Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Chapter 48: To the Edriger Kingdom! (1)
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Late at night, Raymond was sharing drinks with the two Tower Lords.
He had thought the situation in the Isirian occupied territories was mostly sorted out, so he was enjoying some rare downtime. But naturally, their conversation turned to "war."
Just as the discussion on the war was in full swing, a Royal Guard announced Count Potas's request for an audience. Raymond hurriedly wrapped up the drinking session.
Once the Azure Tower Lord and Crimson Tower Lord had departed, Raymond headed to his office to await Count Potas.
Facing the terrace and gazing up at the night sky, he waited about five minutes. Then came a light knock, and the door opened as Count Potas stepped inside.
"You've come through the door like a normal person today, Count Potas."
Raymond turned from the terrace toward the door through which Count Potas had entered.
Count Potas, who could open dimensional gates for solo travel, almost never used the actual door. He usually teleported right in.
Of course, they always scheduled visits or sent word through Central Intelligence agents beforehand, so there were never any surprise interruptions.
"I happened to be nearby. I thought it might be fun to use the door for once. Don't you find it a bit novel to see me cross the threshold after so long?"
Count Potas smoothly played along with the joke. Raymond chuckled and took a seat in the chair before his office desk.
"What's the matter today?"
"It seems there's been an incident in the Jeist Mage Kingdom. I received an urgent magical communication from one of our reconnaissance agents and rushed here."
"An incident? Report what happened."
Deep concern laced Raymond's voice.
The Jeist Mage Kingdom was currently the place the Philius Empire needed to watch most closely.
Since declaring intervention and sending their 9th Fleet—which was then annihilated—they hadn't made any significant moves.
So when Count Potas suddenly appeared with news of an incident there, it was impossible not to worry.
"A large number of anti-war nobles in the Jeist Mage Kingdom have been slaughtered."
Count Potas used "slaughtered" instead of "assassinated." And for good reason—the series of events in the Jeist Mage Kingdom had been far too flashy to call assassinations.
"How extensive were the casualties?"
Raymond asked in a grave tone. After the 9th Fleet's annihilation, the Jeist Mage Kingdom hadn't shown aggressive intervention because of these anti-war nobles.
They had served as a deterrent to war, which benefited the Philius Empire. Recently, Central Intelligence had even planned covert support for them.
"More than half are gone. Some survived, but they won't function as a deterrent anymore."
"This isn't good."
"Indeed, Your Majesty. The pro-war faction is mobilizing in earnest. There's a widespread push within the Jeist Mage Kingdom to wage war against our Philius Empire."
"Understood. Submit a detailed report on the matter."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Even though he'd received the verbal briefing, Raymond knew he needed the full written report for details. Count Potas nodded solemnly in agreement.
"Anything else to report?"
"That's all."
"Very well. You're dismissed to return to your post."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Count Potas left, Raymond summoned the Grand Marshal, Count Denitz. He responded immediately, arriving at the office in just thirty minutes with his steady gait—likely because he was nearby.
"You've heard the report?"
"Yes, directly from Count Potas five minutes ago."
Despite the abrupt question, Count Denitz replied calmly. As Grand Marshal, he wielded immense influence in wartime and received reports on most war matters right after the Emperor.
"What do you recommend?"
"Our top priority should be striking the Edriger Kingdom first to secure our path to the Jeist Mage Kingdom."
"I thought as much."
"Yes, Your Majesty. If the Jeist Mage Kingdom intervenes aggressively, their airship fleet would pose a major threat to our rear lines. Neutralizing them first is best."
Raymond nodded slowly at Count Denitz's words.
"We'll need a detailed attack plan. Leave it to the Marshal's Office."
"We'll give it our all, Your Majesty."
"By the way, when can we deploy the Isirian units to combat?"
Due to rebellion risks, most of the old Free Isiria Kingdom Army had been disarmed, leaving only a small Isirian unit for policing duties.
"The Free Isiria Kingdom's forces were mostly mercenaries, so aside from a few central troops, their loyalty to the old nation is shallow. With the massive gold haul from the Black Mountains and our ongoing agitation since the occupation, combat readiness shouldn't take long."
Agitation was Count Denitz's specialty, so Raymond trusted him on this. He nodded in satisfaction.
"No rebellion risks?"
"Gold and agitation will keep it in check. Of course, we'll have to execute the key commanders from the old Free Isiria Kingdom Army."
While the main forces were mercenaries, their commanders were all central army officers. Mercenaries could be rehired, but those officers couldn't be reused.
To prevent rebellion, they had to be discarded decisively. Raymond agreed with Count Denitz.
"Then we'll need a new army structure."
"Precisely, Your Majesty. I formally propose creating a Mercenary Army."
"Not a bad idea. Approved."
The decision was swift—a sign of Raymond's trust in Count Denitz.
With the decision made, plans for the Mercenary Army kicked into gear. Marquis Crayer, the Grand Duke Raymond trusted most, was appointed its commander.
After reorganization, 50,000 mercenaries—rehired with massive gold and agitation—were deployed to the border.
With this massive armed force massing at the border, signaling the end of the lull, the Edriger Kingdom didn't sit idle.
30,000 troops from their main force, the Ebony Legion, regrouped. The Lisbon Maritime Kingdom also advanced troops to the border, pressuring the Philius Empire.
"We need a commander for the forces defending the northern border of the Isirian occupied territories."
Count Denitz spoke at the military council. Though no obvious candidate came to mind for others, Raymond knew the perfect fit and spoke calmly.
"What about Marquis Balgets?"
From the perspective of someone who knew the worldview of the novel [Empire of the Dead], Marquis Balgets was an excellent commander with solid loyalty to the Philius Empire.
He'd played politics during the civil war with the Mountain Duke, but he wasn't one to entertain disloyal thoughts easily.
"An excellent choice, Your Majesty. With your permission, I'll send a magical communication to him immediately."
Count Denitz said brightly. The other Marshal's Office commanders showed no objections.
Marquis Balgets had recently crossed the Black Mountains with eastern noble armies to support Philius Empire forces and arrived in the Isirian occupied territories.
"Send the communication."
"At once."
At Raymond's order, Count Denitz replied crisply, and the Marshal's Office acted swiftly.
That day, a magical message reached Marquis Balgets at a northern fortress in the Isirian occupied territories, assigning him command of the front against the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom.
"I shall obey the imperial command!"
Marquis Balgets accepted and advanced troops to the border with the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom, preparing for war.
"All war preparations are complete."
A few days after full deployment, Count Denitz reported back to Raymond.
"The 50,000 Mercenary Army is combat-ready and awaiting orders. To support them, 30,000 Philius Empire troops under Count Acon are heading to the border."
"Can the Mercenaries move first without Empire army support?"
Raymond asked. With the Jeist Mage Kingdom gearing up for intervention, they needed to neutralize Edriger as quickly as possible.
"Yes. The Ebony Legion at the border numbers around 30,000, so we're numerically superior. We can't promise a total rout, but they won't collapse before the Empire army arrives."
With numerical superiority and Marquis Crayer's skill, defeat seemed unlikely.
Raymond nodded in satisfaction at Count Denitz's confident reply.
"Order Marquis Crayer to cross the border."
"I'll send the magical communication."
Count Denitz responded to Raymond's order. That day, Marquis Crayer at the border received the command to advance.
"For His Majesty the Emperor!"
With a thunderous roar, Marquis Crayer led 50,000 mercenaries across the Edriger Kingdom border.
The 30,000 Edriger troops at the nearby border fortress opted to defend rather than meet Marquis Crayer's mercenaries on the open plains.
Judging that leaving enemy forces at his rear and pushing deep into Edriger territory would be risky, Marquis Crayer launched an assault on the border fortress.
It was 50,000 mercenaries versus 30,000 Ebony Legion troops. At first glance, the Ebony Legion seemed disadvantaged, but as defenders, they held the high ground advantage.
The Ebony Legion's commanding officer thought they could hold until reinforcements arrived. Unfortunately, Marquis Crayer and the mercenaries' assault was far fiercer than expected.
"The north gate has fallen!"
"The south gate is under heavy attack! We can't hold much longer!"
"This won't work! We can't hold any longer!"
Desperate reports flooded the fortress command center.
The elite Ebony Legion couldn't overcome the numerical disadvantage and Marquis Crayer's superior command.
In the end, the border fortress fell, and Marquis Crayer's forces pushed deeper into Edriger territory.
Once Count Acon's 30,000 Philius Empire troops joined, the tide turned even more against Edriger.
And as the front worsened for Edriger, Raymond's Dominion rapidly recovered.
"This confirms it. Even indirect intervention in the worldview can restore Dominion."
Late that night, gazing at the full moon from the terrace after a victory report, Raymond felt his Dominion recovering and muttered to himself.
The full moon seemed especially bright tonight. It might have been his good mood from the Dominion gain, but a smile lingered on Raymond's lips.
As he rested on the terrace with a faint smile, there was a light knock. The door opened, and Count Denitz entered, speaking calmly.
"Shall we intensify the offensive?"
"What's the situation on the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom border?"
"Central Intelligence reports their marines are assembling, but no major southward push yet."
"We can't let our guard down, though."
"Of course, Your Majesty. If reinforcements come from home, we should divert some to the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom border."
Count Denitz's opinion made sense, and Raymond nodded in agreement.
He ordered Marquis Crayer to moderately intensify the Edriger offensive while instructing Marquis Balgets to maintain strict vigilance against the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom.
The victorious mercenaries pressed on toward Edriger's capital, while Count Acon's Philius Empire troops began garrison duties in the occupied territories.
They would handle security until the Imperial Church forces arrived.
"I need to awaken the Imperial Church further."
Raymond's eyes gleamed coldly.