Chapter 691: Playing One’s Cards

In the western part of the Empire.

After safely arriving in the west, Fine declared her opposition to Wilhelm in the Duchy of Kleinert. However, unlike the dramatic movements in the north and south, there was no significant action here. This was because the royal family was not at the center and due to the authority's influence, many people believed Wilhelm to be the genuine article. Without a strong unifying force, it was challenging to mobilize the local lords.

Yet...

"It seems that Prince Rupert in the north and Princess Christa in the south, have stood up, and the nobles are gathering around them," Fine reported to me in a mansion that was prepared by Duke Kleinert for Silver and Jack.

"It's as the Prime Minister intended..."

Rupert and Christa. The key was whether these two young royals could act as the remaining members of the royal family. But both of them were currently fulfilling their roles as royals admirably.

"It's surprising that they could rise up even after learning about Arn-sama's death."

"If they couldn't stand up, I thought I would help them, but it seems unnecessary."

"That's a harsh way to put it. Doesn't it bother you at all to deceive your young siblings and shock them?" Jack muttered while looking somewhat irritable.

He understood the necessity of deception but couldn't accept the psychological burden being placed on the young children. Thus he voiced his discontent while revealing that he had a soft spot for children. Perhaps it was because of his past of neglecting his young daughter, that he saw her in them.

"I do feel guilty, but apologies and atonement can come after everything is over."

"I'm not blaming you. What I'm more concerned about is how long you intend to remain as Silver. If you reveal that you're alive, the people will gather in the west too, right?"

"I'll act decisively once I understand the enemy's movements. Currently they've occupied the capital and they must have anticipated the formation of opposition forces. Even so, they had declared that they wouldn't fight and left them alone. This means that they must be planning something in the capital so until I figure that out, I can't move."

"What do you think they're planning in the capital? Do you have any ideas?"

Jack's words made me ponder. Saying "I don't know" is easy, but that's not what Jack wanted. He wanted to know the most likely scenario of what might happen… And according to the usual strategy...

"If they're taking their time, they must be preparing something. There are two possibilities: they're preparing some kind of one-hit-kill weapon or waiting for reinforcements."

"Reinforcements? Do you think they'll do something like they did in the Perlan royal capital again?"

"That summoning was prepared long in advance. To do the same in the imperial capital would require some significant movements. If there's any unusual activity in the imperial capital, the Adventurers' Guild would alert us and so far, there's been no such sign. It must be a different type of reinforcement."

Selecting and preparing vessels for possession is a simple concept but it was time-consuming in practice, as seen in the Perlan Kingdom. The number of demons that can be summoned right now is also limited since Asmodeus was a powerful figure in the demon world, but it's also unlikely that his forces were the only ones that we would see. This means that there must have been subordinates he couldn't summon. During the war 500 years ago, there were numerous demons because the Demon King created "gates" for direct access to this continent.

"The Demon King created a gate on the island that is now known as the United Kingdom, allowing for demons to pour in. I believe they aim for a recurrence of that. Though they might also be preparing a one-hit-kill, I doubt that there's such a convenient weapon available at the moment."

A method to decisively shift the balance of power. I don't believe there's a means to overcome the allied forces, SS-ranked adventurers, and heroes all at once. Therefore, they're likely preparing to open a gate.

However...

"Not just any demon can open a gate. Only the Demon King could. Whether Wilhelm can do it is the current question."

"Are they gathering magical power?" Jack speculated.

I shrugged in response as I could guess what they might be planning. The Imperial Castle in the capital has been accumulating magical power from across the empire for centuries. Opening a gate requires the energy equivalent to that of the Demon King, and the Imperial Sword Castle holds such power. Additionally, the castle can unlock many functions through the blood of the Adlers. Using Wilhelm's body for this purpose and capturing the capital aligns with Dantalian's goals.

However, this is just a hypothesis.

More importantly, this isn't a decisive factor. Even if they summoned more demons, it would only lead to a second major battle. Many powerful individuals on the continent still remain so just summoning more allies won't suffice a sure victory.

While I pondered, a messenger arrived outside the mansion. As it was likely for Fine, she promptly left and soon returned in a hurry.

"Lady Liselotte, who was on the eastern border, has joined the Crown Prince of the Sokal Empire. Also, there's a report that the barrier isolating the allied forces in the kingdom has just been broken."

"Movements are finally starting on all fronts."

If Father and Leo are on the move, the situation will shift in our favor. Lise-anueue won't prolong the battle in the Sokal Empire so she’ll likely head straight for the Imperial Capital after dealing with the enemy to some extent.

"Now, how should we act..."

"While it's good to think ahead, is everything alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"If the barrier is broken, the allied forces are now currently aware of the external situation. This means that Elna-sama and Leo-sama are likely informed of Arn-sama’s death. What will you do?"

"What else can I do? They have to face the shock. If they weren't affected, it would be a problem. Their shock gives credibility to ‘Arnold's’ death."

While sighing as I spoke, I admitted the severity of the situation. The disadvantages are significant.

However...

"The enemy intervened in the imperial succession and reduced the number of Adlers. They're being cautious of us for a reason. My survival is a wildcard that can strike from outside their expectations. I won't misplay this card so I'll keep it until the decisive moment."

Even if it means hurting many people.