Southward! (I)

Upon receiving the latest orders, no one dared to delay and immediately set off for the council hall.

When they arrived, they found a huge curtain hanging in the center of the hall, completely separating the inside from the outside.

Looking at the somewhat familiar object, the Finance Minister, who was standing in the middle of the line, muttered to himself, "Heh heh! His Majesty the King really did hang it up!"

"Heh! You old miser, didn't you already guess it would be hung up? What's there to be surprised about now? (Raleigh)"

"Hehe! What we were just speculating about was just that, not the truth. Now that I see it's actually hanging up, how could I not be excited! (Dalitz)"

"Hehe! Actually, I was a little excited when I first saw it, but now that excitement has been replaced by curiosity. (Raleigh)"

"Curious? Curious about what?" (Dalitz)

"Oh dear, you're so silly! Of course I'm curious— His Majesty the King will decide to go down or up. (Raleigh)"

"Oh! That's true! And what do you think, (Dalitz)?"

"It should be 'Go!' (Raleigh)"

Upon hearing his old friend's guess, the finance minister shook his head and said, "No, given His Majesty's personality, a downward move is more likely!"

"How could it be downwards? It must be upwards!" (Raleigh)

"No, it's downwards! (Dalitz)"

Listening to the conversation between the two people behind him, and recalling the map they had just discussed at the city gate, as well as their strange smiles after seeing him, Zaka felt as if he had come close to the truth, but was just one step away from being able to lift the veil of mystery and see the truth behind it.

"Those two are really strange. One minute they're discussing maps, the next they're talking about ups and downs, acting all mysterious, like they're about to go to war!" (Shirley)

After marveling at the neuroticism of the Finance Minister and the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Shirley began to focus her attention on the curtain not far away. Therefore, she did not notice that the Governor had fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment because of her unintentional remark.

"War? Yes! War! Only war requires maps, only war requires recalling all the high-ranking military and political officials, and only when it comes to war would Raleigh and his companion smile so happily upon seeing us. (Zack's inner thoughts, all of the following)"

"Up and down? I'm afraid you mean south or north?"

"Yes! That must be it!"

"That must be it!"

After deciphering the map's secrets, Zaka looked up at the huge screen in the distance... ptooey! The map, and shook his head with a smile.

"Um?"

Feeling the cool air coming from her left ear, Secretary Shirley subconsciously turned her head to check, and only then did she notice the strange behavior of her father and boss.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just suddenly realized some things, don't worry! (Zaka)"

"You've figured something out? Father, what have you figured out? (Shirley)"

Just as Zaka was about to tell his daughter his conjecture, footsteps came from inside the council hall, followed by a clear and magnetic voice coming from the other side of the map.

"You must all be tired from your journey, so please don't stand outside, come in quickly!"

Upon hearing this voice, the crowd standing outside the council hall said in unison, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, the group walked around the map and headed to the other side of the main hall.

When everyone arrived near the conference table, the restless silver-haired boy and the Crimson guardian (everyone should know who this guardian is responsible for, right?) were already sitting in the main seats, waiting for them.

"Everyone, you've all worked hard. Please take your seats!" (Old Suo)

Everyone thanked them again, and then took their seats in order of rank.

"I think some of you, when you saw that thing hanging in the hall, already guessed what I was planning to do, didn't you? (Old Suo)"

"However, in order to convey my thoughts to everyone, I've decided to explain why I've gathered you all here!" (Old Suo)

After speaking, His Majesty the King stood up, pointed ahead, and said, "Gentlemen, please look, this is a map, a map of the terrain and distribution of Ishgar!"

"Two years ago, the map was marked with the name of the Bosco Kingdom. A year and a half ago, the name was changed to the Erus Kingdom. Six months ago, I hung the map in this position, and then the name Erus moved from the center of the map to the right edge of the map."

"Now, I've hung it up again because I feel the word 'Erus ' is too long and cramped, so I want to make it wider and rounder."

"Well? Now you all understand why I summoned you back, right?"

After His Majesty the King finished speaking, the newly joined members were completely bewildered, while the seasoned veterans who had already experienced it once were secretly excited about their correct judgment and the impending military achievements and wealth. As a result, the hall fell into a brief silence.

"So that's how it is? I wonder which guy is going to be in trouble this time!" (Zaka's inner thoughts)

"Hehe! Your Majesty is truly witty, making the expansion of territory sound so interesting!" (Shirley's inner thoughts)

"Heh heh! His Majesty is definitely up to something!" (The inner thoughts of seasoned veterans)

A moment later, the finance minister, whose curiosity was at its peak (his eyes were practically filled with "J"), suddenly stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, how do you plan to rewrite the name 'Erus' this time? Upwards? Downwards?"

Upon hearing the Finance Minister's question, His Majesty the King smiled and said, "I'm a very lazy person and don't like to look up. In addition, I still owe the Queen a seaside villa, so this time I'd like to move those three words down a bit."

After the King finished answering, the Finance Minister's eyes instantly lit up with a golden light (close-up of his expression, not that his eyes were actually shining). The next second, this minister, who never spoke louder than forty decibels, shouted in a dolphin-like voice, "Your Majesty is wise!"

His Majesty the King waved for the Finance Minister to sit down, and then said, "Does anyone else have any objections? If not, then I will begin to assign tasks for the battle!"

As soon as His Majesty the King finished speaking, the Defense Minister, who was sitting to the right of the Finance Minister, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, half a year ago you said that we do not yet have the ability to deal with two countries at the same time. Isn't it a bit too risky to attack the Kingdom of Cushen now?"

After the Defense Minister finished speaking, the Finance Minister almost strangled him. After all, no miser would willingly give up a piece of meat that was already in his mouth.

Fortunately, His Majesty the King's next words dispelled the Finance Minister's concerns; otherwise, the friendship between the two would have been doomed.

"Dalitz, I did say that six months ago, but remember, that was six months ago! You can forget about it now, because it's no longer relevant to us. Right now, we have the power to make the name Erus appear in the lower part of this map!" (Sordil)

"Located in the lower and middle regions? Your Majesty, do you mean that this time we not only have to deal with Kushen, but also take down Stellara? (Defense Minister)"

"That's right! (Old Suo)"

Upon hearing His Majesty the King's bold declaration, everyone at the conference table felt as if something was about to burst forth from their chests.

Sensing the increasingly turbulent atmosphere at the negotiating table, His Majesty the King chuckled, "Heh! It seems you've all been frightened by my ambition?"

The moment His Majesty the King finished speaking, the military representatives on the left suddenly stood up and shouted in unison, "We are His Majesty's sword, and we are willing to wipe out all powerful enemies for His Majesty!"

Just like half a year ago, after the swords rang out, the shields on the other side also rang out.

"We are His Majesty's shield, and we are willing to defend His Majesty's territory!"

Looking at this familiar scene, His Majesty the King smiled.

"Alright! In that case, I will now issue the combat orders!"

"Woodman, Gilkunis, Hadessta, I hereby order your troops to assist the Second Legion in defending the northwestern border!"

"Yes!"

"Yelibell, Wattster, Radel, I hereby order your troops to assist the garrison in the Milantes Province in defending the northeastern border!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Harry Pottia, Lockett, I order your troops to proceed to the western border to assist the First Legion in defending the western border!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Diphiya, Kaldiz, Murellia, Lindel, I order your troops to proceed to the southeast border and join forces with the local garrison to launch an attack from the southeast."

"Understood!"

"Yesveta, Belserion, Mevajena, Heradi, I hereby order your troops to immediately reorganize their forces and accompany me to the southwestern border to launch an attack from the southwest."

"Yes!"

"Kurelle, I hereby order you to lead the First, Second, and Third Division of the Erus Legion to defend the capital and ensure the stability of the country."

"Yes, sir!"

"After I go to war, the Queen will handle all affairs of the Queen. You all must assist her wholeheartedly to ensure the stability of the front lines and the prosperity of the rear!"

"Your subject obeys!"

"All troops will rest for three days. They will proceed on schedule three days later. Meeting adjourned!"

"Erus will prevail! (To all officials, both civil and military)"

"His Majesty the King surely prevail!"

Three days later, at the Magic Council headquarters

"Chairman, we just received a message from King Erus; they are preparing to attack Kushen and Stellara. (Ogg)"

"Heh! Is it finally starting? (Chairman)"

After expressing his feelings, Crawford took a deep breath and then fell silent.

Just as Ogg was about to offer a reminder, a new commotion finally came from the round-faced Chairman.

"Ogg, immediately pass this message on to the leaders of these two locations, and tell them to evacuate discreetly without alerting anyone else."

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away!"

After Ogg left, a glint of envy and hatred flashed in the Chairman's oval eyes.

"Hmph! Silver-haired brat, just you wait and see how I deal with you later!" (Crawford's inner thoughts)

After venting his dissatisfaction, the Chairman walked heavily toward the place marked "Archives".