Chapter 411: This is… way too complicated
"Fiesto? Blazeblade Kingdom?" Ethan frowned, still not quite getting it. "Alright, break it down for us. Just saying it like that—we’re not following."
"Yes, My Lord," Astharel nodded, then began slowly. "But before I explain that, I need to give you a clearer picture of how the Five Sea Kingdoms actually work. That’ll make everything easier to understand..."
He paused for a beat, then continued, "Out of the Five Sea Kingdoms, Blazeblade Kingdom is the strongest overall. It’s also the farthest from the Greenwave Empire. But ironically, they’re the most loyal lapdogs Greenwave has—at least on the surface. Now, why is that?"
"Ally with the far to strike the near?" Ethan said instinctively.
"Exactly." Astharel nodded without hesitation, his eyes gleaming.
"Blazeblade Kingdom is too far from Greenwave Empire to control directly. Whether they wanted to attack or fully dominate them, it’d be a logistical nightmare. Plus, Blazeblade borders the Forbidden Sea—too many unknowns, too many risks. So Greenwave decided to prop them up instead. Give them benefits. Let them act as a proxy to keep the other four kingdoms in check—squeeze them from the middle, suppress them completely."
"So technically, yeah, we’re called the Five Sea Kingdoms. But in reality? We haven’t been on the same side for a long time. And with all the perks Blazeblade’s gotten over the years, their loyalty to Greenwave is practically carved in stone. Getting them to turn on Greenwave? Damn near impossible."
At that, Ethan and Cicero exchanged a glance—finally starting to piece it together.
Now it was starting to make sense.
...
"Second, there’s the matter of personality," Astharel went on. "Grand Duke Zurei of Thundervale Kingdom is hot-headed and reckless—no subtlety at all. Regnar XI is petty and vengeful, easily blinded by hate, and honestly? Not the sharpest tool in the shed. But Grand Duke Fiesto? That guy’s got a stomach full of poison. He’s just as devious as Grand Duke Opriston—if not more."