Chapter 265: Old Knights |
It was late afternoon when a visitor arrived at Nex Canfore’s mansion.
Two people, an old man and a young man, got out of the carriage as if they didn’t want to be seen. After confirming this with the servant, Nex moved to the mansion’s entrance.
[Oh, if it isn’t Nex-dono! I’m really happy to have met you!]
It seemed that the guests had already entered the room, guided by the servants, and as soon as the old man saw Nex, he approached with a smile on his face.
The name of that cheerful old man is Seyman Garletta. He was a member of the knight family who served the Count Nongite family, one of the noble families of the Zinkaen Empire.
Seyman’s smooth bald head shows no trace of his younger days. However, Nex felt nostalgic in his exaggerated gestures and clear, high-pitched voice.
[Seyman-dono seems to be doing well, too. We’re both retired, so I never thought we’d meet in the Imperial Capital like this.]
Nex and Seyman are old friends. When they first met, they were both young Lord-class and originally enemies. After that, after many twists and turns, there was a time when they faced each other as knights in the Imperial Capital. There was a relationship there that could not be summed up in the simple terms of enemy and ally.
[No, no, I’m already old! Lately, the interval between magic malfunctions has become narrower and narrower, and if things continue like this, I’ll be reduced to ashes by tomorrow, so I can no longer beat you! Wahahahaha!]
Nex turned his attention to the young man standing next to Seyman. He looked to be in his early twenties, neatly dressed, and has a gentle demeanor.
The young man noticed Nex’s gaze and tried to say his greeting, but Seyman spoke first before he could.
[I was in trouble the other day. I was trying my best to give the child a little practice, but as soon as I went out into the garden, my magic ran out. If that happens, I’m just an old man. I wonder when it’ll return? It’s already been half a week …Hey, look! Crane! What are you doing! You shoulda say your greetings early! If you mess around too much, you’ll be exhausted in no time! Also, the way you wrote yesterday’s letter…]
Seyman started nagging the young man while patting him on the back.
The young man missed the opportunity to say his greeting because of Seyman’s constant small talk, but that doesn’t seem to be worth considering. One sermon led to another, which led to a chat. The young man seemed to be wondering how he could stop the barrage and actually say his greeting.
As if noticing his plight, Nex sent him a lifeboat at the right time.
[Knight Garetta, it’s been a while.]
Then, the young man, Crane Garletta, the current head of the Garletta family, softened his expression as if relieved.
[Nex-dono, it’s been a while. Thank you for accepting this sudden visit.]
Seyman was the only one with a dissatisfied look on his face.
[Listen, Crane. Don’t you have enough enthusiasm to overcome the noisy old man in your family? I thought you’d forget your position as a guest and just jump at the favor…no, I don’t want you to behave in such an unsightly manner. It would be really unwise to show them to others. The children nowadays are truly unreliable. This is what someone who has long since retired says, but don’t you think so too?]
[How troublesome, how troublesome], muttered Seyman as he patted his bald head. The surrounding servants and maids relaxed their guard due to the somewhat whimsical atmosphere.
[Unfortunately, there aren’t many young people around here…]
Nex ordered a servant to lead the two to the parlor while trying to make a fuss about the fact that he was stepping back from the front lines of politics.
Not changed at all. That was Nex’s honest impression after meeting Seyman.
Seyman was good at catching people off guard with his charming gestures and speaking skills. Nex had seen his strength several times in the past.
It would be reassuring if he became just a senile old man, but that is an overly optimistic idea. Nex warns himself not to let his guard down.
To begin with, the people scheduled to visit today were “Knight Garetta and one of his aides”. Since that aide was Seyman, he could only assume that they’re plotting something.
When they entered the guest room, Seyman was the first to start making small talk.
If it were a public event, it would normally start with a conversation between Nex and Crane, an active Knight. First of all, today’s Seyman was a free bystander whose name was not on the list of participants, and he should have been sitting quietly. However, this meeting is strictly private.
[I’m really sorry for making this sudden request. I’m old too, and when I found out that you were in the Imperial Capital, I just went ahead with it. No, I’m sorry. There will always be a formal bow…]
As Seyman said, it was indeed a sudden call. As it turned out, it was only yesterday that a messenger from the knight Garletta came to the mansion to convey their request for a meeting.
Nex didn’t want to do anything noticeable right now. To be honest, he would have absolutely refused to welcome a knight from another family to his mansion in the Imperial Capital.
[No, the Count Nongite family had a lot of trouble last year. Compared to this, it’s not a big deal.]
However, there were circumstances that made it difficult for Nex to refuse.
Last year, he visited Galfis Quordenze. The main purpose of that was to get a consensus on the future policy against Spierzeig, and the person he relied on at that time was the Nongite family.
As expected, it is impossible to enter Quordenze territory via Spierzeig territory. Nongite territory is adjacent to the westernmost outer part of Quordenze territory, so it was convenient in many ways.
As for Nex, although he had paid appropriate homage to the Nongite family as he passed by on their territory, it is true that he’s in debt to them. For him, there remains only a small amount of psychological indebtedness. Therefore, he decided to settle the matter by agreeing to this meeting. Considering he’ll be going to Quordenze again someday, he’d rather relent this time.
Nex thought that it was because Seyman understood this that he forced the sudden request for a meeting.
However, Seyman seemed to be aware that he has made an unreasonable request, and has been following up on this diligently. The fact that Seyman came forward and spoke as if pushing Knight Garretta away is probably a form of performance and consideration to emphasize that this is a secret meeting. In this way, the contents of the meeting that disrespected the active Knight will no longer be made public. This is an appeal that he will never tell anyone else.
[Is the Count well?]
Count Nongite must be aware of this matter, Nex asked, implicitly claiming that.
[The old prince is doing well. He is currently in Nongite, but he is always keeping an eye on the Imperial Capital.]
Of course, he replied, and Seyman continued speaking.
[It seems that the old prince is acutely aware of the lack of ability among young people, and lately he has been busy educating them. That’s why I was approached, too, to discipline the children of the family.]
[I see. Did something similar happen to you?]
The Nongite family is one of the noble families that underwent a major personnel change due to the Yersinia disaster. Nex had overheard several times that due to the change in generations, the Nongite family has become noticeably younger overall. In fact, when he entered Nongite territory last year, he was concerned about the youth of some of the officials who came to respond and greet him.
Considering the current state of the Empire’s stagnation, Nex thinks it’s not a bad idea to allow for some mistakes and let the younger players gain experience. The Nongite family’s initial policy was probably in that direction. However, considering that Seyman is now back on the scene, there is no doubt that there was a course correction midway through.
[I’m just a dying old man whose only purpose in life is to self-deprecate over the frequency of my magic power malfunction.Even if I show it publicly, I’m sure it’ll just be a nuisance, and the children won’t like it either. As expected, I’m thinking of resigning as well. That’s right. However, I can’t say anything now that the old prince has directly asked me to protect Nongite. He says there’s still something I can do. It’s making me nervous.]
[It’s a story about the merits of a knight. Being able to serve your master until the time when your body turns to ashes… I’m jealous of Sir Seyman.]
Although he meant what he said, it was something that Nex did not want to welcome.
There are probably other old people like Seyman who have great abilities but have retired due to magic power malfunctions. If those personnel had returned to the field, even if only as assistants, it would be difficult to use the Nongite family one-sidedly. If he tries to take advantage of the youths that he met last year, he might just end up being led into a trap.
[Oh, I guess I’m a little carried away by this? I’m embarrassed to have shown so much rudeness in front of you. Well, Yersinia’s disaster is having an impact everywhere, after all. It was difficult because I often had to think about what to do in the future.]
The words that Seyman spoke hinted at information known only to those close to the Empire’s core. He has a wide network of contacts as he is from the generation that lived during the period when Emperor Zinkaen was active. Nex’s back felt cold involuntarily at the speed of his hearing.
[However, right now I would rather think about how my children should behave than about myself.]
It seems that the conversation up until now was just a prelude to get to the main topic. It was a conversation that was almost a check to show that his ability was still strong.
[What do you mean by children?]
[As you can see, Crane has inherited the name of Knight Garletta, but from my perspective, he still has a long way to go. I don’t think he has enough experience yet.]
Nex couldn’t exactly agree with that. Even if it’s in a private setting, making a statement that directly criticizes an active Knight from another family will cause unnecessary uproar.
[Is that so? Even if that’s the case, I think it’s a common story among knights these days.]
It’s not that much of a concern, he avoided making a clear statement with vague answers that can be interpreted in any way.
However, Nex understood exactly what Seyman wanted to say. For those who survived the era of turmoil, it often feels like there is a laxity within the current Empire. The only people who are nervous are the people involved with Spierzeig.
He doesn’t think it’s a good idea to have a life where you’re constantly forced to decide whether to live or die, but whether or not you’ve had that experience will have a big impact on how you’d behave.
[Yes, yes, I think I understand that. I have never once felt nostalgic for those rough days when I was faced with the rise and fall of my Master’s family at every opportunity. We are deeply grateful to Emperor Zinkaen.]
Nex felt that there was a hint of relief in his voice as he spoke with great emotion.
[However, I don’t think it’s alright to remain ignorant. I often think that children today misunderstand that bloody feat as just a fun fairy tale…]
Nex couldn’t help but nod at those words.
The unification of the western continent by Emperor Zinkaen’s faction is now treated like a heroic tale. Because Nex was an early member of the group, he was sometimes looked at with a strange twinkle in the eyes by the young officials within the Empire. Since the Yersinia disaster has reduced the number of people who know about the past, it has become even more prominent. This was also one of the reasons why Nex usually distanced himself from the Imperial Capital.
[In that case, it would be better if Seyman-dono himself spoke. The words of an experienced veteran who has endured many hardships as a knight of Nongite should resonate more than anything else.]
That is not rejection, but Nex’s true feelings.
[I see, that’s true too. Thank you for your valuable advice.]
While saying that, Seyman looked at Crane sitting next to him. There was an easy-to-understand fake smile on his face.
[It’s funny when you think about it that I was able to ask for advice like this now. Nex-dono and I were enemies at first. Whether you’re an enemy or an ally, it’s important to know who the person is. This is important. If you can see who you are confronting, you can find a compromise and cooperate with each other. If you are unnecessarily afraid of the meeting, it will only lead to unnecessary conflict, so you have to judge the opponent appropriately… Do you understand, Crane? The problem that you are currently having may be the same.]
Nex could see now. This is where the main point comes from. From the flow of the conversation, he felt that the real reason why he had asked for a meeting was finally going to be revealed, and he mentally braced himself.
[Nex-dono, would you please listen as well? It seems like Crane is concerned about the Quordenze family.]
[Hoo, pray tell why is that?]
Perhaps the purpose of the visit was to investigate the internal affairs of the Quordenze family, and Nex returned the question, being careful not to give out any unnecessary information.
[That’s…]
From there, Seyman continued to talk about Crane’s concerns about Quordenze.
However, there is not much content in those words. He was just babbling about innocuous matters, and Nex had no idea what he wanted to ask. There were endless expressions that he didn’t know how to interpret, and words that could be interpreted in any way he wanted.
[…Hmm, Knight Garletta seems to be having a lot of trouble as well.]
Since he did not know what was being asked, Nex could not provide a significant response.
[For Crane, who is still young, the name of the Great Noble Quordenze is too big. You must be well aware of its weight.]
As Seyman said, Nex is quite well-connected to the Quordenze family.
It seems that he was born in a weak noble territory in the western part of the continent. The reason it seems so is because Nex himself has no memory of it. By the time he remembered, they had already perished. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to describe him as a Lord-class orphan who was picked up by Galfis and Emperor Zinkaen.
To Nex, Galfis and Emperor Zinkaen were like his father, brother, comrades, and master. Since he founded a knightly family by marrying the servant who accompanied Cassia Quordenze on her journey to the west, and began to call himself the first knight, Canfore, Nex was regarded by the world as a member of the Quordenze faction.
[It’s heavy, but there’s no need to be afraid. Seyman-dono knows that.]
Seyman knows the personalities of Luxus and Galfis very well. Seyman himself probably didn’t think that those two would invade Nongite territory. Nex replied that he didn’t really have anything to say, but that seemed to lead to Seyman’s conviction. His eyes shone brightly.
[But since I was retired until recently, my eyesight and hearing have deteriorated. I don’t know much about them now.]
There’s no way he doesn’t know. If he doesn’t know, then he’s probably referring to someone else. The moment he thought of that, the name of the young nobleman who had carried out Operation Serpent’s Fang appeared in Nex’s mind.
Seyman and the Nongito family are concerned about Wilk Quordenze, the next Head of the Quordenze family. He didn’t know why they suddenly started paying attention to this boy, but he guessed that was the purpose of the meeting.
[Ah, so that’s what it is.]
Seyman noticed the change and spoke briefly. Before Nex could react to that, he threw out huge pieces of information one after another.
[A large-scale battle has started next to Nongite’s territory. No, I can’t help but worry about it.]
The meaning of that was clear.
The battle between Quordenze and Spierzeig broke out. This was an unexpected battle that was not part of the future plans that he had heard from Galfis.
Nex suppressed the urge to jump from his seat and used that power to think.
Seyman must have come here to find out whether the battle had been planned, or whether Nex was working behind the scenes in the Imperial Capital in preparation for the move. And Wilk Quordenze is probably very involved in this battle.
Nex didn’t know anything. If he had known, he would have deliberately reacted when Quordenze’s name came up, to see what the other person would do. Alternatively, he may have refused the meeting in the first place, or in some cases, Nex may have requested a meeting instead.
But, that had to wait for later. It became obvious to Seyman that he didn’t know anything.
With a diplomatic smile on his face, Nex deepened his thoughts.
It was predicted that not much time had passed since the battle started. This is clear from Seyman’s request for an urgent meeting. In the first place, no such news had reached the Imperial Capital so far. This information is probably shared secretly by a very small number of people. It will take some time for it to be talked about in public.
[Mutual understanding is important. Misunderstandings only create unnecessary conflicts.]
It is true that the Nongite family wants to obtain information about Quordenze. Seyman was worried about being taken advantage of. If Nex knew everything and was acting behind the scenes, not only would they be reluctant to give out the information, but they might also try to manipulate the Nongite family.
Seyman must have been desperately trying to find out if Nex had a hand in this battle.
[Speaking of which, does Nex-dono know how this battle started?]
It was just confirmation that he didn’t know. The distance between Nex’s base of operations and the Nongite territory from the Quordenze territory is completely different. The gap in information available was so large that it could never be bridged by effort or talent.
When Nex realized the current situation, he quietly answered.
[Unfortunately, I’m far away and I don’t know of the situation. May I ask you to tell me?]
[Is that so? Then, let us spill our heart here]
Don’t try to do anything unnecessary, we’ll make this a place where we can exchange information as equals. Nex accepted such a proposal.
Not only did he want to know about the war situation, but Seyman’s desperation showed the grimness of the situation. He had no choice but to check it out.
[By the time I came to my senses in Nongite, the battle at Reisleaf Castle had already begun.]
[Reisleaf? The Quordenze army should have been marching towards Meiziode…]
[My people have confirmed the battle at Reisleaf Castle. We also received a letter from Spierzeig requesting help in attacking Reisleaf, so we can assume that there is no mistake. It is said that not only Kindlor-dono but also Magnis-dono participated in the battle.]
That is a situation that is hard to believe. It was too reckless for the previous family head and the current family head to appear in front of a person named Galfis, who had a lot of experience in killing Highlords. No matter how much Spierzeig’s side is being pushed into a corner, they probably won’t attack like that unless it’s a particularly good opportunity.
And soon, Nex’s thoughts reach the worst conclusion.
[…..no way.]
[It is unexpected. The letter also said that Galfi-donos had developed a magic power malfunction. As a result, the front line collapsed, and the Quordenze army retreated to Reisleaf Castle, and was about to be cornered. This is information from Spierzeig, so I think it could be falsified.]
How many soldiers are there, what is the scale of the battle, is Galfis safe, and can Reisleaf Castle be defended? There were so many questions Nex wanted to ask, but he couldn’t just say them.
While trying to maintain a calm expression, Nex decided to confirm the most important point.
[And what does that have to do with you wanting to meet me?]
That was the biggest question.
No matter how the battle at Reisleaf Castle progresses, the impact on the Nongite family will not be that great. If the Quordenze army succeeds in maintaining it, it’ll be as before. And even if the Spierzeig army succeeds in recapturing it, there should be no further northward movement.
There is no point in rushing to contact Nex now. It will be enough if they check it around the time the siege of Reisleaf Castle is over.
[That’s what’s bothering me too. I talked to the old prince about it, but the truth is that this happened many days ago. The Battle of Reisleaf has already been concluded.]
That means that there was originally no plan to share information with Nex. If they had had that intention from the beginning, they should have contacted them at an earlier stage. At first, the Nongite family must have been watching the battle of Reisleaf Castle quietly.
The reason why they went out of their way to make contact this time is probably because the situation started to turn in an unexpected direction after the battle of Reisleaf. Nex wanted to know the outcome of the battle, but he also wanted to know the reason why Seyman went out of his way to move.
[It seems that the Quordenze army has successfully defended Reisleaf Castle. The back of the shield seems to have become quite strong as well. Since the post-war process is still ongoing, envoys from us are not allowed to enter the territory. However, from my point of view, Galfis-dono is still alive. I think he may still be staying in Reisleaf Castle, but… well, the information from the Spierzeig doesn’t really make sense in the first place.]
This was the conclusion drawn by the Nongite family, who lived adjacent to the Quordenze territory and had probably been watching its movements for a long time. It had a certain persuasive power.
Nex was surprisingly relieved to have been shown the possibility of Galfis’s survival. However, he still didn’t understand why they’re worried about whether Galfis was in Reisleaf Castle or not. For a person of Seyman’s caliber, it would be possible to make some predictions based on the placement of soldiers.
[I can’t judge what your lord is worried about.]
There’s too little information to say anything. Upon hearing Nex’s words, Seyman let out a deep breath.
[The Quordenze army is continuing to fight even after successfully defending Reisleaf. Can you guess where they are fighting now?]
From the way they’re talking, it doesn’t seem like there’s a big battle for the survival of the family going on. Thinking about it properly, the answer is naturally limited.
[Wouldn’t it be to recapture the land lost in the retreat? Or perhaps a battle to capture Meiziode City? If the counterattack gathers momentum, it might be successful.]
Anyone would have expected that, Nex answered without hesitation. Then. Seyman grinned like a boy who had pulled off a prank.
[It’s Othelloria]
[Ha?]
[…..it’s in Othelloria.]
The first word had a playful tone, but the second word had changed to a very serious tone. Nex could clearly see that this is no joke.
[The reason why I can’t tell the location of Duke Galfis was also related to that. The claims of both Quordenze and Spierzeig seem to fit together somehow. I can now see the whole story of this battle. There seems to be no doubt that Quordenze won.]
Seyman did not mention what kind of claims were being made. Nex’s side hasn’t released any information either, so they’re probably keeping it as exchange material.
[Does Nex-dono know the eldest son of the Quordenze family?]
The air became tense. Nex is convinced that this is the information Seyman most wanted to know.
[…Wilk-dono is on the move, isn’t he?]
[Indeed. The young snake who made a name for himself by breaking Voistra’s Great Shield is now showing new moves. According to my own research, this military operation is part of what is known as Operation Snake’s Jaw. ]
[Following the fangs, now the jaws…and now they are attacking Othelloria…]
It was completely unclear why the retreat from the front line led to the capture of Othelloria. What on earth is going on with the cities that are supposed to be in between? It must have been the same for Seyman, as the two of them stood face to face and silently groaned. But no matter how much you think about it, you don’t understand what you don’t know.
Perhaps to lighten the atmosphere in the room, Seyman patted his own bald head once.
[When it was Fang, he took down Reisleaf and stopped. So, where will it stop this time? Will it drop Othelloria and use it as a hand-to-hand weapon, or will it continue to aim at all of Spierzeig? And what will it do next… Well then, Nex-dono. Do you have any thoughts?]
If he lies badly, this old man will find out right away and won’t share any information with him from now on. It was necessary to respond seriously. However, Nex, who has just learned the name of Operation Snake’s Jaw for the first time, can’t answer anything. There is just a period of silence.
[We know Luxus-dono and Garfis-dono. We also intend to understand their relationship to some extent. However, we have no acquaintance with Wilk-dono at all. I can’t see it. Considering the bravery of Operation Serpent’s Fang, many people say that he may have a similar temperament to Galfis-dono…]
Wilk Quordenze has certainly inherited the martial prowess of Galfis, a rumor that has become common news after Voistra’s Great Shield was broken.
[Wars waged by nobles who can use themselves as soldiers are extremely fast. It’s dizzyingly fast. Emperor Zinkaen conquered the western part of the continent, and Duke Galfis also conquered all the nobles in the eastern part of the Empire in just 20 years. It was a crushing might. I think Wilk-dono, who has already shown his fangs once, is a noble from that side. If he is able to defeat Othelloria in this battle, I can’t even imagine how powerful he would be. No, this is a very difficult existence. Even for Nongite, I don’t want to be unnecessarily hostile towards him. That’s why this young man’s movement, I am trying to understand him. Hmm, this is a problem.]
If Wilk is a person with strong ambitions to expand his territory, the neighboring Nongite territory will be forced into a critical situation. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better for the Quordanze to dig deep into Spierzeig territory and bite them while exposing its defenseless belly, or perhaps it would be better to swallow Spierzeig territory and finish them off when the snake can no longer move?
Nex understood what the Nongite family was afraid of and what they were wary of. It is only natural to want to obtain information as quickly as possible. This is because intervention is more effective now than after the war. Before and after the fall of Othelloria City, the response will be completely different.
[I met Wilk last year.]
[Oh, that’s interesting.]
Nex thought that if he were going to help the Quordenze family, he should provide some information. He remembered Wilk being introduced to while talking to Galfis last year.
[This may come as a surprise, but I thought he looked more like Luxus-dono than Galfis-dono. He didn’t give the impression of being assertive at all… So, I was surprised when he broke the great shield at the beginning of the year. I couldn’t believe that he had taken such a bold action. I heard that he had successfully subjugated a demon beast in Newnelly City, but aren’t battles against demon beasts and battles against the Highlords completely different?]
[That’s right. However, when it comes to subjugating demon beasts in Newnelly City… I think there was a Field there where the second-ranked demonic beast appeared.]
[There is no doubt in that field. Unfortunately, I have not seen the actual jewel.]
Information about demonic beast subjugation in distant lands is not very reliable. Perhaps because of this, Seyman didn’t seem to care much about whether the story was true or not.
[The meeting was only for a short time, but I thought he was a calm person. Well-educated and well-behaved enough to be worthy of the eldest son of the prestigious Quordenze family. At his age, he might be a bit rebellious. However, I have never seen or heard him do something like that before. He seems to be a very cute grandson to Galfis-dono.]
He had also received information that the boy likes women, but that is a top secret of the Quordenze family. There’s no need to tell anyone, and giving out such information in the first place will only make the boy look even more dangerous.
Moreover, noblemen’s sexual desire tends to weaken due to random reasons. Just because you can do it today doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do it tomorrow. It’s also possible that the strong feelings that Galfis has for Gardacle are distorting his perception. Unless a descendant’s children were actually born one by one, the recognition of a nobleman as a man of sexual prowess could not be relied upon.
[Maybe he hasn’t heard much about the Empire, but he seems to be interested to know more. I would say he is more curious than ambitious. He is studying hard to become the next Head of the Quordenze family, that’s how I felt.]
[Hoho, I’m surprised that you rated him so highly. From what I’ve heard about him, it seems like he’s the heir of a wealthy family that you wouldn’t expect to be the source of such gossip.]
[Indeed. Whenever I hear rumors about him, I wonder if they are really referring to the same person.]
[I see… I guess it’s useful to hear this from Nex-dono, who has actually met him.]
Nex faced the gaze that questioned whether he was lying or not.
[I do not intend for Seyman-dono to be swayed by uncertain rumors. I’d be glad if I could be of help.]
In the end, he was only able to tell you the bare minimum about his personality, but anything more than that would be a lie. That’s all Nex could say.
[Anyway.]
Seyman changed the subject, perhaps relieved that at least Wilk wasn’t a reckless brawler. He also may have decided that they could not obtain any more information.
[It’s going to get difficult from now on. It’s hard for noble families to eat after they’ve been eaten. Even a snake will be risking its life to swallow a prey as big as Spierzeig. How many knights can we cut down and kill in battle? This battle in Othelloria will be used as an indicator.]
If they don’t kill as many knights and officials as possible, Quordenze will suffer from the remnants. Seyman didn’t seem to see Quordenze’s future as very bright.
If Quordenze were to shake, the neighboring Nongite would also be shaken. That’s probably what he’s worried about.
[Also, if Spierzeig were to be destroyed, the Empire would be in turmoil as well. The west and south are likely to be particularly noisy. I wonder what will happen to the north as well… We need to think about how we should behave.]
It is suggested that the nobles from the northern part of the Empire may flood into the outer regions of the Quordenze territory.
The Nongite territory is the gateway to the Quordenze territory from the northern part of the empire. Nobody knows how much confusion the northern nobles will have, but some of them may band together and plot an invasion of Quordenze territory. That is an undesirable future for the Quordenze family.
In that sense, the return of Seyman to active duty is a positive thing. As long as the Quordenze family shows its power, the Nongite family will not go along with the sweet talk of the Imperial Nobility in the northern part of the Empire. It is highly unlikely that someone will be carried away by the atmosphere of the place and enter Quordenze territory. Unless they are confident of victory, they will not make a move. They can never let their guard down, but in a sense their shrewdness can be trusted.
[Nex-dono will probably be busy again soon.]
Nex had a bitter expression on Seyman’s point.
After Operation Serpent’s Fang, the way the surroundings viewed Nex has changed. Now that the destruction of Spierzeig has become a reality, there are people who are paying closer attention to his movements than ever before.
Because of that, he was not able to visit Quordenze to see the results of Operation Serpent’s Fang. If Operation Snake’s Jaw achieves great results this time, Nex will be stuck again.
[The news of the attack on Othelloria will probably reach the Imperial Capital in the near future. I don’t know how many people will believe it, though.]
[Nobody will believe it easily.]
If it weren’t for Seyman’s words, Nex himself would have never believed the news about the attack on Othelloria. It will probably take some time after the report arrives for the Imperial Nobles to properly recognize it. In other words, if you are going to make a move, now is the time.
Then, Seyman smiled artificially.
[It’s fun to talk about the old days with Nex-dono. The old prince said so too. If you have time, please come and talk to him.]
It seems that their desire to collect information about Wilk Quordenze has not changed.
If he wants to enter the Quordenze territory, the Nongite territory will prepare a way for him, but in exchange, they will ask him to share some information. So, he should just tell them as soon as possible. Seyman’s intentions were correctly conveyed to Nex.
[This makes me happy. I want to do this before we both turn to ashes.]
The entry point is Seyman. Ever since the meeting began, Seyman has been saying that he’s going to die soon. If the situation changes drastically after this battle and the Nongite family decides that Quordenze should be cut off, they will be told that “Seyman died in the territory” and will be politely refused intercession. Even if it weren’t for that, if Nex was thought to be uncooperative, Seyman would be considered dead.
It is necessary to revisit Quordenze territory as soon as possible, while also being considerate of the Nongite family.
A turning point may come for the Empire.
Nex and Seyman fell silent again.
