Chapter 385: The Clash Before the Throne
"Your Majesty, the envoy from the Kingdom of Kassander has requested an audience. Additionally, the envoy from the Kingdom of Thrace is also seeking an audience."
The voice of the Tiefling captain of the guard echoed.
"They've both come?"
"Quite swift, aren't they? Not even leaving me a moment of rest."
Cassius stretched his wings, flexing his massive dragon form, and sighed.
The Kingdom of Kassander is ruled by Otis Aragon, the eldest son of Aragon I. It occupies the southeastern part of the former Holy Fadlan Empire, encompassing vast territories such as the Ateya Plains, the Heris Basin, and the Levin Forest.
This region is flat and expansive, with a temperate climate and abundant resources, often referred to as "the land blessed by the Sun God." It is also the birthplace of the Holy Fadlan Empire.
The old emperor once used the Kassander region as a base to expand his territory, eventually creating the massive entity that was the Holy Fadlan Empire.
After the collapse of the Holy Fadlan Empire, its vast body split into three, with the Kingdom of Kassander emerging as the strongest among them.
Currently, the War of Kings has raged for several months, yet the Kassander Kingdom's divine army continues to fight on two fronts while firmly holding the former Holy City of the Fadlan Empire—Teotihuacan, also known as the "City of Sunlight." They still control the Eternal Sun Pyramid.
Intelligence regarding the Kassander Kingdom was projected for everyone in the throne hall to see.
Cassius casually asked,
"What do you think the Kingdom of Kassander is here for? Share your thoughts without worrying about my opinion."
"To declare war!"
"They're here to declare war on us!"
Tinia eagerly offered her opinion.
The court officials exchanged helpless looks, while Langpu, her so-called "teacher," lowered his head and covered half of his grotesque face with his hand.
"Why?"
Cassius's lips twitched slightly.
Tinia, thinking she had received approval, wagged her tail enthusiastically and approached, answering excitedly, "Because you're so powerful, Your Majesty. They must dislike you for it!"
"Also, those ministers told me Kassander is the wealthiest region in the south. They say the soil there practically flows with gold. If we could take it over, heh heh—"
"Ow—!"
A shriek cut her off mid-sentence.
The atavistic white dragon was kicked out of the hall, rolling several times before shakily standing up, her vision spinning and mind dazed.
"Alright, go play outside,"
Cassius said indifferently, then added,
"Langpu, you're responsible for tutoring Tinia in politics and history. I expect results within a year."
"Yes, my lord,"
Langpu nodded repeatedly, forcing a smile more miserable than tears.
Grand Marshal Dolo of the Earth Goblins stepped forward, kneeling on one knee before the throne, and spoke in a deep voice,
"Your Majesty, I believe they are here to seek cooperation."
"Oh? And what makes you think so?"
"Distant alliances and nearby conquests."
Dolo articulated the phrase he had learned from the players, word by word.
"The Kingdom of Kassander is fighting both the Kingdom of Seleucia and the Kingdom of Thrace to fully occupy the City of Sunlight. Even though Kassander is the strongest of the three, they must be under enormous pressure from the war."
"Our empire, located behind the Thrace Kingdom via the Anzeta Corridor, can launch a surprise attack from their rear at any time."
"If the empire enters the war, it might not cripple Thrace entirely, but it would certainly force them to redeploy troops hastily, diverting their attention from the southern front and relieving Kassander's pressure significantly."
Dolo's confident and resolute words drew nods of agreement from the gathered officials, including the red dragon himself.
"Excellent."
"Then do you think we should join the war?"
"..."
Dolo lowered his head in contemplation before finally raising it, his tone firm and his eyes filled with ambition.
"Your Majesty, I believe the division of the Holy Fadlan Empire presents a rare opportunity. The empire should concentrate all its forces in the south to collaborate with the Kingdom of Kassander, launching a pincer attack on Thrace to carve up its territories entirely."
"If the south were to reunify under a single empire, it would be difficult for us to advance southward again, let alone achieve our grand blueprint for dominating Faenso."
This time, however, the red dragon did not nod in agreement. Instead, he continued surveying the hall, signaling for others to voice their opinions.
Langpu stepped forward calmly, kneeling on one knee before the throne as well.
"Marshal Dolo, aren't you being too extreme?"
"The empire has just unified Anzeta. War and noble exploitation have severely damaged production in the former northern lands. This is a time of rebuilding and urgent development."
"We haven't even fully absorbed our domestic territories, and you want to commit all our resources to the south?"
"Even if the empire were to conquer the Kingdom of Thrace, do you believe we have the capacity to govern it?"
Langpu's sharp and unrelenting criticism left little room for compromise—he had already discerned Cassius's stance from the earlier silence.
"You—"
Dolo's face flushed with anger, but his years of high-ranking experience allowed him to suppress his fury.
The Earth Goblin Marshal snorted and retorted,
"Lord Langpu, by the time your five-year development plan is complete, the Kingdom of Kassander might have already destroyed Thrace. The empire won't even get a taste of the spoils."
Langpu sneered mockingly,
"You think the Kingdom of Thrace will fall within three years? Do you believe the divine nobles under Wilhelm are pushovers?"
Realizing he was losing the argument, Dolo resorted to tactics taught by his player advisors.
"Hmph, are you intimidated by their reputation? Are you underestimating the empire's strength, or questioning His Majesty's power?"
Langpu only chuckled coldly, speaking deliberately,
"Impressive growth, Marshal Dolo. You've even started learning the common rhetorical tricks of humans."
"Langpu, I think you're the one who's learned cowardice from humans!"
"Courage without wisdom is recklessness. In this regard, you might not even surpass Lady Tinia outside."
"You—"
"Enough."
Cassius's voice rang out.
Langpu and Dolo immediately fell silent and returned to their positions.
However, Dolo glared sideways with resentment, while Langpu appeared smug, half-closing his eyes as if he hadn't just been embroiled in a heated dispute.
"Let's end this pointless argument. Have the envoy from the Kingdom of Kassander enter."
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
the officials responded in unison.