The Strategist Knows Everything

A room in the Taishoku Hall.

I was in Ligar Taisho's room, the ruler of Ferenol.

There's only me and Ligar Taisho in the room.

But there's no conversation between me and Rigal Taisho.

Ligar Taishou is in silence with his arms around him, sitting in a chair.

It's possible to cut the story out of me, but I won't.

You can tell by the look on your face. Ligar Taishou is organizing her feelings. I'm sorry to interrupt.

Before I arrived, I would have organized myself, but if I had come forward, the feeling that I was holding back would have come to the surface again.

Feelings in the name of passion.

I'm the man who took my beloved niece hostage to an enemy country. But it is also the man sold by the Empire.

As an uncle, you'd want to beat me up. However, as a royal family of the Empire, you must bow your head to Ferenol.

Ligar Taishou is in a grip. I can't let that get in the way.

The only person who can give an answer is himself.

"... Yukito Clay... why did Fiona take hostage herself?

"... to give me time to break up with my people."

"I can't say that......... She likes you. If you are an Imperial person, no questions asked, you are about to be my husband..."

No questions asked.

Human rights are ignored. At least ask if it's yes or no.

Ligal Taishou is staring at me because my inner heart has gone into her expression.

"What? That face. No way. You don't like it?

"All of a sudden, if you were to be my husband, I would think everyone would be confused......"

"That girl is beautiful and carefree. And satirical. If I make you my wife, you can brag all over the continent, right?

"Right. But I'm from Velis."

There was already an unfilled gulf between Velis and the Empire.

Velis will not forgive the Empire. Even if we can have superficial friendship, people's psyche can't help it.

The men of Velis will think that the men of the Empire are not to be trusted to betray them immediately. And it manifests itself in attitude, deepening the groove between the two.

Connections between countries, decided by some humans, may be possible ahead, but it will be difficult for people in the country to get along with each other.

So I'm not going to be Fio's husband.

It's not about me or Fio's feelings. The country, the people of the country are not convinced.

"That's right. If you were an Imperial person... you could save your life... why are you a Velis person..."

"My apologies. But that's something I can't help but say."

"Can you stay without saying this! Why can't that kid be happy!? Why, all that kid carries misfortune!?

Ligar Taishou slapped her desk hard and stood up.

With that vibration, the paper that was on the desk splashes. But Ligal Taishou doesn't show how he cares.

"Fio could be…… unhappy"

"Possibly, not! I'm unhappy!

"But there are people on this continent who have trouble eating that day, and right now, while we're doing this, there are people who are losing their lives. Even children younger than Fio, there are many. Some children don't know their parents' faces. Some children grew up unaware of their parents' affection."

"So what... are you going to be happy compared to those people!? Fiona and something similar! Because she has power, she has seen the death of someone who has been driven out into battle and doesn't even want to see it! The battle against the Warcraft is more tragic and miserable than the battle between man and man! Seeing his compatriots being eaten by the Warcraft in front of him, Fiona nevertheless took command and attracted victory!! Happy for that consideration, what's wrong!?

Ligar Taishou, too, just told me, you know that something doesn't change.

Still, I can't help blasting my emotions and spitting out accumulated words.

Exhaling rough breaths, Ligar Taishou sits in a chair without force.

"... why aren't you... angry...? Why don't you get angry?

"If you expose your anger, your anger, and something changes, I will. But at that point, nothing will change. I have to go to Albion. That doesn't change. Whether you're in a hurry, angry, let alone hit people, things don't change. That's when I calmly analyze the situation and look for a way to live… I'm conscious."

"Hmm... I mean, when you're feeling angry or angry, that's what you're saying? You're human, too."

"Yeah. I'm a normal person. There are limits to what you can do, and there are times when you feel angry, when you cry. So I'm giving it my best thought. What is the best you can do now and what is needed for the purpose"

"Is it the best you can do right now... the best you can do... who decides the best?

"I saw the results, I acted with someone other than myself, believing it was the best, and then I was myself"

"Depending on the outcome…… What outcome do you have in mind after this?

It's a difficult question.

No, is it easy?

The result I imagine.

It is.

"It's peace on the continent. At least, disputes between countries…… are gone."

"It's impossible. The continent has already entered a period of muddy warfare. The Republic continues to struggle with the island, and a discord arose between the Empire and Velis. The Empire and Albion are only in agreement with each other. Sooner or later, the alliance will collapse and each country will aim for the hegemony of the continent... well, the empire will soon disappear"

"Yes. The scourge of war will spread and the powerless will disappear. So we need to stop it."

"How do we stop it? What can you do in Albion, the enemy country? You don't have the support of good men or powerful men, do you?

Sure, I'm helpless on my own.

There is no power, and he could be executed without question.

But that's unlikely.

Because Albion has Stratos. If I were him, he wouldn't kill me right away.

Anyway, his purpose is Sophia.

I'm a great bait to catch Sophia. What's more, we can attract Velis and also catch Kaguya.

So I'm not going to get killed. Besides, he enjoyed manipulating people, like a child.

Childlike innocence. It's like, you know, it's like you're enjoying the game, and he should be there.

And too easy a game is boring. Without a moderate struggle, it's not fun, so he takes all my freedom and doesn't just leave me in a state of bait.

That's what I'm after. Beside him, even with the puppet, he has no allies.

He's alone because he can manipulate everything.

So, well, even me, maybe, I can figure it out. I wish I could get close to him.

Even Stratos, if he can do something about it, will be able to stop Albion's rampage. Originally, it was a continental deterrent.

You won't want to go on and fight the war. If you want war, I don't want to do it if I can, but I just need Sophia to help me.

"The cause of this war happened because, until now, Albion, who was coordinating between the great powers, attacked Velis. So if we return Albion to its original neutral state, the war will stop."

"You're absolutely right. The Empire moves because Albion is on his side. But how are you gonna do that?

"I don't do anything special. Discuss first, preach the hardliners of Albion, and if you can't get through, just help yourself and eliminate them."

That said, the majority of the hardliners want to keep Stratos the only one to eliminate it because it would be during Stratos' surgery.

That's all I can afford.

"You don't have that power."

"Albion also has non-warriors. If you don't have the strength, you can attach it. If you don't have company, you can make it. Change the situation to your advantage. That's the military teacher."

"What if the non-warriors aren't willing to contend with the impostors?

"If not, it will only be born"

Ligal Taishou opens his eyes to my words.

Guess it's because you understand what I mean by words.

A feud between non-warriors and hardliners. That is.

"Are you willing to cause civil unrest!? I have that idea, so you have no resistance to getting inside the Albion!? Are you willing to spark yourself!?

"It's just that direction. First of all, you have to know the inside of Albion. I don't know if it will work, but if Albion goes into civil unrest, the attack on Velis will be interrupted. And the Empire will not fight Velis in one country."

"In that case, each country glues in a state of tension… so..."

It is difficult from the outside to cause civil unrest in Albion. No, it is very difficult to cause civil strife, not just in Albion, but from the outside, to an enemy country.

Unexpectedly, however, chaos from the inside is prone to spread. Because basically, the people don't want war.

Not while you're winning. But if you lose, when you get glued, you get dissatisfied as soon as possible.

Usually, it is Theory who uses the intermediate and stirs up people like that, but this time I am the intermediate.

Spread rumors, provoke discord, and ignite the ignition line of dissatisfaction.

What it takes to do that is talk and knowledge.

To cleverly lie, you need to know a person's psyche. And knowledge becomes necessary to observe and make use of the information obtained.

And to use that knowledge well, I'm going to need a talking technique.

The truth is, we need to spot people who are easy to believe in people's stories, who are trusted from around us, etc., but Rahen, if you look at the status, you can largely tell.

If only rumors would circulate on their own, within which it would be told as true. The guy I know, the guy who talks a lot, he also wears a tail fin.

It's the hardest thing to get inside, but this time he's invited me from the other side.

While you're taking me, while you're locked up, while you expose me in front of people.

It is impossible for anyone to come into contact with me.

I won't miss that chance.

"Well, that's what the idea looks like. So…… please stop His Majesty the King. It is at His Majesty's discretion that the Empire may perish."

"…… where is your guarantee of success? If you fight Albion, the Empire loses. That's all the difference between Albion and the Empire."

"There is no guarantee that Albion will do good governance to the Empire, even if he surrenders without fighting. Do you believe in Albion or me? Either."

Ligar Taishou would probably be able to impress His Majesty Ronald. If I fail, I won't have to offer the Empire to Albion.

Albion is, indeed, a great power in the central part of the continent, which has made its own country a deterrent and kept the peace. Sure, Albion deserves to be trusted then.

But not now.

Albion today is neither the keeper of order nor a neutral country.

Trust is dangerous to boulders.

Anyway, there is a verse where His Majesty Ronald trusts Albion too much. Rigar Taisho, who is in a position to stop acting somehow, must have a sense of crisis.

Well, I guess that means Albion was a trustworthy country.

With that in mind, I guess the invasion of Albion is strongly influenced by Stratos.

"For one thing, let's try to persuade him. But I can't make a promise. My older brother…………………………………………………………………"

"I don't mind. Just... talk about surrender, Admiral Arnold."

"Tell him. I'm sure you're wondering. That's why you must have sent Liacia. Among his brothers, Arnold will take back the Empire, once surrendered and conquered. That's what I'm capable of. So my brother didn't tell Arnold what's going on in the Empire."

"I see. I didn't think Admiral Arnold would agree with His Majesty. Is that what happened?"

I am willing to entrust the aftermath to Admiral Arnold.

To observe from His Majesty Ronald and the way he now speaks and what His Majesty Ronald thinks, Ligal Taishou is.

"Right. Arnold can take care of everything."

"Then, after the war is over, let the Empire do it alone. If we were to regain the conquered empire, we would demand further sacrifices from the people. And that has a negative impact on neighbouring countries. I'm sorry, but you can't refuse to forgive the plan."

"Hmm...... then bring Albion back to neutrality. That would settle for the extent of my older brother's disengagement. And my brother will be free from the burden of the king. You'll be able to treat Fiona like a father."

Return Albion to neutral country.

This means that if, by any means, we can get Albion to stop invading, Velis and the Empire will be happy.

I'm sorry about the other countries, but I don't know.

I can't afford that much.

I'm human, too, and there's only one thing I can do. Priority is around you.

"Well, wish me success. I'm on my way to the border. I also need an escort for Fio's return, so would you mind if I had the knight out of Ferenol?

"Let's get it ready. Yukito Clay...... moonlight but pray for good luck"

"Thank you. Well, one day… I look forward to seeing you again."

So, for the record, I left Ligar Taishou's room.