#13 Waiting for Spring (9)
Things took a strange turn and I couldn’t just sit still.
The property that Elbus had handed over, assuming it had been raised, became EW’s stock.
That also became a 6% stake.
To say the least, since I had earned something for 10 years, it was strange even if it was small.
Aside from that, the problem is that it’s too much money, but anyway.
“… Then the talk is over. Leave you out!”
“yep! Call me anytime!”
Edward knelt down behind the sash shack and left the room.
That would break my knee joint… No, I’m not in a position to care about that human knee.
Elric sighed deeply and pressed his temples.
“Shouldn’t you have told me about that beforehand?”
As I grunted at Elbus, the answer he spat was like that.
“You didn’t ask.”
I wonder if this situation is so funny, I can see everything inside just by looking at his smiling face.
It’s ridiculous to grumble even more since he’s definitely left his property and didn’t care.
Elric made up his mind and finally looked at Credon.
“So, can we talk about it now?”
Credon nodded.
Elric’s concentration increased.
How the hell did the situation turn out so that he, the prince, personally went all the way to this quaint town?
More questions than ever before,
“The empire will be torn apart.”
The answer came out in a form he had never imagined.
*
Creedon spoke at length.
Even though only necessary causal relationships were explained until reaching the conclusion that ‘the empire is split’, the words did not stop until the tea cooled down.
Elric summarized his words as best he could, feeling his head pounding.
“So, factional rivalry intensified within the Empire. And one of the two factions is the core personnel of the previous generation who have already retired. The conflict came to the brink of escalating into civil war. Did I understand it right?”
“I understand it more clearly.”
“What is the emperor doing?”
It was a natural question.
It is an exhibition that is not normal.
It is now just before the hegemony of the West is decided.
They must know that even if they join forces as one, they will not be lacking, so how can they plan a civil war?
Already feeling victory in the war and aiming after that?
It’s nonsense.
It is said that the war has come to an end, but in other words, the real war has now begun.
Anyway, isn’t it now that the 7th has started to stand on the battlefield in earnest?
The war that will follow is like a ignited fuse.
If it gets worse, it gets worse, and the momentum weakens and the possibility of confrontation again is extremely slim.
However, in this situation, what the hell is the emperor doing now, who needs to coordinate internally?
Credon answered the obvious question.
“It’s a scarecrow. My father.”
That meant a lot.
Elric’s eyes sank.
There is an accident going back and forth. There is information gained from experiencing the battlefield for 10 years, experience engraved in the body, and the causality of war that has been grasped so far.
So I had something to guess.
“… Circumstances, did he plan this?”
The previous emperor and one of the seven great powers on the continent.
The monster who caused this Western War, and the only man who can act as a scarecrow for the Emperor of Mahir.
Considering the current division of the empire, there was no other culprit.
The answer came from Elbus.
“That is the case under the circumstances. It has been well over 10 years since the situation did not shine externally. No, in fact, since the beginning of the war, no one has been aware of the situation, so I guess I said everything.”
“Why do circumstances conspire to divide the empire? If it was the cause of the war, there is no reason to allow a civil war to interfere with victory.”
“Pruning, we think so. Doesn’t that mean that the empire that will unite the west will not have any vassals that do not suit its taste?”
“That’s what happened after we won, but at this point… .”
“Do you still not understand?”
Elbus laughed crookedly.
Considering his disposition of passing everything off with a smile, he was very angry right now.
“I am confident that I can win in a great situation. Even after splitting the empire in half.”
Elbus asked with a low laugh.
“Friend, think of another name for the situation.”
Elric was able to answer right away.
There is an old story related to it.
“… Sword Emperor.”
Before there were seven strong men, there were five kings.
As there was no technological development yet, the monsters were called kings only with pure personal force.
The one who slaughtered all those monsters was the Sword Emperor Elhadak Mahir.
The only survivor was Zeldia, the demon king of Nazak.
It was quite a famous anecdote that he, who was once called Maje, gave up the name of the emperor himself after being defeated by the situation.
From noble mtl dot com
It was an arrogant confidence to win even after starting a civil war, but there were quite a few things he proved himself to be arrogant.
Even though he was already an old strong man, his light did not fade.
In the first place, isn’t the biggest reason why the top 7 are ranked and he is out of the question because of his past achievements?
The fact that no one actually fought on the battlefield was a secondary reason.
“… Anyway, that’s why I found you.”
Credon opened his mouth.
“We need strength. To prevent a civil war, and beyond it, to end the war.”
Elric’s brow narrowed.
“… Are you trying to stand on the other side of the situation?”
“What your grandfather is trying to do is tyranny. Isn’t it self-evident that the future of the unified empire at the hands of my grandfather is not at all bright?”
It is a half bone temperament.
In fact, it was especially true that he dared to kick the opportunity himself in the position that would benefit the most.
Haha, that’s why it’s not ‘Yeokrin’.
Kredon Mahir has not changed in the slightest from Elric’s memory.
“Can you help me?”
Why can’t I quickly answer that question?
“My friend, I did not want to disturb your peace. But the war situation is not good. The future isn’t bright either. If the situation really unifies the West, then… .”
It was supposed to be the East.
I could understand Elbus’ position.
I could understand what they wanted.
“I’m not just asking you for help. It will probably change the face of the battlefield. We will do our best to prevent the situation.”
Elric listened to the whole story with his mouth shut.
Still couldn’t get an answer.
As the hesitation deepened, Elbus laughed bitterly.
“… It’s a sudden statement, so I don’t want an answer right away. But I want you to worry about it.”
Elbus said to Credon.
“Your Highness, the business is over, so please go away.”
Credon seemed regretful about leaving immediately, but agreed immediately.
It was probably because he didn’t want to put more pressure on him.
“… Think about it.”
Elric said a reprieve, feeling a thorn in his throat.
There was nothing else I could do.
*
Edward was sitting where the two left.
He was on his knees, his eyes still shining.
“Lord, did you enjoy the conversation?”
It felt like a little bit of a reminder of the seriousness of the way she bowed her head slightly like a bridesmaid.
I wasn’t happy with either one.
“You’re still not going, what are you doing?”
“The place where the Lord is is the place where I will be.”
I wondered what the speed of this attitude change was.
As soon as you know that you are a shareholder, you come here and there, and you feel a little uncomfortable with that duplicity.
Even though I knew this was the right thing to do.
Elric, who looked down at him for a moment with rising emotions, eventually remembered that thought.
‘This person should have information about the Imperial Civil War.’
Edward Whyte, a goldsmith, was an exceptional man in every way except for his arms.
The same goes for information warfare.
In the first place, as he was in the position of running a pan-continental company, the quantity and quality of information he had had a corner that was incomparable to other national intelligence agencies.
‘If it’s a request as a shareholder.’
Could I get that info?
Thoughtful, Elric soon gave up the job.
Leaking today’s conversation by making fun of it was a bad thing for the two of them.
“… You too should go at once.”
“Lord?”
“I don’t have time to deal with you right now.”
My head was too complicated.
In the first place, too many things had happened during the day, and the information that Credon and Elbus had brought was too heavy.
As I slowly let go of my fatigue, Edward immediately nodded frantically.
“Then rest in peace!”
Shasha shak! This time, too, Edward disappeared with a mysterious technique of moving while kneeling.
Normally, I would have laughed and clicked my tongue, but today I couldn’t.
Elric’s hand was again holding the dagger that died on the day of his bosom.
I sat down on the sofa in the living room, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
“house owner?”
It was about an hour later that Tyria came.