Chapter 226: ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (8)

Chapter 226: Alliance of Nobles (8)

“Why. . .do you need me to explain this to you?”

Johan started explaining as if asking why he was asking something so obvious.

“The only place worth fighting over right now is the south. You know that, right?”

“I know that much. . .”

The southern region where the emperor was leading troops and wrestling with the anti-emperor nobles. The emperor was trying to somehow subjugate the south with the support of his direct territory in the rear and the pro-emperor free cities, but there was an undead plague raging in that rear area and the war had been going on for a long time.

In Johan’s thinking, as more time passed, it was very likely that the emperor’s other vassals or free cities would be the first to step forward and request negotiations.

Just looking at this alliance, didn’t everyone except the Elf King say they wanted negotiations?

‘No matter how much the emperor struggles, public opinion is bound to grow over time.’

The Elf King would also be satisfied after gaining some war trophies, so if time simply passed like this, the possibility of resolution was high.

Then there was no reason to wastefully deplete troops in meaningless battles by going into the south.

If we went there, we would just have to repeat the boring fight of waiting in front of or attacking a castle several times.

“Purging the undead nearby can be a plausible reason. It would also be good to get help from the monastery nearby.”

“But we have to meet Ulrike.”

“Well. . .we can’t refuse.”

To Johan, it seemed a bit coincidental that Ulrike had left to subdue the undead.

Ulrike’s fiefdom wasn’t currently suffering damage from the plague. It could be seen that she had set out with a kind heart for the sake of nearby nobles or towns, but Ulrike probably. . .

‘That doesn’t seem likely.’

Rather, it was more likely that Ulrike had thought similarly to Johan.

In a situation where they didn’t have the ability to finish each other off with the war dragging on, she didn’t want to commit troops pointlessly.

“Speak honestly! Aren’t you also not even a little reluctant to meet Ulrike?!”

“. . .I am very righteous.”

“It sounds like you just thought about it for a second before answering. . .”

Stephen bowed his head gloomily. He enjoyed greeting and socializing with the other lesser nobles of the Empire, but he was afraid of getting close to the army led by Ulrike.

“She won’t kill me, right?”

“If you clearly show an attitude of submission when you meet, the probability of survival may increase.”

“Weren’t you supposed to protect me. . .?”

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‘The atmosphere is strange.’

After the preparations were completed, Johan, who was waiting with the servants and slaves in front, wondered at the atmosphere when he went to meet the nobles.

All the nobles from the Empire side and the nobles brought by the Elf King were looking at Johan with hopeful eyes.

“With this body? Of course, the frame is tall, but I think my head should be bigger.”

“Despite his appearance, he has a beast-like strength inside. Once he explodes, no one can withstand it.”

“. . . . . .”

Hearing the quiet conversation from afar, Johan realized what had happened.

The elf knights must have been gossiping.

‘Those loose-lipped. . .’

After all, it would be stranger if rumors did not spread after dragging an ogre corpse to the city. Moreover, there was nothing bad about spreading such rumors.

When nobles meet each other for the first time, what backs those nobles are the family history and personal reputation.

Even without an army to pull from behind, Johan had proven himself to be a respectable noble.

“It is an honor to meet you, Count Yeats. After hearing about the young Count’s valor, I have been waiting to meet you in person.”

King Angoldolph of the Elves looked at Johan with a gaze mixed with goodwill and ambition, befitting an elf king. He had the most elven temperament.

“I too have been waiting to meet the young king, hearing of his reputation.”

Johan’s words made the Elf King laugh sincerely. There was nothing more joyful than being recognized by a knight you recognize.

The Elf King looked at Johan with eager eyes. His authoritative demeanor faded slightly, revealing the Elves’ inherent sincerity.

‘It would be awkward to meet his gaze.’

Having tangled bodies with Iselia countless times, Johan was able to read the emotions revealed in his movements. That slight drooping of the ear tips meant sincerity.

“I don’t think it’s for me to judge when to advance. Rather, I want to bring in the eastern elector. Let’s also bring in the eastern nobles into our alliance. If we have enemies on both sides, even the emperor won’t be able to act so arrogantly.”

“. . .!”

The faces of the imperial nobles lit up. This young count had presented an unexpectedly sweet opinion that they hadn’t even considered.

They heard that Count Yeats starts by leading the eastern nomadic tribes around and is close with Duke Brduhe.

The eastern nobles enjoyed watching the civil war in the Empire while maintaining neutrality, but they wondered if they could be persuaded to participate with the right persuasion.

“That’s a good idea!”

“Will the rough folks from the east agree to negotiate?”

In an effort not to show his distaste too much, the Elf King spoke with a sullen face. He didn’t like making concessions to the eastern nobles, and he felt the situation was moving further and further away from what he wanted.

How much more time would be wasted with the negotiations and their participation. . .

“I don’t think trying would hurt, your excellency.”

“I agree as well.”

“As long as we succeed, it shouldn’t be bad.”

As the majority agreed, the Elf King reluctantly nodded. No matter how militant and arrogant he was, he had no intention of voicing dissent to all those present here.

‘If I leave it like this, he’ll resent me.’

He had unintentionally obstructed the Elf King. He should have shown some consideration. He had even received his family treasure. . .

Johan opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty. We don’t necessarily have to advance south. I’ve heard rumors that an undead plague is raging in the central region. Ulrike-gong has already set out to subdue it. How about joining her?”

“That subjugation which no one knows when will end. . .”

The Elf King, complaining as he was about to refuse, stopped short. Why would Count Yeats volunteer for such a nasty job that no one knows when it would end?

While the other nobles thought, ’He must be doing that because he’s so faithful,’ the Elf King was unable to come up with such an idea.

Why would a knight of that caliber do that?

At that moment, something flashed through the Elf King’s mind.

Currently, the undead plague was spreading near the central and southern regions.

If we use this subjugation as an excuse, we can approach not only the fiefdoms of nearby feudal lords, but also the fiefdoms and free cities that were suspiciously taking the emperor’s side while using neutrality as an excuse.

While these central nobles had declared neutrality and were caught up in the fighting, just selling supplies to the emperor rather than blocking his logistics was tantamount to taking the emperor’s side.

Something had to be done about these shady guys. It would be good to threaten them with force or take the opportunity to occupy them when it arose.

While the nobles of the Empire wouldn’t dare do such things because they cared about their prestige and reputation within the Empire, he was different.

‘Indeed! His thinking is different from these frustrating people.’

The Elf King cast an approving glance at Johan.

“?”

‘Huh?’

Of course, from Johan’s perspective, it was just a glance whose meaning he couldn’t grasp.

Was it thanks for the suggestion?

“. . .Good! Waiting around is less appealing than dealing with the hordes of undead pouring into this city. My knights will also need enemies to cut down.

“It’s an honor that your Majesty will join us.”

Johan was privately relieved that the other party’s reaction was better than expected. The other imperial nobles were also happy that the Elf King’s interest had been diverted. They had been worried what kind of person the young count might be, but he turned out to be a much more reasonable person to talk to than expected.

‘So that’s what Count Jarpen meant when he said he was easy to talk to.’

‘Is this really the docile man who captured that basilisk so dramatically?’

It was a satisfying meeting for everyone. When it came time for the meeting to end, Johan suddenly realized.

‘Ah, I have to find the traitor.’