Chapter 321 - 77: International Standing
Chapter 321: Chapter 77: International Standing
The Royal Capital had been bustling with activity lately.
After Prince Noah of the Frank Kingdom completed his state visit to the Algeria Kingdom, the Human Council, ever focused on balancing interests, was uncharacteristically efficient.
Everyone had thought that providing aid to the Frank Kingdom would face numerous obstacles. But when they looked back at history, they suddenly discovered something.
Hey! We’ve solved this problem before! Thirty years ago, we faced these same difficulties. The solutions we came up with back then could be copied and used again now.
Issues like logistics, transport, and troop allocation were all resolved within a day of the state visit’s conclusion.
The observant would notice that it was no different from thirty years ago.
In any case, the first wave of troops finally began to assemble, and the first batch of material aid was finally on its way.
Throughout the entire Frank Kingdom, from top to bottom, everyone had their eyes on this shipment of supplies from the rear, eager to take a big bite.
In Edward Manor, Marquis Oscillate and Marquis William were reviewing diplomatic information they had requested from the government.
Following the conclusion of Prince Noah’s visit, the first official delegation from the Algeria Kingdom, led by Princess Yifulei, would be arriving in the Frank Kingdom, escorted by her uncle, Delius.
Everyone knew what this meant. A key national policy—the marriage alliance with the Algeria Kingdom—had now entered its second phase. Delius was the brother of the current King of Algeria and the commander of the Algeria Kingdom’s Glory Knight Order, making him an influential figure in both the kingdom and the royal family.
This same Delius also had a special status: he had been part of the first relief force to arrive in the Frank Kingdom thirty years ago. He was on speaking terms with Marquis Oscillate, Marquis George, and even Louis III. Delius himself even held the title of Marquis of the Court in the Frank Kingdom.
By sending such a figure, the Algeria Kingdom’s intentions were clear: it was time to lay all their cards on the table, finalize the marriage contract, and ensure there were no more unexpected mishaps.
The Algeria Kingdom had likely been stung by Louis III’s previous surprise move.
"Marquis?"
Just as Marquis Oscillate was having a maid arrange his clothes, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Come in."
The visitor was an old man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard.
"Holmes? Is something the matter?" Marquis Oscillate asked, looking at the visitor with curiosity.
Holmes was Marquis Oscillate’s Minister of Intelligence.
That’s right. For a man of Marquis Oscillate’s standing, his domain was larger than that of an ordinary small nation.
High-ranking nobles had their own governmental cabinets.
"My lord, you previously instructed us to pay close attention to the situation on the Eastern Front, did you not?"
"Count Valentino has just sent a letter via the Magic Tower."
As Holmes spoke, he handed a letter to Marquis Oscillate.
"Oh? News already?" Marquis William, who was also in the study, raised an eyebrow.
Marquis Oscillate took the letter and began to read.
"Well? Any more good news?" Marquis William asked, smiling at Marquis Oscillate.
Ever since the night raid that had shattered the Beastmen, Marquis Oscillate had often boasted to Marquis William about Robson’s achievements.
Marquis William didn’t mind. Ultimately, Robson hailed from the southern faction’s interior territories; they were all in the same circle.
When Marquis William took over the southern faction in the future, he would likely need Robson’s support.
"Good news..."
"Ha! The news is so good, I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it."
"This Robson... he’s truly astonishing. To achieve such results in just a few short days."
"At this rate, we can forget about helping anyone else get the position of Eastern Line General. Once this battle report goes out, Robson will be the undisputed general of the Eastern Front," Marquis Oscillate said with a laugh.
With that, the Marquis handed the letter to Marquis William.
Although he had anticipated it, Marquis Oscillate still found it somewhat incredible now that it was actually happening.
’How much time has passed? The Beastmen on the Eastern Front supposedly numbered a hundred thousand. Even if there were only twenty or thirty thousand, they couldn’t have been defeated this quickly, could they?’
Robson had basically been sending a victory report every other day.
’He’s capable, and he knows how to play the game. If only someone like that would appear in the Edward family,’ Marquis Oscillate thought.
If any of Marquis Oscillate’s own sons had shown such potential, he wouldn’t be thinking of handing over his power to Marquis William.
"This Viscount Robertson certainly has a sharp mind," Marquis William remarked, looking at the report in his hands.
The battle report Marquis William was holding was already a revised version.
It was quite different from the previous reports Robson had sent to Marquis Oscillate.
For example, the role Earl Uman played in it was completely different from before.
One could say that once this report was released, public opinion of Earl Uman would be completely reversed, transforming him from a reviled brute into a hero of the kingdom.
Clearly, this letter was the result of political maneuvering; there were surely many untold stories behind it.
"There’s more. Keep reading," Marquis Oscillate said with a smile.
Hearing this, Marquis William continued to read.
"The Beastman Prince’s armor?!" Marquis William shot to his feet upon reading the section on spoils of war.
As the handpicked successor to Marquis Oscillate, Marquis William’s political acumen was also considerable.
At this juncture, a thing like this...
Marquis William knew all too well the significance of this treasure.
Come April or May, the delegation from the Algeria Kingdom and the advance forces from the Human Council would be arriving.
At a time like this, for the Frank Kingdom to suddenly announce, "By the way, one of our humble Viscounts accidentally captured the armor of a Beastman Prince on the battlefield. Everyone, come and see if it’s real."
Could anything bring more prestige than that?
After all, the two dominant powers on this continent, humans and elves, were without exception, xenophobic.
The Beastman Empire was the enemy of the entire Human World.
Taking it a step further, if they were to present the Beastman Prince’s armor as a betrothal gift at the future engagement, the international prestige of both the Frank Kingdom and the Algeria Kingdom would soar.
After all, the Human Alliance Army had not yet reached the battlefield, and the Beastman Empire had launched this war with ferocious momentum. For the Frank Kingdom to score such a major victory right at the start... the effect would be immense.
"Why is the handwriting at the end different?" Marquis William asked in confusion as he reached the bottom of the letter.
"Different... Look at this. Don’t these two sets of handwriting look similar?" Marquis Oscillate took out another letter and handed it to Marquis William.
Marquis William took it. The name on the envelope was Valentino, of the Fengman Clan.
"So Valentino wrote this part... Heh, that little girl is a sly one." As a seasoned veteran himself, Marquis William naturally understood the intention behind Valentino’s actions.
"Her mother is a sly one, and her father is much the same. In the future, she’s going to marry yet another sly one."
"It’s like they say, birds of a feather flock together," Marquis Oscillate said with a chiding laugh.
However, looking at Marquis Oscillate’s expression, one could only see pride.
"Heh, her loyalties are already shifting, and they aren’t even married yet." Marquis William was happy to banter back and forth with Marquis Oscillate.
"It’s good that her loyalties are shifting. It proves their feelings are strong..." As he spoke, Marquis Oscillate looked pointedly at Marquis William.
At this, Marquis William fell silent.
He knew Oscillate was making a point for his benefit.
The Fengman Clan had strong family bonds. Within the Guterres Family, however, there were a host of problems.
"Feelings can always be cultivated over time..."
"This girl... asking for so much all at once. Oh well. Isn’t Louis holding a family council tomorrow? We’ll go and have a little meeting with him," Marquis Oscillate said.