Chapter 220: 221

Ludwig was still young and didn’t seem to understand the graveness of the situation, but Wilhelm and Dietrich now felt like running around halls screaming their heads off. Of course, if they did something so bizarre, they’ll be looked at strangely by the staff in the castle so they won’t do it, but in terms of their emotions, it’s that much shock and confusion to their systems.

“Then…” Flora continued, “I intend to take back the territories of the Kingdom of Ploiss that were ceded to the Kingdom of Frasia, which lie west of Carruthers. And if that land returns to our borders and we are adjacent to them once more, the Kingdom of Hollant will also be punished for this piracy.”

“”………””

At those words, this time, not only Wilhelm and Dietrich but also Ludwig could not help but be surprised. Certainly, the western territories were once unfairly ceded at the request of Frasia. At that time, the power relationship between Frasia and Ploiss, where the latter could not afford to make unnecessary waves and oppose the former.

There is also the fact that Ploiss did not have a solid foundation as a nation, its union of small feudal lords even weaker than it is now. They were also reaching the limits of their capacity to deal with the Demon Country alone, and even if they compromised, they had no choice but to involve the Kingdom of Frasia in their war against demonkind.

However, even though it was unavoidable, most of the western territories were seized by the tyrannical Kingdom of Frasia. Many lands that had nothing to do with the threat of the Demon Country or the defense against it were ceded, and Ploissian borders shrank dramatically to the east. The matter is still hotly debated in the kingdom to this day.

Of course, even if they had no choice but to do so at the time, there was deep-rooted criticism of the rulers then and resentment against Frasia, who took advantage of the people’s weaknesses and demanded so much beyond the explicit goal of a defensive front against the Demon Country. Ploiss now also has an earnest desire to recapture those ceded territories.

However, if all the land ceded to Frasia were regained, the united front of humanity against the Demon Country would collapse. If all the borders to the demon country become Ploissian, from now on they’ll be the sole country fighting the demons.

“How do you plan to deal with the Demon Country?” Dietrich asked.

As if that was already within her expectations and planned for, Flora calmly answered,

“There hasn’t been a conflict with the Demon Country for so long,” Flora said. “Even if the Kingdom of Ploiss regains the western territories, the situation does not demand that Ploiss alone must immediately confront the Demon Country. Also, the Demon Country is a maritime power that dominates the Hulk Sea, centered on the Kamaal Alliance, and is not a continental nation.”

“Hmm…” Dietrich hums.

Certainly, it might make sense, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay. In reality, several times in the past, the Demon Country forced Ploiss to drink boiling water.

“Looking back on the history of war with the Demon Country,” Flora said, “they have kept Hexennacht as the cornerstone of their defense, minimizing land battles, and had been pressuring the Kingdom of Ploiss with its immense Hulk Sea naval forces. Even if the western territories ceded to Frasia will be returned now, it will not have much effect on the defense against the Demon Country, as they tend to focus on building up their forces on Hexennacht.”

“Hahah…” Wilhelm laughs dryly, “but the Kingdom of Frasia is a continental country that surpasses Ploiss…”

He can’t help it. In short, Flora is saying the Frasian Army, which is equal to or greater than the Ploissian Army, is useless. Rather than continuing the useless ceding of western territories to Frasia, she’s saying that it is better to take them back and protect the border by themselves.

However, it is certainly not very effective to have the hostile Frasian army still attacking them on this side of the Hexennacht Mountain, which the demons cannot fight on anyway. The burden of the garrison that Ploiss must keep at Hexennacht may have decreased, but that’s about it. In the event of a war, even with 2 armies that aren’t on the same side, they will still drag Ploiss down.

“Of course, just because the enemy uses Hexenacht as a shield doesn’t mean we should let our guard down,” Flora said. “In some cases, our enemies may even try to cross Hexenacht. But there are many advantages for Ploiss to rule over the western regions rather than continuing the current state of affairs. Please turn your attention to these…”

And with that, Flora handed over yet more documents. As Wilhelm and Dietrich read it, the surprises kept piling on and they didn’t know how many more times it would happen that day.

“Are you going to launch ships from the towns of Cien and Floren and land in front of the enemy!?” Wilhelm yelled.

Flora’s documents included some maps of the surrounding area and a strategy plan in the event of a war with the Demon Country. With their opponents being land-based, the Demon Country uses the massive Hexennacht Mountain Range as a shield to prevent movement over land. This document says that Cien and another town called Floren, written in an unknown area, will go down the river, out to sea, and then attack from the water.

To begin with, the Royal Navy of Ploiss is no match for the Hollant Kingdom and the moment they tried to attack from the sea, all of their ships are good as captured or sunk. However, they can’t help but wonder, after Flora defeated the Hollant Navy, this may be the way.

Even if you attempt to cross the border by breaking through Hexanacht against an enemy who is using it as a land barrier, you will only encounter stubborn resistance. Then, even if they were able to break through to the Demon Country’s border, they would suffer great damage on the way. Hence, it is not impossible to think it would be better to perform landing operations from the sea, at fronts where the enemy presence is weak.

However, no matter how reasonable the theory is, if that’s the case, there’s no choice but to stealthily head out to sea where you won’t be detected, and land just as discreetly on a coast where there is no enemy presence. Furthermore, even if they were able to make landfall, what would they do about replenishment? Even if the Navy of Ploiss can land secretly, they will not be able to approach again after they are inevitably noticed. It is impossible to resupply the landing force.

Or maybe it can be done with a new ship built by Flora. In fact, the Hollant Royal Navy has already been blown away by them. Even if it’s not possible right now, maybe if they build that new ship in the future… it was persuasive enough of an idea to make them consider it that much.

Flora didn’t say it could be done right away, either. It will take years, or even decades, just to take back the western territories from Frasia. In the meantime, it would be better to strengthen the navy and secure enough force to cross the sea and make landfall than trying to cross Hexenacht Mountain Range over land.

There is no need to gain full sea control over the Hulk Sea and the Hermann Sea. From the coast of Ploiss to the southern part of the Demon Country, it would be fine if they could maintain their sphere of influence to the extent that they could land and resupply. That alone would be a sufficient restraint against the Demon Country.

In that case, it might not be impossible to regain the western territories and suppress the Demon Country by themselves. But Flora’s report didn’t stop there.

“Also……” Flora said.

“There’s yet more?!” Wilhelm shouted as he shot up in his seat.

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He’s already had enough by now. Honestly, he feels like he wants to burst into tears. But Flora doesn’t stop talking.

“Yes… the fact is, the Free Cities alone could not deal with this kind of situation after pirates enacted their sea blockade, so the Caanza Alliance was formed. Here are the details,” Flora said.

They look over the materials that have been handed over. It was astonishing. The inner workings of the Caanza Alliance that are written there effectively mean that the Caan Knighthood and Caanza Trading Firm incorporated each free city as their sovereign territories. They are going to boldly do something like this while paying close attention not to run into any explicit laws and turn into an illegal operation.

Free cities are originally guaranteed their rights by the Church and the Kingdom. Conversely, it means that without the permission of the guaranteeing bodies, you cannot do whatever you want. If you want to put down your status as a free city, you have to ask the Church and Kingdom for permission.

Now, without dropping the status of a free city, they are effectively taken into territories of House Caan. They are trying to slip through the net of the law precisely and succeed without any fault that can be prosecuted or criticized. No, they already have slipped through. This is an after-the-fact report, and there is no basis for punishing or criticizing them now that they’ve gone and done it. Because they didn’t do anything wrong…

They can also understand the logic and motivations of the Free Cities and the Caanza Alliance. In the future, if something like the Hollant Kingdom’s naval blockade were to occur again, left to their resources each free city would be helpless. It is impossible to compete against an enemy nation with a single free city.

Originally, it would have been the state’s responsibility to deal with it. However, this time Ploiss was unable to prepare any effective means. Even though they knew that there was a sea blockade, they didn’t respond to the report from Lubek.

Of course, there was no intention of abandoning it to its fate. After receiving the report, they had been discussing how to deal with it and were making preparations. But it doesn’t change the fact that they didn’t do anything in the end. It is only natural that they want to create a mutual aid alliance with the ones who broke the blockade, House Caan and Caanza, and it cannot be stopped or criticized. If they did, Ploiss itself would be criticized for why they hadn’t done anything, instead.

But that’s not the point. Is it really okay to leave Flora alone like this? Wilhelm and Dietrich were seriously thinking about it. A girl who is only about 15 years old is demonstrating such skill without any backing and is building up her incredible power in the blink of an eye.

If they leave her as is, in a few more years, won’t she become a powerful force that surpasses the entire Kingdom of Ploiss?

Normally, they would just laugh at what a local aristocrat, a knighthood, could do. But what is actually happening now? In just a few years, she’d developed her territory so rapidly that it alone could deal with what the Royal Navy of Ploiss could not. Who can say that the fears are unfounded and laugh them off?

“As for the Caanza Alliance…” Flora said. “Danzij and Koenigsvelg are part of it, and considering that it will expand further east in the future, there is a possibility that its member’s borders will eventually collide with the eastern nations, such as the Kingdom of Polsky and the Principality of Moscove.”

And there is this. Accurately reading the current situation. Her information gathering is reliable and correct. Certainly, the free cities on the coast of the Hulk Sea have been damaged by Polsky and Moscove countless times. She’s not just innocently happy that her territory has increased and expanded, but she also recognizes the real threats in these acquisitions and is constantly thinking of countermeasures.

Could even a veteran nobleman be so smart and familiar with this political maneuvering? It is absolutely impossible with the skill of a 15-year-old girl.

“After all this, I will apply for the construction and possession of ships,” I said. “This time, it will be for about 50 vessels…”

“”50 of those giant ships?!””

And there is this. From now on, whether it’s going eastward, fighting with Hollant, recapturing the territory from Frasia, or preparing for the Demon Country, all efforts will need ships. Building a naval force is an urgent task. After understanding that, she aims to build and own 50 ships.

“Umm……. Your Majesty and Your Grace may be imagining carracks, but this is a different type of ship,” Flora said. “We are building 50 of a new type of ship, the galleon that we previously submitted as a prototype.”

““…………””

Wilhelm and Dietrich exchanged glances. They know what the other is trying to say. They have received reports and applications to build prototypes of new ships. It is a super-giant ship that is even larger than the giant carrack. How much equipment and budget would be needed to build and maintain 50 of them…?

“Ah, it’s hard to apply for these permissions over and over again, so in order to secure a quota for building and owning 50 ships, I supposed we just need to apply 50 ships ahead of time, and so we won’t be building 50 ships at the same time, you see?” Flora said. “Therefore, I would like to apply for 100 ships instead of 50…”

It would be so……. no matter how much Flora is a monster, there is no way she would have had the equipment, the labor, and the facilities to build 50 of those ships simultaneously.

Certainly, 50 or 100 ships would be necessary to confront the Kingdom of Hollant, the Kingdom of Frasia, the Demon Country, and the countries that lie eastward. They know that, but…

“Then in that case…” Dietrich said, “you say that the application is to secure the holding quota first, but how long will it take till you have the 50 ships?”

“Huh?” Flora said, stopping.

Perhaps she didn’t expect that. Until now, she had answered everything smoothly, but she seemed quite genuinely surprised. They thought she had already made a construction plan since this was Flora.

“Um, uh… 2 years, I suppose…?” Flora said. 1

“Tw-Two years?!”

It doesn’t make sense to say that it’ll take 2 years to build 50 super-large ships that are larger than carrack ships. They no longer had the desire to hold Flora down, to rein her in, or to manipulate her. They must not try to impede her carelessly. They had to be very careful and respectful to not make her an enemy.

If you make a grave mistake and she starts a rebellion, the country is dead. The three of them understood that and vowed in their hearts never to turn Flora into a future enemy.

Footnotes

The ambiguity of the construction plan is likely the mass production of Caan Cannons and possible further improvements. If they manage to figure out rifling at some point for increased accuracy, a lot of those under-construction ships will have to be paused to let the active ones retrofit.

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