Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: In the Name of Victory (2)
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"What do you think?"
After dismissing the headquarters commanders, Raymond moved to the office with Marquis Crayer and Count Denitz. No sooner had they sat down than he asked the question, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at Marquis Crayer.
"It's an incredible gold mine, Your Majesty. The reserves of gold seem substantial."
Even to Marquis Crayer, who lacked deep knowledge on the subject, the scale of the mine was staggering. But there was one concern nagging at him...
"However, Your Majesty, we are in the midst of war. It won't be easy to spare troops separately. I'm worried about whether we can defend the central fortress from the monsters in this situation."
Marquis Crayer voiced his concerns cautiously, but the smile on Raymond's face did not fade.
"Don't worry about that, Marquis. I have a solution."
"May I ask what it is?"
"Of course. I called you to the office precisely to show it to you."
At Raymond's gesture, Count Denitz left the office. When he returned shortly after, Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle was with him, carrying a small storage box.
Marquis Crayer felt his sharp instincts telling him that the answer lay within that small box.
"As you've probably guessed, Marquis, the solution is in that box. Would you like to open it yourself?"
"Is that allowed, Your Majesty?"
"What's the problem with it?"
Raymond replied with a bright smile, and Marquis Crayer suppressed his excitement as he took the box from Berenus.
It was lighter than expected. He placed it on the office desk and carefully opened the lid. A violet, iridescent light spilled out. When he fully opened it, Marquis Crayer saw a glowing purple crystal inside.
"Your Majesty... this is...?"
Mesmerized, Marquis Crayer peered into the box before slowly lifting his head. He had walked the path of the sword his entire life. His knowledge of magic was shallow, but he could easily sense that the crystal before him was no ordinary magic tool.
"Do you remember the mage who controlled the monsters in the Phantom Unit?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"We deciphered her tome of forbidden domination magic and succeeded in extracting a portion of its essence. It's not enough for complete control over the monsters, but at least in areas where this crystal—or rather, the suppressor—is installed, the monsters won't be able to approach."
"My goodness, Your Majesty... this is truly remarkable."
Marquis Crayer exclaimed in admiration. Though not a mage himself, he knew how difficult it was to extract forbidden magic.
"The Crimson Tower Lord and the Azure Tower Lord worked hard on this."
Raymond, a high-ranking magic swordsman with deep insight into magic, gave credit and praise to the two tower lords.
The Azure Tower Lord would have made a fuss, but fortunately, the only one present was the composed Berenus, who rarely lost his temper except when angered.
"You honor us, Your Majesty."
Berenus offered a brief thanks and a nod, his gaze friendly.
"The goal is to mass-produce as many 'suppressors' as needed before construction on the central fortress is complete."
"Just around the fortress, then?"
"To secure a safe supply line, we'll build a road connecting the forward fortress to the central one and install suppressors along it."
"A brilliant plan, Your Majesty!"
Marquis Crayer was genuinely impressed.
"It won't take long."
The central fortress was under the direct supervision of the Ironhammer dwarves, and suppressor production was handled by the finest mages from the Crimson and Azure Towers.
According to a report from Rackle Bronze, the commanding officer of the Ironhammer unit, construction on the central fortress was nearing its final stages.
"However, Your Majesty, is this wise? Reports say the Tripartite Alliance forces are gathering at the border of the Free Isiria Kingdom. Might we not need to hurry? If I may."
Marquis Crayer's concern wasn't unfounded. Though the central fortress served a defensive purpose during construction, with the enemy main forces assembling, it was natural to worry about not advancing swiftly. In fact, Raymond had heard similar concerns from several high-ranking commanders even before Marquis Crayer's arrival.
"No need to rush, Marquis Crayer. Just as they prepare in 'full readiness,' the Philius Imperial Army will face them in maximum battle posture."
He didn't explain at length, but right after the battle, the Philius Imperial Army had needed rest. Forcing a crossing of the Black Mountains for another fight would have incurred significant losses, even in victory.
Realizing this belatedly, Marquis Crayer opened his mouth with a darkened expression.
"Your Majesty! I failed to grasp your profound intent!"
"Realizing it now is enough."
Raymond grinned and leaned back in his chair.
"I won't keep you and your loyal knights waiting too long, Marquis, so no need for great worry."
The Philius Empire's remaining elite combat units, the knight brigades, had crossed the border into the Black Mountains not long ago. The time to march on the Free Isiria Kingdom's border was fast approaching.
Raymond turned his head toward the window, a cold smile creeping across his face.
'First target: Marquis Ireiser's domain.'
The vast marquisate bordering the Free Isiria Kingdom, its central city once Philius Empire territory—that was where a piece of the Empire Reconstruction Plan lay dormant.
"His Majesty the King enters!"
With the chamberlain's solemn announcement, the doors opened, and the young king of the Jeist Magic Kingdom, Rudel Jeist, entered the audience chamber. He walked straight to the throne and sat.
"I've received reports that the 9th Fleet has been annihilated. What happened?"
Rudel pointed it out calmly, but his voice lacked any regal authority. Instead, it trembled with excessive tension. The nobles, aware of this, didn't show it outwardly but inwardly sneered at their king's weakness.
"As Your Majesty has been informed, our kingdom's 9th Fleet was annihilated by a fierce assault from the Philius Imperial Army while attempting to land marines from the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom and at the Black Mountains."
Marquis Side, Supreme Commander of the Aerial Forces of the Jeist Magic Kingdom, stepped forward sharply.
"Did you not all claim the Tripartite Alliance forces would triumph? What is this?"
King Rudel spoke, but it sounded more like whining than rebuke.
"The front lines shift frequently. How can we so easily declare victory or defeat?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
"Marquis Side is correct."
The nobles in the audience chamber vied to support Marquis Side. Even those who had opposed him before now sided with him, leaving young King Rudel to sigh powerlessly as he watched.
"What in the world is going on..."
A murmur of frustration escaped him. He had always been a weak king, but not to this extent. Though the nobles' influence was vast, there were plenty of king loyalists. Yet at some point, they began turning away.
He couldn't pinpoint when it started. By the time he noticed, most supporters had vanished from the court councils.
"This is no time to blame us, Your Majesty. Our airship fleet's involvement is undeniable, so the Philius Empire knows we've sided with the Tripartite Alliance."
A certain earl spoke up. Rudel sighed again in frustration, opening his mouth with a weary face.
"Then let me ask you once more. What should our kingdom do to resolve this chaos?"
"You must take a firm stance."
Marquis Side raised his voice. Rudel decided to hear more about this "firm stance."
"A firm stance?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We've already crossed swords with the Philius Empire. We must send more airships and mages to actively support the Tripartite Alliance."
"Do you realize that means full commitment to the war?"
"From the moment the 9th Fleet moved, we've already dipped our toes into this massive war. For the kingdom's benefit, you must make a decisive choice."
Marquis Side pressed.
"A decisive choice..."
Rudel frowned, quickly scanning the audience chamber. Most nobles fixed him with expectant gazes, urging a decision. Dozens filled the vast hall, but at this moment, none bolstered him.
'Was the answer decided from the start?'
Rudel bit his lip hard.
"What if I declare we won't move our forces?"
He asked in a trembling voice.
"No need to worry. Your Majesty won't make such a decision."
The cold voice belonged to Marquis Side again. His face was impassive, but Rudel imagined a sneer hidden behind that shield-like expression.
"Your Majesty, decide now."
"The front is critical. You must act swiftly."
"Please deploy the airship fleet."
The other nobles, led by Marquis Side, pressed the king. "Pressured" was putting it mildly—it was outright coercion, too much for a young king barely into his twenties.
"Come now, make your decision, Your Majesty."
With all eyes in the audience chamber on him, Marquis Side applied gentle pressure. It exceeded what Rudel could endure. In the end, clenching his fists, he had no choice but to order the fleet's additional deployment.
The Philius Imperial Army, lying low in the Black Mountains, began marching en masse toward the Free Isiria Kingdom's border region.
They cut rest time short to reach the border. With the emperor's banner and suppressors leading, no monster attacks came. Freed from the primary delay in the Black Mountains, the Philius Imperial Army quickly arrived at the Free Isiria border.
"Your Majesty, we've reached the border region."
Cassias announced their arrival. Raymond, resting in his carriage, straightened his attire with Alex's help and stepped out. Under Count Denitz's command, camp was already being set up, and enemy banners fluttered on the plains ahead.
"I see banners from Edriger Kingdom nobles as well."
Count Denitz, who had approached, remarked. Indeed, quite a few Edriger nobles' banners were visible.
"Fortunately, no Ebony Legion banners."
The Ebony Legion was Edriger's main force. Raymond felt relief at their absence, but Count Denitz shook his head slowly, offering a different view.
"They could be in ambush. Best to keep the possibility open."
"You're not wrong."
Raymond nodded and moved elsewhere. Gestain, Desia, and the Royal Guard accompanied him.
"I'm turning in early today."
Before the emperor's tent, Raymond addressed Gestain and Desia, who meant to follow. The two loyal retainers nodded and stood guard, while Raymond yawned briefly and lay on the bed.
"Marquis Ireiser's domain still holds relics of the Empire Reconstruction Plan..."
Relaxing comfortably, a murmur escaped. Awakening them would require Dominion, but that was no issue.
The recent victory had restored some Dominion. Though less than from executing the Mountain Duke, it was enough. Still, the "world's" standards for Dominion recovery were hard to gauge precisely.
"Time to sleep."
The bedroom, guarded outside yet empty inside, was one of the few places where the emperor could discard authority and rest easy.
The moment he lay down and closed his eyes, commotion outside forced them open again. The tent flap burst open, and Count Potas rushed in, face urgent.
"Your Majesty! You must evacuate immediately! The Edriger Kingdom's Shadow Emperor, Ghost Step, is coming!"
Raymond frowned at Count Potas's blunt demand to flee.
"Am I to fear some mere Shadow Emperor? I am the Emperor of the Philius Empire! I flee no threat! I will face the Shadow Emperor here!"