325 MULTI-FACETED SCHEME

And Eric also had new info that made him more confident of his guess. 

He had got news from his spies that the same day that the army of Veranis move toward the Ethylred Plain, the Holy office of the Pope of Holy Zun empire, the throne room of the Savillia and the in the Fabled Forest of the Elves, there is a letter addressed to these rulers.

Zeus did not know what the content of these letters but he is sure it is the words in those letters that had contribute to the current situation.

He sighed deeply as he looks at the many residences below the city wall and said

'Does this mean we have to move according to his plan? I don't like this feeling of being controlled by someone'

Eric nodded, understanding Zeus intention.

'Then we have to wait' 

'How long?' 

Eric was silent for a while and then he said 

'I am trying to negotiate with the Church' 

'The Church?' Zeus face changes expression and the he said

'Be careful of losing everything' Eric understood what Zeus is talking about. The kingdom of Veva is blessed by the Gods of Olympus. They are the unofficial protector of the faith. 

But to the mortal world, it is Vanheim that is the official protector of the faith. Eric action might have angered the Gods since the Church god is different from theirs.

Whatever the case, Zeus remind Eric not to go overboard.

'You want them give way for us?'

'They could take Nero and we could take Duvar' Eric said. Zeus frowned.

'I doubt they would accept'

'I know' Eric said. Hearing this Zeus frowned. 

'If you know they won't accept, why negotiate with them?' Eric then replied

'Because I need to know their thoughts'

'Their thoughts?' Zeus look at Eric. Eric then said

'Walk with me' Zeus nodded and they both walk around the trail of the city wall.

Then Eric began speaking 

'Since Ariana return, it appears that she wanted to retake back Nero. But Nero is not so easily taken like before'

At this Zeus had to agree. 

In the past Nero is easily taken. 

That have to do with their Senate hall late action in mobilizing their army, the different interest of the Senators, and their soldiers who lacks not only in quantity but also in quality.

Eric then said

'The Nero Republic knows what they were lacking was order and discipline. During the absence they manage to slowly patch up their flaws' 

'It is quite impressive when you think about it. They truly have learned from their mistake. They built high walls, buy and put up magical weapons all over the ramparts, and trained their soldiers' 

'Their Senate hall is no longer debating on things for hours. They created a system where when the Republic is in danger, they would give the controlling power to one person so that one person could lead them out of the danger.'

Zeus then said

'That is a recipe for disaster if I ever saw one' Eric nodded but he then said

'Desperate times, desperate measures. That would be preferable than being subjugated gain under the Holy Zun Empire. They could be considered completely reliant in Vanheim. They make sue of each other'

'Vanheim allow themselves to be used because they did not yet have the plan to move westward. But once they decided to go west, then you would see that Nero Republic probably have no resistance that they could offer. I would not spoke to you of matter of Vanheim and Nero Republic since things had not deteriorated until that point. I will talk only about things that is related to Duvar'

Zeus nodded and Eric continues his word

'Not to mention the Holy Empire of Vanheim supported and supply Nero with weapons. Any failures of Holy Zun Empire are a victory of Vanheim. And Nero Republic borders with Niovar. Niovar could be considered the territory of King James and not the Empire. The only thing that King James did not do is declare independence. Nero is wooed by the Emperor and King of Niovar. But all of Niovar is practically under King James control. As such, Holy Zun Empire knew that trying to take Nero Republic by force would not be as easy as before. Because then they would have to be neighbor with King James. With King James desire for the Imperial throne, he might decide to throw caution into the wind and win more territory for the Empire and raise his status in the Empire by military expedition.

'So?' Zeus asked

'If Holy Zun Empire suddenly change their mind about taking Nero, there is many things that they could do to change the status quo' Eric said

'How?'

'We could take Duvar and they could take a chunk of Alfhaim kingdom'

Zeus think about it for a moment. He halted his steps and Eric also halted his step. He thinks for a moment

And he thinks of the other complication that could happen for such arrangement but the more he thinks the more he felt his head feeling pain. 

He was never the type of generals that is like Aero who plan every step of the way leading to the conclusion of victory. 

He was the instinctive type of general, able to turn the tide of losing in the battlefield to a victory.

Eric knows Zeus did not know why he wanted to do such thing, so he had to explain.

'Aero set Duvar as a bait because he knows many people wanted it. I don't blame him for using it.'

Eric of course did not say something else. There are not many strategists in this world that make an entire kingdom as a bait.

This kind of strategist and boldness could only come from Aero

Kyle is not capable of such thing. 

He lacks the authority and lacks the information of the western kingdoms to create such a strategy that made one unable to move and doing anything

They both walk again

Eric then continue saying

'The bait is very tempting. Especially for us. But the more it is tempting for us, the more we should not have taken it. Because that would mean we would fall into his scheme'

Eric sighed and then said 

'Falling into his scheme would make whatever we wanted to do after that under his calculation. Even if we manage to take Duvar and managed to keep it, since we are already under his plan, then we would never easily get the world'

Zeus look at Eric and he smiles a bit. It is clear how much danger Aero represented in Eric mind for him to praise the enemy like this

Yes, to Zeus, Eric fear toward Aero scheme is a form of compliments. Eric clearly did not know what Zeus is thinking as Eric continue by saying

'The Savillia and Alfhaim also wanted Duvar but of course for a different reason. I doubt Savillia kingdom wanted to fight with Vanheim by taking Duvar. If this was before, they would not dare since Veranis acted like a vanguard' 

'But now Veranis is pointing their spear to Vanheim, so things had changed. Savillia might take Duvar not only to expand their territories but also to link up with Alfhaim' 

'From there they would probably restore their military might and while they could not fight against us in a decisive battle, they could move eastward and tackle the Veranis territory. 

'When they are big enough, they might even take the position of Veranis and bow under the Vanheim empire before striking north. This is of course just one of the possibility. They might also turn on their ally and attack Alfhaim though this possibility is very low.'

Zeus then said

'If they have such stable base by taking Duvar, why would they not fight for the world?' Eric chuckles and then he said

'The motivation of the ruler of Savillia is not the world but revenge against us. They would not surrender to Vanheim. But they would probably not mind being vassal kingdoms. Because if they managed to topple us, then they could really fight for the world against Vanheim. Of course this is the best case scenario for Savillia and actually if there is no Aero, this could actually become a reality, or maybe Aero himself would use this kind of tactic, of letting Savillia takes Duvar and nurture them to become a knife that could cut us. Then when the time is ripe, the Chancellor reap everything, uniting the east and west, gaining the whole world would then be as easy as breathing'

Zeus frowned

'Is that Aero plan?' Eric just laughed

'That is just one possibility. Maybe, it is also one of his plans�� Zeus nodded and then Eric continues his deduction of Aero supposed plan

'And then there is Alfhaim' Speaking about Alfhaim there is slight smirk on Eric face 

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