Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Military Conference and Bloody Ambition
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The next day.
I was heading to the Salleon mansion in Alpenserd with Erina.
When Erina heard Estelle's story, she let out a snicker.
"You think you can beat me?"
"That's what she said."
"So? How many points did Estelle get on that exam?"
"I don't remember exactly, but probably under 300."
"Pfft!"
Erina scoffed mockingly, as if it were absurd.
"Tell her not to let her pride get the better of her. You can also let her know that I could tutor her if she wants."
"And what if she actually beats you while you're acting all high and mighty?"
"No way that'll happen."
Only then did Erina seem to catch on to the fundamental issue, and she turned to me.
"But Als, why are you heading to our mansion? Even if it's just for a visit, coming all the way inside could lead to... all sorts of rumors. If you're prepared for that, I don't mind, but..."
"Huh? You didn't know? There's a regular military conference here today."
"A military conference?"
Erina blinked in surprise, as if she'd never heard of it.
The butler, Joan, hurried out to greet her.
"Miss, it's not safe to walk around so unguarded. Even if it's a short distance, please use the carriage."
"Sorry, Joan. I had something to discuss."
Joan seemed to guess what it was about and let out a small sigh before clasping his hands politely and bowing ninety degrees to me.
"Welcome, General Ilrain. The conference room is in the first-floor reception hall."
"Thanks."
"I can guide you if needed."
"No need. Looks like some familiar faces are arriving anyway."
A carriage rumbled up, and General Ironheart and Duke Regnat Helian stepped out.
Helian looked displeased that the regular military conference was being held at the Salleon mansion, his expression stiff.
Gulp! Joan swallowed dryly, steadied his breath, and approached Helian.
"Welcome, Duke Regnat Helian. The conference room is—"
"Enough. Tend to your duties."
"...Yes, sir."
Helian glanced at me and Erina, his face sour.
"Ilrain, let's talk before we go in."
"Yes, sir."
Helian whispered lowly.
"You planning to keep seeing the daughter of the Salleon family?"
"That's not for you to meddle in, Your Grace."
"You know this isn't just your personal matter. Especially now that you're a general!"
"Well, right now we're just getting to know each other. Talk of marriage is still far off. And whatever happens, don't worry. Even if we get engaged, there's no plan for our families to ally."
"What do you mean? How do you get engaged without the families allying?"
"You'll find out when the time comes. More importantly, pay more attention to Dorothy."
At the mention of Dorothy's fiancé, Helian shook his head as if it gave him a headache.
"I knew about that, but it was decided by Dunan and Linhardt, so it was hard for me to intervene."
"Even so, you need to step in. Dorothy won't refuse if it's you. You have to stop that misfortune. Letting it happen knowingly is more than incompetence—it's a crime."
"Sigh! Fine. I'll look into it gradually."
That was one of Duke Helian's good qualities.
He accepted good advice without unnecessary pride or stubbornness.
I decided to consult him on that matter as well.
"Your Grace, have there been any signs of impending war lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"According to intelligence I came across by chance, there are people targeting Caliper. They say it could lead to a major war."
"That's utter nonsense. Is the intelligence reliable?"
"The credibility is fairly high."
"Who's targeting us?"
"Seems like the Western factions."
"The West!?"
Helian furrowed his brow, even more baffled.
"The only way the West could target us directly is by bypassing through sea routes. You know how far that is."
"Yes, and land invasion is practically impossible."
Other nations stood between the West and Caliper.
To infiltrate the shortest route, they'd have to pass through the Byullang Alliance, but Byullang wouldn't open the way for the West.
Detouring through the central or northern regions meant dealing with Ballast and Albad in the center, Bekavia and Crossing in the north.
"There's no way for the West to invade us. What's their diplomatic pretext for attacking in the first place?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you. They're probably inciting other nations to attack us. Have there been any diplomatic issues with other countries?"
"Hmm. Nothing comes to mind. Things are going too well, actually. We even formed a strategic alliance with Bekavia, and relations with Albad are decent lately. The closest suspects might be Svenner and Tunkai, but even they would need to cross other nations' territories to attack us, so it's unlikely."
Helian groaned and continued.
"Can you arrange a direct talk with that informant? I'd like to hear the details."
"Unfortunately, no. It's not one of our agents, and their whereabouts are already unknown."
"Not one of ours...? Did you hear this from a Western figure by any chance?"
"Coincidentally, yes."
"Did that person know you're Wade?"
"Yes."
"Then it's likely disinformation meant to sow confusion."
"As I said earlier, the intelligence has high credibility."
"Hmm...! Understood. I'll stay vigilant."
That was all I could do.
I couldn't predict how the West would target us either.
*
*
*
It was the first regular military conference since Altiore Salleon and I became generals.
The atmosphere in the conference room was tense.
A nerve war between the Salleon faction and the Helian faction, perhaps.
Quite a few military elders had returned following Altiore, and there were many unfamiliar old men.
Their influence was significant enough that even General Ironheart was glancing at them nervously, not daring to speak.
Only Duke Helian was raising his voice.
"Duke Altiore. Was it necessary to hold the military conference in your private mansion?"
It was a question implying ulterior motives.
Altiore laughed it off casually.
"Ha ha! Sorry about that. I'm getting old, you see. It's hard to travel far. Bear with me, Regnat."
"...If that's the case, no choice."
"More importantly, any objections to the military reorganization?"
"No... none."
With this reorganization, the military was divided into the 1st Army under General Altiore, the 2nd Army of the remaining Helian faction, and the 3rd Army directly under the royal family, which I belonged to.
From Helian Duke's perspective, it wasn't a bad reorganization. It was as if Altiore had drawn a line, saying he wouldn't vie for control over the military.
Like, let's each do well in our own positions.
"Hmm, at this point, I'd like to hear from the royal direct general. Ilrain, what do you think?"
Altiore gave me a probing look.
"No objections from me."
I answered honestly since I truly had none.
Seemingly dissatisfied with that, Altiore asked something else.
"Come to think of it... I heard you dismissed a group of cadet officers. Don't you think that was a bit excessive?"
Most of them were Salleon faction cadets, hence the remark.
"Yes, so I reinstated all but a few."
When I replied slyly, one of the elders shouted angrily. He seemed to be family of one of the dismissed cadets.
"I'm asking if it was necessary to dismiss them over some kids' mistakes!"
He bellowed at me. Duke Helian shot to his feet and yelled back.
"Watch your mouth! You trying to commit treason too?"
"Urk...!"
The elder clamped his mouth shut.
Then another elder spoke calmly.
"Even so, didn't it harm the military in the end? It's obvious the Milias Marquis family will take a passive stance toward the military now. As you know, their regular army exceeds 10,000. If they don't respond to mobilization, it could create a hole in our forces."
The conference room ignited in debate over the Milias Marquis issue.
Everyone was giving me looks, urging forgiveness.
I shrugged and said.
"I told them if they knelt and begged forgiveness, I'd reinstate them. Don't they know how lenient that is, forgiving insubordination just for kneeling? Yet that guy refused. You want me to just bring him back? Do you want to see discipline collapse?"
"Uh, um! No, not that."
As I spoke plainly, the grumbling elders fell silent.
Seizing the moment, Duke Helian added.
"Kasper isn't the head of the Milias Marquis family. For Milias matters, just persuade Jojezette Milias. I'd appreciate it if you handled that. ...That alright, Duke Altiore?"
"Hmm... Understood. I'll have Gilbert head to the Milias Marquis house right away."
And with that, the military conference ended.
Just as it was decided that Gilbert Salleon would handle the Milias Marquis issue, an unforeseen incident occurred there.
Two days after the regular military conference.
Fury swirled in the Milias Marquis mansion around Jojezette.
"You useless fool!"
Crash! Kasper, slapped across the face, rolled on the floor.
"You couldn't even kneel? Just because your pride was hurt? Do you really think you're Wade or something!"
Jojezette vented his rage unfiltered.
"I thought your brain worked a bit, but it was meaningless. Look at this core!"
"B-But Father, wasn't it you who told me to claim I was Wade?"
"You should've acted smarter! What did you do riding on Wade's halo? Just playing gang leader with kids! I would've seized a higher position with that, you idiot!"
"Urk...!"
Jojezette looked down at Kasper with contempt. Kasper trembled at this unfamiliar gaze from his father.
Finally, he managed to speak.
"...What about the marriage?"
"What?"
"The marriage with Erina!"
"Ha! To think you're this stupid. Did you really believe Gilbert Salleon would give you his daughter? And you still don't realize you're being used!"
"No way! Sir Gilbert using me?!"
"Shut up, you fool!"
Jojezette had guessed that Gilbert was using Kasper to swallow the Milias Marquis family whole.
'That's why he protected the boy and gave him money.'
Jojezette had tried to contact Kasper somehow, but Gilbert blocked him every time, preventing proper conversation.
Only now, when Kasper was no longer useful, could they finally talk—showing how ruthlessly Gilbert had acted.
"Stay secluded for a while. Once things quiet down, I'll get you back into the academy, general track."
"N-No...! I want to return to the military!"
"Then you should've knelt! Get out! Meals will be left at the door—don't step out of this room!"
Kasper hung his head.
"Sob, sob...!"
He began weeping in despair.
Jojezette sighed.
'Better not let him know Gilbert's visiting today.'
Kasper might cause a scene if he saw him.
Jojezette clicked his tongue and headed to the window.
'This could actually be an opportunity.'
He smirked.
Kasper's dismissal had brought an unexpected chance. The military wouldn't abandon the Milias private troops.
They'd try to appease him as the family head. Gilbert Salleon, visiting today, was a big shot requiring personal welcome, but Jojezette had no intention.
He'd vaguely told his wife to guide him to his room. A light power play.
'And I even have a trump card.'
The fact that he knew Als was Wade.
Revealing that could cause chaos. Or he could demand a deal from the Helian faction or Als's side.
If Als being Wade got out, his position as 2nd General with independent operational authority would be in jeopardy.
Jojezette mistakenly believed Helian Duke had persuaded the king to appoint Als as 2nd General.
'Wade has ties to Crossing. Putting someone like that in royal direct general with independent command is absurd.'
So, if revealed, many nobles would voice concerns.
Jojezette planned to rally them into a new faction.
'I'll make them pay for underestimating me, Jojezette.'
Above all, Als had irked him most—the insolent brat who threatened to kill him.
A plan to torment Als was already complete.
Not Als himself, but pressuring the Ilrain family.
'Wait, Als Ilrain. I'll have you kneeling before me soon.'
It was then.
Stab!
"...Urk!?"
A sword protruded from his chest. Jojezette barely turned to look behind.
"Y-You bastard, what are you...!"
"It's all Father's fault...! If you hadn't made me impersonate Wade, this wouldn't have happened! It's all your fault!"
"S-Stop... Stop...!"
Thud! Kasper clamped Jojezette's mouth to stifle the sound.
Kasper clearly remembered Gilbert's words.
The only way to return to the military without begging Als's forgiveness.
"I'm the head now. Kasper Milias!"
Crunch! Kasper twisted the sword.
"Gah!?"
Jojezette's eyes rolled back as he died.
Kasper belatedly realized what he'd done, collapsing in shock, but quickly composed himself.
Having started this, he needed to stay calm.
He looked around.
Fortunately, family members were out.
'Mother went out for some reason too.'
Only servants in the mansion. Locking the door would keep them out.
He tried to wipe blood with bedsheets and hide the body, but luck wasn't on his side.
Perhaps inevitable. The impulsive act took too long for cleanup.
He'd wasted time unaware of the approaching guest.
Knock knock! A light knock.
"Marquis, Sir Gilbert Salleon has arrived."
"What!?"
Kasper's eyes widened.
"N-Not now! Father is busy—tell him that!"
He hadn't even cleaned the blood splattered on his clothes.
He'd locked the door, but it was useless.
Gilbert, annoyed at the lack of welcome, threw a fit, and Jojezette's wife, trying to appease him, had the butler fetch the key.
"Jojezette, answer me. Jojezette!"
"M-Mother! Father is tired and resting! J-Just wait a moment...!"
That made Gilbert furious to the top of his head.
Snubbing him for bedtime? Unthinkable among nobles.
"You dare insult Gilbert Salleon! Open this door now!"
Lady Milias nodded and signaled the butler.
She had no idea what had happened.
The butler inserted the key and opened the door.
Kasper went pale, frozen, unable to act.