Dungeon Defense

“I understand you two have a time of mourning. So I'll play the bad guy myself. ”

Elizabeth breaks her silence and opens her mouth.

“The erl is dead. We must deal with a living enemy on behalf of the dead. Genoa or La Spezia? We need to know exactly which way the Empire army is coming. ”

“Hmm.”

Grief was mourning and the meeting was a meeting. I couldn't just be sad. Moreover, Elizabeth indirectly expressed her condolences by calling him 'The Marquis' ….

“The president is right. But I think differently. They can choose whether to come to Zenova or to go to Las Spezia at any time. In other words, it's useless to have a strategy based on what the Imperial Army thinks. ”

“ ……. ”

“Where must we protect? So we're going to start with a strategy. ”

It was very common sense and correct. Duke Milan nods at your side.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, smiled. It's a joke. I'm not laughing at you here, but rather feeling like you're laughing at yourself. The Grand Duke had no idea which part of the conversation they just had was going to make him laugh.

Laughter was a moment. Elizabeth continues to talk naturally.

“That's a good point. Where do you think the Grand Duke is important? ”

“Genoa is a strategic node that must be defended. It's a big city, it's a naval base, and above all, it's wealthy. It's nothing compared to La Spezia. ”

The Grand Duke said strongly with confidence.

“Even if LaSpezia falls, it won't have a big impact on the world. But Genova is different. It is the most popular metropolis in the country. If you go to Parma and then to Genoa, the people of the kingdom will be terrified. ”

“I feel differently about this old age. ”

Duke Milan argues.

“Genoa has a great and solid wall. We can hold out for over a year even if the enemy comes at us. But La Spezia is different. Citizens are more likely to cause a rebellion. If you don't deploy enough troops, you'll be giving gifts to the Empire to the city. ”

“Duke, that's enough troops. ”

The Grand Duke sighs a little.

“With my troops, it's difficult to defend two cities at once. ”

“Mmmm.”

The two nobles are embarrassed.

Are you sure you want to keep one metropolitan city safe or two metropolitan cities somewhat dangerous……. Contrary to the last time, the two nobles turned to the opposite side. The Duke has now claimed a safe route, and the Duke is headed for a dangerous route.

This is because the Grand Duke of Florence was devastated by the Empire army. The Grand Duke fully understands the workmanship of the enemy army. I don't want to take any chances. That was the Duke's honest heart.

“It's a simple matter. ”

“Have you come up with a good solution, President? ”

Elizabeth nods.

“We can turn LaSpezia into a field with our own hands before the Empire comes." ”

“Well……. ”

What did she just say? The moment the Grand Duke of Florence questioned that question, Elizabeth made it clear once again.

“Rapidly deploy troops to La Spezia, tear down the walls and wipe out the villagers. Purge the Resistance by example. I'd rather destroy it than hand it over to the Empire. ”

“What... are you... crazy right now! ”

The Grand Duke looks at Elizabeth in horror. Elizabeth's eyes do not waver. The Grand Duke's fury rises from within his heart in a flash.

“We have no right to destroy LaSpezia! ”

“Earl Roddy, the lord, has been appointed a traitor. Exterminating reversal is a very natural procedure, isn't it? ”

“It's easy for you to say that you're not Sardinian, President. ”

The Duke of Milan did not hide his unpleasant appearance.

“Now that you're one, you're willing to take on the Empire again? I don't think that's a sane thing to say. ”

“Strategic action required. ”

Elizabeth reacts calmly.

“We cannot defend Genova and La Spezia at the same time. If you hand over LaSpezia completely, you will only be able to fatten the enemy. Then we have a clear choice. Destroying La Spezia. ”

“ ……. ”

The Grand Duke's mouth trembled.

The Grand Duke desperately endured his anger and said again.

“Blessed be the Republic of Habsburg. Because someone like you is in charge. ”

“ ……. ”

“How does it feel to have tens of thousands of lives stranded here in your backroom without needing to be strategic? How are you feeling, Mr. President? Power is sweet.”

The Grand Duke slaps the table with his right hand. In the end, the Duke could not suppress all his anger.

“As General of the Kingdom of Sardinia, I command you! Any more deliberate killing or endangering the national identity of an Asian nation cannot be justified under any dawn! ”

“ ……. ”

“You need to pay special attention. If you take this lightly because you are not a citizen of the President-I will warn you with honor and honor. This is our land. ”

The unpleasant silence subsides.

Elizabeth mutters in an atmosphere that seems like something big is about to happen right away.

“Indeed. Beautiful. ”

It was a reaction that did not fit the situation. The Grand Duke frowned.

“What do you mean, President? ”

“Literally. I didn't realize how beautiful it is to look at someone who keeps their beliefs. I see. Was it like this.... ”

“ ……? ”

I couldn't answer the question. The duc looks at the duc and shrugs, saying he doesn't know what he's talking about. I just didn't feel like I was making fun of him or making fun of him. So it was even more surprising.

Elizabeth smiles faintly.

“My expectations are this: The Imperial Army is headed for La Spezia. The Imperial Army is two days slow to move in Parma. You've already contacted the citizens of LaSpezia in those two days to prepare for the rebellion. ”

“Two days?"

“It was two days ago that I made my move in Venice. However, the Imperial Army did not move immediately. You have to decide if the time is too late for tricks. ”

The Grand Duke of Florence narrows his eyes.

“Maybe it's too late for a march? ”

“Very unlikely. The Empire knew in advance that we would move. You must be prepared to march at any moment. ”

“ ……. ”

The Grand Duke looks back at the duc. Both nobles were confused. What makes President Elizabeth so confident? In their eyes, the president shined too hastily.

“The problem is that LaSpezia has fallen. Imperial forces do not march on Xenova. ”

“So where are we headed? ”

“Florence. Your territory, Grand Duke. ”

“ ……! ”

The Grand Duke opened his eyes wide.

“No way. If the enemy lands in Florence, you will expose your rear to me. The reason to take such a risk.... ”

“Florence is your home. Either way, you will have no choice but to leave Genoa and pursue the Empire army. ”

“ ……. ”

“From a safe castle to a treacherous plain. That is the aim of the Empire. ”

Elizabeth grins.

The Duke and the duc were inadvertently distracted by her gaze. Ever since I was a child, I was rumored to be the best beauty on the continent. The two nobles were stunned for a moment like an ambushed soldier in a march.

“Isn't this fun? Grand Duke. The Empire is forcing you to do both. ”

“Quantum selection, you mean? ”

“Ah. Will you protect the citizens of La Spezia? Or will you defend the people of Florence? Surely you must choose between the two. It will reveal what kind of man you are... Hehe. It's a nasty hobby. ”

Elizabeth smiles.

It was a clear smile without a speck of dust, but the Grand Duke felt ominous. The laughter that the President had made earlier, the smile that was on his face, was not all directed at the person sitting here in the conference room.

“…… That's a funny story. For this to work, the Imperial Army must act as you said it would. Why are you judging the future of the enemy? ”

“Grand Duke. I know the Empire well. ”

Elizabeth still says without smiling.

“This is a typical imperial technique. Use your opponent's beliefs as bait and push in both options. ”

“…… abstract. We can't accept it on any of these grounds. Running a military based on that is a language cluster. ”

“Oh, I see. abstract.”

Elizabeth clutches her chin with one hand. She was clearly enjoying herself.

“As the Grand Duke has said, I am just a mercenary from a foreign country. The mercenaries I hired are paid in full by the royal family of Sardinia. If you order me to be deputy general, I'll have no choice but to follow you. ”

“ ……. ”

Elizabeth smiles and stares at the Grand Duke.

“How about this? You and I make a bet. ”

“A bet?”

“Garrison in Genoa as you have determined. However, I will remain in Florence just in case. If the Empire attacks Genoa, I will turn around immediately. And I will never contest your operation again. ”

The Grand Duke confronted Elizabeth without avoiding her gaze.

“What if there is an empire left, as you said? ”

“It's your victory. The Grand Duke must take his opinions seriously in his future operations. ”

“Is there anything else you'd like to ask? ”

“That's it.”

The Grand Duke and the President looked at each other for a while.

“…… good. I accept the bet.”

“Grand Duke!”

Duke Milan gives you a hard time.

“A private bet must not be placed in the decision of the great nation! ”

“It's all right, Duke. This bet benefits the kingdom no matter who wins. ”

The Grand Duke of Florence had his gaze fixed on Elizabeth's face.

“If I win, the president's army can flank the Empire from both sides by pushing from the south. The same is true of my defeat. You will attack the Empire simultaneously from the north and south. Isn't that right, President? ”

Elizabeth grins instead of returning the answer.

Duke Milan still warns you in a worrying tone.

“But there is a risk of being individualized for wrongdoing. ”

“We will be careful enough. I will use the harbor with the fleet. ”

“Huh. If the Grand Duke's will is solid, I won't stop him..." ”

Elizabeth pounds the table with her fist twice.

“It's decided. I have to stay here as soon as possible, so I'll be going." ”

“…… take a look. ”

Elizabeth fades from the crystal ball's shining membrane, then disappears. The Duke of Milan soon faded away.

The Grand Duke of Florence, who was left alone in the conference room, clenched his fist. Quantum selection was the logic of typical politicians. I had no choice but to use it as a rhetoric to justify my choice.

The Grand Duke of Florence was convinced in his mind. It's an illusion. I'll prove it...

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