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Volume 7 Chapter 2 Part 8

Theo said with a laugh.

When Siluca glanced to the side at the other contracted Mages, and saw that Repart was looking more dumbfounded than ever before, and Jeremy was taking notes with shining eyes. Both of them were excellent Mages, but even Siluca didn’t expect that their personalities could be so different from one another.

「I heard that Castle Unicorn is a strong and sturdy fortress. Isn’t it going to be difficult to take it down? 」

Juzel calmly stated his opinion.

「Just like you said, there’s going to be a number of conditions that we’ll have to fulfill in order to defeat Dartania. 」

Siluca nodded her head.

「First of all, what about our troops? It looks like we need to gather all the troops from the Artuk Treaty if we want to have anything even remotely resembling a fighting chance against Milza and his cronies. 」

According to the information that Siluca managed to gather, Juzel also studied abroad in Elam, and he possessed extensive knowledge of military strategy.

「Regarding that, one of our allies, Lord Lassic is already working on it. All of the Lords of the Artuk Treaty agreed that Milza is a threat that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, so I’m sure that they’re going to agree to cooperate with us. 」

Theo said as such. With that, Juzel also had a satisfied expression on his face.

「The second condition is that we need to prevent the enemy reinforcements from arriving to help Milza. 」

Siluca continued.

「The closest place that can provide him with reinforcements in a pinch is Waldrind, but fortunately for us, right now they seem to be too occupied with fighting against the Earl of Leclerc on the northern side of the continent, so they’re nowhere near the position where they can allow themselves to send a large portion of their army away anywhere else anytime soon. That being said, I am still worried about how long the Earl of Leclerc will be able to continue fighting against Waldrind’s forces by himself. 」

After hearing that from Aishela, anyone present got the impression that she was insinuating that he won’t be able to resist them for much longer.

「In other words, it’s now or never for us? 」

Juzel asked for confirmation.

「Yes, that’s how things are standing right now. 」

So they came here knowing that they might be unprepared for the battle. After all, if they had been certain in the means in their possession, they would’ve brought a bigger army with them.

「Are there any places other than Waldrind that could send reinforcements for Milza? 」

Siluca asked the new contracted Mages in a tone that sounded like she was giving a lecture at a university.

「Geographically speaking, there are two possible places: Stark, and Dartania itself. 」

Jeremy said while quickly raising his hand.

「What he said. 」

Repart looked sideways at Jeremy and continued with a sigh.
「That’s right. That’s why we need to lay siege to Castle Unicorn and at the same time plot against a possible intervention from Stark and Dartania. As for the countermeasures against Dartania, our preparations have already started. 」

While they were talking here, Ender Selik’s fleet was preparing to set sail, since at the current moment it seems like the anti-Milza faction in Dartania’s homeland was also gathering all of its forces to act. Siluca had no idea if that attempt at rebellion is going to be successful or not, but she was sure of one thing: no matter what happens, Milza won’t be able to receive reinforcements from his home country anytime soon.

Siluca explains the current situation to the two Mages

「So what are we going to do about Stark then? 」

「I heard that the original residents of this country who were turned into slaves after the invasion of the Nords have also started a rebellion. 」

Jeremy quickly answered the question, and Repart countered with his opinion.

「What do you think about that? 」

Theo also asked Siluca.

「It’s true that there is a rebellion among the enslaved original residents of Stark. However, the raids on Haman also continue uninterrupted, so apparently it’s not that big of a deal. If anything, they might use it as an excuse for a bloody subjugation of the rebelling slaves.

「Dartania is the curent ruler of the South Seas, while the Nords are the rulers of the North Sea. 」

Juzel said suggestively.

「However, if Dartania loses, Stark will also be in trouble, so they’ll definitely send reinforcements. 」

「In that case, why don’t we make the rebellion of those slaves a real thorn in the backside of the Nords? 」

「If possible, then I’d like to do it. 」

Siluca nodded her head, impressed by Juzel’s insight.

Even if Castle Unicorn is going to be in danger, the Nords in Stark won’t be able to do anything about it if they’re going to have their hands full with the quelling of the rebellion at their own territory.

But the real question here was who they should send to take care of strengthening the slave rebellion.

「I’ll go. 」

Juzel smiled, almost as if he could clearly tell what Siluca was thinking.

「As you’re all perfectly aware, the Rossini family is guilty of running an oppressive regime on Sistina for a long time, so I am amore than familiar with what must be done in order to put rebellions to a stop, but the opposite is also true. 」

Siluca stared at Theo.

Of course, she thought that Juzel was the right man for the job. However, everything depended on whether Theo would also admit it or not. If something were to happen to Juzel during his mission, the old Rossini family sympathizers on Sistina might think that Theo had driven him to death, which would definitely spark a rebellion against him.

「Can I ask you to do this favor for us? 」

Theo said to Juzel.

「If we lose, Sistina will eventually be conquered by the Nords as well. If it makes the people happy then that’s be fine, but I can already tell you that’s not going to be the case. The Nords continue to enslave the people of the occupied territories, and life as a slace is far from what I’d call a happy and fulfilling life. 」

「I’ll leave it to me then. With this, a member of the Rossini family, the oppressor of Sistina, is going to become a liberator of Stark. There is nothing more exciting than this. 」

Juzel said with a laugh.

There is no doubt that this will be an opportunity for him to prove his abilities and clear the name of the Rossini family. But at the same time, the mission that he took upon his shoulders is going to be a dangerous one.

「Please, be very careful… 」

Siluca turned to Juzel and bowed deeply.

「Then I will leave immediately. I wish you good luck, Lord Theo. 」

「You watch yourself out there too. 」

Theo shook Juzel’s hand firmly, and after that he left the hall with a high and mighty step.
「The situation we’re in is exactly as you just heard. We don’t know where we’ll stumble, and we won’t be able to get back up when we do. It’s like crossing a river while walking on thin ice in winter. But we have no choice but to see it through, since that’s the only way for the Artuk Treaty to survive. 」

Theo looked around at the group of Lords and said with a determined look on his face.

「I ask you to fight with me until the end, no matter what that end might be! 」

After that pledge of his, Siluca then ended the war council and dismissed everyone.

* * *

「Theo, Cornero has entered The Forest of Eternal Darkness?!! 」

After hearing the report from Terius, Milza Kuches stood up and kicked his throne with all his might. His expression became that of immense displeasure.

「Theo Cornero has also made a declaration: he says that he’ll defeat a despotic usurper Milza Kuches and free Artuk from Dartania’s oppression, and The Forest of Eternal Darkness is just the beginning of that. 」

Milza glared at Terius.

「I understand why he’d say that. After all, The Forest of Eternal Darkness is a Demonic Realm, so I never bothered to send any of my troops there because I didn’t deem it necessary. 」

「That forest was originally ruled by Dimitri, the King of Vampires. After it was discovered that he was a member of Pandora who aided the Heavy Knights of Waldrind in their hunt of the Werewolves, Theo Cornero received the castle and became the castle keeper. Then, when Villar Constance died, he abandoned it, but now he has come back and stole a part of what become my property! 」