Published: July 3, 2025
The next day.
A delicious dinner, a comfortable sleep, a tasty breakfast.
Needless to say, it was perfect.
Ryo, after completing a light stretch following breakfast, headed to the reception.
Today, he would check out of the inn and leave the Republic to return to the Holy Capital.
The checkout was stress-free as expected.
Truly perfect.
"It was a wonderful inn. If I ever come back to the Republic, I will stay here again."
"We look forward to your next visit."
Up to that point, everything was perfect.
As Ryo was about to leave the reception, an employee rushed in from the back with a piece of paper in hand.
And then...
"Ryo-sama!"
"Yes?"
"There has been an announcement from the official residence of the head of state. It seems that all borders of the Republic have been closed."
"Eh..."
Ryo's figure was in the lounge.
He had asked the inn to gather detailed information while he enjoyed some cake and coffee.
((There's no point in panicking. It's important to stay calm.))
((Hey, Ryo... actually, I just woke up...))
((Kings usually go to bed at two in the morning and wake up at three...))
((That's not possible!))
Ryo took a sip of his coffee and continued.
((It's true that ordinary citizens are not informed of anything until just before the war starts.))
((Well... it would be troublesome if a great chaos ensued.))
((Information control to prevent panic... Since there's nothing effective they can do anyway, citizens should take it easy and not panic.))
((...))
While he was contemplating this, a staff member approached Ryo with the paper.
"Ryo-sama, regarding the border closure..."
"Yes?"
"It seems that a war is about to occur..."
"Ah, I knew it..."
A clash between the first and second armies of the Stahen United Kingdom and the Republic's defense force was imminent near the western border of the Republic. However, within the Republic, a covert struggle could already be noted.
"Initially, the Lusha Squad that was monitoring Cardinal Sakarias lost contact... and then ten units in quick succession... To think that our own capital would have its intelligence units hunted down..."
Director Bonifacio Franzoni of the Intelligence Agency muttered regretfully.
Among them were those he had personally trained.
None of them were the type to be easily defeated.
But still...
"I heard that Cesare is involved... is it in that area?"
It was understandable that a battle against the "four bishops of the Pope" would be a tough one.
He was searching for Cesare and the others, but what to do if he actually found them... that decision had not been made in Bonifacio's mind.
It would be ideal to surround and defeat them... using sheer numbers is often an effective means.
However, if they could not defeat them... the operational units of the Special Agency would face devastating consequences.
Yet, on the other hand, they could not just leave it be.
The operational units were already being hunted down, and they could not fully monitor the people of the opposing faction within the Republic.
If a clash occurred between the regular armies, for example, if sabotage were to happen at the military headquarters or an attack on the official residence of the head of state were carried out... the nation itself would be doomed.
That was one thing they absolutely wanted to avoid!
Fighting was not only for those who went out to the battlefield...
In a certain house in the capital of the Mafalda Republic, Mussolente.
The head of the house, Chiro Pepe, was a legitimate noble with a viscount title.
Even in a Republic, there were nobles with noble titles.
However, Chiro, such a noble, was bowing deeply in front of a man sitting on the sofa, almost like a servant, bringing drinks and arranging food...
"What a wonderful result. To dispose of more than fifty members of the Special Agency in just two days."
The man on the sofa said, slowly sipping his coffee.
With a smile, he had a very gentle expression.
Standing beside him, as if to report to him, was Cesare, one of the "four bishops of the Pope."
Without saying anything, he simply nodded.