Ch.122Chapter 122. Opinion Proposal Meeting (1)

And so, the opinion suggestion meeting began.

Following Serpina’s lead, a light discussion started.

“Amin. Let’s hear your opinion.”

“Yes.”

The male general called Amin bowed his head deeply and spoke in a spirited tone.

“We must immediately mobilize all available troops.”

“Troop mobilization, is it.”

Serpina stroked her chin with her snow-white hand and asked.

“And your reasoning for this?”

“To prepare for the conquest of the Central Continent.”

“As you know, I just recently returned to Einhart Castle, didn’t I? Yet you’re suggesting we prepare for conquest again?”

“Yes. First, please review the materials I’ve prepared.”

Amin took out a map from inside his garment and unfolded it before Serpina.

“We must seize Anel Castle from the Brans forces as quickly as possible and push them back to the mid-west. If they lose their capital, Anel Castle, the Brans forces will surely collapse without a chance to regroup!”

…Huh?

Something seems off… for such a confident explanation… he seems to be bringing up matters that have already been decided on the field.

The reason for not engaging the Brans forces was because we confirmed they were diverting troops from the front lines to Anel Castle.

Abandoning half their territory meant they were focusing on defending their capital while simultaneously indicating they had no means to gather more soldiers for the time being.

So rather, it would be more effective to maintain control of this territory and disrupt the Brans forces’ “selection and concentration” strategy.

Of course, the Brans forces could conscript if they wanted to.

They could gather troops by taking every male—boy soldiers, elderly soldiers, even those with minor disabilities—

But inevitably, that process would destroy civilian morale toward the Brans forces, likely creating a situation from which they could never recover.

And soldiers gathered so desperately would hardly fight effectively.

In other words, by not interfering and allowing them to maintain their territory, we would induce the Brans forces to make a bad move—

Yet Amin seemed completely unaware of what had already been decided on the field.

He was speaking with bright eyes and strong conviction.

“Hmm. I understand. Then, I’d like to ask the rest of you.”

Serpina, without further comment, looked around at us and opened her mouth.

“What do you think of Amin’s opinion? Everyone feel free to answer.”

Since the question was asked, I might as well input my thoughts.

I entered whether Amin’s opinion—”seize Anel Castle as quickly as possible”—would be most efficient for us.

[It is not.]

‘As expected, it’s not.’

The moment I learned the absolute conclusion that now is not the time for battle.

“My lord.”

A female general raised her hand.

“Speak, Sika.”

“While there is some merit to Sir Amin’s opinion, now is indeed not the time to prepare for battle.”

What followed was roughly similar to the conclusion reached in the field.

Of course, by “roughly similar” I mean—there was something superfluous about her opinion, a sense that it wasn’t properly organized. In other words, it felt like hearing an amateur’s response.

Thinking about it, I noticed that both the man called Amin who just spoke and the woman named Sika, as well as all the other officials, were extremely young.

At this point, I could guess the real purpose of this “opinion suggestion meeting.”

‘Separating the wheat from the chaff… is it?’

So, they gather newly appointed officials to check their eloquence and whether they have the insight to utilize that eloquence?

With that in mind, I could understand why the generals who participated had such proud expressions.

If my guess is correct, most people here were probably called for the first time?

Over twenty-eight sessions, the members kept changing, giving everyone a chance to make an impression on Serpina…

No wonder.

I thought it strange that when Amin presented his not-so-great opinion, Serpina didn’t answer herself but gave others a chance to speak.

When Irian gave his opinion at Hispil Castle, she had directly countered his logic herself.

‘If you belong to Serpina’s army, you get one chance regardless of your name or reputation… is that it?’

Considering how Lynn Brans treated unremarkable officers when she briefly ruled a territory of similar size, Serpina’s approach seemed quite progressive.

For a ruler leading such a vast territory to personally check the abilities of all her subordinate generals was certainly not an ordinary person’s thinking.

Yet by having Jenna observe beside her, I could sense her determination not to make all decisions based solely on her own opinions.

Serpina von Einhart.

The more I learned about her, the more terrifying she seemed.

‘Perhaps Serpina should be considered Lunarian’s true rival…’

“…That concludes my opinion.”

“I understand, Sika. Then, Amin, let me ask you again. Has your thinking changed? Or if you have any rebuttals, feel free to share them.”

“…No. I… withdraw my opinion.”

Amin answered with a slightly resentful, trembling voice.

While this could be considered highly disrespectful in some circumstances, Serpina didn’t seem particularly concerned and immediately turned to Sika.

“Now I’d like to hear your opinion, Sika.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Sika nodded and spoke in a careful tone.

“I agree with focusing on internal affairs, but I also agree with gathering troops.”

“You agree?”

“Yes. However, rather than mobilizing existing forces, we should newly recruit from territories where conscription is currently possible. I believe these gathered troops should be stationed as border guards at the frontier, not for invasion.”

From there, Sika developed her logic based on her own thoughts.

To summarize in one sentence—’While now is not the time for invasion, since we never know what might happen, it’s important to secure as many troops as possible at the border.’

It’s certainly a textbook answer. It’s not a bad idea to send more troops to defend Serpina’s already expanded borders.

After listening attentively to Sika’s words, Serpina slowly nodded, then looked at us again and asked.

“What do you think of Sika’s opinion? Again, feel free to speak freely.”

Setting aside my desire to say how grateful I am for her asking questions each time—

I lightly entered Sika’s opinion in my mind.

[Close.]

‘Oh.’

It’s been a while since I’ve seen an opinion described as “close.”

But if it’s close to being most efficient rather than actually being most efficient… does that mean sending reinforcements to the border isn’t the exact right answer?

At that moment.

“My lord. May I offer an opinion?”

“Speak, Miles.”

The man designated as Miles answered in a resolute tone.

“I agree with Lady Sika about reinforcing troops, but those troops should be stationed here at Einhart Castle.”

“Why?”

“The foundation of a country is its capital. No matter how safe its position, unfortunately, there are many foolish people throughout the Northern Continent who are swayed by malicious rumors about our lord. Fortifying the capital is more important than anything, yet our capital’s defensive forces have been reduced by two-thirds for the continental conquest. I believe we should replenish these forces.”

So he means that since rebellions might still occur in the northern inland regions, sufficient forces should be stationed in the capital.

“That’s his opinion, but what do you all think?”

Let me input this Miles person’s opinion now.

[Close.]

‘This is also close?’

Then is reinforcing troops the correct answer?

But… just not stationing them at the border or the capital?

While Sika and Miles were debating back and forth about their opinions, I was lost in my own thoughts.

‘If gathering troops and then where to station them is the key point that determines “efficiency”…’

There’s still some puzzle piece missing.

I want to reach a conclusion, but I can’t with just the information provided so far.

After that, the remaining members each expressed their opinions.

Some argued that conscription itself was problematic, while others conversely suggested invading the Aeshus forces.

Both resulted in [It is not], so there was no need to pay much attention to them.

Others suggested stationing troops at places like Kelstein Castle, but this too only resulted in [Close].

Finally, my turn came.

“Swen.”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to hear your opinion now. You’ve been particularly quiet, just listening.”

It seems my silence caught her attention, as I simply hadn’t found an opportunity to interject.

But I don’t really have anything to say…

‘Recruiting troops seems to be the right answer, but I lack information on what to do from there…’

Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, didn’t Sika just say:

“Rather than mobilizing existing forces, we should newly recruit from territories where conscription is currently possible.”

‘Doesn’t “territories where conscription is currently possible” imply that other territories aren’t suitable for conscription?’

If recruitment itself is the answer, perhaps leaving those conscripts in place might be the efficient approach.

I wanted to think more about it, but now was the time to take a chance.

“I agree with gathering troops.”

“‘Agree with gathering,’ you say. That sounds like there’s more to your statement.”

“Yes.”

Until now, Serpina had been asking how we felt about each opinion after it was stated.

So this time too, I’ll just use my Intelligence 100 to confirm.

“However, I believe the conscripted troops should remain stationed in the territories where they were recruited. That would be the most efficient approach.”

“Oh? Is that what you think?”

Serpina asked with gleaming eyes.

Simultaneously, I entered my own opinion into my mind.

[That is correct.]

‘So this really is the right answer?’

It seems the correct approach is indeed to conscript troops and then leave them in place.

The problem was moving them anywhere at all.

“Yes, it is.”

“Is that so? That’s quite an interesting opinion.”

But.

Serpina’s expression after hearing my words was somewhat peculiar.

Not just her—Sika and the other members were also looking at me with puzzled expressions.

…Come to think of it, which territories currently have the capacity for conscription?

“…Excuse me, Sir Swen.”

Sika directed a question at me.

“Yes, please speak.”

“Are you claiming that conscripting troops and then stationing them right where they were recruited is the most efficient decision?”

“Yes.”

There’s no room for doubt now. My mind said it was correct.

“…I apologize, but currently there is only one territory with the capacity for conscription.”

“And where is that?”

“Mair Castle.”

Mair Castle.

I know it well.

It’s located at the eastern edge of the northern continent, a territory of little importance.

‘…Huh?’

Stationing troops in such a remote place is the right answer?

“Are you saying that stationing troops in such a remote location is the efficient approach?”

‘….’

I was momentarily speechless.

But anyway, shouldn’t I follow where the compass points?

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I said this and then smiled confidently.

As if I had known everything from the beginning.