'How are you feeling?　Lord Kepka Barca.
　This is the worst.

　Kepka Barca replied grimly.

　''Kepka is a Pofenia general and a nobleman.
　We can't treat him roughly as long as we've taken him alive.

　So I disrespected a room in the fugitive senator's mansion in Rezad and confined him there.
　Clothes, food, drink, books....
　I'm giving him everything he wants.

　Granted, that doesn't make me feel better, but I'm not sure Kepka is optimistic enough to feel good about it either.

　'In two weeks, there will be a diplomatic mission from Pofenia. At that time, depending on the ransom, you will be released.
　Well don't think you'll get away with anything by making an enemy of Pofenia.

　Kepka spat out in frustration.
　I cowered my shoulders involuntarily.






　'There's one thing I need to get done before I can negotiate with Pofenia.
　An alliance with the cities of Cilicia?
　You know what I'm talking about.

　With the collapse of Rezad, a regional power, many city-states that were allied with Rezad have come under our control.
　However, there are many powerful city-states that refuse to be controlled by our country.
　We had hoped to form an alliance with them...

　Raimondo seemed to see it coming.

　'An alliance is a military alliance?　Your Majesty.

　Bartolo asked me.
　I nodded.

　We don't have a navy in our country.
　Of course, we have a riverboat that carries supplies and soldiers.

　But riverboats couldn't sail the oceans.
　That said, there was no way we could create a navy in time, even if we tried.

　In the meantime, there are about thirty triple-oared and five-oared boats that were confiscated from Rezad.　
　However, the thirty ships would not be able to fight the strong navy of Pofenia, and it was doubtful that they would be able to operate in the first place.

　Therefore, we form a military alliance with the Cilician cities that have cities on the coast of the Adelunian Peninsula.
　In exchange for our own land defense, our navy will be supplemented by the Cilician cities.

　The total number of ships confiscated from Rezad, Nemes, and Gehenna, together with the ships from Rezad, would be one hundred.
　If we include the other small and medium-sized cities, we'll manage to prepare a total of one hundred and fifty ships.

　Of course, we can't beat the 500 ships of the Pofenia Navy.
　Still, it's better than nothing.

　''Is that all?　Maj. What does that alliance really mean?

　Ial is grinning and smiling disgustedly.
　Of course, this is a construction.

　''The real goal is to secure military leadership, economic sphere and political sphere of power in the southern part of the South Adelian Peninsula.

　On Earth, all sovereign nations are supposed to be equal in principle.
　But in this world, it is different.

　There are clearly defined power relations between nations, and these power relations manifest themselves when they form alliances.

　For example, the Empire of Persis is the most powerful nation in the Teutonic Sea.
　Next in line is the Republic of Pofenia.

　To narrow the scope, the kingdom of Roselle is the one with the largest voice in the Adelian Peninsula.
　Next in line are King Fardham's kingdom, Gilbed's kingdom, and the kingdom of King Rosais.

　Furthermore, if we limit ourselves to the limited area of the eastern Adelnian Peninsula, the kingdom of King Belvedil, I, who brought King Evil's kingdom, King Evil's kingdom to its knees and crowned King Domorgal's kingdom and King Equus's kingdom...I...that is, the kingdom of King Rosais, has the greatest power in the eastern Adelnian Peninsula.

　The true purpose of this alliance is to extend that power to the southern part of the South Adelian Peninsula.

　Well, every country knows that.　
　However, we cannot refuse.

　Because the cities of Cilicia were unable to fight the Republic of Pofenia, and the country of King Rosais was proven to have the power to fight the Republic of Pofenia.

　And they will use the military alliance as a stepping stone to bring it to economic and then political unity.
　Well, it's going to take a long time until then.


　But this will require the participation of Gehenna as a prerequisite for this.
　The Cilician League of Cities without Gehenna is like alcohol without alcohol.

　Bartolo cowered his shoulders.
　'Whether Abraham will make an alliance that is the question.

　'So, we will meet today. You'll be in Rezad at the right time.

　That's why I'm going to have a meeting with Abraham.




　'I knew it was about that!　As a matter of fact, I was going to tell you if Her Majesty hadn't suggested it.

　Abraham was more agreeable than I had expected.
　Of course, he had imagined that he would finally accept it.
　'We can make a far more advantageous treaty with a group that includes King Rosais' country than Gehenna alone.

　'What kind of unequal treaty would our country alone be forced to make I would like to add. Let the other cities have my say in the matter. Since the Persians' conquest of Cilicia, the countries of southern Adelunia have been under military pressure from Pofenia. I am sure they will all be willing to tie it up.

　Well, if the suzerainty is gone, the colony city will be anxious to get rid of it.
　If King Rosais' country came forward as the new guardian, it should be easy to accept.

　''But I do have one concern, though,''
　Concern?
　No one in King Rosais' country has ever commanded a navy before.

　I knew that was the point.
　Since our country has been a landlocked country until now, we naturally don't have a navy, nor do we have anything to do with the sea in the first place.
　In fact, it's doubtful how many of the chief ministers can swim.

　The fact that you brought this up means that........

　Well, don't worry. Gehenna is the best maritime power on the Adelian peninsula. We have a general who can assist His Majesty King Almus. I'm sure he'll be able to advise you on all manner of naval matters.

　'I appreciate that. By all means, thank you.

　After all, as long as our country has no naval operational experience, we have to rely on Gehenna.
　This cannot be reversed.

　Abraham, the Pretender of Gehenna.
　He's an inedible man.

　'Right now it's just a military alliance, but in the future I'd like to see the elimination of tariffs between member states, etc.

　...I'm surprised.
　I didn't expect that story to come out of Abraham.

　Of course, Gehenna is a shipping country that has made its wealth through transit trade, so the elimination of tariffs would be to its advantage.
　However, Gehenna is also an agricultural country.

　Especially Abraham's supporters must have been the middle class, such as self-made farmers who were engaged in agriculture.

　Therefore, abolishing the tariffs would require a lot of discussion.
　How could Abraham propose this so easily?

　''His Majesty King Almus, and I want to continue to be on good terms with King Rosais' country. I look forward to working with you.

　Abraham squeezes my hand.
　Then he gives me a big smile.

　'Take care of Tetra, please.'

　That's weird.






　Are you sure you're okay?
　What?
　"If we can get to a military alliance, or even an economic one, in the future, our country will be swallowed up by King Rosais' country.

　Abraham's entourage complained.
　No matter how far we fall, the Cilician people are Cilician people.

　They are a proud people.

　It is intolerable for them to bow down to an Adelian king.

　'So, Mr. Cilician, how do you propose to escape the invasion of King Rosais?

　Abraham sat down on the couch and snickered.

　'Well, that's...'
　Impossible. That young king's greed is real, and it will continue to grow. He's a young man, less than thirty years old. He has become the king of a country and has expanded his territory to this extent. There's no reason why he shouldn't feel more confident. If he comes this far, doesn't he have his sights set on uniting the Adelian Peninsula?
　The reunification of the peninsula... will not be possible.

　There has never been a time in history when the Adelian peninsula has been united by the same political force except when it was dominated by the flat-faced tribes.
　The Adelunian Peninsula divides the Teutonic Sea from east to west, and is a key point of connection between the northern and southern continents. It is a crossroads of civilizations.

　The Cilician, Pophenian, Adelian, Gaulish....
　Various ethnic groups live together in this country.

　If you look back in history, even today's indigenous people, the Adelnians, were a collection of different peoples with diverse languages and cultures in the past.

　Moreover, the Adelnian peninsula is long from north to south, and is divided into east and west with a single mountain range running down the middle.

　Between the east, west and north, even the same Adelnians have some differences in culture and language.

　It is no ordinary task to unify this peninsula, and the people who have been able to do so are none other than the cavalry nomads who are the ancestors of the Alva people.

　Therefore, no one has ever dreamed of such an impossible dream.
　Until today.

　It's not a question of whether you can or can't. It's a question of whether you think about it or not. Youth is always a dreamer. If he had dreamed of a unified Adelian peninsula, it would be a matter of whether our country would be invaded before or afterwards. And the two countries are so far apart in terms of national power that there is no way to regain it.

　If Almus wanted to invade Gehenna, Gehenna would not be able to resist and would be conquered.
　The power gap between Gehenna and the country of King Rosais is that wide.

　'Then we have no choice but to reverse our thinking. Fortunately or unfortunately, that man doesn't start a war unless it's for a good cause, and when he does, he's prepared for it. And when he does, he does so by forming alliances, asking for reinforcements from other countries, and making clear his country's diplomatic superiority before starting a war. ....As long as our country is behaving favorably, we will not be invaded.

　In fact, King Belvedil's country, King Evil's country, still survives.
　Gehenna can also survive, depending on how she stands.

　"But sooner or later...
　They will be annexed sooner or later. So it must be annexed in a more favorable position and at the best possible time. That way, Rezad's and King Rosais' voice in the domestic part of the country will increase.

　Be a chicken's mouth, but do not be a cow's mouth.

　But we can't keep the mouth of the chicken.
　Then let's at least be second in the herd of cattle.

　That was Abraham's idea.

　King Armes also conquered quite a number of Cilician cities in the course of his invasion. And they have obeyed him quietly. Human beings are capable of striking those who rebel against them, but they can only kick away the heads of those who are bowing down to them if they are of very bad character. The Cilician will have more of a say in the matter.

　And when the time comes.........

　A king of mixed Adelian and Cilician descent is born on the Adelian peninsula. The reconciliation of the two peoples. Isn't that a good story?

　If that happens, Gehenna will be safe.
　No way would he treat his own grandmother's place of origin as shoddy.

　"I'm not long for this. I've lived too long. Maybe five years at the most. "I've lived too long," he said.


　Abraham has no son.
　There is not a single person who could succeed him.

　Perhaps Abraham will be posthumously condemned.
　Not even his grave will be left, and his remains will be thrown into the sea.

　He will leave a bad reputation as a pretender.

　After that, Gehenna will fall into a popular government.

　May the foolish people not stand against the kingdom of King Rosais at that time.

　And when they do, may they be dealt with as mercifully as possible...

　Get into King Rosais' country while you can.
　And as much as possible, I'll make Gehenna feel good about King Rosais and his successor.

　'If I could live at least ten years longer, I wouldn't be in such a hurry.

　Abraham sighed.






　After the meeting between Abraham and Almus, negotiations with the countries began and the Southern Alliance was successfully concluded.

　The purpose of this alliance was to jointly defend the country in the event of an attack by Pofenia, other Adelian monarchies, pirates, etc...........

　It is an alliance created in a hurry, as the peace conference with Pofenia is two weeks away.
　For that reason, it is doubtful that it will function at present.

　For now, it is only in name.

　The contents of the detailed treaty were to be done after the peace with Pofenia.