The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

Translator: Pai_

Although there were some issues, in the end, all factions agreed to pour the entire empire's capabilities into the West.

Then the entire empire began to mobilize for the West.

The first to move were the supplies.

A large number of supplies loaded onto airships headed toward the Western Command, which was a tremendous help to the Western Army that had returned from the Northeast to the West.

As the troops and supplies consumed in the battle against the Ancient Species were reorganized, the Western front quickly stabilized.

Additionally, troops from the central and regional areas were drafted little by little and moved to the West.

For the Western Army, which had suffered heavy casualties, it was like rain during a drought.

Once the initial stabilization of the Western front was underway, it immediately led to the next plan.

"The golem factory comes first!"

"I'm telling you, transporting supplies is the priority!"

The Artisans' Union and the Merchants' Union fought until the end, unwilling to give up their own gains, but that was a minor issue.

After all, they could proceed simultaneously.

However, completing the railway took a long time, and constructing a large-scale golem production factory also required considerable time.

Therefore, the government first purchased or leased vacant factories or those deemed relatively necessary.

Also, all of the empire's supplies were first gathered at the central hub.

While repairs were made to existing railways, large-scale railways were simultaneously built in the West to concentrate all logistics toward the central and western regions.

The distribution network that had been destroyed by countless wars began to revive once again.

And with completed golems and heavy equipment deployed to all construction sites, all artisan workshops operated day and night.

Although the core of the projects being carried out in the name of war preparation were the Merchants' Union and Artisans' Union, other sectors also moved busily.

"This doesn't match the cost?"

"What! Embezzling labor costs now?"

By the Governor's directive, the inspection department was greatly reinforced, and most of its personnel were from the Free Union.

With hawk-like eyes, they arrested merchants committing fraud and protected the artisan workers being unfairly exploited.

Merchants and workshops that violated the minimum standards set by the Governor's directive faced immediate and severe sanctions, and if they even ignored that, all their assets were confiscated by the state on the spot.

Some opposed these strong measures, but there was no way they could overcome the current central government, which was even supported by the military.

In this situation, the Nobles' Faction also lent a helping hand.

"I came here to work."

"……Excuse me?"

A middle-aged man who suddenly visited the central government.

The receptionist frowned at the claim that he came to work when things were already hectic, thinking it was some sort of joke.

However, the superior who soon arrived looked at the man in surprise.

A man once famous among the central bureaucrats for his competence had returned.

He had previously left for a provincial post, saying he was fed up with the revolutionary faction's hostility toward nobles, but now he had come back.

And this phenomenon continued, with many competent individuals gathering in the central government including the Governor's Office, leading to a strange situation where, despite being busy with war preparations, things became more manageable than before.

As talented people poured into the government thanks to the persuasion of the Nobles' Faction, the pace of the empire's war preparations accelerated even more.

"Looks like there's nothing left for us to do."

Iron spoke as he looked at the capital, running busier than ever.

"That seems to be the case. Then shall we move to the West now?"

At Faulden's words, Iron gave a small nod.

He was a soldier.

The administration and politics of this place should be left to them, and it was time for him to go fulfill his own duties.

A few days later, after bidding farewell to the Governor, Iron immediately headed for the warp gate to depart for the West.

As he headed for the warp gate with the Intelligence Unit members brought by Faulden, citizens of the empire gathered at the warp gate to see him off.

Many people greeted Iron and shouted for him to protect the empire.

In response to their calls, Iron smiled and bowed his head.

"Take this and please protect the empire! Promise us!"

When a young girl handed over a clumsily made flower bracelet and spoke, Iron received it with a gentle smile.

"Alright. I will surely claim victory and protect the Empire."

As Iron said so, he patted the girl's head.

He then let the girl go to her mother, who had approached hesitantly, and stepped onto the warp gate.

At the moment he entrusted his body to the warp gate, along with the earnest wishes of the citizens asking him to protect the Empire, a bright light enveloped him and transported him to the West.

Following after, Faulden and the Intelligence Unit also moved.

The first place Iron and Faulden visited upon arriving at the Western Command was the central building where the Western Commander resided.

"Welcome!"

As Iron arrived, the Western Commander, German, greeted him warmly.

"It seems the Western Army has been largely restored."

"Thanks to you, life has been bearable lately."

German responded with a gentle smile at Iron's words.

With massive support from the government, the Western Army had recently begun large-scale restoration work on the air force, which had been delayed due to lack of budget.

On top of that, the headquarters itself was undergoing expansion and renovation.

Thanks to that, construction was underway all over the Western Command, and an enormous number of airships were coming and going.

"How is the Holy Alliance?"

"There are no movements yet. However, they continue to deploy troops toward this side."

"To what extent?"

At Iron's question, German answered with a serious expression.

"Ten corps."

"……What?"

Iron thought he had misheard.

Deploying ten corps toward this side when the war hasn't even started yet?

"Are you sure there are no signs that they're about to begin the war?"

"That's right. They're not making any movements within a certain distance. They're just keeping us in check."

Deploying ten corps merely to keep them in check was absurd.

But that wasn't even the main issue.

"The biggest problem is their aerial fleet."

As the Western Commander said so, he showed Iron the reconnaissance report from the Western Army's scout unit.

"This is……"

"It's not confirmed yet. But considering the continuous reports coming in……"

"Is there another aerial fleet like the one in the photographs?"

"That's what we're estimating."

Iron's expression turned grave at the Western Commander's suggestion that there might be another of the Holy Alliance's aerial fleets, which had already shocked him when he read the Governor's report.

"To think that while ten corps have already gathered, a large-scale aerial fleet is also on the move……"

"On top of that, corps-level forces continue to be deployed toward this side."

At the Western Commander's words, Iron wore a serious expression.

"If they're ready, they plan to crush the Empire's Western front in one go."

"That seems to be the case."

At this rate, once the war began, it would be a certain defeat.

Although troops were being gathered from all regions of the Empire, it was difficult to call them elite forces.

Moreover, the Western Army's air force was barely enough to handle even one of the Holy Alliance's aerial fleets.

"No matter what…… it seems dangerous to just leave things as they are."

"I think so too."

The Western Commander nodded as if agreeing with the sentiment.

"I think we'll need help from the Eastern Army."

"The eastern army?"

"That's right. Take a look at this map."

The Western Commander spread out a map and looked at the terrain where the sea near the Holy Alliance was located.

"The capital of the Holy Alliance, Saintrea, is close to the sea. When they were still a holy state, they fortified these islands to keep the Empire's Eastern Army and the southern kingdoms' navies in check. They tried to make up for their weak navy by fortifying the islands."

Iron tilted his head slightly at German's explanation.

Then he looked at the photos of the fortresses attached to the map.

"Huh?"

"Looks familiar, doesn't it?"

"This is……"

As German spoke with a gentle smile, Iron looked at him with surprised eyes.

"The core of the aerial fleet is the fortified islands. I suspect one of those fortress islands is its true form."

"Ah…"

"If I had to guess, the fortresses on the two most important islands here were most likely turned into aerial fortresses."

As German said so, he showed Iron a comparison between the footage taken by the reconnaissance unit and the photos on the map.

There were indeed some clear similarities.

"In the past, during the time of the Holy State, they installed all sorts of sacred artifacts and devices on the fortified islands to block the sea. It seems they used those to create aerial fortresses… What if we used that to our advantage?"

"Used them… could it be!"

Iron widened his eyes and looked at German.

"They turned the two key fortresses guarding Saintrea into aerial fortresses and sent them here? Then what about the sea?"

"Indeed…"

Iron nodded, acknowledging the logic behind German's words.

"But isn't it different now? The Holy Alliance has devoured surrounding nations and strengthened its navy. And we don't know what kind of weapons or naval forces they currently possess."

"That's true. But even just putting pressure on them with the continent's strongest navy should be enough to split their forces, shouldn't it?"

At German's words, Iron fell into thought.

"The Eastern Army's power is restricted in the Northeast anyway. In that case…"

"Yes. Redeploying them to the East, I agree. But… applying pressure like that… it's very risky."

Iron looked at the map.

For the Eastern Army to pressure Saintrea, they would need to go around the South, which was too far, and supplying them with resources would be extremely difficult.

"That's not the only way to look at it."

"Ah!"

German pointed his finger toward the South.

Come to think of it, most of the southern region of the continent was now Imperial territory.

And the Great Forest was also part of the Empire now…

"We could build strategic supply bases."

"Exactly. As long as the supplies are properly maintained, who could easily defeat the continent's strongest navy?"

At German's words, Iron smiled gently.

"Are you convinced now?"

"Yes!"

"Then it's alright for me to contact the Northeast, yes?"

"What? You haven't contacted them yet?"

At Iron's question, German smiled gently.

"I needed your permission first."

"Why…?"

"Why do you think? As agreed upon in the Northeast, you're the center of the military, aren't you?"

"Wasn't that just something the central government said so I wouldn't lose spirit?"

At Iron's words, German laughed as if he found it amusing.

"Do you think the commanders are fools? Do you really think they handed over all military power to you just to keep up your morale?"

"Hmm…"

"After you left, we agreed. To seat you as the first marshal, a position above all commanders."

"Ah…"

At the Western Commander's words, Iron stared blankly at him.

"You didn't know?"

"……No."

"Hah! These people really do have tight lips."

German genuinely admired Iron, who still hadn't been told.

He had honestly thought the moment the decision was made, someone would rush to inform Iron, but the commanders had kept their mouths shut.

"Marshal…"

"I thought the commanders would recommend it to the Governor while you were in the capital… but it looks like they'll go with the original plan."

"The original plan?"

"Yes."

The Western Commander responded with a gentle smile at Iron's question.

"When the next Apocalypse begins, that's when they'll officially appoint you as Marshal."

At German's words, Iron steadied his pounding heart and forcibly shifted the topic with a composed expression.

"Let's… let's talk about that later."

"Haha! Very well."

"Phew… if we're going to use the Eastern Army to apply pressure, then all that's left is to strengthen the forces we have right now."

The government had already made all decisions regarding weapons and fortresses.

That meant there was only one thing left for him to do here.

Train the soldiers gathered from each region.

"My task is to train the troops."

"You? Leave that to the Western Army. You should focus on making a full recovery."

At German's words, Iron shook his head.

As he said, although his body had not fully recovered yet, it was something he could manage well enough while training the soldiers.

"Commander, please focus on rebuilding the air force. I will take full responsibility for training and managing the soldiers."

"The main forces of the Mobile Field Army should all be in the Northeast, shouldn't they?"

"There are still troops left, aren't there? For your information, even the remaining forces of our Mobile Field Army are elite."

At Iron's confident words, German smiled and nodded.

"I admit it. All of your troops are elite."

"So please trust me and leave it to me."

"Hoho… Alright. If needed, feel free to use the Western Army as well. If it's you, I'll approve it all."

As German spoke generously, Iron smiled gently and nodded.

"I won't hesitate to do so."

***

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