On the night of the 11th of the 11th month, Year 594, Claude, Birkin, and Eiblont stormed the theatres headquarters with their troops.

Bolonik and Skri, who had been imprisoned there for half a month, finally regained their freedom. They sat in Boloniks office, waiting for the other threes arrival.

The decree brought by the ambassadors came as quite a shock for Bolonik. It was plain for him to see on the desk, and after reading its contents, his heart grew cold and face stiffened. He knew well that if he allowed the decree to come to pass, the past few years of their efforts in the colonies wouldve gone to waste.

But after Claude and the others entered the office and closed the door, Bolonik spoke in a cold and dissatisfied tone, So it all went according to your guesses. Youre happy now, right? So when are you going to declare independence and claim the throne, Your Majesty Claude?

Skri, Birkin and Eiblont didnt say a word and turned to Claude. The action against the ambassadors was all his plan. Eiblont wasnt addressing the matter directly and Birkin was too far away, so he couldnt make it in time. While Skri was in the know, he chose to stand with Bolonik to welcome the ambassadors so as to keep the plan a secret, only to be imprisoned for those two weeks.

Claude only managed to excuse himself from attending the ambassadors welcome ceremony by citing trouble at Blackstone Factory. Otherwise, he wouldve been imprisoned like the other two and that wouldnt bide well for their plans.

Even though being imprisoned didnt mean he lost all ability to resist, any act of resistance by him and his men wouldve been considered in the light of a coup instead of him coming to the rescue of the colonies populace by stopping the ambassadors from stealing their gold reserves in the bank.

Bolonik was clearly displeased with the developments. Now, Claude had captured the ambassadors and dragged the other four generals down with him, all for what? So he could be king of the colonies?

Claude shrugged nonchalantly. To be honest, I didnt do much. According to my plan, we wouldve needed another seven days for the ambassadors to incite the displeasure of all the citizens in the colonies. That would be the best time to deal with them. Well make the populace aware of the ambassadors bad intentions, greed and how sinister they are so they can finally see the true attitude our new king has against the colonies.

I didnt think these dogs noses would be that sharp to be able to pick up on the scent of our bank two days after taking power. I can only say that theyve let the money blind them to the point that they didnt know theyve entered the angry mobs sights. Even though this wasnt part of my plan, the colonies citizens are now riled up. If we let this continue, itll go out of control. Thats why I had to arrest them.

And dont joke around with me. Im not trying to commit treason. Why would I declare independence? The centre of the world is located on Freia, not Nubissia. Even though the territories here are large, me declaring myself king here wouldnt be that much different from the nikancha founding their own nation. I wouldnt want to be laughed at for trying to play make-believe king.

Bolonik almost did a double-take.

Youre not trying to declare independence or forge a throne, are you? Youve never considered betraying the kingdom?

Of course not, Claude declared unhesitantly, Im an Aueran. This is still the territory of the Kingdom of Aueras.

T-then why did you have to capture the ambassadors? You couldve tried to talk it out properly Boloniks mood improved at a notable rate.

Claude shook his head speechlessly. It was probably a difference in their life experiences. Even though Bolonik was a full 20 years older than Claude, he was quite naive when it came to certain matters. He was quite the loyalist to the throne. No matter how badly he was treated, he would take it without complaint until his loyalty killed him.

He was also a commoner, so he was never nurtured to scheme and plot for higher ambitions like the nobles were. He had never experienced it, nor had he seen it happen. He trusted in the inherent good of man, and that Stellin XI was only temporarily misguided. Since the ambassadors word represented the kings, he would have no choice but to follow it. Eventually, he thought, the colonies would return to the right path. He didnt really care about his own power and position either.

Claude, however, was no Bolonik. He was not a Freian native, but a transmigrator from the modern world long rid of kings and monarchs with unquestioned power. He didnt have the slightest shred of admiration for the long bloodlines of the noble houses, for history and their portrayal in modern media had long taught him of their shameless darkness. Even though he was now an honorary viscount himself, he didnt really take his status to heart.

Im going to send the marine tribe and the ambassadors to Loki Mountains since were really short on manpower there. I also ordered the garrison force at Port Cobius to capture the naval officers that came in the ambassadors flotilla of seven ships for them to mine gold for a few years.

Y-you! Bolonik yelled with a start, Didnt say you werent going to betray the kingdom? Why are you still committing treason?!

No, youre wrong Claude smiled. Im merely expressing my opposition to Stellin XI, not committing treason. Naturally, if our king thinks I am, I have no choice in the matter. What can be done about it? Wheres the king going to find a force to send to us? Does the kingdom have ships? An escort fleet? Can a corps even be sent here?

Well, thats not really what we should be discussing now. We should ask our wise king whether he has any money left in the national treasury to afford a war with us across Tranquil Ocean. I hope our king doesnt forget the fact that we just wiped out 10 Shiksan standing corps and have 500 thousand-plus labourers. He had better consider how many corps he needs to deal with our treason.

Bonik, youre our friend. We all know youre a loyal general to the kingdom. We also dont want to betray the kingdom like you, but as the acting field marshal of the theatre, you need to know which liege is worth your loyalty. Youve read the decree yourself and know that if that really comes to pass, the colonies will be covered eternally in darkness.

We are not opposing the kingdoms rule. Instead, we are protecting the kingdoms territories on Nubissia, which the late king, Stellin X, had us develop. We must ensure their prosperity. That is the mission of those of us from Ranger, the mission Lord Militant Miselk gave us before he left. We cant allow Stellin XIs whims to ruin it all.

Think about the five million citizens of the kingdom here. Compared to their happiness and bliss, satisfying the whims of an unhinged monarch is far less important. We shall change the colonies into an autonomous region. We are still Aueran territory, but we will no longer accept any decree from the mad king. When the next wise king ascends to the throne, well once more return to the rule of the royal capital.

Claudes intentions were clear. Being opposed to Stellin XI didnt mean full opposition to the kingdom. For now, the colonies would be autonomous until the next king ascends to the throne. If the next king shows himself to be a wise ruler, he would forgive the treasonous acts of Claude and the rest and retake the colonies under the kingdoms wing. But if he is the same as Stellin XI, the colonies could keep their autonomy.

After all, theres nothing the mainland can do about their autonomy. They wouldnt be able to afford the ships needed to transport troops over anyway, and they only had three main corps in the kingdom. Who else could they send to deal with the two corps of the autonomous region? Given Stellin XIs character, would he really put in the effort necessary to wipe out the autonomous region? It was almost impossible. He would rather spend his time attending balls and getting so drunk he was good as half-dead. At least, he wouldnt be a laughing stock in his drunken fantasies.

Boloniks expression shifted to one end and to another. He knew Claude spoke the truth. Given the theatres current might, there was no way the kingdom could even protest their decision. That was the difference between Claude and him. Claude would assert his might against unfair treatment, while all he would do was take all the shit thrown at him. Even though he wanted to loyally serve the kingdom, he couldnt do it because Stellin XI simply didnt care for the loyalty of a general so far away in the colonies.

Sigh Bolonik turned to the door and started to leave. Ill leave it to you, Claude. Im going home.

Claude saluted him.

Sure. Take a good rest. It mustve been tough on the two of you. The locals are now gathering in Lanu and were going to host an announcement ceremony for our self-governance. Well need you to preside over it.

Bolonik stopped at the door without turning around before hesitantly nodding. He then pushed the door open and left headquarters with his newly formed guard escort.

Claude, why didnt you claim a throne? I promise the three of us will be loyal. Were just waiting on a duke Title from you, Eiblont said with a chuckle. Skri and Birkin also looked expectantly at him.

Claude clicked his tongue and sat down on a chair before grabbing a glass of water. Eiblont moved quickly and said, Please wait, Ill get you a nice bottle of wine. I know where Bonik keeps his stash.

When Eiblont returned and poured each of them a glass of fruit wine, Claude sipped it as he considered his response. My father once told me this: one who wants to wear the crown has to be ready to bear its weight. I grew up in Whitestag back when it wasnt a city. There was a shrine of the earth goddess there with a pair of really beautiful crowns made of real gold and silver and embedded with many gems.

Im sure you know what they use it for. Every 9th month during the harvest festival, the most handsome young lad and the prettiest lass of town would be picked to wear it along with their ceremonial gowns before parading and partying through the town for three whole days. I always hoped to one day be able to wear that crown and parade around the beautiful carriage like a king.

My father knew I had that wish and brought me there. He got me that crown from the shrine and asked me whether I wanted to put it on, but theres a catch. I can only put it on only if I make sure to wear it for a whole hour. I even wanted to complain that one hour was too short, so I said yes immediately. I couldnt wait to wear it for three whole days like the prince of the festival.

I immediately regretted it, because I didnt think it would be so heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Before ten minutes had passed, I cried and asked my father to take it off. You know theres a secret latch on the top of the crown that can only be unlocked with the help of someone else. But my father never took it off for me and watched me cry as he sipped his tea.

I dont know how I survived that hour. All I could remember was the pain on my head. When my father finally removed it after an hour, I felt like a fish back in water and breathed in relief. My father then told me those words and explained it to me. There is nothing in this world you can obtain without effort or consequence. Before we want to take anything, we have to consider whether were ready for the consequences of responsibility that the thing entails.

The crown is a symbol of beauty and treasure, as well as power. The throne demands one be responsible for ones subjects. Its all too easy to become a misguided monarch like Stellin XI. But whats the point? Itll only lead to mass betrayal and rebellion as well as a bad mark in the history books. I dont want to become someone thats cursed by the people for the times to come.

Now, we have nine colonies and a little more area than the kingdoms territory on the mainland. If we split it into prefectures like the kingdom, we can have some three to four prefectures for each colony, so wed have more than 30 prefectures. On the mainland, our king has ravaged 27 prefectures and lost the 21 newly conquered ones. He also gave up on four border prefectures.

Despite our territory being larger than the kingdoms, we only have around five million settlers here. The 27 prefectures on the mainland now have more than 20 million. Even with the kingdoms current ravaged state, as long as things stabilise over there and a new ruler rights the wrong of the past one, the kingdom can be restored in less than five years. Thats the core of the kingdoms might. They are unlike us here at the colonies, where we have to start from scratch by developing the desolate and unpopulated rural areas.

Under such circumstances, claiming kingship and declaring independence is a fools errand. Even if we ignore the fact that three million of our subjects here just immigrated a few years ago and still have strong feelings about the mainland, lets assume a good king comes along and whips the kingdom back into proper shape and power in two decades. If we declared independence, we wouldve made ourselves a huge nemesis, so whats the point? At least, I cant see myself being a qualified king either.

Additionally, think about it, the whole of Nubissia is covered with colonies of other Freian nations. If we form our own nation, wed be the exception on this continent and will indirectly stand against all the nations from Freia, by virtue of being an independent colony, definitely not an example they want us to set for their settlers. They could have just cause to declare war against us.

But as an Aueran colony, even if we govern ourselves, the other nations will have to consider our kingdoms response before attacking us. But if we declare independence, that gets thrown out of the window. We defeated ten Shiksan corps, but how would we ever take the brunt of a united Freian colonial force?

The other three never expected Claude would give them such a deep lecture out of nowhere. Skri gave it some thought and said with some repentance, Youre still the one who has the clearest head on his shoulders. Youre always looking so far ahead. Actually, when I was imprisoned here, I was filled with frustration. I cant help but cut off all connection with the kingdom after I regain my freedom. We fought this war for so long and won, yet were treated this way by that king! How could I have taken it sitting down?!

Birkin and Eiblont both nodded in agreement.

Claude laughed out loud. Theres a saying I read in a book as a child: treat others how you want them to treat you. When a friend comes to visit, we must pay our own visit to their house to give the courtesy back. Now that Ive sent the ambassadors and the marines to go mining, Stellin XI will definitely be waiting for an update so he can finally go on a spending spree.

So, we have to notify him to stop waiting. The ambassadors wont be going back and Ive ordered Thundercrash 1st Folk to retreat. Once we declare our self-governance, Ill have to trouble you, Eilon, to go to the mainland with Thundercrash and our fleet as escort. You said there were many refugees in the kingdom, right? Bringing them back here would be doing the kingdom a huge favour, I believe.