Chapter 252: The Tin Knight and The Imperial Banquet (2)
“…So, what exactly is the connection between this proclamation and what you called ‘preparation for revenge’?”
To Dorothea’s question, Algind answered, “A long and complicated explanation, a moderately summarized explanation, or an explanation so summarized it’s hard to understand. Which would you prefer?”
“Let’s start with the last one first.”
“The radical faction within the Lennart Ducal family will have no choice but to either actively participate in this recruitment test or ignore the test itself and start a rebellion. Either way, crush them to death.”
“Then the second one.”
Algind continued her explanation naturally, as if she had expected this, “Originally, the Lennart Ducal family was a house deeply connected with this nation’s military power. In fact, it can’t be helped. While other families might have to put in effort at the family level for an excellent knight to ‘possibly’ emerge, in the Lennart family, it’s harder to find someone without martial qualities in a generation. Their physical abilities are laughably superior, their mana isn’t inferior, and after becoming strong so efficiently, they invest their remaining time in military strategy, making them capable as generals too. Not to mention the blood ties that push and pull each other. If the Imperial Family hadn’t intentionally set quota restrictions, the entire upper echelons of the military might have been filled with the Lennart Ducal family.”
Dorothea thought the introduction seemed a bit long for a summary, but she didn’t interrupt.
It was content she needed to know, anyway.
“Naturally, a situation where a nation’s military power is controlled by a specific family is never positive. Past emperors wanted to keep the Lennart family in check, but in an era of war, the choice to strike down the most powerful ally was not something that could be easily made. Knowing this, the Lennart family grew their influence even more.”
However, she said the situation was different now.
“The Iron Blood Emperor was truly a capable emperor. He pursued diplomatic peace instead of unnecessary military tensions with other nations, and used the remaining capacity to refine the Empire’s internal affairs. As the threat of war decreased, the role of the military also decreased, and with the Imperial Mage Association created by my master, the necessity of the Lennart family decreased even more. That’s why they desire war. If fighting starts again, their influence will grow.”
“What does that have to do with this test?”