Chapter 185. The Hunter and the Trap (2)
Reviewing is one of the activities I consider most important.
In fact, this is an old habit.
The habit was ford during my school days when my dreams were not yet broken.
At the end of each training session or competition season, I would conduct a review with the PE teacher who acted as my coach.
That review included not only results like training progress and competition awards, but also a process of ticulously checking all sorts of physical information, diet, training thods and volu, sleep, and even stress levels from trivial habits and personal relationships that had been consistently recorded.
‘Now, look here. V-O-two max. Maximum oxygen uptake. Compared to the last ti we asured it… Huh? What, are you bored?’
‘……No, sir.’
Personally, I found that more arduous than the training itself.
Being a teenager in my late teens, it must have been even more so.
Don't they call it the age when blood boils?
However, on days when I showed even a hint of boredom, a long speech was invariably added to the review process.
‘What is sports? Huh? What is running? It's a field of infinite competition and winner-takes-all. Right? But, can you do anything about the results? Can you paint the dal color as you please?’
‘……No, sir.’
‘No! In the end, all you have in your hands is the process. That, what's it called. Right. The input! Not the output, the input!’
Well, now I agree.
Determining the output of life is an equation I cannot touch.
And it's a complex polynomial equation with countless variables involved.
The only variable I can change is the input.
The habit of reviewing is the sa.
The accident, a variable, broke my dream.
But the effort of reviewing I had put in beca a constant called habit, remaining for a long ti and being applied to other equations in life.
In Warlord Conquest.
In poker and chess that I enjoyed as hobbies.
And in the bloody battlefields and daily training I've overco countless tis since falling into this land.
I reviewed like a habit, and thanks to that, I've co this far.
This reconnaissance mission is no exception.
Through review, I analyzed the military strength of the Eastern Empire in detail.
“The number of enemy troops is around 300,000.”
In the strategy conference room of the Imperial Capital, Wolfskrig.
In the guise of the emperor, I pointed to the map spread on the round table and spoke.
“Currently, after defeating the Lur Legion in a field battle, they have entered into a mopping-up operation against the remnants near the Eastern Wastelands and the Great Desert.”
“Lur… I had heard intelligence that they had been revived, but it seems the ruins have co to life and are moving.”
“By the way, an army of 300,000 is beyond our estimates. How did they cross the World's Wall mountain range?”
“It's not for nothing that all nine of the dwarves' holds were captured. Ah, I ant no offense. King of Kings.”
“...It's fine, it's all in the past.”
I let the attendees share so of their impressions for a mont.
This is a strategy eting to prepare for the war that is not far off.
I have gathered only trustworthy people who share their fate with the Empire.
The list of attendees can be counted on two hands.
The highest-ranking commanders of the Imperial army gathered in the Imperial Capital, such as Archduke Gabir, the Northern Archduke, Count Pewin, and Count Ash.
The leaders of our two allied races, King-of-Kings Ungol and Elf Queen Karen.
Finally, Yula Katran of the Imperial Secret Knight Order and Ella Siollus, designated as the representative of the Four Great Magic Towers.
Including myself, the emperor, there are exactly nine people.
‘Nine? Isn't it eight? Count Ash and Emperor Ricardo are the sa master anyway.’
‘Right. Aren't you just playing with them all in the palm of your hand anyway?’
‘Om nom?’
‘……Quiet.’
How dare you make such a reckless statent during a sacred and democratic strategy eting.
Anyway, I have opened up as much information as possible.
This is a war on which the fate of the Empire hangs.
It's different from the battles I fought as a lord.
Even if I had two or three bodies, it would be impossible to devise and execute all the strategies, doctrines, and counterasures by myself.
When the attendees had sufficiently exchanged their opinions, I continued speaking.
“Half of the 300,000 are the Eastern Empire's central army. So they are basically human.”
This part is not a burden.
They are ard with various cannons, guns, spears, and swords, and have 'generals' like the Empire's knights, but that's all.
Of course, there are a few other races, to use an Eastern expression, like the Miao or Wa tribes.
There are also spiritual creatures like flood dragons and dragons.
However, they are all within an acceptable range.
The past year.
With the authority of the emperor, which Ricardo had greatly strengthened, I operated the entire empire on an ergency system.
I also gained staunch allies in the dwarves and elves.
Qualitatively and quantitatively, we have the upper hand in all aspects.
The problem is the other half.
I distributed a bundle of papers on the round table.
“This is a drawing depicting the other half of the enemy army. It was drawn based on the testimonies of survivors and information obtained through reconnaissance and intelligence. As you can see, they are not human.”
“Is this… a monster?”
“They're creatures I've never seen before. At least, they are not among the creatures or spirits the fairies interact with.”
“Oh? I feel like I've seen sothing similar to these in ancient murals……”
Again, after waiting for so reaction, I spoke.
“Siollus.”
“Yes? Ah, ? Your Majesty?”
“Yes. You. Explain the ancient murals you've seen.”
“It's nothing special. Lur is the most famous, but it's not the only civilization that disappeared thousands of years ago, right? Like the Surum Empire or the Vitro Kingdom. I often explore for the purpose of researching ancient spells, and I've sotis seen murals depicting such twisted creatures.”
The witch of mad fire said, scratching her red hair.
I had her sit down.
“Siollus is right.”
The 300,000-strong expeditionary force of the Eastern Empire.
Half of them are monsters.
The twisted enemy soldiers that appeared as enemies in my nightmares, who look like they ca up from hell.
They are the topic of today's eting and the challenge we face.
“These are the forces called the legion of monsters or demons, which have often appeared in the histories of the downfall of ancient kingdoms.”
“I cannot tell you the source, but according to detailed reconnaissance reports, their combat power varies. From twisted dwarves that even an eight-year-old child could beat with their bare hands, to giant monsters that beat down the Lur Legion's colossi at will.”
“The existing doctrines were made for humans, mages, artillery, and demi-humans. Now, our main enemy has been added. These monsters.”
“Each of you, within your command, devise a new doctrine. I'll give you 24 hours. We will et again at this ti tomorrow.”
I adjourned the eting.
There is no ti to waste.
According to the daily reconnaissance reports sent by the Vampire Duke, the Eastern Empire's mopping-up operation against the remnants of the Lur Legion is showing visible progress.
Before long, when the mopping-up operation enters its final stage, the tip of the sword that is the Eastern Emperor will be pointed directly at the Empire.
The war has already begun.
As I've said repeatedly, a population bomb was dropped on Wolfskrig during the process of moving the capital.
Literally a bomb.
The officially tallied number of immigrants who moved from the old capital to the new capital reached a staggering four hundred thousand.
This is only the figure for those from the old capital.
History has taught us countless tis that people tend to flock to where others have already gathered.
Looking at Earth after the Industrial Revolution, didn't it also experience a global wave of urbanization?
The sa thing happened here.
Countless immigrants from all over the Empire, the City-State Alliance, and even the Theocracy flowed into the Imperial Capital and the Ash County.
The exact number cannot be tallied, but Bart's administration estimated it to be around 100,000 to 200,000.
Adding to this the number of dwarf refugees who ca over after the fall of the Elven kingdom and the nine holds established next to the Imperial Capital, another 50,000 to 60,000 are added.
‘It was a good thing we increased food production in advance.’
The production volu I had increased with the thought of dominating the Empire's rice industry beca the daily bread for the immigrants.
Of course, that's not all.
No matter how well the territory's farming is, it is difficult to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.
There was unexpected good news.
Around the ti the immigrants began to settle down one by one, grains and specialty products from all over the Empire began to arrive one after another.
‘This is the harvest from this autumn.’
‘We were a bit late because we had to reroute from the old road to the Imperial Capital.’
That's right.
Taxes.
Although it's a mix of a centralized system and a feudal system, the master of this empire is still the emperor.
A lord under the emperor's rule has a duty to offer a portion of their territory's products.
Tax revenues amounting to double the usual year's amount poured into Wolfskrig from all over the Empire.
I later found out that in that year, strangely enough, all sectors, from farming and livestock to even the black market rchants who paid bribes to the lords, experienced a great boom.
It's surely no coincidence that this was around the ti I took on the identity of Emperor Ricardo.
‘Since I beca the emperor, it's highly likely that a trait buff was applied to the entire empire.’
I didn't know it would count even if I just took on the appearance as one of my identities.
I had never beco an emperor in this way before.
Anyway, I have acquired quite a few miscellaneous traits related to territory productivity.
From traits that directly affect industry and tax revenue like [Oh My, A Bountiful Harvest!], [Tax Collector], and [The Lord is a Friend of Animals].
Traits that help with territory efficiency and cost reduction like [Governnt Efficiency Departnt], [Voluntary Relief Trend], and [Happy Virus Host].
To traits related to black market dealings and smuggling like [Black Market Operator], [eting at the Water Mill House], and [Black Hand].
‘The smuggling part seems like it could beco a problem later on…’
Well, in the short term, it's a plus factor.
The inco from smuggling and underground organizations eventually flows into the coffers of the powerful.
It's a ti when even a handful of supplies and manpower is needed.
As a result, the administrative staff was on ergency alert due to the flood of population and supplies, but this ti too, they managed to handle it sohow.
If there was one more pillar of support, it would be the discovery of the natural gas field.
The dwarves discovered it.
The over-technology dwarves holed up in the mountains call natural gas 'Dragon's Breath' and often use it.
In particular, it was confird that there is a massive deposit of natural gas under the city grounds of Kalisto.
Unfortunately, that will soon be gone.
Because the operation to use the city as bait is not far off.
Still, a small amount was also discovered in the mines of Wolfskrig.
The tall spires of the new imperial palace offer a view that extends even to that place.
From the beginning of its construction, I had the dwarves make it so that the entire city could be seen from it.
“You were up here, Your Majesty.”
A voice ca from the direction of the stairs.
Only four people can enter the spire.
, Olif, Alina, and Archduke Gabir.
“The wind is certainly strong in high places. It feels like the tower is shaking, perhaps it's just my imagination.”
“Gabir.”
“Were you looking at the Imperial Capital?”
“You can see it all at a glance from here.”
The Archduke, on the cusp of old age and middle age, with his hair beginning to gray, stood beside .
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