The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 553: Dancing with Wolves

Obilian glares at his elder brother Jorkson, adjusts his mood, and says, "Father, I handled the Tatan City port matter with your permission.""And everyone here also said we needed a certain degree of cooperation with Peace Haven. That is why Tatan City port exists."

"How much money I earn myself is my rightful share from my own investment."

"Last year alone, I paid one hundred and seventy thousand gold coins in taxes to the duchy. I did not embezzle a single coin."

King Semson of Lumir looks at Dilio, the eldest prince. "Dilio, do not casually use this matter to attack Obilian."

"I also have envoys over there. I know Obilian has done very well and has been busy with the port's construction and development."

After saying that, King Semson looks back at Obilian. "This matter ends here. Now explain why you oppose sending troops against Peace Haven."

Obilian looks around at Lumir's upper ranks. "I want to ask all of you: who is our enemy?"

"Or to put it another way, who poses the greatest threat to us? Who has always coveted everything we have?"

The Marquess of South Bay blurts out, "Of course it is Ogiro Kingdom. They have always coveted our territory."

"Although we need to cooperate with Ogiro, we have Ika Kingdom supporting us, so they do not dare do anything."

"However, Obilian's concerns really do need to be taken seriously. We cannot give Ogiro a chance to launch a surprise attack against us."

Everyone echoes him one after another, expressing that preparations should indeed be made.

Obilian waves his hand. "Are you still deceiving yourselves? Our greatest enemy is Ogiro?"

"Then why was Count Lierul not invited to this meeting? Why was the Dienbos family kept in the dark?"

"They are clearly the northern military force. Their army's combat strength is also quite good. They clearly have the best relationship with Ika."

Once he says this, the atmosphere turns somewhat awkward.

Obilian continues, "Because all of you understand one thing very clearly: our greatest threat comes from Ika Kingdom."

"Ika Kingdom needs to expand. There is no room to move west, and to the north is Kosen Kingdom."

"Leaving aside the bitter cold land there, do you not understand why Ika Kingdom wants to form an alliance with Kosen?"

"Is it not because Kosen is difficult to provoke and Ika cannot beat it?"

"Who is east of Ika? Vorry Kingdom."

"That country fought its way into existence. It was founded through war, and it is the most warlike country on the continent."

"Now it has completed its transformation. In the short term, no other country can attack Vorry at all."

"Once Vorry finishes recuperating, it will want to bite a piece of flesh from Ika."

"Ika has no opportunity there, and it does not want to provoke Vorry Kingdom."

"So if Ika wants to expand, it has only one direction. South. Us."

Everyone falls silent, their expressions somewhat embarrassed.

Obilian continues, "King Baleqi of Ika is an ambitious man."

"He needs to establish greater merits, build greater authority, and reform Ika Kingdom from within."

"For a king, what achievement is greater than opening up new territory?"

"There is one."

"That is annexing an entire country."

"From the king down to the soldiers, everyone in Ika wants to devour us."

"This is something everyone knows. Why are we pretending not to see it, as if nothing is happening?"

While everyone's expression turns ugly and no one speaks, King Semson of Lumir shakes his head.

"Obilian, what we are discussing today is the war against Peace Haven."

"We are a country founded on commerce and trade. Commercial trade is our lifeblood."

"And now Peace Haven's commodity trade has already seriously affected our interests."

"More importantly, Peace Haven is simply unwilling to cooperate with us. They do not want to make the cake bigger with us."

"They want to hold a new banquet and leave us only scraps. They want to rewrite the rules."

"That is a result we absolutely cannot accept."

"In addition, they already border us. Given the temperament of Henwell, the lord of Blood Hill, his next expansion will inevitably be in our direction."

"Our most important task right now is to strangle this competitor, this potential threat, while it is still in the cradle."

Obilian shouts in agitation, "So we are going to act together with our first and second greatest threats?"

"Sleep beside wild beasts just to drive away an insect? Is that truly a rational choice?"

"Once those two sides have other thoughts, what terrifying consequences will we face?"

Jorkson, the eldest prince, retorts, "The entire continent is watching this matter, and even even the Western Federation is working behind the scenes."

"Every side will prevent those two from doing anything to us. The church and the empire will not agree either."

Obilian gives a cold laugh. "Heh... We are the managers of the country. We are the people leading this country."

"Henwell of Peace Haven once said something to me: politics is not commerce. Politics has too many matters to consider."

"And now we are actually placing the survival of our country on other people's attitudes. Is that the attitude a national leader should have?"

King Semson snaps, "Insolent! Everyone here is acting for the country. You are not the only one worried about the country's safety."

Obilian still argues back, "Father! Have you considered what will happen if the war against Peace Haven goes badly, even if it only falls into a stalemate?"

"Those two sides will have spent so many resources, mobilized so many troops, and paid political costs. They will need gains."

"If they cannot gain anything from Peace Haven, they will look elsewhere."

"When they are worrying about that and suddenly see us beside them, will they truly smile kindly?"

"Or will they simply bare their fangs and reveal their bloodthirsty, greedy side?"

Dilio, the eldest prince, says, "Obilian, you are being alarmist. Saying this here is one thing."

"If you say it outside, you will damage morale. Others will think Lumir is full of cowards."

Obilian ignores the ridicule in the eldest prince's words and only looks at King Semson, pleading in his expression.

"Father!"

"We truly cannot rashly send troops. I have seen Peace Haven's army. Henwell is a very capable man."

"His army is extremely strong. At least three of his forces have the strength of ace legions."

"Peace Haven may be somewhat lacking on offense, but if it defends behind those solid fortresses, the war may very likely become a strategic stalemate. When that happens..."

Semson raises a hand and stops Obilian from continuing. "Enough. Obilian, go rest."

"Later, take your army and defend the east against Ogiro Kingdom, so that the terrible situation you described does not occur."

Obilian opens his mouth, but King Semson no longer looks at him.

In the end, Obilian can only let out a long sigh and turn to leave the palace.

A few days later, after returning to Tatan City to assemble his army, Obilian enters Peace Haven's office there.

Barbosa smiles at the duchy's second prince. "Your Highness, did you fail?"

"My lord said you would not be able to change anything. This is an open scheme. There is no avoiding it."