Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156. Unexpected (1)
While Roden and Michael were in the middle of discussing the rescue of Kroxen Castle.
In the small kingdom of Livar in the East, high-ranking nobles from various kingdoms belonging to the Allied Forces gathered one by one.
It was the waiting room of Dallas Castle, which was relatively small.
In some respects, it was smaller than the mansions of the high-ranking nobles gathered here.
The reason everyone had gathered in such a place was none other than this.
A castle large and splendid enough to accommodate everyone without issue.
It was because they were displeased with an important meeting taking place in a kingdom that possessed such a castle.
This was the decisive reason why the conference of the Allied Forces did not take place quickly, even though they realized the seriousness of the situation early on after hearing the news of the Bazar family, Kalif family, and Tiaref family joining the war.
At the same time, this was also the fatal weakness of the Allied Forces.
That they could not make quick decisions because their respective interests frequently conflicted.
‘Even if everyone has gathered like this, all discussions won’t be finished in just today. Haa, this is a headache.’
Evan Gray, the Lord of Dallas Castle, thought as he held his forehead with his right hand.
Evan was already busy with many things to prepare urgently as Dallas Castle was suddenly decided as the meeting place.
But since it didn’t seem like this meeting would end quickly, he couldn’t help but have a headache.
It was needless to say more, as he even had to set up temporary tents outside Dallas Castle because it was impossible to accommodate all the high-ranking nobles who had gathered here.
‘If everyone had yielded just a little, we could have proceeded with the meeting in an optimal place without feeling this inconvenience. Like the Mediale Kingdom or the Certator Kingdom.’
However, as a result, such a thing did not happen, and Evan had to take all the blame.
Furthermore,
“The food is terrible. It would be better to starve.”
“Is this the only wine? I would like to drink Dalivignon.”
“The seats are already cramped, wouldn’t it be better to just remove the table?”
Evan had to handle the complaints poured out by various nobles.
The territory’s situation was tight enough as it was, but Evan had to treat guests while listening to all sorts of complaints, so he couldn’t help but be even more perplexed.
It was fortunate that each kingdom agreed to pay something similar to a small usage fee in exchange for the meeting taking place at Dallas Castle.
For Evan, it would have been better not to receive this and not hold the meeting.
It was just that the situation did not flow as he wanted because he lacked power.
“Count Deroz of the Vaskar Kingdom is entering!”
“Count Trevisan of the Udira Kingdom is entering!”
“Marquess Zelantina of the Aratio Kingdom has attended the meeting!”
Anyway, high-ranking nobles from each kingdom continued to enter the waiting room.
Since it was difficult to bring attendants, everyone took their seats in the waiting room alone.
Even the good seats were taken by those who arrived at the waiting room first, so complaints about seats were constantly being raised.
“Why is that fellow sitting there? Is it because he doesn’t know who I am?”
“No, then what makes you better than me?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? If you really don’t know, I will tell you now.”
It was a situation where people were not just raising complaints but one or two were starting to fight like this.
‘Please. I wish this meeting would end quickly.’
It was when the waiting room was becoming increasingly noisy and chaotic amidst Evan’s wish.
“Duke Pugliesi of the Certator Kingdom is entering!”
The nobles of each kingdom, who were busy chatting with close acquaintances or fighting for seats no matter whose name was called, shut their mouths all at once upon hearing this shout.
It was unavoidable because the name called this time had a completely different weight from those before.
Like that, Guignol Pugliesi slowly crossed the waiting room while receiving everyone’s gaze.
Then he moved his steps to the seat in the very center that looked like the seat of honor at a glance.
The high-ranking noble who was already sitting in that seat was flustered upon seeing Guignol approaching.
Because he didn’t understand why Guignol was coming toward him.
Like that, Guignol stood in front of the high-ranking noble and asked.
“Could you perhaps yield your seat? I would like to sit there.”
Only then did the high-ranking noble realize why Guignol had come to where he was.
And suppressed by Guignol’s overwhelming atmosphere, he nodded his head without realizing it.
“……Yes. Of course.”
Like that, the high-ranking noble stepped back from the seat, and Guignol naturally occupied that spot.
Evan thought as he watched that sight.
‘Surprising. The person who just got up from the seat is famous throughout the East for being rude and having unnecessarily high pride. That’s why he was the one keeping the seat of honor even while the fight for seats was happening.’
It was a point where one could realize anew how great the name of the Certator Kingdom was.
No, this didn’t happen simply due to the name value of the Certator Kingdom alone.
Because, in fact, the reason the Certator Kingdom emerged as a powerhouse in the East was due to the existence of the Pugliesi family.
When the waiting room became silent as if cold water had been poured on it due to Guignol’s appearance like this.
“Duke Glockner of the Mediale Kingdom is entering!”
The chief chamberlain raised his voice like this, and everyone gathered in the waiting room gasped, inhaling sharply.
Because if there was the Pugliesi family in the Certator Kingdom, the Glockner family existed in the Mediale Kingdom.
To think that even in the Glockner family, the family head Albrecht would appear in person.
The high-ranking nobles couldn’t help but feel excitement along with surprise at the historic meeting of two giants.
However, Albrecht actually strode toward where Guignol was sitting without caring about this reaction.
For some reason, those steps felt aggressive, giving the feeling that a fight was about to break out right away.
‘Damn it. They aren’t really going to fight, are they? If two people fight here, this castle will be smashed to pieces!’
Since both were not knights of an ordinary realm, it was natural.
Furthermore, if the two fought, it wasn’t just Dallas Castle that would be smashed to pieces.
The system itself called the Allied Forces, which was protecting the East against the Ingens Empire, could be smashed to pieces.
Along with a new war.
While everyone gulped and watched the meeting of the two people like that.
Finally, Albrecht stopped in front of Guignol while emitting tremendous momentum.
But Guignol smirked and spoke to Albrecht.
“Even if you stare that scarily, I won’t hand over this seat to you.”
It was Guignol’s reaction where one could feel anew that he wasn’t the head of the Pugliesi family representing the Certator Kingdom for nothing.
However, Albrecht, who was conversing with such a Guignol, was also formidable.
The very proof was that Albrecht uttered the following words as soon as Guignol’s words ended.
“I, Glockner, intend to proceed to war regardless of the result of this meeting.”
“…….”
“So other families do not need to participate. Since Glockner has stepped in, the victory of this war is as good as decided.”
Like that, as soon as Albrecht finished speaking, he turned his back and began to exit the waiting room.
And until Albrecht completely left the waiting room, no one could open their mouth.
That was how shocking the words Albrecht left behind were.
At the same time as declaring himself to be Glockner shortly.
Because it was a declaration that the successors of Glockner who were currently participating in the war were not true Glockners.
But what was most shocking was Albrecht’s arrogance that he had no interest whatsoever in your help or opinions.
Because his attitude seemed to be truly convinced that he would win the war against the Empire just by participating himself.
Guignol, who was chewing over the words Albrecht left behind like that, spat out a single remark.
“Interesting.”
However, Guignol was not smiling at all, and the following words also contained content that was not laughable at all.
“Still arrogant enough to make me want to kill him.”
Guignol made a small thud sound and stood up from his seat.
Then he slowly looked around at the high-ranking nobles gathered in the waiting room and spoke.
“Our Pugliesi family will also participate in this war. So you all must be thinking the same, right?”
Conclusively, the meeting ended quickly as Evan hoped.
In a way that since the Glockner family and the Pugliesi family declared participation, the high-ranking nobles of other kingdoms must also participate.
***
Back to the earthen castle.
Michael stared at Roden intently, then opened his mouth.
“If you judged that to be right, I must follow. However, is there a way? A way to save Kroxen Castle?”
In fact, it was a difficult problem for Roden as well.
Finding a way to win against two corps with one corps was that difficult of a task.
Even if the goal was escape, not victory.
But fortunately, one path was visible to Roden.
In fact, the reason Roden decided to save Alexis’s direct unit and the Vanguard Battalion was because of this method.
“The probability is low, but there is one method.”
“Is that true? Is there really a way?”
“Yes. To give the conclusion first, making it so the two corps cannot merge into one somehow and helping the escape of Kroxen Castle. This is the core of this operation.”
Roden began to explain the operation he conceived to Michael step by step.
At the same time, Michael’s expression brightened little by little.
A realistic operation was proposed unexpectedly from Roden’s mouth.
When Roden finished all his words like that, Michael spoke.
“We’ll need some luck, but if the operation unfolds as you said, we might be able to save the Corps Commander.”
Like that, Roden and Michael finished all discussions on the operation and began to move in earnest.
Since it was a situation where a large battle was inevitably bound to unfold, thorough preparation was needed.
“It’s a sortie! Everyone move!”
“Check if there is anything lacking or insufficient!”
The next day, the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit left the earthen castle and moved toward Velia Castle.
And this news was conveyed to Deniz.