Ch.26The Eastern Advance of Prosnak (7)

# Chapter 26: Prosnack’s Eastern Campaign (7)

Unfortunately, contrary to my prediction of Prosnack’s victory, public opinion still largely leaned in the opposite direction.

Some were even spreading absurd slander.

“I heard the Executive Minister has recently developed dementia?”

“That’s what they say. Such a shame at his young age, tsk tsk.”

These fools seriously pushing the dementia theory.

And others pretending to sympathize while subtly manipulating public opinion.

“He must be pro-Prosnack, right? Anyone can see Prosnack’s defeat is certain, yet he keeps insisting otherwise.”

“Wow, really disappointing.”

“…”

Beyond the dementia theory, now they were even calling me a traitor—it was absolutely infuriating.

[Event: Political Slander Campaign]

[Public opinion is ablaze regarding the Minister’s prediction about the war with Prosnack.]

[But in the Empire, public opinion is controlled by the nobility.]

[Which noble has plotted to eliminate their political rival?]

[Or is this simply the work of deranged commoners seeking a slow and painful suicide?]

With even an event notification appearing, I could only sigh deeply.

“…Riel, find out where these rumors are coming from.”

“Already tracked them all, here they are.”

This isn’t Korea, after all, but a space empire in a science fiction world.

Though technically abolished, it was still a society with clear class distinctions, even including slavery.

In such an unequal class-based society, idle commoners wouldn’t dare play games with the esteemed Duke.

“Just as I suspected.”

When a list appeared of those who had benchmarked the media tactics of nearby democratic nations, I could only laugh bitterly.

Riel had the same reaction.

“Why are they so stupid? Media manipulation against a Duke, and a royal at that, in a theocratic, class-based state?”

“I know, right?”

The situation was so absurd that I almost wondered if this was some hidden camera prank.

“Make a separate list of all these people and keep track of them.”

“Yes, understood.”

Unfortunately, the reality of the current situation, including the war, was undeniable.

I decided to carefully plan how to deal with everyone on that list once the current situation was resolved.

Of course, if someone else saw me doing this, they might question my actions.

‘Why are you planning to go after others when everyone can see your prediction is likely wrong?’

And if someone said that to my face, I would confidently reply:

‘No, I’m right. I’m just right.’

And reality was actually moving in that direction…

-Beep beep beep!

When I instinctively checked my device after hearing the alert:

[Breaking News: Kerzin Federation United Fleet Annihilated, Touwa Defense Line Collapsed]

I became certain that I wouldn’t be hearing any more nonsense directed at me.

And while I gained that confidence, it was clear that the warring nations, Sebelli’s public opinion, and the entire galaxy would painfully realize the accuracy of my prediction.

——————–

And Arto’s prediction was proving to be perfectly accurate.

This was especially devastating for Kerzin, who had been so arrogant at the beginning of the war that they even threatened Sebelli when approached for cooperation.

“…According to the last communication from Touwa, Prosnack’s fleet appears to be largely intact.”

“Our… our hope…”

Particularly after learning that their last regular fleet—literally all of Kerzin’s regular military power that they had squeezed out to the extreme as their final hope—had turned to cosmic dust.

“Due to the collapse of the Touwa defense line, Prosnack’s fleet is currently ravaging all our defenseless homelands.”

“No, there must still be hope!”

Of course, Kerzin’s hope—or more precisely, the hope of Kerzin’s self-salvation—was merely gone.

They still had many “friends” remaining, so they thought it wasn’t over yet, but…

“Report! Urgent communication from Zeltech!”

“Connect it!”

-Crackle… static…

-Click… beep!

-“Help us! W-we can’t hold any longer!”

“…!”

-“Cannot maintain the front line! Retreat! Retreat!”

Kerzin had thought Zeltech’s urgent communication meant reinforcements were arriving.

But all they saw was the devastating result displayed on the communication screen, marked as coming from Zeltech’s main Western Fleet Command.

-Static!

“Communication… lost.”

“We just received a message from our ambassador dispatched to Zeltech…”

“…Speak.”

“Zeltech’s Western Fleet Command has fallen. Simultaneously, Prosnack’s mobile squadrons have blocked the Kamira and Hadricus star systems, making further reinforcement impossible.”

With nothing but hopeless news coming in, the fortress commander defending Kerzin’s capital planetary system, Azikross, was filled with despair.

“Urgent message from the patrol fleet in the Central Resource Zone: encountered Prosnack’s grand fleet, requesting immediate reinforcements.”

“Message from the southern Bash planetary outpost: Prosnack vessels continue orbital bombardment, fleet support needed.”

The commander, whose face was covered with cracked and withered scales due to extreme aging over the past year, held his head in his hands.

And such despair wasn’t felt by the commander and his soldiers alone.

“Run! We need to get off this planet as quickly as possible!”

“Where can we run to?! All hyperspace jump routes to other nations have been seized!”

The magnificent motherworld that had supported the beginning and present of the Kerzin Federation.

At the spaceport of Azikross, a planet sharing its name with the star system, refugees trying to escape the war formed crowds every day.

But even if they made it to the spaceport, there were no more spaceships or fleets for them to board.

Trying to escape this desperate situation, Kerzin’s diplomatic ambassadors were acting with completely different attitudes than usual.

“If we all fall to Prosnack, you’ll be next!”

“We implore you to help the Kerzin Federation.”

“Although we appear to be retreating, this is merely part of our strategic operation.”

Of course, their methods varied, including some common fabrications, but…

Regardless of their methods, they all shared a single thought:

‘Hope for the homeland!’

With the hope of self-rescue gone, they threw away all pride and gave everything for their nation’s survival.

But the news reaching them was uniformly 100% despair and gloom.

The diplomats’ blood, sweat, and tears, combined with existing trust, goodwill, and the status of being a vassal state—a perfect collaboration.

Through this collaboration, they barely managed to assemble the fleet of the Sir Citizen Alliance.

And the massive mercenary fleet of the Mekt-Fuks Free Trade Council, the second wealthiest nation after Zeltech, aiming to become Kerzin’s top lackey in Zeltech’s place.

News came that these two hopes had been annihilated in the southern theater and near the capital system respectively.

Additionally, reports that Ztrakfor’s grand fleet had been annihilated after being caught in Prosnack’s maneuvers, and that border fortresses had been breached again, subjecting the homeland to war once more, caused Kerzin’s leadership to essentially abandon hope.

Of course, this didn’t mean they were giving up the fight.

If previously their main goal was to “hold out” in the belief that “support” would come…

-Clank! Screech…

“Redistribute all ammunition from the armory; there’s no need to store it anymore.”

One could see this in the soldiers at the orbital defense facilities, Kerzin’s last line of defense.

They were filled with the resolve to take down as many Prosnack soldiers as possible, even at the cost of their own lives.

And this resolve was demonstrated when they engaged in full-scale artillery exchanges with the Prosnack fleet that soon pushed into the Azikross system.

Despite the orbital defense facilities and their personnel fulfilling their duty in the face of Prosnack’s merciless onslaught, they failed to reverse the inevitable flow.

And finally.

-Rumble…

-Growl…

“So this day has finally come.”

As Kerzin’s final defense line collapsed and Prosnack’s fleet settled into orbit around Azikross, surprisingly, Kerzin’s citizens gathered quietly without much panic.

But this wasn’t a good sign.

They simply couldn’t accept the reality that their great nation was being destroyed and that they would be processed into soap and food.

However, as they say, not everything in life is bad.

After several days of having all resources and fleets blockaded by Prosnack, an unbelievable story began to spread among the people.

“They say the silent Sebelli Empire has finally joined the war!”

“I heard they’re condemning Prosnack through the Galactic Alliance and even mobilizing the Alliance’s peacekeeping forces!”

“No, I heard they directly requested Prosnack to stop the war!”

At first, these were mere rumors.

Literally far-fetched stories, with plenty of cynicism about clutching at straws.

“Realistically, those cannibals wouldn’t listen to Sebelli.”

“On the contrary, they’ll probably invade Sebelli next, saying ‘How dare you.'”

For Kerzin’s citizens, who knew that Prosnack had never seriously responded to the Galactic Alliance’s regulations or condemnations, such cynicism was inevitable.

And this cynicism and contempt turned to despair when the fully assembled Prosnack fleet in orbit deployed its batteries for orbital bombardment, but…

“Breaking news! Breaking news!!”

“The Holy Sebelli Empire has issued an ultimatum to Prosnack through the Galactic Alliance!”

“Sebelli’s entire fleet has just assembled at their border with Ztrakfor facing Prosnack!”

The sudden news spread explosively among citizens hungry for hope, like water being absorbed instantly by dry ground…

And finally.

“Th-they’re retreating! Prosnack is retreating!”

“Prosnack has accepted the ultimatum! We’re saved!”

Was this proving that the rumor—no, the news—was true?

As the cruel Prosnack fleet ceased orbital bombardment and withdrew, the anxious citizens all poured into the streets, bursting into cheers.