Malinda's note read-
Lion arrives.
Only two words, and the handwriting was extremely sloppy.
Clearly, Malinda had been in a tremendous hurry when she wrote them.
Of course!
How could she not have been?
After all...
Old Lion had arrived in South Los!
Arthur had not initially guessed that Old Lion would go to South Los. He had only reached that conclusion through Malinda's series of reactions.
But even so, the confirmation still left Arthur deeply shaken.
What had Old Lion come for?
Peace?
War?
Or peace through war?
Whatever the answer, the Countess would have to stand at the forefront.
I wonder whether Mother Tiger can hold her ground.
Arthur pondered this, but the answer was obvious.
Since Old Lion had dared to come, he was certain of success.
The young Mother Tiger surely couldn't withstand him.
But knowing Mother Tiger's temperament, she would dig in to the bitter end.
At the very least, she would fight him once.
It would begin with a duel between Old Lion and Mother Tiger, escalate into fighting among the nobles and knights of their territories, and truly become a war once the commoners took to the battlefield.
But Arthur did not want war to break out.
Because he wasn't ready yet.
After countless casualties, Mother Tiger would most likely negotiate peace and reparations.
Then she would rest and rebuild.
Just as she always had.
And Old Lion?
Naturally, he would enjoy even greater prestige.
The Inner Bay would once again stand above everyone else.
But Arthur did not want that sort of peace between them.
Because his foundations lay in South Los, and such a settlement would hamper his growth.
So-
He had to bring both sides back to the same starting line!
Count Bette!
Arthur thought of an ideal outside ally.