What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 667

Fake Bunt Slash (3)

Yes. Of course, they were planning to use ‘me.’

A key figure from an enemy country, barred from entering or leaving during wartime?

Anyone could see that Prince Yeseo Venetian was the top priority!

It was such an obvious and clear conclusion from the start, yet it took an excessively long time to reach it.

I smirked, looking up at the Emperor sitting on the throne.

His red eyes, aimed at me, drew a deep curve.

Seeing him finally satisfied filled me with a sense of fulfillment.

I wanted to repay the trust he had placed in me by entrusting me with everything from invaluable historical records to precious old maps and strategy reports.

“Hoo······.”

Today’s tactic had to come from my mouth, through him.

If the ‘Imperial Order’ to infiltrate the enemy lines with wartime-restricted individuals, including Prince Yeseo, were to come first, some commanders would inevitably worry about my betrayal.

That was unavoidable.

Even if I had spent a long time with their heir to the throne, shared life and death, been wrongly accused, shaken the public opinion of the enemy country by spreading leaflets with the sacred object, and been openly called the ‘Angel of the Main God’ by the soldiers, there would still be people who wouldn’t change.

It’s impossible to receive the trust and affection of everyone in the world.

Moreover, the Liester Empire had experienced the worst precedent of ‘Yuliter Statia’ [likely a historical figure or event known for betrayal].

However, if I personally conceived and proposed the strategy and received His Majesty’s approval, the situation would be completely different.

Obedience and volition are virtually opposite concepts.

This would not only gain the trust of my fellow commanders but also give my words a certain authority.

Emperor Frederick had seen through all of this from the beginning.

He knew early on that there was no better way to put me on the battlefield.

“······.”

However, only he, I, and Lorenzo were smiling.

Soon, the atmosphere in the hall became uneasy and noisy, and gradually everyone’s voices began to rise.

I felt a tingling tension and clenched my fists.

I briefly met Johan’s eyes, but as always, his expression was unreadable. And―

-Bang!

“Valerie, good heavens, the vanguard!”

Wow, exactly what I expected!

“How can someone who is not a combatant and has not even received basic training utter such a dangerous idea?”

“Marquis, no, Palace Lord! With all due respect, you can’t even make it to the entrance of the Heavenly Road [likely a strategically important or dangerous location] with that body!”

“Of course not. It’s out of the question. What would happen to the war situation if you were caught by the Theocratic States army?”

“Oh, heavens!”

“It’s too dangerous. Terribly dangerous. The Palace Lord’s safety is a big problem, and······.”

“What if there’s no passage underground? Forgive me, but isn’t it possible that all of this is just a far-fetched inference?”

“Emperor Romero the Great never directly mentioned a ‘underground passage.’ If he had thought so, he would never have said it indirectly. Given his nature······.”

“Even so, it’s better to go in expecting there isn’t a passage than the alternative.”

As the agitated commanders poured out their concerns from both sides, someone sharply cut them off.

This was an unexpected reaction. I blinked and turned to look at the man in question.

It was Djibril Diop.

“You should think carefully, elders. And all of you.”

He crossed his arms with a defiant attitude and gestured with his chin.

The bloodshot eyes, pressing down on his fellow commanders, looked very cold.

I could feel my friends’ gazes turning sharply towards him.

The old gentleman next to him also seemed quite intrigued.

“Assuming there is a passage, we can reduce the number of commanders who are surprised by whatever pops out of there. Since there’s a pre-arranged tactic, they won’t be too shaken up. If you don’t waver, the soldiers will be less shaken too.”

“······.”

“Conversely, what if we go in believing there isn’t a passage and end up like Emperor Romero the Great? Can you take responsibility for that?”

“Ahem. Young master, watch your words!”

“Cough. Hmm!”

The conference hall instantly became noisy.

Even I hadn’t thought of saying it so bluntly—that would be a disaster—the young master seemed to have nothing to hold back.

The master I turned to look at was only wearing an inscrutable smile.

“Am I threatening you right now? I’m just saying something extremely realistic. We could come up with a tactic to prepare for when the passage doesn’t exist. It’s necessary. But as we’ve done so far, a blitz-like maneuver is impossible, and as you know, the terrain is already very unfavorable.”

“······.”

Then the commanders who had expressed their opposition looked at each other.

The combat mage who swept back his hair added sharply.

“A war of attrition. A long-term battle. Isn’t that exactly what the Venetian want? No matter how good our momentum is, that’s just the current situation. Do you have any countermeasures if it’s broken here?”

“Broken? Of course, the difference in troop strength is significant, so it won’t go that far······.”

“No, the young master’s point is valid, but······.”

The chief commanders, sitting upright like Jeongipum pine trees [a metaphor for upright and unyielding posture, possibly a cultural reference], kept clearing their throats.

Around that time, I gently dug into the gap with a soft voice.

Perhaps Diop was helping me.

As a kind of ‘bad cop, good cop’ strategy.

“Lilianer Venetian was a king who dreamed of deifying the royal family and making the people ignorant, I’m told. I think you all know that well. Haven’t you seen the Venetian citizens with your own eyes on the way here? This war is about to reach its first year, haven’t you felt something different in the meantime?”

“······.”

“The Theocratic States’ literacy rate is much higher than the Empire’s, and conversely, their faith is much deeper. As a result, there are many people who don’t know how to read history books but believe that Werner, the State Secretary, is of divine blood. That’s because he is a descendant of Irene Schneider, the Holy Pope. Lilianer ruled the Theocratic States in that way, and Duke Schneider of that era inherited her knack. The king building a passage underground was obviously not a policy for the people.”

“······.”

“Mobility is power, and she wasn’t someone who shared power. Of course, she must have been up to something inside as well.”

I slapped a map with the horsehair fan that Francois had secretly handed me!

The elderly people flinched.

“Our side has magic that they despise. And very high-level magic.”

“Marquis, what······.”

“Why don’t we try ambushing them with that?”

A sly smile was on my lips. Some of the elders looked at me with a slightly disgusted expression.

Hey, don’t be so upset.

“I have definite information. I know the royal capital like the back of my hand, even if I don’t know the provinces well. What form does the current royal capital’s urban area take? What cities are around it and how should they be infiltrated? What kind of people are the lords? What are their weaknesses? Where are the main temples? Who opposes Duke Schneider and who follows him······. Oh, and the number and size of the ports facing the Sea of Abundance.”

Then Elizabeth, who had been focusing on managing her expression, dropped her jaw.

Her mother, Marchioness Caroline, as well as Duke Cecil Blancar, also widened their eyes.

Since I didn’t act like a prince, they seemed surprised that I was suddenly acting like one.

The reason I grilled Jeong Hyun-seo like sausage and vegetable stir-fry [an idiom for intense interrogation or training] was for today.

It was worth catching that ugly status window like a rat!

“If you send me, it will definitely help the Empire’s victory.”

“······.”

A chilling silence flowed. I rolled my eyes and looked at Gain.

She had a very complicated expression, and I felt really sorry because I thought I knew what she was thinking.

I didn’t even talk about this last night, so she might have felt a sense of betrayal.

“······This is quite a great tactic. It sounds very interesting. If you entrust it to me, I will provide a shield for the Palace Lord.”

“Thank you very much.”

And the first one to take my side was Lorenzo, with his splendid mustache.

I immediately greeted the elder.

I don’t know much about old people, but now my ignorance wasn’t worrying or unpleasant.

I was scared, but I didn’t want to hide.

Because I’m not alone anymore.

“Are there any other opinions?”

“······.”

Finally, His Majesty, who had been silent, looked around the assembly and spoke.

The atmosphere was still not relaxed.

I tried to move my stiff facial muscles somehow.

I knew my friends wouldn’t like this plan. To be exact, they would hate it.

Because they knew better than anyone that the hypothesis was too reckless and too dangerous.

But this time······. I hope they would help me stand alone.

“Marquis Serenite’s words make sense.”

Sparkle! I hurriedly raised my head, which had been falling.

The Crown Prince on the throne was looking down at me with sunken eyes.

It was difficult to read his expression because the distance was farther than usual.

However, I could feel a very solid emotion in his voice.

“In the first place, the Heavenly Road is not a land where our forces can achieve a complete victory. Then wouldn’t it be wise to deceive them and use the secret terrain to counterattack?”

······Wow, thank you so much!

“The Crown Prince agrees. Anyone else?”

“I second that. Our forces have always set up two or three additional tactics to secure alternatives. There is nothing we can lose by accepting Marquis Serenite’s hypothesis.”

This time, Isabel calmly stepped forward.

As soon as she finished speaking, non-combat mages, including Camille and Francois, rushed to support my claim.

Marchioness Mute, Duke Blancar, and Elizabeth also quickly added a word each.

Whenever someone objected, Johan shot the opponent down with sharp and gentle words.

Then the atmosphere began to reverse in an instant. It was as if it was under a spell!

“Some commanders seem skeptical, but we actually thought it was quite convincing from the beginning. Our army is in a situation where we need to look ahead several moves, not just push forward.”

“The Palace Lord is from the Theocratic States’ royal family, so she will definitely be helpful. It’s not that difficult to organize a fake cavalry······.”

“His Majesty has already summoned the wartime-restricted individuals. Oh, that’s right! Were you sleeping at yesterday’s meeting? They have been mind-controlled, so there will be no problems.”

“I heard that the Marquis’s holy site is huge. As a powerful priest, there shouldn’t be any major problems with the escort. Rather, our army may be able to receive help.”

“Then I will protect the Palace Lord.”

Suddenly. All other sounds were swept away for a moment by a voice resembling clear waves.

All eyes in the hall turned to its owner.

I turned to look at her, clasping my cold hands under the table.

Gain was smiling as if she couldn’t win.

“······I will go with you. I will take you anywhere. As always.”

“······Thank you.”

At her words, which I had been eagerly waiting for, a broad smile finally appeared, and all the strength in my body was released.

Hiding my joy, I looked up at the throne.

My master was looking at me with half pride and half concern.

And as for the Emperor who planned all this ‘operation’······.

“The cardinals of the Papal States also talked about the probability of a passage. It’s quite possible.”