Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 17: The White Flag

...—Capital of Latva, Kingdom Forbrenne—...

...—1 August 1238—...

BRACKET!

BRACKET!

BRACKET!

The footsteps of tens of thousands of Arestia Empire's soldiers sounded loud. The sounds of motion of various heavy weaponry as well as war horses also accompanied the troops marching under the morning sun.

The prediction in my mind a few days ago has come true. Looking at the tens of thousands of enemy soldiers from above the capital's defensive walls, Ruon had already steadied her heart, to raise the white flag above the tallest building as well as the defensive wall.

The decision has been unanimous. After discussing with the nobles as well as his remaining knights in the capital, with a heavy heart, giving up was the only sensible option to take.

How not?

In the short term, drought causes crop yields to deteriorate. Moreover, with the Arestia embargo, Ruon could no longer struggle to save her country from starvation.

Not only that, Ruon was also required to retake the cities that were in the hands of the rebels. The enormous military and financial power had to be sacrificed in order to stabilize the politics and legitimacy of the Forbrenne Royal Family, which Ruon certainly did not have.

In straight line, in the long run if only Ruon could do both impossible things, as the only remaining royalty and would definitely be crowned King, he said, Ruon was required to keep her country safe from the intelligence that made Forbrenne a base for them.

Disputes, riots, soaring basic prices, until the threat of sabotage is something that is very likely to happen to his country in the future.

Unconditional surrender.

Something Ruon must have offered the supreme leader of the enemy forces.

Although it was possible that the enemy would ask for his head, but Ruon had the support of the people. There was no way the enemy would let him die just like that for the stability of the Latva Capital.

Although it would occupy a dark and cold dungeon, it was possible that it would be thrown into exile and live in a remote village, for Ruon, it was possible, both of these things feel better and can calm his heart than living under the political pressure of the conflicting countries.

Ruon's gaze focused on a man riding a white war horse in the vanguard.

Short blue hair, not the least impressed neat. The face he had was very smooth, not feeling like someone who had gone through many battlefields. His black robe and military uniform were only as memorable as an ordinary military commander.

Even so, dignity, honor, until the aura of a leader feels strong emanated from him.

The few nobles around him were also not ordinary individuals. Ruon was very confident because the aura they emitted was almost similar to her.

Who her?

Ruon was unsure of the identity of the man—because she had never met Ares before. However, it did not matter to Ruon, who would make an unconditional surrender to him.

"Now!" Ruon's right hand held high, giving a sign for an archer soldier to shoot. In just a moment, an arrow shot out, hitting the knight barracks not far from the wall of the capital.

Understanding Ruon's orders, a soldier immediately rushed over, riding a war horse towards the royal palace to raise the white flag as a sign of surrender.

The residents just stared in confusion at the knight. For them, despite being in a difficult time because of the expensive price of basic commodities, the population remains at a high moral level due to having just won the war.

For a while, the flag showing the greatness of the Forbrenne Royal Family slowly descended, replaced by a white flag, along with a white flag rising above the main gate of the Latva Capital.

The rise of the white flag caused unease among the people. Shouts of protest, swearing and cowardly mockery spewed from the mouths of the residents, they truly regretted the actions of Second Prince Forbrenne who became cowardly after valiantly returning from the battlefield.

Ruon could have ordered her knights to punish in the place of the commoners who ridiculed her. But he won't decide that.

Ruon intended to let the residents personally judge how the enemy had pitted the people as well as the nobles of Forbrenne.

"What...do they really do?" Not only were Ares, Kristin, Milly, as well as the nobles, knights, to the soldiers could only gaze strangely at the white flag that had been fluttering above the gates of the capital.

Confusion struck, the soldier's steps as a whole stopped. Ares never thought that Ruon—the only Prince of Forbrenne Kingdom left because Rea had killed the First Prince— would give up so quickly, even before they started fighting.

"Have they given up?" Kristin stared in surprise, not once had she met an enemy who had surrendered without fighting before.

Very different from what he expected. Ares deeply regrets his decision to bring half the power he put into conquering Forbrenne just for the sake of a city that surrendered without even struggling.

"Send emissaries. If they really give up and open the gates, I will spare the nobles and the inhabitants." Ares gave the order.

"Well?!" Kristin was quite surprised, giving her objections in an annoyed tone, "What about slaves and booty pera—"

Pat's.

"Ouch!" Getting a blow to Ares' outer hand hard enough, Kristin directed her hands to cover her head that had just been hit, looking very painful.

Sighing, Ares looked tiredly at Kristin, "What do you expect from a city with starving people?"

Kristin was embarrassed, though she continued to try to justify herself, "Ta—but, that is their business, Your Majesty!"

All of a sudden, Ares turned his face into a serious one, causing some of the surrounding nobles and knights to be quite shocked, including Kristin.

"In the future, Forbrenne will also become a vital region apart from the Lethiel Kingdom. I don't want these two regions to fall into the hands of other countries behind the scenes." Ares' words made Kristin realize, "I guess, you know what we have to do to deal with the people."

"Okay, Your Majesty." Kristin slightly lowered her head, changing her attitude to a military noble under Ares.

Soon, Kristin, some of her subordinate nobles, as well as some of the guard knights went away on their horseback, choosing as well as preparing an envoy who would interact with the Latva Capital for the first time.

Seeing the departure of Kristin and her group, Ares again turned his gaze to the white flag that was fluttering above the capital wall gate, it was very unexpected that the game characters in this world could also develop, as well, change the political attitudes they have adopted before.

Ruon Elsac von Kreat, a character with average strength who has a brain.

I didn't expect that confronting a character with emotional concerns could surprise me.

I guess, Ruon is the only character whose future I might not be able to predict at all.

Looking at the sky, Ares smiled wryly and muttered, so softly that no one could hear him, "I really want to meet you, Ruon."

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