第１８５１堀：いつものように敵の狙いを利用する (Part2)
Yayui, Hovis, and Orelia seem to grasp my intent, their voices rising in unison.
"Yuki-sama certainly has a penchant for this style of warfare," Prol remarks, her pen scratching rhythmically as she processes documents.
"You said it," I reply. "If the enemy wants to come and take a look, we don't just fortify our defenses—we welcome them in, only to bind them with invisible constraints."
"Well, between the high-ranking officers already embedded within and the small-fry gathering scraps of intelligence from the outside, which do you suppose takes priority?"
"That would be the ones at the top, obviously."
"Exactly. We’ll limit the information we feed them, of course, and curate it to suit our own ends. And while we’re at it, we’ll make sure they leave some intelligence behind for us. I’ve asked Vilia and her group to gather intel, but we must be doing our own legwork here as well. Besides, their activities are strictly clandestine; we’re the ones who need to handle the main stage."
Indeed, Vilia and her companions are out there as adventurers primarily to gather intelligence on the northern nations, to act as a bridge, and to monitor the movements of the Clearstream Church from the outside.
Naturally, I would prefer they dig deeper if possible, but the risk of suspicion is too high right now. I intend for them to maintain a standard profile, which means obtaining high-level intelligence will likely take time.
"I understand your reasoning, Yuki-sama, but execution requires the consent of not only the Ohe Kingdom but the Giadana Kingdom as well. More importantly, Ohe would be branded with the stigma of having been subjugated. How do you intend to address that? Under normal circumstances, no nation would ever agree to such a thing."
Prol is right. Ordinarily, the idea of pretending to be conquered is unthinkable. It carries the risk of the damage spiraling out of control, and to accept an enemy when you haven't even been defeated—it’s a strategy that borders on madness.
"That, of course, will be a matter of persuasion. Ohe needs time for the South to consolidate its strength. I plan to leverage the promise of minimizing their losses and thinning out the northern enemy forces. Their pride may be a hurdle, but if the upper echelons of the Clearstream Church—the ones who instigated this mess—are the ones coming, I think we can make it work."
"Ah, as sacrificial lambs, then?"
"I wouldn't go that far. Still, if we want to extract their true objectives, we’ll need them to be... cooperative."
What methods are required to ensure that cooperation will depend entirely on how those Clearstream Church members behave.
"Haha... I certainly hope they choose to be cooperative before we’re forced to take action."
"Indeed. Less effort is always better. But as you said, Prol, persuasion comes first. I’ll start by speaking with the King of Ohe. Contact Kagura for me."
"Understood. I shall arrange the meeting."
"Now, while that’s being set up, I suppose I should draft the plan into a formal document."
There is a world of difference in credibility between a verbal proposal and a detailed document backed by concrete data. Honestly, it strikes me time and again: no matter which world you’re in, the foundation is always the same tedious preparation. Perhaps it’s a testament to my own skills, or perhaps the core of governance is universal.
Well, if my common sense still holds weight here, I suppose I can’t complain.
"Oh, Yuki-sama! It seems Vilia-sama and the others have entered the city walls of the Giadana Kingdom’s capital and arrived at the Clear Church."
Oh? They’ve already reached the church inside the walls? Given that group, I half-expected them to stumble into some sort of trouble, but it seems they’re capable of navigating those pitfalls as well. The Holy Sword users like Nina are well-accustomed to such things, after all.
"Turn up the volume. You’re recording this, right?"
"Yes, there are no issues."
"Good. Everyone, continue your work while we listen."
"Understood."
I would love to give the broadcast my undivided attention, but that is the burden of standing at the head of an organization. I imagine Seraria is watching the situation closely, as are Stasia in the North and Tori in the South.
I keep my ears pricked for any sign of a distress signal while I begin the work of drafting the documents for the negotiations.
Now then, what are the essential elements I need to include...?
It’s a case of not turning away those who come knocking. In exchange, I’ll just have to make sure they leave some information behind. That’s how it goes.