The capital planet was abuzz with talk of Cleo.

The unknown third prince had defeated one powerful candidate after another to ascend to the position of Crown Prince.

With Bagrada letting it be known that he would cede his position to Cleo, the succession race was all but over.

There was no atmosphere of backing a new candidate at this point.

And I—Liam Sera Banfield—was having an elegant cup of tea with His Highness Cleo, the very man I had pushed to become Crown Prince.

The location was a lavish mansion prepared for the Crown Prince.

Knights dispatched from the Empire stood guard around us, wary of me.

I could feel their intense spirit, ready to throw away their lives and cut me down if I made a single strange move.

Furthermore, I sensed the presence of what seemed to be the Empire's shadowy elements nearby.

In this outwardly peaceful space, a crackling tension hung in the air between Cleo and me.

Then, Cleo broke the silence.

"Let me hear your excuse for annihilating my Royal Guard."

"Theodore was a traitor. You should gather more competent subordinates."

"Regardless of his abilities, he served me well. Can you understand how I feel, having lost such a subordinate?"

"You won the succession race, didn't you?"

Thanks to that, Cleo will be the next emperor in thirty years.

But with him around, we couldn't have won even winnable battles.

It's true I didn't need to annihilate them—I just wanted to chip away at the enemy's strength.

"Thanks to you, I am now the Crown Prince. I heard His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted you with Calvin's fate. May I ask how you plan to deal with him?"

Cleo, looking relaxed, seemed curious about how Calvin would be handled.

"I'll make him experience a living hell."

"I figured as much. That aside—"

Cleo's atmosphere changed.

His smile vanished, and he narrowed his eyes at me—his gaze held hostility.

"—Regarding this incident, we certainly won the succession race. Your right-hand man is truly excellent. He has a reputation as the Invincible Knight, but he is too ruthless in his obsession with victory. Resorting to any means necessary to win cannot be called the path of a true king."

Klaus is ruthless? Isn't he the perfect subordinate for an evil lord like me?

"The Invincible Knight, you say? I'll be sure to pass that on to Klaus."

Cleo watched me drink my tea, looking displeased.

However, perhaps thinking the time was right, he got to the main point.

"This affects my reputation as well. From now on, I'd like Count Banfield to step down from his position as leader of the faction."

He told me to step down from the top, but this was a de facto expulsion from the faction.

Cleo was trying to snatch away the faction I had built.

"I don't mind."

But I didn't care.

My attitude seemed to make Cleo feel a bit uneasy, and he probed further.

"If you step down as head of the faction, you won't be given any important posts, you know?"

Cleo's constant need for confirmation was annoying, so I stood up from my seat.

"I told you to do as you please. I'll consider all my contributions up to now null and void."

"After destroying my Royal Guard, you have quite the nerve."

"I think I'm being quite humble by not demanding a reward."

"—Very well. Our relationship is now a clean slate."

Not as much as you, who cast me aside the moment you became Crown Prince.

I turned my back and walked away from Cleo.

Then I muttered in a low voice.

"A clean slate? From now on, we're enemies."

◇

The Argos, leaving the capital planet.

Summoned by Liam, Klaus had come to a room in the Banfield household where key figures gathered.

That said, aside from Kukuri, who had joined them on the capital planet, it was just the usual Tia and Marie.

As Klaus entered last, the door was closed.

This heavily secured room was often used for discussing top-secret matters.

With Klaus's arrival, Liam began to speak.

"I've become enemies with Cleo."

The four of them, standing in a line before the seated Liam, weren't surprised, as they had more or less expected it.

Liam turned his gaze to Kukuri.

"Discovering Cleo's betrayal was Kukuri's achievement."

Kukuri was pleased that he had cleared his name.

"One of my deceased subordinates left behind a clue. That's how I discovered His Highness Cleo's betrayal. —Lord Liam, if you so desire, I can assassinate Cleo at any time."

But just as he seemed pleased, he immediately exuded a quiet rage.

He must find the betrayal unforgivable.

Marie felt the same way.

"That little brat only became Crown Prince thanks to all of Lord Liam's support! I believe we should teach him just who he has defied!"

Both Kukuri and Marie held a grudge against the emperor from two thousand years ago.

Because of that, the methods they chose were becoming extreme.

Tia was more moderate.

"Considering our family's influence, it's possible to object to His Highness the Crown Prince's appointment. The Empire's upper echelons cannot ignore Lord Liam. I believe we should reject His Highness Cleo's appointment as Crown Prince."

After hearing the three of them, Klaus also agreed with Tia's opinion.

"I also agree with Lady Christiana's opinion."

But Liam looked dissatisfied in front of the four of them.

"Are you all idiots? I was the one who said I'd make Cleo the emperor. It's wrong to interfere just because we've become enemies."

Surprisingly, Liam seemed to have no intention of getting in Cleo's way.

Marie was flustered.

"B-But!"

"I also annihilated his Royal Guard. We'll call it even in exchange for my support up to now."

"I-I don't think he'll be satisfied with that. Lord Liam, please reconsider!"

"You're being persistent. I don't care if Cleo becomes Crown Prince or Emperor. No—in fact, let's make sure he becomes the emperor."

As Liam declared that Cleo should become emperor, his expression was one of pure amusement.

(Lord Liam, you're definitely planning something, aren't you?)

And then—Liam made a declaration to the four of them.

"I'll make Cleo the last emperor of the Empire."

Hearing that, all four of them were speechless.

A few seconds after silence enveloped the room, Tia tried to ask Liam a question.

"Does that mean—"

"It seemed within my grasp."

"—Huh?"

"No, that's not it. I realized that I could reach the emperor's throne. Honestly, I would have been content with just my own territory, but—I don't like the current emperor. And I don't like that Cleo fellow either. So I've decided to take them down. Don't you think it's more convenient if Cleo is the emperor?"

Liam spoke of taking down his enemies because he didn't like them, just as he always did, but this time his opponent was the Empire.

He had just declared he would turn his bow against the very nation he belonged to.

Marie asked Liam with a trembling voice.

"S-So, does that mean... you intend to usurp the throne?"

Marie was trembling, but not from fear.

She seemed to be trembling with joy.

Klaus couldn't understand.

(Why is she so happy about this!?)

Liam looked up and thought.

"Now, what should I do? Tearing it apart from the inside is one option, but a fair and square takedown is also appealing."

To Klaus, his attitude of not caring either way looked like he was simply enjoying himself.

(Th-This is bad. At this rate!)

At this rate, the Banfield family would be finished.

Considering the difference in military strength, even a great noble house couldn't win against the Empire.

If Liam rose up, allies would surely appear, but even if they won, Klaus couldn't imagine them being able to maintain a new country.

Klaus had nothing but a bad feeling about this.

But Tia affirmed Liam's decision.

"A wonderful idea. I believe the role of a nation's ruler is most fitting for Lord Liam."

Kukuri was laughing happily, "Kuhahaha."

"I never imagined your target was the Empire itself. —Please, make full use of our clan's power."

And Marie was ecstatic.

"Lord Liam is the one most worthy of being the Empire's ruler! I, Marie, would not hesitate to lay down my life if it means we can destroy the Empire!"

Watching the retainers who were so devoted to Liam, Klaus despaired.

(Somebody stop him! It's impossible to fight the Empire!)

Liam was certainly strong, but that was only in the context of the nobles within the Empire.

He didn't have the power to fight the Empire itself.

It might be possible if he gathered allies, but it was a risky gamble.

So, Klaus made up his mind.

(If we betray the Empire and are defeated, we're finished. Who knows what will happen to our families. Besides, as a retainer, I must say what needs to be said.)

And so, Klaus raised his voice.

"Lord Liam, I object to that idea."

"—What?"

As Liam narrowed his eyes, Klaus continued.

"I said I object. We cannot defeat the Emp—"

Then, before Klaus could finish, a blade was pressed close to his neck.

It was Tia and Marie who had drawn their swords, apparently intending to kill Klaus.

But in the nick of time, Kukuri had protected Klaus.

Marie glared at Kukuri.

"We can't let someone who heard this and objected live, can we? Would you mind not getting in the way?"

"Kuhahaha, I've grown rather fond of Lord Klaus, you see. Besides, Lord Liam wishes to hear what Lord Klaus has to say."

Tia and Marie looked at Liam, who had an exasperated expression.

"Klaus, continue."

Since Liam had asked for Klaus's opinion, the two of them backed down.

But at that moment, Klaus had steeled his resolve.

Kukuri had kept his promise and helped him for now, but his feelings were likely closer to the other two.

If Liam ordered him to dispose of Klaus, he would surely swing his blade without hesitation.

(If I don't say it, no one else can stop this.)

Klaus decided to seriously persuade Liam.

Because there was still time to turn back.

"At present, the difference in military strength between the Banfield family and the Empire is obvious."

"That's true. If the Empire could turn all its forces on me, I probably couldn't win."

Liam understood well that the Empire was surrounded by enemies and couldn't use its full strength.

However.

"Even if the armies deployed at the borders are unable to move, the Banfield family alone is no match."

"I think we'd have allies, though?"

Many nobles were dissatisfied with the Empire.

Liam, who had united them to form the Cleo faction, understood well that there were nobles who would side with him if he rose up.

"If we ask for more help than necessary to overthrow the country, we will be asked for favors in return later. If we're going to do this, it's best to win with only the Banfield family's strength."

(The troubling part is that there's actually a slight chance of winning.)

Considering the Banfield family's fundamental strength, the possibility wasn't zero.

In any case, because there was hope, the others wouldn't try to dissuade him.

So if he denied any chance of victory, the others would say that was strange.

He didn't want his persuasion to be interrupted.

And if Liam wasn't convinced, persuasion was meaningless.

That's why Klaus explained that even if they fought and won now, there would be no future.

In reality, even if Liam won with support from other nobles and countries, he would have to be considerate to them in various ways afterward.

At worst, the Empire could fall into chaos and be swallowed up by neighboring countries.

That's precisely why Klaus spoke of what lay beyond victory.

He believed that if he did, the others would at least listen a little, thinking, "Indeed, the aftermath of victory is a problem."

However—.

"I understand what you're trying to say. So, how much power do we need to obtain what you call the 'best' outcome?"

When Liam asked for a rough number, Klaus answered simply.

"In terms of military power alone, we would need a million warships. To operate a million warships without issue, we would need to maintain four times that number—four million warships. And we would need a territory capable of supporting such an army."

A fleet, in order to maintain its proficiency, requires three things: leave, training, and exercises.

Only after completing these three can a fleet attain a level of proficiency that can withstand actual combat.

In other words, to constantly operate an army of one million, one must have the fundamental strength to maintain an army four times that size, four million.

If one's maximum strength was one million, even if they managed to win by pushing themselves to fight with their entire army, the aftermath would be difficult.

Straining oneself to defeat the Empire, only to be unable to continue afterward, would be a nightmare.

(If I give him numbers this big, he'll realize it's impossible, right?)

Liam, who had been listening intently to Klaus's story, nodded repeatedly.

"Four million, huh. That's impossible right now."

Klaus was relieved that Liam understood.

(Good. So he did understand when I talked to him.)

However, Liam stood up and applauded Klaus admiringly.

"As expected of Klaus, the Invincible Knight. I'll adopt your opinion."

"—Huh?"

(The Invincible Knight? No, more importantly, what does he mean 'adopt my opinion'!? I objected! That means we're calling it off, right!?)

—But Klaus's hopes were betrayed.

"Four million. It's an astronomical number, but if we achieve it, we can win. Coming from you, the man called the Invincible Knight, it's very persuasive."

"Lord Liam? Um, what's this about an 'Invincible Knight'?"

"Hm? Oh, that's your nickname on the capital planet. You're lucky to have such a cool one. I'm still just the 'Pirate Hunter.' I'd trade with you if I could."

Klaus was being envied by Liam, but he couldn't feel happy at all.

(Why am I, a mere handyman, the Invincible Knight!?)

Liam looked at Klaus and the others.

"For a while, we'll hole up in our territory and focus entirely on internal development. We'll acquire enough fundamental strength to challenge the Empire."

Klaus watched as Tia and the others replied, "Yes, my lord!" and knelt.

Liam declared once more to Klaus and the others.

"Our next opponent is the Empire. I'm going to get serious. All of you, act accordingly."

And then, Liam chuckled.

"Still, an army of a million... with that, we can fight the Empire head-on."

"—Wha?"

(You've got to be kidding!! Isn't breaking it down from the inside still the lower difficulty option!? Are you seriously planning to wage war against the Empire!?)

Klaus realized that his attempt at persuasion had just set their conflict with the Empire to hard mode, and he wanted to clutch his head in despair.