Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 149
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 149
36. Prelude to Battle (4)
"How about we just buy them, use them for this war, and sell them off as used goods afterward?"
Still reluctant to give up, Marquis Trenton made that suggestion.
It wasn't a bad idea.
But I shook my head.
"Even though they're old models, the Bringham Empire can offer this price only because the items are brand-new, never used. If we actually use them and they become genuinely used..."
"The resale value would plummet."
"Exactly. And if a large quantity floods the market, the drop would be even steeper."
Rough calculations showed that around 300 trillion would simply evaporate in an instant.
That was far too much money to throw into the air.
"Still, wouldn't it be a profitable deal as long as we win the war? If it can raise our chances of victory even slightly, I believe we need to accept some losses."
Indeed, a 25% increase in military power was too tempting a figure to refuse just because of the money.
Seeing Marquis Trenton unable to easily let go, I pointed out one thing he must not forget.
"If we accept their offer, we won't be able to refuse the Bringham Empire's demands after winning the war."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Because the Bringham Empire will claim it was thanks to them that we won the war."
"What? We merely responded to a transaction, didn't we?"
It wasn't I who answered Marquis Trenton's question, but King Mikhail.
"Duke Lawrence is right. We can hardly say the Bringham Empire deserves no credit. Selling a large quantity of weapons at a low price right before the war is no different from support."
Not having thought that far, Marquis Trenton let out a small click of his tongue.
"They get to clear out old equipment stock and wipe out debts on top of that killing two birds with one stone."
At that, the faces of those who had been stirred by the Bringham Empire's offer turned cold.
That's just how international dealings work.
Nothing comes with unconditional goodwill.
"Well, they probably think they're making a bet while bearing some losses on their end. Of course, we intend to win the war without their help anyway."
Everyone fell silent and deliberated.
Now it was time for the King to give the final verdict.
"Among the items they offered for sale, let us purchase only 5,000 sets of Vanguard equipment. Furthermore, let us make it explicitly clear that this is merely a transaction, unrelated to the outcome of the war, and that the Bringham Empire may claim no rights whatsoever arising from victory."
If 900 trillion of the 1,100 trillion in their proposed arms deal was for the Heaven-Piercing Fortress, the Vanguard equipment amounted to about 200 trillion.
Moreover, compared to the Heaven-Piercing Fortress, Vanguard equipment was easier to resell as used goods and could be deployed to the battlefield immediately it wasn't a bad choice.
"Will the Bringham Empire agree to the deal?"
To the question of whether they would accept, given that it wasn't the deal they had wanted, King Mikhail let out a smirk.
"In return, we'll say we'll purchase the weapons at a fair price with no installments."
The meaning was: we don't need goodwill or anything let's just trade according to each side's interests.
In my view, too, that was the best option.
"What happens if the Bringham Empire hands over the unsold Heaven-Piercing Fortress stock to the Croysen Empire?"
Seeing Marquis Otis worried about the worst-case scenario, Mikhail and I looked at each other and then shrugged.
"They probably won't."
"Those two countries hate each other just as much as they hate us."
The four great empires of Rondel.
To be precise, among the four great powers two empires, one republic, and one alliance only the Bringham Empire and the Croysen Empire share the same continent.
With the Kingdom of Lucias between them by land and Brave Bay between them by sea, the two empires had no way of getting along.
And unlike the Bringham Empire, which grew larger by the day, the Croysen Empire was steadily declining, so there was also a considerable inferiority complex.
Those two nations joining hands?
No matter how they say nothing is absolute in the international community, it was a scenario unimaginable unless they were in a life-or-death crisis.
"So it's a deal that can only be made at the very, very last moment."
"By then, the war's outcome would already be decided."
Marquis Otis nodded as if he understood.
"It seems a conclusion has been reached."
After that, no one cast a dissenting vote against King Mikhail's decision, and our opinion was conveyed to the Bringham Empire.
* * *
"Look at this."
When an unexpected answer came back to their proposal, the Emperor of the Bringham Empire and his chief ministers reacted with disbelief.
Only Duke Francis and Intelligence Chief Count Elfried nodded as if they had expected it.
"Quite confident, aren't they."
"Indeed. His Majesty had shown such generosity, yet...."
The Kingdom of Rhinehearts' reply was no different from an expression of confidence that they could win the war even without their help.
Thanks to that, a subtle smile settled on Emperor Edward's face.
"Is this also Duke Lawrence's work?"
"The proposal may have come from Duke Lawrence, but in the end, the decision was made by the new King regardless."
"I see. As Count Elfried said, the new King is no ordinary man."
"What shall we do? The original plan has shifted direction."
At Count Elfried's question, Emperor Edward clicked his tongue briefly.
"We accept. When one has already resolved to clear out the inventory, a full-price purchase with no installments is certainly not a bad offer."
It was a reply that said he wasn't thrilled, but had no choice.
At that, Count Friedrich quickly tried to cut in, but....
"What about diverting the remaining supplies to the Croysen Empire?"
"I'll pretend I never heard that suggestion."
But the Emperor simply brushed the opinion aside.
Embarrassed, Count Friedrich looked to his mentor Duke Raphael, but all he got back was a small sigh.
"Shall we watch whether that boldness is real or just bluster? Have the Intelligence Department record this war in detail and report it to me."
"As commanded."
Count Elfried bowed his head deeply.
And so, with the Bringham Empire's plan to step into the war having failed, the situation in the southern part of the Defteron Continent of Rondel continued in a state where it could explode at any moment.
* * *
With Vanguards and Heaven-Piercing Fortresses becoming the mainstream of warfare, much of the battlefield landscape of Rondel had changed.
First, unlike the past when soldiers' blood formed rivers, meaningless sacrifice had greatly decreased, and since the difference in power between war machines was not large, the number of Heaven-Piercing Fortresses and Vanguards one possessed became that nation's military strength outright.
Also, as the cost of war machines, the basic unit of warfare, rose sharply, the burden of national defense budgets grew heavier, making it an era where military power was economic power.
However, one thing had not changed much compared to before: the number of personnel mobilized for war was still large.
It remained the soldiers' role to manage occupied territories.
Furthermore, since the Vanguards who dominated the battlefield were knights of high status, a considerable number of attendants followed them.
Thus, war still inevitably required long preparation times and demanded vast amounts of supplies and transport units.
[Your Excellency, Supreme Commander Lawrence, it is almost time.]
"Understood. Then, all units, listen carefully."
[Yes!]
"Leave occupied territory management to the follow-up units. We focus solely on crushing the enemy. We'll thoroughly exploit the advantage of preemptive strikes and surprise attacks."
But if interpreted differently, this meant that if one abandoned the conveniences of the Vanguards and the management of occupied territories, rapid troop deployment became possible.
And this was the core strategy our Kingdom of Rhinehearts would adopt in this war.
"Once Phase 1 objectives are cleared, immediately move to the scheduled Phase 2 objectives and attack. When objectives through Phase 3 are cleared, wait while the Heaven-Piercing Fortresses arrive. Everyone understands?"
[Yes!]
Deep within a dense forest.
Sitting atop a massive tree that looked at least a hundred years old as if performing an acrobatic feat, I took in the Croysen Empire's central-eastern border fortress Pathel and issued orders into the communicator.
"Then, all units, prepare for battle."
[Vanguard units on the Pathel Fortress front are ready.]
[Vanguard units on the Kalint Fortress front are ready.]
....
....
[Vanguard units on the Perintz Margraviate front are ready.]
Then, over a dozen replies came in succession, and I checked the time on my wrist terminal.
[23:59]
And shortly after.
[24:00]
As I waited, loosening my neck, the time struck exactly 24:00.
"Begin the attack."
Having been granted command of the entire army by the King, I signaled the start of battle and soared high into the air.
-KWWWAAABOOM!
Then, from the distant border fortress Pathel of the Croysen Empire that I had been keeping in my sight, a massive explosion erupted along with a towering pillar of flame.
[Heaven-Piercing Fortress under Duke Lawrence's dominion has begun moving.]
[Heaven-Piercing Fortress under Duke Klein's dominion has begun moving.]
....
....
[Royal army, Heaven-Piercing Fortress of the border forces on the Paulo Kingdom front has begun moving.]
Following that, Heaven-Piercing Fortresses scattered across every corner of the kingdom simultaneously began their advance toward the Croysen Empire, and the war between the Kingdom of Rhinehearts and the Croysen Empire was set in motion.
* * *
-BANG! BANG!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The Emperor of the Croysen Empire, who had been lying with his head resting on a pillow shared with his concubine, wore a vexed expression at the Minister of the Royal Household's frantic cries as he pounded loudly on the door.
"What is it!?"
But at the Minister of the Royal Household's next words, the Emperor could only let out a hollow laugh.
"The Kingdom of Rhinehearts has launched a surprise invasion!"
The Minister of the Royal Household wouldn't react like that over trivial matters, but at the news of the Rhinehearts' surprise invasion which he'd thought impossible the Emperor's reaction was more bewilderment than anger.
"Let him in."
Then, with a sigh and an air devoid of any sense of crisis, the Emperor threw on his robe.
At the same time, the door opened, and the Minister of the Royal Household stormed in along with the Minister of Military Affairs and the Captain of the First Imperial Guard Knights.
"Why all this fuss."
Because of their confidence in their numerical superiority, the Emperor's attitude remained relaxed even in the face of a surprise invasion.
After all, even if they took immediate losses against Rhinehearts, he judged that recovery wouldn't take long.
So the Emperor leisurely followed the concubine's retreating figure with his eyes as he listened to the reports.
But the next report from the Minister of Military Affairs went beyond anything his common sense could comprehend.
"All 17 border fortresses on the Rhinehearts front have been destroyed, 12 domains including the Perintz Margraviate and the County of Pathel have fallen, and 15 domains including the Marquisate of Airen are under attack."
"What?"
At that, the Emperor's expression hardened.
"The enemy didn't move their Heaven-Piercing Fortresses, but operated only their Vanguard to carry out the surprise attack. Our failure to detect their approach in advance magnified the damage."
"No, what in the world did they do? To be so helpless against Vanguard units..."
"The scale of the Vanguard forces is unprecedented. I suspect they may have poured the kingdom's entire military strength into this..."
"Does that even make sense?"
The Emperor's doubt was only natural.
If the Croysen Empire and the Kingdom of Rhinehearts were the only nations on the Defteron Continent, perhaps but the two countries shared borders with many other nations.
Therefore, excluding the forces needed to defend each border, plus those guarding the capital, royal palace, each lord's estate, and other key strongholds, at least half of their total strength would be stripped away.
"I believe we'll need to hear the details from the Intelligence Chief."
With his face badly contorted, the Emperor quickly rose from his seat and strode swiftly toward his office.
At the entrance to his office, the Emperor encountered the Intelligence Chief, who had just arrived at the palace, and through him received a precise report of the situation.
"It has been confirmed that the number of Vanguard forces mobilized by the Kingdom of Rhinehearts far exceeds 25,000."
"Th-This is insane."
And as his account matched the Minister of Military Affairs' speculation exactly, the Emperor was thrown into great confusion and what followed was even more shocking.
"Furthermore, at the same moment the enemy's Vanguard surprise attack began, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' Heaven-Piercing Fortresses all began moving toward the Empire simultaneously. Their number approaches nearly 400."
Over 25,000 Vanguard troops and nearly 400 Heaven-Piercing Fortresses.
This was a figure equal to the entire military strength of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
"Are they trying to die together with us?"
For the first time, a sense of crisis took root in the Emperor's face.