The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 309: Al’s Plan

Y, Your Highness Arnold!?

Have you regained consciousness!?

The senior ministers attending the meeting raised their voices in surprise.

Ignoring them, I turned my eyes to Father and Franz who was standing next to him.

You really are.even after you slept for a while, you still havent changed huh.

People wont just change with only a month and a half you know.

Thats true.is your body okay? Are you feeling alright?

Yes. I am fine. Im sorry to make you worried.

Its fine..its good that you are in good health.

Saying so, Father smiled a little. It was a smile of relief. It seems that he was worried about me quite a bit.

Still, his expression immediately reverted to that of an emperor and turned his attention toward Franz.

With His Highness Arnold, our options have greatly expanded, Your Majesty.

Right. But it seems that Arnold has a plan of his own, right?

Its not something that I put that much thought into it though I only heard about the situation from Sebas earlier. Even so, please spare me from bringing other generals with me. I dont want to die after all.

Your escorts will be the Imperial Knights, Your Highness.

That is not what I am worried about. The problem right now is the Dragon Prince. I made a fool of him in the capital so he will never let me do as I pleased. As soon as he knows that I departed from the capital, he will definitely come out.

the chance of that happening is certainly high.

Father turns to Franz and Franz gives him a quiet nod.

It would not be good if the person who got dispatched as reinforcements to be the target instead.

If I attracted the enemys attention then Leo could move freely but I would be subject to the enemys fierce attack instead. Leaving the trustworthiness of the army aside, I dont think that I can survive such a thing.

It would only be doubtful at best.

Then, what are you planning?

I propose that we keep it secret. Please spread the words that I am still unconscious in the Imperial Capital.

..Leonard is currently under siege. At least he would need some kind of military support. Dont you need an army to provide that?

We cant do much even if we dispatch a large army. The enemy will probably block both the land and the sky after all.

At my words, Father frowned and Franz squinted his eyes.

The force I am trying to mobilize.

They probably saw through it immediately.

For formality, I will ask. How do you plan to break through them?

The fastest corp of the Imperial Knights. I plan to use the 6th Imperial Knight Corp. They are our precious air force after all.

Hearing me, the ministers started making noises.

Our precious air force. There is a reason why we havent mobilized them until now.

The 6th Corp is only a ceremonial unit! If it is a reconnaissance or liaison mission then it might be acceptable but we must never allow them to participate in a full-scale battle!

They ride the Divine Falcons, the phantom beasts that once were an object of worship! Only a few of them can be found within the Empire and there are only about 50 Falcon Knights that can mount them! How many years does Your Highness think it will take to replenish their numbers if we lost them!?

Its a storm of criticism. Well, of course. It was probably on their mind already but they didnt propose it.

The 6th Imperial Knight Corps is one that mounts the phantom beasts called the Divine Falcons. The Divine Falcons can fly faster than the Flying Dragons of the United Kingdom and the Griffon of the Kingdom. Each one of them possesses overwhelming power but they are difficult to train and the number is small.

They are also a phantom beast that was once worshipped in the Empire and because of that, the 6th Corp has been regarded as a ceremonial unit that is only active in festivals.

Their power is guaranteed but their number is small and we can not replenish them easily. Moreover, as they were phantom beasts that once worshipped, it would be bad to involve them in war.

Those are the reasons why they havent participated in any battle.

However.

If we lose a candidate for the throne in the North then there will be nothing that we can use to unite the Northern Lords. Even when they have been treated coldly until now, they will think that their treatment will become even more terrible in the future. If that is the case then they will think of joining Gordons side. If it has come to that then it will only be too late you know?

if we are going to mobilize them then we will have to guarantee our victory.

Of course. This war would be meaningless if we dont win. Thats why it is essential that we send reinforcements to Leo. With their help, we can do that from the sky.

That was what Franz was thinking too. But if we have the Divine Falcons carry the troops then it would erase the advantages we have.

Yes, thats why the 6th Corp will act as escorts. We will utilize other means to carry the troops.

Hearing my explanation, the ministers seemed doubtful.

There are few air forces in the Empire.

Although we can overwhelm the United Kingdom in terms of the ground force, we lose to them in terms of air forces. That is also the cause of our struggle in the North.

We have no Griffon Knights like the Kingdom. In order to deal with the United Kingdom which has a considerable number of Flying Dragons, we have to find a way to obstruct the Dragon Knights from moving freely in the sky.

Your Highness Arnold. It seems that you do not know this but the Empire has only a few air forces. Even if Your Highness wishes to use more, they can not just spring out of the floor you know?

That is probably the case. But there is something that we can use that is not yet a fighting force. In the North, Flying Dragons and Dragon Knights have been trained for quite some time now. I have been told that only a few of them are likely to be able to be used in combat but they should be capable enough as a luggage carrier. We will secure our air superiority with the 6th Corp and let them be the one who transports our troops.

Fighting in the sky requires a certain amount of mobility. A Flying Dragon that is too big will only become a big target so it can not be used on a battlefield. The United Kingdom has a lot of know-how regarding that but the Empire does not.

It is still in the trial stage so even if it is true that they can fly, they do not have enough mobility. We can not count them as a fighting force but they should be enough for a transport mission.

It is certainly true that we are training our own Dragon Knights in the North. That project was led by Marquis Greisner. However, he should already be by His Highness Leonards side by now.

I was wondering what to do if he turned out to be an enemy but with this, we have our solution. To be honest, I think that this is our only option you know?

In response, Father started considering it.

The silence continued for a while and he called out to Franz.

What do you think?

This strategy relies too much on the 6th Corp but I do not think that it is a bad plan. There are some safety issues but I think that we do not have time to worry about that now.

..I think so too. But what are you going to do after that? Arnold.

Well, right.

After I deliver troops to Leo, how will I affect the war situation.

Delivering reinforcements to Leo only serves to prolong his life.

It is not a solution.

Thats why there is no choice but to spank the butt of those who still refused to move.

I am going to unite the Northern Lords.

They are no longer in any shape to do that. Are you planning to rebuild their alliance?

We can not call them an alliance of the Northern Lords when only some of them participated in it. We need to unite all of the Northern Lords and have them work together. Thats why I will persuade them myself.

.the Northern Lords held animosity toward the Imperial Family.

Of course, they would hate us. We selfishly blamed them for the death of the Crown Prince after all. It is certainly true that he might have survived if the Northern Lords responded to the situation faster than they did. But that is only a possibility. Even so, we treated them as if they were the ones who caused his death and treated them coldly until now. The reason why they still havent betrayed us yet is that the chance of each side winning is still 50-50 and the fact that Gordon is also a member of the Imperial Family. Thats all there is to it.

Your Highness is confident that you can persuade them even though you already know that?

I thought a little about Franzs words.

I can not say that I can definitely persuade them. After all, it will depend on them.

However, they will surely listen to what I have to say. If its Leo then they wont even lend an ear. That is a huge difference and if they are willing to hear us out then I stand a better chance.

They are those whose loyalty has grown dull and I am the Dull Prince. Since we share such dullness, we might get along well with each other. Being ridiculed and treated coldly, I can understand their feelings.

You are different from the Northern Nobles.

We are the same. I know that they have been enduring. They had toFather, will you allow me to handle this matter? The nobles who have been treated coldly by the Imperial Family and a prince who has been ridiculed by everyone in the Empire, is it not an interesting matchup.

Saying so, I bowed my head.

I want him to let me handle this for the sake of the Northern Lords as well.

.Fine. if you are willing to go so far then I will leave the 6th Corp to you.

Your Majesty!?

Please reconsider! The 6th Corp is the strongest air force in the Empire! If we lose them then it will greatly boost the enemys morale!

We have no other choice. I have already decided that I will leave this in Arnolds hands.

This is directly linked to the survival of the Empire, Your Majesty! At least please rely on Marshal Lizelotte on the East Border!

I will not allow any objection. It seems that you all do not think that Arnold is reliable butwe have experienced a danger of the Empires survival once already. At that time, Arnold had reversed the situation through his unpredictable move. In recognition of his achievement, I am entrusting this matter to Arnold.

I am grateful for your decision.

But Arnold. If you fail, I will have to take tough measures. Do not forget that.

Yes. Father.

I understand what he wants to say.

Either Father or the Brave will lead out the Imperial Knights in case I failed.

In any case, the battle in the North will intensify.

Both for the sake of the Northern Lords and their citizens, failure is unacceptable.