"The Empire has not only failed to repay the Banfield family's loyalty, but has sent a punitive force against us! Can this be called justice? Absolutely not!"

On the Banfield family's capital planet, there is a plaza used for outdoor ceremonies.

Speaking in that more-than-spacious venue is me—Liam Sera Banfield.

Under the blue sky, from a prepared stage, I am addressing the populace with grand gestures.

How just this war is—and how wrong our enemies are.

Humans are creatures who can become their most cruel the moment they believe they are on the side of justice.

That is precisely why a just cause is necessary.

"Remember the war with the Kingdom of Hextra! We fought with all our might, showing our devotion to the Empire without even accepting a reward. But what did the Empire do for us?"

I declare to the citizens listening to my speech.

"They did nothing. They did not respond to our devotion; instead, they accused us of treason and treated us like traitors. Is this justice? Who is the evil one here?!"

When I ask, the populace answers.

"The Empire!!"

After hearing the cries of the people, I hold out my hand.

At that, the voices of the populace begin to quiet down.

Once they've settled, I continue.

"Cleo, whom I helped raise to the position of Crown Prince, betrayed us. This is the very definition of repaying kindness with evil. But I endured. I endured, thinking it couldn't be helped, and I even accepted the deployment to the Kingdom of Hextra. I accepted no reward and have endured and endured."

As I act as if I'm speaking from a pained heart, I can hear voices of concern from the populace.

Our lord is not at fault.

Lord Liam is not at fault.

The Banfield family is not at fault—they say.

I was desperately trying to hold back my laughter.

Not at fault at all? That's a lie.

I've been preparing for rebellion to answer the fight they picked with me.

The Empire is evil, but so am I.

Confirming that the people's anger was directed at the Empire, I raise my head and declare.

"The Empire has sent a grand fleet of six million ships. But there is no need to fear! This is the Banfield family's territory—our backyard. We will not let them have their way! I swear here and now that we will crush the Imperial army and achieve victory!"

The populace responds to my words with thunderous applause!

—But the world isn't so naive.

The reason no one has voiced any opposition so far is that I've planted shills among the crowd of citizens.

I had instructed them to shout at the appropriate times.

For Kukuri and the others in the black ops unit, this sort of thing is child's play.

Flipping my cape, I leave the stage, and a bureaucrat takes my place to give a detailed report.

He's explaining what will happen next and what the populace should do.

When I head backstage, Marie is waiting there.

Kukuri is there as well.

I take off my cape and hand it to Marie as I walk, and the two of them follow me.

As usual, Marie showers me with praise.

"That was a wonderful speech."

"Anyone could have done the same. In fact, it's almost frightening how easily the populace can be manipulated."

As I was thinking what a bunch of fools they were for being so easily incited, Kukuri looked awkward.

"Lord Liam, I have a report."

"What is it?"

I was in a good mood and ready to listen to Kukuri, but she seemed somewhat troubled.

"It's a report from the shills we planted. They said there was no need for them to shout at all."

"—Hmm?"

I stop and look at Kukuri, and she provides more detailed information.

"They said there was no need to manipulate them. It seems the people's morale was high from the start."

"Why?"

Unable to understand, I stop, and Marie places a hand on her cheek, looking captivated.

"As expected of a planet ruled by Lord Liam. This is a result of your daily conduct—proof that you are a wise ruler, Lord Liam."

Looking at the delighted Marie, I'm just exasperated.

—If I were truly competent, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation in the first place.

This is all a result of my own actions.

I picked a fight with the Empire because I didn't like them.

Cleo's betrayal is irrelevant.

It's just one more enemy.

"Are my subordinates and my people all fools? —Hah, Kukuri, proceed with our future plans as scheduled."

"Yes, sir."

After replying, Kukuri vanishes as if sinking into the ground.

Marie follows behind me and reports on her fleet.

"Lord Liam, I too will be leaving the capital planet tomorrow. Since I've been entrusted with one of our key strongholds, I will defend it to the very end."

Marie has her share of problems, but she's a competent individual capable of leading a large-scale fleet into battle.

For that reason, I've entrusted her with one of our key strongholds.

"Was your fleet ready in time?"

"—Yes."

Marie replies with a smile, seeming satisfied with the state of the elite fleet she commands.

The fleet that was founded while I was traveling incognito has now become Marie's elite fleet.

"Make sure you command the local fleets properly, too."

"Leave it to me. —And also, Lord Liam."

Before Marie can ask for anything, I give her an answer. I already know what she wants, so there's no need to even ask.

"Upon our victory in this battle, you will also join the Numbers."

It seems my answer was correct, as Marie was quietly burning with fighting spirit.

The one she sees as her rival is undoubtedly Tia.

So, I make sure to give her a warning, just in case.

"—I know you're competing with Tia."

"Y-Yes."

I glared at the flustered Marie after mentioning Tia's name.

The problem with these two is that they'll run wild if I don't scold them moderately.

"This time, you will quietly follow Klaus's orders. I've also told Tia not to interfere with you. —Don't disappoint me by getting in each other's way during this battle."

I don't expect to lose, but I can't stand having our victory tarnished.

Marie seemed to brace herself, her expression turning serious.

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. —Also, before you leave, go see Rosetta and Edward. Rosetta was concerned about you."

"Oh, thank you very much."

◇

The punitive force that departed from the Imperial Capital Planet grew even larger as it approached the Banfield territory.

They resupplied at Imperial planets along the way, siphoning off almost all of their stored supplies.

To maintain the grand fleet of six million ships, many times that number of spaceships and battleships were in motion.

And on a planet they stopped at along the way, Cleo was receiving a warm welcome.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is a great honor for our house that you have stopped by."

"Is that so."

Sitting in an ornate, luxurious chair, he drank the finest liquor prepared by the viscount.

A single glass of this expensive liquor cost as much as one of the viscount's subjects would earn in a lifetime.

The nobles and military officials supporting Cleo, who were lined up there, emptied bottle after bottle, drinking without even savoring it.

Cleo also downed his in one go, but Hampson, sitting in a nearby seat, was drinking with relish.

Finding it unfitting for his boorish demeanor, Cleo asked.

"Hampson, I thought you were a much rougher man."

Hampson smiled wryly and glanced at the viscount.

The viscount's face was a little pale as he watched the expensive liquor and food being consumed one after another. It wasn't just the food and drink.

The Empire would pay for it, but the situation was that the territory's stockpiled supplies were being completely plundered.

The more decent a lord was, the more his stomach would ache.

He could use the payment to buy more from somewhere, but prices in the Empire were already soaring.

If he wasn't careful, he would end up with a net loss.

Knowing this, Hampson raised his glass to the viscount.

"I thank you for your hospitality, Viscount. I shall remember you."

"I am grateful for your kind words."

Cleo watched the viscount, who was bowing deeply, with a puzzled look.

Hampson said.

"It seems Your Highness the Crown Prince cannot comprehend the feelings of a rural lord. Did you not learn this from Banfield?"

Thinking of Liam, Cleo scowled.

"By the time I met him, he was already filthy rich."

"I see."

Hampson said nothing more to Cleo.

He understood that even if Cleo could comprehend the feelings of a frontier lord, nothing in the Empire would change.

Tryde joined the conversation.

"Still, it's incredible to see a massive army of six million on the move. They're siphoning supplies from every planet they visit. It seems some of them are even running rampant, though?"

The target of Tryde's gaze was General Kozmo.

Despite noticing, he feigned ignorance.

"There are some bad apples out there, aren't there."

Cleo was also aware of the looting taking place on the planets they visited.

"General Kozmo, don't earn too much before the main event."

However, it seemed he had no intention of pursuing the matter.

Kozmo cheerfully drained his drink.

"If it is Your Highness the Crown Prince's command!"

He probably thought he had been granted some leeway.

Dustin, who was sitting nearby, was eating the served food politely.

"—Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have a request to make."

"What is it?"

"Even if we cannot strike down that Liam, I want the head of his direct disciple. It's the perfect opportunity to make the Roman style of swordsmanship known to the world. —If you find a knight named Ellen Sera Tyler, I want you to let me know."

He proposed to market the Roman style as the one that defeated the One-Flash style.

Cleo accepted this.

"Do as you please. If you succeed, I might even recommend your disciple for the position of Sword Saint."

If his disciple were recommended and became a Sword Saint, the Roman style would become a major school of swordsmanship in the Empire.

Pushing aside the two great schools of swordsmanship, the title of 'the strongest' was now in sight.

Dustin licked his lips.

"In that case, I shall ask for my top disciple."

◇

The Banfield family's spaceport.

Personnel were boarding the grand flagship, the [Argos], one after another.

My beloved machine, Avid, was also loaded, and the time of departure was drawing near.

At the spaceport were Amagi, Brian, and—Rosetta and Edward.

Amagi and Brian stood back behind the two, and Rosetta threw her arms around me.

"May fortune be with you in battle."

Just as I was about to offer a prayer to the Guide as usual, Edward hugged my leg.

"Father, may fortune be with you in battle."

Edward, looking up at me, was probably imitating Rosetta.

He didn't seem to understand what he was saying, nor did he seem to know where I was going.

At a loss, I placed my hand on his head.

"—Well, leave it to me."

I pulled away from the two and headed for the Argos as if to escape.

When I glanced back just once to look at Amagi, Brian was next to her, crying so hard it was off-putting.

Amagi noticed my gaze and gave a light nod.

I raised a hand in response and boarded the Argos with a flourish.