The atmosphere in the conference hall was cold.
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No, it would be more accurate to say that someone had made it cold.
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Naturally, the man sitting at the head of the table was responsible for it.
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It was a man with black hair and ashen eyes.
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“I’ve heard the news. There have been continuous incidents in the barracks.”
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The words, spoken in a subdued voice, were a blatant reprimand.
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The military officers in the room could not raise their heads.
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They just lowered their heads, much like children being scolded by their parents or like criminals caught in a shameful act.
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No one could argue back in this atmosphere.
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The first reason was because of Vera’s menacing atmosphere, and the second was because they themselves felt ashamed of their own behavior.
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They had gathered here for nothing less than the fate of the continent.
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A place where they had to forget their past grudges and join forces against a single enemy.
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Yet, what was the current situation in such a place?
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Everyone present understood.
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The reason why Vera was there.
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Even if he scolded them like this, they had no excuses to make.
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Vera opened his mouth.
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“So, are you here on a sightseeing trip?”
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The words were tinged with sarcasm, and at the same time, they contained explicit anger.
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However, it wasn’t necessarily an accurate reflection of Vera’s true emotions.
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Contrary to his seemingly furious exterior, Vera was calm inside.
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‘I need to take control.’
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He was a clever man.
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He could figure out which path was the most effective and at the same time, knew what it would take to get there.
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This was one of the few skills that even his grumpy mentor, Vargo, acknowledged, and it was also something Vera was proud of.
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He reassessed his own position.
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An Apostle of the Nine Gods.
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The next Holy Emperor of Elia.
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A faithful servant who had stepped forward to save the continent from an irresistible threat.
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The meaning of these titles was clear.
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It meant that in this gathering he had a more just cause than anyone else. This added credibility to his claim of ’doing it for the greater good’.
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As Vera was imprinting this into his mind, he suddenly remembered what Vargo had told him.
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— The impression a nation gives is important, especially to the commoners who aren’t leaders. If you ever have to attend an official event, remember what happened today. Those who live in the name of God should exude righteousness.
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The words Vargo had uttered while clicking his tongue carried a different meaning now that the situation had unfolded as it did.
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Being righteous.
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It was a remarkably effective weapon for gaining political advantage.
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‘...That shitty old man.’
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While he was displeased, Vera had to admit.
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His master indeed had a sharp eye for politics.
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Although a chuckle threatened to escape, he held it back.
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Vera maintained a firm expression and let out a long sigh.
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“First, the Archduke.”
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“...Yes.”
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“I heard complaints that Oben’s soldiers are walking around with their tops off. Would you like to explain the reason for not stopping them?”
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A look of discomfort briefly crossed Hegrion’s face.
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It was the discomfort of being the first target.
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Even so, he sensed Vera’s intentions.
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‘Is he trying to take control?’
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This was a signal for indirect assistance.
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He was likely asking Hegrion to go along with the flow and set the tone.
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Hegrion’s dilemma didn’t last long.
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He had zero interest in leading from the start, and he calculated that it would be better for Elia to have the command than another nasty army.
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Hegrion slightly bowed his head.
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“...It appears the warmer weather compared to Oben has caused discomfort to the soldiers. I apologize. I will educate them properly.”
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“I hope there will be no more issues like this in the future.”
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“Yes.”
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Satisfaction rose within Vera.
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He thought that the diversion had done a pretty good job.
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Shortly after, Vera’s gaze shifted to Albrecht, who nodded slightly.
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‘He seems to have gotten the gist of it.’
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It seemed that he had sensed he was the next target.
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This was very fortunate news for Vera.
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His main goal was ultimately with him.
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Aside from Hegrion’s personal force, Oben’s power was not enough to solidify the situation.
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Therefore, in order to secure this atmosphere, he needed to have the Imperial Army on his side.
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Considering that Albrecht’s cluelessness had led them on this roundabout path, the result was positive.
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“Second Prince, I’ve heard that the Imperial Army has been ogling the elves.”
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“I’ll have them retrained. I apologize.”
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As Albrecht bowed his head, collective gasps echoed throughout the conference hall.
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Vera smiled inwardly.
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‘The board is set.’
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Even though it was a fight he couldn’t possibly lose, things were falling into place quite easily.
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‘Now is the time to solidify it.’
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Once an atmosphere had been formed, it didn’t change easily unless there was a significant event.
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In other words, seizing command now would likely mean holding onto it unless a major incident occurred.
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Vera stood up.
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“It’s disappointing. I might have expected too much from you. Such thoughts crossed my mind.”
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His ashen eyes, filled with anger, swept across the room.
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His words carried a chilling edge.
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“At the meeting in Elia, I saw potential. Though I had to resort to forceful means, I felt grateful for your willing cooperation. But what is this?”
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Vera’s eyes focused on the Commanders of the remaining Three Kingdoms of the Federation.
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“Is obtaining a bit more land more important than the future of your people?”
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His gaze then shifted to the Generals of Chellen and Vien.
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“I acknowledge your grudge. However, did it need to be resolved right now?”
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Lastly, he turned towards the wizards of the Magic Tower and the Archaeology Department of the Academy.
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“Did you enjoy the battle of pride? Does saving face make you feel better?”
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The words were directed at the groups who had caused trouble.
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They lowered their heads even more.
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It was an unmistakable expression of surrender.
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After confirming everyone’s reaction, Vera spoke with a stern voice.