The genius prince : vol 7 ch 23

 "Huh?"

Glenn involuntarily blinked his eyes.

"Wait a minute. I accept any punishment for the blunder that I missed Culprit. However, as it is !!"

"His Highness Baldrosh will hold a baptismal ceremony. Isn't it fine?"

Lorencio laughed fiercely. He had a terrific face that didn't make him feel old.

"Now, His Highness is perplexed, butwhen he cools down, he will decide that there is no reason for him to miss this opportunity.  I can only thank Prince Wayne for his maneuvering, which has saved me the trouble of persuading the people.  "

"Your Excellency! The enemy dares to push for His Highness' baptismal ceremony only they have a way to win! We shouldn’t like jumping into an enemy trap! "

"If it's a trap, we'll break through it." Lorencio affirmed.

"You know what I mean. The empire needs the emperor. What if we miss this opportunity?

You will only spend more and more time in futile political battles with the Third Prince. "

Lorencio's words are reasonable. Glenn also thought that it was time to spread wings.

If he didn't know how politics was a work, he would have nodded without hesitation. But Glenn knew Ninym is behind this scene and that Wayne made a plan.

 "Your Excellency, you should at least inform His Highness Baldrosh......!" "It's no use. Get back."

There was nothing he could do now. Glenn left the room with a bitter look on his face, anticipating the new battle that was to follow.

……………………

"In other words, it's not just the people who are impatient." Wayne said in a room in the mansion of the city of Verida.

"Peaceful settlement through talks is a very sensible and rational approach for the people of the empire, but they will become frustrated if progress is not made. Finally, they want to force through violent means. The people, and those who belong to the factions, too. "

Besides Wayne, Demetrio is the only other person in the room. The scene, facing each other across the desk, is unthinkable when Wayne first joined them.

"However no one serves the Lord solely on the basis of loyalty. The master gains by being emperor. the honor, concessions, and rewards bestowed by the chosen Emperor. The fact that they have not been able to get them after more than two years is unbearable for those who belong to the faction. "

"... I understand what you are saying." The first prince, Dimetrio, nodded with a bitter expression on his face. "One of the reasons for my decision to accede to the throne was that I was losing control of my subordinates.."

"Isn't that right? If Prince Demetrio's faction is the same, then of course the rest of the factions will be the same.

it is rare for anyone to not jump at the chance to victory when it is right in front of them. Besides, their reason is melting away. Especially with the great victory over your army. "

"You, ............ Don't get too carried away." 

"My bad" Wayne shrugs. Demetrio glared at Wayne for a moment, but then chose to continue, despite his grumpiness.

"Is Baldrosh really on board?"

"The factions of Prince Baldrosh and Prince Manfred are in rivalry. Even if he wins the battle, the damage will be enormous. Prince Baldrosh would have wanted to absorb those belonging to Prince Demetrio's faction, make a difference, and overwhelm Prince Manfred in the coming decisive battle. "

But Wayne continues.

"The will of the people is behind his coronation, and his men are sympathetic to it. His faction is mainly military. He will lose popularity if he shows weakness and is taken advantage of. No doubt, he will step up to the occasion. " 

"If that happens, Manfred will not remain silent. He will have to lead his army into battle."

"while the two are biting at each other’s heels, we’ll make off with the gains."

Dimetrio growled. Wayne had only one move: to form a consensus in Narsila.

Wayne had only one move to make: to shape the will of the people in Narsila. But with that move, i still had a chance. 

"I hope you will let me take charge of the next battle."

Normally, a prince of another country demanding that a prince entrust him with command of an army would be a declaration of war in and of itself. I had kept away from him because I was convinced that he was poison, but it was an extremely deadly poison.

But now I am forced to decide whether or not to drink the poison

"... Can you win?"

"There's always a way. Life is about ingenuity."

After dimetrio meditated deeply, then tried to squeeze out a few words.

".....let me think about it now"

Dimetrio was still withholding his judgment at this point in time. However, Wayne's expression was relaxed as he looked at him. He was sure that Dimetrio would take the poison sooner or later, without any urgency.

"Then, let's wait and see. There will be enough time to enjoy a glass of wine before the second and third princes collide. "

Wayne smiled and raised his wine glass.

……………….

 "............ he got me." Manfred, the third prince, muttered to himself as he looked at the map.

"Now I have no choice but to challenge Baldrosh for the decisive battle."

The report that the second prince was about to perform the baptismal ceremony had already reached him.

"It is not as if he had some evil plan to outwit me at the last minute. I think it's natural to assume that he was unable to control his faction and was pushed aside. "

then, Manfred said. "It was Prince Wayne's trickery that drove the ambition of that faction, wasn't it, Strang?"

"Yes, no doubt." Strang, who was standing by the door, nodded reverently.

"Of course, it is a faraway place. We have no proof. The most important thing to remember is that the Baldrosh army is in a position to fight and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to him. This is the way Prince Wayne would have done it. "

"It may seem a bit wild and a crude contortion, but it is true that you know him better than I do. If you say so, then I accept."

Manfred knows that Strang was one of Wayne's schoolmates, as well as having spent time with Glenn and lowellmina.

Normally, he would be suspected of infiltrating other forces, but Strang is more attached to his hometown than he is to friendship. Manfred was convinced that he would not betray his hometown as long as he brought benefits to it.

"But here's the thing, Can we win?"

"We can win" Strang asserted without hesitation.

"The Baldrosh army is acomposed of military personnel, making it quite powerful. This means pretty much everything else is their weakness. 

In addition, they are exhausted from the battle with Demetrio's army, and I think they have a more than good chance of winning now."

Strang's words were not prideful. During their school days, Wayne had been at the top of the class in terms of overall performance, but Glenn was always ahead in martial arts and Strang was always ahead in tactics. Manfred's preference for him as a confidant was due in part to his abilities.

"Hmm ... then as a concern"

"It is the movement of Demetrio's army and Prince Wayne's. The most important thing is to prevent them from striking us from the side while we are fighting with Baldrosh's army. This is of the utmost importance. "

 Manfred nodded. He knew that the result of letting it go free was to set it on a course to fight Baldrosh's army. I understand the need to take action, as much as I hate to admit it.

"... I'm sure you can understand why. ...... Strang, I think it's time to put that plan you suggested in motion."

"Yes. Now that Prince Demetrio's faction has suffered heavy losses, it will have the greatest effect. I would have preferred to keep it under wraps, considering that I am also a member of the empire, even though I am from a province ”

"It is a necessary sacrifice for victory. Proceed with the arrangements. "

"Huh. Yes highness" strang bowed reverently.

Demetrio's army Vs Baldrosh army.

The decision went in favor of the Baldorosh army.

Except it had failed to settle anything and only invited further chaos.