49. make public enemies
As the interior of the Holy Land was being sorted out, the pope formally wrote a document of surrender. It went down to the level of a religious state and asked to become a vassal state while completing the process of returning the land of the empire that had been ate in the past.
As even the Holy Kingdom succumbed and entered the Ignit Alliance, the Empire became a form that perfectly unified the West Continent on paper.
There were still many procedures left, but the big problem was over because of the unification.
「Request to join the Ignit Federation of the State of Saintria」
Kariel, who looked at the request with the Pope’s seal, let out a long sigh at the thought.
I feel like I’ve finally reached my first goal.
This is because now, at least in the western continent, the chances of getting hit in the back are significantly reduced.
Now that I’ve stabilized my living room, at least I’ll have better results than my previous life.
“Is there anything left of Roman?”
To clean up Roman, who has been terribly harassing Ignit.
This would be a much more difficult task than unifying the western continent. If possible, I would like to stop the demons before the gate is fully opened, but even that won’t be easy.
The goal is to prevent them from opening the gates of Hell.
Kariel already saw the war with the demons as a fait accompli, so it was a battle to block the gates of hell or not.
Around the time when I was making my next plan based on information from the East Continent.
Read at noblemtl.com
Just in time, Tarion visited the Emperor’s palace to report.
“What about Roman?”
“I have been told that it is embarrassing. They have nothing to do with themselves and the warlocks, and those in the Holy Land are also accusing some of the nobles.”
Kariel asked with an expression that was not funny at the expected response.
“What is the final operation?”
“The Foreign Minister has already started.”
Tarion said so and gave the report to Kariel.
“Good.”
As Kariel looked at the report, he nodded with satisfaction.
Naturally, there were a large number of countries in the eastern continent, which is larger than the western continent. It was not easy for Ignit to approach there.
Therefore, it was necessary to be careful when approaching the eastern continent, and approached it in three main ways.
The first is to continuously press Roman through media play.
The second is to approach the heads of countries on the eastern continent.
Finally, the task of driving the countries that support Roman as enemies of the continent that joined hands with the demons.
The first and second were being carried out right away, and the third and final had begun through the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
For the last operation, it secretly contacted the countries of the eastern continent through the foreign minister.
The work that had been continued since the beginning of the Western Continental War had come to an end.
Everyone on the continent was expecting Ignit to attack Roman, and Roman would not avoid it either.
It is only a matter of time for the two proud empires to go to war.
The problem is that the results will be drastically different depending on when you do it.
1. Settle inside and move.
2. Move straight away.
3. Wait for the demons to move.
In the second case, it was a bit difficult. However, it was also a time when both Roman and the demons could be caught off guard because their preparations were not perfect.
On the other hand, number 1 was ambiguous.
It was good that Ignit was able to completely reconcile the inside, but the same goes for Roman’s side.
That’s why you wait until the demons come into action?
We may be able to unite the power of mankind. However, considering the monsters that endlessly flocked to her in her previous life, this wasn’t a good method either.
So I found another way.
It takes too much time to convince all the countries on the eastern continent except for Roman.
So I changed my method.
‘Take only those who can and put pressure on them.’
There was no need to pressure Roman with everyone.
Only those who were persuaded had to unite and prepare to fight Roman.
To do so, Ignit’s elite troops were moved to the iron wall.
Even if there was no direct military movement, Ignit had to put pressure on him so that he wouldn’t do anything stupid.
It creates tension as if a war is about to happen, and in the meantime, the empire strengthens its stability.
At the same time, it was intended to gently entice the countries of the eastern continent while pressuring it diplomatically.
North – Roman Confederation
South – Ignit League
Dividing the eastern continent into north and south.
With Wingsar as the center, all the countries in the southern coastal region will form an alliance with Ignit.
Of course, I would divide all countries except for Sandria, the desert empire in the easternmost region, in two, and define those who worked with Roman as enemies of mankind.
Even if this happens, the countries that have joined hands with Roman will feel great pressure.
“It would make things easier if we just made him the enemy of mankind… … It is not easy.”
“I think it is because Roman reigned as an empire for a long time.”
The image of Rome implicitly possessed by the countries of the eastern continent.
It was the image of a merchant country rather than themselves and the center of the eastern continent. In order to break it, we had to make it the enemy of mankind, but it was not easy.
“I guess I have to move myself.”
“your majesty!”
When Tarion speaks like a fit, Kariel digs his ears as if it’s noisy.
“If I want to instill confidence in the countries on the eastern continent, it’s better for me to act myself.”
Tarion bit his lip at Kariel’s words.
It was necessary for Kariel to meet the main figures of the southern countries in person in order to convince them that they were not throwing away words.
They will only move if you instill an image of them as true allies.
“It is too dangerous.”
Tarion said with an expression that he would never do it.
He was also well aware of the seriousness of the situation, but even considering that, he had no choice but to shake his head for Kariel to move.
It was because it was more important for Kariel to escape from any threat than to convince them.
“We will. A little more time… … .”
“You know we don’t have time.”
Time was not on their side.
It was a pain in the ass when the demons began to come in earnest.
I had to watch the finale before that.
“Call the Pirate King.”
“Yes? Why is he… … ?”
“I will leave this matter to the Pirate King.”
At Kariel’s words, Tarion’s expression darkened.
They thought it was because they didn’t trust them.
“I’m doing this to go easy, so I don’t have to make that kind of expression.”
No matter how good the shadows and secret guards were, they were not superior to the pirates who had been smuggling with the eastern continent for a long time.
At least in the eastern continent, countries with seas would have had more exchanges with pirates.
Kariel decided to use it in earnest.
“Make the Aisa Islands truly ‘neutral’.”
“no way… … .”
“okay. I will hold a meeting with the countries of the eastern continent in the Aisa Islands. But before that… … I’ll have a look at it secretly.”
Through the pirate king, he holds secret talks with the heads of countries on the eastern continent.
After that, I was planning to formally announce the Aisa Islands as a neutral country and hold talks to formally form a large demon subjugation force.
‘It’ll be easier if you make up your mind on at least two countries first.’
Thinking so, Kariel ordered Tarion to call the Pirate King.
As a secret meeting, if only two countries excluding Wingsar clearly took the side of Ignit, they could draw public opinion by announcing a formal meeting.
Instead of pretending to be an alliance to suck Ignit’s money like now, we had to become an alliance to really drive out the demons.
* * *
When the pirate king was called for a plan, he secretly entered the capital of the empire as soon as he waited for Kariel’s call.
“That’s amazing.”
Salem was called the symbol of innovation in the Empire, but in terms of scale, it was incomparable to Ignit’s capital.
The railroads connecting the north, south, east and west, as well as the roads stretching all over the central area, were also admirable.
Most of the things that moved on the road were horse-drawn vehicles powered by horsepower.
In addition, it was also spectacular to see a huge number of airships fly by.
Most of all, what makes the pirate king envious is that merchants from Talos and Roteon are visiting the capital of the empire without any restraint.
I was envious of the people from the war not too long ago entering the capital without any restraint.
On the other hand, they still couldn’t officially enter the capital of the empire.
Salem is coming and going freely, but even that is not much. Even though they were recognized as a nation by Kariel, their image to the people of the West Continent was that of pirates.
‘We can be like this too.’
King of a titular country, not a criminal.
In fact, from Kariel’s point of view, at the time of unification of the Western Continent, it would be possible to subdue the troublesome Aisa Archipelago and subjugate it to Ignit.
But it didn’t.
“If you want to become a truly neutral country, come to the capital.”
With this one sentence, the pirate king moved immediately without even thinking about it.
“Meet Your Majesty.”
The pirate king, who had secretly entered the imperial palace, fell to his knees as soon as he saw Kariel.
“Sit down.”
Cariel, who raised the pirate king from his knees, sat him in a chair and made him bring the car.
“Did you get the letter?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Watching the pirate king respond carefully, Kariel said with a serious expression.
“Jim said before, I will make you neutral.”
“You did.”
“Now it’s your turn to keep that promise.”
At Kariel’s words, the Pirate King raised his head and asked.
“Are you not subjugating us?”
At the pirate king’s question, Kariel firmly shook her head.
“You will remain neutral.”
The Pirate King’s eyes trembled at Kariel’s words. It was because I wondered if it would be useless.
“It is not about abandoning it, but about making it a truly neutral country.”
“… … Is that true?”
“okay. A country that does not belong to either of the eastern and western continents and maintains neutrality. We will create such a country.”
Saying that, Kariel took out a proposal from her chest and handed it to the Pirate King.
“You must have heard about the demons.”
“Yes.”
“I’m thinking of making a great demon subjugation army. If that’s the case, we’ll have to create an anti-demon alliance before that.”
Having said that, Kariel briefly explained her plan.
“We are going to hold a secret meeting. Of course, the meeting place will be held on your land.”
“… … .”
“If a summit meeting is held in the future, you will become a neutral country recognized by both the East and West continents.”
He is the pirate king who has already dominated most of the southern seas.
If they become a neutral country, they will become a country that makes money using trade routes like Kariel said before.
“Jim wants to keep his promise. Will you accept this?”
The pirate king, who had been silent for a long time at Kariel’s question, bowed his head.
“Yes, I will give my life to your majesty to complete my mission.”
“Don’t do that. You are the head of a country. You are not my servant.”
Cariel, who had stopped the Pirate King from bowing his head once more, straightened him up and asked for a handshake.
A legitimate handshake between heads of state versus heads of state.
“Please work hard for the peace of the continent.”
“… … Yes.”
He nodded as he looked at the pirate king speaking with a shocked expression.
After persuading the pirate king, Kariel showed the pirate king the palace and the capital throughout the day and talked about the future of the Aisa Islands and the empire.
Then, the more he does, the more the pirate king’s eyes become more and more hazy.
The pirate king, who was taken aback by Kariel’s words, returned to the Issa Archipelago, vowing to make it happen.
Surt, who watched all of them from the sidelines, spoke as if he was admiring it.
– One foot kills me.