Here you are, Your Majesty.
　Yeah, totally....

　Me and Raimondo were scratching our heads.

　The information we got from the Cilicia merchants....
　The situation in Pofenia has been unsettled in recent years.

　Once again, it seems that the power of the Barca family, or the Coastal Party, is growing.

　The reason for this is.....
　Our military and economic activities.

　This is because the expansion of the territory of our Kingdom of Romalia and the emergence of a regional power in the north of Pofenia seems to have stimulated the conservative class in Pofenia.

　In addition, Cilician merchants with vassalage to the Kingdom of Romalia have increased their commercial activities in the Teutis Sea, apparently competing with merchants in the Kingdom of Pofenia.

　As a result, the wealthy commoner class of Pofenia, or merchants, began to claim territorial expansion.

　In other words, they are securing their commercial sphere through colonial expansion.

　...Well, to be honest, I'd say that Pofenia's expansion of its power in Trisichellia is all on its own.
　Our eyes are on the north.

　But......

　Looks like they're trying to get into the Mersina Straits.
　''I thought we had an agreement with Lord Hanno for the Mersina Strait, but...''

　Mersina Strait.

　It is a narrow strait between the peninsula of Adelnia and the island of Trisichellia.

　This strait, which divides the Teutonic Sea into east and west straits, is a key point of maritime traffic where ships of various nations and peoples - Romalia, Cilicia, Pofenia, Persis - come and go.

　If we were to be held back by Pofenia, we would be at an inevitable economic disadvantage.

　Moreover, from the point of view of us Romarians, the sea stretches out in front of Clarice, the largest port in the world.

　In the interest of national security, we cannot surrender this Strait of Mersina to any other country.

　The entire island of Trisichellia would fall into the hands of Pofenia, and Pofenia's control of the Mersina Strait would be equivalent to a bridge being built between Pofenia and Romalia.

　The Teutonic Sea is not a rough sea like the Sea of Japan.
　It is a calm sea.

　To Pofenia, as a maritime nation, the sea is like a road.

　It's just.....
　Pofenia is well aware that the conquest of Trisichellia will provoke Romalia, and that's a good thing.

　And the Persis Empire will not be silent.
　That's why we, the Kingdom of Romalia and the Poffenian nobleman Azul Hanno, have made an agreement.

　Both sides will not intervene in the Mersina Strait.
　Neither side will interfere with our commercial activities........

　But..........
　Apparently, the merchants of Pofenia can't stand it.

　''The mercenaries are gathering in Pofenia are beginning to conquer Trisichellia in earnest?

　Pofenia does not have a standing army.
　The army is made up entirely of mercenaries.

　That's why they always recruit mercenaries before a war.

　Mercenaries from all over the world gather in Pofenia.
　If you're not too well-informed, you can figure it out.

　"The question is, how much territory do we need to expand in Trisichelia? If it stops just short of the Strait of Mersina, we can tolerate that.
　If you move into the Strait of Mercia we will have no choice but to move.

　There are commercial and defense spheres that we must protect as well.
　To the extent that Pofenia does not encroach on the interests of the Kingdom of Romalia, we can respect Pofenia's interests to some extent, but....

　At any rate, we'll talk.








　It's good to see you, Mister Azul Hanno.
　'Well, well Your Majesty Almus. It's been a long time. How can I help you today?

　I called Azul Hanno from Pofenia.
　Azur Hanno has a smile on his face, but his eyes are serious.

　''Let me get right to the point. ........It's about the island of Trisichellia.
　Is that what you're talking about?

　Azul Hanno takes a sip of wine before answering, "You are aware that the Coastal Party, led by Cearl Barca, is already prevailing in Pofenia?

　'You are aware that the Coastal Party, led by Ceal Barca, has already gained the upper hand in Pofenia?
　Yes, I know. Can't you contain it?

　When I asked that, Azul Hanno looked difficult.

　''We are trying. ........but even we have our limits.''

　'Good grief,' said Azul Hanno, cowering his shoulders as if to say.

　'In the first place, though, your military and economic activities have provoked the commoners in our country. .........You have a lot to answer for.
　That would be a logical fallacy. The problem is that Pofenia is now attempting to violate our national defense sphere. ...Will you abide by the treaties you and our country once signed?
　It's hard to tell.

　Azul Hanno sighed.

　It was a treaty that Azul Hanno himself had made.
　Azul Hanno would want to protect it if he could.

　........But as long as Azul Hanno's faction is being pushed, that's not going to happen.

　That's understandable to me, but...

　'The current leader of Pofenia is Ceal Barca. Since he has decided to invade Trisichellia, I can't help myself. .... but I am prepared to make a compromise.

　With that, Ceal Barca took out a piece of parchment and held it out in front of me.

　'One, the Kingdom of Romalia recognizes Pofenia's control and interest in Trisichellia Island.
　Two, the Strait of Mersina will still be jointly controlled by Persis, Pofenia and Romalia.
　Three, Romalia will not interfere in the Western Teutonic Sea.
　Four, Pofenia will recognize Romalia's control and rights in the Adelian Peninsula.
　Five, both sides shall be inviolable.

　That's all. .........How is it?

　........not a very bad suggestion.
　It's not a suggestion but ...

　"You want us to believe that Pofenia won't block the Strait of Mersina?
　I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me.

　Currently, Pofenia does not control the island of Trisichellia.
　And our country lacks naval power.
　Persis is a long way away.

　That is why the neutrality of the Strait of Mersina is established.

　No force can suppress the control of the seas in the Strait of Mersina.

　But.........　
　If Pofenia conquers the island of Trisichellia, it will be a different story.

　If Pofenia builds a naval base in the Strait of Mersina, that's all it takes for the Strait of Mersina to fall into Pofenia's hands.
　It's Pofenia's choice whether to blockade or liberate it.

　And .....
　You can invade the Adelian peninsula at any time.

　'You, the Kingdom of Romalia is also on the Strait of Mersina, and you are building a naval base at Rezad and increasing your fleet. And you are building a naval base in Rezad and increasing your fleet. Isn't it equality to allow us to advance into the Strait of Mersina?

　"I would like you to consider the difference in naval power between your country and ours.

　Me and Azul Hanno glare at each other.

　'Anyway, these are the terms that I can suggest and that Pofenia can concede to the maximum extent possible. By all means, I would like to have a response within a month.
　...Okay, I'll think about it.

　I took the parchment.






　"Well, what do we do now?

　I gathered the officials in a room in the castle.
　They all have a hard look on their faces.

　"Your Majesty, isn't there anything we can do to negotiate?
　'Azul Hanno said. 'This is the best concession Pofenia can make,' he said.

　Azul Hanno is a non-mainstream politician.
　As a Pofenia politician, he would not do anything that would violate the national interest of Pofenia....

　But I don't think they're going to do anything that might incite our country to go to war down the road.

　I mean.....
　'We have two choices: swallow this, or open war with Pofenia.

　But, but.....
　This is one thing in effect.

　What the Persis Empire originally wanted from the Kingdom of Romalia was to restrain Pofenia.
　If they compromised with Pofenia here, they would be betraying the Percis Empire's intentions.......or rather, the Percis Empire that had supported them until now.

　Emperor Xerxes would never allow it.

　At worst, we can fully expect support from the Persis Empire.

　So.........

　You're going to have to fight.
　I suppose.

　We don't need to take Trichyceria.
　All we have to do is defeat House Barca and stop the invasion of Trisichellia.

　It is not very difficult to achieve this goal.
　After a few victories, the main warring faction in Pofenia will give up.

　''We'll go to Trisichellia Island. Fortunately, we've just made peace with the Kingdom of Roselle, right?

　Well, it will be over by next year.






　Romalia, the army nation of the north, which will later collide three times in a hundred years. The naval power of Pofenia in the south.

　The first of these wars.
　The first Pofenia War, which would last about four years, was about to begin.