Chapter 403: Continental Conquest (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 403: Continental Conquest (2)
The castle gates opened.
It was a truly bloodless entry.
Watching the soldiers of the Kingdom Alliance march inside, the Kronos Empire's troops cast anxious glances. For them, this was a massive gamble.
Swept along by Herman's unprecedented decision, they had opened the gates. Yet, they still feared the worst—what if Roman Dmitry, a man known for taking no prisoners, refused to spare them? Their mouths went dry with anxiety. Having always lived in positions of absolute power, the Kronos soldiers found this new reality of walking on eggshells deeply uncomfortable.
The Kingdom Alliance, on the other hand, brimmed with confidence.
Even if Kronos was trying to lure them into a trap, they placed blind faith in the single figure leading their march.
Roman Dmitry.
He would handle it. Even if an unexpected variable arose, Roman Dmitry was an existence capable of resolving any problem.
Halt.
He stopped in his tracks.
Roman Dmitry moved to a vantage point where he could look down upon everyone, surveying the awkward mingling of the two armies. They did not yet view each other as allies. Just because a white flag had been raised didn't mean water and oil would instantly mix.
Breaking the tension, Roman Dmitry spoke.
"I promised to spare those who surrendered, and I will keep that promise. When you were ignorant of the truth behind Kronos, we pointed our spears and swords at each other. But upon learning that truth, you opened these gates of your own accord and declared your surrender."
In that instant, the Kronos soldiers let out collective sighs of relief. Hearing his vow, they finally realized they were going to live.
"However, your days ahead as part of the Kingdom Alliance will not be smooth. The Kronos Empire has committed countless atrocities that defy common sense. Cairo, Dmitry, Umberto—the soldiers of these nations standing before you have all suffered from the Empire's brutality at least once. Do you think they will readily accept you? They will not. Regardless of my orders, you will face discrimination and condemnation. You will live broken lives. That is the weight of your reputation."
It was a grim reality.
He was piercing straight through to the truth they had tried so hard to ignore. To make them truly grasp their situation, he emphasized that the fall of Kronos would not be a simple transition.
"But depending on what you do for us from now on, the reputation you bear and the rewards I bestow will change. You have been given a chance to live. Now, from this moment forward, I am giving you a chance to change your lives."
The atmosphere shifted.
In the war ahead, the Kronos Empire would face a completely different reality than before.
"I ask you: what can you do for me, and for us?"
* * *
Silence fell over the crowd.
No one stepped forward to answer.
To those who had already surrendered their country, this was a cruel proposal—demanding they go a step further and drive a dagger directly into their homeland's back.
They exchanged nervous glances. They didn't know what to do, nor were they inclined to act.
Among them, Herman was the only one calmly assessing the situation. While the others remained silent out of hesitation, he thought solely of his own personal gain.
Roman Dmitry's offer is no empty promise. People think of him as a ruthless being who treats his enemies harshly, but in truth, he possesses a remarkably generous side. The only ones he shows no mercy to are the enemies he meets on the battlefield. When he offers a chance for mercy, like today, he holds absolutely no prejudice against those who seize it. People like the Northeast Association or Count Fabius, who are currently part of the Dmitry Kingdom, are living proof of what kind of person Roman Dmitry is.
Though Herman was a mere soldier, he paid close attention to continental affairs. Because he had studied Dmitry in depth, he had boldly chosen betrayal when faced with a crossroads. He knew it was the only way to survive.
And now, examples like Count Fabius erased even his slightest hesitation. Fabius had once served Marquis Benedict, but by boldly switching sides, he had risen to become one of Dmitry's core figures. Count Fabius was undoubtedly an extraordinary man—being heavily relied upon even after changing masters was a testament to his personal ability. Yet, Roman Dmitry was equally remarkable for accepting such a bat-like opportunist without a second thought.
The precedent was set.
The proof was right there.
A golden lifeline had just descended before his eyes. While the others hesitated, Herman took a step forward and raised his voice.
"My name is Herman. May I speak, my lord?"
"Speak."
"Since we have betrayed Kronos, the Kingdom Alliance must win this war at all costs. I will take the lead in the battles to come. I will let the soldiers of Kronos know that they have a choice, and I will use myself as an example to persuade them. Please, accept me. Grant me a reward worthy of risking my life. If you treat me well, others will witness the mercy Dmitry bestows. That tolerance will make your future conquests much easier to handle."
Like an awl in a pocket, his presence suddenly pierced through the crowd.
Though he was a mere common soldier, Herman had proven his worth with that single statement.
"An interesting proposal."
He was similar to Count Fabius. He made swift decisions based on the situation, neatly packaging an act of betrayal that others might deem despicable. Of course, setting conditions laid bare his ambition. Yet, just as when he accepted Count Fabius, Roman Dmitry actually preferred those who bared their desires without hesitation.
When both parties needed each other, their bond only grew stronger.
Herman looked to be in his early twenties at most, but Roman Dmitry did not judge people by their age.
"I promise you."
Roman smiled. In a clear voice, ensuring everyone could hear, he declared, "If you achieve sufficient merit on the battlefield, you will gain power in the new Dmitry."
* * *
A few days passed.
As reports of defeat arrived one after another, Marquis Memphis could not hide his grim expression.
"The Eastern Front has completely collapsed. Ever since the frontline defense post opened its gates of its own accord, soldiers have been surrendering in droves. This issue is not simple. With the revelation that Alexander was the mastermind behind the Empire, the soldiers—who once took immense pride in themselves—have lost their will to fight."
The soldiers' betrayal was not merely born out of fear.
While Roman Dmitry's terrifying reputation certainly played a significant role, many would have still fought to the bitter end had they not learned of Alexander's existence.
Emperor Alexander.
Although his reputation had been tarnished by the new Swordsmanship Revolution, the history he forged was the pride and joy of the Kronos people. The fact that Aura originated from Emperor Alexander allowed them to claim that Kronos possessed a solid, unshakable foundation as an empire. But the ugly truth revealed this time had shocked everyone to the core.
The pride of the Empire had chosen a hideous eternal life.
He had abandoned the sword to learn black magic, reaching the powerful realm of a 9th Circle mage, but there was absolutely no glory in it.
Everyone had seen it clearly. Alexander had used magic to control the dead, and looking at the circumstances, the current Emperor of Kronos was nothing more than a puppet dancing to Alexander's tune. It was a devastating truth. Realizing their nation was led by an evil being who practiced black magic, the soldiers had no choice but to lose their will to fight.
They threw down their weapons.
They could find no reason to risk their lives.
As a deep sense of helplessness spread throughout the Kronos Empire, white flags were raised wherever Roman Dmitry advanced.
"My lord Marquis, please give us your orders," his subordinate pleaded.
Marquis Memphis ran a hand through his hair. He felt utterly suffocated.
He had grabbed onto Alexander, thinking of him as a golden lifeline, but with his defeat, everything had turned into an unmitigated disaster. Alexander was dead. The Emperor of Kronos could not be trusted, having lived as a mere puppet all this time. Yet, even putting aside his lack of confidence in facing Roman Dmitry in war, Memphis couldn't think of a single way to pacify the people. Alexander had revealed himself, entirely confident of victory. It would have been easier if he had just died quietly, but he had made an irreversible mistake.
Damn you, Alexander.
He could not say it out loud. If it were revealed that he had known of Alexander's existence all along, he wouldn't even be able to save his own skin.
It was a terribly complicated problem.
With his connection to the Emperor severed, Marquis Memphis had to resolve numerous issues to maintain his power: the threat of Dmitry, the plummeting public sentiment, and the inevitable backlash from the other nobles. Until now, he had used the Emperor's backing to suppress the nobles' discontent, but in a few days, even his own position would surely be in jeopardy.
He pondered for a long time.
Finally, Marquis Memphis stood up.
"Prepare the carriage. I am going to the imperial palace immediately."
There was only one option. The sole solution left for him.
* * *
At that same time, Valhalla was also facing an urgent crisis.
They had halted their attacks. After pulling back the soldiers who had been besieging Hector, the leadership of Valhalla gathered for a heated meeting.
"Public sentiment among the people of Valhalla is terrible. With the revelation that Emperor Alexander used black magic, negative public opinion is mounting. If Valhalla declares its intention to maintain its cooperative relationship with Kronos to the end, the citizens will not stand idle."
"Indeed. The people of Valhalla are not the type to just farm and keep quiet. They have already overthrown the country once; repeating the act would not be difficult for them. From now on, we must make wise decisions. The reason we started this war was to execute Roman Dmitry, who killed the Emperor of Valhalla. We must cut ties with Kronos while emphasizing that fact to appease the people's anger."
In truth, they all knew the reality of the situation.
Although it was an open secret that they had committed treason under the leadership of Count Snodin, they kept their mouths shut, fearing they might become scapegoats if they spoke up. They had to pin all the blame on the Kronos Empire. Maintaining relations with Kronos now was no different from exposing their own weaknesses.
That was not the only problem.
"I have no idea how to resolve this situation. If we continue the war like this, our relationship with Kronos will be suspected. But if we give up, we will be letting Roman Dmitry—the man who killed the Emperor of Valhalla—go free. We cannot wage war independently of Kronos either. With the Empire's national power severely weakened by successive wars starting from the rebellion, how on earth are we supposed to face a monster who defeated a 9th Circle mage like Alexander? There is no answer. None. From this moment on, a single mistake will cost us our lives."
They were caught in a deadly dilemma.
Whether they continued the war or gave it up, massive problems arose either way. And those who knew the truth understood exactly how dangerous it would be to give up now, even if it meant facing public condemnation.
Roman Dmitry had uncovered the truth. If he overthrew the Kronos Empire and gained a voice on the continental stage, the Valhalla Empire would undoubtedly suffer a blow from which it could never recover.
The landscape of the continent was violently shifting.
Depending on how they resolved this issue, the future balance of power would be decided. As those who could not let go of their greed raised their voices, a man sitting quietly to one side finally spoke up.
"I truly do not understand. If we abandon Kronos and actively cooperate to reveal the truth Roman Dmitry claims, the continental landscape may change... but wouldn't the Valhalla Empire at least survive?"
It was Baron Airn.
During the last meeting, he had been bitterly criticized for speaking up, but now, he calmly met the gazes of the leadership and smiled.
"Just in case, let me ask: is there anyone among you who is directly connected to the Kronos Empire or Emperor Alexander?"
"How dare you!"
"Watch your tongue!"
Everyone flared up in outrage. If they admitted to Baron Airn's words, they would instantly be branded as traitors.
Seeing their fierce resistance, Baron Airn's eyes turned cold.
"Why react so passionately? I sincerely hope that none of you leading Valhalla have any connection to this matter. Only then can we safely send back the guest I have invited."
"A guest?"
"What do you mean by..."
It was then.
Creak.
The heavy doors to the meeting room swung open. At the same time, a knight of Valhalla announced in a loud, booming voice:
"Count Fabius of Dmitry is entering."
Fabius.
And right behind him were Kevin and the soldiers acting as his escorts.
At the sight of the group striding into the room, the faces of Valhalla's leadership turned as pale as if they had just seen a ghost.