"Your Majesty, you should rest. You have been looking at maps all night," the chief guard said, bowing slightly.
Celerpes adjusted his posture, but his gaze remained fixed on the map on the desk, showing no intention of speaking.
The chief guard clicked his tongue, remaining silent. After a long while, Celerpes sighed deeply, "I have pondered for a long time and can only find three routes for retreat. As for the remaining one, I fear we must fight a tough battle."
He then pointed to Ironhill Fortress on the map and said, "Ironhill Fortress is easy to defend and difficult to attack. With Vincent guarding it, there will be no problem; Ruske has quite a bit of friendship with Wilson, so with him on this route, perhaps we can hold them off; Aaron is courageous and deeply feared by the Winterlands, so with him in Zhenyang, it should be fine; only the beast race, whose enmity with us runs deep and whose hatred is irreconcilable, has no one to stop them... Alas..."
The chief guard understood none of this, but hearing Celerpes speak so articulately, he could only agree, "Your Majesty can resolve dangers on three fronts and knows how to use people wisely. Good fortune will surely see this war through with little peril."
Celerpes, however, was dismissive, smiling at the words, but her expression turned somber as she said softly, "I presume Lucas will have a good plan to repel the enemy."
The chief guard was taken aback, "Then why isn't Lord Sveinn attending the court?"
Celerpes stood up, tilting her head back 45 degrees to gaze at the massive mural on the ceiling. After a pause, she said languidly, "Perhaps Sveinn finds his prestige insufficient?"
She shook her head as she said this.
Hearing this, the chief guard couldn't help but say indignantly, "Lord Sveinn is going too far! He's still thinking of establishing his authority. I think he truly doesn't take Your Majesty seriously!"
Celerpes' eyes sharpened, and she glared at the chief guard, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Seeing the Empress enraged, the chief guard dared not slander Sveinn further and changed the subject, "Then what does Your Majesty plan to do?"
Celerpes' eyes, now devoid of their sharp glint, said indifferently, "Since he wants to establish his authority, then let us help him establish it!"
The chief guard frowned and said impassively, "Your Majesty, I have had a doubt in my heart. Should I speak it or not?"
Celerpes looked up at the chief guard, "What doubt?"
Meanwhile, in the capital city of the Winterlands, within a grand palace, civil and military officials stood on either side.
Tiderell, the Lord of the Winterlands, was quite pleased with the plan of his chief strategist, Victor, and was about to order its execution when Victor smiled inscrutably, "To be safe, I have another stratagem that can destabilize the northern territories of Saint Romagna!"
Upon hearing Victor's words, a rustling of whispers spread through the court. The northern territories of Saint Romagna were the domain of the Witch Clan, and no one could figure out how Victor's actions could incite rebellion among them.
Tiderell also frowned, "Victor, could you elaborate?"
Victor surveyed the assembled ministers, then said calmly, "Your Majesty, to carry out this matter, it must be done in secret. May I be permitted to report privately?"
Tiderell nodded, just about to grant permission, when the aged Kisinder slowly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I believe these four routes, while seemingly effective with minimal effort, are quite doubtful upon closer examination. I would like to ask Victor to clarify."
Victor narrowed his eyes into slits, staring at Kisinder's retreating back, and couldn't help but say, "Elder, please speak."
Kisinder slowly turned around, his eyes sharp and piercing, staring intently at Victor, all trace of his senility gone, as if he could see through Victor, "The barbarian King Gusang intends to attack Saint Romagna and must pass through our borders. Furthermore, the northwest tribes have always respected Dukkel. Aren't you afraid that Gusang will go back on his word?"
Victor stiffened, then smiled faintly and said, "Elder, what you say is indeed correct. However, although Gusang is greedy and arrogant, he knows that our Winterlands are vast and have a million armored troops. I believe that if the matter is presented properly, Gusang would not dare to block our army with his bare hands, right? Moreover, even if it fails, the rumors alone would be enough to make the Saint Romagna girl completely at a loss!"
Kisinder nodded in agreement and then said, "Although the beast race has experienced a great war with Saint Romagna and fostered enmity, the current chief strategist of Saint Romagna is Xiao Xun, known as an unparalleled brilliant general. If Xiao Xun were to make peace with the beast race, what would Victor's plan be then?"
This was precisely what King Tiderell of the Winterlands was worried about. One must know that the pursuit of excellent governance stems from the gains and losses of the nation. Once national interests are involved, even the hatred of killing one's father or taking one's wife can vanish into thin air. Throughout history, countless strategists have maneuvered, wielding immense power with a flip of their hand. Moreover, the beast race and Saint Romagna are currently weak, and they might form a weak alliance to check the Winterlands.
Victor smiled, "Elder, your concerns are extremely valid, but I have a brilliant plan to deal with it."
Kisinder's heart stirred slightly, "Is what Victor refers to related to the northern territories of Saint Romagna?"
Victor nodded confidently, "Precisely!"
Kisinder nodded, his expression softening, as if he had returned to being the oblivious elder who sought no worldly disputes. "Victor is exceptionally intelligent. This old man admires you!"
The conversation between the two yielded no definitive results, leaving many confused. However, some understood that Victor, under Kisinder's powerful magical pressure, could respond with ease. If he had not been prepared beforehand, his cultivation must be far superior to Kisinder's. Victor, of course, could not be much higher in cultivation than Kisinder, who was a top-tier figure at Grand Magus level one.
Tiderell also secretly calculated during their conversation. He had many unanswered questions, but in the court, with all eyes upon them, Tiderell did not wish to delve into them. He said, "Since that is the case, let everything proceed as Victor has stated! Court is dismissed!"
That day, Tiderell summoned Victor to the palace for a private discussion. They spoke until late into the night before Victor withdrew from the imperial study.
No one knew what they discussed, but Tiderell's attendants could all feel that Tiderell was extremely satisfied with this conversation, for they rarely heard Tiderell laugh so heartily, not even when he achieved immense success or ascended the throne. Victor left the Winterlands that night, and no one knew where he went.
Gisd, situated closest to Saint Romagna and harboring malicious intentions, had been closely monitoring the situation in Saint Romagna. Any slight stir in Saint Romagna escaped his notice. Upon hearing Victor's mention of it, he immediately chimed in, "Elder Brother, the Saint Romagna girl Celerpes is not much of a figure!"
Gisd's excited and spirited demeanor greatly displeased Karur, who said coldly, "Although Celerpes is a woman, I have heard that the affairs of Saint Romagna are handled by Sveinn, known as an unparalleled brilliant general. A person called an unparalleled brilliant general is by no means ordinary!"
Victor smiled inscrutably, "My dear brother, how can you boost others' morale and dampen our own spirits? Even if Sveinn is a heaven-sent genius, he is like a mud ox crossing the river now, struggling to save himself!"
The other three's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Victor then said, "To tell you brothers the truth, I have presented the King of the Winterlands with a four-pronged strategy to attack Saint Romagna. I fear the current female emperor is facing imminent crisis."
Victor then elaborated on the deployment of the four armies, earning nods of approval from all three. Victor then surveyed his brothers and asked, "Now, do you brothers know why I have come here?"
Gisd chuckled, "Elder Brother means for us to seize the opportunity and raise the banner of rebellion, to support the Winterlands' four armies?"
Victor nodded, "Without the need for military conflict, we can dominate a corner of the world. As long as we brothers are united, we will surely roar across the land!"
His words made the three brothers eager and ready to act. Bijeys said, "Elder Brother's plan is brilliant! As long as Elder Brother gives the word, your humble brother will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
The other two also pledged their allegiance. Victor nodded and then said, "However, I have one more matter to discuss with you brothers." Victor looked at the three and said, "Although we are raising the banner of rebellion this time, we must surrender to the beast race."
The three looked at each other, and Gisd reacted most intensely.