Thales' embarrassment seemed contagious.
At least, the air in Ballard Room froze for a while.
Exactly the time the king's eyes rested on him.
"So that's all."
Fortunately, King Kessel moved his gaze away and spoke again, "I'm not sure.
"Solder?"
The air began to flow again.
Thales heaved a sigh of relief and avoided the others' gazes.
Thankfully, they did not pursue the matter.
Perhaps, he shouldn't have said so much about Little Rascal?
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Military Advisor, Solder Ryder bowed and replied.
"All the Northland military intelligence we need is here."
In the dimly lit room, the Imperial Conference resumed its normal working atmosphere.
Prime Minister Cullen shook his head thoughtfully. Military Advisor Solder looked solemn. Viscount Kenney, who was in charge of trade, and Kirkirk Mann, the Chief of Finance, were whispering something.
The Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen, continued to daydream. Archdeacon Stylia Nydis did not say a word but continued to listen intently.
Thales maintained the gentle smile and elegant sitting posture of the Duke of Star Lake, low-key and dignified.
Only the king's figure remained unmoved, more stable than a certain Everlasting Lamp behind him.
"Gilbert?"
The Iron Hand King's eyes flickered faintly as he swept his gaze over the map and chess pieces on the table.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister had expected this. He calmly raised his glasses.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gilbert flipped open his notebook again.
"Thanks to the generous cooperation of my colleagues in the Secret Intelligence Department, and thanks to Lord Solder and the Military Affairs Department sharing the battle reports, the Foreign Affairs Department has a new assessment of the post-war situation after understanding all the details."
He cleared his throat.
"The overall conclusion is: Although we won, but …"
There was a glint in the Cunning Fox of Constellation's eyes.
"Eckstedt was by no means the winner."
Thales' gaze shifted.
"First of all, without the other two cities' attrition and restraint, Dragon Clouds City would not have been able to take down Fort Liberté so easily."
Gilbert pointed to the black and white chess pieces on the long table.
"But now, fame and profit, city and land, all the good things have been taken by Heroic Spirit Palace.
"Instead, the City of Faraway Prayers and Defense City suffered a crushing defeat and were ridiculed."
Realization dawned on the participants' faces.
"And don't forget the Archduchess' 'peace decree'," Solder added coldly.
"As well as her magnanimous' forgiveness' towards the prisoners of war. In contrast, Roknee and Lecco's family suffered heavy losses and had no harvest …"
Thales thought of the resolute Archduke Roknee and the old but firm Archduke Lecco, and felt uneasy.
"And the Troubled Citizens."
Gilbert nodded and added something to his notes.
"The Burning Blood Lady received help from the troubled citizens of Fort Liberté in this battle. She even helped them after the battle as a form of repayment. Don't forget, as fellow Northlanders, the City of Faraway Prayers has been exercising oppressive rule over the troubled citizens in their territory."
Gilbert looked up.
"Everyone, in summary, we have reason to believe that …" Constellation's Cunning Fox narrowed his eyes behind his spectacles.
"After this battle, Dragon Clouds City will inevitably drift further and further away from Dragon Blood Gang, which is led by the City of Faraway Prayers, be it in terms of interests, ideals, reputation, or stance."
When he heard the unfamiliar form of address, the king's eyebrows twitched.
"The Dragonblood Society?"
Thales felt his heart clench.
Dragon blood.
This was definitely not his favorite phrase.
Gilbert nodded in the face of his colleagues' doubts.
"Over the past two months, King Chapman has been wiping out Black Sand Region. He has been merciless in eliminating those who oppose him."
"Correspondingly, the oppositionists in Black Sand Region shouted the slogan, 'Do not forget the Great Dragon's Blood, and remember the late king's kindness.'
The blood of a giant dragon, the kindness of the previous king.
Thales recalled the Born King's voice and smile, and for a moment, he had mixed feelings.
"They said that as long as you stand up against King Chapman, you will be a true Northlander, and a member of Dragon Blood who cherishes brotherhood."
Gilbert said,
"So, there's no need to mention Dragon Clouds City. The City of Faraway Prayers and Defense City, who have a clear stand, are also included in this group. They are known by the people of Eckstedt as the Dragon's Blood Party, which is the opposite of King Chapman's Black Sand Party."
The king snorted softly, his emotions indiscernible.
The Dragonblood Faction opposed the king, cherished the former king, and cherished the brotherhood …
Thales sighed internally.
The person who came up with this slogan and name …
Viscount Kenney, who had traveled through many countries and was knowledgeable, voiced the prince's thoughts in a timely manner.
"Hah, the hint in this is really vicious."
"Rumors and names have power. You must know that public opinion can melt gold." Prime Minister Cullen sighed and clicked his tongue.
"But why do I feel that this is the work of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department?"
He looked at the scar-faced man.
The envoy from the Secret Intelligence Department bowed respectfully.
"Prime Minister, you have overestimated us. The public opinion in Northland is turbulent, and it is not something that the Secret Intelligence Department can control."
But he immediately smiled, and the scar on his face twisted.
"But it is true that when the voices gradually rose, I cannot say that our people did not play a corresponding role."
Duke Cullen revealed a strange expression.
'Alright.'
Looking at the people from the Secret Intelligence Department, Thales raised his eyebrows.
'Chapman Lampard is probably not fated to have a good reputation in this life.'
"So, Dragon Clouds City is no longer welcomed by the Dragon's Blood Party — no matter how I put it, it sounds strange — this means that the Walton Family will join Lampard's side?"
Viscount Kenney returned to the main topic.
"Even if their hatred is as deep as the sea?"
Gilbert shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
"After careful analysis, the Department of Foreign Affairs believes that Dragon Clouds City is likely to break free from the struggle against the king. It is not favored by the Dragon's Blood Party, nor is it friendly with Black Sand Party. Instead, like Beacon Illumination City, it will remain neutral."
Military Advisor Solder snorted softly.
"Then they won't be able to please either side, and will be in a disadvantageous position."
Gilbert first nodded, then shook his head.
"But they will also be outside the storm, and have the right to observe from the sidelines.
"With Dragon Clouds City's size and status, coupled with the archdukes' natural contempt for female rulers, Heroic Spirit Palace might even be able to benefit from it.
"What is happening in our northern neighbor will no longer be the confrontation between Black Sand Party and Dragon's Blood Party for the past six years."
Thales listened to his teacher's analysis and felt relieved.
Even though all the nobles in Dragon Clouds City disliked King Chapman, and Saroma and Count Lisban had witnessed the Night of Dragon's Blood with their own eyes, and their hatred was hard to resolve.
But fortunately, Heroic Spirit Palace did not act rashly because of this.
They chose the path that was most suitable for them.
Viscount Kenney pondered and said,
"In other words, after this battle, Eckstedt will be even more chaotic? There will always be at least three parties involved in any issue? "
"For now, that is indeed the case," Gilbert said.
"Very good," Kirkirk Mann's eyes lit up.
"A triangular chair is more stable than a two-wheeled cart."
Lord Krapen, who had been daydreaming, snapped out of his daze and exhaled.
"Finally, the damned Northlanders have their day."
The atmosphere in the Imperial Conference improved greatly, and the ministers were in high spirits.
But the king remained motionless.
Until Gilbert shook his head and poured a bucket of cold water on everyone's spirits.
"But we can't be too optimistic.
"More chaos means that conflicts will intensify, and the struggle will intensify."
The former Foreign Affairs Minister's eyes showed wariness.
"It means further progress towards the end."
Prime Minister Cullen was deep in thought.
"The end?"
Gilbert nodded.
"Two hundred years ago, Eckstedt faced the 'Mourning Calamity': Tain rebelled, Prestige Orchid changed hands, and thus entered the cruel 'Century of the Last Day'.
"In that century, we, Constellation, fought against the Great Dragon. From 'Conqueror of the North' Erica to 'Sailor' John, four generations of kings, we were not weaker than our neighbors."
Listening to Constellation's glorious past, the ministers were in awe.
"In contrast, the Kingdom of the Dragon became more divided and weaker. During the King Selection, five dukes fought, and the situation was tragic. Four died, and one was crippled.
"The darkness and chaos became worse."
Thales thought of King Chapman's old sword, which he never left, and clenched his fists.
But Gilbert's tone changed, and he was filled with fear.
"But it was precisely the chaos and disorder that reached its peak that finally prompted 'Steel Breaker' to be crowned, and Dragon Clouds to ascend to the throne.
"Starting the Walton Family's monopoly on the throne for three generations.
"The Archdukes of Ten Lands became one again.
"Bringing the Kingdom of the Dragon back to its peak, and dominating the Western Peninsula again."
No one at the long table spoke.
The shadow of the Bloody Year shrouded everyone's hearts.
Gilbert's words were sincere and earnest.
"History has proven that Eckstedt is not Camus Union, much less Thorn Land. They will not be divided forever.
"And a friend once told me, 'Never underestimate the Northlanders' courage. '"
At that moment, Thales felt as if he had returned to Dragon Clouds City. All sorts of Northlanders flashed before his eyes.
King Nuven, the dead face, Administrator Mirk, Kaslan, Chapman Lampard, Viscount Kentvida, the Fire Knight, the long-haired Roknee, the Bowl Cut, the Red Witch, the veteran Gleeward, the tailor, the Raven of Death, the annoying Ian …
But he suddenly thought of something.
Little Rascal, and Quick Rope.
They were Northlanders as well.
"Well said," Military Advisor Solder Ryder raised his voice and glanced at the ministers who were previously celebrating Eckstedt's decline.
"And we have no time to waste."
His tone was firm and brooked no rebuttal.
Thales noticed that the Chief of Finance, Kirkirk Mann, curled up the corners of his mouth in disapproval.
But at that moment …
"Gilbert."
King Kessel's voice suddenly rang out, and it was rather decisive.
"You will be reinstated immediately. The Foreign Affairs Department is yours — even though it has always been yours."
The king's gaze swept across the crowd.
"I guess, whether it's Eckstedt or Constellation, no one will raise any objections this time?"
The ministers at the Imperial Conference lowered their gazes. No one spoke.
"The king's orders shall be obeyed," Prime Minister Cullen replied gently.
This sentence seemed to be a signal. The former Foreign Affairs Minister — to be precise, the current Foreign Affairs Minister, Honorary Earl Gilbert Caso was silent for a moment, then nodded respectfully.
"I will do my best."
Thales quietly savored the undercurrents in this question and answer.
The king nodded and turned to another person.
"Solder, I heard you have something to say?"
The military advisor bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Thales leaned back in his chair.
After learning about the outcome of the war in the northwest, his mood improved significantly. Even the pressure that had enveloped him when he entered the palace had quietly dissipated.
Now, all he had to do was quietly sit in on the meeting, and then face the consequences of last night.
He understood his role.
Solder flipped open the document in his hand and cleared his throat.
"Although the development of the war was somewhat unexpected, the conclusions of the Department of Military Affairs have remained basically unchanged over the past few months.
"The war between Eckstedt and the Alliance of Freedom may be small, but it has far-reaching implications."
This' soldier 'stretched out his palm and gestured on the map.
"City walls, barricades, fortifications, catapults, Eternal Oil, military crossbows, Mystic Guns, military intelligence crows and hunting falcons, as well as the refined Crystal Drop weapons specially assigned to elite troops. These things have played an irreplaceable role, even more so than before."
Solder paused for a moment, his expression serious.
"War. Gentlemen, war.
"War in this era is no longer the same."
Chief of Finance Kirkirk Mann, who sat opposite him, waved his hand unabashedly and looked impatient.
"Not again."
Solder's expression tensed.
But he suppressed his displeasure and said patiently,
"War's demands on logistics are getting higher and the reliance on it is also getting heavier."
The military advisor gestured at the locations of several major battles on the map.
"Battle examples from the frontlines tell us that the Northlanders' frontal combat power is still unparalleled, but …"
Solder's tone became urgent.
"Whether it's their strong physique, superb skills, or fanatical fighting spirit, the pride of the past cannot make up for hunger, broken armor, and broken soldiers."
His words caused many ministers to frown.
"And their bad example proves that not only are the supplies obtained from burning, killing, and looting not enough for the battlefield, it will also trigger unexpected resistance and hostility, leading to lax discipline and low morale."
Solder nodded in the king's direction.
"This is why the Alliance of Freedom is only a small place, but it can rely on the favorable terrain and the favorable human conditions to drag out the three great cities of Eckstedt to the point that they are unable to attend to one thing and lose sight of the other.
"That taught us a lot of lessons."
As soon as he finished, he scanned his surroundings, only to be greeted with an unexpected silence.
The ministers seemed to be exchanging glances with one another, which puzzled Thales.
This was his first time attending the Imperial Conference, and he did not understand the rules.
Finally, as the highest-ranking Prime Minister of the kingdom, Duke Cullen coughed softly and took up the topic that no one wanted to continue.
"For example?"
Solder retracted his dissatisfied gaze.
"We cannot repeat the mistakes of the Northlanders. We must pay attention to the maintenance of supplies and ensuring the efficiency of transportation.
"Let's start with the regular royal army."
There was another period of silence.
Even King Kessel did not say a word.
As if it was a terrible topic.
"Sir Solder, our logistical supplies for the regular royal army have always been our top priority," the Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen, who had been distracted for most of the meeting, suddenly snapped out of it and hurriedly distanced himself from the situation.
"Especially during wartime. Sunset can attest to that. At least we have never been short on provisions …"
Solder interrupted him.
"I have no intention of criticizing you, Lord Krapen."
But in the next moment, the military advisor turned to Thales.
"A few months ago, the regular royal army and the suzerains of Western Desert worked together to rescue His Highness Thales, venturing thousands of miles into the desert."
The Duke of Star Lake was startled.
"That was a valuable attempt. After the Desert War, we once again tested our ability to establish a unified supply line in a foreign land, and expanded the limits of expeditionary logistical transportation.
"The detailed report has been presented to you before the meeting."
Some of the ministers began to flip through the documents on the table, while others were unhurried, as if they had expected it.
But Solder raised his voice and resounded throughout Ballard Room.
"Facts have proven that the independent logistical capabilities of the regular army are quite outstanding: the shortest route specially designated by the Department of Military Affairs, the security of the rear defense line, and the ability to sweep back and forth in the desert have all effectively ensured the smooth flow of the supply line, and even supported the army all the way to the border of the Alliance of Freedom."
His tone changed.
"But in contrast, the local suzerains of Western Desert organized their own logistical support! They were procrastinating, inefficient, and messy! From Blessings Town to the desert frontline, countless greedy people changed hands along the way, and the transportation figures remain a mystery to this day.
"As a result, some illegal merchants smuggled Eternal Oil from Blade Fangs Camp into the hands of the desert orcs, until they were intercepted by the regular army!"
'Smuggling Eternal Oil …'
Thales gulped, took the document that Gilbert handed to him to read, and smiled in acknowledgment.
Solder Ryder flipped through one of the pages of the document in his hand with an ugly expression.
"Baron Williams even reported a vicious incident. His vanguard officers dealt with their spoils according to the rules after a battle against the orcs, but they were unreasonably obstructed and illegally embezzled by the local conscripts of the Western Desert!"
"The other party showed no respect for the royal family's dignity, and almost attacked their allies!"
Hearing the familiar story, Thales rubbed his nose.
"Yes, the Legendary Wing's report also said …"
Kirkirk Mann's nonchalant words were interspersed with the sound of flipping pages.
"With a patriotic and loyal heart, he endured the humiliation after the incident. Taking the overall situation into consideration, he had no choice but to dismiss a selfless and upright vanguard officer under his command in order to keep the peace and preserve the dignity of the dukes of Western Desert …"
At this point, the Chief of Finance's expression changed and he slammed the document down.
"You believe that idiot's nonsense?"
Thales raised his eyebrows.
Well, this was the evaluation that one of the Three Commanders of Constellation, who enjoyed boundless glory, received at the Imperial Conference.
"Hmm, judging from the wording …"
Gilbert coughed at the right time to cover up Lord Mann's sudden vulgarity.
"I believe that Williams must have changed his new scribe."
The Foreign Affairs Minister's teasing was just right and eased the atmosphere. Low laughter broke out among the officials at the Imperial Conference.
"Sir Solder, I understand what you mean."
The Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen — Thales somewhat understood his position at the Imperial Conference — smiled obsequiously and replied,
"What I'm trying to say is, in terms of logistics, since the beginning of the Desert War, we have been cooperating well with different merchant groups and trade guilds, from food and cloth to livestock and ironware. If there is a need, I will be happy to introduce them to the Military Affairs Division …"
Solder interrupted him again.
"No."
The military advisor said coldly,
"In a war involving tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, war logistics is a combination of precision and complexity, scale and longevity.
"No suzerain, town, castle, or merchant group is qualified to take on such a heavy responsibility.
"Not even the Military Affairs Division."
Lord Krapen's smile froze.
Solder's eyes sharpened.
"Unless it is under the King's orders, unified deployment, followed by the entire country.
"And the practice of different suzerains providing their own rations and logistics and gathering supplies on the spot is long outdated."
At these words, all the officials at the Imperial Conference fell silent.
The military advisor's gaze was as sharp as a knife as he swept his gaze across the people at the long table.
"No matter how diverse the composition of the army is, or how many suzerains have the authority to lead troops, we need a more unified, efficient, and convenient logistics organization.
"Only then can we provide sufficient and continuous supplies to the frontline in a war that will last several years in the future."
The officials had different expressions as they pondered the meaning behind these words.
King Kessel's face was still hidden in the darkness of the backlit room, leaving only a flickering shadow.
Until Prime Minister Cullen exhaled and said meaningfully,
"Sir Solder, you're talking about logistics.
"But you're not just talking about logistics, right?"
Solder looked at the Prime Minister with an indifferent gaze.
Ballard Room fell silent again.
"Come on, soldier, we all know what you're up to."
Chief of Finance Kirkirk scoffed and made no attempt to hide his displeasure.
"What else? Say it all at once. "
Thales noticed that Gilbert had begun to wipe his handheld glasses — a sign that he had misgivings and was looking for an opportunity to think.
Solder gave Kirkirk a deep look.
"That's not the only lesson the Northlanders have taught us."
The military advisor bore the scrutiny of the entire Imperial Conference, but he appeared even more unyielding, without the slow-wittedness typical of his age.
"Take the Alliance of Freedom's battle as an example. Luring the enemy, harassing, occupying, concealing, dividing, circling, decapitating, spying and gathering intelligence … The cycle of war is prolonged, the scope is expanded, the tactics are complex, and the impact is multifaceted. It's no longer something that can be summed up by a few key battles."
Solder stared at the chess pieces on the long table.
"As we can all see, Eckstedt has unparalleled numbers and a head-on advantage, but it's also because of this that it's inconvenient for the army to move around and overstaffed.
"In the face of 'Surprise Ivan' and his nimble and small number of elites, they appear flustered and at a loss as to what to do in a foreign land.
"Not only that, Karkogel is only the commander-in-chief in name. The three armies of the Northlanders are not unified. At most, they cooperate with each other. The delivery of orders is time-consuming and inefficient, and it's difficult for multiple commanders to work together. In the end, it's a bitter outcome."
His tone changed to one of anguish.
"However, such a chronic problem exists within us as well."
Solder slammed his palm on the long table.
"Based on what I saw during my trip to Western Desert, the regular army of the royal family and the conscripted army of Western Desert work together, but they are under different command systems. The former are clearly professional elites who have gone through hundreds of battles, but are often held back by the conscripted army of the same profession. The latter are under the command of their respective suzerains, do not listen to orders, have poor coordination, lax discipline, and low combat power.
"The back-and-forth wrangling between the major feudal vassals of Western Desert has seriously affected the entire war situation."
As he spoke, the military advisor gradually forgot the official language he had developed through years of frequent visits to Renaissance Palace, and began to use the slang he was used to when he was young.
"Two armies of the same rank can't get along just because there's a rift between their respective commanders. Multiple commanders will cause delays in battle opportunities — Baron Williams' military report specifically mentioned this damnable point.
"If it weren't for the negligence of these local suzerains and their conscripted soldiers, His Highness' road home would not have been fraught with thorns, and Blade Fangs Camp would not have suffered such a calamity."
Thales immediately felt quite a number of gazes on him.
He, who more or less knew the truth about the Western Desert incident, felt even more pressured.
But the figure at the end of the long table did not move.
In the face of Solder's questioning, the ministers were equally silent.
The only Secret Intelligence Department emissary standing at the side, the scar-faced man, was like a statue and did not move an inch.
Duke Cullen spoke slowly, seemingly used to this job of continuing the silence in the Imperial Conference.
"So?"
Solder took a deep breath.
"The Starlight Brigade has already proven this during the Bloody Year. Today, Eckstedt and the Alliance of Freedom have reaffirmed this point.
"In modern warfare, the key is no longer quantity and strength, but quality and efficiency."
He clenched his fists and spread his arms.
"For this, we need a unified chain of command, reliable logistics and transportation, more officers and soldiers who are proficient in military affairs, including strict organization, efficient military intelligence transmission, and of course, the spirit and awareness of selfless dedication."
Solder spoke passionately, disregarding the increasingly ugly looks in his colleagues' eyes.
"And we cannot count on the conscripted soldiers of the suzerains to achieve this — whether it be His Majesty's direct vassals or the faraway feudal dukes.
"The only ones we can rely on are the regular soldiers of the royal family, whose profession is war!"
Prime Minister Cullen raised his voice. His tone was solemn, unlike his usual leisurely manner.
"Sir Solder, what are you trying to say?"
The military advisor pounded the table and raised his voice.
"My lords, times have changed.
"For the sake of the future, we need more officers and more professional soldiers to undertake stricter and more important missions in the country in case of emergencies!"
"The expansion of the regular soldiers of the royal family must be put on the agenda."
Solder's words were met with another round of silence.
In the stiff atmosphere, Thales exercised his back, which was also stiff.
He saw that Gilbert had closed his eyes gently.
"Expansion …"
Duke Cullen sighed.
"How many times has this been?"
"The third time," Kirkirk Mann quickly continued without blinking, obviously very familiar with the process.
"Not counting the four times it was rejected."
He immediately received an angry glare from the military advisor.
On the other side, Gilbert tried to ease the atmosphere.
"The military readiness of the dukes of Western Desert is lax. This is a problem that needs attention. But it would be making a mountain out of a molehill if we expand it too quickly to the entire kingdom … "
"It's not just Western Desert," Solder quickly interrupted.
"Even across the country, even after the previous expansions, the regular soldiers of the royal family still do not account for enough of our total army. Our actual combat strength is heavily dependent on the cooperation and quality of the conscripted soldiers."
The military advisor's stance was irrefutable.
"The separation of logistics, multiple commands, communication barriers, inconsistent training … all these bring about too many problems.
"Pardon me for interrupting …"
Chief of Finance Kirkirk Mann coughed heavily.
"Soldier, have you seen last year's financial statements?"
The military advisor frowned at being called out by his nickname.
"Do you know how much the regular soldiers of the royal family, which you are so proud of, spend every year on the budget of the Department of Finance?!"
The Chief of Finance looked at Solder with a dark expression.
"Take the three main guards of the regular army, Fury, Starlight, and Stardust. Although they are called guards, do you know how much they are overstaffed, and how much they cost to maintain?
"And this doesn't even include those who are not part of the establishment! Do you know that the amount of money spent on them is enough to recruit another thirty companies and form ten armies if placed in the general conscripted soldiers?! "
Kirkirk Mann looked disgusted. It was obvious that he had been troubled by Solder for a long time.
"Expansion? How are we going to expand?
"Spittle from your spittle?"
But Solder was in no hurry to refute. He waited until Kirkirk's breathing stabilized before he spoke again.
"That is also the second point I wanted to make."
He turned to the dark figure at the end of the long table.
"Your Majesty, I propose to enact a new bill to reform the kingdom's military system!"
The next moment, "Soldier" Solder stood up decisively and his voice reverberated through the secret chamber.
"We should gradually reduce the number of private conscripted soldiers under the suzerains of the various lands throughout Constellation!"
Once he said that, everyone in the room, including Thales, was stunned for a moment. They could not react.
But Solder's cold words continued.
"Gradually reducing the length of service, reducing the frequency of conscription, we can even exempt the suzerains from the obligation to respond to expeditions.
"We can even ultimately remove their right to conscript soldiers in their territories."
One second, two seconds …
Everyone's expression changed.
Thales, who had been in Dragon Clouds City for six years and was deeply influenced by Eckstedt's military culture, blinked.
"Reduce …"
The moment he understood what Solder meant, Kirkirk Mann turned pale with fright.
"What?"
At the end of the long table, the king's figure moved slowly. His cold gaze pierced through the darkness again.
Like an unsheathed blade.
The military advisor raised his voice.
"I believe that this can save on the cost of conscription every quarter, streamline the army, focus on agriculture, livestock, industry, and commerce, increase tax output, and perhaps even make up for budget shortfalls."
Prime Minister Cullen looked at his long-time colleague in disbelief.
"Solder …"
But Solder Ryder did not care.
"And the regular army is ready to take on the heavy responsibility of national defense."
He looked up abruptly, as if he had turned into an immovable rock.
"The armaments of the nation, the weapons of Constellation.
"Henceforth, only one command.
"No exceptions!"
The narrow and dim Ballard Room fell into an unprecedented silence, followed by a slight chill unique to stone rooms.
Solder looked around the long table, strong and unyielding, like a veteran who had been through many battles.
The shocked ministers all turned to look at him.
Thales was stunned.
When discussing the war in the North earlier, he was so focused that he was not affected by the atmosphere of the meeting.
But it was at this moment that Thales truly realized:
This was the Imperial Conference.
The matters he heard at this long table concerned the future of tens of millions of people in the entire country.
At this thought, he felt a sudden sense of suffocation.
It was a feeling that neither the duel in the Hall of Heroes nor the day of Heroic Spirit Palace's state affairs hearing had given him.
"Everyone …"
After a long silence, someone finally spoke in a soft voice.
"Please do not leak the contents of today's meeting, not even to the people closest to you, not even the slightest bit or a word," the prime minister said in a low voice, tired and hesitant.
"And, Solder …"
Duke Cullen raised his head to look at the kingdom's military advisor, who had a determined expression on his face.
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