Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Chapter 55: The Mad Madou Scholar (1)
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Upon returning to the royal castle in the Zeist Magitech Kingdom, King Rudel immediately declared an unconditional surrender to the Philius Empire.
He had no other choice. Although the Philius Empire's forces had supported the capital's reclamation and behaved chivalrously up to now, King Rudel was keenly aware that without a surrender declaration, the over 100,000 troops that had entered the capital's heart could draw their swords once more.
The surrender declaration spread like wildfire across the entire territory of the Zeist Magitech Kingdom. The provincial lords grieved at the news but ultimately obeyed the king's will.
A few harbored resentment toward the decision, but none dared to raise a banner of rebellion against the mighty Philius Empire forces stationed within the Zeist Magitech Kingdom.
"We've received intelligence that the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom is showing signs of intending to surrender."
"Just a week after the Zeist Magitech Kingdom surrendered..."
Raymond, who had been handling reports in the office set up within the royal castle, received a visit from Count Potas.
He briefed Raymond on the recent movements of the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom. Since this was positive news for the Philius Empire, Raymond nodded slowly with a satisfied expression.
"It seems the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom is moving to surrender, just as we anticipated."
Count Donitz, standing to his left, spoke in a quiet voice.
With the Free Isiria Kingdom, Edriger Kingdom, and Zeist Magitech Kingdom all fallen, the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom was now the only nation in the allied territories still opposing the Philius Empire.
Their military strength was not to be underestimated, but it was nowhere near enough to handle the Philius Empire, which had swallowed three kingdoms and grown even stronger.
The Philius Empire had swiftly consolidated its occupied territories by permitting the Heresy Inquisition of the Imperial Church.
Their inquisitions were so brutal that even the rebels in the occupied lands abandoned resistance.
Bishop Gustav of the Imperial Church inflicted torments worse than death on those who dared oppose the Philius Empire and His Majesty the Emperor, punishing not only their families but even their relatives.
This reign of terror greatly aided the Philius Empire in securing its occupied territories.
"How long do you think it will take for the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom to fully surrender, Count Donitz?"
"They'll attempt negotiations to secure the most favorable terms possible. So I believe it will be at least a fortnight at the earliest."
"Attempting negotiations in the current situation? They must be out of their minds."
If orders were given right now for the Philius Empire forces stationed in the Isiria and Edriger occupied territories to advance north, they could cross the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border—though not without casualties.
The Lisbon Maritime Kingdom had no grounds to even attempt negotiations from their position.
"They must believe they can afford to try since they've preserved some of their military strength. Of course, if His Majesty the Emperor deploys additional forces to the border for a show of force, they might change their minds."
Count Donitz explained. Raymond nodded calmly and spoke.
"I recall that Count William Acon's Northern Central Army is currently the closest to the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border. Is my memory correct?"
"It is accurate, Your Majesty."
"Then we should issue an imperial decree to him."
"Do you plan to order the Northern Central Army to advance to the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border?"
"That's the idea. We need to apply some pressure to the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom."
The Northern Central Army's troop numbers had significantly increased compared to before the war. Additional forces had been reinforced from the Philius Empire's mainland, and a select few capable mercenaries from the Isiria occupied territories had been integrated into the regular army, further expanding its size.
"Shall we relay the imperial decree to Count Acon?"
Mages capable of magical communication were rare beyond the highest ranks, but as a key unit, the Northern Central Army headquarters had high-grade mages taking turns guarding the communication room.
If a magical transmission was sent to the Northern Central Army headquarters right now, at least 10,000 troops could depart for the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border within two days at the latest.
Even though the Zeist Magitech Kingdom had surrendered, the Philius Empire forces were still in wartime mobilization, so the Northern Central Army was ready to dispatch portions of its forces at a moment's notice.
"Relay the imperial decree."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Count Donitz bowed and left the office. He headed straight to the communication station in the Zeist Governor's Castle.
"Count Donitz? What brings you here?"
A high-grade mage guarding the communication station greeted him.
"I need to relay an imperial decree to the Northern Central Army headquarters."
"We'll prepare immediately."
Delivering an imperial decree was the top priority in the Philius Empire. The high-grade mage acted swiftly, and soon the magical communication was ready.
"Connection to the Northern Central Army headquarters established."
The high-grade mage reported. Count Donitz nodded and entered the communication room. In the center of the dim chamber, atop a table, sat a glowing communication orb.
Sitting in the chair before it, he saw the face of the Northern Central Army commander, Count Acon, within the orb.
-I heard you called urgently.
Count Acon gave a brief bow and asked.
"This is an imperial decree to advance to the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border."
-Will the Northern Central Army advance alone?
"According to Central Intelligence Agency reports, the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom currently lacks the capacity to engage the Northern Central Army. Additionally, to counter any mutual destruction attempts, 10,000 Philius Empire troops will join within a week."
Count Acon nodded slowly at Count Donitz's explanation. The Lisbon Maritime Kingdom had no strength left to resist the Philius Empire.
With 10,000 imperial troops joining within a week, even if the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom attempted resistance, the Northern Central Army wouldn't bear the risk alone.
Count Acon accepted the imperial decree. Without hesitation, he ordered 10,000 troops to march toward the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border.
"10,000 additional Philius Empire troops are approaching the border. Combined with the existing Philius Empire border forces, that will make approximately 40,000 troops."
News of the Philius Empire's military movements reached the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border command as well.
"Our border forces number only 15,000 at present. We cannot handle 40,000 Philius Empire elites. We must request reinforcements or fall back to link up with the provincial domain armies."
"The Philius Empire forces' morale is sky-high right now. It wouldn't be surprising if the Northern Central Army commander ordered an immediate advance north."
"His Excellency the Supreme Commander must make a swift decision."
The staff officers urged the border forces' supreme commander to decide quickly. Of course, the decision they desperately hoped for was retreat, but the supreme commander's thoughts were different.
With a rigidly set face before his staff, he shook his head and spoke.
"We will not retreat. If the enemy advances north, we shall fulfill our role as the kingdom's shield."
"But, Your Excellency the Supreme Commander!"
"With our current troops and supplies, we can't hold out against the Philius Empire forces for even a week!"
The staff protested in sharp tones.
Their etiquette toward a superior was sorely lacking, but the supreme commander knew full well how difficult the order was to carry out, so he did not reprimand them.
He simply returned to his office, leaving behind a bitter smile whose meaning escaped them, accompanied only by his direct aide.
"Your Excellency the Supreme Commander..."
"I hope you understand, aide. Why I had to issue such an order."
He was referring to ordering a unit with insufficient troops and supplies to defend the border.
"May I ask the reason?"
The supreme border commander and his direct aide were close friends from the same village, setting aside their rank differences.
"The central authorities are holding my family hostage. They say they'll execute them all the moment the border forces retreat."
"Such... cruelty... Has the central command always been like this?"
The aide asked in a trembling voice. Unlike the supreme commander before him, he had no experience serving centrally and no connections there, so his information was limited. The revelation was shocking.
Seeing the aide's intense reaction, the supreme commander shook his head with a bitter smile.
"It wasn't always like this, aide. But with defeat looming, they seem desperate. And desperate people, when cloaked in righteous cause, can resort to any brutality."
It was cold but true. Of course, the supreme commander had no intention of siding with the central authorities. Their actions were atrocities beyond justification.
"I hope you understand why I issued this order, aide."
"I will relay the border defense order to all troops, Your Excellency the Supreme Commander."
The aide responded to the supreme commander's firm tone. With this, the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border forces would absolutely not withdraw.
Everfrost Mountains.
A massive, towering range located between the Highfel Empire territories and the allied territories. Not only did it pierce the heavens, but its bone-chilling cold, enough to freeze breath itself, made military movement between the two regions impossible.
The only feasible method would have been transporting troops via the Zeist Magitech Kingdom's airship fleet, which boasted the West Continent's superior magitech. But the Zeist Magitech Kingdom would never lend its prized fleet, and from the tripartite alliance's perspective, attacking the Highfel Empire was an enormous burden. In practice, there was no exchange between the regions.
Now, atop this perilous Everfrost Mountain peak, figures in black robes began appearing one by one.
"So this is what they mean by 'breath-freezing cold.'"
One of the black-robed group muttered in a gruff voice. Richard Palair, leading the Endtimes Society members, sharpened the gaze of his eyes behind his mask and spoke.
"Do not underestimate the Everfrost Mountains. We avoided them thanks to a capable guide, but monsters lurk here too. And they are the most ferocious beasts on the West Continent."
Here, the 'capable guide' referred to himself. Richard Palair hailed from a small village near the Everfrost Mountains.
After his hometown was massacred and he was taken in by the Endtimes Society, he trained in these mountains, so he knew the terrain better than anyone.
"Yes, we all believe we survived thanks to Sir Richard Palair."
"Then that's good."
One of the Endtimes Society members in black robes forced his chattering lips still against the cold and spoke.
The others, aware of Richard—known as the Herald of Doom's—temperament, nodded quietly instead of objecting.
Richard replied in a subdued voice and continued onward. The members, having passed the recent storm of his ire, sighed in relief and followed.
Regrettably, while they had safely navigated Richard's mood, they now faced the Everfrost Mountains' infamous brutal winter blizzard.
Even Richard, knowledgeable in climate and geography, couldn't predict everything, and above all, the Everfrost Mountains were notoriously fickle.
"Sir Richard! Message from the Endtimes Society's Highfel headquarters! They're asking about our estimated arrival time!"
His aide's sharp voice pierced the biting winter gale to reach Richard's ears. The expression hidden beneath his mask twisted instantly.
He had clearly informed them of potential delays, yet here they were hounding him... Richard was displeased with it all.
Perhaps sensing his ill omen, Silverus—the grand mage from the same village, also a high-ranking Endtimes Society executive—spoke calmly.
"Calm down, Richard."
"Do I look calm to you?"
"I know. But that day is not far off."
Silverus placated Richard steadily. The fiery glare from within the black mask softened somewhat.
"Silverus. That plan... can we really pull it off?"
"The surrounding alliances are secured. We've gathered supporters too."
"Can we seize the High Council with just our numbers?"
"You know as well as I do. Unlike high executives, the society's top brass lack any combat prowess... If I wanted, I could wipe them out alone."
"The escorts are the problem."
Richard pointed out sharply. Only then did Silverus grin and scratch the back of his head.
"That's why the two of us are stepping up, isn't it?"
At those words, Richard simply shook his head without a reply.