Volume 6 Chapter 53 The Brothers' True Intentions
Now that things have come to this, what really gets me curious is the big commotion his brothers are causing right outside our doorstep.
"I get that they want to crush Mikage before she joins the Rouza camp. It's understandable to want to count a demon as part of their forces, especially with Narinki setting a precedent. But why go for such a flashy approach? Sure, throwing in forces gradually is a dumb move, but still..."
"It's surprising. You're actually analyzing tactics with that attitude."
"Well, I do lead a mercenary group, you know."
Reed replies calmly to Rouza's voice. She seems used to it.
Despite her rough demeanor and bad behavior, Reed is the head of a well-known mercenary group. Her personal combat skills are on par with a 1st rank mercenary, and she's also capable as a commander. She's not one for intricate strategies, but that's why she knows how to use power effectively in group battles.
"It makes sense to go all in rather than trickle out your forces. But that approach assumes their actions will be noticed. If they're doing something shady, there are better ways to go about it."
Just like the attack on the clinic targeting Mikage, or the demon trying to interfere with Rouza and my duel. Both were kept under wraps until the last moment, but when it came to taking action, there was a strong sense of 'let's make a scene.' Even a novice like me can see that, so it's only natural that those with sharp minds would feel something's off.
For now, there's no evidence linking either incident back to Sanmoto. The attackers left no identification on their bodies, and there wasn't a single beastman among them. As for the demon, their disguise was nearly perfect, and the only hints of a connection to Sanmoto were the complaints that were shared.
But the bigger the commotion gets, the more attention it draws.
Are Rouza's brothers not considering the chance that the mastermind behind this incident could be exposed?
Or are they willing to take the risk of exposure just to eliminate Rouza?
Or perhaps──.
"Do they really think it doesn't matter if they get found out────huh?"
As I blurted out the thoughts that popped into my head, the room suddenly fell silent.
Looking around, I saw Rouza and Getsuya with their eyes wide open, and Aina covering her mouth, holding her breath.
'It's because you're not thinking about anything that you hit the nail on the head, right, partner?'
"What the heck is that?" I replied in my head through Gram's Telepathy (channel), and Mikage reacted strongly.
"No way, those 2──."
"Mikage, you noticed too, huh? I had no intention of hiding anything at this point, but I never thought Yukina would catch on first. Impressive."
Satisfied, Rouza let out a small smile before his expression turned serious.
"You're right about that. I think my brothers don't mind if it gets out that the whole thing started with Sanmoto. I had a hunch on the way to Blesstia, but I was sure after the big commotion once we arrived."
"Speaking of which, there was also the purpose of confirming your brothers's true intentions."
Kyunei mentioned the time when Rouza first acknowledged their brothers' involvement.
"I won't deny that I didn't tell everything, but I wasn't lying either. There are stages to things. Still, I intended to convey something to the Arcus government in some form."
"After returning from Sanmoto──is that it?"
"Aina-jou, you're starting to catch on, huh?"
"Until I hear it from you, it's just speculation."
It seems Aina is beginning to see the bigger picture of this whole mess in her mind.
"Exactly. So, shall we start talking about my brothers' true intentions?"
"Rouza-sama, is it really okay to tell everything?"
Getsuya, who had been silent until now, interjected. Despite feeling self-loathing and regret, he pushed those feelings aside to speak.
"I don't recall giving you permission to speak, Getsuya."
"Ugh!?"
Rouza shot him a sideways glare, and Getsuya froze, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"...but I understand your concerns. After all, your reckless behavior was driven not just by loyalty to me, but also by your eagerness knowing how important this situation is. I admit I was anxious too. In the end, it's just a lack of consideration on my part."
While acknowledging Getsuya's responsibility, it seemed Rouza was trying to protect him, which hinted that Rouza's situation was quite serious.
Clearing his throat with a strong cough and straightening up, Rouza looked around at us. Sitting on the floor in a formal position, he naturally exuded an atmosphere that drew our attention, and then he spoke.
"My brothers intend to sever diplomatic ties with foreign countries."
"...So, you mean a policy of isolation?"
""Isolation?""
Hearing the unfamiliar term from the knowledgeable Aina, both Kyunei and I tilted our heads in confusion.
"Isolation means keeping interactions with foreign countries to a minimum and allowing diplomatic relations only with certain regions. It seems that right after the shogun family subdued Sanmoto, they intentionally adopted this policy to focus on domestic affairs..."
After explaining to us, Mikage's gaze flickered as she pondered. It seemed Rouza's story was surprising even to Mikage.
"My younger brother's goal is exactly that. The older brother's approach is a bit more extreme, though──."
The most noticeable reactions came from Aina and Karan. The former, as a former royal, and the latter, as someone in a position of authority, seemed to grasp the seriousness of the matter first.
"Is the reason for not shying away from hardline measures because they are considering closing the country if things escalate into a problem?"
"If I am killed, the position of shogun will automatically transfer to one of my 2 brothers. It doesn't matter if it escalates into an international issue; they intend to sever diplomatic ties anyway."
Rouza coldly affirmed Karan's point, deliberately suppressing his emotions.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)