86 Episode 24 Conspiracy and Conspiracy (1/2)

Ha-ha-ha. ！！！！　Did you see that?　That dog man's face!　Oh no, I can't stop laughing!　”I'm sorry about ....... I take back what I said!

The next day, Hercule was smiling brightly.

The next day, Hercule was smiling broadly. In the guest room assigned to Hercule, Karolina, Loukanos, and other senior officials of the Lemurian Empire were gathered.

They were there to discuss what had happened last night with Hercule.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm not sure if you're a ...... human being.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

To say the least, Hercule's actions are disgusting.

To say the least, Hercule's actions were disgusting, as he played with the hearts of two innocent girls, Nia and Cecilia, in order to create a match pump.

But neither of them realized that (for the time being).

I don't have enough life experience yet: ......

This is because they don't understand who Hercule is.

To tell the truth, ......

Many of the chiefs knew that Hercule was up to something.

The reason was that Hercule seemed to be enjoying himself more than usual.

Also ......

The act of taking Nia with him was clearly unnatural.

Nia is indeed the adopted child of Loukanos.

But that's all.

If Nia is to be taken, it would be unfair if all the children of the Seventy-Seven Holy Families of the Lemurian Empire were not brought along.

It is true that Hercule loves Nia.

However, the love that Hercule has for Nia is that of a pet. ......

Hercule is not the type of person who would take a pet on an important outing.

In addition, there is a warbeast supremacist named Raus I - King Cerda.

Hercule's act this time is equivalent to bringing a dog into a party knowing that there are people who are allergic to dogs.

Trouble is bound to happen.

Your sovereign is not so stupid that he cannot foresee it.

What does ...... mean?

Is the goal to cause trouble?

I've been thinking about this for a while now. ......

It's not too difficult to predict if you know the usual Hercule.

It's not that hard to guess. ...... Now, Todoris. I asked you to negotiate yesterday. ...... Are you done?

”Yes. Thanks to you, it all went smoothly. It was a success.

Hearing Todoris' report, Hercule nodded in satisfaction.

Galfis and Kristoff frowned.

”Are you saying that ...... you have heard the story from His Majesty?

Kristoff asked Hercule.

Hercule nodded quietly.

”Well, yeah. I probably should have told you guys, but there was a ...... chance they would have seen it in my eyes. This scheme depended heavily on King Cerda's mood and bad intuition. Therefore, I wanted to avoid even the slightest chance of failure. Also, I had told Loukanos about it in addition to Todoris. He had an important role to play in shouting down King Cerda.

”...... I see.

Kristoff looked satisfied.

But, on an emotional level, he wished that he had told him in advance.

”But, Your Majesty. But, Your Majesty, do you think King Chelda will just back down?　Given his kingly nature, ......

”I don't think he'll back down.

Before Galfis could say anything else, Hercule assured him.

He will try to make up for his diplomatic blunder. There is only one way to do that. War.

In short, because they couldn't win at chess: ......

Let's kill him by beating him with a chessboard!

Hercule's prediction was that King Cerda would think, ”Oh, I see.

”So, ...... war, huh? When do you think the time will come?

”It won't be this year, of course. It will be next spring. ...... No, it will be after the summer, considering the preparations.

As soon as I return home, I'll lead an army to invade Lemuria. ......

Such an act is too obvious.

It would be a disgrace on top of a disgrace.

Next year, when the heat has died down, ......

The most likely possibility is that they will attack next year when the situation has cooled down.

But, well, ......, you're probably not going to be around this time. Galfis.

Does that mean that the ...... main battlefield will be the ocean?

Yes. Ninety percent of the time, it's the ocean.

Hercule smiles.

There was a hint of confidence in his expression.

”Tell me why, Your Majesty.

Kristoff approaches Hercule with an expectant look on his face.

He smiles and gives his rationale.

First of all, it's hard to replenish supplies on land. The southern continent has a desert climate. The area around the oasis and the rivers are certainly rich in grain and date palms,......, but the rest of the land is barren and uninhabitable. It is difficult to march.

The coastal areas of the southern continent have a sharp difference between rich and poor areas.

Even if you try to pass through the rich areas as much as possible, you can't avoid the desert.

Of course, there are military roads, so it is not impossible to pass through. ......

As a commander, I would prefer to avoid it if possible.

Second, I'm good at land warfare, and I have a reputation for it. Second, I'm good at land battles, and I have that reputation. Second, I'm good at land battles, and I have that reputation. If possible, he would try to challenge them in a field they are not good at or have no experience in.

Hercule has no experience in naval warfare.

Lack of experience is a great weakness.

In war, it is important to follow your own weaknesses and exploit the weaknesses of your opponent.

So it is only natural that King Chelda would want to challenge the naval battle.

”Third ......, as the opponent challenges us with naval battles, we will also challenge them.

It is not that we are attacked.

We make them attack us.

That is the style of Hercule.

”So, Christophe. I'm counting on you to lead. ”So, Christophe. ...... Don't tell me you can't win.

I'm not going to let ...... those dogs get behind me. We have a new weapon, you know. We will definitely present you with victory.

Kristoff grinned.

”Your ...... Majesty. What are these 'negotiations' that you and Foreign Minister Todoris were talking about earlier?

As soon as the conversation between Hercule, Christophe and Galfis is over, Karolina asks Hercule.

It's about cooperating with the Kingdom of Tretum against Cerda Fulling. Do you understand ......?

”I understand the geopolitical advantage of a ...... pincer movement. But please tell me what this has to do with the fact that you made King Chelda apologize.

”...... Hmm, okay. Let me explain it to you from the beginning.

The kingdoms of Cerda, Tretum, Edelna and Fulling.

These four countries have had a good relationship with each other.

This is because all four countries are warbeast nations.

......

It is too short-sighted and foolish to think that the four countries are all warbeast nations.

If this logic is true, then the countries of the same ”Asian” people should be in love with each other.

Lumping the warbeasts together is equivalent to lumping the peoples of East Asia together.

The warbeasts are classified into several types, such as dog, cat, fox, and raccoon.

From there, they are further divided into countless tribes such as wolves, lions, leopards, and celestial foxes.

The tribes are not on the best of terms with each other.

In fact, the tribes of the four countries do not get along well with each other.

They abhor each other.

Then, why do they have a friendly relationship?

The reason is to prevent the Lemurian Empire from interfering in their internal affairs.

As I have mentioned many times, the three countries except for the Kingdom of Cerda are nominally kingdoms within the Lemurian Empire, and are subject to Lemurian law.

And even though it has declined, the power of the Lemurian Empire cannot be underestimated.

In addition, there are many people left over from the Western Lemurian Empire in their territory.

The Lemurian Empire still has a certain amount of influence over them as well.

Therefore, the three countries must always be wary of interference in their internal affairs.

Nevertheless, a government position from the Lemurian Empire can be a great help and foil in governing the remaining people of the Western Lemurian Empire.

We do not want to aggravate relations with the Lemurian Empire.

On the other hand, I don't want to get too close.

As a result, they chose to restrain the Lemurian Empire by building a relationship with the Kingdom of Cerda, the only kingdom that can fight head-on with the Lemurian Empire, at the top of the list, which is not an alliance, but more than an ordinary friendship.

The Lemurian Empire, on the other hand, thought, ”I don't like the fact that you're getting along with the Kingdom of Chelda, but I'm not doing anything to hurt my reputation, and frankly, I don't have enough time to fight with them. ......” and tolerated it.

However, ......

In recent years, that relationship has been breaking down.

The rebirth of the Lemurian Empire with the accession of Hercule.

The rapid development and expansion of the Fullerling Kingdom, its wars and territorial expansion.

The arrogant attitude of the Kingdom of Chelda.

A variety of factors have strained the relationship between the four countries.

And then ......

A new pro-Lemurian king has ascended to the throne of Edelna.

The Kingdom of Edelna will distance itself from the Kingdom of Cerda and rapidly approach the Lemurian Empire.

The Kingdom of Frarling, under the leadership of King Ludwig I, has begun to take its own course.

The Kingdom of Chelda is becoming more and more arrogant in its diplomacy under the leadership of the hard-line King Raoul I.

Now, it is the Kingdom of Tretum that is in trouble.

It is not so close to the Lemurian Empire due to distance.

On the other hand, we don't like being looked down upon by the Kingdom of Cerda.

The neighboring kingdom of Fulling occasionally tries to invade and seize our territory.

I'm in trouble, I'm in trouble: ......

The timing of King Cerda's apology to Hercule was perfect.

King Tretum thought that Hercule, who made him bow, was more reliable than King Chelda, who bowed to him ......

King Tretum thought that Hercule, who had made him bow, was more reliable than King Cerda, who had bowed to him.

Thus, the Kingdom of Tretum quickly turned pro-Lemuria.

”Sort of. Do you understand?

”...... I see, I see. So, it's not just a hobby of yours to torment Raus I, is it?

Hmm, well, about a third of the time it is, but ...... I wouldn't do that either, unless it was in the national interest.

In other words, if it's in the national interest, I'm happy to do it.

Hercule's work and private life often coincide.

”Well, it's just a promise of cooperation. We didn't sign the treaty just to do our best. It's a big step forward, though. For now, I'm going to hit the Kingdom of Cerda once and make it quiet. Then the south will be safe for a while.

The west is already solidified.

The south is now secure.

Now we need to solidify the north. ......

And then we can go toe-to-toe with the savages. ...... giggle.

Hercule laughed in amusement.

Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Hayastan, ......

”This is Vahan Kaluran. I've been feeling a little uncomfortable lately. ......

”Discomfort, sir?　Your Majesty?　What the hell is that?

The King of Khayastan, King Frates III, questioned Vahan, the general in his entourage.

...... I feel like there's been a decrease in the number of dishes in our meals lately.

A royal meal is a very large meal.

They are usually prepared in such a way that you can't eat all of them, so you won't get hungry or lose weight if you eat one or two less dishes. ......

I'm a little concerned.