Ch.176Chapter 176. Regular Meeting / Serpina (1)

After finishing preparations to go out early in the morning.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“I’ll be off.”

“Have a safe trip, Master. Swen.”

“G-good luck…!”

After saying goodbye to the head maid and Reika who were seeing us off-

Irene and I began walking side by side toward the royal castle.

“It’s been a really long time since we did this, Lady Irene.”

“Hmm?”

“You know. Do you remember? That time when you asked me to walk a bit apart from you.”

“Ah…”

Irene smiled softly after hearing my words.

“That’s right. Back then, I had to do that or I would have caused you trouble. Ah, good morning.”

Even as we walked, many people recognized her and greeted her first.

After becoming the vice commander, she seemed to have established her own position within Serpina’s army. It appeared she even had a small number of officers following her.

As for my feelings-

Watching Irene interact with people who greeted her gave me a fresh sense of nostalgia.

Now she was exchanging greetings with so many people, but back then, truly no one acknowledged Lady Irene.

While I did feel a bit sorry for the dismembered Brans Army and Lynn Brans with her broken expression, seeing Lady Irene’s smile didn’t particularly make me feel guilty.

I had simply protected the person I needed to protect.

“I’ve never regretted it even once.”

I looked straight into her violet eyes as she turned her head to look at me.

“Taking your side, Lady Irene.”

“Swen…”

“Even if the same situation came up multiple times, I would have done exactly the same thing, Lady Irene.”

Irene stared at my face without saying anything-

Then, with a smile, she nodded and answered softly.

“Yes.”

It feels like just yesterday that I thought I wouldn’t be able to escape Serpina’s enchanting smile.

Looking at Lady Irene’s adorably lovable expression now, I was freshly reminded that human affairs can’t be so easily determined.

She truly is beautiful, Lady Irene.

A beauty that certainly doesn’t fall behind Lady Serpina’s.

And so, we arrived at the royal castle.

As the vice commander of the occupation forces, she apparently had somewhere else she needed to stop by.

I suppose her position would be different from mine as a regular officer.

“Swen. I’ll see you later then.”

“Yes.”

After sending Irene off, I arrived at the meeting room alone first.

Quite a few people had already gathered in the meeting room.

Seeing that there were still many faces I didn’t recognize, I thought perhaps I should get more involved in central politics.

“Oh? Sir Swen!”

“?”

When I turned my head at the sound of someone calling me, a woman with a familiar face was standing before me.

“Silin?”

“You remember me? It’s been a long time!”

She smiled brightly at me, but honestly, I wasn’t that pleased to see her.

We had only briefly been acquainted during my time in the Brans Army.

Nevertheless, showing an appropriate level of pleasure would be the socially correct response here.

“What a surprise to see you here, Silin.”

“Actually, I knew you were here, Sir Swen.”

“What?”

“Lady Irene told me!”

As I heard the explanation, it seemed Silin was Irene’s roommate.

Really, what a coincidence this was.

It’s not like we’re at a Brans Army alumni meeting, yet we end up meeting like this…

“Anyway, it’s nice to see you. If we ever get a chance to work together, let’s do our best!”

After exchanging brief pleasantries with Silin, how much time had passed?

As quite a few people gathered in the meeting room, I could see that Irene had positioned herself at the front where the major figures would be.

‘She’s moved up in the world.’

And after some time had passed.

With footsteps echoing through the quiet meeting room, the golden-haired sovereign – Serpina – slowly walked to the throne and sat down.

Jenna followed behind her.

Serpina’s figure was so elegant that it was enough to draw everyone’s attention.

“”Welcome, my lord.””

“Yes. Thank you for waiting.”

Serpina asked the national advisor Jenna who was beside her.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“…”

She silently looked around, then stood up, extended one hand and said:

“Then from now on, let us begin the regular meeting of our Serpina Army.”

“”Yes!!””

With countless officers’ voices resounding, the regular meeting began.

“Let’s start by receiving reports from the castle lords.”

And so, one by one, the castle lords came forward to report on the current situation.

This time took longer than any other, because the territories under Serpina Army’s control were more numerous than any country I had been through.

The entire northern continent and parts of the central continent – certainly, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Serpina Army was the absolute power on the continent at this point.

After the castle lords’ reports were finished.

After a few minor rewards and recognitions were given, she finally began to address the main topic.

“Now, let’s determine the policy of our army. I would appreciate it if anyone with good opinions would speak freely.”

At that moment.

“May I present an opinion?”

A middle-aged man at the front of the left row raised his hand and spoke.

‘That person…’

That face, I felt like I had seen it before.

I think he was a general who often appeared when facing the Serpina Army.

His name was definitely Kransis.

“Speak, Kransis.”

See? My memory isn’t dead yet. Well, I did play this game for ten thousand hours.

“All of us in the occupation forces have been sharpening our swords waiting for this moment. I believe now is the time to act. We should mobilize all available troops to conquer the four territories of the Aeshus Army. My lord, please make the decision!”

Kransis said this while bowing his head.

So, he wants to immediately march south and begin the occupation?

It’s not an incomprehensible decision. If I didn’t have the predictions from my Intelligence 100 brain, I might have said something similar.

The Brans Army, which was a massive threat, has been split into three, the southern nations are still unsettled, and the Aeshus Army is barely managing to defend itself.

Could there be a better time to move than right now?

“Are there any other opinions?”

‘Is she asking me to show my abilities?’

After letting out a small sigh inwardly.

I slowly raised my hand.

“My lord.”

At my voice, the attention of many gathered here focused on me.

Serpina met my eyes, and with a smile so subtle that very few would notice…

“Speak, Swen.”

She said to me, which felt to me like she was saying she trusted me-

“I believe the excellent choice would be to deploy occupation forces throughout various parts of the continent for patrol, while simultaneously focusing on internal affairs.”

I boldly stated.

At my suggestion to deploy occupation forces throughout the continent and focus on internal affairs, many people, including Kransis who had presented his opinion earlier, gave me questioning looks, but I didn’t particularly care and only looked into Serpina’s eyes.

“…I see. Is there anyone else who wishes to make a suggestion?”

Even though more opinions could have come forward… it was surprisingly quiet.

Whether they didn’t want to create opposition with Kransis, or because all the opinions that could be presented – “let’s fight” and “let’s not fight” – had already been put forward, I’m not sure, but in any case, the situation had become a one-on-one between me and Kransis.

“If there are no additional proposals, I will now ask for your overall opinions. First, those who agree with Kransis’s opinion, please raise your hands.”

At those words, most of the officers standing on the occupation forces’ side raised their hands.

Fortunately, or should I say, the number didn’t appear to be a majority at first glance.

It felt like about half had raised their hands… definitely not quite a majority.

One notable point was… that Jenna, who was standing next to Serpina, also raised her hand.

As she was none other than the national advisor, Serpina looked at her with an amused expression and asked:

“Oh? Jenna. Do you agree with Kransis’s opinion?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I would like to hear your brief explanation.”

“May I make one request before that?”

“I’ll listen and then decide.”

“After my explanation is finished, please give us another opportunity to vote.”

She’s coming on more aggressively than I expected.

Serpina, without being flustered, calmly asked:

“It seems you want to persuade them?”

“Yes.”

Serpina nodded and said:

“However, I think it would be unfair to give only you such an opportunity.”

Jenna glanced at me and said:

“How about giving the other side a similar opportunity?”

“I see, Swen.”

The ball suddenly came flying to me, but without being flustered, I casually returned it:

“I have no objection.”

Only then did Jenna nod and briefly explained:

“The biggest concern in occupation is of course the Aeshus Army’s defense line. It’s an undeniable fact that the Aeshus Army has gathered highly renowned and excellent officers, and their castle defenses are solid and difficult to breach. However, with the Brans Army in chaos, there is no place our army cannot conquer.”

“We may suffer some losses in the process, but the only opportunity to take our time with the Aeshus Army is now. If we can somehow destroy them, the landscape of the continent will change dramatically. After the chaos within the Brans Army settles, everything will become more difficult. Therefore, I would like you to consider that the optimal timing to conquer the Aeshus Army is right now.”

After her explanation was finished.

“Then, I will ask once more. Those who agree with Kransis’s opinion, please raise your hands immediately.”

Again, quite a few officers raised their hands.

The difference from before was… this time it clearly looked like a majority.

In other words, they had been persuaded by Jenna, the national advisor.

After assessing the situation, Serpina spoke again:

“Good. Now, those who agree with Swen’s opinion, please raise your hands immediately.”

With Serpina’s words…

Most of the remaining people began to raise their hands.

Lady Irene, as expected, had raised her hand for my opinion.

I felt oddly grateful that her willingness to trust me was so evident.

“Then, now it’s my turn to persuade, correct?”

“Please wait a moment.”

At that moment.

Jenna interrupted me as I was contemplating what to say.

“Since Sir Swen is the proposer of the opinion, I think it would be fair to hear from someone else here.”

“…Excuse me?”

“After all, I am not Kransis, who proposed the original opinion, am I?”

‘Ah.’

Jenna’s logic was this:

Since the second round of persuasion wasn’t done by Kransis himself, it would be appropriate for someone other than me to do the persuading on my side as well.

If I wonder why she’s going to such lengths, the answer comes rather quickly.

‘She’s trying to check me.’

Just as many people check Irene, I too am a subject of scrutiny.

Moreover, I was in a situation where strange rumors were circulating about me and Lady Serpina.

It wasn’t unnatural for Jenna, the national advisor, to be wary of me.

So how should I proceed here?

Since it was their side that initiated this kind of “persuasion” in the first place, there was no need for our side to accommodate them completely.

Serpina would likely take my side as well, so I was about to subtly suggest that they shouldn’t be unreasonable when-

“Advisor. In that case, may I speak here?”

“…???”

From among the crowd with raised hands, an unexpected male voice was heard.

The owner of the voice was a promising black-haired spearman and handsome man – Irian Al Kaski.