The sudden collapse of the Minicia Kingdom and its almost complete takeover were like a boulder hurled into a still lake, sending towering waves through diplomatic circles in the surrounding countries.
The most shaken were the Retalia Empire and the Bohemian Empire, both continental powers with countless ties to Minisia.
Situated on the edge of the storm's eye, Votradnoi City was no longer a frontline command center, but its unique location and relatively stable conditions instantly made it the focal point of both empires' intelligence and diplomatic activities.
The city, which had grown somewhat desolate because of the war, seemed to have been infused with a tense vitality overnight.
Inside the Retalia Empire's embassy, the lights often burned all night.
The clatter of couriers' hooves sounded especially urgent on the cobbled streets, and encrypted letters passed back and forth day and night.
Prince Hohenlohe became increasingly active, attending gatherings of Bagnia's powerful and influential figures wherever he could, or finding excuses to host banquets and invite them himself.
He then tried to piece together the truth and details of the Minicia Kingdom's surrender from his conversations with them, and most importantly... the actual combat strength and behavioral patterns of Bagnia's core military force, the "King's Guards."
These attempts yielded little, however. The reason was simple: the Kingdom of Bagnia had very few people who could be considered powerful elites, and not many received timely news from the front. Those who did happened to be very busy.
Meanwhile, the Retalia Empire's diplomats displayed a different style. They were more pragmatic.
Their representative, a somewhat younger man in a finely tailored diplomatic uniform with a touch of fashionable flair, operated more openly.
He not only contacted the remnants of Minisia's former power structure, but also sought visits with Bagnia's officials at every