"That's your plan?" Duke Otto gasped, "Are you, taking Ruthenia like a bone?"

"You say that you are treating those Grand Dukes, Knight Captains, and nobles like dogs, Father, and that is too much. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info" William said with a smile. But Duke Otto had no interest in continuing with him.

He was muttering to himself—William's whole plan now seemed clear.

After a big battle with the Dark Elves, the centaurs will lose a lot regardless of whether they win or lose. Their most important and richest region, Tronica, and its valuable ports will be looted by the Dark Elves.

Then, turning their heads, they would find that hundreds of thousands of Gothic knights and crusaders had occupied their original plate, which was Ruthenia.

And after the occupation of Ruthenia, like all the crusaders and knightly madmen. They will never settle for a kingdom. They will be like the Gothic knights of hundreds of years ago, desperately expanding under the banner of religion. To the north, attack the Slavians, and to the south, attack the centaurs.

Whether the centaurs want to or not, they have to face each other's attacks. Even. If the Crusaders had been smarter and had teamed up with the Dark Elves to flank the north and south, the Tronika Interior would have suffered as well. Tartaria, which was attacked by two groups of men and horses, was even at risk of losing its country.

"It's just too ...... It's as if you just did a little bit and the whole border war became different. Duke Otto said to William in words that he did not know whether to praise or reproach.

"No, I didn't do much, father, but they did a lot. William replied: "Moreover, I do not think that Tartaria will lose this battle. ”

"Really?"

"Yes. William nodded, "In any case, it is impossible for the dark elves to burn the flames of war into the interior of Tronica. If they dared to do so, the centaurs and nomadic cavalry would have defeated them as easily as the Armenian Wars had done in the savannah.

On this premise. The centaurs only need to replenish their army of 100,000 to be able to crush the dark elves on the Crimean peninsula...... Of course, it is almost impossible for them to recover the Crimean peninsula. ”

"In other words, the dark elves and centaurs will find out in a very short time, and neither of them can help anyone?" asked Duke Otto.

"Yes, that's what it means. And then, my father, guess what they're going to do when no one can help anyone?"

"The Dark Elves will turn the entire Black Sea into their own inner lake. In fact, they're already doing it...... And after that, they will be able to draw more forces to the blue sea in the south. At the same time, trade, transport in the Black Sea will also strengthen their power. Although they will deepen the conflict with the centaurs because of this. But they probably won't care about that. ”

"And after that, the centaurs found out that they could not reclaim the Crimean peninsula in any case without naval support," said Duke Otto. They naturally shift their goals. After reserving a small number of troops to confront the centaurs, they will consider détente with the centaurs. Because the maritime trade of the Black Sea was something that the Tartariya Khanate could never afford to lose in any case. ”

After saying this, Duke Otto frowned: "They meet and. And the initiative is in the hands of the dark elves, because they have the right to control the sea, and they also pinch the aorta of the Tartarya Khanate. ”

"Yes. William nodded: "Then guess again, after Sarida Khan suffered such a big loss, who will be the target of his venting?"

"Of course it's you. Duke Otto replied: "That's why you put knights and crusaders in Ruthenia?!"

"They were knights and crusaders. They were supposed to fight the heretics, weren't they?" replied William, "Otherwise, what is the point of their existence?"

"I'm not sure it's a good thing to do. But...... Maybe we can go with the Crusaders...... Let's go. ”

"Yes, for power, for a Ruthenia that is doomed to lose. You are a hero, you are also the commander of a partial division of the coalition army, and you have just won a victory against Sarida Khan. At this point you say you want to act with the crusaders. So, father. Do you want to be the king of Ruthenia?"

"I never thought to do that. Duke Otto said.

"Yes, of course, you certainly didn't think to do that. But who will believe what you say but you, me?"

"......" Duke Otto was silent for a moment, and then couldn't help but say, "But that's my responsibility!"

"No, father," said William, in no uncertain terms, "it is not your responsibility, but mine—I chose to provoke the dark elves, I chose to tell Sarida Khan the truth, and the whole affair went according to my plan, according to my steps. If there is any loss for the crusaders to lose, then the responsibility lies with me!"

"But I am your father!" cried Duke Otto.

"But I'm eighteen years old! Moreover, a small child has planned the whole world, including the two most powerful human enemies in the world, countless nobles and knights, and the number of armies involved is half a million...... A small kid orchestrated the whole ...... Well...... The conspiracy, yes, orchestrated this conspiracy. Do you think this is possible?! I'm eighteen years old! I have much better brains and skills than you! Even the Duchy of Mystia, your dukedom was obtained under my scheme! Father! The responsibility is mine! You don't have to feel guilty, you don't have to feel guilty. Or, if you have to do something......"

William said this as he unsheathed his sword: "Then please kill me." ”

Otto was moved.

He picked up William's sword, looked at the very familiar and strange son in front of him, shook his head, and sighed: "I told you before that conspiracy is not enough to rely on. ”

"Yes. You said it. William nodded in response.

"You promised me then. Otto continued.

"Yes, I promised you, I lied. I love that feeling. Very much. ”

"......" Duke Otto grasped the hilt of his sword: "To be honest, I like honest children. ”

"Yes, all people like honest kids, but I'm not honest. And I'm not a kid either. William replied.

"But...... You are my son. Duke Otto sighed: "Whatever you did wrong, ......" He threw the sword back on the table: "Do you know how I broke up with your mother?"

"I can guess a little. Also, I don't want to know anything like that. ”

"Forget it. Duke Otto sighed, then closed his eyes: "This is the end of the matter. You didn't tell me anything, and I don't know anything. The new Circassian army is the army you formed. Do what you want. ”

“...... Thank you, Father. William stood up and bowed to Duke Otto: "Thank you for being able to forgive me. ”

"I didn't forgive you, I just couldn't help you. Duke Otto closed his eyes and waved his hand: "Let's go." I want to be alone. ”

"Yes, Father. William picked up the sword on the table, turned around, and walked out of Duke Otto's tent.

June. The war between centaurs and the dark elves is heating up. The two sides fought fiercely on the Perekop Isthmus for more than a month. Several battles were held.

The centaurs came close to making it to Crimea, and the Dark Elves came close to making it north into Tronica.

However, neither side succeeded, nor did the other succeed.

The war looks like it can go on indefinitely.

In this case, it's like what William thought. Needless to say, the greedy, short-sighted, forgetful, and crazy crusaders, the nobles and knights couldn't stand it.

Both the native aristocrats and the crusaders in the interior of the empire were eager to try.

The deputy head of the Gothic Knights, Sibeland, and his knights were the most impatient and the first to act.

They could not wait to cross the Vistula with 10,000 lone troops, and without heading north, they joined the army of Duke Otto, and went straight into Ruthenia.

Ruthenia, which had already been plowed by the centaur army, was powerless to stop the advance of the Gothic Knights of Sibeland. In fact, the current Ruthenia is basically an undefended state. In a very short period of time, Sibeland annexed a large amount of land, villages, castles and towns.

The fly in the ointment is that because of the previous raid of the centaurs, Cibolland did not gain much.

However, the income of these territories alone was enough for him to enjoy for a while.

Ciberland's success greatly stimulated others, especially the knights, nobles, and crusaders under Duke Otto. They demanded that Duke Otto send troops quickly, preferably to Kiev as quickly as possible, and occupy the city. Many people have explicitly or implicitly proposed to Duke Otto that as long as Kiev is captured, then Duke Otto can be crowned King of Ruthenia.

However, Duke Otto refused.

He declared that he was only protecting his family, his country, and the Gothic people from the persecution of heretics and heretics. He didn't have the heart to gain fame and fortune. After this, Duke Otto returned to the west bank of the Vistula River with his army.

His performance was expected. But not everyone is like him. The news reached Krakow. Everyone couldn't sit still. The four Grand Dukes of Wende rushed to advance towards Ruthenia with their armies, tens of thousands of troops, and more than a dozen crusaders were desperately trying to annex Ruthenia's territory. In the process, some people even lamented that since the Lord of Radiance created the world, it has never been easier to annex land......