Solo Swordmaster

#547. Aren’t you curious?

* * *

After the peacekeepers were dispatched, they marched indiscriminately to the Egyptian army.

Africa is in chaos.

The peacekeeping force of the 7th guild.

The Egyptian Army of the Red Dragon Clan.

On a plate that I can’t afford even one.

As if competing with each other, the two armies swept the military government and deployed troops in the name of stabilizing the people’s livelihood, gradually increasing the occupied area.

Each military government felt like being chased by wild beasts.

Fortunately, the two armies stopped advancing at some point.

Taking advantage of that gap, each military government moved busily.

Reorganize the army as much as possible.

or allied with other military governments.

Trying to resolve it diplomatically, etc.

Like African rulers accustomed to war, they devised and implemented measures to overcome the situation.

The problem is that it just wasn’t enough.

No matter how many troops he gathered, there was only a difference between one rabbit and several rabbits against the two armies.

From the beginning, neither the World Federation nor the Red Dragon Clan were opponents with diplomacy.

Truly a quandary.

In the absence of an answer, most commanders despaired.

Even those who stole their property and prepared to run away came out.

“Did you say you were an envoy from the peacekeeping force?”

“yes.”

“If you are advised to surrender, go back. Even if we die, we have no intention of surrendering.”

Of course, not all military governments were like that.

There were quite a few hardliners who tried to fight to the end among those who had built up their own military government through various wars throughout their lives.

“You seem to have misunderstood something.”

“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”

“I’m not here to specifically recommend surrender.”

“Then have you come to declare war?”

“That is a bigger misunderstanding. What we want is peace, not war.”

“To be precise, it must be an occupation in the name of peace.”

one of those hardliners.

The Grand Duke of the Desert snorted at the lion’s words.

Of course, it was true that the peacekeepers were doing a lot of good deeds in occupied areas.

material support.

public service.

security, etc.

Thanks to the active intervention of the peacekeepers, the people of the conquered military government were rather happy that their lives were better than before.

But that’s just people’s stories.

All military commanders and officers who originally ruled the military government were either killed or imprisoned for all sorts of crimes.

To the Grand Duke of the Desert who knew that, the word peace was just disgusting.

“It looks like you have a prejudice against us, but I have something to suggest to clear up that misunderstanding.”

“Are you going to tell me to commit suicide peacefully?”

“no. I want to teach you how to be truly at peace.”

“Until you came, this continent was peaceful.”

“It is a false peace.”

“What is a lie?”

“After all, wars have never ceased in Africa, have they?”

At that quiet but sharp point, the Grand Duke of the Desert frowned.

“Are you going to tell me the secret to getting rid of war forever on this continent?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

I never thought I would say yes.

The Grand Duke of the Desert put on a stern expression, wanting to make fun of himself.

But the envoy didn’t care.

I just had a smile.

“Africa is a sad land.”

“It’s a place where more wars have been going on than any other continent, and so much blood and tears have flowed.”

“Even now, with everyone taking it for granted, the will of just one or two people can’t change it even if they want to.”

It seems really sad.

at the end of a quiet explanation.

The envoy made his proposal.

“Therefore, the only way to bring true peace to this land is to tear down all borders.”

“So you’re telling me to obediently dedicate my country to unifying Africa and establishing a great empire?”

“No, the opposite.”

“…?”

“War is not the only way to get rid of borders.”

what other way is there?

The Grand Duke of the Desert, who was suspicious, made a strange expression after hearing the envoy’s words.

“What if all African countries achieved peaceful unification?”

“…what did you just say?”

“I asked if you would participate if we established a federation where all countries are equal rather than unification by force.”

Africa is behind because it wastes budget and manpower through useless wars.

If all military governments voluntarily joined the federation without quarreling, useless waste would be reduced and everyone could live happily.

Looking at the envoy smiling and talking.

The Grand Duke of the Desert narrowed his eyes.

“In other words, if you don’t want to be trampled on by peacekeepers, let’s create an African federation by ourselves, right?”

“It is not a threat. It’s just an offer that if you’d like to do so, we can give you unlimited support for free.”

“…”

He could intuit.

I’m just talking softly.

If you refuse this offer, you will eventually be treated as an axis of evil and trampled on.

Of course, there was no reason for him, a hardliner who was going to confront the peacekeepers anyway, to be frightened by such threats now.

The problem is on the other side.

That is, unlimited support.

The World Federation is behind the peacekeeping force.

Midas with enormous financial power.

Demiurge who can make anything.

Saints with numerous healers.

What if they have unlimited support centered on the 7 guilds?

A miracle that even dreamers would not have dreamed of until now, the African countries being united as one federation without war may become possible.

Of course, the chieftains also retain their power as governors.

Rather, thanks to the support of the World Federation, you will be able to enjoy richer wealth and power than before.

But…

“Do you think Egypt will accept that?”

“Yes, the Red Dragon Clan would definitely oppose it.”

The Grand Duke of the Desert snorted.

The fact that all Africans are united as an equal nation may be a proposal that other military governments could manage to accept.

But what about Egypt?

never be welcome

For them, who can unify the continent on their own, becoming equal with other countries is nothing but a failure.

The envoy also admitted that fact.

with only one condition.

“It is not necessary to accept Egypt into the African Union, though.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It’s a simple story.”

Destroying several military governments alone.

This who made a name for himself in Africa.

A brown-skinned monk with an appearance resembling someone’s picture in a history book and a strange rumor due to his overwhelming power.

I love peace more than anyone else.

That’s why the sword master who caused the world war.

Gandhi, the swordsman, ended his speech with a gentle smile as always.

“This means that the support we can provide includes the peacekeepers and me.”

* * *

Even in the Seven Dragons, the information power of the Red Dragon clan is not that great.

But that’s an outside story.

At least in Africa, there were many means of obtaining information, either directly or indirectly.

“It’s the African Union…”

That was it.

That Nadia noticed the movement of the peacekeepers.

Even finding out what they were up to in just a few days.

That’s why Limon is having a headache now.

“I didn’t expect these World Federation bastards to come out like this.”

“It’s a good enough method for them. If this continues, the African Union will eventually become a puppet state of the World Federation.”

“So that’s what I’m saying. Occupying Africa in this way would not do them any harm, let alone gain.”

Limon frowned.

I don’t know if it’s another continent.

Africa, which is underdeveloped in almost every field other than military power, is a place where there is not much to be gained by occupying at least the 7 guilds.

It would have been even more so if we did public service as well as now.

To the extent that it would be reasonable to rob all the rights to dungeons and resources in the occupied territory.

Rather, they spread support and even helped establish the federation.

It wasn’t something I would do sanely.

But Hasneti pointed out quietly.

“There are benefits.”

“What benefits?”

“If we establish the African Federation as it is, we can gain a justification for killing us.”

“Throwing money from the state budget unit on the ground just to get one?”

“Even if it’s the 7th largest guild, it wouldn’t be too much of a burden for the World Federation to invest that much.”

That moment.

Limon’s face hardened.

It is not that Hasneti’s point was not accepted.

It was because she realized why she was able to accept their actions so easily.

“…It’s the method of the Seven Dragons.”

“It is not our proprietary patent. Anyone with money can do it.”

“What if you have enough money to chew through the national budget?”

Limon sighed.

A plan that ignores the balance sheet.

waste of state budget units, etc.

Until now, such things were the exclusive property of the Seven Dragons.

However, no matter how much the World Federation was established, I would never have thought that the 7 guilds, which lag behind the Seven Dragons in terms of financial power, would use this method.

It felt like being caught off guard.

‘Somehow, I don’t think this was an idea from the World Federation guys.’

When looking at the actions of the peacekeepers.

Originally, there would have been no intention of taking the loss.

No matter how much money was obtained through the seven guild federations, the budget was insufficient no matter how large it was.

Spending money needlessly like this will disrupt their plans in one way or another.

Why did you change your policy while accepting that?

No, who would have proposed this policy in the first place?

while thinking.

Limon raised his eyebrows.

‘no way…?’

A woman who puts it away for a while, even writing methods she doesn’t want to use.

And when Limon puts on a complicated expression as he recalls his former apprentice, who was familiar with the methods of the Seven Dragons Society as much as he himself taught the art of war.

A slightly outstretched finger.

lifted his chin

“Limore.”

“huh?”

“Don’t think of other women when I’m with you.”

“…sorry.”

I just thought about it for a second.

how did you know

Limon asked with a bitter smile at Hasneti’s stare at him with cold bloody eyes.

“So what are you going to do, Pharaoh?”

“Let me tell you.”

“huh?”

“You will be my soldier now.”

“Wasn’t I the Pharaoh’s concubine?”

“I have no intention of limiting the sidelines’ side jobs.”

“I don’t think being in the military is something you would normally do as a side job…”

He scratched his cheek.

Limon organized his thoughts.

The establishment of the African Federation with the support of the World Federation cannot be seen as it is.

However, if the establishment of the federation was hastily blocked or opposed, the peacekeepers could use it as a justification for starting a war.

Maybe that was their real purpose.

‘It’s just cause.’

A long time to be lost in thought.

Limon suddenly raised his head.

“I think there might be a way.”

“is it?”

“Seeing that even at this point, they are still working hard to secure a just cause, I wonder if the World Federation guys are overzealous.”

“…”

“In that sense…”

It would be okay to start a war ignoring justifications.

What is the reason for trying to take care of this kind of loss.

I’m talking about the question that came up again.

Limon smiled coldly.

“Aren’t you curious which is greater, the greed of the guys or the greed of the Africans?”