Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 138
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 138
34. What Is This Now (2)
The bombing of the Croysen Empire's embassy in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor was forced to feel not just fury, but outright bewilderment.
"Have those bastards finally lost their minds?"
His reaction was only natural.
Citizens beating diplomats to death was already a major incident, but it could not compare to a nation's regular forces shelling an embassy.
This was clearly crossing the line.
Under international law, an embassy is recognized as the sovereign territory of the nation that operates it.
Even if it sits on Rhinehearts land, that embassy is Croysen imperial territory.
In other words, an attack on the embassy was no different from attacking the Croysen Empire without a declaration of war.
"If they want to die, then let them die. If that is what those bastards want."
One must not back down from a fight that has been brought to you.
That was his position as the master of a great power.
Though this was an unforeseen situation, the Emperor resolved to pin the blame for this incident on the Kingdom of Rhinehearts through war.
"But then, there is that..."
"What are you hesitating for? If you have something to report, report it at once."
But the Foreign Minister's demeanor seemed somehow off.
It looked as though there was an unpalatable piece of news he was holding back.
"The Kingdom of Rhinehearts has issued an official apology, claiming this incident was an accident. They say they had no intention of attacking the embassy. They have also offered appropriate compensation for the reconstruction costs of the embassy and for the diplomats who suffered harm..."
Upon hearing the story behind the incident, the Emperor could only blink.
"What? They precision-strike our embassy as if taking revenge, and then try to pass that off as a mistake?"
"Setting aside whether it is true or not, this was delivered through the official diplomatic channel by the Linehart royal house, and they have also stated the same at an official press conference."
"Do those bastards take Us for a fool?"
"But the supporting evidence is quite convincing..."
"If one is determined to fabricate such things, one can fabricate them all day long!? So you are saying We should just swallow this incident and move on!?"
Faced with the Emperor's agitation, the Foreign Minister swallowed his words several times, but ultimately stated his position.
"For now, since the royal house has formally lowered its head in apology, escalating this into war would not look good."
"Look good? What nonsense! If the leaders of other nations have brains instead of decorations, they will know the truth!"
"I think so as well, but surprisingly, many nations are supporting the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' position."
"Hah, have I lost my sense of judgment? They believe such an absurd claim?"
"Due to the incidents our Empire has carried out against the Kingdom of Rhinehearts in the past, many automatically side with the kingdom when conflict arises between the two nations. Moreover, neighboring nations say there is always the possibility of a 'what if'..."
Those words could be interpreted as saying the Empire was now reaping the price for its past conduct.
The Emperor glared at the Foreign Minister as if to ask whether he had lost his mind.
"I wonder if I am facing the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts right now, or the Foreign Minister of our own Empire."
"F-Forgive me. I only meant that the option of war is not entirely favorable. Furthermore, whether the Kingdom of Rhinehearts spread it or not, a conspiracy theory is circulating that there were traces of an outsider's intrusion aboard the Heaven-Piercing Fortress that attacked the embassy..."
"You mean there are those who see it as our own staged act?"
As the Emperor's clenched fists trembled, the Foreign Minister bowed his head in place of a verbal answer, affirming the implication.
But the Emperor was not the Emperor for nothing.
He quickly composed his emotions and let out a hollow laugh.
"The Kingdom of Rhinehearts has grown quite cunning."
"Perhaps it is the influence of the Crown Prince."
Tapping the armrest of the throne with his fingers as he gathered his thoughts, the Emperor curled the corner of his mouth when the Crown Prince of Rhinehearts was brought up.
"If that brat is going to play this sly a game, the only way is to give him a taste of his own medicine..."
"Your Majesty?"
"You may take your leave."
The Emperor waved his hand at the Foreign Minister, dismissing him.
The Foreign Minister felt unease at the Emperor's reaction, but there was nothing he could do.
When the Emperor tells you to leave, how could one dare remain?
Having sent the Foreign Minister away, the Emperor called out someone's name into the air.
"Lord Aren."
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
Then, from behind the throne, along with a sign of presence, a low male voice resounded directly inside the Emperor's mind.
Shadow Unit Vice-Captain Aren.
He was a cleaning hound who handled the Imperial Family's dirty work.
The Emperor asked such an Aren.
"Removal of the Crown Prince of Kingdom Rhinehearts. What is the probability of success?"
[If I stake my own life and my men's lives, about five out of ten.]
"That's sufficient. If it succeeds, nothing could be better, and even if it fails, we can still put fear into them."
For someone saying he'd give them a taste of their own medicine, this was a rather extreme decision for the Emperor to make.
But to the Emperor, this was only too natural a choice.
A provocation aimed at the Croysen Empire was an attack aimed at the Emperor himself.
In his dictionary, patience meant defeat.
Whatever stands in the way, cut it down.
That was the Emperor of the Croysen Empire's way of thinking.
"Then go deal with that brat."
[As you command.]
* * *
[Croysen Empire forces, additional troops deployed to the border toward Kingdom Rhinehearts.]
I snorted at the Croysen Empire's movements.
'A show of force.'
Anyone could see this wasn't a move toward an all-out war.
So unlike what the press was making a fuss about, the Kingdom Rhinehearts and the noble circles remained perfectly peaceful.
"So our kingdom now has four Dukes. I think this is the first time we've had as many as four Dukes, isn't it?"
"That's right. Before we knew it, Dukes have become more numerous than Marquises. Honestly, this time Count Acres and Margrave Otis being raised to Marquis it can only be seen as an attempt to match the number of Marquises to the Dukes at four."
"Well, with all the vacancies left by the Second Prince's faction's downfall, there's no problem. Still, appointing additional Marquises just to balance against the Dukes isn't things turning too much around the Lawrence faction?"
"No, before that how exactly did Marquis Klein become a Duke in the first place? Seeing that the higher-ups are staying quiet, there must be some reason."
Royal party venue, lounge.
Having attended the party for Arcia's elevation to Duke, alongside Count Acres and Margrave Otis's elevation to Marquis, I stepped out to clear my head and browse online news, when I let out a cough at the sound of a conversation not far away.
"Hack!"
At that, the young nobles who hadn't expected me to be in the corner of the lounge swallowed their words, turned tail, and fled without looking back.
The outcast of a provincial viscount family had now become someone who could chase away nobles with a single cough.
Truly, no one knows what the future holds.
"Your Grace the Duke, the re-dressing of His Grace Duke Klein is complete."
"Yes, I'm coming out."
The reason I was stuck sitting in the lounge.
It was because Arcia had been sampling all sorts of food and spilled something on her dress.
Arcia didn't think much of it, treating the dress as just a cumbersome piece of clothing, but since today's party's main star was none other than her, a costume change became necessary.
So while Arcia changed her clothes, I was left alone in the lounge.
If she were with me it'd be fine, but when left alone, I'd get hit by the physical advances of women with hyena eyes from every direction.
"So pretty?"
Stepping out of the lounge, I could see Arcia in a pure white dress like a wedding gown, adorned with emerald accessories matching the color of her eyes.
At my compliment, she let out a proud 'ahem' and lifted her chin arrogantly with a confident expression.
Watching her, her reactions are never ordinary it's amusing.
"Shall we go?"
I extended my hand to escort her, and she, now familiar with noble etiquette, took my hand without much reluctance.
As we left the lounge, the Crown Prince's figure came into view first.
He sent me an OK sign, and as I nodded, all the lights inside the party hall went out at once.
"Huh?"
"What's going on?"
Naturally, the nobles at the party were flustered, looking around, and Arcia too narrowed her eyes and scanned her surroundings, wondering if this was a sudden situation.
-Flash!
But soon, pinpoint lights falling from the air illuminated the two of us, and as the genre of music shifted from lively to serene, Arcia looked at me with a 'surely not' expression.
She's quick on the uptake only at times like this.
I chuckled and guided her to the center of the party hall.
There, prepared who knows when, in a space cleared of people, thousands of flowers were lavishly arranged alongside all sorts of jewels and precious metals.
At the same time, Spirit Summoners hired for this day summoned fairy-like spirits that lit up the colorful, dark surroundings, and a Prism Artifact created purely for extravagance activated, producing a dreamlike scenery.
Furthermore, when the blessed Holy Relic borrowed from the holy land emitted Divine power, the entire atmosphere of the party hall grew gentle.
Yes.
I am currently carrying out a proposal the highest-difficulty quest Arcia had given me.
'Just the money poured into this event short-term alone is tens of billions.'
Judging by the hazy looks in the eyes of the Young Ladies and noblewomen, the effect seems worth the cost.
I moved Arcia to the center of the stage prepared for the proposal, and in front of her, whose face was flushed red, I knelt on one knee and looked up at her.
And right after handing her the ring, just saying "marry me" would feel too empty, so...
"La-la-lah~"
I sang a song.
"Oh my, oh my."
"Ahem, ahem."
I know.
Just from the looks on the men around me, who seemed to have seen something they shouldn't have, I can tell how much of a farce this is.
But a proposal happens only once anyway if Arcia is satisfied, that's enough.
The one saving grace is that, unlike the men, the women including Arcia responded favorably.
A song crafted by handsome looks and a voice refined with magic turned out rather impressive.
Singing past the first verse would get tiresome, so I cut it off right after verse one.
"Will you marry me?"
With a bright smile, I held out the ring I'd taken from my subspace.
"Is that...?"
"Isn't that Orichalcum?"
"Good heavens."
A ring made of green diamond and Orichalcum, the most expensive metal in the world.
Arcia squirmed shyly, then nodded with a smile.
Once permission was given, I slipped the ring onto her finger.
And with that, the proposal was over.
It was something I had to do once, but I'm sure I'll be kicking my blanket in bed whenever I recall this moment.
-Clap clap clap clap!
"Congratulations!"
"Wow! That's so beautiful."
Then, amid the envious admiration and cheers from the women, the men with sour expressions offered formal congratulations.
"Haha, what a joyous occasion for the nation! We sincerely bless the union of the two Dukes of our Kingdom of Rhinehearts!"
Especially at the center of the congratulations, seemingly enjoying this more than anyone, was the Crown Prince.
And that's only natural.
The reason I ended up proposing in front of so many people was all the Crown Prince's doing.
I had planned to propose lavishly but quietly.
But the Crown Prince came up with this idea, saying we should create a stir and provoke the angered Croysen Empire even further.
Naturally, being someone with no immunity to such things, I was utterly against it, but in the end I gave in to his provocation asking whether I didn't want to give Arcia the best proposal of her life.
Still, well...
"Hehe."
Seeing Arcia's face, grinning ear to ear, made me think it was the right call.
I chuckled softly and stroked her cheek.
No matter how much this is a marriage chosen for strategy...
My feelings of wanting to give Arcia a life without lack were sincere.
[A Proposal of the Century!?]
[Duke Adrian El Lawrence, Serenade Revealed to Duchess Arcia Klein!]
Of course, the fact that a proposal photo that could be called the final chapter of my life's embarrassing history spread worldwide was an endless sorrow.
* * *
Having cleared the Opportunity Quest's 8th stage of Chronicle Online, I've now entered the 9th stage, which can be called the final quest.
The first objective of Opportunity Quest stage 9 is to reach level 300, the game's max level.
Since levels 251 300 are the hell-level section of Chronicle Online, I judged that reaching max level would take years.
But the situation changed considerably once a crazy priest named 'Bug' joined our party.
Compared to the stage 8 section of the Opportunity Quest, the leveling speed was showing no significant difference wait, no, that's wrong; the speed was far faster than before, with not much difference from the stage 8 section.
Thanks to that, hope arose that I might break through max level within a year, and I poured my energy into the game.
But...
"... Sir... Adrian... Lord Adrian!"
"Huh? What, what?"
"You just lost consciousness."
"Again?"
"Yes, for about three minutes. Are you alright?"
One big problem had occurred.
These days, I've been suddenly losing consciousness inside Chronicle Online, just like with narcolepsy.
Thanks to that, I nearly died in-game on several occasions, and the leveling speed that had finally found its rhythm was slowing down again.
"What's going on? Is it fatigue stacking up?"