"Hold on! The more we exhaust the Empire's main forces, the closer we get to victory!"

On the bridge, Klaus, who kept telling his allies they were almost there, was confronting the weakness in his own heart.

(Even if we repel this enemy fleet, with the Empire's national power, they can dispatch a fleet of the same size again in a few decades. But the Banfield family can't do the same.)

The Empire has a next time.

However, even if the Banfield family gets another chance, it would be impossible to prepare an army of the same scale as this time.

The damage within the territory has expanded that much due to the punitive force.

Reports still reached Klaus of another planet being turned into a sea of fire.

The pirate fleets were running rampant, and the fleets assigned to guerrilla warfare were being defeated one after another.

Pirates united by their hatred for Liam.

In addition to the Empire's pirate fleet, it seems real space pirates have also joined in.

They had infiltrated the Banfield territory and were in close contact with each other.

Several supply bases have also been destroyed, causing damage that cannot be ignored.

(What a truly detestable opponent. Not only is their strength on a different level, but they'll use any means necessary to win. And yet, they even show openings—it's as if they're toying with us, tormenting our house for fun.)

He felt a sense of disgust at the Imperial army's way of fighting.

Is this how the Empire fights?

The staff officers, with grim expressions, were issuing orders for the exhausted fleets to fall back.

"Send the reserve fleet immediately! They can't hold out much longer!"

But the operator who heard this looked like she was about to cry.

"It's impossible. The reserve fleets are already deployed. The reorganized fleets aren't ready for sortie yet either."

In the battle against the ceaselessly advancing Imperial army, they were at a disadvantage due to the sheer violence of numbers.

Even in such a situation, the subordinates Klaus relied on were performing admirably.

An operator reported with a happy look on her face.

"Your Excellency, a fleet that repelled an enemy fleet has offered to send reinforcements."

"Tell them they have my thanks."

"Yes, sir!"

Klaus replied curtly, but inwardly he let out a great sigh of relief.

(Good! With this, we can hold on a little longer. Still, we're struggling, but—why is the Imperial army more worn down? The enemy's attrition is faster than anticipated.)

The enemy's attrition was more severe than planned.

Even though they should be the ones suffering, it almost looked as if Klaus's army had the upper hand.

The operator shouted.

"Enemy attrition rate has exceeded twenty percent!"

Voices filled with joy rose from the staff officers.

"Alright! Pursue them when they retreat!"

However, the operator was perplexed.

In a situation where a retreat would have been understandable, the Imperial army had not eased its offensive.

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

"—They're still going to continue?"

◇

Cleo was on the bridge, yelling at those around him.

He himself thought this would raise the army's morale, but the reaction from his surroundings was poor.

That irritated Cleo even more.

"How long do you intend to keep increasing our losses? Did you not rush to my side for my sake? I was planning to overlook some things, but if you keep losing like this, even a good-natured man like myself will have no choice but to mete out punishment."

The nobles and soldiers projected on the screen were the ones bearing the brunt of Klaus's army.

They were the ones Cleo had sent to charge, intending to sacrifice them, but they were more useless than he had expected.

He hadn't expected much from the start, but even taking that into account, it was too awful.

"However, it's impossible for us to conquer them on our own. Our opponent is Klaus, you know."
"That's right. The Empire's strongest—"

Cleo shot a cold glance at the noble who was about to say "strongest knight."

"The Empire's strongest? I wonder if it's appropriate to use the Empire's name for an enemy knight?"

"M-My apologies."

The crew on the bridge reacted poorly to Cleo, who had started nitpicking.

They probably thought that saying the wrong thing would earn his ire.

That, too, was infuriating to Cleo.

(I thought I had gathered the elite, but they're all useless incompetents. Perhaps I should have either poached Christiana or disposed of her.)

The assassination of Tia couldn't be carried out because the Emperor had stopped him.

However, hearing about Tia's fierce battle against Hampson, he couldn't help but feel regret.

Cleo issued another order.

"You will all charge. If an army of over a million charges, even Klaus will have no move to make. Quantity is justice, is it not?"

Being told to charge at Klaus, the nobles turned pale.

The soldiers seemed to be afraid as well.

Seeing this, the surrounding crew members realized just how terrifying a knight Klaus was.

"But we can't just charge in without a plan. Please give us some time, at least."

"No. Charge."

After giving the order and cutting the communication, he sat down roughly in his seat.

Watching him from behind was the Guide, perched on the back of Cleo's seat.

"You, who would even use your allies as pawns, are the finest of human resources. As I thought, my eyes did not deceive me."

He nodded to himself in satisfaction.

Cleo's fleet was taking heavy losses, but in terms of numbers, they still outmatched Klaus's fleet.

However, there was one vexing thing.

"Even so, Liam's home planet is truly formidable."

To the Guide's eyes, Liam's home planet appeared to be shining with a golden light.

The planet, enveloped in a faint golden glow, was repelling the Guide's influence.

It was the feelings of the populace, grateful to Liam—and it seemed the distant World Tree was amplifying them.

Klaus's fleet was protected by that blessing, so he couldn't touch them.

However.

"But that will soon be over. As if a blessing alone could protect such a large fleet forever. Besides, Liam is absent right now. I'll take down a single planet with ease."

The Guide, too, was confident of victory.

A short while later, Cleo smiled as he watched his allies, who had resigned themselves to their fate, begin their charge.

"Yes. That's right."

As Cleo looked on happily, the operators began to stir. At first, they spoke in low voices, but gradually their voices grew louder.

After hesitating on whether to report it, the person in charge steeled themselves and informed Cleo—it was about Liam's fleet, which had gone missing.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

"What is it?"

"A very serious problem has occurred."

"Spit it out."

Getting angry at his subordinate for not speaking up quickly, he took a blunt attitude, which made the subordinate shrink even further and stammer.

Was he afraid of being executed if he said the wrong thing? That anxiety was plain to see.

So, a knight standing nearby urged him on.

"Hurry up."

"Y-Yes, sir! Actually, the fleet of Duke Banfield, which had gone missing—I-I mean, Liam's fleet has been found."

Cleo was irritated by the unnecessary correction, but upon hearing that Liam had been found, he hurriedly demanded details.

"He's there?! Where was he? The home planet? In that case, attack with all our might—"

However, Liam was in a different place.

Cleo's eyes widened at the content of the report, delivered by his subordinate with a pale face.

"At the rear supply base!"

Immediately after, a giant beam of light fired from Klaus's army engulfed the allied fleet.

They must have had some secret weapon for defending the home planet, but right now, Cleo couldn't care less.

"Why is Liam in a place like that!?"

Cleo screamed.

At the same time, the Guide was also screaming.

"Liam, you—youuuu!! Why are you in a place like thattt!!"

Finding his supply lines cut off before he knew it, the Guide was also bewildered.

◇

Having used a strategic weapon against the surging enemy fleet, Klaus stood with his arms crossed, a puzzled look on his face.

But those around him were praising him.

The use of the strategic weapon, their trump card, had whittled down a large portion of the enemy fleet at the perfect moment.

They were rejoicing over it.

"The timing was perfect, Your Excellency!"
"The enemy fleet has lost its coordination."
"Let's finish them off in one fell swoop, Your Excellency!"

In contrast to his subordinates, Klaus was calm.

"Why did they launch such a reckless charge? And the enemy fleet's movements are strange. It's as if they've stopped moving."

Even though it was a battlefield, they weren't moving, ignoring their allies who had been damaged by the strategic weapon.

The fleets deployed in the rear were ignoring the allied fleets in front of them.

A knight arrived before Klaus as a messenger.

He had a pained look on his face, and it was clear he had run with all his might.

At the same time, his face was also filled with joy.

Thinking it probably wasn't bad news, he turned his face towards the knight.

"Your Excellency, good news!"

"Is that so? And what is it?"

Hearing this welcome news, Klaus was nonchalantly thinking, "This should raise our allies' morale a bit."

He would soon want to punch himself for that thought, because of the knight's next report.

"Yes, sir! Lord Liam's fleet has struck the supply base established in the enemy's rear! Upon investigation, it seems that was their main supply base, and the others don't have significant capabilities. Lord Liam has cut off the enemy's supply line!"

At that news, those around him were about to cheer—but then they quickly realized, and the staff officers turned pale.

—What is Lord Liam doing?

Klaus was trembling slightly, and one of his subordinates who saw it would later recount.

"Even the great Lord Klaus was trembling at Lord Liam's outrageousness. Even if he's called the Empire's strongest, it just goes to show that Lord Liam was even more amazing."

A few seconds later, Klaus shouted.

"Bring him back! No, dispatch reinforcements immediately! Anyone will do. Send a guerrilla fleet to protect Lord Liam!"

◇

The punitive force's supply base.

The supply base established on the planet was equipped with a spaceport.

In addition to an orbital elevator, several space colonies were floating around the planet.

They were probably producing supplies here as well.

"They must have spent quite a budget to prepare this. To think they did this in such a short time, the Empire really can't be underestimated."

From space, where the wreckage of the Imperial fleet drifted, I looked down at the planet.

The location was the bridge of the Argos.

Using the floor as a monitor, I was gazing at the planet I had acquired.

Just then, Eulisia came running up to me.

"The transport ships from the Henfrey Company and the Newlands Company have arrived. They are rushing to load the supplies."

Looking at Eulisia, I could see the information she had received displayed around her.

The transport convoy led by Thomas and Patrice was carrying out the stockpiled supplies one after another.

"Tell them not to push it and to pull back if the enemy comes."

Eulisia nodded and immediately relayed my order to the companies via her terminal.

One of my subordinates, a soldier, looked at me anxiously.

"Lord Liam, shouldn't you fall back as well? This is enemy territory. The enemy fleet is sure to come surging in to retake the supply base."

I laughed in response to his anxiety.

"So what? Cleo and the others will just find out what happens when they show their backs to Klaus's forces. Tia and Marie are there too. They're persistent, you know."

It's too late for them to retreat and retake the supply base now.

For Cleo and his men, the only path left was to keep advancing and take my territory.

I gave an order to everyone.

"We'll wait on this planet. If the enemy fleet comes, we'll deal with them."

"Are you serious!?"

Eulisia, who had been listening, finished operating her terminal and said something rude.

Questioning my sanity to my face, there's a limit to how disrespectful one can be.

"If it were anyone but you, I'd strike you down on the spot. Think carefully before you speak."

Even though I taught her so politely, it seems Eulisia is incapable of learning.

"Of course I'd question your sanity! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to stay here?! We've already done more than enough, so let's just hurry back!"

The surrounding soldiers nodded in agreement with the teary-eyed Eulisia.

Don't be ridiculous! I have the Guide's blessing! Besides, I have no intention of losing.

In the first place, I don't need the Guide's blessing for a battle like this.

"We wait, we wait! We'll intercept the enemy here. Besides, if we wait, it'll be them who show up."

As I was predicting which enemy fleet would come next, Eulisia seemed to realize it too.

"—The pirate fleet? Do you think they'll come?"

"They'll come. No, they'll be dispatched. Right now, they're the only pieces Cleo has left to move."

I'll thoroughly retaliate against those bastards who rampaged through my territory.

Yes, this is a personal grudge.