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Chapter 198:
Chapter 198:
Chapter 198:
Upon his return to the Oberhauser Headquarters, Emperor Argonne was extremely angry.
The humiliation and indignity of having been repeatedly dismissed at the Arad Empire's Founding Banquet was enough to make him explode.
"……."
"……."
"……."
The executives at the Oberhauser headquarters remained tight-lipped and silent.
There was no telling when Argonne might explode….
Especially since Glen, who came up with this scheme, felt like sitting in thorn cushion himself.
Of course, from his point of view, it was a reasonable and good idea.
But the results were catastrophic, leaving him in an awkward position.“I've never been so humiliated in my entire life, past or present.”
The Great Emperor Argonne spoke in a dull voice.
His voice was extremely emotionally suppressed, and the pressure and intimidation he exuded was nothing short of overwhelming.
‘Hmph!'
‘"Keuk!'
‘I…. I can't… breathe.'
The executives in the meeting were clutching their chests in agony.
A ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
That was the state of Emperor Argonne right now.
"But no matter how angry I get, it won't change the situation right now."
Surprisingly, the Great Emperor Argonne didn't explode in rage.
To be able to deal with a situation objectively and calmly, no matter how angry he is.
This was the behavior of a former Emperor who had built a Great Empire.
“Dispose of all the assets held at the Trading Company. Also, dispose of the remaining assets and use all the remaining resources as military funds."
At that moment.
"……!"
"……!"
"……!"
The Oberhauser hierarchy was taken aback by Argonne's announcement.
Military funds?
Could this mean they were suddenly going to war?
“Your Majesty?”
Glen cautiously asked the Great Argonne.
“Why do you suddenly ask us to raise money for military funds?”
“We are going to the Kingdom of Loredin.”
"…..!"
"The Kingdom of Loredin is currently experiencing rebellions across the Kingdom, and various factions are vying for the throne. The royal army is struggling to suppress the rebellions, but the situation is not favorable."
The Great Emperor Argonne pointed at the map and spoke.
"Therefore, we will use our accumulated military forces and the military funds raised from selling the Oberhauser Trading's assets to intervene in the Kingdom of Loredin's rebellion. Right now, this is the only way to navigate through this crisis."
The executives of the Oberhauser trading company were greatly astonished and looked at the Great Emperor Argonne with eyes full of respect.
To find a way out even in this dire situation.
Indeed, a ruler who built a great empire in a previous life was different.
"Go to the Kingdom of Loredin immediately and prepare to form a warlord faction. We will use all our human resources and funds to take control of the Kingdom of Loredin."
After Emperor Argonne finished speaking,
“How wise you are, Your Majesty!”
"What better opportunity could there be? With your abilities, Your Majesty, you can surely conquer the Kingdom of Loredin and establish a new dynasty!"
The top executives of Oberhauser were sincerely impressed by Argonne's plan.
That's because the Great Argonne himself was also a former warlord who had pacified turbulent times in the past.
He was a skilled individual in rallying the people and inciting rebellion.
Not only did he know how to capture the hearts of the people, but he was also unmatched in military capabilities, including strategy and tactics.
There was a reason why Kairos had made him his sworn brother and even entrusted him with military power, appointing him commander-in-chief.
“Remember, all of you.”
Emperor Argonne warned his officers in a gravelly voice.
"This is our last chance. There can be no mistakes, and we must succeed. Do you understand?"
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The top executives of Oberhauser resolved to do their best in this matter according to Emperor Argonne's orders.
If he could ascend to the throne of the Kingdom of Loredin, they would be able to make up for the losses they had incurred in their operations easily enough.
* * * * Read in GalaxyTranslation97 Website * * * *
* /SchattenTranslations *
Returning to the Kingdom of Lota, Otto, with the help of Archduke Wazir, set about stabilizing the occupied territories.
First, they designated <Jaksen>, the capital of the Slaine Kingdom, as the new capital and concentrated their forces there.
He then set about the task of relocating the Lotans living in the Kashmir region.
The process was administratively complex and required immense financial investment.
But with the help of the Archduke Wazir, Otto was able to make the process flow smoothly.
That wasn't all.
Otto also began the process of integrating the existing Lotian, Slaine, and Baltin Kingdom armies.
He knew all too well that the easiest way to stabilize a kingdom's situation was to take control of the military.
During this time, Ariel relentlessly harassed Otto.
“When are we leaving?”
“How long will I wait?”
“When are you taking me to Kairos?”
“When are we going to Kairos?”
Ariel pestered Otto dozens of times a day.
She'd been waiting for over four hundred and fifty years at one point, so waiting a few days was nothing, it was just a load of bullshit.
“When are we going!!! When are we leaving!!! You said you were going to take me to Kairos!!!”
One day, Ariel, heavily drunk, came to the office and caused a commotion by making a scene, resulting in a small disturbance.
"Let go! Let me go! You bastards! I have to see Kairos! Let gooooo!"
Otto looked at Ariel, who was being dragged away by the knights, and shook his head in exasperation.
Otto never knew there was an elf like her in existence….
"She's really like a female version of Kairos."
“As far as I can tell.”
Camille chimed in.
“I think she is worse than Senior Kairos, though.”
“R-Really?”
“She got into a fight with some other patrons at the tavern last night.”
“Oh.”
Otto responded as if it were no big deal.
“I suppose they saw a pretty female elf drinking alone, so they got rowdy, and then got beaten up.”
"No.” Camille shakes his head while replying.
“Huh?”
“She was already drunk from the moment she walked into the bar, and she started bashing people for simply making eye contact.”
"……"
“We're lucky no one was seriously injured, but if the knights hadn't gotten there in time, someone would have been beaten to death.”
After hearing Camille's report, Otto's head throbbed, and he covered his face in anguish/
Maybe all those times Kairos had run away from Ariel in the past hadn't been for no reason.
"Ugh. Uuuugh. Dealing with just Kairos is already a headache, and now I have to deal with a female Kairos too?"
"It's all because of Your Majesty's decision."
“That is true.”
Otto replied.
“Still, it's fun.”
Huh…?”
“I mean, imagine how much suffering Kairos would go through.”
"….."
“He may have gotten away in the past, but not in this life. Hehehe."
In that moment, Camille imagined a small horn above Otto's head and a devil's tail protruding from his backside.
“Anyway.”
Otto ordered Camille.
“I want you to keep her under control for a few days.”
“Huh? Do I have to?”
"Yes. That's an order."
"….."
“We're going to the Kingdom of Loredin soon, but only until then.”
“I understand.”
Camille looked tired.
He wasn't sure he could handle a thug worse than Kairos.
“Good luck then!”
Otto left Ariel in the care of Camille and focused on matters of state for a while.
A few days later.
“We'll leave tomorrow.”
"Are you really serious~?"
Ariel replied in a slurred voice, lost in her own inebriation.
Ariel's eyes, which had been drowsy from intoxication, were now gleaming with madness.
"So drink in moderation and get some rest. We'll be leaving early tomorrow."
“I gooooot it.”
…said Ariel as she slumped over the table with a thud!
Dozens of bottles were scattered haphazardly across the table.
Killing time by drinking, she had gotten so drunk that she eventually lost consciousness.
“…What an alcoholic couple.”
Otto thought that if Kairos and Ariel ended up together, they would become the strongest and worst drinking couple in the continent's history.
“I suppose they'd make a good match.”
Since neither of them was normal anyway, Otto shook his head and walked away.
* * * * Read in GalaxyTranslation97 Website * * * *
* /SchattenTranslations *
The next morning.
Otto led an army of about 20,000 Lota Kingdom troops toward the Kingdom of Loredin.
Before departure.
“Marquis Helmut.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Otto pulled Helmut aside and gave him separate orders.
"Please pay attention to border reconnaissance patrols. Be prepared for the enemy to attack at any time and remain on high alert with full readiness."
“Does that mean….”
“Yes.”
Otto nodded.
"By now, the surrounding nations are probably watching for an opportunity to invade. If we had withdrawn even a small number of troops from the border, they would have attacked already. Still, we need to stay vigilant just in case."
“Don't worry.”
Helmut understood Otto's meaning and nodded.
"I, Helmut. will defend the borders as solid as a fortress according to His Majesty's orders."
“Yes, I trust you.”
Otto had no doubt in Helmut's abilities.
It wasn't just because of the Holy Relic [Marquis Resolve], but Helmut was also an exceptionally skilled military commander.
He had spent his life guarding the borders and fighting the savage tribes of the Haver Prairie, so his skills in defensive operations were unparalleled.
So, Otto entrusted the defense of the territory to Helmut and departed from the Kingdom of Lota.
A few days later.
Otto arrived with the Lotan army at the area occupied by Kairos.
Coincidentally, the area occupied by Kairos bordered the former Baltin Kingdom, making it easy for them to invade the Kingdom of Loredin.
‘It's very peaceful and the people are happy.'
Just by glancing at the occupied territory, Otto noticed how well Kairos had managed to win over the people.
The cheerful faces of the people he passed were a testament to the region's stability.
Even though the faction led by Kairos was one of the rebel groups.
“We greet you, Your Majesty.”
“We greet you, Your Majesty.”
“We greet you, Your Majesty.”
As Otto entered the military camp, the knights and magic swordmen of the Kingdom of Lota all knelt down and paid their respects.
*Chatter*
The soldiers under Kairos's command, watching the scene, were puzzled by the situation.
Either way.
"Ugh. Smells like alcohol."
Otto frowned in front of the large tent at the center of the military camp.
The smell of alcohol wafted out from inside, indicating just how much of a drinking session was happening within.
‘Anyway.'
Otto shook his head and reluctantly opened the tent.
"Has Pansy arrived?"
Kairos was drinking as usual.
Kairos' approach was to drink only when there was nothing else to do, and when the time came, he would use mana to rid himself of alcohol and become alert.
At first glance, it would appear that he was a 24/7 drunkard, but when the time came to do something, he would move as if he had never been out drinking.
Thanks to this, his subordinates feel like they're on the brink of death.
“I thought you said you were going to leave this place in my care.”
“Oh, that.”
Otto replied with a grin.
“I have someone to introduce you to.”
“Huh?”
“I've brought someone who's been dying to meet you.”
As Otto spoke, he subtly made way for the newcomer.
*Thump* *Thump*
The exact moment Ariel walked into Kairos' tent.
*Scramble* *Whoosh*
Kairos leapt up like lightning and began to run away.
It was like a conditioned reflex.
And Ariel…
“If I catch you, I'll kill you!!!”
Ariel shouted in an angry, venomous, ferocious, and terrifying voice as she chased after Kairos.