Ch.248The Man with a Sinister Plan (4)

# Chapter 248: A Man Making Sinister Plans (4)

After hearing Maria’s explanation, Fern’dus indicated that he needed some time to think and stepped back.

However, before withdrawing completely:

“I will bring a plan regarding this matter. For now, proceed with the rest of the planning.”

Perhaps it was his confident assertion that the Prosnack fleet could be restored, but the meeting’s atmosphere, which had been sinking into depression at the thought of the fleet’s inevitable transformation, began to heat up again.

Though not purely out of enthusiasm…

“Little one, I’m quite curious to see what method you’ll come up with.”

“Despite your senility making you act more childish than my daughter, I must adapt to your efforts to resolve the situation, mustn’t I?”

Perhaps it was due to Fern’dus’s age-related provocation before he disappeared.

“Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh…”

As evidenced by the thick veins bulging along his jawline and forehead, contrasting with his smiling face.

“Children, let’s make sure to thoroughly crush that arrogant little brat’s pride.”

There was a strong sense of burning passion, though in a somewhat different meaning.

“Now, quickly bring up the map!”

But the overflowing enthusiasm (?) was real, so it was a good thing anyway.

“Hmph… not understanding the taste of maturity proves he truly is just a child.”

“…”

“Holy Maiden is not rotten like these old men, but rather like a well-aged wine, with a profound maturity that harmonizes perfectly with her firm, supple body.”

*SMACK!*

Meanwhile, Admiral Lüchou, who was standing next to the Holy Maiden, was spouting his own bizarre theories…

While maintaining her smile, Maria silently launched her Dragon Fist, sending him flying three times his height before he sprawled across the conference room floor.

*CRUNCH, CRUNCH! CRUNCH!*

“Admiral Lüchou, don’t you think staying quiet for a while would be beneficial for the remainder of your life?”

“Guhhb, grububgub.”

Except for the minor incident of Maria enthusiastically stomping on the admiral’s head with her bare foot.

——————————————

From this point on, unlike before, the meeting proceeded extremely smoothly.

Of course, the main reason was that the framework of the plan was already established…

“Ultimately, isn’t the purpose of our meeting to use the space monsters swarming around the Eternia capital planetary system to check Fuxviet?”

“I think it’s a good idea, although Fuxviet won’t be defeated by space monsters…”

“Dealing with an inferior race’s nation using primitive monsters—this is truly the way of the superior!”

“If we do this right, we can maintain our forces for striking ‘that person’ while blocking Fuxviet’s movements.”

On top of that, we can make the opponent suffer one-sidedly without depleting our own forces?

‘I’m so happy~’

If we could additionally succeed in instigating the discontented factions within Fuxviet to rebel…

It would be practically the same as having all the nations of the galaxy in our grasp even before capturing the Emperor.

[Pause]

‘Wait, if that’s the case, couldn’t we achieve victory without even capturing the Emperor?’

Even I, who was explaining the plan, found this tempting…

‘No, that would be biting off more than we can chew.’

With no idea when or where the Emperor might appear…

Trying to swallow a massive nation like the Fuxviet Federation would exponentially increase the risk.

Perhaps the Emperor’s “followers” or “minions” who might still exist could infiltrate our forces.

Of course, the Emperor himself—or rather, Riel—directly stated that his followers had been annihilated.

But in a world where fools who believe their enemies’ words verbatim cannot survive, I decided to proceed more cautiously with this matter.

Anyway, after organizing my thoughts, I unpaused and decided to rejoin the meeting.

[Unpause]

———————————-

The meeting was now firmly settling on the idea of unleashing space monsters on Fuxviet, but…

“Um… I have one question, though?”

“What is it?”

In place of the absent Fern’dus, Olivia, the Minister of Intelligence for Prosnack, was participating as Samiya’s aide.

Despite his name, the elderly man wore a slightly suspicious expression.

Unable to directly manipulate the map in the conference room due to distance constraints, he used a robot arm connected via hyperspace communication to point at the Fuxviet region on the galactic map displayed in the middle of the conference room—specifically, a tactical diagram showing the forces of each nation centered around Eternia’s capital planetary system.

“According to our previous intelligence, Fuxviet Federation’s defensive forces currently deployed toward Eternia are extremely minimal.”

“Ah, I’ve heard that.”

From Fuxviet’s perspective, before the removal of Eternia’s psionic veil…

The current Eternia direction was literally just a rear area where they would never face enemies.

The defensive forces there consisted of only patrol fleets to deal with pirates and fortresses to protect trade routes.

Of course, since Fuxviet wasn’t some “stupid♡incompetent♡can’t even defend♡” bunch, they had already begun fortifying the area in earnest.

Additionally, I already knew through our agents who had infiltrated the intelligence department under his command that they had dispatched part of the federal fleet urgently, but…

“But with the rapidly changing situation, won’t the Fuxviet Federation do something?”

Since revealing that we knew what Prosnack Intelligence had only recently discovered might make them suspect their information was leaking…

I deliberately pretended not to know and presented an obvious point that even a three-year-old could understand.

…Well, thanks to my intimate and sticky relationship with Samiya, we had essentially formed a marriage alliance.

But it never hurts to be cautious.

However, while I was thinking this, Minister Olivia shook his head, indicating denial.

“That’s only how it appears. According to our latest intelligence gathered since yesterday… Fuxviet’s protective stance toward Eternia is nothing more than a ‘facade,’ nothing more, nothing less.”

Then, using the mechanical arm connected via hyperspace communication to mark various lines and indicators on the tactical diagram, Minister Olivia continued:

“Currently, Fuxviet Federation’s forces are already stretched thin just countering our 60,000-ship fleet and ISTO’s forces.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that.”

“Moreover, no matter how massive Fuxviet is, it pales in comparison to us who control the entire northern galaxy… and ISTO, which combines the west, south, and parts of the east, doesn’t it?”

With those words, the minister drew several circles on the map and continued:

“While they are a federation with considerable power, their economic capacity simply cannot sustain such mighty forces.”

“You mean…?”

Drawing a line near Fuxviet’s Eternia front, Minister Olivia nodded through the screen and said:

“This line represents the fortress ‘line’ that Fuxviet claims to have. They say they’ve completed fortification and dispatched fleets, but…”

“Hmm?”

“In reality, fortification hasn’t even broken ground, and the fleet dispatch consists of merely a detachment of about 1,000 ships.”

“Oh.”

“And in this state, if space monsters are released toward Fuxviet as you suggested…”

Minister Olivia then drew a thick line from Eternia’s capital planetary system, pausing slightly in front of Fuxviet’s defense line.

*SLASH!*

As if possessed by madness, he violently slashed across that line.

Then, drawing lines haphazardly in all directions throughout Fuxviet’s territory, he said:

“The defenseless Fuxviet Federation will suffer a fatal blow, losing all its rear areas including important industrial zones and shipyards, and will be completely overrun by space monsters.”

And with those words, the tactical diagram showed Fuxviet Federation’s territory being split in half ‘beyond imagination’.

‘Oh shit.’

I realized that if we proceeded with this operation as planned, we would end up inviting a new threat while trying to secure our rear.

Because of this suddenly emerging concern, I was about to sigh and pause again, but…

Just then, Fern’dus appeared on the communication screen and spoke:

“Ah, regarding that matter, I believe I can handle it directly, so there’s no need to worry.”

His confident demeanor seemed to naturally inspire trust.

But wondering exactly what he planned to do, I—along with Arthraia, Samiya, and even Lady Maria—all looked at Fern’dus with puzzled expressions.