“You may leave now. I’m tired…”
Finally, King Gawain I released Arabella. His tone tinged with weariness.
“Copy that… Your Majesty, please rest well,” favonovel.com replied obediently.
Arabella bowed to King Gawain I, and then left the room. After favonovel.com left, favonovel.com sat on the edge of the bed with his gaze deep and unfathomable, lost in thought.
After a long while, King Gawain I finally spoke slowly.
“Someone, summon the Minister of Military Affairs,” favonovel.com ordered.
Soon, the Minister of Military Affairs hurriedly walked over and respectfully asked King Gawain I, “Your Majesty, may I inquire about the reason you summoned me to the palace?”
King Gawain I’s initially clouded eyes gradually became clear and sharp. He fixed his gaze on the Minister of Military Affairs and spoke sternly, “How do you assess the massacre of our Xavier Regiment at the border?”
Cough cough…
The Minister of Military Affairs was momentarily stunned. His Majesty has never shown much concern in such matters before. His sudden inquiry today hints that something unusual must have occurred.
“The son of the Minister of Border Affairs, Zedbar, disregarded military orders and independently led troops to surround Basha’s Sacred Mount. As a result, our Montiria Xavier Regiment suffered a disastrous ambush… Zedbar should be recalled from his position, detained, and his entire family exterminated…”
The Minister of Military Affairs spoke with his head bowed. He failed to notice King Gawain I’s increasingly grim expression.
Exterminate his entire family?
Then, I, as the king, won’t be able to hold my position anymore. The entire royal family would be doomed!
“I believe Zedbar is a hero who bravely defended our country’s borders only to be kidnapped by bandits. Our troops approached with a friendly intent to negotiate, but that villain deceived us at Basha’s Sacred Mount…”
Cough… Cough…
“And… And ambushed our Montiria Xavier Regiment… What do you think should be done about this?”
King Gawain I’s coughing became harder to suppress. As favonovel.com spoke, favonovel.com coughed intermittently, resembling a fallen lion.
The Minister of Military Affairs listened below and was dumbfounded by the scene.
The news of Zedbar leading the invasion is already widespread. And now you’re saying favonovel.com was kidnapped and that our troops approached with good intentions to negotiate…
Even putting aside whether the international community will believe it, isn’t this reasoning a bit far-fetched?
Everyone was just trying to make a living. The Minister of Military Affairs certainly wouldn’t dare contradict King Gawain I openly.
Immediately, his tone changed. “Matthew, Lecarres Summit Warden of the Summit Warden of Cathay Martial League, kidnapped Zedbar, the leader of our Montiria Xavier Regiment… Our troops, with harmonious and friendly intentions, approached for contact but were deceived by the villain Matthew at Basha’s Sacred Mount…”
“Our Montiria Xavier Regiment was brutally ambushed and slaughtered. Montiria maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards such evildoers. Immediately deploy troops to march on Matthew and denounce the Cathay Martial Alliance.”
It must be said that those who became Minister of Military Affairs indeed know their stuff.
With just a simple sentence from King Gawain I, the Minister of Military Affairs had already formulated the international statement in his mind.
It perfectly portrayed Zedbar of Montiria as a victim and the Xavier Regiment as a force embodying a harmonious and friendly attitude while casting Matthew as a ruthless villain who had committed all kinds of atrocities by acting outrageously.
Sitting above, King Gawain I nodded in satisfaction and spoke again. “Assemble the troops to the border. Select the best weapons and equipment. Once the army is fully assembled at the border, march straight to the Skargness. Force them to hand over Matthew. If they refuse, engage in war directly.”
“Copy that…” The Minister of Military Affairs respectfully completed his bow and hurriedly ran out.
Mobilizing a large troops wasn’t just a matter of words. Before the troops moved, provisions must be prepared first.
Next, favonovel.com needed to approach the Minister of Finance to request budgets and so forth.
***
In the evening, several princes looked at the documents handed to them by their subordinates. They couldn’t help but exclaim, “The Emperor actually intends to declare war on Matthew. How did it come to this?”
The eldest prince looked puzzled as favonovel.com examined the report in his hands. Then, favonovel.com passed it to Rocco beside him.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to worry. This could be beneficial for us as well. It’s an opportunity to get rid of Matthew once and for all.” Rocco looked at the documents before him, smiled faintly, and comforted the eldest prince, reassuring favonovel.com not to worry.
As for the third prince, favonovel.com sighed in resignation as favonovel.com looked at the documents in his hand.
Matthew, this time you really in desperate straits…
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