Ch.263Raid Preparations Done Right (4)

# Chapter 263: Thorough Raid Preparations (4)

Fortunately, the issue mentioned by the elderly Minister of Defense was naturally resolved not long after.

“You’re talking about the subspace portal?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

This was because we decided to ask the person who knew the most about the matter and who had suffered the most damage.

Of course, this wasn’t because I was an unfilial child with no tact or some crazy kid.

Subspace portal technology was something that, along with the jump drives used by the Pioneer Empires, would only be accessible in the very late stages of the game.

Currently, if we were to compare it to a normal game, we were at a point transitioning from the middle to the late stages.

Even Minister Bermutt, the empire’s greatest genius and most intelligent person, couldn’t provide any answers regarding subspace portals.

Therefore, among the people I could meet now, Saint Maria was the only one who knew the most about this matter.

With a sense of having no other choice, I had to arrange a meeting with Saint Maria.

[Game Paused]

[Event: He Does Not Understand the Victim’s Heart.]

[Your surprisingly cold attitude may raise caution among those around you and neighboring countries.]

[However, such an attitude is an excellent choice for a diplomat and leader.]

[You will be given quite a complex evaluation.]

[Attribute “Cold-blooded” granted to Minister Atro Virtorius Sebelli]

[Game Resumed]

‘If they interpret it that way, what does that make me?’

Although that kind of event shook my mental state, could I really be defeated by something like that?

Anyway, while I was lost in these idle thoughts, Saint Maria took some time to contemplate.

Eventually, she nodded to herself and began speaking to me.

“There is one thing I can say for certain.”

“What is that?”

“Regarding the concerns you and that Minister of Defense have, there is no need to worry at all.”

Her assertive declaration left me rather perplexed.

And regardless of my reaction, Saint Maria continued.

“The reason that being was able to launch a surprise attack on our empire through a subspace portal was only possible because he had ‘previously’ created the portal.”

“Previously, you say?”

“Yes. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, seeking revenge against us for destroying his civilization, he utilized traces of subspace that he had already opened slightly.”

From Saint Maria’s words, I realized one thing.

“Saint, doesn’t that mean the Ancient Emperor could have created additional subspace portals in the Sebelli Empire’s capital where he’s been staying all this time?”

But to my question, Saint Maria shook her head and replied.

“The fact that we failed to detect these subspace portals was largely due to our arrogance…”

As she spoke, Saint Maria lifted a ‘brick’ made of psionic energy in her hand.

“Our psionic barrier was so thick and dense that we couldn’t properly detect traces of subspace portals.”

“…What does that mean?”

In response to my question, Saint Maria turned the ‘brick’ in her hand into mist and smiled as if it were nothing.

“But there’s no need to worry now. Admiral Lüchou’s fleet has already thoroughly searched every sector of the Kesada planetary system and confirmed there are no traces of portals.”

“…I can only express my deepest gratitude.”

“Well, we might be caught off guard once… but to be fooled twice would make us unworthy of being called Pioneers.”

———————————————-

After resolving the subspace portal issue and returning to the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry.

“The subspace portal issue has been completely resolved, so you can work without worry.”

-“Who on earth told you that? Even Minister Bermutt said he didn’t know.”

“It was Saint Maria.”

-“…Do you really hate seeing me rest even for an hour? You went directly to the Saint of Eternia to ask about this?”

“Just keep working. A father figure naturally sacrifices for his children.”

-“You damn—”

-Beep!

-Communication terminated.

After forcibly ending the communication with the frustrated elderly Minister of Defense, Riel, who was standing nearby, approached and said:

“If you push him too hard, won’t the Defense Ministry grandpa end up going crooked?”

“I think he went crooked about 100 years ago.”

“Well, that’s true.”

It was truly amusing to tease the old man who had been denied retirement permission for over 100 years, now approaching 120 years.

But I couldn’t keep teasing the poor old man forever.

I was about to accelerate the raid preparations that still had a long way to go.

But at that moment.

-Ding♬

‘Huh?’

[Game Paused]

With a familiar notification sound, a new event appeared.

No, it was a quest message window.

But thankfully, it wasn’t some useless strange quest…

[Quest: Thorough Preparation is the Key to Victory]

[No amount of preparation may be enough to face the Ancient Emperor.]

[However, any preparation is better than none.]

[Solve each step carefully and thoroughly to achieve victory in the war against the Ancient Emperor.]

[Objective 1: Fortify 5 key planetary systems in the warp gate network]

[Objective 2: Recruit at least 2 additional fleets of regular fleet size by Holy Sebelli Empire standards]

[Objective 3: Install large-scale minefield in expected arrival star systems]

[Reward: ???]

‘Oh.’

It was a planning-type quest telling me what I needed to do in the current situation.

Moreover, the objectives weren’t unreasonably absurd but quite achievable…

Or they were things already in progress.

‘This is good.’

I decided to proceed with the next preparations for the Ancient Emperor raid according to the objectives provided by the quest.

And thinking about it, the quest objectives were quite reasonable.

‘If that bastard Ancient Emperor invades with the Scourge, he’ll obviously use our warp gates.’

Especially for our Holy Sebelli Empire, which has a more active warp gate network than other nations.

Not using the gates would be the more foolish action.

Of course, as mentioned above, our Minister of Defense was already working tirelessly on the warp gate network.

I realized I didn’t need to think more about that part.

Therefore, I could precisely identify what I needed to do.

‘Number 2, fleet power expansion.’

I needed to secure a reserve force I could directly use—two regular fleets…

That meant securing a fleet of at least 10,000 ships as reserves.

And fortunately, I already had a “fleet” that could be used as such reserves.

—————————————-

-“I can’t believe you’re contacting me after all this time! I’m truly overwhelmed!”

“It’s been a while, Admiral.”

One of them was the former admiral of the Warlord’s Keshik Fleet.

Now he led a mercenary fleet that doubled as a PMC group and was known as our empire’s highest taxpayer.

‘…What was his name again?’

The problem was that it had been so long since we last met that I had forgotten his name…

-“Hahaha! I knew the Minister would still call me Admiral!”

“Hmm.”

Fortunately, the pirate—I mean mercenary admiral—seemed to take it well, which made me breathe a sigh of relief as I began speaking.

I also ignored Riel, who was giving me a subtle look from an angle behind the communication screen where the admiral couldn’t see.

And shortly after.

After confirming that the mercenary fleet’s strength met the requirements of a regular fleet, I immediately wanted to establish a fleet-level contract.

-“When the Minister and my patron wants to hire my fleet, how could I refuse? By the way, how quickly should we arrive?”

“Well… the sooner you arrive, the better docking positions you can secure.”

-“In that case, we’ll depart immediately.”

But the mercenary admiral didn’t just view my proposal positively.

As if he had become a fervent loyalist, he immediately agreed to the contract and said he would come to the capital.

“Hmm…”

He even abruptly ended the communication, leaving me quite confused.

Seeing my reaction, Riel, who had been watching the communication, said:

“Enchanting both men and women—you truly are a bewitching existence.”

“Be quiet.”

She was needlessly provoking me.

But hiring the mercenary fleet was just the beginning.

“Now it’s time to call the Papal Judgment Fleet.”

“Ah.”

I contacted the Papacy, wondering if our fanatic fleet still maintained its monstrous size that devoured money.

And not long after…

“The Holy One! Wants! Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Long live the Holy One! Long live Sebelli!!!!”

“Wow.”

I was astonished to see two Judgment Fleets of 5,000 ships each gathering in orbit around the capital.