You've had a bad day, Kepka.
　I'm sorry, brother Ceal.

　Kepka bows his head to his own brother........Ceal Barca, head of the Barca family.
　On the other hand, Ceal shook his head.

　''It can't be helped. Victory or defeat is a normal part of a soldier's life, the luck of the hour.

　Alexios.

　Ceal clenched his fists tightly.

　'I should have strangled him then. ....and it was my fault.

　An iridescent (odd-eyed) child brings misfortune to its home and country.
　To avoid this, they must be strangled immediately after they are born.

　It's an ancient Pophenian tradition.

　That was the point.

　'From what I've heard, he became a nobleman in a barbarian country. What is this Cornelius? He's a disgrace to Barca.

　A blue streak appeared on Ceal's face.
　The flames of anger flared in his eyes.

　''Right now, Azul Hanno's forces have the upper hand. This can't be helped. We have failed but we will rise again soon. When that happens, we will advance on the Adelunian Peninsula again. And then we will kill Alexios. This is between him and us, the House of Barca. Unless this is settled, there will be no peace for the House of Barca!








　The guy in Ceal is probably furious right now.
　'Ha, I can see that brainiac howling. Master Azure.

　Azul Hanno sips the spirit given to him by King Almus as a gift.
　I've never drunk anything as strong and fragrant as this.

　I have never drunk anything stronger or more fragrant than this spirit, but the product is wonderful, the paper. The roads are even better than in our country. We mustn't underestimate the barbarians.

　Although Azul was high-handed with King Rosais' country and the Cilician countries, he did not feel that badly about King Rosais' country in his heart.
　Rather, he appreciated it.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you can do with it.

　We are neighbors on the other side of the sea," he said. We want to build a friendly relationship rather than a hostile one," he said. ....The Teutonic Sea has been populated by Adelian pirates. But once that King unites that peninsula, there will be no more pirates. If both sides come to terms, we can coexist.

　King Rosais' country does not have a proper navy.
　So Pofenia is not in danger of being invaded.

　If Pofenia doesn't even touch the Adelunian peninsula, there will be no war.

　Our country is more than rich enough as it is. "Our country is more than rich enough as it is; we should not be acquiring interests, but protecting them. Why should we spend all our military money on an expedition when there is fertile, untapped land at home, no. The Barca are such fools if they don't understand that.

　Azul sighed.





　Cilicia Peninsula, formerly Clarice.
　It has a good natural harbor called Deer Bay, a crossroads connecting the Ash Sea and the Teutis Sea, the West "Occident" and the East "Orient".
　At this geopolitical point, a luxurious and magnificent palace was steadily being built.

　At a distance from the palace that was under construction, there was a large mansion.
　Although it was much smaller than the palace, it was still huge...more than five times larger than the palace in King Rosais' country, with gold, silver and marble carvings on the decorations.

　On the balcony of the mansion the World Emperor was on the balcony where he could see the beautiful sea of Cilicia.

　''Eei!　I don't like it!　Those sea monkeys!

　The Emperor of the Persian Empire, Xerxes III, slammed his fist into the table.
　The table shook and the figs on the plate fell to the ground.

　Xerxes stomped on it with his foot.

　An alliance was formed between the Persis Empire and Pofenia.
　The idea was that in exchange for Pofenia gaining Cilician interests, the Pofenian Navy would beat the Cilician Navy to the punch.

　That alliance was a success, and the Cilicia peninsula successfully fell into the hands of the Persis Empire.
　However.........


　'A little too much Pofenia... a blunder.

　Up until now, the Cilician power was strong and the Persis Empire was at a disadvantage at sea.
　So they decided to pummel the Pophenians against the Cilician and cut down on their power.

　However, the power of the Pophenians was stronger than Xerxes had expected, and it began to become uncontrollable.

　''........Is there a monkey somewhere that can fight the sea monkeys?

　Xerxes sighs.
　'There is no longer a force in the Teutonic Sea that can compete with Pofenia.

　'Should I have let Cilicia survive in part ... no, that would not be wise in terms of defense. We should have destroyed Cilicia, after all. But Pofenia, by all means...

　As Xerxes was troubled, a man called out to him from behind the door.

　'Your Majesty, I apologize for the break, but there is something I wish to ask you.
　What's the hurry?　
　''No it's just that it might help your Majesty's troubles.
　"Enter.

　When Xerxes gave his permission, a vassal advanced to Xerxes.
　He kneeled down and took a vassal's bow before looking up.

　''It appears that the Pofenian army has invaded the Adelunian peninsula and has been defeated.
　How ... how big of a fight is this?
　20,000 in the Pofenian army, 40,000 in the Adelian peninsula.

　Xerxes' eyes widened.
　Forty thousand is a moderately large army.

　No country is capable of organizing such a large army at this time.
　At least in Xerxes' knowledge, there was no political power capable of mustering that many troops.

　''What kind of force?''
　'It's a monarchy on the Adelian peninsula called the Land of King Rosais and its allies. The king is a young man in his twenties named Almus.
　Oh....

　Xerxes leaned forward with interest.

　'Naturally, you've researched the history of the country of a man named Almus and King Rosais, haven't you?

　Xerxes asked, and his vassal gave him a big smile.

　''Yes, I have looked into the situation in the Adelian peninsula over the last few decades. Would you like to hear about it?'
　Let me hear it.

　The vassals tell Xerxes about the situation in the Adelian peninsula.
　That there are small and large nations in the Adelian peninsula that continue to fight each other.
　The Gauls to the north, the Cilicians to the south, and the Pophenians to the south, with their eyes fixed on the territory.

　The country of King Rosais had been a small, blown-up country until a few years ago.
　Since the accession of King Almus to the throne, it has rapidly increased in power.

　And a few years ago, he defeated the Kingdom of Roselle in a field battle and strengthened his position in Adelunia by forming an alliance with the nations of Gaul.

　And a few weeks ago, he defeated the Poffenian army and allied with the Cilicians on the instructions of the Cilicians to gain military leadership in southern Adelunia.

　His vassal, a man named Bartolo Pompeius, was a famous general.

　That Almus is not from a royal family, but from a commoner's background.
　That he is rumored to be the son of Mares, the god of war, who was raised by a divine beast named Gryphon.

　He has two wives, two sons and a daughter.

　He doesn't live a luxurious life, living a simple life, and only occasionally goes to hot springs.

　And he is well supported by the commoners and feared by the great and noble families.

　They are tolerant of those who live in the areas they conquer, and punish those who disobey them without mercy.

　That they take on vassals and aristocrats even if they are of a different ethnicity, such as Cilician or Pofenian, if they are competent.


　'Hmmm ... talk about the threat of foreign powers and raise their international status by taking the brunt of the threat themselves. And the diplomatic skill of forming alliances and establishing dominance little by little. A domestic skill in establishing one's own power by purging the aristocracy and great families and, conversely, gathering support from the common people. The courage and openness to appoint outstanding vassals and entrust them with command authority. A skill in governing newly invaded peoples with the skillful use of candy and whip. He understands that his country is a multi-ethnic nation and has the flexibility to allow a multi-ethnic group to join his government if they are good enough to govern it. He does not hide his origins as a commoner, but on the contrary, he is able to switch gears to create a sense of mystery. Above all, reason to rule rationally without any emotion. ........not bad. At least they don't seem to be monkeys.

　But it's not possible to completely evaluate it from hearsay alone.

　Xerxes meditated for a moment and thought about it.
　Then he opens his eyelids and looks down at his vassals.

　"You will continue to monitor the situation in Adelunia. And determine if the king, Almus, is worthy of being an ally. Don't be selective in your intelligence. Tell me everything you see and hear.
　"I accept your command, Your Majesty. Your Majesty. I will see to it that you succeed. "And may the Empire of Persis glory reign.