"Don't you dare mess with me!"

The Seventh Weapons Factory had moved to the Banfield territory.

Inside, as I was discussing future policies, I was being showered with angry shouts from a bloodshot-eyed Nias.

Her attitude was incredibly rude for someone addressing me, a Duke.

—If it were anyone but you, I'd have you sliced to pieces!

The representatives and executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory, including Nias, had been looking at me with bitter expressions—but now, seeing Nias's attitude, they were pale and trembling.

They could probably easily imagine what would happen to them if I, who show no mercy to my enemies, were to become enraged.

And yet, Nias, Avid's exclusive mechanic, failed to read the room.

"I'd rather die than merge with the Third Weapons Factory!"

The reason Nias was protesting was that I had proposed a plan to merge the Third Weapons Factory, which I had taken in, with the Seventh Weapons Factory.

It was a hassle for the Banfield house to manage two weapons factories, so when I tried to merge them, they resisted.

"Who asked for your opinion? This is a final decision."

When I told her it was settled, Nias slammed her hands on the desk repeatedly in protest.

She looked just like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.

"That's tyrannical!"

"So what? I'm the sponsor."

"I can't argue with that!"

In this world, the one who pays is the one in charge.

Even Nias couldn't defy the principles of capitalism, and she lost her grounds to complain about the merger with the Third Weapons Factory.

The representatives and executives just averted their gazes from me, saying nothing.

"It's decided, then. You'll merge with the Third Weapons Factory and operate as the Banfield family's arsenal from now on. To start with, I have a job for you all—"

Just as I was about to give work to the people who had just moved in, Yurishia, who was standing by my side, began operating her terminal.

When she finished, she let out a small sigh and turned to face me.

"Lord Liam."

"What is it?"

I listened, thinking it might be an urgent matter.

"At the executive meeting of the Third Weapons Factory, it was decided that they would adamantly refuse to merge with the Seventh Weapons Factory."

"—It seems your old workplace doesn't understand who their sponsor is."

They're all so defiant!

As I considered just kicking them out of my territory, Yurishia's gaze swept over the assembled executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory.

Yurishia's eyes finally came to rest on Nias.

"They said, 'Anyone but the Seventh Weapons Factory.' They're willing to accept any other orders, as long as they aren't unreasonable."

Nias, rebuffed by Yurishia, shot up from her seat and pointed a finger.

Being told she was the one they didn't want seemed to have gotten under her skin.

"How rude! We won't accept a merger with the Third Weapons Factory either. In the first place, what's the merit for us?"

It seemed the Seventh Weapons Factory's perception was that there was no merit in merging with the Third.

Yurishia's cheek twitched.

"That's our line. Merging with the technology-obsessed Seventh Weapons Factory would bring more demerits than merits to the Third Weapons Factory."

Being treated like a burden, the executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory all became indignant and raised their voices.

"Don't get so high and mighty when you have no significant technology!"
"We don't want to hear that from a bunch who have no proprietary technology!"
"You're just good at focusing on appearances and selling to clueless customers!"

Yurishia, who had let them have their say, operated her terminal with a smile. Several screens materialized around her, displaying the faces of the Third Weapons Factory's executives.

"Let them say what they want!"
"Those tech-idiots who don't even understand market needs!"
"What good is boasting about technology! Weapons are meant to be effective on the battlefield!"

They must have been listening to the meeting through Yurishia.

Unable to hold back any longer, the members of the Third Weapons Factory began to voice their complaints, and the executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory unleashed their own daily frustrations in return.

Watching the two sides refuse to back down an inch, I had a thought.

—Trying to manage these people together will be more trouble than it's worth.

I let out a deep sigh.

"That's enough!"

The room fell silent.

It seemed they weren't foolish enough to ignore me completely.

"If you're all going to go that far, I'll keep you separate. But since you've said this much to me, you'd better prove you're competent."

I don't need incompetent people who do nothing but complain.

Realizing the unspoken meaning, they all nodded or replied with tense expressions.

Yurishia let out a sigh of relief and then asked me about the future, likely to change the atmosphere in the room, though there was no need to confirm.

"Now that the merger is off the table, shall we discuss the future? Lord Liam, here is the data on weapon production and other matters, assuming both factories are operating at full capacity."

A screen projected in front of me displayed the numbers for when the Third and Seventh Weapons Factories were running at full capacity to ramp up weapon production.

"That's fewer than I thought."

As I muttered this, Nias, who was slumped over the desk, complained.

Not to me.

"They were confiscated by the Empire during the move."

Is this some kind of petty harassment? —No, even so, it's like giving salt to the enemy.

The Empire basically sent us two weapons factories, telling us to fight with all we've got. Even if their performance has dropped a little, it's still a net positive.

"Well, fine. You'll all be working from now on. Before that—Nias."

When I called her name, Nias straightened her posture and adjusted her glasses.

Her 'I'm a capable career woman!' attitude was irritating.

"What is it?"

"The Seventh has something I need you to build with top priority. Put together a list of the necessary materials immediately."

"It's not starships or Mobile Knights? Oh, could it be a custom ace unit or a special machine?!"

I shook my head, denying Nias's slightly hopeful suggestion.

I told the openly disappointed Nias what she would be building.

"You're going to build mass-produced units."

◇

In Yasushi's mansion on the Banfield family's capital planet.

Yasushi, who lived in a splendid mansion, was in a great hurry, preparing to flee.

"I can't stay on a planet like this! I'm getting out of here!"

He was stuffing his belongings into a magic wrapping cloth, getting ready to escape with it on his back.

His wife, Nina, watched him with an exasperated look.

"Most of the warp gates have been destroyed, so it'll be difficult to leave the territory. It's impossible unless you have a private spaceship."

Hearing that he couldn't escape, Yasushi collapsed to his knees on the spot.

"I thought I'd finally be able to live a peaceful, happy life, but that idiot Liam!! Picking a fight with the Empire, is he an idiot!? Oh, right, he is an idiot!!"

As Yasushi started to cry and pound the floor, the mansion's front door opened.

Standing there was Yasuyuki, who had been staying at Klaus's mansion.

Seeing Yasuyuki, who had grown a little taller, Nina leaped towards him.

"Yasuyuki!"

"—Um, Lord Klaus got busy, so he told me to return home."

Yasushi turned his face to the returned Yasuyuki and saw his disciples there as well.

"Master!!"

Fuuka shouted, while Rinho looked annoyed.

"Fuuka, you're so loud. Right, Yasuyuki~?"

Though normally at each other's throats, the two of them treated Yasuyuki with a coddling attitude.

If it were Liam, the two would be the ones acting spoiled—but to them, Yasuyuki was as dear as a real younger brother.

Yasushi watched the two of them trying to put on airs and act like respectable older sisters, and thought.

(Even with them here, we probably can't win this war.)

No matter how many monsters Liam had slain, he likely couldn't win against a massive army of six million.

Yasushi, feeling his luck had run out, looked up at the heavens in partial resignation.

He sat cross-legged and gazed at the pattern on the ceiling.

Rinho noticed his posture and—

"Wow, Master, you're so calm at a time like this."

Fuuka also saw Yasushi and nodded repeatedly in admiration.

"Even I'm a little anxious, but Master is on another level. I wish I had that kind of mental fortitude."

A small misunderstanding was brewing, but to the current Yasushi, it didn't matter.

(Ah well, if I'm going to die, I hope it's at least painless.)

◇

The Banfield family mansion.

Brian was talking with Rosetta.

"It seems war is unavoidable after all."

To the dejected Brian, Rosetta was putting on a brave face.

"—Let's leave the matter of the war entirely to Darling. We should focus on our own duties."

Managing the mansion and the Banfield capital planet was Rosetta's job.

In wartime, she would also have to take over the other duties that Liam had shouldered.

Although she was acting in his stead, Rosetta was currently the head of the Banfield family.

Seeing Rosetta's demeanor, Brian straightened his back.

"Yes, my lady."

(Lady Rosetta has become so respectable. When she first came to the mansion, she seemed so fragile, I was quite worried.)

Rosetta had lived a very difficult life, but now she was managing the mansion splendidly as a Duchess.

However, Rosetta also knew that this war would be an extremely difficult one.

She lowered her gaze and asked Brian for a favor in case the worst happened.

"Brian—if the worst should happen, we will ensure that Edward, at least, escapes. Please make the necessary preparations."

Hearing this, Brian's first instinct was to say, "What a weak-spirited thing to say!" to reassure Rosetta.

He wanted to tell her that the Banfield family would not lose, but the harsh reality of their situation made him swallow his words.

"I have entrusted it to my great-grandchild. You have nothing to worry about."

"—I'm counting on you. Even if I die, I want that child to survive. He has a responsibility as one born into this house, but he is still far too young."

Rosetta grabbed her left arm with her right hand, her head bowed and her expression troubled.

Being born into the Ducal House of Banfield was, in a sense, a misfortune for Edward.

Now that they were branded as rebels, his youth would not be enough to save him from capital punishment.

He was in a position where he should take responsibility, but Rosetta still wanted Edward to live.

Brian accepted this.

"Yes. When the time comes, Lord Edward will carry on both of your bloodlines. He will surely tell future generations that Lord Liam was not in the wrong."

The Banfield family had been betrayed and disgraced.

Brian prayed that along with their blood, the truth would be passed down.