The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

42. Devour the Divided Iron! (4)

With Jeyron’s announcement, all of the West Continent erupted in fervor.

Rotheon was the first to react.

Using the Anti-Empire Faction to insinuate that Jeyron was engaging in backdoor deals with the Empire.

As a result, those who came from the Anti-Empire Faction began to waver.

The existing Pro-Empire faction members were also dissatisfied with Jeyron’s decision.

No matter how much they disliked the Anti-Empire faction, selling out their country was a different matter altogether.

In light of this, the Holy Nation and Rotheon swiftly responded.

“The Holy Nation resists the Empire’s tyranny! The Pope’s candid remarks!”

“Rotheon will fight to the end to guarantee Iron’s freedom!”

Both countries launched a public relations campaign to win Iron’s favor due to this incident.

In contrast, Talos, with its poor public opinion throughout the West Continent, was tactically absent from this public relation war.

As a result, the situation began to trend negatively for the Empire.

At this rate, there was a high chance that the Empire and Jeyron would become the embodiment of evil.

However, even amidst this chaos, the Empire remained calm in their response.

“We will not accept it unless the majority of Iron consents!”

Contrary to expectations that they would immediately accept Jeyron’s request and intervene actively, the Empire acted cautiously.

After the Empire’s official announcement, the Emperor soon made an appearance.

“I will not interfere in the affairs of Iron. I hope for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.”

As the Emperor of the Empire personally declared that he would never intervene in Iron’s affairs, the internal opinions of Iron began to shift.

The Empire’s intention to refrain from interfering in Iron was not merely talk. In truth, their military had also retreated from the capital of Iron, all the way back to the border.

As a result, the internal public opinion of Iron flipped overnight.

Despite the Empire’s withdrawal, Rotheon lingered stubbornly in place.

It even started to advance gradually, poised to seize the capital.

The truth was that Rotheon had no choice but to make such a decision as the Anti-Empire faction within Iron was on the verge of collapse.

“Shouldn’t we retreat as well?”

“…If this drags on into a long-term war, we will be defeated. A decision must be made.”

At the lieutenant’s words, Duke Pires frowned.

The Empire’s Intelligence Department had already begun to outpace Rotheon’s own, and the internal circumstances of Iron were shifting toward the Empire.

Under such circumstances, following the Empire’s lead would yield no benefits.

The point had come where they had to reach a conclusion, whether they liked it or not.

“However, Rotheon’s internal opinion says to take a bit more time to observe the situation.”

“Ugh….”

Already, Rotheon had communicated their intent to withdraw and observe the situation.

But there was no obligation to comply.

In battle, the Commander’s orders took precedence.

“If we cannot settle this here, it will be pointless.”

Duke Pires’s opinion was firm. It seemed the Holy Nation shared his thinking, as they were doing everything possible to send a detached unit into Iron’s territory, trying to breach the Empire’s Northern Army.

Only Talos remained.

Although they were labeled as traitors by the entire West Continent, they were aware of their difficult situation, and yet still hoped for a swift decision.

‘Without three countries moving together, there’s no chance of victory.’

Iron’s main forces were already in a recovered state, and many of the Empire’s elite forces were gathered around Iron.

Thus, Talos’s army was critical.

“Duke Cletta…”

Duke Pires was fervently waiting for contact from Duke Cletta.

However, contrary to Duke Pires’s hopes, Duke Cletta was unable to make a decision easily.

“The King wishes to withdraw the troops.”

“Do you believe that withdrawing now will ensure a future for the kingdom?”

“But if we don’t withdraw now, the kingdom itself will be in danger.”

Duke Cletta sighed at the interior minister’s words from Talos.

“Does Marquis Altan share the same opinion?”

At Duke Cletta’s question, the interior minister shook his head.

“He, too, wishes for a conclusion to be reached this time. However… the circumstances are not favorable. Marquis Altan believes that if we do not retreat, the central region will be in danger within fifteen days. A decision must be made within that time.”

Duke Cletta’s eyes widened at the interior minister’s words.

“Fifteen days? Do you think that’s plausible?”

How could one end a war against the Empire’s main forces and Iron’s regular army in merely fifteen days?

Duke Cletta grimaced at the interior minister’s absurd claims.

“Such is the severity of the situation.”

“Exactly how serious is it?”

Duke Cletta tilted his head, unable to comprehend.

“A major assault has occurred from the pirates of the Aisa Archipelago against Talos.”

“If they are our allies, the pirates should be easily manageable…”

“In the meantime, the Southern pirates have begun plundering.”

“What….”

As the interior minister sighed and explained, Duke Cletta looked completely stunned.

“That’s not all. Bandit groups have started their activities near the borders. Simultaneously, mountain bandits are also in uproar.”

“Are all the criminals from the West Continent gathering in our land?”

“Indeed.”

“….”

Duke Cletta’s sarcasm did not deter the interior minister, who responded with a serious expression.

“Of course, included among them will be special forces belonging to the Empire. The problem is that their presence has caused internal disorder.”

“For what reason are we so shaken by a bunch of criminal organizations…?”

“They’re not just any criminal organization.”

Saying this, the interior minister presented evidence of the Empire’s military base being deployed.

“Why are they…?”

Duke Cletta looked perplexed.

He knew that the only southern army capable of dispatching special forces was near Iron; why on earth were they operating within Talos?

“Only minimal forces remain at the Empire’s borders. Those, too, are likely just for show.”

“Are you saying all the remaining forces have been dispatched into Talos?”

“That is what Marquis Altan reports.”

Only then did Duke Cletta finally understand the current situation.

1. Due to the pirates, most of the remaining forces in Talos had retreated south. (Suspected collusion between the Pirate King and the Emperor)

2. Consequently, under the command of the Southern Commander, the Southern Army disguised as bandit groups surged into the emptied border line.

3. As chaos ensued at the borders, the Talos army hastily deployed the remaining forces to fend off the bandit groups.

4. With the security deteriorating all over, various criminals began to swarm in.

The gathering of Southern pirates, bandits, and criminal organizations in Talos was evidence that their current situation was completely chaotic.

“What a complete disaster.”

At Duke Cletta’s words, the interior minister smirked wryly.

“That’s not all.”

“There’s more?”

“The Principality has moved.”

“Even they’re facing trouble trying to hold back Roman…”

Duke Cletta’s words trailed off.

Currently, the Principality was in a situation equivalent to being a vassal state of the Empire.

“They must be attacking our borders alongside some units from the Eastern Army.”

“Indeed. With part of Roman’s forces pulled back, they have additional room and are dispatching some troops into the conflict regions of Talos.”

Only then did the Duke understand why there was a strong insistence on a retreat.

If they truly had no confidence of finishing the war in fifteen days, a withdrawal was necessary.

“…Understood.”

“My apologies.”

The interior minister bowed his head at the Duke’s decision.

He, too, understood how critical this moment was after hearing Marquis Altan’s explanation.

Now that the Empire’s army had drawn back, they had to either seize Iron’s capital and negotiate with the Empire or dominate the entirety of Iron and plunge into a grand war with the Empire.

Fighting against the elite forces of three countries would be a burden even for the Empire.

With Dark Mages and civil war following one after another, the Empire was now facing a prime opportunity to weaken their power.

“The Empire intends to give us no chances.”

If the Empire drags out time, Talos will crumble. Then Rotheon will fall as well.

To endure even a little longer, it was right to retreat now.

Of course, even if they retreated now, Talos’s future would likely remain bleak.

‘At most, it will last ten years. Perhaps even less…’

Even with such a future in sight, they had no choice but to withdraw for immediate survival.

While they were terrified of the Southern Commander’s tactics targeting their weaknesses, they were most afraid of the Emperor.

The Emperor plotted to engulf Talos by manipulating the Pirate King and criminal organizations while keeping them busy in Iron.

What if Duke Cletta, in his greed, decided against retreating and attacked Iron?

“The Emperor is likely planning to withdraw some of his troops, thinking he can consume Talos.”

The die had already been cast.

It was a choice between sacrificing the main force to consume Iron or abandoning Iron to defend the main force.

Perhaps they could force the Empire to focus on the West while consuming Iron, but the odds of that were overwhelmingly low.

“Send this letter to Rotheon.”

“Yes.”

Ultimately, Duke Cletta’s choice leaned towards stability over gamble.

The King and the ministers had also chosen stability, and thus, the Duke had no choice but to follow suit.

Duke Cletta’s letter hastened towards Rotheon’s army. Upon receiving the letter, Duke Pires grimaced.

“Ugh… It’s ruined.”

Duke Cletta decided to retreat.

Although he could be faulted for it, Duke Cletta shared all of his country’s faults with Duke Pires.

If it were him, he would likely have made the same decision to retreat under such circumstances.

“…We shall return.”

“Yes.”

At this point, remaining in Iron was no longer beneficial.

Above all, as the Southern pirates began to become rampant, Rotheon was also suffering accumulating damages.

Moreover, the shadows of the Empire were stirring trouble in Rotheon, depleting massive amounts of resources.

In the end, as Rotheon decided to retreat, the Holy Nation, having heard the news, began to pull back from the border with the Empire.

“Is this how it ends up?”

The Pope sighed.

“My apologies.”

The Sun Blade hung its head as if it had committed a grave sin.

Yet, when one heard it, it was an unavoidable situation.

A Grand Duke who could reach the sixth tier had discarded his pride and was dragging things out with a coordinated attack, making it impossible for the Sun Blade, who had yet to reach Master, to easily overcome him.

The real question was what came next.

“The Empire’s new Master…”

Those who had risen to the status of Master, including the Pope, were aware.

They knew how powerful the so-called “Genius” could be.

Historically, those labeled as geniuses were so strong that even Masters felt a sense of inferiority.

The strongest Marquis Sicario of the West Continent was one such case…

The Holy Nation’s inability to expand even a little in the frigid North was all due to the monstrous Marquis Sicario.

But from the Pope’s perspective, the Young Duke of the Grand Duke Family was an even greater monster than Marquis Sicario.

“The future looks dark.”

If the Sun Blade had managed to kill the monster of the Grand Duke Family, they would have returned with significant achievements, even if they lost the war.

But instead, they had only given him more experience.

A deadly battle with a knight at the sixth tier could provide the stepping stone toward reaching the next level.

There was a chance a new Master could emerge at any moment.

And if the Empire, having consumed Iron and the Principality, was the one to emerge?

“Unification of the West Continent… I cannot allow it to come too easily.”

Muttering this, the Pope gazed at the Sun Blade. Although the future looked grim, they had to struggle.

If the Holy Nation, along with the three countries, were to forge a new Master, even the Empire would refrain from easy unification.

“It seems the role of the Sun Blade is going to become even more important.”

“I will definitely… break through the wall.”

Seeing the Sun Blade speak through clenched teeth, the Pope nodded lightly and mounted the pristine white wagon.

To survive the great threats ahead, the Holy Nation had to tightly lock its doors.

And that applied equally to Rotheon and Talos.

Having lost the war against Iron, the remaining three countries on the West Continent had to prepare to fight for their survival.