Kazimierz: You Scared Me to Death! / It's Not Over That Easily

"Your Majesty, they're cut-resistant fibers."

Salus said, "When I was studying in Victoria, I saw the Victorian police wearing things like this. This is the first time I've seen military-grade equipment."

The naval guns began reloading for another round. Taking advantage of the interval, the Victorian infantry began their performance. As they advanced, they suddenly shifted from a loose formation into a tight array at their officers' shouts, then abruptly spread out again.

Moreover, when they advanced slowly in close formation, the soldiers in the first row raised their shields into a wall. The soldiers in the next two rows suddenly yanked something from their bodies and flung it forward. In the blink of an eye, dust filled the air before the Victorian infantry formation.

Grenades?!

Although Theresica showed no reaction on his face, he was already dumbfounded inside.

The gap between Kazdel and these Terra hooligans was simply too vast.

However, what shocked him even more was yet to come.

The sides of the Victorian transport ships suddenly opened completely. After a burst of air being vented, enormous humanoid metal constructs slowly emerged one after another. Twelve artificial beings, each several times larger than a Wendigo, stood towering in the desert.

They abruptly lowered their bodies, then leaped into the sky with a thunderous boom. Under their own weight, they crashed into the so-called simulated enemy city, and the resulting air currents made even the drones' cameras tremble.

Is this freaking Gundam?!

Theresica instinctively pinched himself, but the sharp pain told him plainly that he was not dreaming.

"Your Majesty, those are Steam Knights."

Bodrocasti said, "When I was in Ursus... I once fought one of them. The Wendigos suffered... considerable casualties."

The gloom on Theresica's face deepened once more. Just then, a banshee ran over.

"Your Majesty, Victoria says they'll be making another friendly visit in one day."

Kazimierz: That Scared Me to Death!

Conducting military exercises while claiming they wanted to pay a friendly visit—Victoria really knew how to cause trouble.

However, as the one being troubled, Theresica was having anything but an easy time. He racked his brains over Kazdel's future, desperately trying to figure out where its way forward lay.

Yet all he could see in his mind was a vast haze.

As the Seaborn were the Sarkaz's most useful political excuse, Theresica had thought of them immediately. Their power was simply too great. They were almost a blank check, allowing him to brazenly demand that other countries favor the Sarkaz.

But there was only one such card. Once it was used, no one would pay attention if he played it a second time.

So Theresica wanted to keep it in reserve and use it only when the Sarkaz truly faced a crisis and was about to vanish from Terra.

But what if they actually went through with it? That would be utterly insane, practically equivalent to terrorism. Before the Seaborn crisis fully erupted, the Sarkaz would already face reckoning from all of Terra.

That was not what he wanted. He wanted the entire Sarkaz race to survive and continue.

But where was the way out?

Theresica sat in his chair, deep in thought. Yet even after night enveloped Kazdel and silence wrapped around the Sarkaz royal residence, he still failed to weave an answer.

However, in the dead of night, hurried footsteps sounded outside the room. Their owner was clearly trying her best not to make a sound.

The person pushed open the door and came to his side. After a moment of silence, she gently embraced him.

Theresica did not know what was happening. He suddenly felt his spirit rapidly softening, while moisture quickly gathered in his eyes.

"Sis... I don't know how to deal with them. I really can't think of a way! They're too strong. We don't have enough power."

A sense of grievance suddenly climbed into Theresica's heart, making his voice turn choked with tears. Why did he have to face such a difficult situation? Why had he inherited such a terrible mess?

"This isn't your fault. You've already done enough—really! Think about what Kazdel looks like now. You've done ten thousand times better than those two idiots!"

Mudrock hugged him tighter and gently patted his back, murmuring softly, "How about taking the day off? Get some proper rest..."

The emotions he had kept suppressed finally erupted all at once. Theresica could no longer control either his tears or his voice.

Shining waved her hand and dispersed all the royal guards, then quietly stood watch outside the door.

Crying would not help at all. It could not provide an answer to a difficult problem.

Theresica opened his eyes just as the sunlight began to appear. He did not disturb Mudrock, instead washing up on his own.

Phew... I feel a lot more relaxed...

Theresica glanced at the clock. He had roughly twenty-four hours left to resolve the crisis before him.

Early that morning, he called a small royal court meeting. The clan heads and directors of the relevant departments were summoned to the Sarkaz palace.

"Zeppelin. Are the documents for the original version of the airship... still there?"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. They're all there."

"Then... organize them and prepare them for packing."

Theresica's single sentence left Zeppelin dumbfounded.

"Your Majesty... what are you planning to do?"

"They'll be useful."

Theresica turned his gaze toward the banshee. "I need you to go to Ursus immediately. Take a communications unit with you and establish relay points along the way. I need to speak directly with Vitt."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The banshee guessed what Theresica intended to do. He was preparing to trade benefits.

At present, Kazdel still had no way to solve its problems with Victoria through its own strength.

"Absolver, I need you to go to Lungmen and find Mr. Wei. Take a communications unit as well and establish relay points."

"Yes."

The Absolver and the banshee did not delay and left immediately.

Finally, Theresica looked toward Manfred.

"Compile the information on all retired veterans. Anyone physically fit enough is to be issued armor and weapons. It must all be completed within a day."

"Yes!"

The banshee moved quickly. At 11:30 a.m., Theresica was already speaking with Vitt over the phone.

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency. I never imagined I'd be able to hear your voice while sitting in my office in Saint Petersburg. This is truly unexpected."

"There was no helping the urgency."

Theresica said helplessly, "Mr. Vitt, Kazdel has run into trouble."

"Hmm?... Oh?... Good heavens!"

The voice on the other end began with confusion, but quickly turned into shock.

"Your Excellency, my secretary just brought me a report. What is Victoria doing?!"

"They're coercing Kazdel into changing its position and trying to distort our friendship with Ursus."

That was how Theresica answered Vitt. "We need help. The Sarkaz alone have no way to withstand Victoria."

"Oh... I've only just seen all this... It's astonishing..."

Vitt's voice was filled with disbelief. "Good heavens, this is an unimaginable situation. Something like this... Ursus must consider it carefully. Victoria is no minor player, Your Excellency."

"Of course. Everything in this world is worth careful consideration. The situation isn't that urgent—we still have time."

Theresica smiled and asked as though making casual conversation, "Mr. Vitt, do you remember the airship?"

"Of course. It was an excellent piece of equipment. It greatly accelerated Lungmen's construction efforts... It's just a shame that Ursus isn't suited to it."

"No, things are different now."

Theresica interrupted Vitt's regretful words. While flipping through the data Zeppelin had organized, he said, "We've improved it. It can withstand Ursus's snowstorms, as well as some minor catastrophes."

"What?" Vitt froze for a moment. "Really?"

"Of course. The sort of incident where Originium Arts shot it down should be very unlikely to happen again."

"Ah, congratulations on your new achievement."

"Thank you. But it seems somewhat unsuitable for Kazdel."

Theresica said, "After the improvements, it seems to have gone beyond the scope of civilian use. If you dropped things on the heads of people you disliked at night, you'd probably witness quite a beautiful scene."

"That sounds promising."

Vitt was silent for a moment. "Is that really true?"

"Of course, Vitt. We're friends, and deceiving your friends makes it very difficult to survive in this world."

Theresica laughed. "This thing seems quite suitable for Ursus. How about we pack it up and send it to you?"

Vitt claimed that he was feeling unwell and needed to step away for a while. In reality, he hurried to see Feodor and summoned Ursus military personnel as well.

After obtaining an assessment from professionals on the prospects for using the new airship, Feodor nodded in agreement and handed the matter over to Vitt to handle completely.

Vitt hurried back to the phone. This time, no one bothered pretending anymore.

"What does Kazdel need?"

"I need Ursus to help Kazdel deal with Victoria."

"That can be arranged, but there's a small problem."

Theresica asked, "What problem?"

"If everyone has the same weapon, it loses its significance."

"You can rest assured about that. Kazdel absolutely will not produce it—not even one. It belongs to Ursus."

After hearing Theresica's guarantee, Vitt reported the situation to Feodor. Although he had been given full authority to handle the matter, not telling the emperor anything at all would have been rather bold.

It would have been bold both toward himself and toward the emperor.

After learning of the situation, Feodor decided to make a gesture of his own, and Vitt conveyed his words to Theresica.

"Ursus guarantees that it will never produce civilian airships for Kazdel. In addition, Ursus will provide all technical documents for mortar shells. However, if Kazdel produces even one military airship, the friendship between Ursus and Kazdel will cease to exist."

This was Feodor's decision. He believed Victoria was trying to extend its influence into eastern Terra, and that its reach had become far too long.

Since Kazdel and Victoria were at odds, Ursus could gain considerable goodwill by supporting Kazdel at this time. Moreover, a stronger Kazdel could draw Victoria's attention away from Ursus.

Theresica agreed to the pact without hesitation. Before long, the war machine of Ursus began to reveal a small portion of its power.

Kazimierz, which had been closely watching Ursus's movements, suddenly noticed that the Fourth Army Group and Fifth Army Group had simultaneously received an excessive amount of supplies. Personnel were also moving westward!

This sort of situation only occurred when preparing for war! And it involved two army groups! What were they planning?!

Russell was horrified. In an instant, all the forces in eastern Kazimierz began counting personnel. Everyone's leave was ended, and all personnel had to return to their posts within four hours! Intelligence reports on Ursus, which had previously been compiled once a day, were now being submitted once every hour!

12:00—The Fourth and Fifth Army Groups of Ursus received excessive supplies.

12:30—All forces in eastern Kazimierz began counting personnel.

13:00—Units from the two Ursus army groups began boarding transport ships to prepare for the march.

13:30—All forces in eastern Kazimierz entered the fortress zone and began transporting the necessary supplies into it.

13:40—All auxiliary ships attached to the two Ursus army groups left their berths.

13:45—The knights stationed in western Kazimierz received orders and began moving east.

Russell then remained at the Grand Council headquarters, anxiously waiting for the situation to develop further. Numerous high-ranking knights were with her, and every one of them was extremely tense.

They had never faced both Ursus army groups at once. Moreover, the Nearl Family's High Knight was still in Leithanien helping the Empress stabilize her power!

But just as Russell was pacing restlessly, new intelligence arrived.

The Ursus fleet has departed from southern Ursus. Its approximate course is Kazdel.

Russell: "..."

Fine! Just fine!

The Fourth Army Group and Fifth Army Group of Ursus combined to form a fleet. Although their naval guns had a maximum caliber of around 300 millimeters, somewhat weaker than Victoria's, their total number of warships was as high as 300! At maximum speed, they charged straight toward Duke Wellington's First Fleet of Victoria.

They drew up an exercise zone right beside Victoria's designated area, roughly the same size, and announced:

"From November 10 to 14, a joint military exercise between Ursus and Kazdel will be held in this area. Unrelated personnel are requested not to enter the exercise zone during the exercise period. Otherwise, all consequences shall be borne by the individual."

100: Things Won't End So Easily