Chapter 148: A Choice Between Two (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: A Choice Between Two (6)
Roman spoke.
"Do you believe the Cairo Kingdom is heading in the right direction?"
It was his opening question. A deeply sensitive topic right from the start. The nobles' expressions stiffened slightly, but Roman paid no mind to their reactions.
"During the invasion of the Hector Kingdom, I was on the Southern Front. What made things difficult for me back then wasn't the Hector Kingdom itself, but the enemy within. Immediately after the war broke out, I realized the enemy's intention to seize the Warp Gate. However, the commanders of the Southern Front refused to listen to me. In a matter of days, the Southern Front fell into the hands of the Hector Kingdom."
It had been disastrous. Carelessness had invited ruin, and a vast territory was lost in an instant. It couldn't be excused simply as the tragic reality of a weak nation. Hector was no different from Cairo, but they, at least, had acted as one, moving in perfect order.
"But that wasn't the only problem. Even after learning that the Southern Front was under attack, the Cairo Royal Family did not immediately mobilize. The leadership, fractured into four factions, required far too much time to make a decision. While they engaged in their petty power struggles, the Southern Front fell. And it was the same afterward. Do you think the Cairo Royal Family sent their own troops right away? No. They minimized the deployment of the Central Government's forces, instead scraping together provincial troops from the southern region to send as reinforcements. If my soldiers and I hadn't turned the tide, we might still be at war with the Hector Kingdom today."
"...What exactly is your intention in saying this?" a noble asked cautiously.
Remarks criticizing the royal family—a certain word that no one dared speak aloud crossed their minds.
"I am not speaking of rebellion. However, we must use this opportunity to face reality."
Rebellion.
That was exactly what the nobles had been worried about. Since he explicitly denied it, they could ask their next question with slightly lighter hearts.
"Then please, get to the main point."
"The Cairo Kingdom is controlled by the Central Government. This recent incident alone proved that the Royal Family cannot move troops without the Central Government's permission. Even when the Southern Front was in immediate danger, they prioritized drafting 'southern forces' to preserve the Central Government's strength as much as possible. What do you think that means? If the Cairo Kingdom is swept up in war, the Central Government will draft troops from the northeast. While we would willingly fight for the fate of our nation, they will undoubtedly use our provincial soldiers as cannon fodder to secure their own practical benefits. Even in victory, unlike the provincial nobles who will have lost all their forces, the nobles of the Central Government will only continue to solidify their grip on power."
The Royal Family was incompetent. Roman had no intention of overthrowing them to take the throne, but they desperately needed a force capable of standing against Cairo's central power.
"The reality of Cairo is unjust. Despite living in the same country and paying the same taxes, we bear vastly different duties and responsibilities compared to the nobles of the Central Government. How long do you intend to just stand by and watch this reality unfold? Through my experiences, I have concluded that a new change is needed in the northeast."
Finally, Roman reached his true purpose.
"Just as the nobles of the capital enjoy power under the name of the Central Government, why don't the nobles of the northeast join forces to form a faction to protect one another? That is the reason I have summoned you all here today."
*
In that moment, the nobles exchanged wary glances.
On the surface, they all belonged to the northeast, but there might very well be spies of the Central Government among them. They could not hastily agree. If they spoke out of turn and things went awry, they might face a devastating backlash alongside the Dmitry family.
Roman understood their reaction. Even in a weak nation, the power of the Central Government was absolute.
'The presence of spies doesn't matter. Once Dmitry begins to move in earnest, the Central Government won't give me much time anyway. That is why we must act swiftly and decisively to unite the northeast as one. If the northeast unites around Dmitry, the Central Government won't be able to make a rash move. Even within the Central Government, factions are divided. Mobilizing troops to deal with the entire northeast would be a burdensome choice even for them.'
The matter of his allegiance had not yet been resolved. Unless he turned completely hostile, the power players of Cairo would not give up on trying to recruit him.
'Once I have the northeast firmly in my grasp and return to the capital, that will be the start of the new plan.'
He looked at the nobles. Their anxiety was palpable. Uniting their forces was all well and good, but it posed a fatal problem.
"...Very well. If we unite the strength of the northeast, we can certainly raise our voices against the Central Government," one noble finally spoke up. "The problem, however, is that the environment of the northeast is barren. While a few regions like Lawrence possess fertile land suitable for farming, the reality is that most do not. Each region has its own strengths. Just as Dmitry prospered through mining, most families in the northeast have their own respective livelihoods. We import what we need from the outside using the income we generate, but a conflict with the Central Government is highly likely to completely cut off this trade."
It was a stark, practical problem.
The center of commerce in Cairo ultimately connected directly to the capital. Severing ties with the capital would cause immediate logistical issues, and the Central Government had used that very advantage to secure its current power. If they were to go to war with the Central Government, they would have to worry about food shortages almost immediately. It might be fine for a year or two, but in the long run, insurmountable problems would inevitably arise.
Roman spoke.
"A commercial system directly linked to the Central Government. Unless we break that chain, provincial nobles will always be dragged around by the neck. We cannot solve every single problem at once. However, if you make a decision today, there is a way to at least resolve the food issue."
He gave a signal. The master of the information guild, Lucas, stepped forward.
"This is our future development plan."
Unfurl.
He rolled out a map. On the parchment depicting the northeast region, a comprehensive development plan was laid out just as Lucas had said. All eyes focused on it. Everyone eagerly awaited Roman's explanation.
"The northeast has far more mountains compared to other regions. In particular, behind Dmitry lies the Endless Mountains, often described as the edge of the continent. We need to utilize this geographical feature. Mountains are highly advantageous for defending against enemy attacks, and we will build a fortress within them to shelter our people in times of emergency. Furthermore, we plan to reclaim the mountains to cultivate crops so that the northeast can become fully self-sufficient in the future."
"Is that even possible? Reclaiming mountains is no simple task."
Over the years, countless people had coveted the mountain ranges of the northeast. But they had failed every single time, and in the end, the provincial nobles had no choice but to live in dependence on the capital.
But compared to them, Roman Dmitry was different.
"Yes, it is possible."
In his past life, the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult was located in the Ten Thousand Mountains, a treacherous mountain range stretching for hundreds of kilometers.
*
Before leaving for the Southern Front, Roman had ordered Lucas to investigate the Endless Mountains.
'A mountain range remarkably similar to the Ten Thousand Mountains. Is this really a coincidence?'
His new life. As time passed, he found it closely intertwined with his past life. Just as he had worked with iron in his past life, he had been reborn into a family of blacksmiths. And right behind his family's estate lay a mountain range just like the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Was it a mere coincidence? Or was it fate?
Though he could not yet make a definitive conclusion about his new life, one thing was certain: his past life had granted him the exact knowledge needed to utilize the Endless Mountains.
'For generations, the Heavenly Demon Cult built its home in the Ten Thousand Mountains. They were adept at farming by utilizing flat patches of land or slopes, and they constructed a perfect fortress capable of holding out for years against attacks from the Righteous Faction Murim. It is no different in this life. If we make good use of the given environment, the northeast can forge a new path forward.'
And now, Roman spoke to the nobles.
"As shown in the documents, we have identified the land that can be reclaimed, and some of it is already undergoing the reclamation process. It will likely be a long-term project. However, if we utilize the Endless Mountains not merely as a wall blocking our path, but as our final bastion, we will gain the strength to stand firm against any threat from the Central Government."
"...This is truly remarkable."
Everyone was in awe. From the reclamation plans to the blueprints of the fortress, Roman's preparations were incredibly thorough. He was not merely presenting abstract directions; he was clearly showing them exactly how to move forward.
'The existence of the Endless Mountains. Its significance is not simple. If the Endless Mountains are utilized as the lifeblood of the northeast, the fact that they lie right behind Dmitry cannot be overlooked. Naturally, Dmitry's power will grow even stronger. That is only the beginning. The moment Dmitry completely takes control of the northeast, I will gain the power to oppose the Central Government.'
The Northeast Association. There was a reason he had spared them.
If he were to dismantle the Northeast Association entirely, it would require an immense amount of money and manpower to fill the void left in their wake. It was a waste. He would rather accept their existence and use them as a 'shield' to protect Dmitry. In the future, if the Central Government wished to attack Dmitry, they would first have to tear down the forces of the Northeast Association and the surrounding nobles. It would not be a simple clash between the Central Government and Dmitry, but an all-out war between factions.
The conflict with Count Douglas had been a calculated move. Without diminishing the overall strength of the northeast, Roman had attacked the northern forces to make the Northeast Association face reality. He had to do it this way. Because if he were to attack the Northeast Association himself, it would mean that the very force capable of opposing the Central Government in the future would be weakened by that exact amount.
'As time goes on, the Northeast Association won't even have the leeway to betray me. Severing ties with the Central Government means relying entirely on Dmitry. To survive within the same fence, they will have no choice but to cooperate as much as possible. A necessary evil. I will permit their existence, but they will pay a corresponding price to me.'
It was a grand plan that had begun simply with sorting out the hierarchy. Had Viscount Conrad known this, a chill would have run down his spine, leaving him too terrified to speak.
The nobles watched each other's reactions. At first, they had thought his words reckless, but with a plan of this caliber, they felt they could safely align themselves with him.
It was then.
"We will follow the opinion of the Dmitry family. Lawrence intends to fully support whatever Dmitry does."
"The Conrad family feels the same. We will assist you in any way we can."
Lawrence and Conrad. They stepped forward first.
The tide had already turned. Since they had to walk the same path as Dmitry regardless, they judged it necessary to show their loyalty faster than the others. Lawrence was one thing, but Viscount Conrad's decision was remarkably swift. He had abandoned his pride long ago. Starting with him, the nobles of the northeast vied with one another to pledge their absolute loyalty.
Their opinions converged. The northeast wished to form a single faction centered entirely around Dmitry.
Roman spoke.
"From this moment on, the coalition of the northeast shall be called the 'Dmitry Alliance'."
Even in a single name, he imbued the significance of Dmitry's absolute reign. Finally, it was the moment the northeast fell completely into Dmitry's grasp.
*
At that same time.
Trickle.
Baron Romero poured a drink. Sitting across from him was Knight Commander Jonathan.
"Knight Commander Jonathan. Do you think my judgment was wrong?"
This meeting was a matter of grave importance. Yet, Baron Romero had wished for Roman Dmitry to lead it instead of stepping forward himself.
Jonathan drank in silence. Though his blood ran hot with emotion, he could not easily say his lord was right.
"From the very moment I received my title of nobility, I constantly questioned whether living as a noble was right for me. Born a blacksmith, trying to live in these cumbersome clothes and act refined just didn't suit my nature. You know well what kind of person I am. At first, I thought living like this would be fine, but looking around lately, I realize how foolish I was."
"Please do not say such things."
Baron Romero smiled.
Romero's Dmitry. It had always been half-hearted. Though they possessed power, they hadn't known how to wield it, and Dmitry was constantly looked down upon by others.
But what about now? Everyone looked up to Dmitry. At a single word from Roman, the greatest nobles of the northeast had flocked to their estate early in the morning.
"Dmitry is heading in the right direction now. The people of Dmitry take pride in living on this land, and the nobles of the northeast no longer look down on us for our humble origins. That is why I have decided to take a step back. For our future, it is only right that Roman handles the important matters rather than me."
He had accepted reality. He was merely a blacksmith at heart. The position of lord did not suit him, and he had finally put an end to the succession issue he had agonized over for so long.
'I feel sorry for Rodwell, who has worked so hard all this time, but the eldest son of Dmitry is irreplaceable.'
This did not mean he was handing over his title immediately. However, he was stepping back. He intended to entrust all external affairs to Roman for the time being, at least until Roman completely seized real power.
He took a drink. As the warmth of the alcohol rushed up his throat, Baron Romero could not hide his excitement.
"This is truly wonderful."
That day, a great change occurred within Dmitry. A monumental shift in power. Not only because of Baron Romero's resolve, but also because the nobles who attended the meeting now regarded Roman as the true center of the Dmitry family.
The Dmitry Alliance.
What happened that day was not reported to the capital. Although spies of the Central Government existed just as Roman had anticipated, they were so overwhelmed by Roman's aura that they chose to join the Dmitry Alliance instead. To be precise, the clash with Count Douglas had played no small part in their decision. A fist close at hand is far more terrifying than a power far away, and Roman's plan was undeniably plausible.
Just as Dmitry was going through this period of upheaval, someone arrived in the territory.
"...So this is Dmitry, the holy land of blacksmiths."
A middle-aged man. A magnificent sword hung at his waist.
Marquis Valentino.
Following the traces of Blaze, he had finally arrived in Dmitry.