Lynn nodded in agreement. "That works. Let's settle the diplomatic matters for now. This is preparation for the future."
"We need to break the blockade and weaken the other countries, but we can't do that right away. We should wait until we're prepared, and avoid fighting a two-front war."
"Now we need to prepare for what comes next: how we should plan the war after winter sets in."
At last, they were discussing war, and Lucia had plenty to say. "Grand Commander, we've pushed too deep and our control is tenuous. The Empire's territory is vast, and Lothair is still eyeing us from the west."
"I personally believe that even if we reach the capital, they won't surrender. Vampires are rumored to be cruel and to feed on human blood."
"But aside from the humans in Lothair's western territory, who were massacred after their cities fell..."
"Louis still governs the people in his territory through a system of aristocracy. His nobles drink blood, but it isn't fatal."
"Although there are a few vampire lords who like to harm people in secret, that sort of thing can happen in any country in the world."
"The only impact Louis has had is that the nobles became vampires. The common people are merely left with a lingering fear of being fed on."
"But people get used to things. Before they moved the population away, our investigations showed that although the people were very afraid of Louis's vampire nobles, it was no different from their fear of nobles in general."
"Also, vampires seem to have some ability to make their victims feel good when they feed on them?"
"I can confirm that."
"But we can be sure that, at least in Louis's territory, the vampires and the common people aren't locked in a blood