The Land of the Rising Sun Transfers to Another World

Chapter 33: Conspiracy

I will do my best to finish the Thestania Empire Arc at least by the end of this year.

- ワイアード

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Next day

Thestania Empire

"Duke Carnegie Disappears Before Talks with Japan, Reumel, and Amdis!? No Note Left Behind!!"

The imperial capital went noisy with this breaking news. Citizens were filled with unease at the sudden disappearance of Duke Carnegie, who had garnered immense public support. People wondered anxiously what this meant for the fate of the nation.

"Oh, no, what are we supposed to do now, right when the Empire's fate is on the line!?"

"If we don't have someone competent, this Empire's done for!"

"Wait, so who's going to the talks as our representative!?"

"The only one who put his name forward was Duke Carnegie... Everyone else is too scared of the responsibility to step up, I hear."

"The Coalition is apparently willing to wait until we decide on a representative."

"Anyone will do—just don't let us citizens become slaves!!"

In the capital—no, in the entire Empire—there wasn't a single piece of good news. Since nearly all of the Empire's heavy labor had been done by slaves, the sudden disappearance of their workforce plunged the Empire into a critical labor shortage. These slaves had gathered under the Kingdom of Reumel, which temporarily occupied the eastern frontier of the Empire. Other nations remarked that Japan should take on this task, but due to legal constraints, they were unable to do so, leaving the Kingdom of Reumel to take on the role instead.

・・・

Marquis Rosquinho's Office, Palace

Marquis Rosquinho sat in a chair, peering out of the window. Surrounding him were Count Remarvel Sanar, Count Chriphtoph Buys, and Viscount Bedel Björlinger.

"L-Lord Rosquinho... what shall we do next?"

"Hmm... they are still searching for my older brother... Well, my brother was an excellent man. They must want to pin the blame for this war on him at any cost. 'Duke Carnegie will handle it' ...they believe that."

"If Duke Carnegie is not found within three days, a representative selection meeting will be convened according to the law... at that time, of course..."

"Ah... I intend to step forward."

"However... even if a representative is decided upon, what do you plan to do about the talks with the Coalition?"

"... On the day of the talks, representatives from three countries will come... we will target that!"

"Target? ...What do you mean!?"

"As in 'capture' them. And take them hostage."

"If you do that, the three countries starting with Japan will undoubtedly be furious."

"... I've heard that Japan is quite the soft-hearted country. They take in displaced demi-humans, and they try to resolve conflicts without bloodshed against adversaries that can be easily dealt with by force... They will, without a doubt, comply with our demands to protect the hostages! If Japan shows a willingness to comply, the other two countries will naturally follow suit."