Tytania:Volume 3 Chapter 8
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Chapter 8 – The Pirate’s Study Group[edit]
I[edit]
“How on earth did it come to this!?”
It was Lieutenant Alan Mahdi who shouted on behalf of the entire group. The anti-Tytania rogues, who had begun gathering around the large table in the mess hall, stopped tearing at their breakfast bread and turned to look at him.
“Tytania is splitting apart, and there’s civil war. How did things end up like this? Doctor, surely you can explain something.”
Late April, SY 447. Paulsen, a subordinate of Ariabert, was still leading the diving unit, patrolling the underwater reaches of the planet Bargash.
It was true that the Bargash withdrawal unit was lying in wait beneath the sea, but the Honest Old Man Junior was operating independently of them. The rogue band of scoundrels had infiltrated Port Samuel, a cluttered, subtropical port city, and rented an entire house. The old building, which had formerly served as a boarding house for sailors, possessed three distinct advantages: it was inconspicuous, it had many rooms, and the rent was cheap. Its disadvantages, however, outnumbered those merits five to one.
“There is far too little information. Documentation and physical evidence are insufficient. To let one’s imagination roam recklessly in such a state is not scholarship; it is mere gambling.”
Doctor Lee, who spoke with such an air of superiority, was a man widely reputed for using scholarship as a tool for gambling in the realms of politics and warfare. Having made the thesis of “How Tytania shall perish” his lifelong research subject, he was, at the very least, ideologically the most dangerous terrorist in the universe.
Doctor Lee knew several ways to destroy not just Tytania but all of humanity, though he lacked the organisational strength to carry them out. This must have been a fortunate thing for mankind.
“Of course, if one were to insist, I would not refuse to lay out my hypotheses. However, to rush into catering to popular gossip without pursuing theoretical perfection is a perversion of the scholarly path…”
“Fan, for the vegetable omelette, do you want it to be mainly potato or mainly onion!?”
This was the voice of a woman named Seraphine Coopers. She was addressing a young man with carrot-coloured hair, who had just taken his seat at the table with a sleepy expression and unbrushed locks.
Since renting this boarding house, Fan Hyulick and Seraphine Coopers had been living in the same room. If the feeling of “I simply cannot leave him be” fell within the bounds of affection, then their cohabitation was, for the time being, based on love.
“You truly are a man who never fails to replenish your supply of women, no matter where you go.”
Louis Edmond Pagès remarked this with genuine admiration, without much hint of sarcasm. Truth be told, Fan Hyulick required the presence of women for his own mental stability. Perhaps “prone to falling in love” was a more accurate description of the reality.
Last year, he had met a young girl named Lira Florentz, who was like a younger sister to Miranda. Although they had been parted by death before their relationship could even become romantic, her presence within him had only grown more immense after her passing. This very feeling had ultimately driven him to assassinate Count Arses, a Tytanian noble. Furthermore, that act had led to a confrontation with Arses’ elder brother, Duke Zarlisch, which resulted in his own death. To simplify the current situation into a legend, everything could be traced back to a single woman.
“I really wish you would use less onion.”
Miranda spoke to him as he ruffled his carrot-coloured hair in response:
“I think you could afford to be a little more cheerful. You did defeat Duke Ariabert, after all. Twice in a row, no less.”
“With cheap tricks.”
Fan Hyulick’s tone was utterly blunt.
The victory on the seabed had, rather, left him frustrated. He had won the battle, wounded Duke Ariabert Tytania—a man recognised by all as a great commander—and had driven him to resign his position as Commander-in-Chief, yet he felt no sense of true triumph. He felt like a bee stinging a great dragon: it only served to make him acutely aware of his own insignificance. What he had desired instead was to win a grand, honourable victory through a decisive clash between great fleets.
Doctor Lee threw cold water on his brand of chivalry.
“Oh, so you are dissatisfied. Tell me, Mr Hyulick, did you intend to fight a grand, frontal battle and emerge victorious with such meagre forces, such a thin sense of alliance, and a practically non-existent strategic plan?”
Doctor Lee was a master of adopting a spiteful and haughty tone without needing even a milligram of effort. Although Fan Hyulick opened his mouth to speak, it was clear that he could not possibly win, whether in terms of wit or sheer force, so he seemed to have no desire to engage in a losing battle.
A noisy debate was unfolding around him. It had been an unresolved argument for several days now. Since Tytania had split how they were to fight in the future and against whom remained the question.
“Whichever faction we destroy, the remaining half of Tytania will only celebrate. Is that not utterly absurd?”
“But even if they rejoice, their strength will have been halved. That is the crucial point, is it not?”
There was a thud against the table. Doctor Lee had struck the surface with his palm to call for the attention of the assembly.
“It is utterly vexing, but if it is what you all so desperately desire, I suppose I have no choice. I shall allow my scholarly conscience to rest for a moment and attempt to organise the situation.”
“Who exactly was it that desired this?” The “students” exchanged glances. Mahdi, finding himself the centre of attention, shook his head in a panic. Ignoring them, Doctor Lee urged everyone to take their seats.
There were those who grumbled, but in the end, the fact that everyone sat down was precisely the strange thing about this band of rogues. There was no charismatic leader, and while everyone acted quite selfishly, they did not disband. After all, since everyone stood isolated from both Tytania and the anti-Tytania factions, they had nowhere else to go.
Doctor Lee proceeded to restate the socially recognised facts to the “students” before developing his own theory from there.
“When a single faction holds the majority and grows immense, we call it a Gulliver[1], borrowing from ancient literature. However, if the tendency toward enlargement becomes excessive, they naturally move towards division and dispersal. This is a law of history, so there is no need for undue surprise. If anything, one should rejoice that the temporal distance to the downfall of Tytania has been shortened. The only problem is…”
At this point, Fan Hyulick interjected somewhat hastily.
“Overthrowing Tytania sounds fine. But which Tytania are we overthrowing? Clanner Ajman, or the two dukes of the anti-Clanner faction?”
“They are no longer dukes,” corrected Doctor Lee, with the meticulousness of a graduate researcher. “They are former dukes. Now, the real problem is the risk that short-sighted choices, such as the one seen in Mr Fan Hyulick’s question just now, might cause us to misjudge the course of history. One must not lose sight of the grand design by fixating on immediate interests. Even so, the Clanner’s course of action is somewhat incomprehensible. It cannot be called a passing grade.”
Doctor Lee offered his assessment with an air of arrogance.
“If it were up to me, I would not attempt to strip both A and J simultaneously of their official duties. I would strip one of their rights while going out of my way to favour the other. I believe you can guess the reason…”
As Doctor Lee shifted his gaze, behaving like a first-rate professor at a third-rate university, Salam Amzekar replied:
“To engineer a split between the two, is that it?”
“Correct. As long as A and J remain united, their influence will not wane. Military and political power are working in perfect harmony, leveraging each other’s strengths and compensating for their respective weaknesses. A year ago, I could never have imagined such a magnificent duo would emerge.”
Watching the others nod and exchange glances, Doctor Lee added:
“To evaluate even one’s adversaries objectively, that is what academic conscience demands.”
Because he had a penchant for making unnecessary remarks at unnecessary times, Doctor Lee tended to make unnecessary enemies.
Seraphine Coopers casually picked up the coffee pot and stood up, moving around to pour coffee for the “students”, who all wore sulky expressions. Holding a cup in one hand, Louis Edmond Pagès asked a question:
“So, according to this so-called objective evaluation of yours, whose scheme was this particular affair?”
“I do not know who it is. They may be using plausible pseudonyms like destiny or history. In short, that individual intends to stage a drama with Tytania as the sole protagonist on a grand stage. Everyone else is destined to be nothing more than a supporting player or an antagonist.”
“I wonder if it will ever become an anti-establishment revolutionary drama with us as the protagonists?”
Michael Walenkov caused his chair to creak with his massive, 0.1-ton frame. Doctor Lee replied magnanimously:
“We shall have to wait for a future new production for that. For the time being, the Blaze Flag Army may take the stage. We shall simply accept a performance fee and join whichever side offers it.”
Amzekar knitted his dark eyebrows.
“The Blaze Flag Army must possess some pride. Do you truly believe they would agree to such a thing so easily?”
“It is merely a matter of appearances. I doubt how long such principles can hold up in the face of greed.”
Doctor Lee ruthlessly slashed through his former comrades with the blade of his acerbic tongue.
“Well, in their case, it cannot be helped. Those who lack true scholarly ambition will always prioritise practical benefit over ideals, and they feel no particular burden on their consciences. Looking back, if one faces the relationship between our ideals and reality head-on, we are actually at a quite critical juncture.”
Sceptical gazes, asking, “What were our ideals, exactly?”, converged upon Doctor Lee. Naturally, he did not grant them a second thought.
“There is a possibility that we may receive overtures from both factions of the split Tytania. Furthermore, those overtures could be extremely significant. The question is how we shall choose when that time comes…”
The lamp on the wall flickered suddenly, announcing a visitor. The black-haired rogue, who had failed to become a professor, masked his burgeoning irritation and ordered Pagès to investigate the identity of the guest.
Upon receiving the reply that it was Count Elman Tytania, he flashed a thoroughly wicked smile. To his comrades, the expression on the teacher’s face clearly betrayed his thoughts on whom he might fail next.
II[edit]
“My, my, His Lordship Count Elman Tytania. I am truly honoured that you have deigned to visit such a grubby place.”
Doctor Lee welcomed the guest from Tytania with great ceremony. Ever since the attempted kidnapping last year, the two had served as the vital link between their respective factions. However, while Count Elman’s status was officially recognised by Clanner Ajman, Doctor Lee did not act with the unanimous support of the Anti-Tytania Faction. He invited the Count into the salon and gave instructions to the women.
“Serve His Lordship some tea. Use the most expensive blend we have.”
The latter half of the dialogue spoke eloquently of the financial state of Fan Hyulick’s faction. Count Elman must have thought it was quite vulgar to judge the quality of tea by its price, yet it was the hallmark of a true aristocrat to neither let it show on his face nor mention it with his lips.
Count Elman merely touched the served black tea to his lips for the sake of appearances, and after placing the cheap white porcelain saucer back down, he spoke with careful deliberation.
“It seems these past few days have brought much surprise to you both, in mass and in magnitude.”
“Indeed,” replied Doctor Lee, prompting the Count to mutter:
“It is a pity. Both Lord Ariabert and Lord Jouslain have personally distanced themselves from the position of the next Clanner of Tytania.”
“And what of Lord Idris?”
“Lord Idris lacks popular support. Normally, I would not consider him incompetent, but at present, nothing but his narrow-mindedness is apparent.”
“It is certainly extremely difficult for Lord Idris to face both A and J alone, without the backing of the Clanner’s authority.”
Count Elman did not respond directly. It was not that he disagreed with Doctor Lee’s opinion, but rather that he took issue with those vulgar abbreviations, A and J. After all, he was a nobleman of Tytania.
“Eventually, Lord Idris will surely desire to be officially recognised as the successor to His Clanner Highness…”
“Do you not possess such ambition yourself, Count?”
“That is preposterous.”
What appeared to be a wave of exhaustion was, in truth, the Count’s strained smile.
“I believe I am aware of my own capabilities. If I am fortunate, I might at least serve as the Chief Butler of Uraniborg—that is to say, the Clanner’s estate. In terms of rank, perhaps I could become Prime Minister of the Vardana Empire. But that is the limit. The position of Landless Clanner of Tytania is far too heavy for someone like me.”
“There are, however, precedents in history of those who went mad from bearing such a burden.”
Doctor Lee appeared to be enjoying himself. It was not that he delighted in tormenting Count Elman, but rather that he was enjoying the interplay between theory and fact in the manner of a scholar; however, it was perhaps his own misfortune that others did not perceive it as such.
“His Highness Ajman is formidable.”
That was Count Elman’s reply. The meaning hidden beneath the surface of his words was both profound and vast. Doctor Lee slightly narrowed his eyes, observing the expression of the Tytanian noble. Eventually, what he spoke of was not a result of his observation but a matter regarding something else entirely.
“Now then, I believe it is about time, Count. Shall we discuss the business that brought your noble self to such a wretched hovel?”
“I have been permitted to return to Uraniborg.”
“I presume I may offer my congratulations on that matter?”
“Regarding that…”
The Count adjusted not only his voice but also his entire posture.
“I wish to welcome your Blaze Flag Army heretic group to Uraniborg. I want to let all past grievances wash away and invite you as specialists in military technology. I promise sufficient compensation.”
Though he should have anticipated this, a silent wave of shock spread far beyond his expectations. Doctor Lee, who had accurately foreseen the turn of events, felt no particular pride in the fact itself.
“Count, you were supposed to be Lord Ariabert’s advisor. Have you fully reconciled yourself to that fact?”
“There is nothing to debate. My loyalty has always resided in Uraniborg with His Clanner Highness.”
“And what of our own safety? It would be the height of tragedy and absurdity if we were to make it to Uraniborg only to be arrested upon arrival and then face death by torture or execution.”
“I am a Tytanian. I would never resort to such despicable acts. I give you my word of honour.”
“Duchess Theresa Tytania is also a member of your important clan. Do you believe you can persuade her?”
Doctor Lee’s quiet question left Count Elman speechless.
“Her words and actions are governed by emotion. We are the ones who killed two of her sons. It is only natural that she hates us, but it would be problematic if that hatred manifested in actual harm.”
Doctor Lee’s argument was incredibly self-serving, yet at the same time, it was correct. Both Miranda and Mahdi nodded deeply in agreement.
They had not exactly agreed to proceed to Uraniborg, but it was only natural that they engage in a struggle over terms at the negotiating table. They could not afford to reduce their own options by rejecting the proposal outright. In Mahdi’s case especially, he harboured a financial grudge against Tytania. Even if the negotiations were to collapse, his true intention was likely to extort a significant sum before that happened.
Furthermore, Doctor Lee proceeded with another essential question.
“Above all else, what are the true intentions of His Clanner Highness Ajman?”
“I do not know.”
The clear-cut reply was simultaneously fraught with bitterness. The Count let out a heavy sigh, then took out a white silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead and neck.
“It is not merely that I do not know; no one else can know the will of His Clanner Highness. He is a truly unfathomable man, and the insight of an ordinary person is simply powerless against him.”
“I am in agreement on that point.”
With a solemn air, Doctor Lee expressed his academic agreement.
“I can certainly sense a tremendous energy of will, but its direction remains difficult to discern. It does not appear to be aimed simply at the maintenance of power, nor does he seem like a nihilist with a destructive bent. He is a man who never ceases to pique my academic interest.”
“To me, above all else, he is my liege. So, will you accept my proposal?”
“Personally, I am happy to accept. A scholar ought to be by the side of the finest subject of study. I would be most grateful if I could perform a living dissection of the mental world of Ajman Tytania.”
“Doctor, I do not believe myself to be such a narrow-minded man, but I must ask that you refrain from making remarks that are unnecessarily disrespectful toward His Clanner Highness.”
Count Elman made the request in a tone that made it clear he was suppressing his emotions.
“My apologies. I shall be more careful from now on.”
Doctor Lee’s honest reaction was something that should have been described as a tactical retreat. When subsequently pressed for a clear answer, he feigned deep thought.
“It is far too grave a matter for me to give an immediate response. I must ask for some time.”
After acting with such unnecessary deliberation, that was all Doctor Lee had to say.
III[edit]
Once Count Elman Tytania took his leave, the hideout of those rogues instantly reverted to a place of boisterous debate. At the time, this house bore the overly beautiful name of “Green Wind[2],” though the only remnant of that title was the green paint that had seeped into parts of the walls. Against those walls, the voices of the rogues, enjoying their freedom of speech, echoed in a chaotic scramble.
It was said that the proposal had originated from Count Elman himself, but it would become official once the Clanner granted his sanction. The rogues, who had hitherto been cast out and hunted as enemies of Tytania, would suddenly find the greatest power in the universe on their side. In Mahdi’s words, it was “a remarkably prosperous prospect”, but it was Seraphine who attempted to dismiss it outright as being “out of the question”.
“No matter how good the terms are, it is out of the question. Isn’t Tytania supposed to be our enemy!?”
“Which Tytania do you mean?”
The irony resided more in the fact itself than in the voice or the words. Looking down at the speechless Seraphine, Doctor Lee cleared his throat and resumed his lecture.
“Now that a concrete example has been presented before us, I believe the matter has become easier to understand. However, such situations could occur infinitely many times across the entire universe in the future. It is an unpleasant thought, but there is no denying the fact that the modern era itself is being led by Tytania.”
He took a breath and drank some water, an action that seemed quite characteristic of a professor.
“It is a strange paradox, but by splitting into the Clanner faction and the anti-Clanner faction—if that is how one ought to call them—Tytania’s overall influence has actually increased.”
A loud voice responded:
“In that case, there’s no need to interfere. We should just let the two sides fight to the bitter end while we enjoy the view from a safe distance. If all goes well, we could reap the rewards once both sides are utterly exhausted. It’s not my favourite way of doing things, though.”
Miranda was the one who made that proposal. Although her resentment towards Tytania, the force that had destroyed her husband’s vocal cords, ran deep, she possessed a pragmatic sense of strategy and did not allow herself to run wild with emotion.
“We shall have both sides present their terms. If they are in a position where they must make demands, we can drive the rewards as high as we please. Now is the time to make them pay their absolute maximum.”
Such was the tone of Mahdi’s voice, which was tinged with excitement. The grudge he held against Tytania was the sort that could be settled with a vast sum of money.
It was Amzekar who raised a doubt, casting a sidelong glance at him.
“Why did Count Elman throw such tempting bait before us? While sudden reversals of fortune are common enough, this feels somewhat extreme.”
“It is because the Clanner faction believes their chances of victory in actual combat are slim. They need talent capable of opposing Lord Ariabert. Given that, regardless of past history, there is no one else but Fan Hyulick.”
Desperate times called for desperate measures. That was Miranda’s opinion on the matter. She held Fan Hyulick’s ability to devise and command tactics in high regard. Amzekar shared this sentiment, though he presented a slightly different perspective.
“However, one could also look at it from the opposite side. If we were to occupy a central position within the Clanner army, it would certainly not be pleasant for those of the Tytania hereditary nobility. It might go as far as them attempting to exclude us or losing their will to fight, but there is even the possibility that they might defect to the anti-Clanner faction on the battlefield.”
“Are you suggesting that is Count Elman’s intention? I feel you might be overthinking it slightly.”
Miranda tilted her head slightly, and her husband, Captain Casimir, had a small nod while wearing a pensive expression.
“I wonder, Doctor.”
In response to the question, Doctor Lee took up the conversation:
“It seems necessary to consider why Count Elman came this far in the first place. Or rather, how he was able to do so. I suppose I’ll have to give that some thought.”
“They must have maintained a channel for contact all this time.”
“It is not our conditions but theirs. Ordinarily, it would not be surprising if Count Elman were under house arrest by the likes of Lord Ariabert. There must be a reason why he is able to move about so freely.”
A sense of unease settled over the rogues. The possibility of a surprise attack by Tytania crossed their minds. Once Count Elman had confirmed their presence in this house, perhaps armed soldiers would surround them and burst in.
That was indeed a concern, but Doctor Lee denied the possibility. He claimed it was not even a matter of that level[3].
“Both dukes are likely aware of Count Elman’s movements. Because there are too many uncertain variables, they are probably just letting him run free to see how he reacts. If necessary, they could simply turn us into stardust along with him.”
“In that case, why not just side with Lord Ariabert and his lot? It’s worth trying to negotiate. If Count Elman continues down this path, we could just catch him and hand him over to Lord Ariabert as a nice little gift.”
Mahdi made the suggestion, only to be met with a cold glare from Miranda.
“How easily you change your tune. Were you brainwashed during your time in Tytania?”
“I simply refuse to cling to useless things like empty notions of justice. Besides, I only dislike certain methods used by Tytania; I don’t hate Tytania itself.”
“There is no need to make excuses. Everyone is well aware that your conscience is held in a deposit account at a Tytania-affiliated bank.”
“Ah, and it has been accruing interest every single day, so by now, I ought to be a saint good enough to be called Saint Alan.”
“Is that so? I suppose if you wring out all the wicked parts of your soul, only the angelic parts will remain.”
“W-what? Are you looking for a fight?”
With a low growl, Mahdi quickly ducked behind Walenkov’s massive frame. Miranda stepped forward with a fearless smirk.
It was at this moment that Doctor Lee saved Mahdi from his predicament. He did not go so far as to say, “Those who want to cause a disturbance can stand in the corridor,” but he did restrain the Princess with a pacifying, “Now, now, Miranda,” adopting the air of a true pacifist.
“There is no point in fighting amongst ourselves here. We are, so to speak, the Jokers in the deck. Whoever acquires us might find us simply too much to handle. The real issue is how we are treated.”
Fan Hyulick responded bluntly:
“If it were me, I would burn the Joker. It would be much less trouble. If you possess such a thing, you are constantly anxious about when it might be snatched away, and if it were used against you to cause a defeat, the regret would be unbearable.”
“I only wish that no one would notice.”
Doctor Lee wore an expression akin to a professor who had discovered a mistake in his own grading. It was then that Salam Amzekar sought to speak. He did not go so far as to raise his hand, but through a sort of tacit understanding, it created the impression that he was delivering a research presentation to Doctor Lee.
Amzekar’s opinion was as follows:
In the first place, was this not all a grand theatrical performance staged by the entirety of Tytania? Since Lord Ariabert had suffered defeat in the undersea battle, the Tytania Clanner, Ajman, had abandoned the idea of subjugating Fan Hyulick’s faction through purely military means. Perhaps, disregarding the potential for clan division, he had instead devised a treacherous scheme to summon Fan Hyulick’s faction as mercenaries, lure them into the interior of Uraniborg, and massacre them all.
“Count Elman spoke at length about his honour as a nobleman and such, but the history of Tytania is a continuous series of power shifts. Even if others were to condemn us in unison, Tytania would feel no sting. It would be enough if Count Elman alone bore the infamy. What do you think of this idea?”
“It is certainly something Tytania might well do…”
Miranda crossed her thick, muscular arms and fell into thought. The reason Mahdi shifted uncomfortably, though he had been prepared to argue against her, was likely because he felt an undeniable persuasiveness in Amzekar’s words.
Then, Pagès voiced an even more dangerous possibility.
He suggested that there might be a plan in motion at Uraniborg to appease Lady Theresa, the mother of the late Lord Zarlisch. It was a strategy that sought to kill two birds with one stone: to satisfy her by avenging her sons and thereby persuade her to withdraw her claim to the dukedom.
Rather than answering that, Doctor Lee addressed another student:
“So, what shall we do, Mr Hyulick?”
“Simply standing by with our hands tied, watching the conflict between the Tytania factions, would be far too passive.”
“Then, shall we depart for Uraniborg?”
“Before that, we must figure out how we are going to leave this planet.”
“There is no need to worry about that. Count Elman will escort us. That should be well within the scope of his plan.”
At this juncture, it was the responsibility of the administrative authorities, not the scholars. It was what all the students felt Doctor Lee was implying.
“Even if we decide on that, what about the stance of the Bargash government? If we make a choice different from theirs, they will naturally attempt to obstruct us.”
Mahdi’s voice responded to Walenkov’s:
“As if those people had any right to complain. Not when they can’t even provide proper necessary expenses.”
That was certainly true; under the current dire financial circumstances, it would have been impossible for Mahdi, the treasurer, to line his own pockets.
“There is no need to concern ourselves with Bargash just yet. However, there are indeed far too many concerning matters regarding Tytania itself.”
“For instance, Doctor?”
“For instance, the recent internal conflict and division within the Tytania Clan seems a little too clear-cut in its pattern. Uraniborg, the stronghold of evil, and the two unfortunate dukes driven from it. Good versus evil. It is a sight that feels a bit too dramatic.”
“True enough.”
Fan Hyulick brought the faces of Ariabert and Jouslain to mind. “They had faces that appealed to the common people,” he thought, with a slight sense of inferiority.
“In that case, Lord Idris would be viewed, in terms of imagery, as an agent of evil.”
“The man himself might be feeling quite innocent excitement. Believing that the Clanner’s throne is finally within his reach.”
In reality, as long as both Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain remained alive, Idris was nothing more than the third candidate for the next Clanner. Since both dukes had been exiled at the same time, it was only natural that the flames of his ambition would roar into life. However, whether those flames could endure until the very end remained to be seen.
In the first place, it was Doctor Lee who had committed the crime of spreading malicious rumours of “treasonous intent by Lord Idris” throughout the frontier sectors. It was Balamy who had gathered these reports and presented them to Uraniborg. While the matter appeared to have been settled in a half-hearted manner, Ariabert and Jouslain would, of course, use those rumours to their advantage in both political and military manoeuvres.
“Ensure that everyone is prepared to depart by the time further word arrives from Count Elman.” With those words, Doctor Lee dismissed the group of students for the time being.
IV[edit]
Doctor Lee and Fan Hyulick continued their brainstorming on the second-floor balcony, amidst the humid sea breeze. Seraphine, who had brought over some iced tea, placed the glasses on the slightly tilted surface of the table and spoke with a hint of hesitation:
“Do you really intend to go to Uraniborg, Fan?”
“Well, I suppose so. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be able to visit a place like Uraniborg in my entire lifetime. There is, of course, the option of going merely for sightseeing.”
“Do you not think you might be killed?”
“That is a difficult question. If I were to be killed, my name would live on in posterity as the ultimate fool. It is possible that the opinions of Admiral Amzekar and Pagès are correct.”
Alternatively, an even more bitter trap might have been waiting in ambush. Lady Theresa, driven mad by revenge, could lead her private militia to raid the brigands, resulting in the total annihilation of both sides after a fierce battle. The incident would then be treated as a mere private feud, allowing Tytania to resolve both internal and external grievances in one fell swoop. Indeed, it would be quite characteristic of Tytania to execute something of that nature.
“Lord Idris’ psychological state is a key factor here,” pointed out Doctor Lee.
If Idris felt confident in defeating Ariabert through a direct confrontation between the fleets, he would have no need for Fan Hyulick. He would simply have him captured and executed immediately. Conversely, if Idris lacked confidence in victory, he might temporarily set aside his pride and agree to delegate command to Fan Hyulick to face Ariabert.
“What do you intend to do if Fan betrays us after being given command?”
Seraphine raised a doubt, but Doctor Lee dismissed it with a light wave of his hand.
“There is no such worry whatsoever. Even if Fan Hyulick were to suddenly turn his blade against us, the Tytania troops would not follow him. They are bound to the authority of Clanner Ajman.”
Fan Hyulick possessed no authority of his own. He merely possessed the capability of a military engineer; his leadership relied one hundred percent upon the authority of the Clanner. That was precisely why Clanner Ajman could remain at ease, even when granting Fan Hyulick military force as a mercenary captain.
In response to Doctor Lee’s explanation, Seraphine raised her objection once more.
“Of course the Tytania troops wouldn’t follow Fan. But the opponents they would be fighting are both Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain. If, on top of an already difficult fighting position, Fan were to instigate them to fight on behalf of both Dukes, the troops might become unsettled.”
“Hmm, I hadn’t considered that.”
Even Doctor Lee fell into thought, looking somewhat caught off guard. Eventually, he nodded, as if praising a bright student.
“Indeed, there are countless theoretical possibilities. Sera, your line of thinking is quite interesting. So, in such a scenario, what would be Fan Hyulick’s motive?”
“His motive?”
“The motive for Fan Hyulick to carry out such instigation. What profit would Hyulick gain from allowing both Dukes to emerge victorious?”
“It would mean the collapse of Clanner Ajman’s dictatorial rule.”
“And then, both dukes would establish a new regime. A reborn, fresh Tytania would take the place of the old Tytania to rule the cosmos. Goodness me…”
Doctor Lee spread his arms wide with deliberate flourish. Hyulick merely shrugged his shoulders.
“Tytania shall endure, indeed. In truth, Doctor, this is no laughing matter,” replied Doctor Lee, noting that he, of course, did not believe this was merely a struggle for power. “Furthermore, there is only one Clanner’s throne. It cannot be asserted that the friendly relations between the two dukes will last forever. If that is the case, will Tytania eventually find itself at war once more over that single seat?”
Doctor Lee and Fan Hyulick locked eyes. No clear conclusion emerged in either of their gazes.
Around this time, it appeared that Lord Idris had established absolute dominion within Uraniborg.
Above all, Clanner Ajman had not shown himself in public at all since the attempted assassination. Only Lord Idris conveyed “His Clanner Highness will” to those outside.
The medical team, consisting of eight doctors, fifteen nurses, six male orderlies, and two pharmacists, stayed within the Clanner’s residential quarters, and the Clanner’s wife and children also remained secluded within the estate, avoiding all public appearances. At the Council of Five Families, four seats remained empty, leaving Idris to sit there entirely alone. No one could fathom what he was thinking or what occupied his mind during the time he spent in that seat.
To the outside world, Idris had become almost the Clanner himself. Although he acted with the authority of Clanner Ajman behind him, his practical administrative ability in managing the massive machinery and vast personnel of Uraniborg showed no signs of collapse, and in that regard, he had earned surprisingly high praise. Consequently, opinions were split: some whispered, “Is His Clanner Highness truly well? Is it possible that Lord Idris is fabricating His Highness’ orders on his own?” while others contended, “Lord Idris is nothing more than a puppet of the Clanner; everything is done according to His Highness’ instructions, which is itself proof that His Highness remains well.” In either case, such voices remained small.
It was on the 1st of May in that year that Idris made a broadcast to the entire universe. Clad in a grey military uniform, Idris read aloud the proclamation in the name of the Clanner, maintaining a composed manner even as his youthful cheeks were slightly flushed:
“This is a proclamation to Ariabert and Jouslain, currently on planet Bargash. Both individuals have already been stripped of the Tytania family name, their titles, and all other ranks and public offices. They have lost all rights of citizenship. Their current actions on the planet Bargash—claiming the name of the Tytania clan and exercising arbitrary military command—were unjust and illegal, and were such that His Clanner Highness Clanner Ajman and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Harsha VI of Vardana shall absolutely not grant any pardon. Both must immediately surrender themselves to the Tytania regular army and present themselves at Uraniborg to face trial by His Clanner Highness in person. Their safety shall be guaranteed until a verdict is rendered, and the charges levied against them are finalised. The deadline for their surrender is the 20th of May at noon. Should they fail to present themselves by this deadline, they shall be declared guilty of treason, and every means necessary shall be employed to inflict a punishment befitting their crimes. If they possess any conscience or courage, let them surrender at once.”
The pronouncement continued, concluding with the threat that anyone who aided Ariabert and Jouslain would be deemed an enemy of Tytania, be they nation, organisation, or individual.
When the two dukes heard that declaration while in Bargash, they had already prepared their own proclamation.
“To strike down the conspirator at his side.”
That was the declaration of both dukes. The “conspirator at his side” referred specifically to Duke Idris Tytania. For the sake of their own peace of mind, as well as the morale of the Tytania troops, Ariabert and Jouslain narrowed their military target down to Idris alone.
According to the declaration of the two dukes, Idris had taken advantage of Ariabert’s absence to attempt to seize absolute authority over Uraniborg. He had plotted the assassination of Clanner Ajman, and when the attempt failed, he had cast the blame upon Jouslain. Furthermore, he had imprisoned the wounded Clanner and abused his authority to the utmost, acting with unparalleled tyranny, and was ultimately attempting to become a despot by massacring his own kin. The declaration stated that they must decisively strike him down and restore the honour of Tytania.
“Idris must be furious. We’ve painted him as such a villain.”
The content was so bellicose that Ariabert could only manage a wry smile.
“He is just as desperate to cast us as the villains. It is wretched, but such is the nature of war. Without the pretext of striking down evil, men cannot kill one another.”
“A battle between good and evil, then?”
“No, evil against evil, probably.”
With a bitter smile, Jouslain took the manifesto in his hand.
“I should like to be the lesser evil, at the very least, but we’ll have to see how it turns out…”
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