Mysterious Job Called Oda Nobunaga - 151

“So, have you decided how to dispose of the hawk?”

While talking to me, Mistletoe’s expression returned to its usual calm.

“No, it’s important. Besides, after the disposal of the hawk, His Majesty and the former king will have a direct conflict of interest in the aftermath of the war. They seem to be having a hard time reconciling them.

I wanted to laugh out loud, but I held it in.

“At this point in time, you are consuming time for the benefit of a future that will never happen. Royalty is a graceful and easygoing thing, isn’t it?”

For the sake of that elegance, your royal family will perish, I thought.

“However, as things stand now, I think we will settle the matter by handing over a few provinces near the straits to the former king. Or, the former king may make further concessions, and only the Giant Islands may become a separate state.

Mistletoe continues. He seemed to have turned into a talkative person because he had so much to tell.

“The former king and the lords on the other side will be acutely aware that they are in danger, and they will be willing to compromise if they can avoid that danger.

“I see. By the way, do you know the names of the people who fired up His Majesty?”

Mistletoe gave the names of several of the king’s cronies. All of them were worthless as cronies. The administrative power of King’s Landing is in the hands of a government official under my control. The time has passed when the king’s cronies can suck the king’s juices as long as they like.

“I’m sure they’re annoyed with me. But it turns out that I am giving them the right advice. As a crony, I get a pass.”

If you had trusted me and told Hasse to take it easy, you would have been a fool.

“His Majesty didn’t want to listen to me at first. He didn’t want to consider the possibility too much. But–”

“You’re looking at my policy on occupied territories and you’re starting to get scared,” he said.

It’s an old tradition for generals to do as they please in the field. I am not the only villain. You can’t fight the enemy unless you’re in power in a time of war. A necessary evil, so to speak.

But it’s a different story when the land under my control is more than half of King’s Landing.

With Tarsha of Machar and Soltis Nistonia, who is driving out the former royalists, almost certain to side with me, the influence of Hasse, the current king, will be very small.

If the former royalist faction were to disappear and I were to take direct control of the Giant Islands, I would be able to send out my troops and bring down the capital without any cause. That’s all the power I would have.

I understand. But the hawk can soar as it pleases. It’s too late now if you let it go from your hand. No hawk will return to its cage by itself.

“What about the wives and children at Maust Castle?”

My expression hardened a little at those words.

Before I knew it, I was thinking only of myself. It was true that Yagmouri Castle would not fall anytime soon. It is too far from the capital. Its defenses are strong.

But with so many men out, the castle of Maust is less well defended.

For a while I was silent.

“If the pincer attack becomes a reality, the former king’s army will come across the straits and attack us. Then, if we leave here, the antebellum faction will take the land in one fell swoop. ……

He spun his words as if they were meant to convince himself.

“Even if we go back to Maust, we can’t kill Hasse while we are caught in between. If I do that, more uprisings may occur by those who claim me as a traitor. ……. On the other hand, imprisoning Hasse would be a disadvantage because I would have to clash with the former royalists who have gained momentum in the meantime. ……

The best way to become king was already decided.

“I should cross over to the Giant Island Division before returning to Maust Castle. ……”

I didn’t want to think about what would happen to Maust Castle in the meantime.

According to the common sense of the battlefield, I should not have killed the woman. But if I am supposed to be a renegade, I am the wife of a renegade. I was worried about how I would be treated.

“I will send a letter to my wives. I will send a letter to my wives. I will let them know that I am willing to surrender if necessary.”

“I will, sir.”

“But I’ll also ask you to fight for a while. Fleur and Seraphina, I’m smart enough to defend myself against a bunch of cowards.”

Finally, I became flippant.

It was a prayer, but I meant it.

Surprisingly, I wondered if they would be pleased to hear that I could take charge as the acting head of the family.

“I will make preparations to cross over to the Giant Island Division. Contact Soltis as well. There may be a rebellion in the lands Kerala controls, and it would be most efficient to destroy the former royalists with my blitzkrieg.”

Once we are on the defensive, we will give them the opportunity to take advantage of us. This is the time when we must not let up on our attack.

“Yes, sir. Please pray for the Regent’s good fortune.

“Mistletoe, you of the trumpet, do not pray. Face reality alone.”

●

We have already made preparations for the castle in Yagmouri, but we will not have time to relax here after all.

I knew I would have to fight with Hasse sooner or later, but I did not think much of joining forces with the former king. It was unexpected that he would be so willing to do so.

The return letter from the castle of Maust came immediately.

The names of the wives are written in order. The basic contents were the same: don’t worry about yourselves.

Only Serafina’s was a little different.

We will not let this castle fall. It said that as the daughter of an owl, she would rather bring down the capital.

“That’s just like Seraphina!”