"You may think it's a little early to say this question now...... But I still felt the need. If I don't say it now, and I don't have a chance to come back to help you later, then I won't have a chance to say it before it happens...... Because at that time, whether it is a big victory or a bad victory, I am afraid that you will not have the energy to move on to the next step. ”

"What's the problem?" Randy scratched his cheeks. 、

"Think about it...... If you successfully resolve this anomaly, and Kia returns to normal, what happens next? First of all, it is obviously impossible for Crossbell to hold up with his current impregnable protection. While the Republic would have had no time to resolve the nationalist divisions within the country, and the Empire's civil war might not have ended so quickly – what would happen if the two powers repeated what they had left unfinished after that? ”

“…… Crossbell will become a battleground for great power disputes. Moreover, because of the loss of the "train cannon" weapon, the Imperial Army did not have the means to carry out direct mass destruction attacks on the Republican army. Considering the strength of the Imperial Army and the tenacity of the mixed forces of the Republic...... I'm afraid the war will be fought very fiercely. ”

"Yes...... You're quite right. And in addition to that, there is another problem...... The Republic and the Empire will certainly look for a way to quickly replenish their domestic losses after the situation has stabilized. I don't know about the Republic, but on the Empire's side, whether the reformers or the aristocracy win in the end, they will inevitably put their next military target on the Autonomous Prefecture of Crossbell - because Mayor Dita issued the "Declaration of Independence" that they considered invalid, and it was precisely because he further blocked the assets of the Empire and defeated the regular army of the Empire at the same time, which exacerbated the contradictions within the Empire - so the Empire used this as an excuse to send troops, and Crossbell could not resist it anyway. At that time, the armies of the two countries will use Crossbell as a battlefield...... This land will suffer an unprecedented catastrophe. ”

Lloyd and the others acquiesced. It is true that perhaps the Imperial and Republic armies would try to avoid harming civilians when they were fighting, but that was in the early stages of the war, when supplies of all kinds were abundant and morale was high. Once in a tug-of-war, the logistics suffered, the morale gradually wore out, and some negative emotions grew among the soldiers—the longer the empire and the republic fought, the more Crossbell suffered. Moreover, the state of war alone is enough to hit the banking industry and the financial industry that Crossbell has always relied on for survival, and the stagnation of trade will undoubtedly be a complete destruction for Crossbell, who does not have any real industry.

"That'...... What if it were you, and the neutral faction of His Highness Olivebat, who would come out to preside over the domestic order while both of them were defeated? Randy was unwilling, although he was not from Crossbell, but he had already regarded this place as important as his hometown, and seeing that his hometown was about to suffer, where could he stand idly by, "although this is probably unlikely......

"It's unlikely, and His Highness Olibat didn't intend to make such a radical plan in the first place...... This is just our first step. Heliga pouted, he and Olibat had the same knowledge of many things, but this was the only one - Oligat wanted to do everything possible to end the war as soon as possible and make the empire less damaged, and he just needed some amazing deeds in the civil war as a battle feat, so that the supporters of the neutrals could see his performance, but Heliga wanted to be able to influence the situation of the war, and weaken the strength of both sides as smoothly as possible without hurting his vitality- But Olibart refused, arguing that the continuation of the war would harm civilians.

"But even if we do that...... I'm afraid it's impossible to change what I just said. Heiliga continued.

"Why?" Randy was puzzled, "I remember, you and that Highness are both ...... Politically, well...... How to put it, not so utilitarian. You wouldn't do such a thing as invading Crossbell, would you? At most, the "IBC" will be required to compensate for the damage. ”

"yes...... Although I know that the economic losses of the empire during this period are terrible, it is impossible for Uncle Dita to be the president of the "IBC" at that time anyway...... Bell too, if he had done something like that, the assets of the "IBC" would have been enough to compensate for the loss of the Empire, right? ”

"It's not that simple." Heiliga smiled bitterly, such a simple truth, but the two of them couldn't figure it out, "Even if Oliebat and I can suppress those voices in the country - you know, even if they are neutral, there are some people who just want the empire to become stronger, and do not agree with the approach of the aristocracy and reformers to remain neutral - there is no difference between them in essence." This kind of person will also definitely exert pressure on the Empire to attack Crossbell - then, there is another reason, His Highness Olibart, even if he has complete control over his own decisions, will choose to use troops against Crossbell. ”

"Why?" Randy asked.

"Because...... If the empire does not fight, the republic will strike. Arios closed his eyes and spoke of the harsh reality, "And it is absolutely unacceptable to give up a piece of fat like Crossbell to the Republic - because it is irresponsible to the people of Erebonia as a whole." A leader will always be forced to make such decisions that he has to make...... My good friend, Archduke Albert of the Duchy of Remephilia, often lamented to me the same. ”

"......" was a suffocating silence.

"So...... You should think about it. It's best to be able to figure it out during this time...... Use your connections to evade Dita's tracking, and reach out to all the people you know who can speak and influence Crossbell, and together you figure it out...... Although I think that in the end, the solution to the problem may be Kia. ”

"Kia?" Lloyd asked softly.

"Hmm...... Kia's power to fulfill that stupid dream for Dita was a bit of a waste. If you can use it better, you might be able to do it better. ”

"I understand...... However, we just want her to continue her peaceful life. Lloyd said, his eyes were extremely resolute, "No matter what strength she has, what story she has behind it, we will not let her carry it alone." When the event is over, we won't involve her in any plan. ”

"That's right...... These things are not what she can do now. Tio said.

"You're really ...... I'm too doting on her. Heiliga smiled wryly, such a declaration was moving, but it didn't solve the problem—but forget it, let them figure it out for themselves. When it comes to this, I have done my best.

"So, what's next for you?" Arios asked, "We're here, now that you've already explained it, I think there won't be any major problems with me and Guy here." ”

"I'm ......" Haley took a deep breath and looked southwest.

There is the beginning of his next and most important step.