Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: To the Haipel Empire (1)
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In the court council, the expedition to the Haipel Empire was decided unanimously.
In the Philius Empire, where central imperial authority was overwhelmingly strong, the court council was little more than a formality. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everything was decided by the emperor's unilateral decree. Still, the nobles' opinions couldn't be entirely ignored.
Raymond had expected some backlash due to the string of ongoing wars, but thanks to the successive victories and the gold pouring in from the Black Mountains, the nobles had grown wealthier and not a single one opposed it.
It was possible only because Raymond had demonstrated excellent judgment and results in the previous wars.
"How are the preparations for the Haipel Empire expedition progressing?"
Raymond asked Count Denitz, who had come to his office for the regular report.
"They're proceeding smoothly. We're selecting the finest elite troops from the remaining units, excluding those fatigued from the war with the Three Kingdoms Alliance, and forming the expeditionary force."
"How much more time will it take?"
"I can't give a firm answer, but we'll need at least another week."
"Push it forward as quickly as possible."
No one knew how long the still-missing crown prince could hold out, and it was impossible to guarantee how much longer the Haipel Empire's provincial lords would cower under central influence without their emperor. The Haipel expedition needed to be hastened as much as possible.
"So, we won't be able to depart for the Haipel Empire for a week."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Understood. In the meantime, we'll focus on other matters."
There was much to do. He had to root out and execute all the minions of the Doomsday Society lurking within Philius Empire territory, and check on the situation in the conquered territories.
"First, it seems we need to awaken more of the Emperor's Cult."
With the liberation of the Jeist Magic Kingdom, their dominion had recovered further.
If he used about half of his current dominion, he could awaken 5,000 Emperor's Cult troops from their long hibernation.
"Are you planning to bolster the Emperor's Cult forces, Your Majesty?"
At Count Denitz's question, Raymond nodded slowly and opened his mouth.
"Yes. No other unit is as specialized in rooting out those with strange ideas as the Emperor's Cult."
"I agree, Your Majesty. They carry out the task of hunting heretics more faithfully than anyone."
Count Denitz also acknowledged the Emperor's Cult's ghostly prowess in ferreting out heretics.
"Shall I prepare an escort?"
Marquis Blizzard, who had been quietly listening from the entrance, asked cautiously.
Raymond nodded instead of answering, and the Royal Guard was soon ready.
He headed straight to where the Emperor's Cult lay dormant and awakened them. Just as he had anticipated, 5,000 Emperor's Cult troops awoke.
For some unknown reason, no commanders emerged this time, so Bishop Gustav would take charge, briefing and training them on the current situation.
Baron Legacy and the magic engineers of Unit 142 also promised to assist the newly joined Emperor's Cult troops in recovering from hibernation aftereffects.
There had been some calls to punish Baron Legacy.
But the procedure had been carried out with Desia's consent from the start, and above all, with the urgent need to recreate the mana cannons, he was an indispensable asset to the Philius Empire and couldn't be dismissed.
"Baron Legacy."
"Yes, Your Majesty. What is your command?"
At the quiet summons, Baron Legacy bowed his head, concealing his madness.
"You know we have less than five days until the Haipel expedition, right?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"I want to take the strongest possible force when I depart for the Haipel Empire. Do you understand what I mean?"
Baron Legacy slowly raised his head.
He wasn't a fool. Quite the opposite—he was exceptionally brilliant. That's why he grasped Raymond's intent immediately.
"Are you referring to the mana cannons, Your Majesty?"
"Can you recreate them before the expedition?"
"It'll be difficult. My apologies, Your Majesty."
"Then there's no helping it."
Hearing Baron Legacy's answer, Raymond gave up cleanly.
He knew the settings for the mana cannons. He was aware they weren't easy to recreate. He'd only asked Baron Legacy to confirm, just in case.
There was no great regret.
In the end, the grand plan to equip all imperial fleet airships with mana cannons would have to be postponed.
Raymond began searching for other ways to bolster the imperial fleet's power.
That's where Baron Legacy and the Unit 142 magic engineers shone. Using their ancient superior magic engineering techniques, they reinforced all the airships provided by the Jeist Magic Kingdom.
Fifty Living Armors, each with the prowess of an upper-grade knight, were deployed on each airship, and their armor was inscribed with complex magic runes.
"Your Majesty! Our Knight Brigade will take the vanguard in this expedition as well!"
Ivan Lows, commander of the Knight Brigade—renowned as the Philius Empire military's elite—declared. With their vow to lead the charge again, the morale of the troops boarding the imperial fleet soared.
Time passed, and now only one day remained until the Haipel expedition. The imperial fleet, including Royalheart, was ready, and the troops' formations were complete.
Raymond held a small banquet with his close aides to pray for victory. After it ended and he returned to his bedroom, he stepped out onto the terrace before sleeping, letting the cool breeze wash over him as he poured a glass of low-proof liquor.
"You're not drinking too much, are you?"
The clear voice belonged to Desia. Recalling how the emperor had freely emptied glasses at the banquet earlier, she voiced her concern cautiously.
The other close guard, Gestain, remained silently watchful as always.
"This much is fine."
Raymond grinned and drained his glass.
It was when he emptied his third glass in the quiet silence. As he filled a fourth and lifted it, he turned his gaze toward Desia and Gestain.
The two, suddenly meeting his eyes, reacted differently. Desia offered a gentle smile, while Gestain sent a look of unwavering loyalty.
"Thank you."
Expressing his gratitude to the two close guards who had always stood by his side since his days as the 5th Prince, Raymond slowly closed his eyes.
He fell asleep in the terrace armchair, but it was as sweet and deep as slumber in a bed.
The next morning dawned. It was the morning the expeditionary force, bound for the Haipel Empire, was set to depart.
Raymond donned the red uniform symbolizing the Philius Empire army and headed to the inner citadel's airfield.
At the airfield, 16,000 troops ready to board the imperial fleet's airships stood in formation, awaiting him.
Raymond gave a brief speech from the top of a tower where they could all see him, then boarded Royalheart first. He then connected a magic communication to Count Denitz in the Imperial Capital.
-Your Majesty. Did you summon me?
Count Denitz appeared in the communication orb. Raymond nodded slowly toward him and spoke calmly.
"While I'm away, I trust you'll root out all the Doomsday Society minions lurking in the Philius Empire."
-We will cooperate with the Emperor's Cult and do our utmost.
"Good. I leave it to you."
The magic communication ended.
"Shall we depart?"
As Raymond adjusted his uniform, Baron Legacy approached and asked. Raymond nodded silently, and Baron Legacy commanded the bridge to activate the engine core.
As Royalheart took off first, the rest of the imperial fleet's airships followed. Departing from the Philius Empire capital's central city, the fleet would pass over the Monster Forest rather than the Eternal Snow Mountains.
"What route shall we set?"
Baron Legacy asked. Raymond's gaze turned to Lancer, the Philius branch chief of the Haipel Special Operations Agency.
He had joined the expedition as a liaison to ensure smooth operations in Haipel Empire territory.
"Sir Lancer."
Raymond prompted him in a low voice.
He wasn't just a liaison. He also relayed information gathered by the Haipel Special Operations Agency to Raymond.
Though Raymond hadn't said much, he was asking if Lancer had received intel on likely locations of the crown prince in Haipel territory.
It was Lancer's duty. Analyzing the intel from the Haipel Special Operations Agency in advance would allow the imperial fleet to move accordingly.
Lancer was Haipel-born, but he now held a critical role in the imperial fleet.
"According to the latest from the Haipel Special Operations Agency, His Highness the Crown Prince is most likely in the southern provinces of the Haipel Empire."
"Then we'll head south. Can you assist with a more precise route?"
"It would be best to go to the Southern Ranger Legion headquarters in the Ephelia Mountains and secure their support."
The Ranger Legion answered to Haipel's central command and was a military faction with high loyalty to the imperial family. Even without their emperor, the center likely hadn't lost influence over them yet.
"Ephelia Mountains... Not sure if there's space to land airships there."
"If there's no space, we'll make some! Issue the imperial order to the Imperial Army!"
Cassias reacted to Raymond's musing. He was declaring he could clear trees to make landing space for 11 airships.
True to his role as commander of the emperor's Imperial Army, his scale was grand.
"Baron Legacy. Head for the Ephelia Mountains in Haipel territory."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Baron Legacy nodded and directed the crew. Starting with Royalheart, the imperial fleet's airships turned north. They began flying straight toward the Ephelia Mountains in the Haipel Empire.
As the imperial fleet advanced toward the Ephelia Mountains, Raymond received ongoing reports from Lancer on the Haipel Empire's situation.
It was when they entered the high skies over the Monster Forest—one of the continent's three most dangerous zones. Lancer approached Raymond on the bridge.
He seemed there to report on Haipel, but his expression was grave.
"What is it?"
An ominous feeling rose. Raymond asked with a serious look.
"Your Majesty. The worst we've feared has come to pass."
Lancer said with a stiffened face. Raymond instantly knew what "worst" he meant.
"The provincial lords have raised armies."
"Yes. Some provincial lords have rebelled. It will worsen with time. In the worst case, over half could declare independence."
"We must find the crown prince as quickly as possible."
Compared to the Philius Empire, the Haipel Empire's central authority was weaker. With their emperor dead, rebellion by provincial lords was an expected sequence.
"Baron Legacy!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Increase speed."
"Understood."
Baron Legacy adjusted the runes as he replied. Royalheart and the imperial fleet's airships accelerated in unison, soon passing the Monster Forest and reaching the Ephelia Mountains.
"Sir Lancer. Where is the Southern Ranger Legion headquarters?"
Raymond asked from the skies over the Ephelia Mountains.
He knew the headquarters was in the Ephelia Mountains, but the exact location wasn't in the setting book.
Lancer hesitated to answer easily. Though urgent, the headquarters' position was top secret.
"Sir Lancer. Consider Haipel's current situation."
Feeling frustrated by the hesitation, Raymond reminded him of Haipel's plight. Lancer steeled himself, raising his head with a resolute expression.
"May I have a map?"
Raymond gestured silently, and Cassias brought a map of the Ephelia Mountains.
"Here."
Lancer pointed to a spot on the map.
It was the most rugged terrain in the Ephelia Mountains. Even mobilizing troops as Cassias suggested, there seemed no space to land the imperial fleet's airships.
"The most treacherous part of the Ephelia Mountains... Haipel Rangers are indeed different."
Raymond murmured in quiet admiration. It was terrain utterly unsuited for a headquarters.
"Your Majesty. Give the order, and I'll lead troops to chop down every tree."
"Even that won't easily secure a landing zone. For now, land Royalheart as close as possible to the headquarters. The other airships will provide cover from the air."
"Yes, understood."
The commanders on the bridge replied in unison to Raymond's orders.