"Your Holiness," Soleno began, "while it's true that Captain Vito cannot be absolved of all responsibility, it would be unjust to lay the entire blame on him. The Celeste Empire is far from our reach, with many kingdoms between us. Information may have been miscommunicated or delayed. It would not be wise to punish him excessively under these circumstances."
Allegro III's frustration erupted in a loud, angry exclamation. "How did the sacred Radiance come to this? Once we ruled the entire Rubel Continent, and now we cower before the Celeste Empire!"
His voice was laden with a mix of disappointment and anger. The Papacy, which had once dominated the continent, had devolved into a shadow of its former power, forced to watch its actions and defer to lesser kingdoms. This was the reality Allegro III had inherited—a crumbling institution riddled with internal decay.
The officials gathered in the pope's office were more politicians than clergy, and Vito's offer to take responsibility wasn't born of guilt. Someone had to take the blame, and as the lowest ranking individual present, Vito had stepped forward to protect his superiors.
However, making Vito a scapegoat outright would only provoke infighting among factions vying for his position—a conflict that could destabilize the Paladin Order and, by extension, weaken the pope's authority.
Cardinal Jacobo, who had already received a nod from the pope, spoke up. "Your Holiness, while Cardinal Soleno raises valid points, there must still be accountability. Even if Captain Vito bears no direct fault, some of his subordinates may have played a role in this debacle. Silently removing those individuals would restore the Papacy's authority while preserving Captain Vito's honor."
Jacobo's suggestion was calculated, offering a compromise. It allowed for a clear assignment of blame without fully sacrificing Vito, maintaining internal stability while eliminating dissent within the Paladin Order.
After a brief contemplation, Allegro III nodded in agreement. "Do it. Captain Vito must cleanse his order of any corruption and reestablish firm leadership. Punish those responsible for this failure but ensure the Paladin Order as a whole remains intact."
Kneeling before the pope, Vito responded with solemn determination. "Thank you, Your Holiness, for your guidance. I will root out the rot within my order without delay."
As Vito left, Allegro III's mind churned with frustration. Why had these disasters plagued his tenure? The Papacy had begun to rot generations ago, with high ranking positions often inherited by the illegitimate offspring of elites. Reforming such a deeply ingrained system now seemed nearly impossible.
Allegro III himself had benefited from the privileges of his birth into a clerical family, using those advantages to ascend to the papacy. It would be hypocritical to demand others forgo the same path. Gazing out the window, he reflected on the precarious balance of factions within the Papacy. While they created constant friction, they also maintained equilibrium, preventing any single group from gaining unchecked power.
"Jacobo," he said at last, "how is the situation progressing?"
Jacobo, his head bowed, replied confidently. "Do not worry, Your Holiness. Four of the five great tribes have agreed to , and the last is on the verge of joining."
Satisfied, Allegro III nodded. "Good. The Kingdom of Lania has pushed us too far. We won't let them prosper unchallenged—especially not their northeastern nobles. Let them fight if they're so eager. Let's see how long their bravado lasts."
Recent provocations from Lania and its northeastern nobles had cost the Papacy dearly, and Allegro III was determined to send a powerful warning. The time had come to stoke the flames of war, using the Pamir Empire to turn the Rubel Continent into a battlefield.
Jacobo showed no surprise at the pope's decision. He had seen other popes use similar tactics. "As Your Holiness commands. Soon, the continent will once again look to the Radiant Holy Kingdom for salvation."
A month had passed since Princess Adelaide had subtly warned Michael of the impending war. His primary focus now was the production of military supplies. Based on his observations during his visit to the capital and numerous other signs, this war was shaping up to be massive.
Wars of this scale were more than capable of weakening great nobles and utterly destroying smaller ones. For every success in war, there were countless failures. Michael, aware of his own limitations, refused to overestimate his abilities. History had shown him that overconfidence was the root of all defeats. The ultimate victor in any war, he knew, was the one who survived.
To survive, preparation was essential. What was the most critical factor in leading an army and achieving military success? Troops? Strength? No—it was a strong logistical foundation. No strategy or strength could endure without financial and material support.
Michael's current priorities included equipping his soldiers, ensuring an adequate food supply, and securing supply lines in case the war dragged on. Staring out over his still developing estate, Michael sighed deeply. A little more time would have been ideal, but war's footsteps drew nearer every day.
From a continental perspective, his territory was still too weak; even within the Kingdom of Lania, it lagged behind. At best, his name carried some weight in the northeastern provinces. Though he had added one more knight to his ranks, it wasn't enough to make a significant impact in the coming conflict. His force of 120 heavy cavalry and 12 gargoyle riders was a modest comfort.
Alongside Marcus and his grandfather, Alfred, Michael's power ranked just below that of Count Charles. Yet these resources had to remain his trump card; an overly aggressive move could invite disaster.
Determined to maximize his preparations for the war, Michael mobilized every resource his house could muster.
"Alex, tell the miners to extract as much iron ore as possible," Michael instructed. "Antony, inform Old Greg to ramp up low quality weapon production. If necessary, offer night pay and hire more workers to run operations around the clock. And we need more high quality weapons for our own troops."