Chapter 206 - Warmonger

Meanwhile, Ferda and Ureas were talking in the drawing room. With Luri attending to Valdrova, servants dispatched from the imperial palace waited on Ureas.

“You may have guessed, but this inspection tour is merely a pretext. There is something else I came to discuss.”

Ureas spoke with a solemn expression. Ferda wondered whether anyone could be stupid enough not to have realized that.

“What would you like to discuss?”

Though he knew, Ferda feigned ignorance and waited for him to speak. He had not ruled out the possibility that Ureas might actually bring up something he did not know.

“I suppose you might not have heard, living out here in the far east. The Empire is planning to declare war on the Heinkel Kingdom.”

Perhaps he should have ruled it out after all. Having entertained the possibility that this might not be the obvious conversation, Ferda showed surprise.

“War?”

“You know Duke Yurei? They tell me that shameless Demon Follower still refuses to confess.”

“Is that so?”

“So we contacted the Heinkel Kingdom. We told them that we suspected Yurei of colluding with Demons and needed to search his domain. Do you know what they said? They demanded that we repatriate Duke Yurei first. What do you suppose that means?”

“That they are in it together?”

“Exactly!” Ureas slapped his knee.

“They must have something to hide themselves, to demand that we hand over Duke Yurei first. If they had nothing to be ashamed of, wouldn't they let us conduct our search?”

“Indeed.”

Of course, Ferda thought otherwise. Strictly speaking, the Heinkel Kingdom's demand was perfectly legitimate. It was the Arken Empire that was unlawfully imprisoning the duke, and the possibility that it intended to occupy his lands under the pretext of an investigation could hardly be overlooked.

“Naturally, there are laws, and nobles are expected to observe certain courtesies. But those only apply to civilized beings on the Serdes Continent who abide by the Grand Council. How can we extend them to someone who might be a Demon?”

“You are absolutely right.”

Ureas Arken, the Empire's Second Prince. A great general who placed national defense first. Judging by his reputation, he was the very image of a great king. But that was not what truly drove him.

'He simply wants a war.'

Ureas was already notorious among the high nobility as a warmonger. Whereas Alexander schemed to crush people, Ureas preferred overt displays of force. Subjugating others by the sword and holding the power of life and death over the defeated—that was the nature of his hunger for power.

“So, finding it suspicious, I sent spies to investigate the Heinkel Kingdom. And do you know what they discovered?”

“What was it?”

“Those bastards really are in bed with the Demons!”

What utter nonsense was he spouting? Ferda almost dismissed it, then cooled his head and reconsidered. Ureas was a fool, but were his subordinates equally foolish? There was a way to check.

“What does Grand Duke Gold think?”

He only needed to see what Waldemar Gold was doing. The moment Ureas heard the question, his expression soured.

“You don't seem to trust me.”

“That is not the case. A declaration of war requires a firm justification that the entire Empire can accept. Even if you are certain, Your Highness, without Grand Duke Gold's backing, you effectively lose half your support. I only meant that if you are certain, you should leave nothing to chance.”

“Is that so? I misunderstood. My apologies,” Ureas replied.

“That old geezer seems to think this is sufficient grounds for war too. He intends to have General Luthers raise an army and attack.”

If he intended to strike the Heinkel Kingdom, it meant he was prepared to crush it completely.

“Annexing the Heinkel Kingdom would bring enormous economic benefits. Isn't the west a land of magic? If we seize its deposits of magic stones and rare earths, the Arken Empire could become a first-rate magical power too! Surely a mage like you understands that?”

He understood perfectly. Though only because he was from the future.

“Until just a year ago, I was merely a member of a knightly family. I know little of such matters...”

“Really? I've heard so many stories of your remarkable exploits... You must be exceptionally gifted. In any case, this will be a very profitable undertaking. I'm inviting you to take part. What do you say?”

“You are asking for our support.”

“Naturally, your support would be duly rewarded.” Ureas laid out his offer.

“If you support the war, I will grant you iron-mining rights and rights to a quarter of the Heinkel Kingdom's territory. With that much land, you could establish a foothold in the Golden Council. How does that sound?”

An extraordinarily generous offer.

“What would you require of us?”

“The technology behind the magical engineering rifle.”

The price matched the offer.

“Think carefully.”

Ureas spoke before Ferda even had time to think. His expression was utterly at odds with the word “carefully.”

“When it comes to magical engineering, someone will eventually produce an imitation.”

Ureas was not making that up. It had happened in the future Ferda had witnessed, and even now, people were researching ways to obtain mana stones. The Empire was reportedly already producing them in earnest.

“Word has it that someone has already made a magical engineering rifle. They are trying to sell it to the Empire.”

Ferda had heard of that shameless individual too.

“How long can that mage Burnel stay ahead? A visionary cannot remain a pioneer forever. The tide is bound to turn eventually.”

Ferda agreed.

“Why not sell us the technology before that happens? Sell it all while its value is at its peak. I'd call that an excellent bargain, wouldn't you?”

From a financial perspective, it certainly was. Trading a single technology for territory and commercial rights that would serve him both now and in the future was an excellent deal.

“I am sorry, but I cannot provide you with the rifles.”

But that was not particularly important to Ferda.

“Why not? I was quite certain I had made you an advantageous offer.”

“It is advantageous, but what matters most to me is the Grand Duchess's will.”

“Her Highness's will? What is that?”

“At the Grand Council, I declared my intention to conquer the Land of Demons. To that end, I founded Hestia village and am developing it into a city of adventurers. Hestia's magical engineering is for those exploring the Land of Demons. Allowing my rifles to be used in a war against humans would go against Her Highness's wishes.”

Ureas waved a hand, dismissing Ferda's objection.

“It would not go against her wishes. We are at war with Demons.”

“Are you certain there are no humans among them?”

“Not everyone who dies in war can be innocent.”

“That is precisely why I must refuse.”

It would be another matter if someone leaked the technology and the rifles were produced against his wishes. But Ferda could not lend a hand himself. Giving them the magical engineering rifle technology in Valdrova's name would be no different from making her an accomplice to murder. He would never be able to face her after staining her name that way.

“Could you not persuade Her Highness to change her mind?”

“You have come here as the emperor's proxy, Your Highness. Your duty, then, must be to uphold his name.”

“Indeed.”

“The same applies to me. I represent the Grand Duchess, and I also represent Lady Valdrova, the Crimson Dragon.”

So stop telling me what to do.

Looking troubled, Ureas stared at the floor before speaking.

“For now... very well. You are saying you cannot offer any support at all?”

After everything he had said, he was asking again... Ferda fought back the frown that nearly creased his brow.

“All troops and supplies within the Grand Duchy's territory are reserved for emergencies. Regrettably, we cannot spare any.”

“Well, if you say so...”

Ureas could not hide his displeasure. That was one reason he was a worse politician than Alexander. Yet his willingness to back down was suspicious.

Just then, Ureas's personal attendant approached and whispered in his ear. Quiet though the whisper was, Ferda already had the ears to hear it.

“Her Highness the princess wishes to enter. What would you have us do...?”

“What else? Let her in.”

“Understood.”

Following his order, the princess entered. Ferda knew she had returned from speaking with Valdrova.

'What on earth did they talk about?'

She looked utterly exhausted. But she seemed unwilling to have it noticed, so Ferda returned her greeting as though nothing were amiss.

“What were you discussing?”

“Men's business. We were discussing supplies for the war against the Heinkel Kingdom, but he says he won't provide any support.”

“Is that so?” Olivia asked, her eyes widening.

“Unfortunately, it would run counter to the ideals on which Hestia village was founded...”

“I see. I had rather hoped this would bring us closer to the far east...”

Olivia sighed as though disappointed. Then she opened her eyes a fraction and gave him a meaningful look. Ferda acted as they had arranged beforehand.

“Come to think of it, Your Highness, you seemed interested in magical engineering rifles...”

“Hm? Ah, yes.”

“Though I cannot supply you with them, I would like to offer you the opportunity to try a magical engineering rifle and several other weapons currently under development. Would that interest you?”

“I would welcome the opportunity!”

Ureas was as delighted as a child receiving a present.

“Very well. I will notify the castle staff that you are coming down and ask them to prepare.”

“Excellent. Come along, sister.”

Olivia answered with an uncomfortable expression.

“You know even the sight of a blade frightens me. Do go on your own, Brother.”

“Then you two can stay and chat. I'll go alone.”

He made a show of leaving with dignity, but could not hide the new spring in his step. Once Ureas had disappeared on his way to the toy section, Olivia cleared her throat.

“Shall we have a little conversation of our own now?” Olivia smiled alluringly.

“Did your conversation with Her Highness go well?”

Ferda first asked about her meeting with Valdrova.

“Yes. Quite a few things caught me off guard, but it went reasonably well.”

She spoke casually, but he could tell she did not really want to discuss it. Ferda asked her another question.

“There have been a number of things I wanted to ask you.”

“Hehe, how exciting to hear that you're curious about me.”

“What is your relationship with Storeus?”

When Storeus had encountered Ferda, he had told him to help her. Ferda had expected Olivia's smile to freeze, but she remained perfectly composed.

“It's simple. A pet and its master? No, that isn't quite right. A circus monkey and a spectator would be closer. When I perform a trick, he claps with delight and tosses me an apple. That sort of thing.”

“And his support?”

“Power I can borrow at the decisive moment. Power to kill the emperor.”

That did not make sense.

“Mighty as the Arken Empire may be, isn't it nothing before a dragon?”

“A dragon can destroy an entire kingdom without batting an eye. Yet I hear even dragons cannot touch the Arken dynasty. Isn't that strange?”

He could not deny it.

“Storeus began working with me three years ago. He approached me, saying he knew I intended to kill the emperor.”

“Did he offer to cooperate?”

“Cooperate? Someone so arrogant wouldn't even have that word in his vocabulary. I told you, didn't I? A monkey and a spectator. He said he was watching us. He gave no reason at the time. But after the demonic creature subjugation campaign, he came to me and told me something.”

She held up three fingers.

“Apparently, the imperial bloodline of Arken made a secret pact with three dragons. Storeus called it a debt.”

A secret pact with three dragons. Two had acted: Silverwind and Storeus.

“Who is the third?”

“Phrontesis, the Bronze Dragon.”

Fortunately, Valdrova had nothing to do with it. Phrontesis was famous as the blacksmith dragon, and legendary arms were said invariably to have passed through his hands. Yet those arms never remained in one place for long. After hearing the sagas recited by minstrels, dragons had demanded every one of them as tribute. As though to show that legends were only ever legends.

“Alexander used that debt to move both Silverwind and Storeus. Without it, he would have struggled.”

“Does Alexander know about this debt?”

If it could prove useful, Ferda intended to dig into it.

“Unfortunately, there was nothing of that sort. This secret is passed down orally. Only those who can become emperor are permitted to know it.”

“How did you learn it?”

Olivia merely smiled with her eyes and kept her lips shut. Taking that as a sign that she would never answer, he decided to move on.

'Still, this woman certainly has a great many eyes on her.'

Among humans, Waldemar. In Hell, the Great Demon Sitri. And now the dragon Storeus as well. He could understand why she was described as a jewel put up for auction.

“Being beautiful must be exhausting.”

“Utterly exhausting.”

Olivia looked at Ferda, her lashes hanging like eaves over eyes as clear as a lake on a fine day. She answered with an alluring smile.

“Still, I think it's better than it used to be.”

“Please don't smile like that.”

“Why? I've always smiled this way. Am I making you self-conscious?”

Not in the slightest.

“Hehe, very well. I'll stop teasing. Do you have any other questions?”

“Ureas was quite clever.”

Ferda stared straight at Olivia and added, “Almost as though I were looking at another you.”

“What a cruel joke. My brother Ureas isn't even half my equal.”

“Then should I take it that the proposal came from you?”

“Of course. I wrote his script in the first place.”

“Was I supposed to accept his generosity?”

Olivia shook her head. “No. I expected you to refuse as well. It would have put me in a difficult position if you had accepted. I must stop the Empire from starting this war, whatever it takes.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“And to do that, I need your help, Regent Ferda.”

“What help, specifically?”

She answered, “Duke Yurei is the key to this war. We need to smuggle him out.”