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“Solution? It is over. Baron Winston’s army has been annihilated, and the castle’s walls will fall down at any moment. Didn’t the imperial factions also suddenly cut off their contact with us? The only way to survive is to open the gates and surrender!”

“Surrender! You think that makes sense?!”

It was a mess. The people who had never raised their voices against Marquis Benedict were now furious and had red faces. It was truly a desperate situation. At one point in time, he thought that the nobles were the future of Cairo, but when he faced this crisis, he felt that they were the sandcastle of Cairo.

And it was at that moment when….

Kwang!

“Everyone stop! Now isn’t the time for this.”

It was Viscount Owen. Seeing him hit the table, the nobles gulped.

“As you all said, we are being driven to the edge right now. But surrendering is not possible. Even though it hasn’t been revealed outside, according to the information leaked from the northeastern region, Roman Dmitry was involved in Barco’s death. Not just that, even if we look at the steps he has taken until now, Roman Dmitry hasn’t shown any mercy to those who were hostile to him. It means that he is different from the weak King. And if we open the gates to surrender? Normal soldiers will be spared, but all the leaders here will be decapitated by that man.”

“… so what are we going to do? The mana stones maintaining the Magic Defense are running out.”

“Right. Two or three days at most, and during that time, we must reverse the situation.”

They turned to Marquis Benedict. Looking at him who was still shocked, Viscount Owen spoke in a firm voice,

“Marquis Benedict. The imperial factions aren’t the only forces that can solve this. Why don’t we skip them and directly work with the empires?”

“What do you mean?”

“This is a fight that is over anyway. And instead of waiting to die here, it is more important to survive. Then the Kronos Empire will not refuse our offer. They have always wanted to use Cairo as the starting point for their conquest, so they will unconditionally accept our offer. Our last chance to convince the empire is when all of the leaders of the imperial faction are taken away.”

Marquis Benedict’s eyes came to life.

Not yet. The war wasn’t over yet. The castle hasn’t collapsed yet, and now was their last chance to get their hands on something good before it falls down.

The trouble was short-lived as they had made their decision.

“Contact Kronos right now. I will talk to them myself.”

The magic communication device was connected right away.

When Baron Charlton, a member of Kronos’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appeared on the screen, Marquis Benedict got straight to the point.

“I think you already realize our situation. Please save the nobles’ factions. If you help us destroy the royal family, we will pledge our allegiance to the Kronos Empire from now on and promise to be your vassals.”

There was no more pretense. When he lowered his head, he wasn’t acting like an idiot who lost his pride.

[… Hmm. I am sorry, but there are already forces following Kronos in Cairo. Isn’t it an open fact that it’s Count Gregory? If we want to choose a scarecrow to rule Cairo, then it will be Gregory for the work he has done until now and not you Marquis Benedict.]

“Yes, I understand. But the situation is different right now.”

And he spoke with some strength in his voice.

If he couldn’t persuade them, then they would die at the hands of that devil.

“The Cairo royal family has begun to purge people, with Roman Dmitry at the front. As a start, Count Gregory and Count Denver, who have followed the empires, were captured first. Do you think they will get out safely? The moment the nobles collapse, it is all over, and their lives will end. Roman Dmitry will take their lives and control Cairo, and then the empire will not be given the right to break through. So what I’m saying is, let’s use each other. If Kronos shows some mercy, the nobles will bring the royal family to their knees as people of the empire. Later on, when the conquest of the continent is declared, the Cairo Kingdom will be willing to sacrifice itself for Kronos.”

The continental conquest. It was a decision that required sacrifices. However, if Kronos becomes the winner, then only the soldiers would die, and the leaders would stay in power.

And in the end, Benedict put the kingdom up as collateral. For his own survival, Marquis Benedict didn’t hesitate to be a traitor.

“It is a choice that isn’t much different for the Kronos Empire. Gregory to Benedict. The only difference is the people who will give up their lives for the Kronos Empire, and the empire only needs to take the best ones into account.”

[You seem to be talking about yourself highly.]

Baron Charlton grinned.

Marquis Benedict could see it. Actually, for the Kronos Empire, it wasn’t that important to invade the kingdom, which was as good as dead. They could come and take it whenever they wanted. It didn’t matter if it was Benedict or Gregory.

[Actually, we are quite disappointed that Count Gregory was caught this time. Although we have supported them until now, they haven’t been able to use the advantage they were given at all. So say it. What do you want Kronos to do for you?]

“Attack the Western Front.”

[Kukuku, did you just ask us to attack your own nation?]

“Yes. In return, only attack the first line. Just give a warning to the royal family as usual to prove that Kronos and the nobles have joined hands. If we show them an aggressive move on the Western Front, they will back down.”

It wasn’t much. Just the mere fact that Kronos has sided with the nobles would give them time to breathe. They would be able to bring in the imperial factions that have turned their heads to the nobles, and once the royal family is threatened, they will no longer attack Benedict.

And if that happens, the royal family would think that the troops in the West are beginning to capture the throne, so it felt like a reasonable plan.

Even during the conflict with the kingdom’s troops, attacking the Western Front wasn’t that difficult for Kronos.

[Fine. I will accept your offer.]

And so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepted. It was such an easy matter that it didn’t require the Emperor’s mission. With Baron Charlton’s reply, the small nation of Cairo was going to fall into great chaos.

And twelve hours later, shortly after Kronos accepted the offer, the imperial army invaded the Western Front, and out of the three defense lines, two were pierced.

And unlike usual, the Cairo royal family also caught wind of their movement to attack the third line of defense.

Simon said,

“…. The Kronos Empire is currently regrouping and preparing to attack the third line of defense. Once they break through that line, they will come into Cairo’s estate. Your Majesty, we must somehow stop them at the Western Front.”

The attack was a sudden disaster for no reason. It could be criticized later on, but the disaster was happening right now. And right then…

“A communication request has come in from Marquis Benedict.”

They couldn’t refuse it. Since the movement of the empire was likely due to the nobles, Daniel Cairo connected the call, and he had a cold look on his face.

Marquis Benedict was beyond the screen.

[It’s been a while, Your Majesty.]

“What is this? Regardless of your disadvantage, you are bringing an enemy empire into the fight!”

[We couldn’t help it. Roman Dmitry has put us under pressure to the point of death. Shouldn’t we at least live? Listen carefully now. The nobles joined hands with the Kronos Empire. For that reason, they attacked Cairo at the Western Front today and while you are trying to take down the Benedict Castle, they will make a mess of Cairo.]

His voice was strong. The person who was cornered was speaking with an arrogant voice.

[The Kronos Empire has always wanted the Cairo Kingdom, and this civil war gives them a good reason to capture Cairo. What do you think will change if Roman Dmitry takes Benedict Castle? You need to choose now. Promise to remain the puppet King that you are, and we will end this by amputating the limbs of the King. Well, we will spare the Royal Knights. And if you won’t be too greedy, then maybe Your Majesty the King will live a long life in Cairo. This is our last consideration for you.]

The seat of the King? It never mattered. No matter who was called the King, people knew that Marquis Benedict was the one controlling Cairo. And that was the way for him to live.

The offer to spare the King, rather than pushing the opponent to fight until death, would result in infighting with Dmitry, and that was what he aimed for. While throwing a choice at the indecisive King, he would put the nation into chaos.

[This is a problem that has ended since the moment Kronos stepped in. Your Highness. This is your last chance. Think carefully and make a wise decision.]

Tuk.

The communication was cut off. Benedict’s face vanished at the one-sided conversation, and Daniel Cairo felt horrible.

The Royal Palace Conference Room was silent. If they choose to fight, then the royal family would be destroyed, and if they choose the other option, the forces that followed the royal family, like Dmitry, would be killed.

It was a matter of choice. Marquis Benedict provoked infighting.

Benedict—he was once the King’s maternal uncle. The person who had the same blood as him had now pushed him to the edge of the cliff.

‘My situation is truly miserable.’

The seat of the King—Daniel Cairo never wanted it. It was a reality that was hard to accept since he was born into royalty, and the power he held never meant anything. It was the puppet King’s reality.

With Roman Dmitry’s help, he tried to bring Cairo in the right direction, but Marquis Benedict dragged in a monster the nation couldn’t handle.

What if they had killed him without giving him a choice? Even if he died, Daniel Cairo would have accepted it.

‘I can survive if I abandon Dmitry.’

But what would it mean? If he was going to continue living like a puppet, he would have to move according to what others told him to do.

‘Even if Dmitry defeats the nobles, my power is not guaranteed. Dmitry is a force as strong as the royal family now, and I will stay as a puppet even then. I, Daniel Cairo, am destined to live as a puppet for others. If this is an unavoidable reality, then I want to make a choice for the kingdom, no matter what my life turns into.’

Benedict was a traitor who sold his country. Rather than surviving as his puppet, he at least wanted to see the world that Dmitry was going to show him.

He accepted the reality of his messy life. Even if he had no skills to change this weak nation into a strong one, he trusted and followed his values.

“Simon.”

“Yes.”

He had made a choice.

The Cairo royal family.

“Contact Roman Dmitry right now.”

Even if he was called a weak King and remained a puppet, he would never let himself be called a traitor.