Chapter 550
Alfonso’s mental state was shattered to dust.
Sure, I was applying the pressure, but seeing him completely lose it made me feel a twinge of sympathy. Honestly, what did this guy do wrong? If there’s blame, it should go to the commander who locked him up with big decisions, or even higher up—a leader who decided to send an expeditionary force like Quoronos.
In any case, a mere legion commander shouldn’t bear all this karma alone. While it’s true that Alfonso isn’t worthy of a conversation with me, it also means he has no obligation to take responsibility.
“If you truly wish to converse, you need to show some sincerity.”
So, I began to piece together his shattered mental state. Simply beating him wouldn’t do; that would just be venting frustration. We had to set the terms we wanted, leaving a path for Quoronos to move in the way we desired.
“Sincerity, huh…”
Perhaps sensing I was throwing him a lifeline, a flicker of hope appeared in Alfonso’s eyes.
“There’s not just myself here. We also have a commander awarded the title of enemy by His Majesty and a marquess who once served as the Supreme Commander of Armein. It’s impossible to have equal discussions with your commander showing up now.”
“That’s… absolutely true.”
“So relay it to your homeland. Send at least a spokesperson. If someone lesser comes, our rage won’t just be limited to Leon.”
Alfonso nodded eagerly at my direct and specific demands.
With me laying down clear guidelines, he had no room to think, “You’re not enough! Bring someone higher up!” Now Quoronos just needed to send someone of at least envoy status to bow their heads in front of us.
However, if the leaders of Quoronos were still clueless like the expeditionary force, even a mere envoy wouldn’t suffice. “At least” implies they might want to send someone even higher up.
“Remember. A single tragedy in changing royal families is enough.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll keep that in mind, Your Grace!”
With those words, I turned my gaze away from Alfonso.
My role was finished here. The rest was up to my aides to handle.
‘Please, don’t let this mess keep spiraling out of control.’
If it did, I might have to start respecting Quoronos for their stubbornness. They want to craft their own downfall; I’m happy to oblige.
After all, Quoronos shares a border with the United Kingdom of Yuben, so we can split the spoils three ways.
*
The reports from the Leon expeditionary force were utterly peaceful. They crossed the border without a hitch, quickly entered the capital of Leon, and the lords from various regions bowed their heads in acknowledgment of the Empire and Armein’s presence.
The only annoying part might be the Quoronos Kingdom, which seemed to irk the Minister. Reports had come in that the skies were sliced for two days straight.
‘It should end soon.’
I was satisfied. Even the high-and-mighty Armein seemed to comply with the Empire’s order after witnessing the sky being sliced. Quoronos had no hope of standing against such immense pressure.
So I figured I’d soon hear that the Quoronos forces withdrew from Leon. After establishing a new royal family, I could focus on a feel-good schedule of distributing Leon’s interests.
“…What?”
Turns out, I was mistaken.
“There’s been a coup in the Quoronos Kingdom.”
The foreign minister rushed in with an urgency that left me speechless.
A coup? Suddenly? No signs of it? Can a coup really happen that abruptly?
“Who’s behind it?”
But I had learned long ago that the world doesn’t operate on reason and logic. No matter how nonsensical the situation, once it’s happened, I must focus on the process, not the cause. I have to navigate my way to the best outcome.
Despite being a big power in the central continent, Quoronos has its own issues. If bizarre characters—no, I mean even more bizarre than before—take charge, it’ll be troublesome.
“The Interior Minister has rallied the military’s younger faction to rise up. They’ve already secured the royal family, with the garrison and headquarters in control.”
“Ah.”
Hearing that they had already captured the king made me chuckle darkly.
‘The ones that ruin diplomacy sure are good at staging a coup.’
Maybe unlike the government and diplomats who’ve failed to change with the times, the military has welcomed some fresh blood. Didn’t the minister mention a promising general named Alfonso?
Plus, this person who seduced the military’s younger faction is the Interior Minister. Regardless of how lousy the diplomacy’s become, they have to manage the kingdom’s internal affairs. They’re probably the only stable person among Quoronos’s leadership.
“If only they had acted a bit sooner.”
I found myself sighing unconsciously. Had the Interior Minister moved a tad quicker, Quoronos wouldn’t have had the chance to ruffle the Empire and Armein.
Of course, I understand that the coup leaders aren’t related to the existing leadership. Still, I won’t let Quoronos skate free just for that reason. They will have to shoulder the consequences of challenging a major power, regardless of who’s in charge.
It may seem harsh, but it’s for the Empire’s destiny. If the Empire shows mercy here, it will create a bad precedent.
‘If they think they can just cut off the tail and survive, they’ll have a lesson to learn.’
To stand up against the Empire once, and if it backfires, just switch out the leadership? Such irresponsible schemes challenge the Empire’s destiny again and again. I can’t allow that.
…
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Command me.”
“Considering how quickly they secured the king, they seem quite resolute. But I don’t understand why they remained silent until now and only just acted.”
Having heard the results of the coup, my thoughts naturally turned toward the reason behind it.
Given they succeeded, they possess some skill, awareness, and decisiveness. However, just because they stayed quiet doesn’t explain why they launched a coup. Normally, someone who keeps silent tends to do so forever.
“Ah, that’s it.”
Luckily, the foreign minister seemed to have grasped the cause right away.
“The ultimatum from the Minister of Inspections served as the trigger.”
“Hmm?”
However, the answer was rather unexpected.
Indeed, the minister had delivered a rather severe ultimatum to the Quoronos general. Not only did he demand the presence of a high-ranking official, but he also threatened them with the expectation of a coup if they refused to comply. That’s more than just an ultimatum; it’s a declaration of war.
Given how I was even aware of that report before the foreign minister arrived, I had predicted Quoronos would withdraw. Could it really be that they would dare to oppose it…?
“Minister, no way.”
“I regret to inform you, but it seems the Quoronos officials were set on rejecting the Minister of Inspections’ generous offer.”
My words failed me again. The very people who caused this calamity—are they really so naïve to ignore an ultimatum?
‘These fools.’
Whatever I imagined, they were showing me something even lower. How did such individuals rise to the leadership of an entire country?
Then, just two hours later, the Interior Minister who seized control of Quoronos declared an unconditional surrender to the Empire’s Foreign Minister.
*
I woke up to find the country had collapsed.
Not exactly collapsed, but it had been overturned from the ground up, to the point it felt like a resurrection.
‘The young faction…?’
Confused, I wondered if such a thing existed in our country. Since becoming a general, I’d only been surrounded by older folks and hadn’t realized there were such characters out there.
If there were, they should have acted sooner. Generals have to tread carefully with their words and actions, yet they could have acted so boldly.
I felt tears threatening to drop. It was shameful for me to blame my underlings who ended up in Leon while being swept along by orders. I understand that much.
‘But still…’
If only my underlings had acted a bit sooner, I wouldn’t have to see this sorry sight.
“How dare a mere legion commander speak of qualifications? It is my privilege to determine whether you have the right to dialogue.”
“I fail to see when a mere legion commander’s rank matched that of the Emperor’s representative.”
Recalling what the Count of Tailglehen had warned me sent a shiver down my spine.
Back then, I would have happily bitten my own tongue off. I’ll likely be haunted by that memory until the day I die.
“Y-Your Grace!”
Lost in my heavy thoughts, my aide burst into the barracks.
“What’s wrong? I’ve already heard about the coup—”
“That’s not the issue! The Interior Minister has betrayed us!”
“Eh?”
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
“I heard from a comrade back home. The Interior Minister promised to hand over the existing ministers and the command of the expeditionary force to the Empire!”
“…Huh?”
“They agree to not hold the king responsible, but what does that matter?”
My usually stern-faced aide shouted in frustration.
“They have abandoned us!”
At those words, I found I couldn’t speak.
‘Damn it.’
I could somewhat comprehend the Interior Minister’s feelings. To calm the Empire and Armein’s anger, the expeditionary force is insignificant. Now the Interior Minister who has seized power must consider the nation’s well-being.
Still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. If they were only selling the expeditionary commander, I might have applauded.
‘Damn it…’
I’m about to go from the youngest general to the youngest war criminal.
*
The news of Quoronos’s unconditional surrender soon arrived from the west. The Interior Minister, having made a national decision, banged his head against the Empire’s Foreign Minister.
‘This isn’t what I anticipated.’
When I first heard of Quoronos’s coup and surrender, I thought it was a dream. Who would have expected a rational person would rise up after the ultimatum was rejected? Thank goodness there was some last shred of sanity left in Quoronos.
Plus, I heard that Alfonso, who had become my soul’s punching bag, had fallen into the Empire’s captivity. From his perspective, I must appear as a monster who incited his country’s internal strife and made him a prisoner.
‘A prisoner…’
I mulled it over, stroking my chin in contemplation. A brilliant mind tormented by the foolishness of his homeland, and in the end, he became a scapegoat.
With that said, I might be able to scoop him up…?
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