“…Looks like we’ve been outplayed.”
In the midst of working tirelessly to uncover King Benito’s weaknesses, an interesting bit of information came our way via Charlotte from the Artria front.
It seems like some of Artria’s nobles were considering cozying up to the Empire. However, before any of those sneaky snakes could act, they were swiftly purged by none other than Dedolant.
Dedolant sure knows how to work efficiently—it’s nothing short of a well-oiled machine. They nipped trouble in the bud before it could even bloom and handed the resulting power vacuum over to Artria, which the nobles, like a bunch of greedy vultures, gladly gobbled up. And just like that, those nobles went from independent-minded to fully serving Dedolant. Oops, guess they didn’t read the fine print.
“We’ve been too fixated on Benito.”
“I apologize, Chief of Staff. The General Staff was so focused on the Dedolant front and supply logistics for Benito that Artria slipped through the cracks.”
“Hmph. Sounds like Dedolant just acted faster than we anticipated. They seem to have gotten to the information first as well.”
As our lines grow wider and deeper, our advantage as an Empire starts to fade. And to top it all off, while we’re already stressed about supplies, now we have to worry about intelligence too. Up until now, we’ve always been one step ahead, but not anymore—it seems the tables have turned.
‘Word from Commander Paelus is that he’s been sulking since the defeat.’
Wait… could it be he snapped out of his funk after officially becoming king? Honestly, I was rooting for him to stay out of it indefinitely, but this complicates things. It’s Dedolant’s work, after all, and the man behind it all is Georg III—oh, wait, scratch that. Now it’s officially Cassius II. Whatever you call him, it’s this guy’s doing that’s made everything possible.
While his methods are a bit reckless, his decisiveness and bold moves are commendable. He’s the exact opposite of me in many ways. Just look at how things are shaking out on the Benito front. If it wasn’t Cassius II, it wouldn’t be happening this way.
“Dedolant’s 5th Army is withdrawing from the main road, you say?”
“Yes, Chief of Staff.”
“Hmm… could it be they’re stepping back due to an outbreak?”
“That’s a possibility we’re considering. I’ll gather more intelligence and report back.”
After that whole epidemic ordeal, Benito’s forces took another nosedive. Their defense lines that have held firm until now are teetering on the brink of collapse. They’re likely debating whether to fight or flee… with Dedolant whispering the answers—or rather, demanding them outright.
Let’s face it, from Benito’s perspective, they can’t afford to defy Cassius II anymore. After all the aid they’ve received, what room for complaint do they have?
Sure, they’ve contributed troops, but in reality, they’ve been less plundered compared to others. During Paelus’ surrender, the majority of the troops came from Artria and Dugal, not so much from Benito. The ones from Benito were few and far between—mostly volunteers.
For some reason, they seem to be receiving preferential treatment compared to the others. Maybe it’s because they’ve held the southern front and tied up a portion of our Empire’s forces, making them somewhat valuable.
‘I thought these guys were either gonna throw in the towel or spiral into madness, flailing aimlessly. Instead, they just jumped in and crushed Artria’s rebellion before it could even start.’
And just as we were worried about Artria, here comes news from Dugal:
[ Intensifying internal conflict in Dugal. Open rift between resistance factions and Dedolant sympathizers.]
[ Due to Dedolant’s aggressive actions, civilian support for resistance factions is plummeting.]
It looks like Dedolant found my tactics in the east pretty inspiring. Instead of wasting energy, they decided to let the factions destroy each other while favoring those who oppose the resistance. It’s a messy situation now—within Dugal, people are divided between those who want the kingdom back and those who prioritize their families’ immediate survival.
“…This isn’t good.”
We were expecting a national coma after their devastating losses. But instead of retreating into oblivion, Dedolant snapped back into full awareness after the coronation. This means we have to reconsider splitting Benito in two or restarting our Dedolant campaign entirely. Time is on neither side’s side, and if both sides suffer, the losing side loses the most.
I’m confident the Empire will ultimately triumph, and Dedolant will fall. But what happens after that? Winning this war isn’t the end. Winning would be pointless if our Empire crumbles afterwards—then Dedolant effectively wins by default.
Our efforts to undermine Benito’s royal authority are underway, but the problem is, northern Benito overwhelmingly supports the current king, making any defection impossible.
We thought cutting Benito in half would be sufficient while Dedolant was floundering around, but with them back in their right minds, this is shaping up to be tougher than anticipated.
Let’s not forget, Dedolant’s prowess has always been comparable to the Imperial Legion’s. They just had their forces weakened on many fronts, which we capitalized on by forcing them to spread thin while concentrating our own.
“Commander!”
“Yes, Chief of Staff?”
“How long before we reach the Dedolant capital?”
“Even with our most advanced legion pushing forward day and night, it’ll take at least ten days.”
“Close enough to be frustrating, far enough to feel hopeless.”
That’s under ideal circumstances with intact roads. In reality, Dedolant will sabotage the roads and deploy defensive forces at strategic points, stretching ten days into ten weeks—possibly even ten months.
“Our main defenses are here and here. If we can break through…”
“True, but our supply lines will stretch alarmingly thin. Do you think our current resources can handle that, realistically?”
“The War Ministry might pull it off with some creative thinking.”
“Let’s be realistic. Be honest.”
Prompted by my tone, the aide hesitated, then reluctantly admitted:
“It could take months just to capture key fortresses. And the longer our supply lines stretch, the more logistical burdens we’ll bear. You know what the issue is, Chief.”
With prisoners mostly dealt with and supply lines restored, it’s time to split Benito in half. When that happens, the central armies will join us in battle. Once that happens, it’s nonstop combat and bleeding from every conceivable angle. There’s little I can do without divine intervention.
“For now, let’s focus on resolving the Benito issue.”
“Actually, the Commander of the Southern 4th Legion sent word. Apparently, he knows someone who can shed light on the Benito royal family.”
“Have them report directly to me immediately.”
First things first: we need to thoroughly dismantle Benito’s king, strip away his authority, and ruin his reputation. He’s already down elite troops and hit by the plague—imagine his reaction when someone whispers: ”You know, you might not be all that legitimate. Maybe that’s why God is so mad at you.”
Of course, his response would be predictable: denial and accusations of Imperial meddling. And our response? Simply asking: ”So what?” Ah, but there’s a new, more legitimate king waiting in the wings. Imagine the confusion that’ll sow.
—
One month later, King Andrea II received some very unpleasant news:
[ Andrea II is not the rightful king of Benito. He lacks legitimacy.]
[ That’s why the gods have cursed him, causing defeat in battle and the spread of the plague, which has wiped out the innocent.]
“WHO DARES UTTER SUCH FILTH?!”
Andrea II was livid as his advisors winced in fear. The head of the city’s defense quickly knelt.
“It’s happening in every fort currently resisting the Empire. Proclamations are being broadcast via amplification magic throughout the cities, sire.”
This is madness. Who would’ve thought the Empire would stoop this low? Using amplification magic like this—it’s unheard of! Surely they know if we target the magic users and their equipment, this can all come crashing down, right?
But judging from their continued success, maybe this ‘lowly tactic’ isn’t so trivial after all. Reports from commanders overseeing the fort defenses confirm the amplification magic is having a much bigger effect on morale than anticipated.
[ To all brave souls defending Benito. Your loyalty and honor are not misplaced. But your ruler is wrong. He is a false king.]
[ There exists a true heir to Benito’s throne, held in the highest regard by the Empire.]
[ Is it not time to redirect your courage and honor towards the right cause?]
In every Benito location captured by the Empire, the same message reverberates through amplification magic. Andrea II ordered the magic broadcasts stopped, but how on earth do you silence them all? The Great Benito Broadcast is currently thriving stronger than ever.
