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With all the knights from the northeastern planet, 100,000 reinforcements, and two first-class magical beasts, Lania Kingdom's commitment to its ally was evident. The cost of feeding the beasts seemed a reasonable price for Elonia to pay in return.

Meanwhile, the Pasha Kingdom, another ally, found itself in a dilemma. As one of the three allied nations, it was obliged to respond to Elonia Kingdom's request for assistance.

The Lania Kingdom had already declared its commitment to send 100,000 troops. Being the only ally to abstain was not an option for the Pasha Kingdom.

"Grand Duke Maximilian, how many troops should we send?" asked King Alphonse II in a youthful voice.

The young king had never experienced war or overseen the mobilization of troops. Standing behind him was the Queen Dowager Regent, who exchanged a glance with her brother.

"Alphonse, Grand Duke Maximilian is already overwhelmed with training the soldiers. Wouldn't it be better to discuss this with your uncle instead?" the Queen Dowager suggested, her tone laced with authority.

The Grand Duke scowled at the Queen Dowager's blatant overreach.

"Do not worry, Your Grace. Though I am old, I still have enough vigor for this task. Our Pasha Kingdom must send at least 50,000 troops, Your Majesty," Maximilian stated firmly.

Politically and militarily, it was imperative for the Pasha Kingdom to participate. Failing to do so would jeopardize the alliance and leave them vulnerable in the future.

"I would prefer to send more troops, but our resources are limited. However, we must act swiftly to reinforce Elonia's border forts," Maximilian added.

"Grand Duke Maximilian, do not be so naive," interjected Chancellor Guiness, a political rival and maternal relative of the king.

"The Lania Kingdom's declaration of 100,000 troops is surely an exaggeration. At best, they'll send a few tens of thousands of peasants. What we should be discussing is how to make this situation most advantageous for the Pasha Kingdom. There's no need to fret over our allies."

Maximilian bristled at the chancellor's dismissive tone.

"What nonsense! Such treachery will only make us the scapegoat later!"

"Haha, that is mere speculation. Preserving our forces is not a path to ruin. For the Pamir Empire to reach us, they must first pass through Elonia. They are not fools; they will not risk unnecessary danger," Guiness argued with a smirk.

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As the chancellor's narrow perspective became more evident, the hot-blooded Grand Duke's temper flared. His face flushed red as he shouted, his booming voice echoing through the chamber.

Startled by the commotion, the young King Alphonse clutched at his mother's skirt in fear.

"Enough! You're scaring Alphonse," the Queen Dowager snapped. "Grand Duke Maximilian, are you threatening a widow and a child? Return to your estate and reflect on your actions. As Regent, I decree that Chancellor Guiness will handle this matter."

Defeated, Maximilian sighed deeply and left the hall. His heart was heavy with worry.

"What will become of this kingdom?" he muttered to himself as he departed.

King Henry III of the Elonia Kingdom heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing of Lania Kingdom's support. The 100,000 soldiers, along with two first-class magical beasts and their accompanying knights and mages, would provide significant aid. Above all, it reassured him that Lania Kingdom was fulfilling its responsibilities as an ally.

But his relief was short-lived. Chancellor Mark handed him a letter that filled him with fury.

"Damn it! What is Pasha Kingdom thinking?" Henry III exclaimed.

The letter stated that Pasha Kingdom's reinforcements would gather at Renac Fortress to form a defensive line. Renac Fortress? If the Pamir Empire's army reached Renac, the Duchy of Elonia would already have fallen beyond recovery.

It was a purely symbolic gesture, devoid of any real value.

"It seems Pasha Kingdom is trying to back out," Chancellor Mark said cautiously.

"Of course. It must be that witless Queen Dowager Regent's doing," Henry III muttered, letting out a deep sigh as he rested his head in his hands. His face was etched with frustration.

Michael soared into the sky on Marcus, his gaze scanning the long procession of troops marching silently with backpacks on their shoulders.@@novelbin@@

The backpacks were Michael's idea, suggested as essential military supplies, and they had proven to be of great help to the soldiers. The Crassus family, which had produced these backpacks, had reaped significant profits as well. By standardizing the contents of the backpacks, Michael had maximized efficiency, a strategy that had been successful.

Leading the army as a cohesive unit was crucial. Like many other nobles, Michael had little faith in Elonia Kingdom's logistical capabilities. Ensuring survival required every measure at his disposal.

Watching his disciplined troops march in formation filled him with pride. The training and preparations had not been in vain.

The sight of Michael's soldiers stunned other nobles. Their orderly conduct and high morale were remarkable. While other noble armies had some elite soldiers, few, if any, could match Michael's army, where every soldier seemed like an elite.

Each soldier was well-fed, physically robust, and instilled with discipline forged through rigorous training and drills conducted under the watchful eyes of magical beasts. Their improved physical condition was evident.

"Sir Michael, your soldiers make mine feel like a rabble. How on earth did you manage this?" one baron asked in awe.

Another noble chimed in.

"If your training methods could be applied to all our soldiers, it would be extraordinary. Could you share your methods?"

Michael responded with a polite smile.

"Haha, for now, let's focus on the war. We can discuss this in detail afterward."

The nobles had not asked out of genuine curiosity but rather to curry favor with Michael. It was clear to them that if Michael survived this war, he was destined for great success. Building a relationship with him now was a calculated move.

Michael, perceiving their intentions, showed no sign of awareness. His focus remained solely on the war.

Although the Lania Kingdom's reinforcements advanced with vigor, the sheer size of the force slowed their progress. Amid this, urgent news arrived: the Elonia Kingdom's Dolce defensive line was on the verge of collapse.