How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 508

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“I believe all possible criticisms have already been raised. Do you have any other opinions?”

As he said this, Leonard Wittelsbach withdrew his smile. His face returned to motionless stability, as if the smile that should have been a means of emotional expression merely functioned as a signal. The advisors who knew the signal said nothing.

“We must keep war with Prussia in mind.”

Leonard, who had just declared his turn, mentioned one of the advisors’ concerns. In the silence, his voice, resembling his grandparents and the previous king, flowed.

“The Papal States already anticipate war between Germany and various European nations.”

That fact was itself a refutation of the advisors’ arguments. If Prussia becomes indignant about crossing the ‘tacit line’ through contact with the Catacombs, they won’t have time to cause a German civil war. The conflict between ‘Germany’ and other nations looms as an even greater problem. The advisors understood the meaning. The Prince continued.

“The fact that Atropos, a murder and mind-manipulation drug, belongs to an uncontrolled terrorist group is already adversely affecting Germany’s security. Pleroma used Atropos to assassinate the Prime Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and prominent nobles of Italy. France, already in opposition to Germany, will not miss this opportunity, and the rest of the Kingdom of Italy, excluding the Papal States, will also hold us responsible, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire will break the alliance. Other European nations that have been watching the tide will join hands with other countries seeking to topple Germany as a new hegemonic power rather than allying with Germany, and will distribute our subjects and territory among themselves. Bavaria can move as a separate nation from Prussia in this crisis, and we expect countries like France to invest massive support in Bavaria for Germany’s re-division. However, all of this is not being implemented because Atropos is kept top secret and most nations are unaware of its existence.”

Therefore, Prussia has only two choices from their perspective: either hold Bavaria formally or watch Bavaria’s rapid rise and Prussia’s downfall in a daze. Leonard repeated the story that had long been organized in his mind.

“To avoid responsibility for the German Empire, Bavaria will share Germany’s burden, and to secure the safety of the Kingdom of Bavaria, we will begin anti-Pleroma elimination operations starting tonight. However, once Atropos’s existence is revealed to the continent, changes in our relationship with Prussia will become unavoidable no matter what moves we Bavaria make. This is not due to other grounds like the Catacombs, but because Germany, and the Prussian government that operates the German federal government, bears responsibility for failing to stop Pleroma. Therefore, it is the right time to elevate the Catacombs’ position. Bavaria will force Prussia to allow changes amid the crisis.”

Up to here, he had skimmed the surface of the raised issues. Now it was time to delve into the essence. Leonard opened his mouth after finishing his calculations.

“However, you are concerned that contact between our kingdom and the Catacombs will become Prussia’s external weapon. ‘Bavaria unilaterally launched a surprise attack on Pleroma without warning, destroying opportunities to eliminate Pleroma in regions outside Bavaria, and in the process allied with the Catacombs to render the imperial constitution meaningless, providing the catalyst for German division. Therefore, we Prussia are currently investing all our mental strength and resources that should be used to check Pleroma into guarding against Bavaria’s solo run, and thus we can conclude that Bavaria is harming the German Federation’s security.'”

The advisors bowed at the Prince’s words. He had seen this behavior of showing gratitude because he, as royalty, understood their intentions throughout his life. It caused slight revulsion due to inherent values while simultaneously being familiar despite conflicting with those values, and it had to be familiar.

The advisors’ concern was that ‘by contacting the Catacombs, Prussia, thinking they shouldn’t remain idle, could shift all blame to Bavaria.’ In other words, making Bavaria an emotional enemy of the German Empire. Since contact with the Catacombs is illegal, Prussia can use it even more as their weapon.

Leonard looked down at his advisors. He thought of his strategist, he thought of his mother. He spoke of deductions he had not told anyone, not even his political partners, and that even those partners had not anticipated.

“Atropos’s existence will be announced to all of Europe tonight. The full-scale confrontation between Germany and Europe will be completed this week, as early as tonight or as late as weekdays. Therefore, Prussia will not have time to scheme to win in public opinion warfare.”

At those words, the advisors’ expressions hardened. Everyone seated felt the air grow cold. One of the advisors moved his lips then asked with a pale face.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Your Highness, no country officially knows Atropos’s name and existence. Only the Papal States have speculated. Are you saying it will leak from the Papal States?”

“Not the Papal States, but France, which has been obtaining all information from the Papal States, knows that fact.”

The advisors’ eyes changed completely. Leonard continued speaking.

“Due to Bavaria’s classified operation, France’s Terminus Yukairya lost one of their operatives who had been communicating with the Papal States as of yesterday. While Terminus Yukairya doesn’t know who destroyed the bridge connecting them to the massive opponent that is the Papal States, they have recognized their competitor as the German Empire and Pleroma since political relations began deteriorating from the moment they pointed to the French Imperial Family as the culprit in the Peruer theft incident, and are actually concentrating on surpassing Pleroma’s technology and influence, as evidenced by their rampage drug replication and alliance patterns. Following massive losses, Terminus Yukairya will reveal Atropos’s existence to make Germany Europe’s enemy in order to check their enemies and restrict the German Empire’s movements.”

Leonard explained their isolation operation. The advisors knew of Terminus Yukairya’s existence and their purpose, and immediately understood everything Leonard was saying. Looking into their eyes and giving them time to understand, Leonard immediately continued.

“Therefore, it makes political and economic sense for Terminus Yukairya to announce Atropos’s existence the moment they realize their severance from the Papal States. However, since they didn’t do so, we can easily conclude that other restrictions or incentives are primarily blocking them. Our spy who contacted Terminus Yukairya limited the deadline for the Pleroma elimination operation to tonight. For the German Empire to gain international defensive capability from Pleroma’s terrorist threat and for Pleroma to be thoroughly politically isolated, Terminus Yukairya’s Atropos announcement must not precede this. As notified several days ago, that informant has control as Terminus Yukairya’s superficial collaborator while simultaneously making Pleroma’s absolute loss their primary goal, thus possessing both the incentive and ability to delay Terminus Yukairya’s Atropos announcement. Therefore, I am confident that after tonight passes, Terminus Yukairya will not postpone announcing Atropos’s existence. So.”

Leonard clasped his hands and looked ahead.

“Timely indeed, Bavaria will succeed in the anti-Pleroma elimination operation, thoroughly protecting the German Empire from political crisis and rival nations’ fierce attacks.”

The advisors were engulfed in stunned shock, widening their eyes and moving their lips. They had heard the precise answer and now had no objections. They intuited that Leonard was on the verge of seizing Bavaria’s advantage through his own calculations and macro perspective, and that he had already finished contemplating everything that would happen in the future. The Prince would gain three benefits by openly committing overreach before Prussia, which had reached a dead end. He would convert the predicted chaos into Bavaria’s victory, make Prussia indebted to them, and bring the Catacombs along in the process. Prussia was now isolated without knowing it. And Bavaria would achieve victory in every aspect as planned.

The Prince knew how to push forward decisively at the right time. Now all the advisors had to do was listen to the Prince’s self-proof.

The Prince continued.

“Therefore, Prussia will only be able to recover by promoting Bavaria’s achievements on Easter night as the German Empire’s achievements. Internally, they will sense that dynamics are changing, but they will be able to do nothing outwardly. I aimed for this when I allowed this anti-Pleroma elimination operation.”

The advisors bowed respectfully once more, then raised their heads. They accepted the Prince. No one opposed the Prince anymore. Nevertheless, Leonard continued speaking.

“You said that from the Catacombs’ perspective, the royal family is an enemy, and that not contacting them would be best to respect the Catacombs. You are correct. My existence as royalty will make them, as commoners, observe unnecessary etiquette and worry about their own safety every time they voice a democratic opinion.”

Perhaps the expression was harsh, as one advisor turned pale and explained.

“It was not intended to make Your Highness uncomfortable.”

Leonard looked at him quietly then answered.

“You have a duty to voice concerns. Yes, I will face such situations in the Catacombs. Also, you worried that I would submit to them due to my sense of debt to the Catacombs, thereby lowering the royal family’s dignity. This doesn’t mean to take pride as blue blood, but rather advises that a ruler representing power delegated by tens of millions of subjects should never lower their weight in any situation because they represent those subjects’ dignity and honor. And you said such conflict itself could be received as hostility by the Catacombs. I believe my understanding is correct.”

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

“Even if my presence is troublesome to the Catacombs, I must meet them. As I said earlier, this is an unparalleled opportunity for the Catacombs and the only way for our Bavarian royal family to avoid accumulating more debt to the Catacombs. To not miss the single opportunity to betray Prussia’s trust, I must bring the Catacombs together at this moment.”

The advisors already agreed with the Prince’s plan. Therefore, Leonard no longer needed to persuade them. Their faces revealed everything.

“So I will accept the Catacombs’ hostility.”

Words flowed from the tongue of the Prince, not Leonard. The Prince did not say he would melt the Catacombs’ hostility with his gentleness. He did not say he would extend a handshake to them.

A premonition that he would not forget today passed by. Leonard recalled when he said, ‘You are concerned that contact between our kingdom and the Catacombs will become Prussia’s external weapon.’ Instead of pointing out Prussia’s ethical injustice, he persuaded the advisors using Atropos’s announcement timing and international circumstances.

In political matters, deploying idealism that justice will someday triumph or that acting ethically will eventually make everything work together for good is the most arduous, noble, and difficult thing, yet when that belief is inherent in the wrong person, it sometimes becomes the easiest thing. Unlike those who can burn even their lives in metaphysical struggle following their beliefs, Leonard Wittelsbach is not like that. Leonard Wittelsbach knew. Throwing away the crown prepared for him from birth and rushing toward the values he contemplates—that is not a noble manifestation of conviction but proof of irresponsibility. It is a mark of indulgence, death, and solitary existence. Having been destined from birth for the unique position of Bavarian monarch, he must remain loyal to the Kingdom of Bavaria and his subjects’ lives until his dying day. Therefore, he should be neither artist nor prophet. Therefore, he could neither live for revenge like his friend nor live for an ideology he firmly believes to be justice. He must not be subordinated to ideology nor blind to his own convictions. That is Leonard Wittelsbach’s great cause.

It is an interesting matter. While equally seeking the happiness of all people, each person’s great cause manifests differently. It had to be so because everyone stands in different positions. Someday Leonard Wittelsbach, perhaps even now, wanted to head toward the values his friend pursues while knowing they conflict with his own inherited status. The liberal perspective inherited from his mother since birth allowed this. The reason he continues to think of one friend is probably because Leonard’s own lingering gaze still remains there. Leonard mercilessly analyzed his own state. And he recognized the fact that he should not be that way. His friend, unlike him, could be blind to his own convictions even if not blind to one ideology, and could rebel in that manner. In contrast, Leonard lives within duties and responsibilities his friend does not have by birth. The tears of blood of ten thousand generations and the fate of the current age hung on his shoulders. Though it was also in the hands of the massive companion called citizens, like all rulers whose names remain at historians’ pen tips, he stands alone before the times. In the future, he alone will be able to control the fate of tens of millions. Even a republican president holds the national fortune and people’s lives beyond his term. A four-year ruler can kill and save countless people. Therefore, Elias Hohenzollern’s best is wrong for Leonard. Leonard Wittelsbach’s best is not the best for Elias Hohenzollern. Leonard Wittelsbach agonized. He agonized between the close world that shared his values and the world of duty he would soon have to grasp.

How long can he remain a student? He knows that time is running short. Now Leonard Wittelsbach could no longer remain a high school student who felt awkward hearing even one “Prince” from a commoner. He thinks before Pleroma’s smell of blood. He knew the day when he could no longer distance himself from fate was approaching.

“We shall obey.”

One advisor bows his head. Taking this as a signal, the other advisors do the same. Leonard, like the previous king and current king, looked down at the advisors briefly and rose from his seat.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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