The shining rank insignia on the military uniform belonged to a major general.
By just idly playing internal affairs games in the military, I became a major general in just a few years.
While the soldiers desperately ran around the battlefield to earn a single promotion, I had climbed four ranks.
This is what it means to be a noble.
I, who was playing a game like mahjong, spoke to the commander sitting across from me.
"Ah, Count. That's it. Ah, the dora is also in play."
However, the commander, who had been waiting for the discarded tile, dealt me a direct hit.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
This commander is so strong at the game that I'm losing.
Wallace and Cedric, who have been stripped bare and are short on money this month, have come to me in tears.
Tia and Marie glared at the commander.
"How can Lord Liam lose when I and this fossil are working together!"
"You bastard! You're not cheating, are you?!"
---No, I'm the one who cheated and lost.
I handed the scoring sticks to the commander.
"To lose even after all this. Commander, do you have any tips for winning?"
"I'm just lucky, you see. Thanks to that, I lead such a large fleet and make money from the game. Well, the important thing is luck and---reading the flow, I suppose."
"The flow?"
"You can create the flow as well. But, shall we play again?"
Even though I'm losing, the amount of money doesn't matter to me.
"Sure."
Tia and Marie are also eager to play.
"This time, we'll strip you bare."
"Lord Liam, let's confirm the signals."
The commander, who beats us despite our blatant cheating, is not just anyone.
Somehow, I feel the same smell as my master.
Master---I wonder if he's doing well?
Since he's still missing, I'm worried.
ā
The commander was thinking.
(Why do these guys keep falling for it even though I'm cheating!)
While Liam is boldly cheating, the commander is overwhelmingly strong.
Originally, the commander set up the game table for a game like mahjong.
When he tried to cheat and take money from the rich nobles, they latched on and panicked.
Just like Anshi, Liam's sword master---a con artist.
(I thought it was going to be an easy job!)
Originally, the commander is from a noble family.
He is in the position of commander due to family circumstances, imperial circumstances, and other various factors.
His performance at the military academy was poor, but he has risen to this position thanks to his family's influence.
(But, these guys are definitely strange! What the hell. To get promoted in the military while doing whatever they want---I needed to pay bribes to get promoted!)
He once showed his face on the front lines, but then returned to the planet Liam was developing.
He was ordered to wait there for a while, and the idle Liam was working hard on internal affairs.
(What is this? Why is he developing a territory that doesn't benefit him? I guess we just don't get along.)
Feeling a personality clash, the commander started the next game.
Then, Yurisha, who was watching the game, was checking her tablet for emails.
"Vice Admiral Liam, a request for reinforcements has come from a nearby lord."
"Again? What's the scale?"
"They are requesting a thousand ships."
"Send the idle ones. Then, collect all the garbage."
"I'll dispatch them immediately."
After deciding on the dispatch, Liam focused on the game.
"Well, which one should I discard?"
(There's no need to listen to the requests of the small lords around here anyway.)
Originally, Liam's fleet was idle, so helping the surrounding areas was his current job.
Occasionally, he also sent reinforcements to the border.
To curry favor with the border commanders.
(Well, basically, I don't move, and I'm idle, so it's fine.)
"Count, that's a ron."
"What!?"
The commander, who beat Liam again, but the game was a close win.
ā
While Liam was idly spending his time.
The preparations at the Berkeley family were coming together.
A massive fleet of over 300,000 ships.
Leading it is Casimiro's son, with Dolf as his advisor.
In practice, Dolf was the one who would be running the fleet.
The massive fleet lined up in space was even more powerful than the Berkeley family's usual strength.
They had distributed elixirs and gathered large amounts of rare metals.
They had lost many of their pirate subordinates, but in return, they had gained tens of thousands of ships from the military as allies.
The number was less than initially planned.
But it was a fleet with both quality and quantity.
"Dolf, can we crush the Banfield family with this fleet?"
To the words of the officer, Casimiro's eldest son, Dolf nodded deeply.
"If this fleet can't do it, no one can stop Liam."
"You're right.---Alright, let's move out!"
A fleet of over 300,000 ships set out for the Banfield family.
ā
At the same time, the Banfield family was also on the move.
As Brian was working as usual, a flustered Selena approached him.
She was almost running down the hallway, and Brian wondered if it was appropriate for the head maid.
"Brian, the Berkeley family is on the move. They're showing their true colors."
"What! Even though Lord Liam hasn't returned yet!"
It was an unwritten rule not to target the head of the family when they were away on a training trip.
After all, it would be close to a sneak attack.
The fact that the Berkeley family was doing this meant they were serious.
"I've contacted Lord Liam. Inform the military immediately."
"I understand!"
The Banfield family had been strengthening their military power for this day.
However, Selena looked worried.
"Still, a fleet of over 300,000 ships? We underestimated the Berkeley family."
Even though Liam had been focusing on military strength, the Banfield family's fleet was less than 90,000 ships.
The number of ships they could deploy as a fighting force was---70,000.
The enemy's strength was more than four times that.
"It's bad timing that Lord Liam isn't here."
Selena also felt frustrated by the Berkeley family's reckless behavior.
An unseen guide watched this scene with amusement.
"---That's right. Panic. You probably think Liam will save you. But all that awaits you is death."
Imagining the destruction of the Banfield family, the guide laughed out loud.
"Liam, come quickly! No, it might be better if you come after everything is gone. Show me your face of despair!"
ā
At the spaceport where he was assigned.
Thomas arrived there.
"Lord Liam, you're as energetic as ever, I see."
---Is he making a snide comment about the hastily built spaceport?
It has many issues because it was built to pass the time, but it should have the necessary functions.
"This is just to pass the time. What's the matter today?"
"Yes. I brought goods for the fleet and was hoping to get permission to do business."
It seems he wants to do business with the fleet's crew.
"Do as you please."
It's technically imperial territory, so it's dangerous for me to take a cut from Thomas.
I don't sell to those I shouldn't provoke.
As a corrupt lord, I know the limits.
"Thank you. Then, I'll start immediately---"
While talking to Thomas, the spaceport's sirens blared.
"What's going on?"
I received a communication from Yurisha.
"What is it?"
"The transport fleet has appeared. They don't seem to be hostile, but we're on alert because they warped in so suddenly."
"Who are these idiots?"
"---It's the Clare and Newlands trading companies. A merchant named Patrice wants to see the vice admiral urgently."
Something must have happened.
What is my merchant doing with so many transport ships?
Thomas looked pale.
"Can it be! ---Lord Liam, could it be that the Berkeley family has moved!?"
---The Berkeley family again.
I'm getting tired of it.
ā
When I boarded the flagship, the bridge was filled with frantic voices.
"How many ships have completed resupply and maintenance?"
"Currently about 10,000!"
"Gather as many as you can!"
Tia was giving orders.
The commander, who was watching, was silent with his arms crossed.
"You're calm, Commander."
"---Panicking won't help. In situations like this, you need to stay calm. If you want to increase your chances of winning, that is."
"You're right."
I called out to Tia, who was trying to set out before the fleet was fully assembled.
"Tia, don't set out until the fleet is ready. Also, Clare and Newlands have brought mountains of supplies. Distribute them."
"Lord Liam!? B-but---"
"Tell my territory to prohibit rushing and buy time."
As the clever commander said, it's best to stay calm.
Marie rushed into the bridge and immediately reported to me.
"Lord Liam! The Berkeley family's fleet is about 300,000 ships. Also, there's information that the imperial fleet is waiting in the warp zone."
"The imperial fleet?"
It seems the imperial fleet is waiting to block the warp zone we use.
---What are they planning?
ā
In the warp zone.
Waiting for Liam was a group of delinquent soldiers.
The number of ships provided by the Berkeley family and the weapons factory reached 30,000.
There were some old ships, but it was a large fleet.
In the flagship's bridge, there were generals of noble birth.
They had flashy uniforms and many medals on their chests.
"They must be in a panic and heading this way right now."
"If the Berkeley family is serious, that boy is finished."
"Let's show them what an imperial battle is like."
The generals were laughing.
But the operator shouted in a near scream.
"Commander! T-the enemy is attacking!"
"Already here? Then, let's give them a fight. Connect me to the boy!"
But when the communication was connected, the face that appeared was not Liam's.
A soldier with an eye patch, a man with the air of a seasoned general, appeared on the monitor.
"Y-you!?"
The general panicked, and the other side spoke first.
"---Your actions are a violation of military regulations. Therefore, we are now ordered to detain you."
"What!?"
"Return immediately, and we will forgive you. Otherwise, we will engage you."
The gathered fleet was the regular fleet stationed at the border, and they had gathered 40,000 ships.
"Are you defying us!?"
"No. You are the ones defying the empire."
"Are you siding with that boy!?"
"---We cannot afford to let the Berkeley family win. If the nobles continue to be favored, we cannot maintain the military. Besides, I have a personal debt to the count."
Many soldiers were at a disadvantage because the noble generals were favored.
The country still had the power to manage, but many soldiers were harboring resentment.
The noble general shouted.
"A-attack!"
But the other side was calm.
"We expected this."
Thus, the noble fleet, instead of Liam, was attacked by the regular fleet and annihilated.
Brian (Ā“ļ¼Ļļ¼ļ½) "It's tough. Seeing Lord Liam and the head and deputy knights boldly cheat---it's tough."