Your Majesty. We shall have even greater loyalty...
　That's so white.

　Raimondo quickly cut off the diplomats from each city who were apologizing to me.
　The diplomats' faces turn blue.

　'Well, don't say that. Raimondo. They seem to be remorseful. For once, I forgive them.
　Thank you for your generous offer...

　All at once, he lowers his head.
　He rubs his head against the floor.

　Adelnians and Cilician people don't easily break their knees when they apologize.
　They are not a culture that is on their knees.
　Their attitude is an apology of the highest order.

　But it can't be the same as it has always been.

　I lower my voice.　
　The diplomats' shoulders shake for a moment.

　'Henceforth, the alliance between the cities and myself will continue. But political communication between the cities is strictly forbidden. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Also......

　I will state my terms in a matter-of-fact manner.

　1 The cities that have formed an alliance with the King of Arms will be declared Alliance Cities.
　2 I will not recognize any diplomatic or military rights of the allied cities.
　3 The freedom of movement of the inhabitants shall be recognized. However, in the event of marriage to an out-of-towner, they must notify the city of their marriage.
　4 Residents of the cities shall pay one-tenth of their income to the state. (One-tenth tax)
　5 All mineral resources will be nationalized.
　6 The cities of the Alliance will not be able to refuse the presence of troops.
　7 All roads, bridges and other infrastructure will be under the control of King Almus.
　8 The city will provide a certain number of troops, depending on its population.
　9 Ten (10) men, each of whom shall be a mentor or apprentice of one of the leading men, shall be sent to study in the capital of King Rosais's country.
　10 There shall be a permanent embassy between each city and the country of King Rosais.
　11 Self-government shall be allowed to the extent that national law allows.


　This is a change from the past and is very strict.
　Up to now we have only had to pay a few percent of the city's revenue on top of it, but from now on we will have them pay a tenth of the tax.

　

　And military service, which up until now was only at the level of 'possible', has become compulsory due to this punishment.

　However, in the Adelnian peninsula, if you lose a war, you can't complain even if you are made a slave with no questions asked.
　And if you add to that, it's still a gentle punishment.


　'I have no veto power. If you want to object, you can go back home and prepare for war, but you don't know what will happen if you lose. But you know what will happen if you lose?　This is the only time I will allow a rebellion.

　I looked down at the diplomats in a low voice.
　Not a single one of them objected.






　The punishment of the rebels was over.
　Now it was time to deal with those cities that remained neutral to the rebellion and those that provided their troops in accordance with the treaty.

　'Well assembled, well, I hope you will sit down. It can't be a bad story.

　I talk to the diplomats in a friendly manner.
　They, on the other hand, seem anxious to hear what I have to say.

　Of course they know what I (Bartolo is the one who did the handing down) did with the cities that didn't surrender.
　And you know that I have dealt harshly with cities that have revolted.

　You know that this time there has been a great rebellion in the South. So I am going to amend the treaty for the sake of both of us.

　I have proposed an amendment.

　1 Henceforth, cities that have signed this treaty shall be called self-governing cities.
　2 Self-governing cities would be self-governing as long as they did not contravene national law.
　3 Upper taxes are abolished.
　4 Instead, each city is obligated to perform military service.
　5 Each city may refuse to station troops. Except in case of emergency.
　6 Each city will build its own infrastructure, but King Rosais' kingdom will build its own roads and bridges for military purposes.
　7 Citizens of the colonial cities shall be allowed to become subjects.
　8 Permanent embassies shall be established between King Loseys' kingdom and the colonial cities.

　And well.....
　It is much gentler than the terms we signed in the last war.

　This is because some of the cities that remained neutral this time, and some of the cities that cooperated with us this time, were forced to sign strict conditions in the last war.
　On the contrary, some of the cities that revolted against us naturally came under our umbrella on lax terms after the surrender of King Belvedere's kingdom before they crossed paths with our country.

　In other words, this amendment to the treaty is also to deal with the post-war issues that had been shelved since the last war.

　We would like to continue to be on good terms with your country in the future. Do you have any complaints?
　Well, I didn't expect His Majesty to eliminate the payment of taxes, but I have no complaints. It is my desire that our country continue to build a relationship of friendship with His Majesty.

　The diplomats bowed deeply.
　And so the rebels have been disposed of.

　All that remains is .....





　"Your Majesty, I am here to report to you.

　Ial, who was on his way as a diplomat to the Cilician cities under the influence of Rezad and Gehenna in the south, has returned.
　His purpose was to prepare for peace while we dealt with the rebellious cities and settled the strikes.

　'The cities seem to be willing to make peace. But.....

　According to Ial, the cities are demanding reparations and the release of their prisoners.
　They're so brazen in defeat.

　Could it be that they are looking down at their feet?
　Maybe he thinks the movement to refuse military service in our country hasn't subsided.

　'Then I guess I have no choice,'

　I gave Raimondo a look.
　We're at war again.




　I've issued an edict to the nation.
　We're going to bring down the cowards who have been seducing our people from behind.

　I've gathered 40,000 men.
　As you can see from the fact that our country's population is around 370,000, that's ten percent of the population, or a huge mobilization.

　Well, if we're only going to the battlefield for a week or so, there's no serious damage to agriculture...
　Still, the great mobilization puts a strain on the treasury.
　So why did I muster so many men?

　Three reasons.
　First, to show the world that we have solved our domestic problems.
　The second was to promote domestic unity.
　And lastly, to bring the Cilician cities to their knees.

　I had no intention of conquering the Cilician cities yet, because I had no intention of conquering them.
　I thought it would take another year or so for the country to settle down completely.

　However, war requires a great cause.
　If we let this one go, there may not be such a convenient cause.

　Granted, if it doesn't work, I'm going to give up immediately.
　If we push forward with this, it will only serve to replay the results of the current rebellion.

　The first priority now is to consolidate domestic unity.


　Thus, the second conquest of the South had begun.

　




　"It didn't take long for you to march in.
　''I guess they didn't expect His Majesty to lead such a large army so soon, either. The enemy is completely caught off guard.

　Bartolo is in a good mood and drinks in a good mood.
　There was no sign of the enemy until they crossed the border and reached the original city-state.

　Not a single scout could be found.

　Apparently, they hadn't noticed our troops until they showed up.

　'But we were at war, that's a fact. Why is there such a delay in responding?

　Raimondo nodded his head curiously.
　Our country and the various cities were in a state of tension.

　Normally, we would take the utmost precaution. Normally we would.....

　It's a democracy. And the cities are divided. You haven't decided whether to fight me or make peace yet.

　Goofing around in Congress and goofing around between cities.
　In the meantime, I was getting my army together at an unexpectedly fast rate, and they were closing in on me with a huge army.

　It must have been a bit confusing.


　''So, Your Majesty. What do we do now?
　You want me to tell them to surrender first?

　The enemy is not ready to intercept.
　If we wanted to attack them, it would be possible to make them fall in a day.

　But it would be easier if they would surrender.

　"Ial. You will tell them to surrender to me. "You've already spoken to the leaders of this city once, haven't you?
　'Yes, the city has been relatively moderate, so I'm sure they'll surrender soon.

　Ial rode his horse and approached the castle gate alone.
　Immediately the small window-like gate attached to the castle gate opens and welcomes Ial.

　After about three hours, the gates open and Ial comes out.

　He is followed by a group of topless men with their own arms tied to each other with ropes.
　It would show that they were unresisting.

　Ial smiled proudly.
　In other words, is it safe to assume that this city will surrender?


　Thus, the first city fell in the form of a bloodless city.

　It was a huge wedge that was driven into the unity of the Cilician people.