Chapter 796: Checkmated!

While Henwell wraps up his exchange with Barbarossa, a high-level meeting is underway at Blood Hill Manor.

Melissa frowns over the intelligence from the Military Intelligence Office. "What has the kingdom said?"

Cumberland answers, "Since King Arius returned from the Northern Mountain Front, he has been reallocating supplies and implementing a series of reforms."

"Half a month ago, he led two newly formed legions to reinforce the Northern Mountain Front."

"He hasn't taken a position on this. He can't spare the attention, and if anything, he's the one who needs help."

Rawkins says, "The Western Federation chose its moment well. They clearly accounted for all of this before making their move."

Melissa asks, "How much strength can we spare right now?"

Rawkins sighs. "Very little. Fighting has already broken out along both the subterranean waterways and the Misty Forest Expanse in the south."

"The war may only be in its opening stages, but we must prepare for what comes next."

"The armies of the Southern and Eastern Districts cannot be moved, while the Western District must remain ready to reinforce the Southern District's defenses at any moment."

"Cloud Tree City and Liverpool also need to guard against threats from the south. Their territories were already large, and they only joined us recently."

"In the few years since they joined us, we've only managed to establish their civilian industrial base. They're nowhere near ready to operate at full capacity."

"The thirty thousand recruits raised by those two districts have also been sent to the Central District for integration and training."

"We cannot count on the Expeditionary Zone either. After we took the territory south of the Livel River, its holdings nearly doubled."

"The newly acquired thirty thousand square kilometers have a solid foundation, but the defensive line also has to expand with the territory."

"The Expeditionary Zone has already sent its reserve legion to the front, and training new forces will take time."

"Besides, the Expeditionary Zone is too far away from us."

"Here in the Central District, the newly formed Iron Guard Legion and the Lord's Knight Order are the only forces left to deploy."

Victor shakes his head. "No. The Lord's Knight Order protects Henwell and his family. We can't move it."

"As for the Iron Guard Legion, we cannot casually send it away either. It is the only force in Peace Haven capable of mobile operations."

"And we can't fill the gap with Military Academy graduates. The hundred thousand reservists in the Central District are still training."

"Even if they finish training in six months, rushing those recruits onto a battlefield would be extremely dangerous."

After thinking for a moment, Melissa asks, "How did the Phoenix family respond to us?"

Victor answers, "The Phoenix family says they do not need our support. They are reorganizing their forces for war and do not want to cause any misunderstanding or friction with us."

Melissa asks, "How is Duke Jansen?"

Cumberland answers, "The wounds he suffered half a year ago still have not healed, and the battle at the Northern Mountain Front inflicted devastating losses on the duke's guard."

"With Lady Grace's support, Kaku now controls the Phoenix family. The Descartes family has also deployed troops along the north, keeping watch on the Iron Wall forces."

Melissa asks, "Does that mean the duke is under house arrest?"

Cumberland replies, "I cannot say so with absolute certainty, but the truth cannot be far from it."

"Duke Jansen's younger brother, Count Tuster, is managing the situation together with Kaku."

"Within the Phoenix family, the nobles inclined toward us have either been suppressed at home or sent to fight at the Northern Mountain Front."

Melissa sighs. "They couldn't have chosen a better moment. They knew Arius wouldn't risk telling the Mixed Army Group and jeopardizing the defensive line."

"The Mixed Army Group now numbers nearly fifty thousand. Together with the Central Army Group, Iron Wall Army Group, and Royal Guard Army Group, it forms the backbone of the Northern Mountain Front."

"Pulling out any one of them could cause the Northern Mountain Front to collapse."

"Arius would never risk telling the Mixed Army Group something that could shake its morale."

Melissa then looks back at Cumberland. "Tell us exactly what is happening inside the Phoenix family."

After a brief pause, Cumberland says, "Count Kaku and Count Tuster jointly control the Phoenix family."

"They currently command four legions, but only one of them is combat-ready. The others were newly formed."

"The legion the Descartes family sent south across the border to assist them is no real concern. Our reserve legion could defeat it."

"The real problem is the two Ika legions that have entered their territory, along with a Church legion from the Western Federation."

"If the situation deteriorates, we will have to deploy one of our numbered legions to deal with those three forces."

Victor shakes his head. "Those aren't the real problem. The real problem is the Joint Declaration of the Six Kingdoms sponsored by the Church."

"During the Calamity War, every nation is expected to watch over the others, and national borders are temporarily opened."

"If any party requests aid, the nearby powers and their armies have a duty to provide support."

"No one may wage war against another human power and cause needless internal casualties."

"All six kingdoms, including Vorry, have signed this joint-defense pact."

"Even Lumir now has to grit its teeth and refrain from further conflict with the Western Lumir Federation."

"Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to sign the pact as well. Refusing would make us an enemy of humanity. This moral pressure leaves us no room to act."

"The Church legion is here to supervise the resistance against the calamity creatures. If the war goes badly, it is also responsible for sealing off a breached section of the front and preventing the invaders from widening the breach."

"Ika entered at the invitation of Kaku and Tuster. As the people currently in control of the Phoenix family, they have the authority to issue that invitation."

"Ika's entry is also recognized under the joint-defense pact."

"In short, we have no legitimate grounds to intervene. That's what makes this situation so difficult."

The room falls silent beneath the weight of the problem.

This is already their second discussion, yet no one has found a solution.

One plan exists, but it has repeatedly been set aside.

They could dispatch an elite force to storm the duke's castle and extract the injured duke.

Three risks, however, have kept them from making the decision.

First, the elite extraction team would need at least one Grand Knight, supported by several Iron Knights.

The Church has plenty of professionals on its side, and it is certain to have prepared for precisely such an attempt.

The ensuing fight would undoubtedly be brutal.

The problem is that Peace Haven's professionals all occupy senior positions. Most of them are legion commanders or warband commanders.

Losing even one of them would be an enormous blow to the army.

Second, after they extract the duke, their opponents might decide to kill him rather than attempt to take him back.

If the duke dies during the attempt, the blame will land squarely on Peace Haven.

Both the Phoenix family and the Mixed Army Group in the north would then turn against Peace Haven.

That risk is simply unacceptable.

The third and most important question is whether Duke Jansen is truly being coerced and held captive, or whether he tacitly approved the present arrangement.

No one can be completely certain. If the duke has accepted this outcome, then matters are even more complicated.

That uncertainty has kept Peace Haven wavering. The Church has also sent an envoy to state its position clearly.

Once the Calamity War ends, its forces will withdraw immediately, and it will also oversee the withdrawal of Ika's army from Phoenix territory.

Peace Haven is trapped, with no move left to break the deadlock.