Chapter 436

North Capital Plafard
Whenever we came across a large town, we released the prisoners and passed through. When we neared the next large town, we released more prisoners, and thus our journey proceeded smoothly.

Most of the released prisoners didn’t immediately go far off somewhere, but instead seemed to try to be admitted into the nearby towns.
However, even though they belonged to the same faction, none of the towns had the capacity to accept hundreds of soldiers at once.
Just accommodating them would consume all their resources.

Of course, they didn’t have the leeway to come after us.

So this was Marquis Vardmoi’s plan.

“The number of prisoners has decreased, but it’s nice that we’ve been able to avoid unnecessary combat.”

“We only needed about a thousand prisoners to begin with. What matters is to demonstrate that people who were once encased in a massive ice block have come back to life, and that someone capable of manipulating that at will is now in our hands.”

“I see. By the way, are we getting close?”

“Yeah. In a few more days, we’ll reach the city where the King’s younger brother is—Plafard. Though I hear they’re now calling it the ‘North Capital.’”

“North Capital, huh. That’s awfully grandiose.”

“If you think about ruling a country, it’s not that strange. And as a title, Vardmoi is called the ‘Commercial Capital’ too.”

So titles only carry that much meaning, huh.

Well, the country I belong to is a duchy, and we have a ‘ducal capital,’ so I guess it’s not strange.

Since the King’s brother rules the north, he calls it the ‘North Capital.’ Makes sense.

“Now, about the next steps—don’t provoke anything on our end, alright?”

“Got it. Only self-defense, right?”

“Exactly. Our arrival in the North Capital will serve as the signal for the separate unit to move. Isn’t that right, Lady Plum?”

“Indeed. My subordinates and the Kiblinki Saltas I borrowed from Lily will rescue the families being held hostage by the King’s brother’s faction. We’ll act as decoys to buy them time.”

“That’s the plan. If they attack us unprovoked, it can’t be helped, but the idea is to buy time through dialogue. I hear most of the soldiers in that city are loyal to Duke Plafard. Once Duke Plafard is free, the situation will turn in our favor.”

Honestly, from here on out, it would be best if Duke Plafard took the lead.

That way, he can present himself properly as the new national leader, and it paints a picturesque image of overthrowing the oppressive former royal family.

Thus, our role is mainly to buy time until Duke Plafard initiates the coup.

For the sake of this country—or rather, for my own peace—I’d better do my best!

What do you think about this chapter?