Chapter 1408: Prologue: The Worst Ending (Part 4)

“So you said, ‘The Alliance cannot lose Kingsfort’? Otherwise, ‘the bad ending’ is our destined fate?” Fritz asked softly: “But with the strength of the Southern Army, how can it possibly hold Kingsfort?”

Interrupted from his long argument, Cornelius paused, stared at his former student for a moment, then shook his head in disappointment and helplessness.

“You’ve only seen the first layer, student.” Carnilys said coldly, “Think more—think more. If you can see this, I can see this, then those old undead in the military can see it too. So why are they still rushing towards this ‘bad ending’?”

Fritz really couldn’t understand why the military would want to commit collective suicide.

Finally, he lowered his head, deciding to accept the identity of a student: “The student is dull-witted, please enlighten me.”

There was no pride or arrogance on Cornelius’s face, he merely said flatly: “What I just told you is only the bad ending. After the bad ending… there’s an even worst ending.”

“Please do not hesitate to enlighten me.”

Cornelius looked directly into the student’s eyes:

“The worst ending is nothing short of the Southern Army inevitably losing South Paratoo, the Western Front Army inevitably winning North Paratoo, Vineta and The Federated Provinces confronting each other across the river, never advancing further.”

Cornelius’s gaze was as deep as a dark pool:

“And, student, I can tell you, this worst outcome is the most probable and most operable outcome at present.

“As long as the Western Front Army fully takes North Paratoo and the Southern Army loses Kingsfort, those old undead in the military will immediately push for de-escalation, ceasefire, and negotiations between The Federated Provinces and Vineta.

“Do you know what the most terrifying part is?

“The most terrifying part isn’t that no matter how the Venetians bargain, they will definitely sign the ceasefire agreement in the end.

“The most terrifying part is that if a ceasefire happens, the civil war will be confined to Paratoo alone. Vineta and The Federated Provinces will not have had a direct confrontation, and the Two Mountains Narrow Land will achieve the ‘best value’ internal integration with minimal loss.

“In this situation, Henry the Sunfire will face a Two Mountains Narrow Land divided in two, yet each half complete.

“I can tell you now, student, Henry the Sunfire will absolutely not act rashly. Because although the Senas Alliance appears to be divided in two, if ‘North Senas’ is in peril, ‘South Senas’ will not stand idly by.

“So, he will change strategies, shifting his focus from military conquest to diplomatic means—you think Henry the Sunfire’s military skill is already very high, do you? I can tell you, student, Henry the Sunfire’s diplomatic skills are even more impressive than his military prowess.

“He will stir up the opposition between the North and South, intensify the conflicts, until the rift between both sides deepens, until the contradictions are irreconcilable, until the people of both sides start to hate each other.

“Then, Henry the Sunfire will act—he always acts at the most opportune moment.

“He will ally with one side, attack the other. It may even be that he doesn’t need to ‘ally’ at all, but that one side will voluntarily submit to him, groveling at his feet, kissing his boots, crying and begging the great Emperor for help…”

Cornelius was eloquent and unstoppable.

Fritz felt a chill climb from his tailbone to his spine, spreading in his chest. The more he listened to the former head speak, the denser the chill became, penetrating his very bones, suffocating him, making his soul tremble—not because the scenario depicted by the former head was so despairing, but because Fritz realized that this was indeed the most likely outcome.

Cornelius suddenly clapped his hands loudly, snapping Fritz out of his stupor.

“That’s it.” Cornelius said, looking at the former student’s forehead covered in a layer of fine sweat: “None of that is why I call this ending the ‘worst’.

Fritz felt a strong sense of powerlessness: “Is there an even worse reason?”

“Yes. Because war never goes according to just one side’s plan. No matter how Henry the Sunfire strategizes, there will surely be those among us who will rise to fight back.”

Having said that, Cornelius pointed at himself, “For example, me,” then pointed at Fritz, “maybe also you.”

Cornelius’s gaze was resolute: “The outcome is shaped by those who act; who will have the final victory is still undecided.”

“Then…”

“I call this the ‘worst’ ending because even if this day comes, regardless of whether Henry the Sunfire’s ambition is realized or shattered…”

Cornelius sighed long and deeply, his expression indescribably desolate and melancholic:

“The people on this land will, henceforth, be divided between north and south, with no further connection.

“The legacy of Marshal Ned Smith and countless heroes who bled and sacrificed in the sovereignty war, leaving behind not even their names, will completely vanish.”

Fritz felt a string snap in his heart.

Cornelius was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed heartily, loudly declaring:

“So, the Alliance cannot lose Kingsfort! If the Alliance loses Kingsfort, then the worst ending will inevitably come to pass.

“So even knowing that the Southern Army is a lost cause, even knowing that those old undead want to exhaust us, we must still go to Kingsfort.

“So no matter what the cost, no matter what means we use, we must hold Kingsfort.

“Not only hold it, but hold it with vigor, with status, and with value that cannot be abandoned.