Rhinehardt Empire.
Capital: Freud.
Every time Sony Chepelin spread news about Okhraine through the central newspaper of Rhinehardt, she felt as if her insides were burning.
Given her usual temperament, even if she had been in distant Ameria Federal Republic instead of the Rhinehardt Empire, she would have immediately boarded a ship to return home.
However, despite being in a country that shared a border, the reason she couldn’t do so was simple: she was currently attending the ‘International Grand Mage Conference.’
According to the schedule, all conference sessions should have concluded yesterday, and everyone should have returned to their respective nations.
But due to the outbreak of civil war in Okhraine, the conference was forcibly extended.
This was especially concerning given the already unstable international situation, with the main agenda focusing on expressing concerns about global instability and establishing peace agreements among grand mages.
Following the chairman’s opinion that the Okhraine civil war must not be overlooked, the conference was extended.
“But now that the rebellion has been suppressed, is there really a need to prolong these negotiations?”
“The rebellion has been suppressed?? On the contrary, it’s getting worse!!!”
The words of Clay, the 11th Grand Mage of the Abyss from the Adalya Kingdom, provoked another grand mage into a loud outburst.
Solail, the 7th Grand Mage of the Sun, responded angrily. As expected from the grand mage of Pry Free Democratic State, which was completely at odds with the Adalya Kingdom, Solail harbored strong resentment towards Clay.
“Hmm… You’re right, but is there really any need to get so angry about it?”
“What did you say?”
“Just calm down a bit, Solail.”
“Hahaha! Truly, the end times are upon us. Do you really think we know nothing? This entire situation is merely a scheme by your side to annex Okhraine!”
“Annex?? What kind of baseless accusation is that? It’s a fact that Orlando Rus III renounced the vassal status of the Rus Tsar Empire, isn’t it?”
With the involvement of two additional grand mages from the Soviev Empire, the conference hall quickly descended into chaos.
The face of the secretary responsible for recording the proceedings of the magic conference turned pale, and the soldiers of Rhinehardt present for security reasons during this event in the capital also appeared uneasy.
After all, each grand mage was a strategic weapon. Just two of them, if things went awry, could easily erase the Rhinehardt capital, which had a population of 120,000, from the map.
The mana swirling throughout the space surged explosively, its power so intense that even ordinary people without any magical expertise could distinctly feel the change in the air.
“Enough!!”
Finally, the chairman intervened. The colorful mana flickering around instantly turned black — the black mana that encompassed all colors.
Latiano, the 1st Grand Mage of the Abyss.
“Tsk… Aren’t you ashamed? Elders, please maintain some dignity.”
Moreover, Sony Chepelin herself stepped forward, her voice icy, quickly quelling the atmosphere that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
“Hem, hem!”
“In any case, this is an international magic conference. The agenda we need to decide is what to do about the separatists in Runetsk.”
“What to do? They’re just rebels in Okhraine, aren’t they? As Sony representative said, it’s a self-proclaimed duchy, not a formally recognized nation.”
Although the grand mage from the Britton United Kingdom added to Sony’s statement, he was met with fierce opposition from the two grand mages of Soviev.
“What nonsense is this? Are you suggesting a breach of the Paris Accord?”
The Paris Accord was a declaration of peace aimed at preventing mutual assured destruction among grand mages, forming the basis of the international union since the collapse of the Rus Tsar Empire.
“According to this declaration, grand mages can intervene only when their own country is attacked first or when the intervention is approved by majority vote at the magic conference…”
“And only within their own national territory.”
“The Duchy of Runetsk is already a legitimate state recognized by Adalya and Soviev. How can you justify deploying forces when they haven’t initiated any attacks?”
It was sophistry.
However, if Sony Chepelin acted rashly and dismissed Runetsk outright according to her nature, it was uncertain how Soviev Empire might react.
Even the Rhinehardt Empire, which currently maintained friendly relations, wouldn’t likely continue with the same attitude once the situation escalated.
“We must hold onto our connection with Rhinehardt no matter what happens, Chairman. Otherwise, it will be impossible to prevent Okhraine’s territory from being ravaged by two countries.”
Whenever her patience reached its limit, Sony Chepelin reflected on the words of her most trusted subordinate.
That single sentence, as if predicting the future, demanded that she uphold Enok Revendale’s intentions, evident from his resolute gaze.
“For now… It seems the discussion has become too heated. Let’s take a short break and reconvene later.”
Despite the continued heated exchanges after that, the conference was temporarily suspended under the chairman’s mediation.
Sony Chepelin gulped down bottled water to soothe her parched throat.
It seemed she would have to stay away from her homeland a little longer.
*
Okhraine Kingdom.
Capital: Kajeif, Petrobuna Palace.
“It’s been barely a week, yet why does it feel like I’ve been away for so long…”
Orlando Rus III, now simply known as Orlando I after changing the national title of the Okhraine Duchy, swept his hand across the throne as he spoke.
Having restored order in the capital and officially arrested all coup remnants, he still couldn’t enter the palace.
It was understandable.
Not only were the bodies of the coup forces killed by Major Kamalov of the Special Military Unit of the National Guard still present,
but bloodstains, b*llet marks, and the ransacked furniture made the palace interior resemble a complete shambles after four days of chaos.
Only after large-scale repairs and cleaning involving citizen volunteers was Orlando I finally able to return to his sanctuary.
He slowly sat on the throne and looked down at the lined-up ministers.
From high-ranking officials to low-level bureaucrats, the audience chamber, which would normally have been packed, now held only about half the usual number of people.
The rest had either died, were unable to return due to the aftermath of torture, or were sympathizers of the rebellion that shook the foundation of the state.
Orlando sighed deeply and called out to the elderly minister standing closest.
“Alberto, Minister of State.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“…Do you still stand by your opinion that all our actions so far have provoked the Soviev Empire, as per your ‘wise counsel’?”
At this, the Minister of State rushed forward, knelt before the king, and bowed deeply.
“No! It was my ignorance! Please show mercy…!!”
“Originally, Colonel Enok Revendale considered you a key conspirator. However, after careful observation, I judged your loyalty to remain intact.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty─!!”
Now there was no denying it.
As soon as the coup failed, the Eastern Corps redirected their forces to the Runetsk region.
Strangely enough, separatists simultaneously rose up, declaring the independence of the Duchy of Runetsk.
Could this truly be seen as a result of Okhraine provoking the empire?
No. The rebel forces couldn’t suddenly appear like this. Neither was the military’s dissatisfaction with Orlando I something that developed overnight.
In other words,
the Soviev Empire had already infiltrated separatists into eastern Okhraine and incited the populace to their liking while the officials of Okhraine, captivated by the superficial value of peace, remained complacent.
“Execute without mercy those who participated in the rebellion. The National Gendarmerie must undergo a major overhaul, and the Royal Gendarmerie must be completely replaced.”
“I shall follow your orders!”
“Among the ministers, who is currently vacant?”
“The Minister of Finance, Director of National Event Planning, Eastern Inspector, and Minister of Internal Affairs.”
A heavy voice answered.
Among them, only the Minister of Internal Affairs didn’t participate in the rebellion.
Managing the ‘Police Department,’ a paramilitary organization separate from the Royal Guards and Gendarmerie, the Minister of Internal Affairs had been ousted early in the coup.
Currently, having suffered greatly from torture, it wasn’t possible to dismiss a loyal retainer who followed him until the end.
“Promote the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs provisionally, and for the Minister of Finance… .”
Orlando I fell into deep thought. The Ministry of Finance was deeply involved in this rebellion. Even if only high-ranking officials were implicated, it couldn’t be guaranteed that others were entirely free of suspicion.
At that moment, someone spoke.
It was the Chief of the Royal Household, who managed all administrative and personnel matters of the court as the king’s closest administrative officer.
“Your Majesty, if you’re concerned about the confusion in the Ministry of Finance, I believe Vice Minister Johann Meyer would be suitable.”
That’s right.
Johann Meyer.
Orlando I nodded at the recommendation of the Chief of the Royal Household.
“I heard that his daughter Bella Meyer was caught up in this coup and faced hardships. Her temporary cooperation with the coup forces was due to her father’s duty to protect his family.”
“Bella Meyer, indeed that’s true.”
Besides, wasn’t she under the command of Colonel Enok Revendale? She was trustworthy.
Orlando I clearly remembered how she actively worked to save wounded soldiers during the coup suppression despite being a victim herself.
“I shall appoint Johann Meyer as the Minister of Finance according to your suggestion.”
Orlando I began swiftly filling the vacant positions beyond this.
Of course, it wasn’t just a problem with the central government. The military also required a significant reorganization.
“Suspend the division and brigade commanders who surrendered or resisted from the Eastern Corps pending thorough investigation.”
“The defense of the empty East will be entrusted to Lieutenant General Georgi Vasiliopoulos of the Southern Corps, and the reconstruction of the National Gendarmerie will be assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Erich Canaris. What do you think?”
“The Okhraine Kingdom Army must be reborn anew from now on. And the person who should stand at the center of this reform… you all know well.”
None of the ministers present were unaware of the name the young king referred to.
“As the first step of this reform, I will establish a new national administrative organization.”
“A new national administrative organization…?”
“The War Ministry.”
The young monarch’s eyes burned with anger.
“If what they truly desire is war, then we must give it to them. But it is unacceptable to send the sons of the nation to d*ath without any proper preparation.”
During his seclusion at the army training camp, King Orlando I witnessed countless young men dying right before his eyes.
He realized, seeing it from a different perspective, how cruel and futile war truly was.
Therefore, more thorough preparations were necessary.
If avoidance was impossible, at least minimal damage must be minimized to safeguard as much as possible.
“Nominate General Ernst Fell, Chief of the General Staff of the Army, as the Minister of War. I heard he submitted his resignation yesterday.”
“Yes, he expressed deep responsibility for the impotence of the General Staff during the coup and the participation of generals within the staff in the rebellion.”
“Tell him to fulfill this responsibility not through resignation, but as the inaugural Minister of War.”
“Understood.”
“Additionally, the head of the most crucial department of the War Ministry, the War Planning Bureau and Deputy Director of Defense Planning, will be… .”
Though Orlando I drew out his words,
the answer was already decided.
“Appoint Colonel Enok Revendale to this position.”
