The Berkeley family's home base.

There, Kashimiro faced a military officer.

"--I've seen your plan. It's truly excellent. Although, it will require large-scale reforms to defeat that brat from the Banfield family."

The officer was Dolph, who had been promoted to Major.

He had been relegated to a sinecure in the military, but even so, he had climbed the ranks, his sole focus being the defeat of Liam.

And then, Dolph met Kashimiro.

It was a meeting that could be called a coincidence.

Therefore, Dolph was determined to tackle this plan with all his might.

"With all due respect, even this is not enough. Considering time and budget realistically, I have kept it to this extent."

"--Replacing all ships and making major changes to the organization? I've never heard of mass purchases of ships specialized for medium and close range."

Dolph projected an image before Kashimiro.

There, the Banfield family's fleet was displayed.

Their way of trampling over pirates was even terrifying.

"The Banfield family's strength lies in their high level of training and the quality of their equipment."

"Can't you overwhelm them with numbers? They only have about thirty thousand at most, right?"

"Even if we have a hundred thousand, if they execute a concentrated breakthrough, we will suffer significant damage. In the worst case, we might lose our commander. If that happens, it's as good as a defeat."

Dolph's plan was as follows:

"We will lure them into charging, and then engage them at close range. The reason for preparing ships specialized for close and medium range is for this purpose."

He proposed preparing a massive fleet of over a hundred thousand ships, which would be difficult to adapt for other purposes, solely to defeat the Banfield family's fleet.

However, Kashimiro evaluated Dolph.

(Everyone else looked down on that brat and said that if we just matched their numbers, we could win. But this guy. There's no one who takes that brat more seriously and is more wary of him.)

Kashimiro asked a question to test him.

"What will you do if they fight normally with this formation?"

"It is indeed dangerous. However-- it is a sure-win tactic for the Banfield family. Changing a fighting style that has been effective for decades is extremely difficult."

Kashimiro understood that as well.

These were people who had been charging at pirates for decades.

In a way, their charges had reached the realm of art.

Their formations were flawless, and their soldiers were brave beyond fear.

In the most crucial moments, these men would rely on their sure-win charge.

(This is it. There is no one else.)

Dolph passionately argued.

"Certainly, it will cost money and time. But it is a necessary expense to defeat the Banfield family! We will have to replace all ships, and personnel will require training to execute this plan. But they are opponents worth that much! We must not underestimate the Banfield family!"

For Liam alone, the Berkeley family's fleet would become a rigid fleet.

They would be perfectly prepared to counter charges, but weaker in normal combat.

The military officers Kashimiro had met until now only said that if they matched numbers and fought normally, they could win. But Kashimiro believed that wouldn't be enough.

"--Will it be in time? I hear the Banfield family is also strengthening their military."

"I will make sure it is in time. No, we must make it in time! Let's move immediately and secure as many ships as possible!"

Kashimiro made up his mind by Dolph's enthusiasm.

"Very well. Let's do it."

"Thank you! Also, I would like you to gather the pirates."

"What do you say?"

Dolph decided to put pressure on those who would support Liam in this battle.

This was to prevent Liam from receiving reinforcements.

"There are rumors that Liam is forming a regular fleet. I have confirmed this. It seems he intends to use that fleet as his trump card."

How many tens of thousands of ships were in the regular fleet?

Upon hearing this, Kashimiro thought that the pirates wouldn't be able to handle it.

"--There are those within the military who resent Banfield's brat. It wouldn't be a bad idea to gather them."

"Oh, I would certainly appreciate that!"

Patrol fleets, and fallen noble soldiers.

If gathered, they would likely reach tens of thousands of ships.

And it wasn't just military men who would side with Kashimiro.

Merchants – and even the first and second weapon factories offered their assistance.

"Dolph, can you organize a fleet with the gathered military personnel?"

"It is possible. However, I don't think they will be usable. At best, they might serve as decoys."

Dolph also didn't believe the sycophants would be useful.

Kashimiro felt the same.

"I will contact the weapon factories and have them equip them as well."

"Is that alright? The budget will be astronomical. Moreover, those kinds of soldiers will complain and defect if their treatment is even slightly worse."

When told that it wasn't worth spending so much money on disposable assets, Kashimiro dismissed concerns about the budget.

"I don't care! If we're going to do it, do it thoroughly! Even if it costs a bit of money, as long as we can make that brat expend some of his strength, it's fine."

And Kashimiro prepared one more move to perfect his plan.

"Also, the pirates will be bait for the Banfield family."

"Bait?"

"Yes. We will make them fight even more, so that they continue to insist on charging. We want to maintain a situation where they don't doubt that charging is a sure-win tactic."

Dolph broke out in a cold sweat as Kashimiro resolved to win by sacrificing the pirates, but he smiled.

"--That's a brilliant idea. This will bring us one step closer to victory."

Not just the pirates, but merchants, weapon factories – Kashimiro decided to involve them all in the fight against the Banfield family.

The guide, who had been watching from the beginning, applauded.

"--Wonderful. Both of you, do your best to defeat Liam. I will also support you from the shadows."

◇

"What is this--?"

I had requested assignment to a patrol fleet, but somehow multiple regular fleets had been formed.

The view from the bridge of a super-dreadnought exceeding three thousand meters was a magnificent sight of an incredibly numerous, well-organized fleet.

Battleships lined up as far as the eye could see.

A holographic projection appeared in space, and a ceremony was being held to welcome my assignment.

Beside me was Elishia, who had officially been assigned as my副官 (fukukan - adjutant/aide-de-camp), and Marie, who had returned from the special forces.

Wallace was by my side as a reserve bridge crew member.

And--.

"Special Staff Officer, thank you for appointing me as captain! Thank you very much!"

--A large man with spiky short hair genuinely thanked me.

This was Brigadier General Cedric Noah Albarate, who had recently been promoted.

He was the captain of the flagship I was on.

And I, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, had been given the special position of Special Staff Officer.

Incidentally, Cedric was Wallace's half-brother.

However, he was also a prince treated as just another face in the crowd.

Wallace looked exasperated.

"Are you that happy you're crying?"

"Of course! Do you know how painful it is to spend days just patrolling space for no reason! Besides, how did you manage to find such an excellent patron all to yourself!"

Cedric was strangling Wallace, perhaps out of envy.

"Gibe, gibe!"

As the bridge was in such commotion, Tia arrived with the commander.

"Lord Liam, I have brought the commander."

He appeared to be a man in his forties.

He must be quite old.

With current anti-aging technology, looking middle-aged was a sign of longevity.

"Commander, I'll be counting on you."

The other party smiled broadly.

"I never imagined I would be taking care of the currently talked-about Count. Well, I will just do my job."

He wasn't a man who just fawned over me, but if he could be entrusted with a fleet of this scale, he was likely a capable person.

--I should try not to quarrel with him.

I had learned the hard way recently that it's best not to pick fights with troublesome people.

--The Berkeley family.

They were truly persistent.

Tia informed me of the future plans.

"Lord Liam, starting tomorrow, we will be leading the fleet to visit frontier bases."

"Base visits?"

"Yes. It's like a meet-and-greet. We will also be ensuring the safety of the shipping lanes simultaneously."

Leading a large fleet and ensuring the safety of its path, you say?

Normally, this would be done with a smaller fleet, but doing it on this scale seemed quite wasteful.

"Why don't we move separately and head for our destinations? Let's make it a competition. I'll give a bonus to the fleet that arrives first and resolves issues like pirates."

Since I wasn't planning on being serious, I thought about playing a game, but Tia showed a look of displeasure.

"Lord Liam, this is also an opportunity to showcase your authority. Such fleet operations--"

However, someone offered a helping hand.

It was Marie.

"Oh, you can't accommodate Lord Liam's wishes? It's fine. With this scale, it's not wasteful to move as one."

"It is also a place to learn how to operate on this scale. You don't seem to understand."

"Even if we're not always together, we can consolidate just before the goal. You're such a rigid First Knight."

As the two bickered, Cedric was talking with Wallace.

"Your patron's knights seem to be clashing, don't they?"

"It's always like this. You'll get used to it."

Wallace was laughing, but the idea of my First and Second Knights fighting was not funny.

Elishia made a suggestion to me.

"Lieutenant Colonel, is it acceptable to proceed with a competition until just before the destination?"

Things were being decided without regard for the commander.

I looked at the commander, and he shrugged.

"Either way is fine with me. I have no urgent matters, after all."

While the scale was a bit large, it was a fleet I had prepared, so it was probably fine to handle it as I pleased.

"Then it's a competition. Let's see, if you defeat pirates, we'll assign points. Large-scale ones get ten points or something. I'll prepare rewards based on the points."

My whim decided that the game would begin, and I heard that in a meeting of Rear Admirals and above a few days later, the explanation of the rules was lively.

Me? As a corrupt lord, my role is to watch everyone compete.

◇

I arrived at the goal destination – a certain planet – leading a fleet of three thousand ships.

It was an imperial direct territory, designated as a planet under development.

I wondered when the others, with their eyes gleaming for rewards, would arrive at the goal.

Sitting in a luxurious seat on the bridge, I swirled the drink in my glass.

"I'm bored. Wallace, do something entertaining."

"Hmph, you want a one-man show from me? Unfortunately, I've run out of material."

I had made unreasonable demands of Wallace dozens of times.

It seemed he had finally run out of material.

I had spent several days just waiting in an empty space, but it was boring.

"I'm too bored."

I had intended to relax on a luxury liner.

Certainly, the ship's facilities were well-equipped, and there was even a small shopping mall.

There were many non-combatants, and some chain stores had opened.

It was bustling with crews on break or on holiday, and the ship felt like a small colony.

But-- what good would it do for me to play there?

It was boring even in my room.

I had only been practicing sword swings recently.

"Cedric, do an impression."

"Hmph, Count-- I've used up all my repertoire. Also, it would be troublesome if I did impressions of celebrities you don't know, wouldn't it?"

Cedric was also out of material.

All options were exhausted.

Then, Marie made a suggestion to me.

"In that case, how about developing this land? We can put the soldiers to work, and the supply fleet we requested will arrive before our allies join us. How about building a simple spaceport before then?"

Should I play a real-life internal affairs game because I'm bored?

"Alright, get started immediately. What kind of design should we go with?"

Elishia also made a suggestion to me.

"Lord Liam, there are settlers on the ground. If you support them as well, it will be easier to gain their cooperation when we use this place as a transfer base in the future."

To be honest, I wasn't interested in the residents, but since I was bored, I decided to get involved on the ground as well.

In my territory, I had left the future income to Amagi, but it was more interesting to do this myself.

Well, even if it failed, it was imperial territory.

There was no problem.

"Alright, let's work on the ground as well. Wallace, I'll build buildings, so you be the site supervisor."

"Eh~"

I sent the reluctant Wallace to the ground to have him prepare a magnificent government office.

"That's right. Let's build structures and such."

Structures and such are the epitome of waste.

Let's install them with an emphasis on design.

Tia clasped her hands and looked at me.

Her eyes were shining.

"As expected, Lord Liam."

Considering the residents who were being toyed with like a game, I thought it wasn't the time to praise me.

Well, being a corrupt lord means stepping on others.

I'll develop it as I please.

◇

--Liam's fleet annihilated pirates in a certain region.

That was the topic that reached my ears half a year after Liam's official assignment.

The Prime Minister, hearing the news in the capital star, widened his eyes at the report.

"Amazing."

He had dispatched people to investigate the capabilities of Liam's fleet.

He had placed spies within the fleet.

The reports from these individuals were mostly praise for Liam.

One of his subordinates had a relieved look on his face.

"They say they held a competition for pirate hunting, but I'm more pleased that they improved the planet at the rendezvous point. That place was left neglected because the development funds couldn't be secured."

There was a planet that served as the rendezvous point for Liam's fleet competition.

It seemed Liam had made various improvements while waiting there after arriving first.

With the completion of a simple spaceport, future development was also expected.

Indeed, upon hearing of the spaceport's completion, merchants were gathering to do business with Liam.

And on the ground--.

"Hmm, they've placed facilities that are functionally necessary. They have good taste."

Originally, there were no proper facilities on the ground, so anything placed there was appreciated by the residents.

Design was also emphasized, which the Prime Minister found acceptable.

(Eighty points. With experience, he can aim higher. --While he tends to focus on military matters, the Count has become famous for his administrative skills.)

He was originally highly regarded for his administrative skills, but at some point, he became famous for his bravery in hunting pirates.

If left alone, the situation would improve, and the Prime Minister couldn't help but smile.

However-- the Prime Minister was not the type to trust people completely.

"With such achievements, the military should be satisfied. Promote the Count to Colonel. Give him a medal as well."

"Is that alright?"

"This much is cheap. Will he be promoted to Brigadier General next year? Before he leaves the military, give him the rank of Lieutenant General."

(Well, he probably won't be happy with just this, so I'll think of something else.)

◇

Brian (´・ω・｀) "Lord Liam seems like he'll be active in both internal affairs and military matters and leave a legend, but it's sad that he himself doesn't realize it."