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Southern Region, Southern Alliance Conference Room. In the indoor space where the alliance’s laurel wreath flag and Jeffrey family crest are both displayed, the person taking on the role of speaker was naturally Duke Jeffrey, Sally Jeffrey.

The Duke stood up from his seat, looked around, and spoke.

“Let’s be honest here. Continuing this war is madness.”

There was no reaction from the nobles to her words. That alone had no meaning.

“Please don’t misunderstand me. The war itself will continue. What I want to point out is the issue regarding the Northern Expedition’s continuation. The citizens of the Empire have been fighting the enemy for nearly ten years, and that battle has consumed the strength of the people, especially the Southern Lords who have been continuously providing resources and troops. The Hero has declared that he will end this war with the Northern Expedition, and we believed those words. That’s why endless support has been provided, and is still being provided, correct?”

A few Southern Lords nodded in agreement to Jeffrey’s words.

“However, it seems he has forgotten something. The fact that, literally, endless support is impossible. We have already bled ourselves dry and stripped our flesh down to give. The Northern Expedition is a war of attrition, and we must think about whether we have the capacity to bear that attrition. I know it’s nearly impossible to heal our wounds, especially while at war, but we need at least a moment to rest before our bellies are ripped open and our intestines spill out.”

The Duke paused for a moment and glanced around. Everyone in the alliance was watching her with curiosity about what she was about to say.

“The Hero promised a swift end to the war, and we believed that promise. But have you heard the news from the North? The army of Eramenia, which the Hero trusted, has been annihilated by the Demon King’s plot, and afterward, the Fairy Kingdom hesitated to send additional troops and began restoring their own lands. While we cannot blame them, it’s rather enviable for our country, which is too busy to even imagine post-war recovery. That’s not all. The more serious issue is that upon hearing that news, the Hero felt overwhelmed and collapsed!”

Even though everyone already knew this news, the atmosphere turned tumultuous at that moment. The rumor that Walter had collapsed carried significant weight among all the Empire’s citizens. Walter Hellhound was essentially another symbol of the Audrich Empire. He was not someone who could afford to collapse carelessly, not just for himself but for the morale of the Empire.

“Isn’t it clear? When the Hero vowed to achieve permanent victory through the Northern Expedition, he was relying on the cooperation of Eramenia. Now that possibility has been nullified, at least indefinitely postponed, we can’t guarantee a quick victory. I hoped that when Walter Hellhound recovered, he would halt the Northern Advance, but the Hero seems ready to move north again without even tiring. If the Northern Expeditionary Force becomes prolonged, the Empire will absolutely not hold out! We now need to stop the Hero to protect our homeland.”

Jeffrey did not directly blame the Hero, but her words cleverly implied the notion that ‘the current Walter has collapsed once and thus is not in his right mind, so opposing him would be wise.’ The lords were slowly beginning to resonate with her way of expressing that sentiment.

“Then what do you suggest we do, Duke Jeffrey? Should we send an envoy to the Demon King to negotiate a truce? I can only imagine how well that would go.”

One noble interjected with a scoffing tone. Jeffrey responded elegantly without showing any trace of discomfort.

“No, but let’s recall how the Nomember Castle-centered defense line has been maintained for over eight years. A stable defense line and sufficient troops. With just those two, the Demon King’s Army cannot recklessly challenge the Empire. The past battles prove that the Demon King has lost substantial offensive capability against the Empire. We can hold out! Maintaining the army will cost money, but that expense is at least less than what’s needed for an offensive.”

“Isn’t that still a boring war of attrition?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Attrition cannot be avoided. It is a fact that the Demon King poses a great threat to humanity. However, the territory that the Northern Expedition has already recovered is not small, so at some point, we must reclaim the wasteland and build castles for people to live in. Additional subdivisions might occur, leading to the emergence of new local nobility.”

At this, several nobles perked up their ears. If the land recovered by Walter was distributed among nobles, it could increase the standing of the regional factions in the Imperial Assembly more than it currently is. As Jeffrey deliberately mentioned this fact to draw the nobles’ attention, she waved her hand dismissively, transitioning back to the main point.

“Well, that’s not the important issue, but what’s truly important is that the reclaimed land can become another production center. Of course, restoring useless land requires resources and time. Yes, time, time. All our efforts are focused on the Northern Expedition right now, we don’t even have time to invest in the minimum domestic affairs!”

The Duke’s speech was increasingly gaining persuasion within the alliance.

“Then, Duke, what methods can we use to stop the Northern Expedition?”

“Only through legal means.”

Jeffrey asserted.

“There will soon be elections for the members of the Imperial Assembly. The royal family holds a mere third of the seats. If we can unify the opinions of the nobles gathered through the Southern Alliance, we can secure a majority in the Imperial Assembly.”

“I doubt that’s possible. The nobles who are in the system surely won’t just sit around twiddling their thumbs and not show up to vote. Moreover, if we only use legal methods, we certainly won’t engage in the cowardly act of assaulting or intimidating voters, will we?”

An older Count chuckled as if he had done something akin to that. Duke Jeffrey struck the table with a serious expression.

“Of course not! Listen. The royal family and their surroundings are filled with heroes, and we are in a position to challenge that. If we engage in acts like thugs during such a challenge, we will truly become the villains. Are we villains? Is this place the meeting room of the Demon King’s Army? No, it is not!”

“One thing to mention, advancing the Northern Expedition is a mission solely entrusted to the Hero. This is a matter decreed by the Emperor, under which the Assembly has no authority to order a withdrawal or a retreat. Only the Emperor can do that.”

A young Baron pointed out. Jeffrey nodded, as if she was already aware of that fact.

“To speak frankly, it is impossible even for His Majesty the Emperor. Walter Hellhound essentially has his own personal troops. Moreover, Rose Caprice is on his side. But, there is a way for us, of all people, to neutralize his army.”

“Neutralize the army? Walter Hellhound’s army?”

“If the local faction nobles secure a majority, we can, legally, vote for secession and independence. Yes, the choice to reconstitute the Southern Alliance into the Southern Federation and declare independence from the Audrich Empire arises.”

At this, a huge uproar erupted among the nobles. Very few lords wished for the extreme situation that Jeffrey just described. Sally Jeffrey, unfazed by the suddenly erupting shouts, calmly calmed people down.

“That’s not what I’m proposing! But think about it. If this becomes possible, independence could be a powerful bargaining chip. Most of the troops in Walter Hellhound’s army are conscripts sent by local lords. In the case of the Southern Federation declaring independence, those conscripts would legally return to us, greatly reducing the size of the royal central army. Yes, to the point that it would become impossible to proceed with the Northern Expedition.”

In other words, merely threatening independence would mean Walter would have no choice but to accommodate the demands of the Southern nobility. At that moment, someone raised a question.

“What if the Hero resorts to extreme measures? What if he defines remarks regarding independence as treason and attempts to dissolve the Assembly by force?”

“That would be an illegal act. Even if the opponent is a hero, illegal is illegal. From that point on, we can take a strong stance. And if we do so, naturally, the soldiers who have their hometowns in our alliance won’t be able to act as the Hero wishes.”

It was a terrifying statement that suggested the possibility of civil war, if necessary. Tension flowed among the nobles, and Jeffrey shook her head and clapped her hands.

“But think about it. He is also simultaneously a hero! There’s no doubt about his character. He’s just… making a few mistakes. This is merely a recommendation for a somewhat stronger method to correct the actions of a man who cannot be moved by mere admonition and advice. No matter how courageous he may be, he is not someone capable of bearing a civil war. And as much as we can utilize that fact, we must.”

The discussion came to a rough conclusion. Political power was consolidated through the Southern Alliance to gather public opinion, to take control of the vote and seize the Assembly, then use that control to restrain the Hero. Once the Hero was restrained, the effort would center around the noble power to start the reconstruction of the Empire while creating a Southern Alliance with military capabilities not to fall behind the Imperial Army, evolving as equal partners in the war against the Demon Tribes.

The Duke’s plan was quite idealistic and even tempting, completely winning over the hearts of the nobles. Sally Jeffrey poured water into her glass and raised it high.

“Let’s make a toast. It would be customary to pour drinks at such an occasion, but since this isn’t the time to blur our minds, I’ll substitute it with water. Besides, we certainly can’t indulge in luxuries when even the food to brew the drinks is scarce. Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

The nobles raised their cups that were placed before them.

Sally Jeffrey sank into her chair with a satisfied expression. She was self-satisfied with having devised quite a decent strategy. After securing her position as the leader of the alliance following the passing of Count Harker, she had successfully completed a powerful plan to rise as one of the most powerful figures in the entire Empire.

However, Jeffrey herself had no inkling that her strategy, which genuinely sought the restoration of the Empire and improvement of living standards, was part of a plan set in motion by the Demon King since the moment Harker was killed. In fact, very few people across the entire continent had caught on to that.

Another scheme was in motion. The very plot of the Demon King, who had already shattered Eramenia, was now beginning to unfold to cleave the Empire in half.

 

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