Ch.170The Four Kingdoms War (4)

# Chapter 170: The Four Nations War (4)

Just like any other day, catching spies and eliminating lunatics.

“Oh holy saint, please accept our sacrifice!!!”

“Ugh.”

…While protecting my mental health from the madness of even crazier fanatics and handling paperwork in my office.

-Ding♬

[Pause]

[Event: Fuksviet’s Request for Ceasefire Negotiations]

[The Fuksviet Federation has expressed their desire to end the war and hopes both sides will walk the path of peace.]

[Option 1: I have no choice but to accept (War ends, no territorial changes for either side)]

[Option 2: Not a chance (Negotiations end, war continues)]

Seeing the event message that appeared before me, my first thought was whether the 3rd Fleet had already broken Fuksviet’s backbone.

‘Hmm, this messes up my plan to gain experience through actual combat.’

But thinking about it, if Fuksviet is requesting a ceasefire this early…

That must mean they’ve been fighting intensely.

After careful consideration for a moment…

‘Anyway, continuing this war would only result in our fleet getting wiped out, so there’s no need to push further.’

[Option 1: I have no choice but to accept (War ends, no territorial changes for either side)] <Selected>

I immediately pressed option 1.

[Pause Released]

After unpausing, I continued my peaceful and happy(?) life as an office slave.

However, about a week later.

“Wait, so you’re saying that as soon as our fleet arrived, Fuksviet sent over a ceasefire proposal?”

-“Yes, that’s correct, Minister Arto.”

Through the event choice, I learned just how poorly this “ceasefire negotiation” that was automatically handled had been executed.

‘Are they joking? Who negotiates a ceasefire the moment we arrive?’

And because of this, the 3rd Fleet and the Riksi Commonwealth fleet that I had sent out had to return without firing a single shot.

Suddenly, I realized I would have to pay additional compensation to the Riksi Commonwealth who hadn’t done anything.

‘Damn it all.’

—————————————–

Of course, the Fuksviet Federation wasn’t exactly thrilled about this situation either.

“What kind of nonsense is this!”

“Everyone will think we got scared and tucked our tails between our legs because we feared the Sebelli Empire!”

“What was the Supreme Military Committee thinking when they did this?”

If they had at least exchanged fire as a show of deterrence or threat, it might have been different.

For the hot-blooded militaristic Fuksviet admirals, negotiating a ceasefire without even fighting was…

Absolutely unthinkable, but…

“You’re purged.”

“Ah.”

As a result of letting their blood boil too much…

Many fleet admirals received “personnel orders” from the Fuksviet Supreme Military Committee and were demoted in large numbers.

But as historical figures have proven, one cannot continue operations through purges alone.

After making examples of some admirals who crossed the line, the Supreme Military Committee decided to explain the situation to the disgruntled front-line admirals.

“Are we only dealing with Sebelli? Aren’t we thinking about Prosnark?”

“Ah.”

“Think about it, use your brains!”

And that explanation was, of course, the threat of Prosnark, which was always used like a cheat key for security matters in this galaxy.

“Prosnark’s 10,000-ship fleet that invaded the former Kerzin Federation still hasn’t returned to their homeland and remains on standby.”

“Their excuse is ridiculous—they claim it’s for maintaining public order.”

Since it was clearly too large a force for mere “public order maintenance,”

The Fuksviet leadership couldn’t afford to keep focusing on the Eastern Three Nations.

Of course, in reality, the 15,000 ships in the Kerzin Federation couldn’t return because of the Kerzin Federation’s resistance and guerrilla warfare from the John-Bernater Line.

But since the Fuksviet leadership and admirals had no way of knowing this truth at the time…

It was natural for them to think that Prosnark would ride the momentum and invade them.

Moreover, the composition of the fleet that Sebelli Empire brought was extremely important.

“Although the Sebelli Empire’s fleet is powerful, wouldn’t it be manageable if we exclude their unique massive ships?”

“No, they’ve absorbed not only the Riksi Commonwealth… but also the remnants of the Kerzin Federation’s fleet.”

“…!”

As Arto had previously rambled, the Kerzin Federation’s fleet carried significant weight among the galactic nations.

“Are you saying they have a fleet that destroyed half of an enemy 20 times stronger than them?”

“Yes, they have forces worth 10 men, and if you add the Riksi Commonwealth’s fleet…”

The Fuksviet Strategic Planning Bureau and General Staff calculated that the Sebelli Empire had effectively mobilized the equivalent of two fleets.

“Think about it, those two massive ships they’ve been boasting about during the expedition didn’t even participate.”

“Even assuming the super dreadnought is being repaired due to damage from the Nano Machine War, it’s certainly strange.”

“So from Sebelli’s perspective, the remnant fleet of the Kerzin Federation must be as valuable as deploying their massive ships.”

“Oh.”

In truth, the Supreme Military Committee had no intention of backing down against just one fleet.

But two fleets…

And with forces that included a regular, fully equipped fleet from the Holy Sebelli Empire, one of the galactic superpowers…

Even for the Fuksviet fleet, which had preserved its strength through rotating battles, the damage would be too significant to ignore.

“Then we have no choice.”

“Ah, we’re just keeping an eye on Kerzin for now, that’s all.”

Additionally, there was another reason why Fuksviet had to retreat quickly…

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“You seem to be crossing the line a lot lately. If you don’t tone it down, we might need to reconsider our relationship.”

“…”

The Fuksviet Federation’s ‘only’ friendly nation.

Existing not as an ally but as a friendly nation.

And simultaneously acting as a natural barrier protecting the southern region of the Federation.

The Loirakhan Republic, known as the hegemon of the south, had put the brakes on Fuksviet’s actions.

Of course, Fuksviet was extremely displeased with Loirakhan’s intervention.

“Loirakhan… talking back?”

“Want to taste a southern economic blockade?”

‘Those damn reptilian bastards.’

“If you keep crossing the line, you’ll truly become an international pariah, you know that? Watch yourself.”

For Fuksviet, which had already severed practically all diplomatic and trade relations due to various insane actions and recent betrayals, if the Loirakhan Republic were to turn its back on them as well…

It was obvious that invasions would begin from all directions except their home ground in the east.

“If we’re not careful, we might end up facing a coalition of Prosnark, the Eastern Three Nations, Sebelli, and Loirakhan.”

“Oh.”

Since front-line admirals obviously wouldn’t know about this situation…

The Fuksviet Supreme Military Committee organized and presented these facts, forcibly cramming the situation into their heads to prevent any further rebellious thoughts.

“Now, let’s have a peaceful discussion.”

“…They truly have no shame.”

To avoid the worst-case scenario of a three-front war, they had pulled out the ceasefire negotiation card, which went against their very nature.

The ironic part was that they also viewed this ceasefire negotiation as merely buying time.

“Well, I thought we would at least exchange fire once or twice with the Sebelli Empire.”

“M?aybe.”

Moreover, considering Sebelli’s notorious bureaucracy, Fuksviet thought that processing the ceasefire negotiation would take a very long time.

During the ceasefire negotiations, they had an ambitious plan to quietly nibble away at the remaining defensive line of the eastern nations.

But as Minister Arto’s catchphrase—now considered a galactic proverb—goes:

‘Life never goes according to plan.’

This time, it was the Fuksviet Federation’s turn to experience this truth.

Because no one expected to receive an immediate acceptance of the ceasefire request within a day…

No, within just one hour of sending it.

“What the hell.”

And because of this, Fuksviet’s operational plan to nibble away at the Eastern Three Nations’ defensive line and quietly expand their territory even a little bit…

Was sent straight to the trash bin before it could even begin.