"Alfonso, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"When I grow up, I want to be a general commanding a great army, just like you, Your Grace!"
"Oh? Hahaha! Becoming a general like me isn't easy. Then you can start as an orderly!"
"Ah..."
"Alfonso, from today onward, you are an Imperial ship captain. You must always remember that the lives, honor, and families of countless soldiers rest on your shoulders!"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Hahaha! Alfonso, you lost again."
"Huh? Your Grace, you're too sneaky! How could you hide a force of reinforcements?"
"That's what we call all's fair in war! The enemy on the battlefield won't tell you exactly how many troops they have."
"I won't accept that! Let's play again!"
"Your Grace, the Machine Race has too many troops. Please withdraw first. My Iron Wall Fleet will stay behind to cover the retreat!"
"Get lost! It's not your turn to cover the retreat yet. The Black Flagship Fleet will stay behind. All remaining fleets, break out!"
Viscount Ironwall desperately wanted to argue, but for some reason, whenever he thought of how Grand Duke Horton usually treated him, the words caught in his throat.
After a long, dazed silence, he finally let out a helpless sigh.
"How can I trust you?"
"I have no reason to lie to you. If I wanted to deal with Duke Horton, I could have killed him just now.
There's no enemy that death can't take care of!"
Viscount Ironwall thought it over carefully, then nodded.
"I can help you deal with the Second Prince, but you have to promise to help me save His Grace!"
"That I can't guarantee. This is my first time encountering an ability like Mental Enchantment, and I lack samples to study.