A country existed in the southwest part of the western continent.
A city-state, filled with temples built by using majestic marbles.
Despite the border with the southern kingdoms and the Kirtantia Kingdom, which was one of the major powers, becoming tense, the country had survived preserving its independence for many years.
No matter how much the borders of neighboring countries changed, there was no effect to this city-state.
Even Ortomea Empire didnât touch this country, even though by doing so they would be able to gain the southern harbor they had desired for so long.
It was as if the country was a giant sleeping monster. In fact, if that monster was awake, it would be easy for them to conquer the entire continent.
The name of that city-state was Holy city Meneztia.
It was the city of God dedicated to the light god Meneoz, and it was the home of the light god religion organization with believers across the continent.
While some mightâve called it a temple city, it was not like the entire town was an inviolable sanctuary.
When world war happens, even a religious community cannot protect themselves with only the authority of abstract divine existence.
The city was protected by high walls. Above all else, it had guards watching the surroundings at all times with sharp eyes.
Those guards had thick iron armors, with the tip of their spearhead shone brightly.
And the light in the eyes of those who walked around the town was full of desires.
It was the gaze that should not belong to the servants of God.
And the soldiers were not the only ones who had such a gaze.
These people were like hungry wolves.
They were people who foolishly believed that they were people blessed by the God and that their actions were for God. <Note: Basically a bunch of zealotsâŚ>
They shouted the name of God as a tool to satisfy their desires.
And deep inside this city, located at its center, the noblest man in town gently relaxed in the luxurious chair that was similar to a throne, playfully with a glass filled with wine while hearing reports from his subordinates.
Luxurious canonical robe with white as base color, sewn with gold threads. The gloss of the garments indicated that the clothes he wore were made of silk.
The staff decorated with jewels that were by the manâs side indicated his high status.
âHoo, Ortomea has pulled their army back?â
âYes, Your Holiness⌠After the death of Greg Moore, the Notiz Fort has fallen into the enemyâs control.â
âWhat about the casualties?â
âAccording to the spy report, the Ortomean side immediately proposed a ceasefire the moment they found out they were being flanked from behind, thus allowing them to escape the total annihilation of the army. However, the attacks led by Elena Steiner and Eclatia Marienel had managed to kill around 10,000 of their men.â
Hearing the report from the man kneeling in front of him, he lifted his lips and laughed.
The smile was truly like the devilâs sneer.
Most people would shake in fear if they saw his facial expression.
However, the kneeling old men didnât show any expressions even though the master of the room showed such malicious laugh.
âI see⌠10,000 huh⌠Considering Ortomea national strength, such casualties canât be said as fatalâŚâ
âAlong with Notiz Fort having fallen into the enemyâs hands, the storages of supplies had also been reduced to ashesâŚâ
âWell, it was the correct decision for both countries to pull backâŚâ
âYes.â
âThat Zalda King seems to be a tenacious man, huh?â
âI heard rumors that he was just someone mediocre, but I guess those rumors were wrongâŚâ
Hearing the old manâs word, the man nodded his head.
It was an evidence that the old man kneeling in front of the man was an able person.
Ceasefire when the Ortomea Army was trapped. Not only that, before the negotiations finished, they let the Ortomea Army retreat intact.
If one were to look only at that part, Julianus might be seen as someone stupid.
Since it was obvious to them that Ortomea Empire had trampled over their country, and the King had just let them return home.
For ordinary people, most will definitely demand some reparations.
However, those people wouldnât realize that there were pitfalls here. It was a trap.
In the first place, many people didnât realize that the negotiations were actually meaningless if one were to compare the two countriesâ economic and military strength.
There was nothing binding if it was a just verbal promise. A penalty could only happen if one were trying to breach a contract.
That was the easiest way to understand the word of âpromiseâ.
And the law only had its meaning if there was the force to enforce it.
The existences who punished those who broke the law. People will only follow the law if there was such a force.
If it was only the law, but there was no force to enforce it, then the law would be meaningless.
And that was the same with a peace treaty.
Certainly, those negotiations were a process based on the premise that the two sides will keep their promises.
However, what if there was an overwhelming power difference between the two?
A relationship like a parent and a child, teacher and student, CEO and employees, lastly big and small countriesâŚ
Each relationship was different, but the essence does not change at all.
In this case, the aggregated strength of Ortomea Empire and the Zalda Kingdom was like that between a parent and a child.
If some sort of treaty was born from the negotiations, will Zalda have enough power to force Ortomea to abide by it?
It does not mean that the strong one wonât keep their promises.
If one were to ask, in the Ortomeaâs point of view, there was plenty of room for negotiation if they deem it necessary.
However, this case was different.
For Ortomea Empire, they didnât have any reasons to force the Zalda Kingdom into the negotiation table.
The man sitting on the throne thinking deeply while he plays with the glass in his hand.
(First of all, it will be difficult after this. And Julianus seems to have noticed⌠When the negotiations are over, the one with less power will get destroyedâŚ)
Even if the Zalda managed to make Ortomea Empire promise to pay the repair money, it didnât mean they would really pay it.
Many people didnât notice that.
Because the innocents believe that promises exchanged were something that should be guarded and preserved.
âBefore even the negotiations start, they let the Ortomea Army leave, huh⌠Itâs not bad at all⌠That decisionâŚâ
âYes, if the Zalda makes the Ortomea Army stay throughout the negotiations, it wouldâve taken considerable effort to prepare for everything, thus the Zalda side seems to have agreed to let them leaveâŚâ
âDo you think the King will be able to earn some sympathy from the nobles and earn their help?â
âAt least, not from those who sided with the Ortomea EmpireâŚâ
Of course, it was unclear how effective it would be if a government where many of its influential nobles bow down towards the Ortomea side.
However, it was also the fact that they can use the Ortomean retreat as an achievement to convince the nobles to help.
âFor the Zalda Kingdom, this development has given them a little ray of hope, I guessâŚâ
âYes, if they continue the war, the Zalda Kingdom defeat would become absolute. Even if the Empire army got annihilated, it is doubtful that the Ortomea Empire would stand silently. Not to mention if they tried to take Sardina downâŚâ
âThat situation is normally something the Zalda side should rejoice about butâŚâ
If one were to take the commander-in-chief, the war will end.
However, this time, doing such a thing would only hasten the arrival of the next battle.
âFrom the Zalda Kingdomâs point of view, such a plan was not really good. Of course, they can ignore that and keep doing the siege battle, butâŚâ
âIf one of his imperial daughter who has a high position within the imperial family died, the Emperor himself might leave the domestic governance and make Zaldaâs conquest as a top priority.â
âYes, with that being the case, I think the second wave would be ready within a few months. However, by then the Zalda Kingdom wonât be ready. Since Ortomea was the one who proposed ceasefire, rather than being persistent in taking the chance of victory they choose to think it overâŚâ
âRather than short-term victory, choose to earn time for a real victory, huh? Indeed, good decisionâŚâ
âYes, it was not bad⌠HoweverâŚâ
âThe more the Zalda King tried to survive, the longer this fight will be. And will that be in line with the peopleâs aspirations?â
âYes, and since the start of this war, the prices of goods within the entire continent have soared high with no sight to stop, as far as the information goes, a considerable number of high profile companies have profited from it. It is only my suspicion, but this ceasefire, those guys might be behind thisâŚâ
âLike a vulture extorting the corpses, huhâŚâ
A sarcastic smile appeared on the manâs face.
However, it was certainly matched for the person who also tried to advance their own interests in this war.
âPrecisely, Your HolinessâŚâ
-
For the two of them, the survival of the Zalda Kingdom was not important, but for the King of the Kingdom, it was his top priority.
After a long silence, the man opened his mouth.
âDo you have any plan?â
âThere isâŚâ
âHouâŚâ
âHas Your Holiness heard the name of Christoph firm that has its base in the fortress city of Epiroz?â
Responding to the old manâs words, the man shook his head.
The Pope never heard the name of a small business that exists in only one part of the continent.
âSo? Whatâs with that Christoph firm?â
âThey seem to have used the same method as those guys, and made a huge profit from the warâŚâ
Hearing the words of the old man, the manâs eyebrows moved.
âAre they those guys comrade?â
âIt is impossible to understand which side they are on, but it seems that there is a nobleman who supports them from behind the sceneâŚâ
By listening to the old man words, the man understood which the direction the report was going.
âI see, shake that nobleman and see his reaction, huh?â
âYes, we can monitor the trend and see if he is a member of those guys or not.â
âWill he become a good piece, I wonder?â
âYes.â
âGood, Good⌠Letâs go with your plan⌠Hahahahahaâ
The man smirked and crazy laughter can be heard from inside the throne room.
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