Published: July 7, 2025
"The southern and western regions belong to King Abel. The northern and central regions belong to Raymond. This much was expected, but the eastern region..."
"The blazing flame mage has started advancing into the east..."
Marquis Alexis Heinlein and King Abel were exchanging such conversations in front of a map of the kingdom.
Since the usual sofa was occupied by the meeting, Ryo sat perched on a chair in the corner of the room, reading a book related to alchemy that he had brought from the library.
"Not only Stone Lake but also Wingston has fallen in such a short period," Abel said, and Ryo looked up from his book to glance at the two.
He wasn't having any epiphany; he was just a bit curious since he recognized some place names.
Standing up, he set the book on the chair and approached the two to peek at the map.
From Eastern Border Town Redpost to Basham, Wingston, Stone Lake, and the royal capital.
The Second Avenue connected these towns.
It was the road where Ryo had escorted Prince Willy of the Juu Kingdom, a path full of memories.
Along the way, he had frozen a village of the assassination cult and had encounters and farewells with Hasan; it was quite an adventurous tale.
As Ryo looked at the map, he reminisced about those memories.
That was all he was doing; he wasn't lost in thoughts about serious national issues.
"Ryo, what's wrong?" Abel called out, not expecting anything in particular.
He thought that Ryo had simply come to look at the map upon hearing the names of familiar towns.
He was right.
"Do you have any particular ideas?" Marquis Heinlein asked, harboring a misunderstanding and valuing Ryo more highly than he should.
Misunderstandings can be terrifying.
That said, Ryo had a brain.
Sometimes, he would have an inspiration.
"I think the Empire would want to advance to Slanzewi, which is south of the Second Avenue."
"Wha...?"
Abel and Marquis Heinlein were at a loss for words.
Slanzewi was located south of the Second Avenue, along the road connecting the eastern and southern regions.
"Ryo, why do you think that?"
"Hmm? Eastern means the target is gunpowder... um, was it called 'black powder'? That's the goal, right? If it becomes practical, it could change the course of war... or maybe not, since there's magic, I can't be sure... Anyway, if that's the case, I remember Gecko mentioning that the accumulation point for that in the east is Slanzewi... ah, and this seems to be confidential information."
"How do you know such confidential information, even merchants from other countries and you, Ryo...?"
Abel muttered in exasperation.
"I suspected it, but the goal really is black powder..."
Marquis Heinlein seemed to have considered that possibility as well.
"You know, Abel, the first attack by that Shaafi was on Slanzewi."
"The assassination cult... if they are operating on the Empire's request, then the Empire's goal from the start was the eastern kingdom and 'black powder'."
"Securing the east alone wouldn't mean much... the place connected to it, that is, part of the north, would ultimately ally with the Empire rather than Raymond..."
At Marquis Heinlein's murmured words, Abel reacted sharply.
"That would be bad."
The northern part of the kingdom bordered the Empire. If such movements were happening, they needed to act quickly, but they had no information at hand...
"My... no, more accurately, Phelps's men are over there. It seems they sent in the top elite of the party, so let's get in touch with them."
Marquis Heinlein said and nodded slightly.
(As expected...)
Ryo felt a genuine admiration for both Marquis Heinlein and his son Phelps.
How many moves ahead were they planning? He watched them with a respectful gaze.
"By the way, Arthur Velasis from the magical association has joined Acre and is training the magical association over there."
"I see. That's reassuring! Speaking of which, where is Phelps now?"
"Since I'm here in Run, I've entrusted Acre to Phelps."
The marquis said this casually.
Phelps had been trained to the extent that he could be entrusted with the territory.