第１８４１堀：避けられないことへの対応として (Part1)
Chapter 1841: Dealing with the Inevitable
Side: Dressa
"War, huh..."
Kagura and Mikos had returned, and I had joined the meeting to discuss our future plans. What I was told, however, was that while we might be able to get along with the Jeyaes Kingdom, a conflict with the northern factions seemed unavoidable.
"Dressa, you don't have to look so troubled. From what I’ve heard, the details haven't even been set in stone yet, have they?"
Labyris, sensing my mood, asked Yuki for more specifics. She generally stays stationed in Weed, but she’s always the one called out when things get dire. It’s only natural she’d want the full picture.
"Well, yeah. Baron Siana and the others are returning to the Giadana Kingdom, so we’ll get the details there. Our advance scouts should be reaching the Giadana capital around now, too."
"In this case, I wouldn't hold my breath for the scouts. There’s just too little time."
Seraria is right. Even if the scouts arrive, they’ll have, at most, a month to investigate. That’s barely enough time for a large team, let alone the two people we have currently operating in the field. I find it hard to believe that just two individuals could successfully infiltrate a country linked to the Clear Stream Church and uncover their true objectives.
"Still, looking at how they’re handling the envoys to the Jeyaes Kingdom in the south, it’s clear they want to make the south their enemy. It’s only a matter of time. Or, we could just storm the enemy’s headquarters ourselves, suppress them, and force a change in their policy..."
Yeah, even Seraria seems to realize how absurd that sounds; she’s wearing a very pained expression.
"That would be interesting, but it would turn into one hell of an adventure for us."
"It’s impossible for us to go. Dressa, do you think you could do it?"
"No way. And besides, I can’t. Who would run the navy?"
Why does the conversation always drift toward me? But it’s impossible. I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Suggesting I go on an adventure is just insulting. Besides, traveling through an underdeveloped country means we wouldn't have the full support of Weed. That means the baths and toilets would be bottom-tier. Honestly, the thought of traveling under those conditions...
It seems my refusal was a foregone conclusion.
"True. In that case, should we turn Kirika’s scouts into 'Heroes'?"
"I don't think it’s a bad idea, but are you really going to act on a whim?"
"I just want to keep every option on the table. Though, the idea of scouts performing like heroes is a bit of a surprise."
"I think we need to look up the definition of 'scout' again. Still, that might be exactly why they could penetrate so deep... but if that’s the case, wouldn't it be more convenient to send one of us instead of our subordinates?"
True. As Labyris says, it would be convenient if one of us could be on the ground. Waiting for our judgment on every little thing is a problem, and we might not have the luxury of time.
"It would be convenient. But we don't know what the situation is like in the north. If we sent someone, who knows how long it would take? It would be a long-term assignment. Even if we use a Doppel, the bulk of the activity would be over there. As Dressa said, juggling two jobs is brutal."
Exactly. I understand the need to use a Doppel body to go on an adventure—or rather, to move around the north—but there’s no telling how long that would last. We all have our primary responsibilities; trying to manage those while simultaneously acting as a saboteur in the north would be the definition of overwork.
"...The speed of information transmission isn't that different, so the only real benefit of one of us going is the ability to make immediate, on-the-spot decisions."
"Well, yeah. We are the top combat power in Weed, so we’re definitely the best suited for causing chaos, and the ability to make our own judgments is a plus. With the scouts, everything has to go through Kirika, which slows down the decision-making process."
True. If we were there, we could speak directly to Yuki or Seraria, but with just the scouts, they have to go through Kirika, which makes them sluggish. It’s a trade-off, but comparing the management of Weed to operations inside enemy territory makes it hard to weigh.
No, to be honest, sending someone capable of moving Weed’s politics and military to a place where success is uncertain is unthinkable. It shouldn't even be worth considering. Yuki and Seraria must know this, too. And yet, the fact that they’re agonizing over it means...
"Hey, Yuki, Seraria—you’re considering sending someone because something is bothering you, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah. We know too little about the enemy’s internal state. We’ve sent scouts, of course, but I want personnel there who can move immediately."
"Exactly. Right now, there is virtually no connection between the south and the north. If things continue like this, we might end up in a full-scale war without having gathered enough information or managed to conduct any sabotage. We do have the connection with Baron Siana and the others, but..."
"They have their own duties to their country and their people. It would be a relief to have members who can move freely."
I see. Indeed, if things go on like this, most of the north could become our enemy, and people who don't even understand why they’re fighting will end up getting crushed by us in Weed. It’s not about pity; if there’s a chance for persuasion—or even if persuasion is impossible—I want to act to avoid unnecessary conflict.
After all, this is war. It’s killing. If we kill them, resentment will remain. If we can do something before it reaches that point, before a fatal rift forms with the northern countries...
Otherwise, it will be difficult for the New Continent to interact with the northern countries in the future. It might even hinder our investigation into the magic depletion phenomenon that Weed is currently undertaking.
"I understand the situation. If one of us had a connection with the people in the north, it would certainly improve our future strategy and our ability to interact... but the question remains: who can go?"
As Jessica said, it comes down to who. It would be a long-term assignment. We could return using our Doppels, but the physical presence on the field would be limited to those individuals, making the difficulty level extremely high.
And that’s not even touching on what we would actually do. The goal is to establish contact with the leaders of the northern countries, bring them to our side—or at least to the side of the south—and deal with the Clear Stream Church.
It’s easy to say, but there isn't a single person among us who could pull that off. It requires not just martial prowess, but the political acumen to negotiate with the elite.