Book 3: Chapter 271: The "Hawk" Sylutia

"Is there going to be war?"

At the high-level meeting in the Mishil District, Sylutia asked out of curiosity. The several high-ranking mages and heads of important departments present exchanged glances before answering.

"Well, it's still just some public discussion for now, Lady Hedra need not worry so much." They knew the young woman had been busy with her studies lately and rarely inquired about the outside world.

"However, the situation isn't great, some regions have started experiencing famine." The head of the Mishil District's material reserve department answered.

"After grain prices rose, people in prosperous and wealthy areas could barely afford it, and officials in these areas would also provide disaster relief, so people wouldn't starve. But those areas that were already poor and financially strained, that's hard to say."

"How long can our currently stored grain supply sustain the residents of this district?" Sylutia asked.

"Because of a series of policies and measures implemented last year, our current grain reserves are still quite sufficient. If we implement a rationing system, it can sustain us for three years." After this figure was reported, many present felt considerably more at ease.

At least in Mishil District, life could still go on.

Three years...

Sylutia pondered the current situation. If the harvest remained good this year and next, by the time the Sinking Fog season arrived, they should be able to stockpile nearly five years' worth of grain. Even if the Sinking Fog season faced reduced production, they should be able to endure the remaining sixteen years.

Thinking of this, she relaxed a little, then her thoughts turned to the news she'd heard recently.

Ever since the conflict between the Kingdom of Aixus and the Duchy of Mid on the Mage Alliance's border, this war between small nations had drawn increasing attention. Many scholars attempted to analyze the conflict as material for their work, publishing various conclusions.

Among these conclusions, those leaning toward war were growing in number.

This isn't a good thing, Sylutia thought. As one of the few people who had personally experienced both the Hidden Grove Alliance and the Mage Alliance systems, she understood both sides' strengths and weaknesses very well.

If the Hidden Grove Alliance launched an offensive war against the Mage Alliance, the result would be a disastrous defeat. The Hidden Grove Alliance had always been loose and fragmented; if they launched an attack, it would be like swinging a fist made of sponge—soft and powerless, with everyone harboring their own agendas.

But if the Hidden Grove Alliance fought a defensive war, the outcome would be vastly different.

Many factions within the Hidden Grove Alliance were organizations that had entrenched themselves in their territories for centuries. They had intricate networks of connections in their local areas and were extremely familiar with the local environment. Many of the secret arts passed down within their factions also had local characteristics, giving them a geographical advantage.

Under such circumstances, if the Mage Alliance launched an attack and entered the various complex and ever-changing regions and nations of the Hidden Grove Alliance, they would likely find themselves overwhelmed, like sinking into a quagmire with slow progress. As time dragged on, the Mage Alliance's war machinery and fire seeds would be heavily consumed, and with difficulty obtaining sufficient resource supplies, victory would become extraordinarily hard to achieve.

Currently, the Mage Alliance did have a significant advantage over the Hidden Grove Alliance, but this advantage was not enough to overcome the resistance brought by a long and complex frontline. Only if the Mage Alliance experienced another revolutionary technological breakthrough could they conquer the Hidden Grove Alliance in an overwhelming manner at a relatively small cost.

For now, Sylutia could only pray that the high-ranking officials of the Hidden Grove Alliance wouldn't be so impulsive. If the Hidden Grove Alliance initiated the attack on their side, she couldn't stop the war from over here either. They couldn't just let the mages take a beating without fighting back, after all. When public sentiment surged to that point, no one would dare block the mouth of a volcano; a large-scale resistance would inevitably erupt. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

If it was the Mage Alliance considering launching a full-scale war, she could at least try her best to mediate. After all, she now knew the three Named Ones, Their Eminences, and could be considered someone who could speak with the highest will of the Mage Alliance, managing to offer some words of counsel.

Before the meeting began, Sylutia had also inquired about more details of the border conflict and had formed a clear understanding of the entire affair.

Although the current public sentiment showed momentum toward war, it was still in the early stages. The vast majority of people were just talking about it verbally and hadn't yet made the preparations or had the awareness to devote themselves wholeheartedly to war.

What should I do? Sylutia leaned back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling. Her silky hair cascaded down her shoulders and draped over the back of the chair.

Forcibly banishing speech that incites war? That would lack sufficient justification and be too abrupt. Not only would it be ineffective, but it could also expose her identity.

Going to persuade the several Sages of the Alliance Council to do everything possible to avoid starting a war? Would that really work? Could those Sages be convinced by just a few words? In the end, she also lacked sufficient power, and the act would be abrupt and invite suspicion.

Speaking of which, this timing was quite awkward. Any move with too much force would arouse suspicion.

Sylutia sat up straight, then lay down on the table to continue thinking, her eyes glancing sideways at the smooth tabletop while her fingers traced lightly across it.

After thinking for a while, Sylutia felt there was no particularly good course of action at the moment, because the situation was still unclear and all parties were in a wait-and-see mode. Jumping out to make a statement at this time would be very inappropriate.

Sigh, I can only take things one step at a time. I also don't know what Their Eminences are thinking. If they've truly set their minds on starting a war, then no matter how hard I try, it would all be in vain.

Three days later, Sylutia and Amelie once again came to the top of Sky Tower to study.

After finishing the day's lessons, Abellid, unusually, asked the two about the border conflict.

"...I've already told you the cause and course of events."

"If you were the ones leading the Mage Alliance, what choices would you make?" After speaking, he used a barrier to temporarily separate the two, then placed a piece of paper in front of each young woman.

"Write down your thoughts and decisions." He sat on the stone seat, one hand lightly resting on the armrest, looking at the two with an intrigued expression.

"This..." Sylutia felt a stir in her heart.

How should I answer this question? She pondered silently.

Should she stand from the Hidden Grove's perspective and counsel peace, actively extinguishing the flames and urging reconciliation? Or should she stand from the Mage Alliance's perspective, calmly analyze, and make a decision that better aligned with the Mage Alliance's interests?

While Sylutia was still thinking about how to answer, Amelie beside her quickly submitted her paper. This forced Sylutia to pick up her pen and write out her answer as quickly as possible.

She closed her eyes and accelerated her thinking, then opened them, wrote down her thoughts and choices, and submitted the paper.

Taking both answers together, Abellid looked at them and revealed an amused smile.

"Not bad, your views are quite consistent. It seems you two will get along very well in the future." He released his fingers, and the two answer papers flew back into their respective hands.

Sylutia's answer:

Regarding this border conflict, the official side should make no response, nor dispatch additional personnel from other factions for support. Observe quietly and let the Mist Spirit School and Black Finger settle the outcome.

If the Hidden Grove Alliance becomes arrogant and reckless because of this, launching an attack, then once they cross the border line, deliver a thunderous blow to shock the opponent, and use this to reach an agreement, forcing the Hidden Grove Alliance to provide sufficient grain or gardeners as compensation. Then give them a way to save face and end the conflict.

If, after the outcome is decided, the Hidden Grove Alliance becomes more cautious and no longer easily tests the waters, then it can be confirmed that the Hidden Grove Alliance harbors fear. At this time, treaty negotiations can be restarted, using the threat of full-scale war to achieve grain cooperation. However, the price set in the treaty should be moderate, so as not to force the opponent into a position where they must respond with war.

Amelie's answer:

The official side should not get involved, thus maintaining the initiative in decision-making. If the Hidden Grove Alliance takes the initiative to attack, then they can mobilize through righteous justification, deliver a heavy blow to the opponent, and then use peace talks as leverage to extract grain and manpower to get through the difficulties of the Sinking Fog season.

Between the two answers, Amelie had only written about the scenario of the Hidden Grove Alliance initiating an attack, while Sylutia's was more comprehensive, with harsher and more hawkish measures.

Although conflict would occur, among the two choices Sylutia proposed, even if conflict happened, they would be strategies with minimal casualties on both sides. The saying "seek peace through struggle, and peace will survive" probably describes this approach.

In order to avoid meaningless large-scale sacrifices and the various destruction brought by war, quickly determining victory or defeat through thunderous means is indeed a more merciful approach for both sides.

Originally, there was no deep-seated hatred between the two sides. If they frivolously and rashly plunged into the vortex of full-scale war merely because of temporary conflicts of interest and crises, that would be a great disaster for the people of both sides.

"Since you both answered well, let's submit these two answers to the Alliance Council." After he spoke, the papers in their hands disappeared, then appeared at the highest meeting of the Mage Alliance below.

Facing the decree suddenly handed down by the Named One, the Sages at the council couldn't help but pick them up curiously, and soon understood the meaning behind these two answers.

"Since His Majesty has already made a decision, let's proceed accordingly."

Before long, the public sentiment within the Mage Alliance regarding launching a full-scale war gradually subsided. All parties adopted an unusually quiet yet deeply concerned attitude, quietly waiting for the outcome of this border conflict.