Should we expand outward or focus on internal development?
The Kingdom of Lombard on the other side of the mountains has been in chaos recently due to a cult, and that country is unable to control the spread of the cult.
The Empire has secretly sent a team from the Church of Light to gather intelligence, and now the issue of war against the Kingdom of Lombard is being discussed.
Although the empire is vast and rich in resources, it is still inferior to the Kingdom of Lombard.
Although the Kingdom of Lombard is a small country, it occupies a very good position.
If the Kingdom of Lombard could be controlled, the Empire's influence would be able to spread to the central region of the continent.
The Five-Nation Alliance that invaded the empire a few years ago has become a vassal state, and the newly appointed rulers are extremely loyal to the empire.
At the same time, the empire also launched public opinion propaganda in these five countries and eventually won the hearts of the people.
Now that these problems have been solved, if the empire is to become even greater, the only way is to expand outward.
After discussion among the nobles, Emperor Sapota finally made a decision.
The empire does not want to stay in a corner. Now that it has such good conditions, it must begin to expand towards the center of the continent.
This process will be quite long and will also result in numerous casualties due to the war.
But as long as it can bring enough benefits to the imperial people, most people will still support the war.
The empire's military system is a standing army recruitment system, and there is also a large reserve corps, so civilians will not be forcibly conscripted, and domestic support for the war will be quite high.
At the same time, many new inventions of the Imperial Engineering Academy can be put to use, and the first elite force using magic firearms has begun to be established.
However, due to cost and technical reasons, weapons such as magic firearms will not be used on a large scale.
Before the war started, having a long-range magic gun team of a hundred people was already the limit.
The main long-range weapons in future wars will still be arrows, crossbows and magic.
Emperor Sapota decided to start a war under the pretext of spreading the faith.
After all, even the official Lombard Kingdom defined the Hope Sect as a cult, so the empire could attack cities and towns controlled by the cultists under the banner of eliminating the cult.
The excuse was to help the Kingdom of Lombard stabilize the situation and spread orthodox beliefs, even though the Kingdom of Lombard did not request the Empire to send troops.
Once the war actually starts and continues, the initial excuse for war will completely lose its meaning.
Moreover, the excuse for war was not originally prepared for the Kingdom of Lombard, but for the Imperials themselves.
Except for a few elites, most of the people in the empire are brainless.
When enough benefits are gained from the war, even those who are against the war will begin to support it.
Finally the noble meeting ended and Emperor Saporta issued an order.
The empire will begin preparing for war and various logistical supplies will begin to be dispatched.
And choose the time as soon as possible to invade the Kingdom of Lombard.
PS: There are 11 chapters left OVO
Chapter 2 - Disaster 049 Drunk
Licaro talked about some of the things she saw and heard in the Kingdom of Lombard as well as the local customs and practices.
But she did not mention at all how she founded the Knights Templar, its demise, and her revenge.
She didn't want to talk about sad things anymore, and she didn't want to make her mother worry too much.
Doris did not ignore the guest while listening to her daughter's story. She said to Eloline, "You can take off your cloak. It's a bit hot in the room. It must be uncomfortable."
"It's okay, I've always been used to wearing it like this."
Eloline knew that she must not take off her cloak.
Doris looked at Eloline, and her eyes changed slightly.
But she quickly changed the subject: "Tell me how you two became friends?"
Eloline understood that the next step would test the chemistry between herself and Licaro, and they had to make up a reasonable story.
Finally, after the two of them explained it to each other, Ai Luolin's identity was changed to a magician who was also going out for training, and she became Likalo's companion on the journey.
"Where is your hometown? How are your parents doing recently?"
"Uh..." Eloline could make up the location of her hometown, but she didn't want to make up the name of her parents, so she told the truth: "I have never seen my parents since I was born."
After hearing her words, Doris looked at her with more pity in her eyes.
But to be honest, Eloline doesn't like being pitied by others. She is not a fragile person.
If she has the chance in the future, she will continue to look for her parents, but she won't be heartbroken if she really can't find them.
Now she has someone to rely on in this world, and that is Likalo in front of her.
If she had to choose between Licaro and her parents whom she had never met, Eloline would choose the former without hesitation.
Doris poured a cup of black tea and handed it to Eloline. Tea seemed to be a standard for nobles and elegant people in this world.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, just treat this place as your home."
"My mother is a very nice person."
Licaro also echoed him. As soon as she picked up the teacup and took a sip, she saw a bulge on Eloline's back.
Oops, this guy has unknowingly lifted his tail.
Licaro glanced at her mother, then kicked Eloline's leg under the table while she wasn't paying attention.
Eloline turned and looked at her in confusion.
"Stupid dragon...tail."
Eloline reacted immediately and let her tail go.
She really needs to change this habit of wagging her tail from time to time.
For Eloline's tail, there are only two situations where it will be raised up, one is when she is very happy, and the other is when she is very relaxed.
Now, drinking tea and chatting is a very relaxing time.
The little action just now did not make Doris suspicious, but she felt that Licaro's friend was really strange.
Even though she had just heard how the two of them met and became friends, Doris was still a little worried.
After all, this is my daughter’s first real friend, right?
And the relationship is so good that I can bring her home.
My daughter had no interest in making friends before.
"The dinner is almost ready. We must celebrate tonight," said Doris.
"When will father come back?"
"He won't be back today. Don't worry. We can just hold a dinner party when he comes back."
The party Doris was talking about was actually just a family dinner, and no outsiders were invited.
So to put it bluntly, there were only three of them who actually attended the dinner.
Licaro was looking forward to her first dinner after returning home, but she had to be careful not to expose Eloline this time.
After arriving at the table, Doris brought a bottle of wine and said, "Daughter, you've never had a drink before?"
"I drank it once when I was out."
"Oh? You've already had a drink, so there's no need to worry." Doris poured the wine into the glass and handed it to Likalo: "My daughter has grown up. It's okay for her to drink a little wine today when we're together."
Then she looked at Eloline again: "Do you like drinking?"
Eloline recalled the taste of the wine she had drunk before and quickly refused: "Forget it, I don't like drinking."
"Then mother, let's drink together."
Today was the second time that Likalo drank alcohol in her life. Just by smelling the alcohol in the glass, she felt a little dry in the mouth.
Wine is so delicious!
The wine this time was red wine like last time, but the Duke's wine collection was definitely much better than that in the restaurant.
Likalo drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. Doris smiled and said, "This is a very generous way to drink."
"Oh, another drink, mother!"
Licaro handed the empty cup to her mother.
Seeing this, Eloline wanted to remind her not to drink too much, after all, what happened in the restaurant last time was still fresh in her mind.
"You are not allowed to drink another glass. Being drunk is very uncomfortable."
Fortunately, as a mother, Doris still cares about her daughter's health.
"Know it."
After handing the wine glass to her daughter, Doris looked at Eloline who was eating in small bites and said, "It seems that you have a small appetite. No wonder you are so petite."
"Yeah, I'll be full after eating just a little."
Eloline said this without blushing.
If she were allowed to eat as much as she wanted, she could finish all the food on the table in just one minute.
"It's a good thing to eat less. Licaro... eh!"
Doris discovered that the bottle of wine in front of her had disappeared, and then she found that Licaro was holding the bottle and pouring it into her mouth.
Tons tons tons...
You have to know that the bottle containing wine is three or four times larger than an ordinary wine bottle, and the liquid inside is disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Likaro, you drank too much!"
Doris never expected that the bottle of wine would be taken away by Licaro just after she spoke a few words to Eloline.
And this way of drinking is really similar to her alcoholic father.
Her daughter had never touched alcohol before and didn't want to drink it, so Doris thought she didn't like drinking.
Now it seems that she has never tasted wine, and judging from her behavior after tasting it, she will definitely be a drunkard in the future.
She thought she had to teach Licaro that drinking too much was definitely not a good thing.
At this time, Licaro's cheeks were flushed, and judging from her drunken expression, she was already drunk.
Eloline suddenly felt something was wrong, she didn't notice that Licaro took the bottle of wine.
I hope Licaro won’t say nonsense when she gets drunk. If that happens, we’re doomed!
Thinking of Licaro's behavior after she got drunk last time, Eloline felt that she was in danger.
Unexpectedly, Lika Luo suddenly stood up from the chair, and then stammered: "I, I want to pee..."
"Let me take her to the bathroom!"
Eloline quickly stood up and ran over to support Licaro.
Doris was a little surprised, but didn't say much.
PS: If you can’t drink too much, don’t drink too much, otherwise qwq
Chapter 2 - Disaster 050 Shameful Things
Ai Luolin supported Li Ka Luo and walked outside, and whispered to Li Ka Luo: "Don't say nonsense after drinking and expose my identity."
"Hickey~ Don't worry, dear~"
"Don't say that word!"
After leaving the room and making sure her mother couldn't see her, Licaro suddenly held Eloline's face in her hands.
"What are you doing?"
"The wine is really delicious. I like it very much." Lika Luo exuded a strong smell of alcohol. Then she blew into Eloline's ear: "And I like you even more."
"!!!"
