第９２８堀：戦力の正体 (Part1)
Chapter 928: The True Nature of Their Military Might
Side: Seraria
“...Honestly, the situation is far more dire than I had imagined.”
“I agree.”
I muttered those words, and my husband, Yuki, offered a nod in response. We had just finished a meeting with the members of the Gusdo Kingdom and were now discussing our future course of action.
“We heard the details directly from them, but as it turns out, they had almost no information to begin with.”
“Well, the country was practically finished already, so that’s to be expected.”
“It just goes to show how much power the Zurable Great Empire truly wields. But for us, it’s nothing more than a massive nuisance.”
Taizo said this while writing “Future Policies and Countermeasures” on the whiteboard, then turned back to us.
“Now, I would like to confirm Weed’s policy. Queen Seraria, as you declared during the discussion with the Gusdo Kingdom earlier, there is no option to retreat, correct?”
“That’s right. This place is our bridgehead to the New Continent. We cannot afford to lose it. Besides, there’s no guarantee the Zurable Great Empire won’t cross the sea to attack us. Considering that, this Aurelia Port is an effective defensive line.”
“I see. Then, the absolute defense of Aurelia Port is non-negotiable.”
With a sharp squeak of his pen, he wrote down *Absolute Defense of Aurelia*.
It’s only natural. If we lose this port, we lose our foothold on this continent.
Moreover...
“It’s a shame those princesses were of absolutely no use in battle, but the only silver lining is that it allowed us to step in and seize the initiative.”
Truly, that was the only benefit. Everything else was nothing but a net negative.
“Indeed. This discussion confirmed that the remnants of the Gusdo Kingdom possess almost no military strength, and it is fortunate that we, Weed, can now lead the tactical operations. We won’t be forced into unreasonable demands under the guise of the Gusdo Kingdom’s requests. That said, since we advanced into this continent by taking them under our wing, we will need to show them the appropriate level of consideration.”
“Well, that’s something we’ll have to consider eventually, but not right this second. Instead, let’s be glad we established diplomatic relations with the Gusdo Kingdom. It’s far better than trying to build connections from scratch. Or rather, I have to think that way just to keep my sanity.”
“Agreed. Then, thinking positively, here is what I can propose...”
Taizo turned back to the whiteboard, jotted down several bullet points, and turned around once finished.
“The content isn’t much different from our previous assumptions, but basically, we need to focus on intelligence gathering through a small, elite force. We also need to establish some sort of contact with the upper echelons of the Zurable Great Empire to hold a discussion. Even if we end up fighting, it’s important to make them recognize that they are facing Weed and the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. If things go well...”
“There’s a possibility of a ceasefire, then. But, Taizo-san, are we sure we should be bringing up the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance?”
“That is a decision for you and Yuki-kun, but since we originally came here at the request of Saisifo, we could potentially borrow troops from various countries as a request for cooperation from alliance members. Well, the New Continent side is exhausted, but the countries in the Rogari and If continents have seen almost no war lately, so the value of their standing armies is often called into question. If we leverage that...”
“So, we could gather a significant number of soldiers. However...”
I stepped up to the whiteboard and wrote: *Zurable Great Empire Military Capabilities*.
“The problem is that the enemy possesses genuine aerial combat power. Even the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance would struggle if we only rely on traditional infantry formations. And yet, Weed doesn’t have the luxury of equipping our entire force with anti-air weaponry.”
“That is the issue. Furthermore, most soldiers are ignorant of firearms. It will be a struggle just to change their mindset, let alone train them in the use of guns...”
“It’s not very realistic. Plus, Weed would have to be the primary supplier of those weapons, and we don’t have the capacity for that either.”
Besides, if we were to carelessly lend such powerful weapons to our allies, it’s obvious that it would lead to a whole new set of problems.
In short, we should consider it difficult to use the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance as our main force in this war against the Zurable Great Empire.
Unless we can secure air superiority, an army moving on the ground is nothing but a target.
As Taizo said, if we requested it, they would likely be happy to send troops to inject some excitement into their recent peaceful lives, but if those troops were wiped out in an instant, it would lead to a decline in trust toward Weed.
Above all, supplying the logistics to feed all those borrowed troops is another problem.
We simply don’t have the budget.
As I was thinking this, Taiki spoke up.
“Ah, but we did defeat tens of thousands of enemy troops within the dungeon-controlled territory this time, so didn’t we get a fair amount of DP?”
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t inside the dungeon, so the recovery rate is quite low. And if you’re asking if it’s enough to cover the logistics for the firearms and armies we’re considering, the answer is a hard no. Eris was practically fainting just from the last battle alone.”
Eris had indeed turned pale looking at the list of supplies consumed in the recent battle.
Well, I’m certain I would have reacted the same way if I were in the accounting department.
“If there’s a limit to supply capabilities, then the only solution is a strike on the Zurable Great Empire using a small, elite force. Decapitate the enemy leadership. That is the only strategy Weed can realistically adopt.”
Taizo said this while adding *Assassination of Enemy Leadership by Small Elite Force* with his pen. Even so, he wore a troubled expression.
“However, this strategy is only effective under the prerequisite that Weed’s individual combat power overwhelms that of the Zurable Great Empire. If we are even slightly evenly matched, we will be crushed by sheer numbers. We haven’t faced that before, but this time, we are dealing with a nation that possesses aerial combat power. A reckless charge could lead to the needless loss of our soldiers.”
“I understand that. That is exactly why we need to gather proper intelligence, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Fortunately, there are plenty of sources of information—the Zurable Great Empire’s officers, soldiers, and even their wyverns. I’ve taken a rough look at the information from the previous battle, and for now, there doesn’t seem to be anything that poses a significant threat.”
Taizo claimed that, fundamentally, we were safe, but the sharpness in his gaze remained unchanged.
“However, even the greatest heroes and warriors can be struck down in an instant if they let their guard down. Please, I beg you, do not be careless. Well, I suppose Yuki-kun already anticipates such troubles.”
“Well, I certainly don’t think we can always hold the advantage. Now, let’s move on to the intelligence gathering. Whether we’re going to decapitate the enemy leadership without letting our guard down or negotiate, accurate information on the enemy is essential. So, first, let’s look at the information on the Zurable Great Empire army that attacked Aurelia.”
As Yuki said this, he handed us the documents that Steve had brought.