Semi-Coercive Imperialist-Chapter 135: Your World (3)

Zerpha, the Crown Prince Alonso's main palace.

The Crown Prince had summoned his most trusted inner circle aides.

"Is everyone here?"

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The head of security, the chief of staff, the deputy finance minister, the legal counsel, the royal physician, and others... They were now wholly his people, his faction.

A sturdy shield that protected him against the opportunistic nobles of the royal court and the rot-infested military. His most reliable sword.

"First. Fill the glasses."

At the Crown Prince's command, the butler poured a pristine white wine for everyone.

"As you all predicted, Sir Maximilian attempted to involve himself in personnel appointments."

"Yes. There was likely a request from the Empire's side."

"Right. The Empire would never leave such interests alone. However."

The Crown Prince raised his glass high. Everyone wore tense expressions. They had all anticipated together that in exchange for this support, personnel authority would be demanded.

"......I firmly refused, and Sir Maximilian graciously understood my position."

At that moment, every aide rose from their seats and applauded.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap──

Seeing them rejoice so sincerely, the Crown Prince felt his chest swell with emotion.

"It's all thanks to each of you."

Even as he spoke, he nearly choked up.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap──

Just half a year ago, he had been utterly isolated in the royal palace.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap──

"Enough, enough. I may disgrace myself if this continues. Please, raise your glasses."

A puppet Crown Prince who had merely hovered on the fringes, powerless, while his gravely ill father lay beside him.

But these people saved him. Of course, it was thanks to Maximilian lifting the siege beforehand, but even so, those who rushed to this place despite the dire circumstances and willingly pledged their loyalty have now become his most precious assets.

"For Zerpha, salut!"

Clink–!

The most critical, most sensitive diplomatic hurdle had been safely cleared. Touching their glasses together, they raised a toast.

"Now, let's h⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌ave a meal prepared."

Alonso sat back down, but his face suddenly settled into quiet composure.

He sank into silent thought.

"......."

The conversation he had just shared with Maximilian kept echoing in his ears.

The knight's voice, dry, almost rusted, worn thin with exhaustion.

Maximilian surely had his own troubles, yet that bitter smile as he understood Alonso's firmness and accepted it without resistance.

"......Did something happen to Sir Maximilian back in the Empire, by any chance?"

Alonso found himself worrying about him.

"Yes. According to the rumors circulating, one of the high-ranking nobles in the Imperial Palace embezzled and sold Gigantes weapons on the black market."

Alonso's eyes widened.

"Good heavens. An Imperial noble dared to do such a thing?"

"Yes. Because of that, the Imperial Palace has apparently been consumed by political strife. It seems Sir Maximilian was also caught up in it for a time."

"So that's why he looked so exhausted......."

Alonso found himself worrying about Maximilian instead.

Had his refusal inflicted some wound upon a man who had devoted himself to Zerpha even amid the Empire's own fierce internal struggles?

Had he been too cold toward someone who trusted and respected him so deeply?

"Your Highness."

The head of security stepped forward.

“We can repay Sir Maximilian by taking the heads of those bastards in our military who dared to siphon off his support and deceive Your Highness.”

"Yes. That is exactly what should be done."

Alonso nodded gravely.

"However, everyone. What are your thoughts on our relationship with the Empire?"

"We must advance it further."

The chief of staff opened his mouth as if he'd been waiting for this very question.

"That is precisely what the Republican Faction fears most right now. That our monarchy will become irrevocably close with the Empire."

"A pro-Empire stance... you mean."

"Yes. If, by some chance, we were to establish a relationship with the Empire on par with an Autonomous Region, the Republican Faction would lose their will to fight entirely and crumble."

"......An Autonomous Region?"

Alonso's brow furrowed sharply. He had rejected even Maximilian's proposal to protect Zerpha's sovereignty. And yet here they were, discussing an Autonomous Region, effectively handing the country over?

"What are you even saying......"

The Crown Prince was about to erupt in anger, but he couldn't help but hesitate.

Every one of the aides present in the office reacted identically.

Far from showing any aversion to the term "Autonomous Region", they accepted it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Ahem."

Alonso cleared his throat and tempered his tone.

"Didn't we safeguard our authority over appointments precisely to avoid becoming subordinate to the Empire? Considering what happened in Genen......."

"No, Your Highness. Have you heard the recent news from Genen?"

The legal counsel gently cut him off.

“There is talk that if one calls Genen a site of massacre, the people of Genen themselves take offense.”

Alonso listened in si⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌lence.

"After the corrupt governor's office was purged, Genen is currently experiencing remarkable development as the Empire's key logistics base and a foothold for eastern trade. Social infrastructure has been overhauled, and the citizens' lives have become far more prosperous than before Autonomous Region status. In fact, enormous capital from the Imperial center continues to flow in without pause. Once the situation stabilizes, you should visit Genen yourself."

The head of security, standing beside the deputy legal counsel, added.

"And, Your Highness. Do you know who is most prominently mentioned as the next governor there?"

Alonso looked at him with unknowing eyes.

"A Genen native. Not an Imperial citiz⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌en, but a pure-blooded Genen native."

"That was apparently the promise made when Genen agreed to end their protests."

This time it was the deputy finance minister.

"Sir Maximilian always keeps his word. That is a clear fact we all know."

Alonso listened to their voices, and his aides took turns speaking one after another without pause, as if reading from a script.

"......You said Sir Maximilian seemed lonely. He likely is."

Every single one of them was a person Maximilian had planted.

A contractual relationship, receiving Maximilian's pay and promised enormous rewards.

Every piece of information and judgment that left their mouths had been orchestrated according to Maximilian's intent.

"He walks a very lonely path within the Empire as well."

The Crown Prince sank into deep contemplation.

The counsel of these remarkably capable and loyal retainers surrounding him. And the gaze of Maximilian, who had always respected him, sometimes cold but undeniably warm.

"......Yes. He told me, 'If not me, who could possibly understand you?'"

Perhaps falling into the Empire's embrace was also a path for Zerpha's sake.

Of course it was still premature, but if the Republican Faction tried to burn down the entire monarchy, then even if only to preserve the royal house...

"Perhaps he's in a similar position to mine. Like I was, before you all were by my side......."

Alonso even felt a kinship born of shared hardship, and smiled faintly.

Just then, an elegantly prepared meal was brought into the reception room.

"Let's eat first. You must all be worn out from the tension."

Together they enjoyed the dinner, discussing the future of Zerpha.

* * *

The outskirts of Zerpha's capital, the Durkon Legions' field encampment.

Lieutenant Colonel Kai Han visited Major General Schweitzer's tent. His purpose was to seek guidance from the master of mobile tactics.

"......Well, since you're asking, I'll tell you. But what matters in the end is unit composition."

Schweitzer was notorious for his cantankerous temperament, but he seemed quite pleased by the show of respect, and opened his mouth readily.

"You think every soldier's an identical cog? Hell no. Among them, you've got guys with raw strength, guys who can shoot straight, guys with situational awareness, all kinds of different traits."

Schweitzer jerked his chin toward the floor of the tent.

"I focused on 'legs'."

Legs.

In other words, mobility.

"You think ordinary soldiers can't handle mana at all? Forever? Nah. If they keep training, and I mean if they push themselves to run like hell to survive on the battlefield, even the tiniest scrap of mana starts clinging to their legs. Minuscule, but it's there."

Even a commoner born without mana could become strong enough in one specific area.

"So you pick out only the fast ones, again and again, and put them in the first line for the forward advance. If tanks ever get supplied down the line, you'd place the tank units in this first line."

He picked up a chess piece from the operation map and slid it deep into enemy territory.

"But if you just send them charging forward blindly, who knows what'll happen. The fastest guys can end up being the first ones to croak."

Schweitzer grinned and snapped his fingers.

"So before the first line charges, you project firepower from the rear first. You blast the routes the first line will punch through into oblivion with artillery."

Mana Cannons, or merciless barrages of shells. After blasting a hole through the enemy's defensive line, the fastest first line sprints through the gap.

"Then the second line deepens the unit's overall depth. Advancing heavy and steady. But the first line's so damn fast that by then they've already reached deep into the front. Way faster than the enemy's reconnaissance network expected."

In the end, reconnaissance reports and the actual state of battle would be completely out of sync.

A first line culled to include only the fastest soldiers meant the unit's rate of advance was abnormal to begin with.

"So the enemy thinks, 'Huh? What the fuck? They're here already?' And just like that, a moment of chaos hits their defensive line. They panic."

Schweitzer jabbed the chess piece into the dead center of the enemy's main position.

"The first line punches through the enemy's defensive perimeter at a single point. Then they tear through the middle of enemy territory. When the second line catches up behind them and the two naturally link up, how do you think it looks to the enemy?"

Schweitzer brought his fingers to both eyes and widened them.

"It feels like our entire army, every single unit, just steamrolled them all at once at one fucking insane speed. You know what that's called?"

Lieutenant Colonel Han answered quietly.

"Blitzkrieg."

"That's right. The vague concept that only existed in my head, that smart-ass litttle bastard knight just went and coined the perfect word for it on the spot."

Schweitzer let out a hearty, delighted laugh. Lieutenant Colonel Han watched him and shook his head.

"......Major General Schweitzer."

"What?"

"It would be best if you were more careful with how you refer to him."

"How I refer to him? Did I say something wrong?"

Schweitzer scrunched his brow.

"The term 'bastard'. You never know where or when his ears might be listening."

"......."

Schweitzer's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Hey."

He leaned his body way forward toward Lieutenant Colonel Han.

“The one sitting with you right now is me. A man with stars on his shoulders that shine a hell of a lot brighter than yours.”

"Yes, sir. I'm aware. Major General Schweitzer, you are my aspiration."

"......."

The Major General clicked his tongue as though annoyed, but the words seemed to please him, and he nodded before pulling back.

"......Anyway. That's why I was so damn obsessed with new weapons and new technology. To execute this tactic perfectly, you need firepower first. If you go through all the trouble of punching through the line and the first wave gets encircled in the middle of enemy territory, it's all for nothing. I was going to run some experiments with it here... but that ba– right, 'him'. He dragged me out here by force without knowing jack shit."

That was when it happened.

The tent flap was drawn open, and 'him' appeared.

Maximilian.

“Loyalty.”

Lieutenant Colonel Han immediately stood and snapped a crisp salute. Major General Schweitzer, still slouched sideways in his chair, brought his hand to his forehead in a limp, boneless gesture.

Maximilian stepped inside and paused.

"Major General Schweitzer. I'm not terribly fond of that angle. A knight of the Empire has the right to receive proper respect from every soldier in wartime."

"......."

Schweitzer let out a small, incredulous laugh, then stood from his chair and slapped together a rough salute.

"Satisfied now?"

"Lose the unnecessary word tacked on at the end, and that ticking wristwatch while you're at it."

"Oh come on, time is everything on the battlefield and you're telling me to take off my watch–"

Maximilia⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌n produced a square case from inside his coat and placed it on the tent's table.

“A Mana Stone Clock. It measures time far more precisely.”

Click. He opened the box. Inside was a clock with a numerical display.

"Try it. The flow of mana is far more precise than any set of gears."

"Oh......."

Schweitzer rose from his seat and picked it up.

The moment he examined the clock and spun around–

"......."

Maximilian was already seated arrogantly in the seat of honor inside the tent, Schweitzer’s chair. Schweitzer froze awkwardly.

Maximilian spoke casually.

“Sit.”

He had no intention of loosening the reins once he had taken hold. Schweitzer was the type who could only be controlled by pushing him harder, more brazenly.

"......."

Schweitzer's lips twitched as he dropped heavily into the opposite chair. He seemed to like the clock well enough, having already swapped it onto his wrist.

“Major General Schweitzer. You recently requisitioned a civilian village in Zerpha.”

“Ah, that? It’s nothing serious. We needed a special meal to mark the coming of winter, but the residents weren’t cooperating—”

"You are being disciplined."

"Wait, what?!"

"I made myself clear. Unauthorized civilian requisitions without proper compensation will not be tolerated. This is a foreign nation, Major General Schweitzer."

Maximilian flicked a document across the table. Schweitzer picked up the paper that had settled right in front of him.

──[ Disciplinary Order for Violation of Imperial Military Law ]──

To: Major General Schweitzer

From: Sentinel Knight Order / Imperial Army General Command

By authority of wartime operational control, this order hereby severely censures the officer for the unauthorized requisition of food and supplies from civilian residential areas within Zerpha's territory. This act provoked friction with the local populace and compromised the discipline of the Imperial forces. The following disciplinary measures are hereby imposed:

１. Full forfeiture of corps commander position allowance and base salary for three months.

２. Notation of said disciplinary action in the officer's personnel record.

───────────────

As an overseer of the Empire, he was issuing a disciplinary order to a major general of the military. Although such a matter normally required approval from the regular army command, the seal was already stamped.

The civilian requisition had occurred barely a month ago. This knight had needed only one month to discipline an Imperial major general.

"Additionally, several Durkon soldiers will be executed as an example."

"......."

Veins bulged on the back of Schweitzer's hand as he cl⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌utched the document. Maximilian added calmly.

"If you tear or crumple that document, one more line will be added at the bottom."

"......."

Schweitzer carefully folded the disciplinary order and tucked it into his breast pocket.

"I've already arranged compensation for the civilians, but if this sort of thing happens again, it won't end with something as trivial as a pay cut next time. Consider this a warning."

"......."

"Answer me."

Maximilian's Golden Eyes gleamed coldly.

"......Understood."

Schweitzer forced the word out and lowered his face. Only then, as if satisfied, did Maximilian move on to the main topic.

"Command has issued orders for the Durkon advance. The target area is here."

Maximilian pointed to a spot on the map. The Jeronika Mine region, Zerpha's core industrial zone and the Republican Faction's primary source of funding. It was the most fiercely contested battleground, one that would determine the war's outcome.

"Let's hear your plan, Major General."

"Yes. A Blitzkrieg. To put it simply–"

"I'm well aware. But a Blitzkrieg is merely an operational method. What I'm asking for is the strategy to annihilate Jeronika."

Strategy, encompassing a far wider scope than any single operation.

Schweitzer's expression hardened stiff. Behind him, Lieutenant Colonel Han stifled a laugh with a cough.

"......Ah, yes. Well, if you know so much, why don't you just take direct command of the troops yourself?"

Schweitzer fired back with a sneer.

Maximilian shook his head, unfazed.

"That would ruin the chain of command, and more importantly."

He looked deep into Schweitzer's eyes as he spoke.

"It would be a waste of your exceptional leadership, Major General Schweitzer."

"......My leadership?"

"Yes. How do you think I came to know about the concept of Blitzkrieg? I read through every last one of your past battle records and your numerous commendations in detail."

The corner of Maximilian's mouth twisted coldly.

His words were dispensing praise, but his face conveyed nothing of the sort. If anything, his manner suggested he was delivering an insult.

"I truly despise saying things like this, but."

A strange sincerity flickered in his gaze.

"Major General Schweitzer. You are a prodigy of warfare."

"......."

Schweitzer's breath stopped for an instant. As if struck speechless, he pressed his lips tightly inward. He was clearly trying with all his might to suppress a grin threatening to escape, but the twitching bridge of his nose and his reddening cheekbones only made the effort look comical.