Ch.164Great Offensive (1)

# Chapter 164: The Great Offensive (1)

*Ding!*

[PAUSE]

The world immediately froze, and a new event message appeared before my eyes.

[Event: Operation Burnatherion]

[The Prosnack Alliance has begun a major offensive toward Kerzin’s Zon-Burnater Line, mobilizing all available forces, fleets, and even special weapons in a gamble that stakes their national fate.]

[How long can the Kerzin Federation withstand this massive offensive, unprecedented in the history of the entire galaxy?]

[‘Greatest Offensive in History’ trait assigned to Galactic Alliance member nations (Goodwill -10, Trust +50 toward Prosnack Alliance)]

‘Are they insane?’

Just how many troops would they need to mobilize for this to appear as an event message?

At the very least, there was no such event in the game I used to play, so I was feeling quite perplexed…

But I couldn’t just sit still and do nothing about this.

With a strange feeling, I immediately released the pause and tried to speak further with Ambassador Jamiya.

[PAUSE RELEASED]

But the moment I released the pause.

*Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!*

An urgent alert sounded from Ambassador Jamiya’s terminal.

Ambassador Jamiya and I exchanged glances, then without hesitation, we both picked up our terminals to check the report.

The title of the report displayed on the terminal screen was extremely concise.

[URGENT: Prosnack Alliance deploying all forces except regional defense troops toward Kerzin.]

‘…’

The content was anything but simple, so I looked up from my terminal toward Ambassador Jamiya.

And just as we had been conversing until moments ago, Ambassador Jamiya, who had heard nothing about this matter…

“T-this is absurd… why would Father… what if Ztrakfor or Fuchsviet makes a move…”

Appeared quite flustered, seemingly unable to string words together properly.

Unfortunately, the current situation didn’t allow me the luxury of being considerate to Ambassador Jamiya.

“I apologize, but it seems we need to conclude this meeting quickly, however rushed it may be.”

If I wasn’t careful, there was a possibility that the colonial empire’s ghost lurking in the hearts of Artraia and the ministers might be revived.

I tried to stand up to prepare to return to the mother planet Ka’zan as quickly as possible.

But at that moment.

“W-wait, Minister Arto.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry, but if you’re planning to go to the Imperial Palace, may I accompany you?”

Ambassador Jamiya, who had been exuding bewilderment until just now, suddenly calmed her emotions and displayed a very rational attitude and expression.

“…”

[PAUSE]

I pondered briefly on how to respond to Ambassador Jamiya’s request.

After what felt like about two hours of deliberation, I released the pause and then.

[PAUSE RELEASED]

“Very well, let’s go right away.”

After downing the last of the special “beverage” that Gaia had prepared for me.

“Let’s go, Riel. Stop bothering Gaia!”

“Hmph.”

I took Riel, who had been doing things that would make species from the now-extinct Polaberia Republic weep, and headed straight for the Imperial Palace of Ka’zan.

———————————————

Naturally, after entering the Imperial Palace and stepping into the royal council meeting.

A heated atmosphere immediately enveloped us.

“Now that the Prosnack fleets have largely disappeared from our borders, this is our golden opportunity to reclaim our lost territories!”

“Right! Right!”

‘These damned ghosts of militarism and imperialism.’

Inside the grand conference hall where the royal council was being held, the first thing that caught my eye was the madness of lunatics calling for the recovery of lost territories, thinking that Prosnack had shown a “weakness.”

But this fervor wasn’t solely due to that madness.

Perhaps thanks to my thorough purging and normalization efforts, unlike in the old days (about 10 years ago)…

“Does that even make sense?”

“Unlike before, since we’ve received compensation from the Prosnack Alliance… making additional demands would be internationally illegal.”

Since there were now quite a few reasonable council members.

The opinions from both sides were evenly matched, making the already fiery atmosphere even more intense.

But that was only before I entered…

“Ahem, ahem…”

“Let’s all calm down and discuss this rationally.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

After I entered the royal council.

The attitudes of the imperialist ghosts immediately subsided, and they clearly began watching me carefully.

But that was only when they were looking at “me” alone.

When they saw Ambassador Jamiya who had entered with me, passing by Riel at my side.

“Why is the Prosnack ambassador entering with Minister Arto?!”

“Minister, surely you haven’t surrendered to Prosnack?!”

…they shot me looks that suggested they wanted to say such things, with expressions and gazes aimed wildly at me.

Nevertheless, the fact that they didn’t speak directly showed that my previous education had been effective.

‘Ah, how nice it would have been if things had been like this from the beginning.’

With such thoughts, I first bowed my head to our Emperor who was presiding over the royal council.

Artraia, who had turned her horns and tail OFF again, as I paid my respects.

“Your Majesty, I, Duke Arto Virtorius Sevelli, have just arrived.”

“…Hmm, you came faster than expected.”

Of course, since this wasn’t Artraia’s private chamber.

Nor was it like the occasion arranged by Saint Eternia last time.

As this was the most official setting within the Holy Sevelli Empire.

My and Artraia’s manner of speech consisted of typical dialogue used in a sovereign-subject relationship.

“You may proceed to your seat, and now that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has arrived, let us formally begin the council.”

“”””Yes, Your Majesty!””””

‘Ah, so until now they weren’t in council but simply arguing among themselves.’

———————————–

The topic of the meeting, filled with numerous electronic images and personnel, was naturally the current situation.

Specifically, how the Holy Sevelli Empire should respond to the Prosnack Alliance’s invasion of the Kerzin Federation.

“Your Majesty, we wish to advise that this is our only opportunity to reclaim the territories lost to Prosnack!”

“We must no longer tolerate Prosnack’s aggressive actions, Your Majesty!!!”

The opinion of these frenzied war hawks could be summarized simply as follows:

‘Now that Prosnack is throwing a serious punch at Kerzin, pulling in fleets from all directions, if we stab them in the back now, how could they possibly withstand it?’

Of course, there were opposing opinions as well.

“As I mentioned earlier, since we’ve already received compensation from Prosnack regarding this matter… we cannot suddenly wage war.”

“Right now, as the Prosnack ambassador is conveniently here, I must point out that Prosnack has not only provided compensation but also sent the daughter of their supreme commander to us.”

The opposition emphasized the fact that thanks to Gaia, we could terraform paradise planets for free.

And not simply as a plenipotentiary ambassador.

They stressed that they had literally sent their own daughter as a “hostage” to us.

In summary… they emphasized that since we had already received compensation from Prosnack, we couldn’t just rush in claiming to recover the northern territories.

As I also agreed with this position.

Given my significantly elevated position in the power hierarchy, now even bearing the title of ‘Saint,’ though I didn’t speak.

I subtly nodded my head whenever such opinions were expressed, lending support to the opposition’s views.

“Besides, to be honest, no matter how much our fleet power has been strengthened… it’s still woefully inadequate compared to the Prosnack fleet, isn’t it?”

They tried to gain the upper hand by pointing out the difference in fleet power levels as the final nail, arguing that war would be unreasonable.

But as soon as the war hawks received this opposition, they eagerly brought up a new argument.

“Of course, no matter how powerful our empire is, attacking Prosnack alone would indeed be dangerous.”

“Then why do you keep talking about war…”

However, just as the opposition tried to respond.

“But! If we form an alliance with Ztrakfor, we can certainly crush Prosnack’s defensive forces and seize all their vast western territories!”

“The Defense Committee Chairman’s words are absolutely correct, Your Majesty!”

“Especially since Prosnack’s capital region is right in front of the Ztrakfor Council, isn’t it?”

Plans to exploit our most benevolent Ztrakfor friends flowed freely.

At the same time, seeing the opposition member who had mentioned the fleet power difference maintaining a calm expression without any change.

I realized that our war hawk uncles had employed a certain cunning.