Demon King of Phantom Thief – a Betrayed Thief Stole the Stats and Skills of the Hero Party Then Reigned Over the World

"The Demon King has crossed the line"

General Alzfight's voice sounded well in the quiet conference room.

Wrinkles between the eyebrows, staring into Elada's eyes.

………………

Elada must deny it as a person on the side of the demonic kingdom, but the invasion of the Colden Republic is water in her sleeping ear for her as well.

One of the senators pinched his mouth first as he relaxed and managed to explore the words.

"… There are several reasons why Astran was once kept at war against two countries, the Republic of Colden and the Principality of Laden. One of them is that Astran has no borders with the Demon Kingdom."

Viktor looked up slightly and put the senator in sight.

The senator who spoke is one of the military men who fought with him in the coup d 'état he once had.

"The Demon King's territory and the countries adjacent to it required some military force to be allocated to defense to prevent demonic incursions. Astran doesn't have it. So we could put all our troops into war, and the peace of mind of the people is there. But when the Republic of Colden is swallowed up by the demon kingdom, the story changes."

Hearing that, Elada looked up.

"... we are allies. There shouldn't be any problems with borders."

As Elada herself knows, there is deception hidden in this word.

No matter how many alliances we have with each other, it is really sensible that countries border on each other's territory.

I can think of as many problems that could happen.

Especially if the demonic kingdom is as much the object of the people's fear as ever -.

But Elada continued.

"Rather, given trade interests, military alliances, etc., there should be nothing more. It is difficult to say that the world situation is still stable. In that situation, shouldn't this rather be considered an opportunity? If we can get your country to cooperate with the Colden invasion, we can pinch it. Occupy Colden and the potential threat, the Principality of Laden, will also be isolated"

I can only cite its advantages as Elada, more than the war has begun.

But the senator shook his head.

"Astran is not as belligerent as you are, Special Envoy Colette. The people are exhausted in the war ahead."

………………

"If you're exhausted, you have a healthy voice..."

Viktor shrugged so, pointing that limpid face at the window.

Outside the castle, the assembled people are crying out loud against the demon king.

"Think of this... not as a word to the Demon King's envoy, but to a fellow who once had a coup with his men"

General Alzfight stared alternately at Elada and Viktor.

"Our new government has no further power to contain the people."

"Your country is a military regime, let's do as much as we can..."

To Elada's words, General Alzfight shakes his head small.

"The war is over and many soldiers have returned home. If we put our spears on the people, they will unite by putting up anti-government. Then it's a civil war. There are also grand aristocrats who are now showing such moves. Something like the weakness of our country's army's death... I mean, what I'm trying to say is"

General Alzfight put his fingers together on the table.

"The government of the Republic is a wind torch. You'll hear a voice outside. That's the people of Astran."

"If that's loud, let's shut him up..."

Elada grabbed Viktor's coat when he tried to get up.

"Idiot! How are you going to shut up the people of your allies!

"It will get in the way for these guys... and hence for the Demon King..."

"Ah, already! It's not that simple of a problem!!

………………

Viktor honestly sat back in the chair.

Then he turned his eyes to General Alzfight and opened his mouth.

"The Demon King doesn't want your new government to crumble... that's why me and Elada were sent in..."

Poking his hat at his fingertips, Viktor stares at the senators.

"Crushing Colden is something you always think about… trust it if you're an ally…"

As an envoy, it's an abusive word.

Elada sighed holding her hips.

(But in fact, with what idea did the Demon King invade Colden... I can read your thoughts just fine)

With the fall of the Astran Empire, we will start another war on a continent where peace has finally arrived.

(Wait...)

Elada thinks.

In a former war, Astran was dealing with the Republic of Colden and the Duchy of Laden.

Just because the war is over, yes. It's not about making up is about international politics.

That is no different from the popular sentiment.

And the murder of the high priest and the kidnapping of the Virgin are certainly major incidents.

But that's for the Republic of Colden.

I mean, it's a matter of virtual enemies right now.

Of course, the existence of churches with networks in each country cannot be ignored.

For the faithful, even though what happened in the Colden Republic, there would be strong opposition to the Demon King.

But...

Elada looked at the column clock and said.

"... now it's time for worship"

"What's wrong with that?"

At this hour of the week, prayer is performed.

The faithful should all be in the church.

"So what about the guys gathered outside?

Elada turns her attention to General Alzfight.

The general looked out at the window.

"You're not a believer."

Ha, and as the general noticed something, he saw Ellada.

Ellada nods.

"You mean that!

"You seem to understand, most importantly"

If the faithful of the Church are going to demonstrate, I understand the story.

But those who are raising the cries of the Antidemonic King outside are not the followers of the Church.

This is something I can't get through.

"Now the story is simpler..."

Viktor said with the same faceless expression.

"I mean who's going to gain from this country collapsing..."

The senators run.

Looking over at them, General Alzfight said.

"There is always an agitator who incites it in the vague demonstration of the cause. And behind that agitator, there is someone so politically powerful that it must be... that we've decided what to do."

General Alzfight stood up.

"Broil out some of that...!

………………

…………

……

If we trace the records of the money changers, we can trace the big gold movement across the country.

The situation becomes clearer, especially since contributions to the Church will need to be converted into temple currency.

Speaking of the Republic of Colden, it is the heart of a church with a sanctuary.

The investigative mission of the Republic of Astran looked primarily up donations by nobles to the Church.

In the meantime, Viktor and Elada were welcomed to the hotel as envoys and received generous treatment.

Even so, Elada was completely used to the luxury at Demon King's Castle and could not be very impressed.

(How about... soaking in warm water like this...)

At the hotel salon, sipping tea from the Kingdom of Tristrum, Ellada sighs what is already becoming a habit.

Viktor asked, drinking tea at the same table.

"What's the situation...?

"I have received a uniform report. Seeing the movement of gold, the suspicious ones are the nobles with territory on the frontier of the Republic of Colden"

Elada put the cup on the saucer.

"These guys should basically be cooperative with the republican government. Thanks to the end of the war, you don't have to worry about your territory. But they made an unexplained contribution to the Church of the Stars."

………………

I'm used to Viktor's silence.

Ellada continues.

"Shortly after the end of the war, this country invited the Great Cleric to normalize its national relations. After preaching at the church in the capital, the high priest is visiting the mansions of those aristocrats. This is the perfect match for the donation move. Well, it's not unnatural there. I guess I even heard a thankful story. The problem is then..."

"... I didn't want to believe they were fanning the people."

It was General Alzfight who showed up at the salon where there were only two of them.

"But the reason the people are crying out for is anti-demonic king thought in line with the teachings of the Church of the Stars. Even though I'm not a believer."

General Alzfight sat down in a seat beside him.

"Shortly after the end of the war, their neighborhood nobility was very cooperative. But after the Great Cleric's visit, it was found that a large number of people believed to be involved in the government of the Republic of Colden were entering and leaving their mansions. They're obviously building factions."

Eventually, the tea is brought.

General Alzfight drank it all at once, without milk or sugar.

"It is a faction of anti-demon kings, anti-republican governments, and pro-Colden, which has joined forces with the Church of the Stars. They're sending agitators into the capital, fanning the people. The stirred folk are shouting anti-demon kings. But this is essentially a criticism of our republican government with its hands tied to the Demon King... with Colden behind it."

The cup and saucer made a high noise.

"This is not about interference in internal affairs, Grand Cleric, it's about the destruction of the new government using the church! In the end, we were the only ones who thought the war was over! Colden was still an enemy!

It was Viktor who answered quietly against General Alzfight's fierceness.

"The Great Cleric has lost the Demon King… and is now opening the battlefield to Colden…"

Viktor had a relaxing cup of tea where the unmelted sugar sank.

"There is no mistake in what the Demon King does..."

………………

General Alzfight said, staring at the shaky water of tea.

"At least, it's no longer a situation where you can have weak sounds like wind lights...... etc......!

The General's eyes were swayed by the flames he had shown in his former coup.