproar in the Empire. You’re right, that is the core issue.”
A triumphant smile bloomed across Reutern II’s face as Professor Ruben continued, expounding further on Valkania’s shoddy military system.
That day, Reutern spoke with Ruben for a very long time.
The promised two hours became three, then four, then five. When they grew hungry, they relocated to Lilac Vita to chat some more. Regardless of the venue, Reutern chattered away to his heart’s content.
“Among the nobles of the Imperial Palace, there is likely no expert who understands Valkania as deeply as Lord Reutern does now—”
The professor's parting words—the intoxicating praise of being called an ‘expert’—stuck fast in Reutern's mind.
* * *
Nearly every nation on the continent had declared its stance on the Valkania-Mekerel War.
Despite this, the Emperor—hidden behind the heavy curtains of the Sanctum—rarely voiced his own thoughts. Instead, he observed his officials. The brief words that occasionally flowed from the darkness were nothing more than tests disguised as questions.
Only after weighing and confirming the intentions of all his subjects would the Emperor push forward his true will without hesitation.
For that reason, today’s State Council meeting felt more like walking on thin ice than ever before.
“…”
Inside the grand conference hall of the Imperial House of Lords, a special meeting had been convened to discuss a single agenda: the Empire’s official response.
Sonette Kandel, seated at the scribe’s desk with pen in hand, tried to divine the will of the heavens.
His Majesty seems to harbor a strange intention, her intuition whispered to her.
The Empire was a great power, but for that very reason, it existed as a completely isolated island. Therefore, the Emperor was lonely.
He wanted an ally to join him in this lonely hegemony, or perhaps one to act as his shield.
...He is a weak man.
Sonette quickly erased that final, treasonous assessment from her mind.
“Still, isn't Prime Minister Argento of Valkania displaying truly outstanding leadership?” Voices from among the officials spoke positively of the Valkanian leader.
They did so because the Emperor had shown subtle, positive reactions to such sentiments.
“It is said that His Majesty himself was deeply inspired by Prime Minister Argento’s decisive actions during his youth…”
Prime Minister Argento was, of course, no ordinary man. He was a dictator who, armed with ironclad courage and charisma, had reduced the Valkanian king to a mere scarecrow and effectively seized control of the entire nation.
Perhaps to the Emperor, a man who pursued absolute power above all else, Argento was a figure who evoked a sense of kinship—or even a bizarre sort of admiration.
“More to the point, aren’t those Western nations being far too despicable? If they wish to condemn Valkania, they should simply condemn them. What is this nonsense about cutting off trade?”
“My thoughts exactly. If they are so displeased, they should just declare war. But I suppose they lack the spine for that. What a bunch of cowards.”
As Sonette the scribe observed the shifting tides of the room, her pen flying across the page, someone called to her in a low voice.
“Lady Sonette.”
It was Chief of Staff Grossman.
“What is your opinion on the Valkania situation, my lady?”
As the scribe, Sonette dutifully recorded the following:
[The Chief of Staff asked, “What is your opinion on the Valkania situation, my lady?”]
A bitter smile spread across Grossman’s lips. Sonette recorded the bitter smile as well before answering.
“My thoughts are not important.”
At a foundational level, the needs of Valkania and the Empire aligned. Isolated and condemned by the entire continent, Valkania had no choice but to reach for the Empire’s hand.
“...I wonder how long you'll pretend to be ignorant.”
Sonette recorded all of Grossman's private remarks without missing a beat. Grossman shook his head, his gaze suddenly falling upon a specific spot in the hall. Sonette followed his line of sight.
There sat a member of the royal family. The center of a major faction. A man who, even among those of noble blood, occupied a conspicuously prominent seat. His cold gaze was fixed on the members of the House of Lords and the gathered officials.
It was Reutern II.
Unlike his usual self, he wasn't dozing off, nor was he yawning. Wearing a sour expression, he swept his hair back. This highly unusual demeanor made the surrounding nobles watch him with caution.
“—As you all know, the Kingdom of Valkania has recently invaded Mekerel in the south.” At the front of the hall, Foreign Minister Theodore officially commenced the meeting. “Although Valkania’s recovery of its former territory is a historically justified measure, the international community is currently branding them as aggressors and showering them with harsh criticism.”
He continued, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the council members. “Furthermore, they are attempting to suffocate Valkania by imposing strict embargoes on key resources such as mana stones, steel, and food.”
“…”
However, Sonette's eyes were not on Theodore, but on Reutern.
His state was unmistakably unusual.
“Therefore, I make this proposal: should we not lend our strength to Valkania, which now faces a crisis of utter isolation?”
Theodore’s voice was brimming with conviction. To Sonette’s mind, this meant he believed he had perfectly grasped the Emperor’s intentions.
“Historically, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. This is a highly strategic diplomatic judgment.”
Most of the officials in the chamber remained silent. However, it was a silence closer to affirmation than opposition.
Even Grossman nodded with a faint smile. The mood in the room was smoothly flowing toward unanimous agreement with Theodore’s argument—until it happened.
“Then, we shall first provide support to Valkania in the name of the Empire—”
“Wait.”
Just as that conclusion was about to be finalized, a hand shot up in objection.
All eyes immediately snapped toward the source. He had captured the attention of the entire room.
Sonette, and Grossman as well, turned to look.
“I have something to report to you all.”
It was Reutern II, rising from his seat with a supremely confident smile. He strode majestically to the podium and slammed a stack of documents onto the round table.
“This is the truth about the ungrateful and incompetent nation of Valkania.”
Sonette’s pen froze mid-air. As she momentarily forgot her duty in her shock, a quiet voice drifted into her ear.
“Lady Sonette. You must continue your record.”
It was Grossman. His calm tone made it sound as if he had anticipated this very situation.
* * *
I had left the Imperial diplomacy to Reutern II. Trusting him to play his part brilliantly in the House of Lords, it was now time for me to do mine.
“Dieter. Are the preparations complete?” I asked, looking down at the docked cargo ships in the trade port of the Kanilan Independent State as the harsh sea breeze whipped past us.
“Yes. All loading is complete.” Dieter handed me a manifest.
Millions of rifles and bullets, along with a massive quantity of mana bombs purchased through shell companies in Kanilan, were about to be shipped to Mekerel—the weakest nation in the south, and the very one that had just been invaded.
Naturally, I would ‘subtly’ hide the hand behind this large-scale arms support. Even if I did nothing, the rumors would spread on their own.
“We set sail at once.”
I wanted the relationship between the Empire and Valkania completely and utterly shattered.
If at all possible, I wanted Valkania to view the Empire as an enemy and cozy up to the Eastern Union or the Western nations instead.
The Empire must be utterly alone.
The Empire did not need allies.
To desire an ally was to be weak, and a weak Empire could not be allowed to exist. The moment the Empire relied on a half-baked alliance, distrusted its own strength, or depended on external variables, its blade would dull.
“I will give the order to depart.”
Upon discovering the Empire's act of pouring weapons into an enemy nation, Valkania's Prime Minister Argento would likely fly into a rage and protest to the Imperial family.
But the moment Valkania crossed the line and barked—the Empire would show its true, Imperial self.
The Empire does not soothe a loudly barking dog.
It simply shoots it in the head.