Episode 386 A video of Baros spread throughout the world.
Of course, there were those who doubted the authenticity of the simultaneous announcements by the magic towers. But even those people had no choice but to nod their heads at one fact.
– I don’t know anything else, but it seems true that the empire has been preparing for war in advance.
It didn’t feel that strange when the Western 5th Corps was moved to conquer the Holy Kingdom.
However, the movement of the central army, which was ready for deployment just a few days after the emperor decided to send additional troops, was strangely fast.
The fact that a large army of over 200,000 could be deployed in just three days, and that there was almost no movement of additional supplies toward Aserian, meant one thing.
– The imperial family was stockpiling supplies to move hundreds of thousands of armies.
For the countries surrounding the empire, that fact was more important than the cause and outcome of the war that took place in the Holy Kingdom.
Naturally, starting from the time the video spread, most of the surrounding countries began redeploying their troops to the border with the empire. Additionally, numerous envoys from each royal family headed to neighboring countries.
– Union. The only way to deal with the empire is through union.
The weak country began preparing to survive as a weak country.
And the one who reacted most sensitively to all those changes was bound to be the owner of the Empire Aserian.
* * * Boom!
“The Great World was distorted even before it began!”
A voice that rings loudly.
The emperor’s rare shout was full of death and took control of Daejeon.
“Explain what happened to this situation, Roctors.”
It is neither a title nor a semi-honorific in the form of a name, but a clear subordinate.
Chancellor Rotus Gusfeld, who had been assisting the emperor for a long time, could not help but understand the meaning of that cold tone.
‘Maybe today could be my last.’
The old man with a strong expression raised his head with a calm expression even as he felt the hand of the Shinigami approaching right in front of him.
“First, let me tell you the results of the General Staff’s reasoning regarding this situation.”
There was no answer coming from the throne, but Roctor nodded towards the back.
Then, one of the twenty or so ministers who were lying down in the same position jumped out next to him with a quick kneeling step.
“Leary, Under Secretary of the General Staff….”
“Simply.”
“…Yes. I will tell you the results of the General Staff’s review of the current situation.”
Hearing the prime minister’s firm voice, the young man licked his dry lips nervously.
“Special Investigation Department agents, commonly known as ghosts, are the first to be trained on how to deal with detection or recording magic due to the nature of their duties.
Nevertheless, none of the agents in the video are completely unaware of the magic recording. There is
little sense that they are being recorded. If they had even noticed, the ghosts would have prioritized the destruction of the records above everything else. The fact that they didn’t means one thing:
”
Black eyes staring back at them. Even though he was sweating under the suffocating pressure, young Larry Gusfeld’s voice did not waver.
“It means that a higher-level artifact than the 5-class artifact from the agent training center was used, or a magician-level detection wizard deliberately recorded it while hiding its identity.”
Artifacts of a level higher than class 5 can only be made by rookies mentioned in legends and myths.
So the answer had to be the latter.
“That is, Prince Baros…”
The moment he said the word “prince,” he could see the black-eyed owner looking down at him with a cold gaze and frowning slightly.
gulp.
Larry immediately realized his mistake and quickly changed his words.
“No, the traitor Baros was aware of the fact in advance and decided to risk his own life by collaborating with a magician-level enemy to take the video. And perhaps that training partner is….” “It must be the
Black Snake. ”
The voice from the eerie throne heard the young man’s words for the first time.
“Yes, Your Majesty. And the owner of the silver auror hidden in the video is…”
“It must be Jerome.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. We have prepared in advance those who will block the agents and those who will record them on video. I believe that the traitor Baros has already been dreaming of treason against the Empire since then.”
“and?”
“…yes?”
“Was all the General Staff did to explain to me what I already knew?”
Larry was momentarily taken aback by the eerie voice and the murderous eyes, and looked to the side.
Cold sweat was rolling down his face and his eyes were shaking uncontrollably, but the prime minister’s grandfather was fixating his eyes unwaveringly on the throne, as if he couldn’t see those earnest eyes.
He doesn’t seem to have any intention of helping his grandson.
Rather, that sight awakened the spirit of Larry Gusfeld, a young genius in the General Staff.
This is not the time to rely on others.
My life is at stake.
“Absolutely not, Your Majesty. An unexpected reef has appeared, but our staff has come up with a plan to take advantage of the current situation.”
“…Tell me.”
“But to do that… Your Majesty must first make a bold decision.”
Before the emperor could react to those words, his grandfather next to him turned to him and widened his eyes.
“Larry. How dare you…!”
I felt like I knew it without having to listen to what was said.
– Make a request to His Majesty the Emperor!
Fortunately, the emperor’s hand was raised before his grandfather’s shouting continued.
“Please continue.”
“…Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty.”
“Scheme.”
Although Larry flinched again at the cold voice, he took a deep breath and calmly continued speaking.
“First of all, you must tell the outside world that you will give up the conquest of the Holy Kingdom.”
“Larry!”
It means giving up on the imperial family’s aspirations that have existed for hundreds of years.
Grandfather Roctus shouted again at that dangerous remark, but the Emperor calmly questioned him.
“Why do you have to do that?”
“Because the ultimate goal of the empire cannot be achieved even if you forcefully occupy the castle.”
“It’s the ultimate goal…”
“Yes. The imperial family’s goal of becoming the spiritual pillar of the continent’s people can never be achieved under the current situation. Even if you ignore the justification and occupy the castle, the continent’s subjects will not recognize it, and in the end, 400 “The mistakes of years ago are just being repeated.”
Resolutium, the event that led to the dissolution of the corrupt church 400 years ago.
Most people thought it was the result of the priests’ self-purifying efforts, but in fact, there was the influence of the imperial family behind it.
At that time, the emperor of the empire claimed to be the representative of the Nine Great Gods on behalf of the collapsed church and gathered the scattered real priests. However, they pretended to bow their heads, and after 100 years, they established Noviens following the nine saints who appeared at the same time and created saints within the empire.
The authority that the imperial emperor had built over the course of 100 years collapsed in one fell swoop with the appearance of saints given by God, and even powerful external forces took root within the imperial territory.
The emperor at the time was very angry, but he could not express his anger in a situation where public opinion was favorable toward the church based on the numerous miracles shown by the nine saints. The past of volunteering to be God’s representative actually helped reorganize the church.
The emperor’s anger at the time was ultimately directed at the gods.
– The timing and location of the saint were very elaborate. Find out how far the gods can interfere with royalties.
From then on, the imperial family studied the mechanisms of the birth of saints, priests, and paladins in utmost secrecy.
And in uncovering the process, the data left behind by a godman who can be said to be the progenitor of Ares was of great help. Data from very ancient times, once thought to be nothing more than nonsense, have become a crucial key to uncovering the secrets of gods and temples.
Thanks to this, the imperial court was able to make tentative conclusions about the mechanisms of gods, saints, priests, and paladins.
– A cause that the gods will recognize. It is necessary.
The funny thing was that the justification did not necessarily have to be true.
9The justification recognized by the Minister was not the complete truth. In other words, the authority of the church could be brought about as long as it was recognized by public opinion, that is, the majority of the subjects.
A two-faced mechanism that does not fit at all with the doctrine of the Nine Great Gods, which advocate goodness.
From the time it was discovered, the imperial family could not erase doubts about the existence of gods and temples. And the emperors of the empire, who learned the secrets of the gods and temples, began to think of the Nine Great Gods as rivals to be defeated rather than beings to be worshiped.
In other words, taking control of the church was only part of the grand plan.
‘Of course, we couldn’t announce it officially.’
The Emperor laughed lowly and looked at Larry again.
“Yes. It must be difficult in the current situation. But I created the General Staff to come up with a plan to achieve our goal even in this situation. It is not to be told to give up.”
The cool air tightened Larry’s neck.
However, even in this situation, he came forward as a representative of the General Staff because he had a pulpit where he could say what he had to say.
“Give up your kingdom and gain the world, Your Majesty.”
“under.”
In response to the emperor’s exclamation, which seemed to be an exclamation or a sigh, Larry quickly continued speaking.
“You can announce to the public that you will tolerate it even though it is unfair for the sake of peace on the continent. By saying that you will endure it until the truth is revealed.”
“….”
“And then we contact the Holy Kingdom behind the scenes and demand that they announce a declaration of respect and support for the Empire in return for giving up conquest.”
“and?”
“Once public opinion is calmed down by the Holy Kingdom’s declaration of support, our military can just follow the Black Snake ‘to reveal the truth.’ They are spreading malicious rumors in the empire and creating a sense of crisis on the continent, and ‘accidentally’ threaten the surrounding kingdoms. “On the pretext of going into hiding.”
ah!
A soft exclamation erupted from the courtiers who were lying face down, but Larry did not move a muscle.
The emperor smiled and asked back.
“…Do you see all the rulers and nobles of the surrounding kingdoms as fools?”
“Individuals can be foolish, but groups are not. However, groups cannot represent the interests of all members, so sometimes they have no choice but to make foolish choices.”
“…These are the words of the wise man Arius.”
“Yes. No matter what the truth is, if you give a justification even on the surface, it can divide the opinions of the group.”
“More details.”
“There is no country around us that does not trade with the empire. And there are a lot of nobles who benefit from that trade. We are causing conflict by moving those who are inevitably friendly to the empire. They are telling them to cooperate with the empire.”
“Hoo?”
“If you cooperate, you can openly bring the empire’s army into that kingdom. Even if you fail, you can conquer it under the clear justification that you are trying to help the empire’s enemies. Shouldn’t you try swinging the sword you have already drawn properly?”
At those words, the emperor smiled for the first time.
“Good. It’s worth the money.”
At those words, Larry’s face, which had been dripping with cold sweat, turned bright red, and Roctors, who had prepared himself for death, also clenched his fists.
Conquest of the continent and annexation of the Holy Kingdom. The empire’s seemingly two-fold goal was ultimately the same.
The emperor of the empire becomes the actual spiritual ruler of everyone on this continent.
‘Even if one of the two is accomplished first, the other is only a matter of time.’
Things went a little wrong, but it was just a change of events.
The emperor shouted with ambition boiling in his heart.
“I will accept the opinion of the General Staff. Negotiate with the temple and then execute according to the plan. As soon as the sword spirit and the wind blow return, the full-fledged grand plan will begin!”
“yes!”
“yes! “Your Majesty!”
A loud cry that could not be believed to have come from about 20 civil servants who had saved their lives from the brink of death shook the Daejeon.
