Liam's mansion on the Banfield family's capital planet.

There, Rosetta, the acting head of the family, was receiving a report from Klaus.

"The enemy's main force is attacking?"

"Yes. Several of our defensive strongholds have been breached. Based on the enemy fleet's projected course, there is no doubt they are heading for the Banfield family's capital planet."

The General Staff's prediction of the enemy's target—the Banfield family's capital planet—had been correct.

"Is the number really three million?"

"We estimate a minimum of three million ships. It appears reinforcements have arrived, and the main force is larger than initially anticipated."

Klaus reported this matter-of-factly, but he seemed more tense than usual.

From Klaus's demeanor, Rosetta predicted a difficult battle. She looked down before raising her head.

"I'll ask you directly. Can we win?"

Rosetta's question wasn't about feelings or fighting spirit.

Klaus sensed this and answered honestly.

"It would be a miracle if we won. I advise you to evacuate, Lady Rosetta."

Hearing this, Rosetta steeled her resolve.

"—Is there still no contact with my darling?"

"No. However, we have not heard any information that Lord Liam has been defeated. If he had been, the enemy would surely be broadcasting it."

They were in a situation where they couldn't contact Liam.

In this case, it was Rosetta's duty to decide on an evacuation.

However, Rosetta had reasons she couldn't evacuate.

"Information is circulating from the enemy army that they have defeated my darling."

The expeditionary force had been spreading information that they had struck down Liam, who was moving about the battlefield.

Klaus denied it.

"It's false. If Lord Liam were defeated, it would be announced with great fanfare throughout the Empire. The fact that they haven't done so means it's likely a lie."

Defeating Liam would be a great achievement in the current Empire.

They would announce it grandly and praise Cleo.

The reason they weren't doing so was that they hadn't truly defeated Liam.

If it were revealed to be a lie after the announcement, the Empire's credibility would plummet.

Therefore, unless they had conclusive evidence, it wouldn't be announced in the Empire.

"The problem is that bad rumors are spreading among the populace. In fact, on the capital planet, the government office is being flooded with a constant stream of inquiries about his safety as people seek the truth."

Klaus's expression turned bitter.

He must have guessed what Rosetta was trying to say.

"—Nevertheless, as a knight of the Banfield family, I must say this. As long as you, Lady Rosetta, and Lord Edward are alive, the Banfield family can be rebuilt any number of times."

At the words of Klaus, the head knight, Rosetta gave a sad smile.

"If I were to leave the capital planet, the people would panic. The military wouldn't want that, would they?"

"But—"

If the populace were to cause a disturbance on the very capital planet they were supposed to protect, the effects would reach even the military.

From Klaus's position, he couldn't wish for that.

Rosetta announced her decision.

"I will remain on the capital planet to reassure the people. However, I will proceed with preparations for Edward's escape. I'll be counting on you when the time comes."

If Klaus were to be defeated, Rosetta would share the fate of the capital planet.

Hearing Rosetta's resolve, Klaus also steeled his own.

"—Yes, my lady."

◇

After ending the communication, Klaus spoke to the knights and military officers gathered around him.

"We will intercept the Imperial Army's main force."

He muttered this without showing any expression, and those around him, sensing his resolve, replied.

"Sir!"

They were to face a grand fleet of at least three million, but the defense of the Banfield capital planet consisted of only six hundred thousand ships.

They had dispatched a reserve fleet to the planet Tia was defending, leaving them with fewer ships than they should have had.

Klaus considered what he could do.

(My duty as commander is to not let those around me feel anxious. I've entrusted the deployment of defensive installations to my most capable people. The fleet's positioning and its commanders have also been left to my reliable subordinates. If this fails, then the responsibility is all mine.)

He had done everything he needed to do.

Klaus was anxious about his own abilities, but fortunately, he had excellent subordinates.

He had resigned himself to the fact that his job was to place competent people in command and support them.

Just then, a communication came in from his reliable subordinates.

The faces displayed in the small windows projected in the air belonged to the subordinates Klaus had relied on countless times on the battlefield.

"Your Excellency, you failed to persuade Lady Rosetta, I see."
"How unlike you, Your Excellency."
"This is a time to praise Lady Rosetta for her spirit."

The subordinates making lighthearted jokes were all commanders, each leading tens of thousands of ships.

They were reliable subordinates who had been dragged along by Liam's unreasonable demands time and again, overcoming difficulties each time.

"Joking at a time like this... I'm impressed by your nerve."

(No, really, you guys are amazing. You're better suited to be commander-in-chief.)

Facing subordinates more capable than himself, Klaus, while knowing it was impossible, wished they could take over as commander-in-chief even now.

Well, he understood it was impossible and could predict the chaos it would cause if he said it.

Therefore, he would never say it out loud.

"It's only three million. We have the home-field advantage and are on the defensive. Plus, Your Excellency has established an ironclad defense just as we requested."

Because he had adopted the opinions of his capable subordinates when deploying the defensive installations, it was an easy battlefield for them to fight on.

"If you think of it as a five-to-one disadvantage, we can definitely push them back. Besides, if we can wear them down by twenty to thirty percent, the enemy should retreat."

Klaus was relieved by his subordinate's words, which implied this was nothing to worry about.

"You're all very reassuring."

Then, the last person furrowed his brow and voiced a question.

"Still, what I don't understand is the Empire moving such a massive force. With this, nearly all their fleets are in a state of combat. What's happening with the Imperial Army's supply lines?"

Klaus had also noticed the point his subordinate raised.

"They must be that confident in their supply lines. Lord Liam said he would strike the enemy's supply base, but this suggests they may have secured several."

It seemed that even if Liam struck one supply base, it wouldn't significantly change the situation.

Still, it wouldn't be meaningless.

However, there was one thing Klaus wanted to say.

"—I really wish he would have stayed on the capital planet and commanded quietly. Why does he have to go to the front lines?"

At Klaus's complaint, his long-time subordinates gave him sympathetic looks.

In the first place, it was Liam's fault for going to the front lines despite being the commander-in-chief.

"We sympathize with your plight."
"Isn't it a sign of his trust in you, Your Excellency?"
"The gossips are saying that you're working Lord Liam to the bone, Your Excellency."

At the last person's words, Klaus's expression twisted slightly.

"That's a terrible thing to say."

(I try my best to stop him, but he just says he's fine and pushes through.)

◇

Meanwhile.

There was also movement on the planet Tia was defending.

"The Imperial Army's offensive has intensified."

Commanding from the fortress, Tia could feel the enemy strengthening their assault.

The data actually showed it as well.

Her adjutant seemed to be on edge.

"Several of our defensive installations and strongholds have been rendered completely useless. If the enemy's offensive gets any stronger, it will be dangerous."

Her allies were also growing timid in the face of the enemy's attack.

But Tia was different.

The corners of her mouth turned up.

"The enemy commander is Marquis Hampson, wasn't it?"

The adjutant couldn't grasp Tia's intention, but he answered her question, recalling the information he had researched beforehand.

"Yes. He is the head of a marquis house entrusted with the Empire's border. He has extensive combat experience and has participated in many large-scale wars. But, Lady Tia, you already knew that, didn't you?"

Tia, who began to chuckle, could sense Hampson's impatience.

"I've got his fighting style drilled into my head. That's why I found this move suspicious."

"Huh?"

Ignoring her clueless adjutant, Tia issued an order.

She declared it with more confidence and composure than before.

"If we can hold out here, victory will be in sight. Endure until then!"

◇

On the Banfield family's capital planet, an emergency announcement was being made from the government office.

A large screen was projected in the sky, and the notice was delivered as an emergency broadcast to the terminals held by the citizens.

Rosetta's figure was there.

"Today, we received a report from the military that the Imperial Army's main force is advancing towards this planet. We ask that everyone please remain calm and not panic."

It was an announcement that a large army was bearing down on the capital planet, and at the same time, a plea not to cause a disturbance.

In response to the announcement, the territory had conversely become frantic.

Some citizens were starting to flee, and there were even those who started a movement, believing now was the time to cooperate with the Empire and win their freedom.

The majority of the citizens just thought it was the same familiar faces causing a ruckus again.

And in a tavern, a calm-looking master and a regular customer were talking across the counter.

"How nostalgic. Was it over a hundred years ago? Something like this happened."

The master, polishing a glass, seemed tense but was as calm as usual.

The customer was the same, but he was smiling.

"That was back during the time of the Goaz Space Pirates. Back then, I finally resigned myself to death and regretted chugging my favorite liquor without even savoring it."

Looking outside the shop, he could see the figures of the flustered citizens.

Most of them were young, people who didn't know what it was like back then.

The older adults were calming them down.

The master held up a glass to the light of the shop, checking if there were any spots he missed while polishing.

"Our Lord is on the front lines, as always, it seems. It was the same back then."

"In the Empire, the nobles are the first to run, but that man is a real eccentric, isn't he?"

"In his place, his wife is staying behind, I suppose."

"Master, the usual."

The customer ordered a drink from the master, even though it was daytime.

It was still before opening hours, but the master served him the drink.

"Here you go."

The customer who received it downed it in one gulp and placed the empty glass on the countertop.

"The young'uns don't understand a thing. Same goes for the folks who moved here from elsewhere."

"That's right."

As the master agreed, the customer, his face flushed, said.

"A hundred years ago, it was much worse than this. And still, our Lord drove the enemy back. But what about now? We have Sir Klaus and so many other reliable people. I wish they'd wait until we're in a real pinch before making a fuss."

Hearing this, the master gave a troubled laugh and agreed.

"That's right. You're absolutely right."

"Right? After all, it's our Lord we're talking about. You think he'd lose to something like this?"

For the citizens who had lived on the Banfield family's capital planet for a long time, neither Liam's absence nor the Imperial Army turning against them was something to fear.

If there was a problem, it was—

"But you know, our Lord really needs to calm down a bit."

As the customer said this while slumping over the counter, the master burst out laughing in agreement.

"No doubt about it!"