Aldo's recent expansion had made everyone feel threatened to some degree.
Of course, the threat they felt did not mean they believed Aldo had grown powerful enough to invade Gabella. It was more like prey struggling desperately even after falling into a trap.
Under the original plans of Gabella's upper echelons, the country should have slowly exhausted its national strength under the alternating blows of internal strife and foreign enemies. Then, once the Empire had dealt with the other parts of the continent, it could effortlessly absorb Aldo.
Antonio raised a hand, and the hall instantly fell silent. The emperor's gaze swept over everyone below the steps, and he said forcefully, "Aldo's revival must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Otherwise, in a few years, it will undoubtedly become the greatest obstacle to the Empire's integration of the human world. We must take action and teach them a painful lesson, interrupt their road to revival, and at the very least make them understand that Gabella must lead the order of the continent."
The ministers and generals nodded repeatedly. Antonio turned his gaze to MacDonald and asked in a deep voice, "Marshal, the north is currently the core region of Aldo's expansion. You are familiar with the situation there. Is there a suitable point of entry?"
MacDonald stroked his graying beard. "Your Majesty is wise. Although Aldo has subdued quite a few oasis city-states, not all of those forces submitted willingly. The city-states that had only recently found the Watchers Legion at their gates still harbored resistance in their hearts. They had merely compromised temporarily under military pressure. The Great Stone Duchy is therefore our best point of entry."
"The Great Stone Duchy lies in the eastern part of the Crimson Stone Desert and controls a crucial trade route at the