The Martial Unity

Chapter 2332:  Personal Intervention

"However, I foresee that we are tending towards a victory," Prime Minister Edward placated them. "We have been winning over more allies to our side as our threats of destruction to Kandrian allies are too great to be ignored more often than not. At the rate of success that we are going, I foresee that it is more likely than not that we will end up obtaining the numerical advantage that we require."

He couldn't be certain, of course.

He didn't have the power of precognition, unlike their enemy.

"However, their window of opportunity to turn the tide of the war is changing," he continued. "In the past three months since the Kandria-Sekigahara Battle ended, we have picked all the low-hanging fruits among the allies. Allies that, for one reason or another, we had high confidence in being able to successfully convince to our side. Now, the fewer allies who remain undecided, the fewer opportunities they have to turn the tide around and prevent themselves from going down this route." Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

This seemed to placate the Knights of Sage a bit.

"Do not give them the opportunity to turn the tides around, Edward," a man sitting beside Sage Knight Vermillion ordered. "We must destroy the Kandrian Empire once and for all this time. It cannot be allowed to remain standing, for its limitless potential for evolution makes it an existential to our mighty Britannia."

"Of course, Your Sagehood," Prime Minister Edward replied. "Rest assured that I, we, will emerge victorious this time. Even if I have to pry victory from them myself."

Knight Vermillion was not satisfied with empty platitudes, however.

"What do you foresee from the Kandrian Empire?" she asked. "And what is the best way to ensure that it unfolds in our favor?"

He fell into thought at her pertinent question. Yet, his answer was without hesitation.

"The Shionel Confederation, Your Sagehood," Prime Minister Edward answered. "It is the most important avenue in the war for allies. It also happens to be the avenue where Rael has the greatest probability of victory. If he is able to obtain a victory in this nation, he will be able to successfully turn the tides. However, should he fail, he will lose the final chance to turn the tides in the war for allies, and our victory will be all but secured."

The air tingled under the weight of the man's words.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Each of them could sense the consequences that were at stake.

Sage Knight Vermillion was not pleased by some of his revelations.

"…Why do you say that the Kandrian Empire has the greatest chance of success with this highly important juncture?"

"It is because the Dawnbringer has a long history of collusion and partnership with Guildmaster Bradt, the current head of state and head of government, Your Sagehood," Prime Minister Edward patiently explained the state of affairs to them. "Thus, it is no wonder that Emperor Rael has sent the Void Prince to serve as an ambassador for the Shionel Confederation, armed with measures that make launching an attack on him futile."

He briefly explained the artificial intel leak regarding the transportation device and the three Sages protecting him.

"…Clever," Sage Knight Vermillion muttered with contempt. "It is just like that spineless wimp Rael to do something like that. In other words, not only can we not kill the Void Prince, but we must watch him leverage his great relationship with the Shionel guildmaster and form an alliance with them?"

The fury in her voice returned.

"Rest assured that I will not allow that to happen," Prime Minister Edward declared with steely determination. "How do you intend to stop the Dawnbringer from succeeding with the Shionel Confederation then? Not only does he have a great relationship with the Shionel Confederation, but he is also an excellent diplomat from what I have heard."

"He is," Prime Minister Edward admitted. "So much so that if we deploy even the best of our diplomats, we will most likely not be able to overcome the Dawnbringer in this diplomatic battle."

This alarmed the five Martial Sages.

"…Are you informing us that we will lose?" Sage Knight Vermillion bristled with fury.

"No," Prime Minister Edward's tone grew stronger. "As I told you before, we will win. Even if I have to pry victory out of their hands by myself."

Their eyes widened as they understood the meaning of his words.

"I will personally go to the Shionel Confederation." His eyes flared with powerful will. "The Dawnbringer is an extraordinarily gifted individual when it comes to his immense intellect. However, the fact of the matter is that he is neither his father's equal nor mine in the domain of politics and diplomacy. The only reason he has a better chance of succeeding than the Emperor of Harmony is because of his great working relationship and history with the guildmaster. However…"

His eyes narrowed. "That won't be enough to overcome me. I will personally head to the Shionel Confederation as the representative of the East Panamic Treaty Alliance and win over the guildmaster."

The Sages stared at him with a hint of uncertainty. They had no doubt in his ability to succeed.

There was a reason that the Transcendent Emperor had assigned him as the head of, well, everything.

"You may succumb to an assassination," Knight Vermillion warned him. "We cannot afford to lose you, certainly not at this point in time."

A mischievous smile emerged on his face. "Then, we can arrange for the protection of the Knights of Sage on my person. However, I am fairly confident that the Emperor of Harmony will not assassinate me as much as he undoubtedly wants to."

Knight Vermillion frowned. "I do not understand the source of your confidence."

His smile simply widened. "Well, let's just say that I played my cards right."

The truth of the matter was that if the Prime Minister died, the alliance would be deprived of powerful and intelligent leadership.

The Republic of Gorteau was nervous and trigger-happy.

The Sekigahara Confederate was bloodlusted and furious.

The Britannian Empire longed to dominate the Kandrian Empire with their numerical advantage.

The only person holding back these people from running over to the Kandrian Empire and waging an all-out destructive war was Prime Minister Edward himself.

He was the only person with enough influence in the Britannian Empire and enough dominance in the alliance to pacify them and prevent them from waging a mutually destructive war.

In other words, if he died, the Kandrian Empire would be hit with a mutually destructive war on its front porch that would destroy everything.

Emperor Rael did not want that.

He needed Prime Minister Edward in control so that the war for allies could continue and the Kandrian Empire could potentially obtain victory without losing ninety-percent of its Martial Artists. He wanted a bloodless victory.

Prime Minister Edward knew that; thus, he had created the alliance as a life insurance. The moment the alliance was born, the Emperor of Harmony could no longer kill him. In fact, he was even willing to protect the prime minister, at least until the war was over. In this manner, Prime Minister Edward secured his life against an assassination attempt.

This was the power of the sole man the Emperor of Harmony acknowledged as his equal.

-