There are two types of people in this world.
The first type are those who, when betrayed, show great mercy or impose only the lightest of punishments.
Then there’s the other type. The kind who respond with wrath so fierce, it’s like watching a volcano explode.
Dedolant falls into the latter category—and not just that, but among the most explosive kinds.
“How dare they turn away from the glory of the Deo Ethnic Group and entertain other thoughts!”
“This is betrayal. Not just betrayal of us, but betrayal of everything on this land!”
“We must not sit idly by. If we do, all of Artria might follow suit and betray us!”
It’s true that the command structure had gone a little off-kilter after the string of defeats against the Empire. But that didn’t mean they’d lost their guns—only that their guns had become a little… crazy.
There had been whispers within the ranks for some time now about possible dissent. It was possible. To stay a step ahead, they secretly recruited a few informants to keep an eye on things. Thanks to these informants, Dedolant quickly learned about the whispers.
Retaliation was necessary. But they couldn’t act too hastily.
These were men who ruled their own lands like mini-kings. If Dedolant declared them enemies, they’d rebel for sure. And with that rebellion, they’d take their lands and followers with them.
“It’s frustrating, but we can’t act rashly. We must also consider the hearts of those who remain loyal.”
“The best move would be to lure them away from their territories and bring them to us.”
Though they’d called their allies “brothers,” it was time to take precautions. A firm decision was made, and Dedolant sent missives to the nobles of Artria.
[To the brave ones fiercely battling the Empire, the King of Dedolant raises a glass.]
Artria and Dedolant hadn’t fully merged yet, but with Artria’s royal family long gone, the Dedolant king might as well have been king of both kingdoms.
Nobles, after all, are nothing without their loyalty to the king. Even those secretly negotiating with the Empire knew breaking that loyalty would do them no favors. They’d have to keep their true intentions hidden while swiftly heading over to check the mood.
“Could they have discovered our plan?”
“It’s possible. We might be better off not going.”
Some cautious nobles who were secretly negotiating peace with the Empire voiced these concerns. Just in case, they suggested declining the invitation to assess the situation.
But soon they realized declining was nearly impossible—and practically out of the question.
That’s because Georg III, Dedolant’s crown prince, had finally ascended the throne as King Cassius II. This official diplomatic event marked his first major appearance since taking the name. Missing such an occasion would scream suspicion.
Besides, signs suggested Dedolant didn’t know about their plan. After all, they’d also sent invitations to nobles who didn’t share Artria’s discontent. Clearly, Dedolant was tightening internal bonds amid war setbacks.
Even so, the timing of the invitation was unsettling. But refusing wasn’t an option—not without drawing even more suspicion. Thus, the nobles of Artria, invited to the event, left their territories, bringing escorts only where necessary. There were places even their guards couldn’t follow.
Soon after, unsettling rumors began spreading throughout the noble circles of Artria. Supposedly, at an event honoring King Cassius II—the first king of the Dedolant-Artria Union—some nobles dared to oppose his rule.
At first, Cassius II tried to pacify them. But then, he decided to punish them.
The accused Artrian nobles were executed, and their families were forcibly relocated to Dedolant. The Artrian nobility grumbled about the injustice, but the murmurs quickly quieted down. The reason? Simple.
[To the nobles who opposed the Dedolant-Artria Union, their lands and properties will be redistributed among those who support us.]
By carving up the wealth and property of those who vanished, Dedolant ensured no one dared speak up. Anyone who swallowed this offering would find it harder to protest later. After all, once you have bl**d and loot on your lips, turning against the source invites an even darker fate.
Artria’s potential traitors were swiftly dealt with. Next, they turned their attention to Benito, a kingdom reeling from a deadly plague.
“Can the current ruler of Benito uphold their values?”
“It seems unlikely. The areas most affected by the plague include the kingdom’s core values themselves.”
“Then convince the King of Benito to pull out and find a safer haven.”
“But don’t the king’s core values hold significant sway? Will they really abandon them?”
Cassius II contemplated this briefly. Lately, he’d been reeling from losses against the Empire. But as the Empire paused to regroup, he found himself on the road to recovery.
“Give the 5th Army orders. Withdraw defenses from the heartland and fall back. Once they move, King Andrea II of Benito will have no choice but to shift as well.”
Though painful, giving up part of Benito was better than trying—and failing—to save it all. Besides, recent intel suggested the Empire was questioning Andrea II’s legitimacy as king. In truth, Andrea II, the current king of Benito, didn’t have perfect royal credentials. Dig deep enough, and his weaknesses would surface.
The silver lining was that Andrea II’s grip on the northern region of Benito remained strong. He’d been balancing this control against the southern coast’s powerful nobles while bolstering his supporters. Thanks to this, despite Benito’s instability, the north remained loyal.
“If those Empire bastards are pushing hard on something, it likely involves that guy—Kael Klauwitz in the background. Direct confrontation would only harm us.”
In fact, they’d discovered Artria’s movements before the Empire did. While the Empire was focused on Benito, Dedolant took the opportunity to clean house.
Now, Artria was firmly united under Dedolant, bound by their bl**d-soaked agreements. This wasn’t about guilt—it was about survival. Anyone who turned their back now would face Dedolant’s full wrath.
“As much as it hurts, we’ll let go of half of Benito. But we’ll hold onto the remaining Dugal territory.”
The frontlines with Ross Tannika had recently calmed. Even they were worn out. Tannika was more of a naval power anyway, so even with imperial support, they mostly relied on weapons and supplies.
Now was the time to crush Dugal’s resistance once and for all.
Dedolant’s new ruler, King Cassius II, may have had his moments of despair, but one thing remained consistent—his speed.
While the Empire was distracted with issues in the southern theater, Cassius II resolved to fully pacify Dugal.
“Provide maximum support to those who’ve collaborated with Dedolant. Any place showing signs of resistance? Wipe it off the map—no exceptions.”
“Even if their support was forced, treat them the same way. If anyone helped at all, transform their lands into uninhabitable wastelands.”
“Encourage reporting on resistance fighters. In return, offer the seized lands, wealth, and even titles of Dugal’s old nobles. Divide them, make them turn on each other.”
Kael Klauwitz hadn’t only inspired fear—he was studied. Dedolant looked for ways to replicate his tactics. One such tactic involved creating fractures within the enemy ranks, forcing them to fight amongst themselves.
It was a method Kael had used in the east. Break the enemy’s bonds, and not only do their numbers diminish, but parts of them might even side with you for profit—or be forced into it for future leverage.
“Admittedly, Kael Klauwitz, you’re extraordinary. I’ll borrow your brilliance and adapt it. We’ve fared well until now—but from here on, things will be different.”
Kael’s specialty? Exploiting cracks before the fight even starts, avoiding full-on battles by leveraging enemy weaknesses to maximize his side’s advantages.
“Deploy conscripts to each fortress and focus on defense. Dedolant will also form a mobile unit.”
“Our target is their supply lines and concentrated units. Their front is growing longer—no empire can fight on an empty stomach.”
“Don’t obsess over killing the enemy. Smash their carts, destroy their wagons, slaughter their horses and cattle. The torment of war? It’s not just Dedolant’s burden!”
Even now, as the Empire regroups, they’ll have to launch offensives eventually. Sheltering behind defenses, Dedolant’s recruits, though initially inexperienced, will only grow stronger. Cutting their supply lines during this time ensures Dedolant has a fair fight ahead.
