"Dear Carlos, thank you for waiting."
"No, it was faster than we expected. Arbarest crusade was very slow, Ars."
"Thank you very much. By the way, I think the Arbarest family is quiet. As Ghana remains in Paraguay, I don't think we'll be attacked from behind."
I see. Then the only remaining problem is with the person in front. "
"What's going on with House Menmen, Mr. Carlos?
"The Grand Nobility Menmen are heading north through other noble territories. According to information, it will be an estimated 40,000 troops."
"There's still a distance, right?
"That's right. It is a large army, so it will take time to travel. In the meantime, we need to take measures."
"I see. Then the Balkans will build a defensive position."
"Oh, thank you."
Having fought the House of Arbarest, I was bringing the Balkans to Carlos.
Gather information there.
Looks like the Menmen on their way are still far away.
We have to do what we can in the meantime.
Leon, who was at Carlos' place, showed me the map and grasped the terrain.
The current location is just south of Fort Eindrad.
You will be waiting for the imminent Menmen's house.
In fact, Fontana territory is unexpectedly a bad place for transportation.
It's hard to move straight south of Fontana's city.
If you want to go south, you must go west or east once and go south from there.
Located west of Fontana, the Arbarest Territory has rivers flowing in from several noble domains, which can be used for transportation.
Until now, there had been a Paramedian fortress called Undefeatable, and it was difficult for Fontana to take advantage of the river.
In other words, the western traffic from Fontana territory was influenced by the Arbarest family.
There is also Eindrad to the east.
Until just a short while ago, this area of Eindrad was held hostage by the Ulk family, located to the east.
Many merchants moved south from the Eindrad hills on the border between Fontana and Ulk territory.
Fontana territory then had to pass through the land of Ulk and Arbarest to deal with the south for a long time.
How dare you, I think that condition has been going on for a long time.
But it only worked effectively to protect.
Few fears of invasion from the south made it possible to maintain the territory by keeping an eye on the movements of the aristocracy on both sides.
And it's the same this time.
If the Noble Menmen were to come to us, the route would have been easier to predict.
The Menmen family also have a noble domain on the east side of the Great Snow Mountain, similar to the former Uluk Territory.
On the south side of the former Uluk realm is the Menmen House, which is sandwiched between several noble realms.
In other words, if you try to attack Fontana on the shortest route, you will head north from the east and come towards Fort Eindrad before heading to Fontana's city.
So we decided to set up a new defensive base south of Fort Eindrad.
I will take over the Menmen's army here.
"Even so, is that a good plan, Leon?
"That's right. The Fontana army has about 7,000 troops in the area, as opposed to the Menmen taking 40,000 troops."
"The old Ulk territory we just cut this year is still unstable. My part-time brother told me to prioritize the stabilization of the territory, and how many of you are here with Wagner's Kirilla army?
"That's right. The Sicilians cannot refuse this call. That would lead to the confiscation of territory."
"But there are so many of them. What's Master Carlos gonna do? Are you trying to protect me?
"It could be an extraordinary offensive. I was told that Arus, who destroyed the Arbarest army on his own, could defeat 40,000 Menmen."
"Hey, don't be ridiculous."
"Hahaha, that's exactly what I'm joking about. I'm thinking of another way."
"Don't surprise me, Leon. So, what's the way it works?
"Diplomacy. The most important issue surrounding Fontana today is the King's presence. Extreme story, even if the King is in Fontana when he wins the fight against the Menmen, the same thing happens all the time."
"... I see. I see. Originally, if the king hadn't come to Fontana, the three nobles would never have been involved in Fontana. But what if I said diplomacy? You can't just talk to the Menmen, can you?
"That's right. This issue was prompted by an internal rivalry between the three aristocracy alliances that won over the hegemonic House of Resolute. So I need you to put your opinions together within the Trinity Alliance."
"... that's why it's so difficult, right?
"Yes, but there is a presence among those alliances of the trinity that can join forces. Does Mr. Ars know that?
"Among the three nobles who are trying to take power?... the royal family has fled this far north, isn't it? Who are you talking about?
"It's simple. It is a church. Each noble realm is bound to have a name for all its inhabitants, to give them magic, and to be respected by everyone. I depend on that church."
Oh, yeah, the church. But if the church can count on you, why didn't you ask for it from the beginning?
"I couldn't do it until the other day. It was difficult to drag the church into a hegemonic struggle between nobles. But thanks to Ars, it was possible."
"Hee, me?
"Yes, the Archbishop of the Church was invited to Fontana under the pretext of purifying the body of the immortal, and he even created the Holy Sword and was recognized as a Holy Knight. The Archbishop and Carlos had a meeting the other day. Tell the Church to stop the pointless struggle against the Trinity Alliance."
"You're right. Were you negotiating with the Archbishop? So, you took it?
"... there seems to be a condition."
"Conditions? What kind of challenges did you face?
"The Archbishop said that if we are going to arbitrate the Trinity Alliance, we need to pay for it."
"Proper?
"Yes, don't be angry, Ars. The Archbishop says the devotion of the Holy Sword to the Church is a condition of arbitration."
"Eh, the Holy Sword means my Grand Barca?
"Yes...."
"Is that okay? Then let's ask the church. Ah, but don't bother if they take it away. Maybe we should make it a success reward after the arbitration is successful."
"Um, is that okay? You're going to let go of the sword.
"Eh, yeah. If that solves the problem, it's fine."
"Thank you, Ars. If that's what Ars says, I'll ask the Archbishop to arbitrate."
"Oh, come on, Leon. Put the negotiations together."
Good, good.
What is it?
I thought I had to fight with a lot of opponents again.
But apparently Carlos and Leon were thinking about something else.
The method for this is said to be arbitration by the church.
And as a condition of that, I need to dedicate my Holy Sword, Grand Barca, to the church.
Maybe some people think it's a waste.
However, if I can avoid the battle with a single sword, it is a great option to give out my holy sword.
So Leon, who heard what I said, talked to Carlos and from there to the Archbishop.
And a few days later, the Archbishop took over the arbitration case and went back south.