Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V8Part1

The Miracle of Pleiades (Continued)

Part 10 (Part 1 of Volume 8)

"It looks like Isla," the young man said, facing the wind.

Kiyoaki Sakagami silently watched the young man’s figure from behind. His neat nape was fluttering in the wind at the edge of the flying island.

Isla had already disappeared. But he had never forgotten.

"I saw the edge of the sky."

The young man’s profile slightly turned toward Kiyoaki. His well-shaped nose bridge, the long scar cutting across his cheek, and his deep blue eyes, like the summer sky burned into them. Something within the young man conveyed itself, and a ripple brushed across the depths of Kiyoaki's chest.

"The edge of the sky..."

Kiyoaki tried placing those unreal words into the wind. The fairy tale-like sound was drowned out by the high-pitched whistle of the wind and carried away beyond the horizon of the aerial fortress Odin’s surface.

Both the St Vault Empire and the Akitsu Federation had myths about the “edge of the sky.” Beyond the great waterfalls, where the sea falls like an avalanche of snow, there is a place where the sky ends. Yet, countless exploration fleets had set sail to find the “edge of the sky,” half of them fleeing back midway, while the other half never returned.

No one had ever seen it—the scene of a mythical world.

The young man claimed to have seen it.

"Surely, you too will see it someday. Once this war ends, I think people all over the world will come to recognize the existence of the edge of the sky."

Kiyoaki silently stared at the young man’s back. There were too many things he wanted to ask, and he hesitated on where to begin.

The year 1351 of the Imperial Calendar, July, off the coast of Santos Island, the aerial fortress Odin---

Three weeks had passed since the battle, which was named the Second Battle of Sierra Greed.

The hopeless fight, abandoned even by the allied forces of the St Vault Empire, resulted in a miraculous victory for the Kingdom of Sylvania, thanks to the foreign reinforcements of the Second Isla Fleet. Even Kiyoaki hadn’t been informed, but six months prior, Queen Elisabeth of the Kingdom of Sylvania had secretly contacted Admiral Luis de Alarcon of the Isla Fleet, offering a place to dock. The Queen had concealed the existence of the Isla Fleet from the St Vault Empire and, at the critical moment, played her trump card, securing an allied fleet of comparable size to the Urano fleet.

Of course, this was a risky move.

There are countless cases in history where a powerful allied force stronger than one’s own army drove out the enemy, only to later seize power within the country. The Isla Fleet, far superior to the Kingdom of Sylvania’s army, could become a more dangerous entity than Urano after the battle ended. If Admiral Luis decided to slaughter Queen Elisabeth and her close advisors and take the throne for himself, no one could stop him.

In other words, the greatest threat to the Kingdom of Sylvania right now wasn’t Urano or the St Vault Empire, but the Isla Fleet. While Queen Elisabeth’s gamble had driven off Urano’s invasion, it had also introduced a new threat—an uncertain ally or enemy—into the kingdom. Such was the precarious state of the young Kingdom of Sylvania.

This doubt also lingered within Kiyoaki.

"Can I trust you?"

Kiyoaki silently asked this unspoken question to the young man’s back.

"Kal-el Albus..."

With a face that blended intensity and grace, and deep blue eyes filled with sorrow and kindness, Kal-el stood with the presence of a knight from a fairy tale. But Kal-el was a fearsome ace who hunted down Urano’s most advanced single-seat fighter, the "Alice Actus," with the ease of chasing turkeys. Though later it was discovered that the Isla Fleet's standard fighter, the "Maestra," was inferior in horsepower and turning ability compared to the Alice Actus, Kal-el had still managed to dominate despite the disadvantage, proving his exceptional skill.

"I want to have a mock battle..."

Kiyoaki’s inner desire reared its head. He wanted to engage in a one-on-one duel with Kal-el in a fighter of equal performance. Currently, they were still ironing out various issues related to the alliance between the Kingdom of Sylvania and the Isla Fleet, so a mock battle wasn’t possible yet. But Kiyoaki earnestly hoped that someday it would be.

Kal-el likely felt the same.

Kal-el's words gave Kiyoaki the impression that he was silently sizing him up, curious about how capable the leader of the Sylvania Kingdom’s elite fighter squadron, the Valkyries, truly was.

Since Akmed had died in the battle three weeks ago, Kiyoaki, as the second in command, took over the aerial combat leadership, securing victory with the help of the Isla Fleet. After the battle, due to Queen Elisabeth’s wishes, Kiyoaki was appointed as Akmed’s successor and became the leader of the Valkyries.

Kiyoaki had no doubts. He had no intention of retreating now, as he was determined to carry on Akmed’s final wishes. Illia also took up the position of Valkyrie Vice Commander and was currently advancing in her duties as a new officer, leading the squad members.

"So, is there anywhere else you’d like to see?"

"No, thank you. That was very helpful. I think I can give Admiral Luis a good report. Well, shall we head back? I don’t want to keep my companions waiting too long."

"Yeah, they might have already started without us."

"I’ll apologize in advance—my guys aren’t very refined..."

"Oh, don’t worry. Ours aren’t much better."

At 2 p.m., under the still high sun, they boarded the reconnaissance plane for the return trip. With Kiyoaki at the controls, they took off from Odin.

To the east, the great waterfall dividing the world in two came into view. To the south was the vast archipelago of the Southern Islands. Below them, the shadow of the long island of Santos carved through the sea. About thirty heavy and light cruisers were anchored in formation along the coast, and the silhouettes of two super dreadnought battleships and four aircraft carriers were visible at Sierra Greed’s naval harbor docks. In four of the docks, two other super dreadnought battleships and two regular aircraft carriers were undergoing repairs, while the remaining nearly two hundred warships and over two thousand transport ships of the Isla Fleet, which couldn’t be accommodated, were scattered throughout the Hydrabard archipelago, using the port facilities with permission from the local lords.

The flight was short. After about seven or eight minutes, they landed at the first airfield of Sierra Greed. This airfield, currently serving as the Valkyries' base, was now also being shared on a trial basis with some members of Kal-el’s Isla Fleet’s First Air Squadron. Thirty "Maestra" fighters, with their white bodies trimmed in red, were lined up, basking in the sun on Santos Island.

Upon landing, the pair were greeted by Sanatra, a member of the Valkyries. After saluting Kal-el, she smiled brightly at Kiyoaki.

"Sorry, as expected, it’s already started. Everyone’s at the beach."

"I figured as much. Are they getting along?"

"So far, yes. Though I’m not sure how things are now. But they speak the same language, so I think they’ll manage. I’ll drive you there."

The 27-year-old, unmarried senior Valkyrie member took the wheel of a military vehicle and gestured for the two to sit in the back.

The welcoming party for the Isla Fleet's First Air Squadron was held at a beach near the airfield.

As the locals swam nearby, about thirty members of the Valkyries and an equal number of Isla Fleet First Air Squadron pilots were already mingling and drinking heavily. Neither Kiyoaki nor Kal-el were noticed upon their return, as the two elite squadrons’ members were caught up in raucous laughter, insults, and screams scattered throughout the beach. In one corner of the beach, a fistfight had already broken out, and instead of stopping it, the surrounding pilots whistled and cheered them on.

"Ah... I knew it would turn out like this..."

Kal-el sighed, and Kiyoaki responded with a wry smile.

"They’re just playing around. They’re happy to have new friends to spar with."

"Is it like this in every country? I wish they’d save that energy for fighting Urano..."

Fights among soldiers were a daily occurrence, and for some, a punch was a quicker way to understand each other than exchanging words. Leaving them to it, Kiyoaki and Kal-el toasted each other.

Looking around, not only soldiers but local vendors were setting up stalls, and many civilians, particularly women looking for attention from the pilots, had joined the crowd. People in swimsuits were swimming in the sea, and even some women working openly in revealing outfits were mingling. The lively atmosphere was infectious.

The July sky was a clear blue. Even the sea breeze couldn’t blow away the heat from the sand. Kal-el downed his beer and, with a boyish grin, surveyed the Isla pilots.

"This is a nice island. The locals are kind too. I haven’t seen everyone having this much fun in a long time."

"The Isla Fleet is seen as saviours of the archipelago. The locals are grateful. This island was under Urano’s control for a while, and they had a rough time..."

Looking up at the reddening sky, Kiyoaki thought back on the past. It had been roughly four years since the start of the Hydrabard campaign. Santos Island had been wounded and exhausted beyond measure.

Kal-el sighed deeply, reflecting on Kiyoaki’s words.

"I truly hope to build a good relationship with the kingdom. On this journey, things have rarely gone as planned. The crew needs a bit of rest."

It was said that the four warships that docked at Sierra Greed’s naval harbor had suffered significant damage and would need at least four months for repairs. There were also matters of replenishing injured crew members, replacing damaged parts and equipment, and resupplying ammunition, all of which were being discussed between the fleet and the kingdom. Both sides seemed equally war-weary.

Suddenly, another fight broke out in a different group from the earlier one. Soon, a circle of onlookers formed, fists were raised, and people began placing bets. Kiyoaki was used to the rough behaviour of the lower-ranking pilots, but the frequency of the fights seemed unusually high.

As he wondered why, Valkyrie member Kandata came running towards Kiyoaki, with Illia in tow, as if they were escaping something.

"Is there a problem?"

Kandata smiled awkwardly and, in an unexpectedly gentle tone for someone of his large stature, said,

"Well, sort of. There’s been a bit of trouble involving the vice commander. It’s better if she stays by your side, sir. That way, no one will bother her."

Illia, urged by Kandata, raised a serious expression.

"...Have I done something inappropriate?"

"Ah... no. Vice Commander, it’s not your fault. It’s just that... well, it seems like no matter where you go, pilots all think the same way..."

"What do you mean?"

"Uh... how should I put this... there are some Isla pilots who want to get a bit too close to you, Vice Commander. And there are some Valkyries who don’t like that. So, fights break out. That’s what’s happening."

"What do you mean by ‘too close’?"

"Uh... Captain, could you handle the rest?"

Tired of explaining, Kandata pushed Illia toward Kiyoaki and quickly excused himself.

Illia, looking unconvinced, glanced at Kiyoaki.

"Why am I being chased away? Am I a nuisance?"

"Well... don’t think too much about it. I know it’s not your fault, Illia."

It was likely that an Isla pilot had tried to flirt with Illia, which angered the Valkyries. From Kandata’s tone, it seemed both of the current fight circles were due to Illia. The Isla pilots probably had no idea that this seemingly delicate woman had over 200 confirmed aerial victories as a top ace.

At that moment, Kal-el poked Kiyoaki in the side with a smile.

"Would you introduce me?"

Kal-el seemed genuinely interested in Illia. Kiyoaki, feeling a bit wary that Kal-el might make a move, quickly introduced them.

"Illia, this is Captain Kal-el Albus. He prefers we call each other by our first names. Kal, this is Captain Illia Kreischmidt."

Kal-el smiled charmingly, like a prince, and extended his hand to Illia.

"May I call you Illia?"

Illia shook his hand and replied resolutely,

"If that is the Captain’s wish."

"Great. Pleased to meet you, Illia."

"Likewise, Captain."

"Just call me Kal. After all, Kiyoaki does."

Illia cast a quick glance at Kiyoaki, who responded with a smile. It was rare for people to call each other by their first names in the Akitsu Federation, and it wasn’t common even in the St Vault Empire. But this was likely the custom of Kal-el’s homeland, the Balesteros Republic. Or perhaps it was Kal-el’s personal preference. Either way, it was a straightforward way to break down formal barriers.

"Understood... Kal."

Illia awkwardly complied, her expression stiff. Kal-el, with a proud smile, raised his paper cup.

"Illia, do you drink?"

"Ah, no, I..."

"You don’t drink?"

"...No, that’s not it."

Illia averted her eyes awkwardly. She could have easily lied and said she didn’t drink, but she was too honest for that. What even the Valkyries didn’t know was that Illia was a notorious drunk. Once alcohol was in her system, there was no telling what she would do. Kiyoaki had made it a habit to keep a close eye on her during these kinds of parties, making sure no one gave her a drink.

Kal-el, without pressing further, changed the subject.

"I believe we’ve met before. You were in the air during the last battle, weren’t you?"

"Yes. When I was about to be shot down, you saved me."

"Oh, is that so? I’m glad to hear it. I remember seeing you with Kiyoaki on the runway after the battle."

"Yes, that was our first time meeting on the ground."

"Are you two married?"

"...Huh?"

"You were hugging each other, right?"

Without any warning, Kal-el’s question left Kiyoaki and Illia stunned.

"......"

"Oh, you’re not? Are you just dating then? But you were about to kiss, weren’t you? You stopped because I came along, right? I remember thinking, "Oh no, I just ruined the mood." I felt really bad about it."

With innocent, guileless eyes and a pure smile, Kal-el continued to poke into Kiyoaki and Illia’s relationship.

"Huh? Kiyoaki is bright red and Illia is pale as a ghost? What’s that, traffic lights? Should I turn yellow?"

Laughing at his own not-so-funny joke, Kal-el piled on more comments.

"You two are radiating happiness just standing next to each other! It’s like you’re glowing. Even without words, I can feel the depth of your love. Wonderful! May you always be happy together!"

At the end of Kal-el’s firmly raised thumb stood Kiyoaki and Illia, frozen solid from head to toe.

"Huh?"

Kal-el, still giving a thumbs-up, smiled curiously at the two of them, who stood rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Kiyoaki and Illia couldn’t even blink, standing side by side, motionless, as if nailed to the ground by invisible stakes.

"Could I have been wrong? Maybe you’re not even lovers, let alone married? Hmm—? Did I make a mistake?"

Kal-el winked, scratched the back of his head, then looked up at the sky and burst into loud laughter, "Ha ha ha!"

Kiyoaki had no idea what was so funny.

Or rather, he was beginning to wonder if Kal-el was perhaps hopelessly naive and insensitive. He would speak with a cheerful smile, confidently guessing things, and when he realized he had failed, he would just laugh it off.

Kiyoaki struggled to find the right words to respond, trying to pull his scattered thoughts back together.

"But even if you’re not lovers, you both like each other, right? So I don’t think my guess was entirely wrong."

Kal-el, brimming with confidence, persistently threw another bombshell.

Kiyoaki’s mouth hung open as he stared at the man in front of him.

—What is with this guy!?

Inwardly, Kiyoaki found himself referring to Kal-el as "this guy." When he was in the Voltec Squadron, Lala and Lulu had teased him about his relationship with Illia a few times, but never had anyone asked him so directly and repeatedly. Was this just how people from Balesteros were? No, probably not. In the past three weeks, Kiyoaki had interacted with other members of the Isla Fleet, and none were as thick-skinned as Kal-el. This lack of sensitivity seemed to be less about his nationality and more about Kal-el’s individual personality.

If only there were some malice behind his actions, Kiyoaki could have reprimanded or gotten angry at him. But those starry, innocent eyes suggested that Kal-el was genuinely curious about Kiyoaki and Illia’s relationship. What he planned to do with that knowledge was unclear, but it didn’t seem like he would stop until he got an answer, disregarding any gain or loss.

"Hey, Illia? Are you alright? Your face is really red. Are you feeling hot? Here, drink this."

Without a trace of ill will, Kal-el tilted his head in concern and placed a paper cup filled with beer into Illia’s hand.

"It’s nice and cold. Drink it all at once! I’ll drink with you, one, two, down the hatch—"

With a strange chant, Kal-el put his hand on his hip and downed the beer in one gulp. Illia, now an empty shell of her former self, mimicked him like a puppet, draining her cup as well.

"Haha, Illia! You’re a great drinker! Come on, drink more!"

Had Kal-el, with his lethal level of innocence, instantly seen through Illia’s weakness for alcohol? Laughing cheerfully, he quickly poured another beer for Illia. If this continued, Illia would get drunk and become uncontrollable.

Just as Kiyoaki was about to step in to help, a drunk Sanatra stumbled into the scene.

"Huh? Illia can drink quite a bit. That’s great! Here, drink mine too!"

Sanatra poured some suspicious-looking coloured alcohol into Illia’s cup and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, Illia, are you feeling feverish? You’re giving off steam."

"Now that you mention it... I do feel a bit feverish."

Illia replied, taking a small sip of Sanatra’s drink. Sanatra made a dramatic expression of surprise.

"That’s no good! We need to cool you down! Come on, Illia, I’ll show you how to cool off. We’ll be right back; I’m borrowing Illia for a moment."

With an arm around Illia’s shoulder, Sanatra led her toward a small hut at the edge of the beach.

As Kiyoaki fended off Kal-el’s relentless questioning, about thirty minutes later, Sanatra and Illia came walking back, both wrapped in bath towels.

"...Huh?"

Illia, with a flushed face, was now draped in a large bath towel, looking like a little teru teru bozu (a traditional Japanese rain-prevention doll), with only her face peeking out. She was barefoot, and her steps were unsteady, clearly still drunk. In fact, she seemed even more intoxicated than before she went into the hut.

Summer. The beach. The sounds of men and women playing in the sea. For some reason, Illia was now barefoot and even more inebriated than she had been earlier. A bad feeling tickled the back of Kiyoaki’s mind.

Sanatra’s method of cooling her down—surely not...

"Sorry for the wait! Come on, Illia, let’s make a big splash!"

Sanatra shouted enthusiastically as she tossed aside her own bath towel.

Sanatra was now wearing a V-shaped swimsuit that barely covered her chest and left most of her lower body exposed. The surrounding Valkyrie members noticed and whistled and clapped in approval. Meanwhile, Illia, still wrapped in her towel, wandered around with a distant look in her eyes. Her face was even redder than before. She must have been given more alcohol in the hut.

"Huh? Illia, come on, you’ve got to go for it—Yeah!!"

"...Still... feel feverish."

"Alright, then I’ll help. Yeahh!!"

With that, Sanatra whipped the towel off Illia.

Beneath the towel, Illia was wearing a skimpy piece of fabric, barely covering the essential areas.

In that instant—

Kiyoaki’s nose erupted with a spray of blood.

The surrounding soldiers cheered, some bowed in reverence, while others clutched their groins and collapsed in agony, each reacting in their own way.

Illia, clad in the tiny piece of fabric, seemed unaware of the chaos around her as she guzzled whiskey straight from the bottle.

"Illia, p-please, wear this...!!"

With blood pouring from his nose, Kiyoaki hastily threw the towel back over the half-naked Illia and then turned to glare at the crowd.

"Don’t look...!! Disperse, disperse now...!!"

As if he were protecting his own dignity, Kiyoaki wrapped his arm around Illia’s towel-covered back, shielding her from the soldiers' eyes.

As the booing rained down on him, Kiyoaki’s temper flared, and he yelled,

"This is an order! Disperse!! Clear a path!! Anyone who interferes will be thrown in the brig, I mean it!!"

While shielding Illia from lecherous gazes, Kiyoaki split the gathering soldiers in two with his commanding tone and somehow managed to carry Illia back to the hut.

"H-hurry up and change, Illia. I’ll stand guard at the door...!!"

Driven by what little reason remained, Kiyoaki stood guard outside the hut, trying not to look at Illia.

As expected, the now-unhinged soldiers were gathering outside the hut.

"Disperse!! Stay away!! You saw nothing, forget everything!!"

Even as he barked out these unreasonable orders, Kiyoaki’s mind was still filled with the image of the scantily clad Illia that he had just seen, seared into his memory, unable to forget...

Part ???

Basically, women are bothersome creatures, but I feel like there are many occasions where particularly annoying women get involved in my work. Is it just my imagination?

Balthazar Grim, a major in the St Vault Empire’s Joint Operations Command and military advisor to the Kingdom of Sylvania, pushed back the words he couldn’t say into the depths of his throat and observed the expression of the female officer standing before him.

There was no expression.

Among the women Balthazar had encountered, Illia was known for her lack of expression, but this female officer was far worse. Even when she spoke, only her mouth moved, while the rest of her face remained as still as a ventriloquist’s dummy. He found himself staring at her, wondering if there was a slit under her mouth.

—Amelia Cervantes.

Balthazar wasn’t interested in a woman’s beauty or lack thereof, but by society’s standards, this woman likely ranked quite high. The high-ranking officers who occasionally glanced at her from the sidelines were undoubtedly intrigued. Yet the content of her conversation was utterly irrelevant, not even remotely connected to work, and had nothing to do with seduction. For Balthazar, it was a completely off-base topic.

"Sierra Greed’s securities market should become the centre of international financial transactions," she said.

Balthazar kept his lips pressed into a straight line, offering no reply.

—Why are you talking to me about this?

A sense of unease began to creep into the back of his mind as Balthazar continued to observe Amelia’s expression, trying to gauge her intentions.

At the buffet-style party being held at the Royal Guest House, politicians, businesspeople, and military personnel from the Archipelago were mingling and chatting merrily with important figures from the Isla Fleet. Many prominent bankers and individual investors were also in attendance, so why, Balthazar wondered, was she bringing up international securities transactions with him instead of with them?

There was only one possibility.

But it seemed impossible that a woman who had only set foot on Santos Island three weeks ago could have sniffed out Balthazar’s personal secret.

"Now that the Selfaust market has fallen into Urano’s hands, there is no international exchange more geopolitically favourable for fair international transactions than the Sierra Greed market. What are your thoughts, Major Grim?"

I’m a military advisor to the Kingdom of Sylvania. I don’t care where the securities exchange is located, and even if I did, I have no authority to do anything about it... was what Balthazar wanted to say, but he didn’t want to come across as a military fool ignorant of economic matters. So, he decided to impress this arrogant woman with a display of his extensive knowledge.

"You’re absolutely right. Transferring the function of the market would have been difficult during the medieval period, but with the development of accounting and telegraphy, it’s now possible. Modern securities companies have settlement systems, so securities can be exchanged through bookkeeping, and telegraph transactions are also feasible. In the medieval period, financial companies clustered together in financial districts because it was more convenient to have transaction partners nearby. The Selfaust market originated from brokers gathering in coffee houses to find trading partners. However, in today’s world of advanced telecommunications, what determines the prosperity or decline of a market is not the physical proximity of its participants but whether the major players are gathered there or not. Now that Selfaust has lost its fairness, if prominent investors gather in the Sierra Greed market, it will become the financial centre of the world. Given that the Isla Fleet protects this market, one could argue it’s the safest market in the world right now."

He added in some trivia for good measure, but the woman didn’t bat an eyelash, continuing to stare at him intently.

No—when he mentioned "prominent investors," her eyes seemed to flicker slightly. Perhaps this woman had indeed caught wind of Balthazar’s personal background.

"In the Sierra Greed market, we are considering issuing wartime bonds for one of the Isla Fleet’s home countries, the Balesteros Republic," she said suddenly, her ventriloquist’s dummy-like lips barely moving.

"I see. I’m sure the Sierra Greed market will thrive," Balthazar replied, even though he had his doubts. Issuing wartime bonds on the international market meant borrowing money to acquire foreign currency to fund the war effort. But unless the Balesteros Republic had the capacity to repay those debts, investors wouldn’t bite on bonds that could crash at any moment. All the advanced countries of the Archipelago were on the gold standard, so only countries that could back their issued currency with gold would be recognized as legitimate trading partners.

It was likely that the Isla Fleet was strapped for cash. Even though they had been granted free use of the docks in the Hydrabard Archipelago, they still had to cover the costs of spare parts, ammunition, supplies, and crew wages out of their own pockets. It had been two years since they set sail, and their equipment was becoming outdated. The Isla Fleet’s main single-seat fighter, the Maestra, was inferior to the latest fighter models from the Archipelago’s major powers. If they wanted to fight Urano effectively, they would need to upgrade all their equipment, which required an enormous amount of money.

The prolonged voyage had likely caused Isla Fleet stocks to plummet, and investors back home were probably starting to sell. They were likely looking to start trading on this foreign securities market to raise foreign currency, jumpstart international trade, and push their stocks back up.

—These guys need all the money they can get.

Balthazar mentally noted this.

Throughout history, war has always required money.

One could say that the amount of money one possessed determined victory or defeat.

In fact, the reason the St Vault Empire, driven from the Mitterland continent, was still able to continue the war was because they had gold. When the Treasury Department realized that the Harmonia Imperial Army’s advance would be difficult to stop, they transferred all the gold reserves from the central bank in the capital to the central bank on Air Hunt Island, long before the capital was captured. The amount of gold was enough to fill a two-story house, and when placed into the banking system, it was magically transformed into paper money worth hundreds of times the gold’s face value. This miracle of finance was what continued to feed all the Empire’s soldiers and maintain and develop its weaponry.

But the question was whether prominent players would gather at the Sierra Greed market.

Even if they issued bonds, if the market wasn’t trusted, no one would come. Trust in the market meant "gold reserves" and "military security." If a place where national budgets were traded was compromised by guns and cannons, its fairness would be lost. As Amelia had mentioned, Sierra Greed was indeed geopolitically and militarily well-positioned, making it an attractive market for investors.

However, it was a remote and undeveloped place, with no track record of large-scale international transactions. How could they attract international star players to this backwater market?

The ventriloquist’s dummy spoke again.

"You need connections with influential financiers."

So that’s what she was after.

"It would certainly help," Balthazar replied, pretending not to notice her intentions.

"If someone like Renior Berner were to enter the Sierra Greed securities market and invest in Balesteros war bonds, it would surely attract the attention of other investors."

The mention of that man’s name filled Balthazar’s insides with venomous hatred. Careful not to let the dark, seething emotions show on his face, he responded calmly.

"Everyone is free to dream."

"Is it impossible?"

"He’s not the type to be swayed by others."

"Not even by a request from family?"

Balthazar couldn’t help but snort in amusement. How Amelia had discovered that he was Renior’s grandson was a mystery, but she clearly had no idea what kind of person the old man was.

Renior Berner.

Balthazar’s paternal grandfather, and the head of the Berner financial conglomerate, which controlled the economies of the Mitterland, Vestelant, and Akitsu, as well as the Archipelago.

Renior could easily manipulate the price of bonds with a mere flick of his finger. If Renior were to buy Balesteros war bonds as Amelia hoped, it would undoubtedly draw in other investors. This influx of foreign currency would push the fleet’s stocks up back home, and the Isla Fleet could continue their journey for another ten or even twenty years. It would be a dream come true. And it was nothing more than a dream.

"If a family member made a request, Renior would likely disown them. The reason? Having the audacity to offer their opinion to someone of his stature. That’s the kind of person he is."

Amelia’s expressionless eyes stared at Balthazar.

"Those around Renior are nothing more than cogs, there to faithfully execute his orders. Anyone who so much as offers an opinion is stripped of everything and cast out. Blood ties or achievements don’t matter. The only thing Renior values is an automaton that charges in the direction he points."

Balthazar tried to suppress his emotions, but it wasn’t working. Just mentioning Renior’s name set every cell in his body aflame with rage.

—I’m here to destroy that old man’s "empire."

—Relying on his power in the process would be the height of foolishness.

Silently cursing Amelia, Balthazar cut the conversation short.

"I suggest you seek out a top-tier broker. There are likely financiers in this very hall who have connections to the Berner conglomerate. I’m just a strategist, not a financial expert. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help."

As Balthazar turned his back to leave, Amelia spoke again in her usual monotone.

"For someone known as the brains of the St Vault Imperial Army, you seem surprisingly emotional."

Balthazar paused mid-turn.

Amelia’s next words pierced straight through to his core.

"Are you saying that, despite being dealt the best hand, you’d fold just because you don’t like the cards?"

The muscles around Balthazar’s eyes twitched.

For the first time in a while—he felt an urge to kill.

Slowly, he turned his ice-cold gaze back to Amelia.

"The best hand?" he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Don’t you mean a curse?"

He didn’t need words; the malice in his eyes spoke volumes as he glared at Amelia.

"If I could return these cards to the deck, I would. If I could throw them away, they’d be gone already. Does your country have a way to erase the brand seared onto my forehead?"

Amelia met Balthazar’s gaze with her own lifeless eyes.

"A brand?"

Without missing a beat, she replied, almost as if mocking him.

"Don’t you mean a blessing?"

Balthazar didn’t bother to hide his contempt as he laughed at her words.

—One day, I’ll make her cry.

—Let’s see if she’d still call it a blessing after experiencing my childhood.

Barely suppressing the seething hatred bubbling up from his memories, Balthazar was about to walk away when—

"It seems like you’re having quite the lively conversation, Foreign Minister. It’s been years since I’ve seen you this animated."

With this annoyingly theatrical line, a tall male officer with long black hair trailing behind him appeared beside Amelia, giving her a wink. Balthazar, recognizing the man, halted his steps once more.

—Admiral Luis de Alarcon, of the Isla Fleet.

Although Balthazar had only seen him from a distance until now, the fact that he was facing the man who held full authority over the Isla Fleet meant that he couldn’t simply walk away.

"Thank you for entertaining the Foreign Minister. To see her so animated means you must be quite a formidable conversationalist. I’m Admiral Luis de Alarcon of the Isla Fleet. May I ask your name?"

Balthazar had no idea what part of Amelia was supposedly "animated," but he faced Luis directly and introduced himself.

"I’m Major Balthazar Grim, strategist for the St Vault Empire’s Joint Operations Command and military advisor to the Kingdom of Sylvania. It’s an honour to meet you, Admiral Luis."

"Ah, so you’re the famed "Strategist of Achilles," Major Balthazar. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you."

Luis, in an exaggerated manner, bowed as if he were a court noble, drawing back his right foot and lowering his gaze. Balthazar, inwardly rolling his eyes at the admiral’s overly theatrical behaviour, offered a modest response.

"It’s a nickname the media back home gave me to appeal to the public. For some reason, the St Vault papers have made me out to be the hero of the Second Battle of Sierra Greed."

Due to repeatedly thwarting the strategic plans of Urano’s chief of staff, Achilles Karamakion, Balthazar’s standing within the military had improved significantly. Not only had he correctly predicted that the Kukuana Line would be overrun by aerial fortresses, but he had also successfully defended the island of Santos with the help of the Second Isla Fleet, despite Field Marshal Raphael Donauer of the St Vault Empire declaring the island "indefensible." As a result, Balthazar’s opinions now carried considerable weight at the Operations Command.

Luis, clearly pleased to have encountered the "Strategist of Achilles," softened his tone.

"Well, in any case, I hope your rise in rank benefits us as well. The more closely we can collaborate with the St Vault Empire, the better—especially as we fight not only to protect the Hydrabard Archipelago but also against Urano."

"Likewise. The St Vault Empire is eager to join forces with the Isla Fleet to continue the fight against Urano."

It was a bit frightening to rely too heavily on them, but given that the St Vault Empire was on the brink of collapse, they had little choice but to work with the Isla Fleet. The question was how far they could reveal their true intentions.

Whether or not Luis understood Balthazar’s inner thoughts, the admiral lightened the conversation with a less serious topic.

"Honestly, I’m a bit jealous. No matter how much I tease her, the Foreign Minister never reacts, yet with you, she seems to have shown quite a range of expressions."

Balthazar had no idea what expressions Luis was referring to, but he responded diplomatically.

"We had a minor disagreement, that’s all."

"Please don’t hold back on lively debates. After all, we’ve suddenly brought forty thousand Isla Fleet crew members into your homeland. It would be strange if there were no friction. Honest exchanges of opinion will only help us understand each other more quickly."

"Your gracious words are much appreciated."

How much of that should I believe? If I take it at face value and start spilling all the information, there’ll be a painful payback later. I must be careful not to reveal too much and carefully sift through what I can share and what must remain hidden when dealing with Luis and Amelia. Even in informal settings like this, letting your guard down is forbidden. I need to wear the mask of sincerity deeply, never showing my true feelings, skilfully changing the subject or deflecting conversations that might work against me with polite diplomatic phrases, and proactively bringing up topics that will help us bond.

Balthazar completed this thought process in 0.2 seconds and decided to throw out the most irresistible bait for Luis and Amelia: an insult aimed at their hated enemy.

"We must drag Nina Viento down from the throne and put her on the guillotine as soon as possible, or this world will perish. We must make her taste the same suffering she inflicted on this land, and to do that, we must cooperate closely."

The moment Balthazar mentioned Nina Viento’s name, the relaxed expression on Luis’s face tensed up. Despite his usual easy-going demeanour, it seemed he couldn’t hide his hostility when it came to Nina.

It was understandable. During his long journey since leaving his homeland, many of his crew had died fighting Urano. Nina Viento, who was responsible for the deaths of his comrades, was undoubtedly Luis’s mortal enemy.

—Use his hatred for Nina to stir empathy and win Luis over.

Smiling inwardly, Balthazar decided on his course of action.

—In settings like this, insults are the best tool for building rapport.

—By using insults about Nina, I can avoid unfavourable topics and get Luis to like me more.

In social gatherings, having a good sense of humour is crucial. Balthazar had always made it a point to collect the latest jokes and use them when trying to ingratiate himself with people. He decided to loosen Luis’s heart with a clever joke about Nina and give off an impression of being outgoing.

"They say Nina Viento is a genius. After all, by the age of five, she already had the intelligence she has now."

That should work as an opener. Luis, looking momentarily surprised, cracked a small smile. Though the memories of his fallen comrades likely prevented him from fully relaxing, the ice had started to break. Now for the next move.

"They’re making a biopic about Nina Viento in St Vault, but they’re having trouble getting the baboon playing her to cooperate. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find any actresses who resembled her... An orangutan stood in, but other than throwing its own dung, it wasn’t a good match."

Balthazar shrugged theatrically and glanced at Luis out of the corner of his eye. Though Luis’s smile was stiff, it was there, but beneath that smile lay hidden sorrow. Was the joke not cutting deep enough? Time for a more biting remark.

"Nina’s son once asked her, "Mom, what’s a virgin birth?" And she replied, "It’s the miracle by which I gave birth to you." Then the boy turned to his eight siblings and said, "Hey guys, it turns out we don’t look alike because we’re all products of virgin births.""

This one was a sure hit. After all, nothing worked better than a crude joke about Nina. Luis’s face twisted into a pained smile, and after clearing his throat, he nodded.

"...Yes, I see. That’s how the people of St Vault perceive Nina Viento."

Did the joke not land? Luis’s tone had dropped, and Amelia, who had remained expressionless throughout, seemed to have a flicker of something hostile in her eyes. Perhaps dirty jokes didn’t go over well with women.

Just as doubt began to creep in, a voice cut in from the side, sounding puzzled.

"Admiral Luis, is something the matter? Did Major Grim say something offensive?"

Queen Elisabeth of the Kingdom of Sylvania, her orange eyes filled with suspicion, stood between Balthazar and Luis, her gaze alternating between them.

Everyone hurriedly took a step back with their right foot, offered a silent bow, and then looked up. It was Luis who answered.

"Your Majesty, not at all. Major Grim was just enlightening me about the jokes popular in the St Vault Empire."

With a smile that radiated fondness, Luis seemed to imply there was no problem at all. His face, which had been clouded while enduring Balthazar’s jokes, now bore a calm, natural smile.

"Major Grim’s jokes, you say... What kind?" Elisabeth’s expression darkened, and she shot an anxious glance at Balthazar.

A bad feeling crept up on Balthazar, but he hadn’t done anything wrong. Standing tall, he answered confidently.

"I was sharing a few jokes that are currently popular in the Empire about Nina Viento."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Elisabeth’s face turned pale.

She glared at Balthazar reproachfully, then abruptly turned her back on Luis and stepped directly in front of Balthazar, speaking in a low voice.

"Captain, that joke... was it the one about the baboon or something?"

Elisabeth had reverted to her former self, as Cecil Hauer, a simple girl, rather than a queen, and Balthazar answered her honestly.

"Indeed. I also told the one about the five-year-old intelligence and the virgin birth."

Elisabeth’s eyes widened in horror.

"You IDIOT!"

Balthazar barely resisted the urge to throttle her, struggling to hold back his temper.

"What do you mean by that?"

Fighting to maintain his composure, he asked in a whisper.

"Why would you say something like that to the admiral..."

Elisabeth’s face contorted with near tears.

Balthazar was still confused by what she meant, when Amelia stepped in to help.

"Perhaps Major Grim was unaware that we travelled with Nina Viento on the flying island Isla."

In that instant, lightning struck Balthazar’s mind.

Unaware?

This was the first he’d heard of it.

".............................."

He felt the ground sway beneath him. He thought it was an earthquake, but it was just his own legs trembling.

—Luis and his people travelled with Nina Viento?

Elisabeth, on Balthazar’s behalf, apologized to Amelia with a guilty expression.

"We hadn’t informed the people of the St Vault Empire about it, out of concern that it might provoke unnecessary hostility. We didn’t want it to affect our joint operations."

Luis, clearly flustered, waved his hands in front of his face and interrupted her apology.

"Of course, we understand. To the people of St Vault, Urano is a hated enemy. It’s only natural that such malicious jokes would become popular."

"But... there was no need to say such things in front of Admiral Luis."

Elisabeth shot Balthazar another sharp glare, scolding him.

"...My apologies. I had no idea the admiral was personally acquainted with Nina..."

When Balthazar tried to explain, Elisabeth finally lost her temper.

"Not just acquainted! Admiral Luis organized the Second Isla Fleet to rescue Nina Viento! Queen Nina sacrificed herself as a hostage to save Isla by traveling to Urano’s capital, Pleiades. The Isla Fleet has overcome countless hardships to reach the Archipelago, all to repay Queen Nina’s sacrifice...!"

A storm raged in Balthazar’s mind. It seemed that the jokes about Nina had completely backfired. What he had intended to be a harmless insult to avoid sensitive topics and win Luis over had ended up stepping on a massive landmine instead.

"Admiral Luis, I sincerely apologize. This man meant no harm; it’s just that, well, he’s an excellent strategist but... rather lacking as a human being..."

Elisabeth attempted to smooth things over, but Luis, waving his hands grandiosely, burst into hearty laughter. His face, which had been darkened by Balthazar’s endless string of jokes, now shone with brightness.

"I hear you two have known each other since your school days. Major Grim was your senior, wasn’t he? He must have been very close to Your Majesty. It’s an honour to witness your camaraderie firsthand."

Luis’s teasing comment made Elisabeth blush furiously. She had momentarily forgotten herself and slipped back into being Cecil.

"...I apologize. I got a little carried away and reverted to my school days. It seems I lose track of time when Major Grim is around."

"No, no, the two of you are still young. It’s only natural to have quarrels. To have someone you can be completely open with is a rare and precious thing. At my age, it’s not so easy to find someone to argue with."

Instead of being offended, Luis seemed to be opening up more. As expected of a commander leading such a large fleet, his tolerance was impressive. Balthazar bowed his head and apologized again.

"...I apologize. There are still many gaps in the coordination between our forces, and... we have not been able to fully share information."

"Oh, don’t worry about it. We understand the people of St Vault hate Nina Viento. After all, Urano has launched a massive offensive in her name. We also believe that once her will aligns with Urano’s, the war will end. But when that will be... who knows? Besides..."

Luis was about to continue when another voice interrupted from above.

"That day will never come."

The voice was raspy, like the sound of rusty metal scraping against a pipe.

"If she ever gains true power, Nina won’t live long."

The man was standing beside Balthazar before anyone had noticed, sipping from a wine glass.

"...?"

His sudden appearance was akin to smoke materializing from nowhere. With a faint, mocking smile, he made his ominous statement and took a sip of his wine, wearing an expression of distaste.

"Your Highness, it’s a rare sight to see you at such a gathering. I thought you disliked parties like this."

Luis welcomed the man with a tone of affection. The man seemed to be some kind of royalty. He was short, with somewhat dark skin, and his silver eyes had a jaded, decadent gleam. His large lapel, outdated chest ornaments, and gold-embroidered sleeves and hems gave him an ostentatious appearance. With a dismissive snort at Luis’s words, the man paid no attention to Balthazar and instead threw a disinterested glance at Elisabeth.

The impression Balthazar got from the man was of a "wilted rose." A rose that had bloomed unnoticed in a forgotten garden, only to wither and die.

Luis introduced him.

"This is His Highness Manius Sidus, the second prince of Urano, here as a goodwill ambassador to our fleet. Your Majesty, this is Queen Elisabeth of Sylvania, and beside her is Major Balthazar Grim of the St Vault Imperial Army."

Elisabeth and Balthazar exchanged nods of greeting, but Manius kept his gaze fixed on the wall behind Elisabeth’s head.

"Nice to meet you, Prince Manius. Your words are... intriguing. For someone so knowledgeable about the Urano Royal Palace to say such things, you must have good reason, I assume?"

Elisabeth, unfazed by Manius’s insolent attitude, pressed him for more information. Manius lowered his gaze to a spot on the floor behind Elisabeth and twisted his lips in a crooked smile.

"You’ve taken on a fleet far beyond your capacity."

With that same metallic voice, Manius abruptly changed the subject, ignoring the question. Elisabeth, however, showed no signs of discomfort and answered cheerfully.

"I am grateful for the admiral’s decision."

Manius’s gaze rose slightly, this time focusing on the wall behind Elisabeth’s chest.

I hate the entire world and everyone in it.

His snide glances, the way his lips twisted, the thinly veiled mockery in his words—all of it conveyed that sentiment loud and clear.

—I don’t like this guy.

That was Balthazar’s first impression of Manius, and he instinctively knew that impression would never change.

"If I were in his shoes."

Manius pointed lazily at Luis and spoke in a voice tinged with both sarcasm and boredom.

"Sending pawns into this country’s legislature, collecting taxes under the guise of wartime legislation, and refurbishing the Isla Fleet’s equipment."

It was a highly disrespectful statement directed at the queen. If a Royal Army officer had been present, they might have drawn their sabre. However, Elisabeth surprisingly displayed great composure, responding to Manius with a casual smile.

"I thank you for sharing Urano's traditional method of governing foreign peoples. I believe Urano employs the same method of exacting tribute from the Harmonia Empire."

Elisabeth’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, but Manius directed a twisted gaze at her.

"A ruler without sufficient military strength will perish. Relying on the military forces of a foreign nation is the height of folly."

Manius no longer bothered to hide his disdain, letting a sneer spread across his lips.

"If you wish for defeat, then by all means, invite reinforcements into your own country."

Elisabeth kept her smile intact and widened her eyes with a confident gleam.

"Speaking with you, Your Highness, is quite enjoyable. It's as if I've travelled back in time to the medieval era."

Though the tone of Manius's voice was harsh, Elisabeth’s response was nothing but playful, with no trace of irony in her words.

"Your ideas seem to stem from an era when public opinion was formed through word of mouth and billboards. There was once a philosopher in the St Vault Empire named Machiavelli, who wrote a book called The Prince that contains the very ideas you're discussing. It’s as if I’m speaking with Machiavelli himself; it’s quite an honour."

Balthazar couldn’t help but stifle a laugh deep in his throat. For once, this foolish woman had come up with a good retort. While Manius's views were correct, they were also grounded in the thinking of the medieval period when military forces were simpler. In modern warfare, where vast sums of money and legislative approval are required, joint operations with other nations aren’t necessarily unwise. If the economic principles and goals of the involved nations align, then collaboration may indeed serve the mutual benefit of both parties.

"Won’t you teach me more about the thinking of rulers from a thousand years ago?" Elisabeth cutely tilted her head and asked Manius for more.

—This woman can hold her own, it seems.

Balthazar felt a moment of newfound respect for Elisabeth, waiting with amusement for Manius’s response. He anticipated one of three reactions: either Manius would counterattack with further criticism, explode in anger and hurl insults, or silently leave. However, Manius’s response was unexpected.

"I suppose I could endure one more glass of this awful wine."

Saying this, he accepted a fresh glass from a waiter. Though the sneer remained on his face, something seemed to have piqued his interest. Both Luis and Amelia exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback by this unusual development.

"I hear Balesteros bonds will be listed on this island’s stock exchange. Is that for real?"

Once again, Manius steered the conversation in a completely unrelated direction. Unfazed, Elisabeth answered without skipping a beat.

"There is no downside for the Sierra Greed stock exchange."

"The Sierra Greed exchange has neither the track record nor the credibility to attract top investors."

"I don’t see it that way."

Manius took a sip of his wine, grimacing at its taste before continuing.

"Do you understand why the Selfaust exchange was once the financial centre of the archipelago?"

Elisabeth answered immediately.

"Because they had the gold reserves to back every note of currency. The major powers in the archipelago all adhere to the gold standard. The Selfaust exchange was able to attract top financial players because they had the gold to back it. When trading there, investors knew they could always exchange their paper money for gold, which gave them peace of mind and drew them to the market."

Balthazar, who had always thought of Elisabeth as a fool, suddenly reconsidered.

Her previous behaviour in the officer’s quarters had been so idiotic that he had underestimated her, but upon reflection, the fact that she had boarded the Eriadore airship at such a young age suggested she must have had impressive grades. He’d also heard rumours that she had never once surrendered the position of top student during her time at both the Air Hunt and Selfaust officer academies.

—In terms of academic achievements alone, Elisabeth’s intellect may be on par with mine...

Upon further thought, it occurred to Balthazar that Elisabeth had successfully secured the alliance of the Second Isla Fleet with the Kingdom of Sylvania without alerting the St Vault Empire. She had skilfully conducted foreign diplomacy and intelligence operations while the empire’s attention was consumed by the Mitterland front. From the perspective of intelligence operations, it was a remarkable achievement...

As Balthazar glanced at her in amazement, Elisabeth continued to speak pleasantly.

"Therefore, if we can demonstrate that the Sierra Greed exchange has sufficient gold reserves, investors will flock to it. Thanks to Admiral Luis, this island is well-defended by powerful military forces."

Manius, looking amused, replied.

"But you don’t have the essential gold."

Elisabeth smiled like a young girl and responded.

"Why do you think that?"

"If you had it, the Sierra Greed market would already be thriving."

After nodding in agreement, Elisabeth suddenly turned to Balthazar and asked a rather unexpected question.

"Major Grim, are you familiar with the rumours about the Sylvania royal family’s hidden fortune?"

Of course, Balthazar knew. About two years ago, during a return trip from military exercises on Santos Island with Brigadier General Victor Kahn, he had seen heavy machinery scattered across the island, digging massive holes in the ground. It was rumoured that a hidden treasure, worth 50 billion pesos, lay somewhere on the island. He recalled watching, through the window of his carriage, as treasure hunters, driven by greed, frantically excavated the land.

Could it be that the treasure actually exists?

"It’s a well-known rumour. I am, of course, aware of it."

Maintaining his composure, Balthazar answered, and Elisabeth responded with a cryptic smile.

"Do you believe it exists?"

Trying not to reveal his inner turmoil, Balthazar asked cautiously. If such a massive fortune of gold, worth 50 billion pesos, was truly hidden on the island, it would have a profound impact on the war economy of the archipelago. At the very least, it would instantly elevate the Kingdom of Sylvania to the ranks of the wealthiest nations in the archipelago.

Elisabeth, however, didn’t provide a clear answer. Instead, she simply smiled mysteriously and said,

"It would be wonderful if it did."

"...Of course."

"But if such a fortune did exist, it would only lead to further conflict on this island."

Her vague phrasing suggested, "It exists, but I can’t say," or perhaps she was deliberately trying to make them think it existed to gain a strategic advantage.

She was unreadable.

Balthazar found it difficult to gauge Elisabeth as a person. It was as if both intelligence and naivety coexisted within this small frame, making her an enigma.

Manius, too, seemed to study Elisabeth with a look of detached amusement, saying nothing.

It felt like watching two monsters sizing each other up in an eerie, silent standoff. Both clearly harboured ill intentions deep within, but neither revealed anything, only maintaining their smiles.

The next person to interject into Elisabeth’s conversation was another one of these monsters.

"If the hidden fortune really existed, why didn’t the kingdom use it to fend off Urano’s invasion? The lack of solid evidence of its existence is likely why it wasn’t utilized."

Balthazar had thought the same, but he had hesitated to ask the queen such a direct question. Amelia, however, voiced the doubt without batting an eye.

Elisabeth, unfazed, answered nonchalantly as though discussing something entirely unrelated.

"Even if one were aware of its existence, they might not have been able to access it due to the surrounding circumstances. For instance, if the hiding place had fallen into enemy hands..."

This woman had started the conversation herself, only to maintain a deliberately evasive attitude.

However, when assessing the kingdom’s situation objectively, it was clear that Amelia’s assertion was correct: "The fortune doesn’t exist." The Kingdom of Sylvania had been driven to the brink of destruction by Urano, and during the desperate battle three weeks ago, Elisabeth hadn’t mentioned a treasure worth 50 billion pesos. If it did exist, they would have used it by now.

Luis’s cheerful laughter swept away the tense atmosphere created by the monsters’ exchange.

"It’s a charming story. Right now, the archipelago seems to be in need of hope. It’s vital for Her Majesty to lead by offering such uplifting stories."

"The most uplifting news is that the Isla Fleet has chosen to dock here. It’s a great boon to the economy of the Hydrabard Archipelago."

"We would love to build friendly relations not only with the Kingdom of Sylvania but also with the people of the archipelago. As Her Majesty mentioned, we do not live in the medieval era. In modern warfare, where nations mobilize their entire resources, it’s becoming increasingly clear that war only brings disadvantages to both sides. It’s no longer an era where nations can prosper through war. Our goal is to open diplomatic relations with Urano and bring them to the international table of cooperation—that’s all. We have no interest in invading the archipelago. Even if we occupied the island by force, doing so would only alienate its people and jeopardize our future voyages. The duty of those of us living in the modern world is to discuss things openly and search for a path of mutual prosperity."

Luis smoothly articulated his ideals. His eloquence was almost suspicious, but his logic was sound.

Indeed, the era where nations could prosper through war was long over. In battles fought with swords and bows, it may have made sense to plunder from other countries, but modern warfare, with its tanks, aircraft carriers, and airplanes, was far too costly.

In the St Vault Empire, there had once been a prevailing myth that war could revitalize the economy. The idea was that waging war, producing vast amounts of weapons, and consuming artillery would stimulate factories and lead to full employment, thereby driving economic growth. However, modern economic theory had thoroughly debunked this myth. It was now understood that full employment could be achieved during peacetime through a combination of lower interest rates and public works. Instead of spending on weapons and artillery, investing in factories, urban infrastructure, social welfare, and education would yield far greater economic benefits in the long run.

In other words, from the perspective of modern economics, war offered no benefits.

So why, knowing all this, had the Second Archipelago War occurred?

—Because people are foolish.

What other explanation could there be? People were fighting simply because they were stupid. And because of this absurdity, millions had been killed or wounded. And that number was sure to rise.

As Balthazar realized his thoughts had drifted from the conversation at hand, Manius’s cold voice cut in.

"Urano will never stop this war. Their reasons for fighting aren’t rooted in economics. Urano’s doctrine, Heavenly Dominion, is no better than the scribbles of children. Over the course of two thousand years, this delusion has become a native disease of the Urano people. Until this sickness is cured, the war will never end."

He spoke in a single breath, then let his lips curl into a sarcastic smile.

"In other words, the war won’t end until either Urano or the nations of the surface are destroyed. The war between heaven and earth will continue until one side is utterly wiped out."

Manius’s expression was almost mocking as he looked around at the group. Elisabeth, however, smiled back at him.

"I'm surprised, Your Highness. You’re quite critical of Urano's way of life."

Manius scoffed through his nose.

"I’m merely naming the disease."

"That’s not an easy thing to do, especially for a member of the royal family."

Manius, for the first time today, focused his gaze on Elisabeth, twisting the lower half of his face into an expression of displeasure.

"Let’s toast. Hearing Your Highness speak, I’m glad to know that we can have open discussions with the people of Urano."

Elisabeth raised her champagne glass with a smile, glancing at him. In response, Manius snorted, raised his wine glass while looking off in another direction, made a clear clink, then brought the rim to his lips, muttering under his breath, "Terrible."