??Chapter 355: Volu 6: Cautious Planning Chapter 10: Conspiracy_2
Chapter 355: Volu 6: Cautious Planning Chapter 10: Conspiracy_2
“Rohl, don’t lose your composure,” said Duke Zellin as he took a sip of the fruit-juice wine handed to him by his attendant. “They are not having an easy ti either. The ‘Utrecht Decree’ still cannot be fully implented. If it weren’t for the support of financiers and usury rchants, the kingdom’s finances would have likely collapsed by now. With the Northern Beastn rampaging, the kingdom has many expenses; its army is stretched thin, and military expansion requires funds. His Majesty the King probably spends his nights just as restless. However, those two from the North seem to be wavering in their stance, likely intimidated by the beastn’s atrocities. The Caucasus has now beco the kingdom’s focal point of attention. You had better be cautious,” he continued, savoring the fragrant blend of juice and fernting alcohol, a sensation that Duke Zellin always enjoyed and savored.
He paused, took another large sip, and as if savoring sothing in his mind, he said, “This may be our opportunity, and we must be prepared. The past few years have been prosperous, and we have been saving for so long, it’s ti we made a move. I plan to increase the number of soldiers in the Galle Infantry and adjust the Nirvana Knights accordingly. I doubt the kingdom can withstand this year’s southward invasion of the beastn. Sigh, beastn ard with battering rams and siege instrunts… I shudder at the thought of those fierce and terrifying creatures operating those battering rams. Sotis I think, should we not support the kingdom? At least with the kingdom acting as a shield, we can avoid facing the beastn’s blades directly. But indeed, this is a rare opportunity we must seize. Perhaps if the kingdom survives this ordeal, our good days will be over.”
Philip’s heart chilled, and after a mont of contemplation, he finally responded, “Gofi, in your opinion, we can’t maintain this situation for long, can we?”
“Heh heh, Rohl, what ti do you think it is now? Are you still hoping for peaceful coexistence? I’ll tell you, these past few years it’s been the Church of Light infiltrating the North too aggressively, making the kingdom wary. They diverted so of their attention to them, and it took a lot of effort to curb the montum of the Church of Light. Now that the beastn are stirring up trouble, it’s actually helped us. Otherwise, His Majesty the King would have acted against us long ago. Hmph, His Majesty harbors a deep hatred towards our opposition to the ‘Utrecht Decree.’ That decree is the foundation of the kingdom’s survival and the death knell for our downfall. Its persistence determines life and death, and it’s only because of our stubborn resistance that the decree hasn’t been fully implented. Otherwise, those nobles beneath us would have run to Jazair to flatter His Majesty. If that day cos, we would have no choice but to bow. However, His Majesty’s patience is growing thin, and sooner or later that day will co. Haven’t you seen that the Iron Cross Corps has already been ford? I tell you, there are reliable sources saying that the Blue Dove Corps is also being established. His Majesty the King has made such a big decision, and it’s probably not solely about the beastn, right?”
Zellin glanced at his old friend walking beside him, who still hadn’t abandoned those unrealistic illusions, thinking that marriage ties could ensure his position. He doesn’t consider that, with His Majesty’s temperant, he would not ignore the interests of the kingdom because of blood relations; that would be too naive. Having co this far, there are no more chances to turn back. If he continues to waver, downfall awaits.
“No, old friend, you’ve misunderstood; I’m not seeking to coexist peacefully with the kingdom. But as you’ve noted, the beastn’s onslaught in the North grows like a tide. If we keep dragging our feet behind them, I fear the kingdom will collapse instantly, and we will imdiately face the beastn’s blades. If we can strike a balance and let the beastn keep draining the kingdom’s resources, while we secretly build up our strength and avoid open conflict with the kingdom for now, wouldn’t that be better?” Philip’s gaze flickered, seemingly unsure of himself.
“Wrong, utterly wrong! Philip, you’re vastly underestimating the kingdom’s power. The old tirs in the Central Kingdom are definitely not as simple and incompetent as you imagine. Although the beastn were able to take advantage last year, that was because the kingdom didn’t anticipate that the beastn would obtain battering rams, high-level instrunts like that through other channels, and were caught off guard. There’s certainly more to it, but I think the kingdom will soon co up with counterasures. According to the current situation, the beastn seem to lack the technology to produce these instrunts, and they are not even proficient in using them. Moreover, reliable sources indicate that the number of these weapons the beastn have obtained is very limited. Perhaps a surprise attack at a critical mont could have a significant effect, but once the opposition is prepared and inford, it would be hard to replicate the previous year’s situation of annihilating three kingdoms and a city-state, unless they could get a massive quantity of reinforcents. So, unless the secret supporters of the beastn provide them with a large scale of these instrunts, it’ll be tough for the beastn to pose a substantial threat to the kingdom. At most, it’ll be a few allies on the West suffering so damage. I’m thinking, perhaps we’re perceived as the biggest threat in the eyes of His Majesty the King. Could it be that His Majesty the King might take the threat of the beastn as an excuse to expand his army, actually aiming at us?”
The tone turned serious, and even the form of address suddenly beca formal, showing the degree of Zellin’s concern for the matter.
“Do we really have no other choice but to stab the kingdom in the back?” With a complex expression, Philip had long known that both he and Zellin were already riding on the tiger’s back, with no other option but to continue resolutely. Either they would succeed and add two dukedoms to the Blue Continent, at the cost of the Kingdom of Nicosia losing its wealthiest third, or the Hor region and Galle Region would remain, only covered with countless small territories, with no family ever able to contend with the Central Kingdom again. However, with deep-rooted ancestral ties to the royal bloodline, he was always sowhat reluctant to accept this reality. As ntioned, family interests were paramount; either through matrimonial alliances or bloodlines, all of those must be predicated on the existence of the family. It wasn’t his or Zellin’s fault, they could only lant how small the world was.
“This year, when the beastn launch their attack, that will be our best opportunity. Starting now, we must deny the kingdom any aid from Gold Shield. Jazair’s financiers, those Western allies, those officials in the Central Kingdom who have had their fill of our Gold Shields, we need to make our position clear with all those we can control or influence. It’s ti to show our hand unless the kingdom accepts our terms. But I think that on this point, the stubborn His Majesty the King would rather die than agree at first. Therefore, we must try every ans possible to weaken the kingdom, to prepare as much as we can for our new order. Once everything is considered, I believe His Majesty the King will make a calm and clear-headed judgnt,” Zellin didn’t answer the other’s question. He had long understood what was on his mind—those words were nothing more than a fig leaf to cover the sha in his heart. When the ti truly ca, Zellin believed that the other would act more decisively and ruthlessly than anyone else.
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