The council chamber was filled with a tense silence. Michael and Dominic's expressions were somber as the count proceeded with his orders.
"The Pamir Empire seems to be focusing its main offensive on the Elonia Kingdom, leaving the northwestern planet relatively intact. Therefore, we will march to aid the Elonia Kingdom. All nobles and knights from the northeastern planet will take selected soldiers to the front lines. This includes everyone present here, myself included," Count Charles declared.
The faces of those gathered reflected their solemn determination, Michael and Dominic among them.
The selected troops would march first to reinforce the Elonia Kingdom. Although it was unusual for the Pamir Empire to target Elonia initially, whenever they did, it always resulted in heavy casualties. The burden of responsibility was immense.
After a brief pause, Count Charles continued, "The rations we purchased earlier will be distributed, but other supplies are critically lacking—weapons, armor, hay, arrows, medical cloth, horses, oxen, and camping equipment. We will assign quotas to each territory. Transporting supplies will be handled by a dedicated logistics unit, ensuring an uninterrupted flow of food and fodder. This crucial task will be led by Court Count Woodlock and a team of selected knights."
As Count Charles' aides began distributing scrolls detailing the quotas to each noble, Michael opened his scroll and carefully reviewed its contents. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his hand to speak.
"Your Excellency, while it's feasible to mobilize soldiers, meeting the exact quotas for every category of supplies may prove difficult. If every territory must contribute evenly across all categories, few would be able to meet the demands. Wouldn't it be more efficient for each territory to focus on the categories they excel in?" Michael suggested.
The nobles in the chamber nodded in agreement, and after a brief consideration, Count Charles also concurred.
"As long as the total quantity is met, that approach should suffice. Let us proceed that way. Any shortfalls will be purchased with the command's budget, and penalties will be imposed on territories that fail to contribute," the count concluded.
The tension in the room eased slightly, as this solution seemed reasonable. Each noble began discussing their contributions, with the Crassus territory naturally offering to supply grain, as they had an abundance of it thanks to recent plundering from the Radiant Star Kingdom.
Count Charles added a final note, "If any merchant attempts to hoard supplies or exploit the situation for profit, they will be severely punished. Report such actions directly to the command."
The nobles nodded gravely. In times like these, there was no room for leniency. Over the years, the Lania Kingdom had suffered greatly from the Pamir Empire's invasions, but it had learned the importance of thorough war preparations through hard earned lessons. No noble had forgotten them.
After the meeting, Michael and Dominic gathered their selected troops. They ensured the transport of pre-prepared rations and finalized the logistics for departure. Other nobles, too, quickly readied their supplies, allowing the mobilization to proceed smoothly.
Among the selected soldiers were mounted knights equipped as medium cavalry. Their performance would significantly increase the survival rate of the infantry. Michael, in particular, held high expectations for the archers he had personally selected and trained.
True to Michael's nickname as the "Divine Archer," he had assembled a formidable archer unit. Fortunately, the Pamir Empire's soldiers were not well equipped. Armed with the bows Michael had procured, his archers could easily penetrate the enemy's inferior armor.
The ranks also included penal soldiers and conscripted serfs who were former prisoners. Driven by a fierce desire to restore their status, these men were determined to prove themselves, and their contributions were expected to be significant.
Knights and mages from the capital were scheduled to rendezvous with the main force at the border. For now, there was no need to parade them around for display.
In the royal palace of the Lania Kingdom, King Charles V listened to reports arriving from various regions. Gradually, his expression relaxed. The recruitment of soldiers and the procurement of supplies were proceeding smoothly. The years of rigorous preparation had not been in vain.
Moreover, the news that the Pamir Empire was focusing its attack on the Elonia Kingdom instead of the northwestern planet came as a relief. While the kingdom was an ally, it was undoubtedly preferable to support a war in another nation than to see one erupt within his own borders.
A faint, sardonic smile crept onto King Charles' lips. Though alliances were important, he was ultimately the ruler of a single nation, and his priority was always the interest of his own kingdom.
As Charles reviewed the support allocations, a particular detail caught his attention.
"Why does the northeastern planet's budget include so much animal meat? And milk? Are the soldiers so desperate for luxury that they've gone mad?" Charles asked, his voice tinged with irritation. In times of war, even bare essentials were often insufficient, and yet this appeared extravagant.
Chancellor Lant responded calmly.
"Your Majesty, Count Charles sent a letter explaining this matter personally. Do you recall the knight named Michael, who was presented to the court last time? He owns a dragon and a sphinx. The meat and milk are intended for these creatures."
For a moment, King Charles was at a loss for words. On the continent of Rubel, magical beasts were treated with greater reverence than humans. Especially prized were first class magical beasts, considered treasures.
Two first class magical beasts were being deployed, and denying their upkeep was unthinkable. After a brief moment of contemplation, Charles came to a decision.
"Two first class magical beasts are being deployed, so we cannot refuse to fund their maintenance. However, pass this burden on to the Elonia Kingdom."
To lend credibility to his decision, Charles outlined his reasoning further.
"Let them know that we are deploying these beasts specifically for their benefit. With both a dragon and a sphinx in their support, they should shoulder this cost without complaint."