Chapter 64: Traitor
Around the time when the Yamato Empire achieved a victory in the Battle of Kursk.
On the opposite side of the Eastern Continent, one of the countries of the United Kingdom of Albatross, the Kingdom of Londeria Capital, Londen.
At the Wester Palace, the rulers of the Albatross had gathered and were holding a meeting as usual.
“According to information from the Yamato Empire, the elves are fighting with the Beastkin in the west! Now is a good opportunity, the Albatross Union should gather its forces and strike the elves from behind.”
At the center of the chamber is this man, King Julius Gallius of Luna Kingdom.
He said, “If we don’t seize this opportunity to attack, when will we! This is the holy war that humans and the members of the Greater East Co-prosperity Sphere must wage.” He stirs up the people around him with his over-the-top actions.
“Oh, that’s what you say. So, how many troops are you willing to provide?”
Queen Diana of Lusiya is the one who looks at Julius with an unamused look.
Well, you are quite eloquent, but she had doubts about how trustworthy he could be. The other royals also agreed with Diana and directed similar looks towards Julius.
Julius is not trusted at all by anyone.
Under normal circumstances, one might be discouraged, but he was not like that. This time, he announced it with a face full of confidence.
“My Luna Kingdom shall prepare 50,000 soldiers! How about it, muscle woman? There should be no complaints with this.”
“50,000? …This is so unlike you.”
A military force of 50,000 soldiers.
This amount of military force can easily be covered by the standing armies of a modern country, but for the Albatross countries which are at a medieval level, this represents an enormous military force.
The United Kingdom of Albatros, which has a far inferior mobilization system compared to modern countries, can’t conscript as much as it should relative to its population.
With 50,000 soldiers, it was the kind of military force to be used in a crisis that threatened the nation’s survival.
“I can feel there is something fishy here. What do you think, Eliza?”
“I have the same opinion as you, Char. It’s funny that that petty man would voluntarily raise an army. It would be stranger to say that it doesn’t feel uncomfortable…”
Those are quite harsh words, but…
Well, it was a good example of how Albatross countries view Luna Kingdom. “What a nonsense…” Said King Valheim II of Dorcelli.
However, undaunted by these heartless words, Julius begins his passionate speech.
“I too am a good citizen of Albatross! As a human, we have been blessed with this great opportunity to exterminate the hated elves! Here, among humans, we should forget the usual conflicts, disagreements, and cooperate as much as possible.”
For that purpose, I am willing to make sacrifices. For the Greater East Co-Prosperity Sphere!
As he declares, uncharacteristically… Having been told that much, other countries decided to dispatch troops against the Black Elven Empire.
Thus, the United Kingdom of Albatross organized its army and entered into a full-scale battle with the Black Elven Empire.
The Black Elven Empire and Beastvania Beastkin Country are already in a state of war, and the Yamato Empire and the Balka Kingdom are advancing toward the Moruro Empire.
Furthermore, the Albatross United Kingdom has now decided to dispatch troops.
As a result, almost all of the nations existing on the Eastern Continent have entered a state of war.
Later, this chaotic state will be known as the Great Eastern Continental War.
The battle has only just begun.
☆☆☆☆☆
……Now then.
Go back in time to one month before King Julius Gallius of Luna made his speech about going to war against the Black Elven Empire.
The sea in the south of the Black Elven Empire.
A single battleship was anchored there. The name of the ship is Luna, the first-class battleship that the Luna Kingdom takes pride in.
“Tch, I’ve already been waiting for an hour. Those dark elves sure took their time getting here…”
There’s a man on Luna’s deck――King Julius Gallius of the Kingdom of Luna was staring impatiently at the horizon.
“Come quickly, or Yamato is going to find us…”
What he fears is being discovered by the Yamato Empire while he waits for the dark elves near the Black Elven Empire.
The seas surrounding the eastern continent are already under the control of the Yamato Empire.
Moreover, following the recent naval battle between the Black Elven Empire and the United Kingdom of Albatross, the Yamato Empire has been vigilant in nearby waters, saying “Allied ships should never be attacked in the waters that are controlled by the Empire.”
There was a good chance they could be discovered if they anchored for an hour or two at sea.
If that happens… His plan will fall apart.
He was trying to do something that he did not want to be discovered by the Yamato Empire.
If it is discovered, the Kingdom of Luna might lose everything. Both the international position and the national territory…
Waiting time where each minute feels like an hour.
But this time he was lucky.
A single galley ship appears on the horizon before the patrol ship of the Yamato Empire makes its appearance. It’s a ship from the Black Elven Empire.
“Oh, it seems that they came in one ship as planned… It’s not a trap, is that what they’re trying to say? General Moriah.”
“Yes, I think Commander Romusta is right.”
On that deck was a man with tinted glasses, Musta Romusta, and his adjutant, General Moriah.
They are the men who lead the troops of the Eastern Army of the Black Elven Empire――in other words, the forces against the Albatross United Kingdom.
Aside from the Eastern Army, the Black Elven Empire has a Central Army, which is directly commanded by the consul, and a Northern Army for the Moruro Empire.
Then.
On the deck of the first-class battleship, Luna.
“Oh, so you are Julius Gallius, the King of the Luna Kingdom.”
“Indeed, that person over there is the commander of the Eastern Army of the Black Elven Empire, Musta Romusta, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
While removing his tinted glasses, Commander Musta replied.
A secret meeting between a high-ranking official in charge of part of the Black Elven Empire’s military and the king of the Luna Kingdom.
This is no trivial matter.
Humans and dark elves, two different races are trying to engage in dialogue without fighting each other… There is little doubt that there are huge interests at work behind the scenes that transcend even interspecies conflicts.
And as for that story…
“So, is that story true? That your country betraying the Albatross United Kingdom…”
“It’s true, we, the Albatross Union, will soon be launching an attack on your country. At that time, we, Luna, will betray the Union and attack from behind.”
Betrayal. It is also a huge betrayal that will bring down the nation.
By the way, betrayal is the specialty of the Luna Kingdom… That’s why no one trusts them, and every time they lose in war, they say, “Let’s do it without Luna next time.”
“At the time of betrayal, just don’t attack our forces. That’s all we need.”
“……Indeed, that’s good news for our country. However, it seems there isn’t much benefit for your country. Is it enough for you to have your army preserved for the outcome of your betrayal and loss of trust?”
“Indeed, my country now will become the country with the highest military force in Albatross. Once the armies of the other countries collapse… The reign of Albatross will be mine. And then, I…”
Rebuild the Luna Empire and become Emperor of Albatross by annexing the surrounding countries.
He talked about his ambitions.
He―― Julius Gallius dreams of becoming emperor.
Moreover, not just any emperor. He is the emperor of the Ancient Luna Empire, a great empire that once ruled the southern part of Albatross and is said to be the origin of the current Albatross civilization.
The current Luna Kingdom is not weak. However, they are not the only major power. There are other countries that possess similar levels of national strength.
If anything, they were clearly inferior to the Yamato Empire, and not only that, they also lost to this muscle-bound country called Balka.
It is a step or two below compared to the great Luna Empire that ruled Albatross.
Julius couldn’t stand to be that kind of king. He wants to become a great emperor.
“……I see, and that is why you want to destroy all other armies except yours.”
“That’s right. And your country can take the western part of Lusiya and Dorcelli, which border your country.”
“I see, that’s interesting. There are benefits for both sides.”
Both parties grin smugly.
Julius believes that his plan is good enough to get the result he wants.
If the dark elves can restrict the movements of the Albatross countries, even if only for a year or two, he might be able to suppress them with his own military force.
And then, it seems that the Yamato Empire does not interfere in the internal affairs of its allies.
Once he revives the Luna Empire and effectively controls the surrounding countries, there surely won’t be any complaints.
Some territories like Lusiya, Dorcelli, and countries that bordering on the elves like may get taken away… That kind of thing is irrelevant to Luna.
It didn’t matter to him as long as Luna’s land wasn’t being taken away.
The question is whether the elves will get involved in this or not… He considered it was not a bad bet for himself.
Actually, it’s not a bad deal for the dark elf.
No, even assuming that Luna doesn’t betray the Union, it’s already a significant gain that they have obtained the information that the Albatross Union will take offensive actions against their country.
Still, if his betrayal led the Albatross Union forces to collapse, then… It may be possible to seize some human territory.
That alone is enough.
The two firmly join hands. Here, a twisted alliance was formed between the elves and the humans.
Thus, Julius Galius returns to his homeland after achieving his goal. And he proceeded with the preparations for the upcoming betrayal…
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