The Dark Clouds Over Renalute
“We have another report of a missing person today. Most likely a slave-related abduction or kidnapping.”
“Again…? Zack, what’s the latest on the movements of the shadows?!”
An angry roar echoed through Elias’ private chambers. His expression was stern, twisted in anguish. About a year had passed since Raycis was born. Liesel had become queen, supported by Elias and Eltia respectively.
The country had become more lively than before, but reports of events casting a shadow over Renalute had started to emerge. There were many reports of missing dark elves, mainly children and women, within the country. Viewing the situation gravely, Elias promptly issued a nationwide alert about the abductions and kidnappings. He also instructed Zack to investigate, but grew increasingly frustrated as detailed reports were slow to come in. Zack spoke calmly, as if to soothe Elias’ emotions.
“Your Majesty, I understand your feelings, but please calm down. I have a report summarizing the information from the shadows. The contents are grave, so please read through it with a settled mind.”
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Elias received the report and reviewed its contents. As Zack said, the information compiled was indeed grave. The kidnappers of Renalute’s citizens were individuals backed by the neighboring northern country of Barst. However, the shadows were unable to obtain any physical evidence linking them directly.
The abduction and kidnapping operations involving dark elves appeared to be using hired groups from within or around Barst to cover their tracks. Tracing the information they did obtain strongly suggested the involvement of Barst’s shadowy forces. That was as far as they could determine at this point. After reading through the report, Elias closed his eyes sternly, deep in thought.
What was Barst’s aim? He knew dark elves fetched high prices in the slave trade, but it was easy to imagine that kidnapping citizens of the neighboring Renalute would severely strain relations between countries. Moreover, if Barst’s shadowy forces were likely involved, it implied the country was behind it.
In other words, they were willing to jeopardize relations between nations. Elias slowly opened his eyes and questioned Zack.
“What is the current gap in military might and national power between our country and Barst?”
“There is not much difference in national power at the moment. However, Barst is likely to surpass us in a few years. As for military forces, we have the qualitative edge but are outnumbered, so a war would be difficult to win.”
“Outnumbered…Barst’s slave soldiers…”
Elias muttered bitterly. Barst was a country where slavery was legal, rapidly increasing its national power through exploiting that labor force and military. Zack nodded at Elias’ words and continued explaining.
“Yes. We could win once or twice, but anything more would likely exhaust and render our forces unsustainable.”
“…What about assassination or covert operations by the shadows?”
Zack shook his head slightly, with a somewhat regretful expression.
“Unfortunately, Barst currently enslaves any dark elves that enter the country. We’ve already sent in a few shadows, but they seem to be on high alert with countermeasures in place. The attempts failed. Rest assured, we’ve covered our tracks so they don’t know it was us.”
“I see. Don’t strain yourselves.”
Elias closed his eyes again, deep in thought. Barst’s aim was likely provocation. Their recent national power increase and military buildup suggested they were making a play to bring Renalute under their control.
What could Renalute do? What held the key to the fates of Barst and Renalute? Eventually, Elias opened his eyes slowly and gave Zack instructions.
“Send an envoy to Barst immediately. Tell them that kidnapping Renalute’s citizens for the slave trade will only invite conflict between nations. And demand the return of all dark elves who were enslaved after passing through Barst.”
“Understood.”
After seeing Zack nod, Elias continued.
“…Also, have an envoy sent to the Magnolia Empire’s capital to inform the Emperor of the current situation. And send another with the same message to Reiner, Margrave of the Baldian territory.”
Zack tilted his head slightly, an unusual gesture as he sought to confirm Elias’ intent.
“I understand the capital, but is the Margrave of Baldian necessary as well?”
“Yes. The nobles in the capital may see it as a fire on the other shore. But should anything happen, the Baldian Territory is too close to call it across the shore. The Margrave may be more friendly towards us than the capital nobles.”
“Understood.”
Satisfied, Zack bowed deeply. Even after the discussion with Zack ended, Elias remained deep in contemplation with closed eyes, concerned about Renalute’s future path.
A few days after Elias and Zack’s discussion, as he continued his contemplation, an unexpected piece of good news arrived for Elias.
“Eltia…is this true?”
“Yes. Your child is in my womb now.”
“Oh!! There is no greater blessing!”
Elias rejoiced at the news of another child’s impending birth. Following Liesel, Eltia too was now with child. This secured the Renalute royal lineage. All that remained was how to resolve the issue with Barst.
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Some time after the joyous news of Eltia’s pregnancy, the envoy sent to Barst returned. However, the response he brought back was an outcome worse than Elias had imagined.
[The claims made by the Kingdom of Renalute are completely unknown to the Kingdom of Barst. If dark elves were indeed abducted by lawless individuals and trafficked through our nation, then we sympathize. However, the slave trade within Barst is conducted in full compliance with our laws, and the nation bears no responsibility. If responsibility lies anywhere, it is with the lawless individuals who abducted your citizens. Our nation is not involved in this matter, and your claims are most regrettable.]
Elias scowled bitterly and sought Zack’s opinion.
“Zack. What do you make of this? Do you think Barst’s aim is war against us?”
“Most likely, yes. With Barst’s national power and slave soldiers, their intent seems to be conquering our nation over the long term, not just a short conflict.”
Elias nodded, closing his eyes in contemplation. Previously, there were still uncertainties about Barst’s aims, but this response made them clear. As Zack said, their intent was likely long-term conquest of Renalute through war.
Renalute’s military strength lay in quality over quantity, truly shining in favorable terrain like forests. Barst understood this, which was why they kept abducting and kidnapping dark elves. Moreover, by conducting the slave trade, they were provoking Renalute.
At this point, Barst’s reasons for provocation were obvious. They aimed to inflame the sentiments of Renalute’s citizens and lure its forces out into open battles where they could not leverage their strengths. Then they could gradually whittle down and exhaust Renalute’s military.
It would be difficult for Renalute to replenish its depleted forces. With its low birth rate, the overall population was already smaller than other nations to begin with, though still at a historical high for the dark elves.
In a war, it was easy to envision more soldiers dying than children being born. If Renalute’s current forces were lost, it would directly impact their ability to maintain an army. This was why, when forced into war, Renalute had historically survived through defensive tactics minimizing losses.
But Barst’s current strategy was cunning. No matter how futile the war seemed, the citizens’ outrage at Barst’s cruelty would not allow standing idle.
As king, as a nation, they would be compelled to go to war. And Renalute’s forces, while formidable within their domain, would certainly suffer losses in open battles beyond their borders.
Yet Renalute had no way to replenish those losses. As Elias saw it, there were three courses of action:
One, an all-out war with Barst while Renalute’s forces were still intact.
Two, continue the small skirmishes while seeking a resolution.
Three, seek aid from other nations.
After this analysis, Elias opened his eyes, his stern expression unchanged, and explained his thinking to Zack. He then asked which of the three options seemed most realistic. Elias likely had his own answer, but was seeking confirmation. After contemplating, Zack responded decisively.
“I believe pursuing the second and third options simultaneously would be best. The first is too risky with the Empire’s potential involvement. If we attack Barst and the Empire counterattacks, we cannot defend ourselves. There’s also the possibility of Barst deploying separate forces against us.”
“So you think so as well, Zack…”
With a weary, stern expression, Elias nodded. An all-out war was out of the question first and foremost. As Zack said, there were no guarantees the Empire wouldn’t get involved. And the possibility of Barst having prepared other large-scale forces couldn’t be ruled out.
In that scenario, Renalute’s options would be limited. It was then that Elias suddenly remembered something and asked Zack.
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