Of the two, the smaller Elonia Kingdom, which was closer to the Pamir Empire, was particularly shocked.
"Has the Pamir Empire truly made its decision? Has the emperor finally gone mad?"
Inside the royal palace of Elonia, King Henry III asked his ministers in a somber voice.
"Since the news comes from the Lania Kingdom, it is likely accurate, Your Majesty. Having fought the Pamir Empire for decades, they know the empire better than anyone else. Even if this doesn't escalate into a full-scale war, it is certain that the scale of conflict will be greater than before. It would be wise to prepare for the worst," Chancellor Mark replied cautiously.
As the weakest of the three allied kingdoms, Elonia was particularly vulnerable. If the Pamir Empire chose to target them first, the consequences would be dire. General Louis agreed with the chancellor.
"In past wars, the Pamir Empire often provoked all three kingdoms simultaneously. Those brutes, if nothing else, excel at breeding soldiers. Even when fighting three fronts at once, they show no hesitation."
With his two most trusted advisors in agreement, King Henry III made his decision.
"Then prepare for war with all our might! Fortify the strongholds and recruit soldiers."
Although he did not consider himself an exceptional ruler, Henry III prided himself on being realistic. The Elonia Kingdom, with its small population and limited experience in warfare, was ill-equipped to withstand even a minor invasion.
The Pamir Empire's army was infamous for its cruelty, leaving no life behind in the lands they conquered. To make matters worse, this war had arrived on the heels of a devastating drought. Henry III could not help but wonder if the kingdom was nearing its doom.
In the royal palace of the Lania Kingdom, King Charles V felt an unusual sense of calm as the war approached. The once divided court was now united in its focus on preparing for battle.
"Your Majesty, the northeastern planet has requested a budget for grain stockpiling," an official reported.
"Work with the military and treasury departments to allocate an appropriate budget. Be accommodating where possible, but reject any excessive demands," Charles V instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It shall be done."
"Chancellor Lant, oversee the budget execution alongside the military, treasury, and the Senate. If there are any who dare exploit the kingdom even in this dire situation, they must not be tolerated!" the king declared with a stern expression.
"And report which regions are the least active in preparing for war. In times of war, those who lack discipline do not deserve to survive."
At that moment, the Pamir Empire's forces launched their attack on the fortress of Elnimo in the northwestern planet.
A week had passed since news of the Pamir Empire's invasion first broke. With the ominous signs of war becoming an ever-more tangible reality, Michael stood atop the watchtower of the castle wall, his gaze calm yet penetrating. Other noble knights, all wearing solemn expressions, began ascending to the tower one by one.
Below the tower, the vast training grounds stretched far beyond what the eye could see, filled with soldiers of various appearances. These were men summoned from their respective territories, numbering over fifty thousand.
When Michael first heard of this figure, he had been astonished, though he quickly composed himself. These fifty thousand soldiers were drawn from every corner of the territories, a desperate effort to militarize the population. Every man between the ages of sixteen and forty had been conscripted, resulting in this staggering number.
Naturally, not all of them were suitable for military service. Most had never undergone proper training, and a thorough process of selection and reorganization would be essential.
From the Crassus Barony, Michael had brought 2,500 men, a number that might seem modest compared to other territories but represented most of the able-bodied men from his domain. Only 1,000 of them were adequately trained soldiers; the remaining 1,500 would have to be shifted to auxiliary roles to avoid being wasted in combat.
Protecting them was critical, as losing this many men would devastate the barony's economy and society, despite leaving behind the minimum number required to sustain the territory. Though the conscription had begun with the intent to militarize the entire population, it was clear that not all able-bodied men could be deployed as frontline combatants.
Of the assembled force, only 10,000 to 20,000 would form the initial vanguard.
As Count Charles surveyed the soldiers with a grim expression, he spoke in a low voice to Michael.
"Sir Michael, I noticed during my previous visit that your training methods are quite intriguing. Could you take charge of training some of these men? Of course, our family and others will also train soldiers."
After a moment of thought, Michael nodded.
"I'll gladly take on about 5,000 soldiers, focusing on my own men as the core," he replied.
It wasn't that Michael lacked the ability to handle more but rather that there weren't enough trainers available. Even if he deployed all his personal guards as instructors, training more than 5,000 men simultaneously would be impossible.
Count Charles seemed to understand this and looked pleased.
"Then I leave it to you. His Majesty has decreed that the least prepared planets will form the vanguard. The order is absolute, so I have decided to send our least-trained troops to the front lines. I hope everyone gives their best effort," the count remarked.
As Count Charles finished speaking, minor nobles who had aligned themselves with the Crassus family gathered around Michael. Meanwhile, other nobles also began clustering together. While more soldiers were always welcome on the battlefield, no one wanted allies who would become a burden. The collective responsibility inherent in their society ensured that everyone carried a resolute demeanor.
Michael led his troops and the soldiers from the minor nobles to an open field. The soldiers, naturally grouping by origin, carried weapons crafted in the Crassus Barony. Any skilled blacksmith could tell that these weapons, wielded by Michael's soldiers, were sharper and sturdier than most.