“No, no.
Everyone here came for the sake of unity.
Fighting among ourselves was never our intention.”
Merlin hurriedly stepped between the two.
“Perhaps I didn’t explain myself clearly enough and caused a misunderstanding, but we’ve never claimed that anyone here is automatically qualified to become the leader of all the knightly orders.”
“However, if we truly want to eradicate the threat of the Great Beasts of Caliban—we’ve suffered under them for far too long—then uniting the knightly orders is the only way to accomplish it.”
“What we’re proposing is an initiative.”
“Even if our differences prevent us from reaching a complete agreement today, we should at least strengthen communication and cooperation between our orders.
That alone would help us deal with the threat of the Great Beasts more effectively.”
Playing the role of mediator, Merlin gently patted Lion El’Jonson on the back to calm her down.
“I understand what you mean, Wizard.”
Lord Sartana of the Knights of Lupus still regarded them warily.
“But I believe I’ve also made myself perfectly clear.
The Great Beasts of Caliban, much like Caliban itself, cannot be conquered.”
“Your reckless actions will only lead to an even darker fate.”
“If that is all you have to say, then forgive us, but we have no reason to remain here.”
“Farewell.”
He cast them a disdainful glance, rose from his seat, and left.
“…”
“Does anyone else have something to say?”
Lion El’Jonson suppressed the urge to lash out then and there and swept her gaze across the remaining representatives of the knightly orders.
Compared to the past, she really had matured.
After all, controlling one’s emotions was an important skill for a Primarch.
“This…”
“The threat of natural disasters is already pressing.
Our order currently has no spare strength to commit to such a campaign.”
“Eradicating the Great Beasts of Caliban is an undertaking of enormous scale.
We would still need to consult the local nobility…”
“We’re already exhausted simply defending ourselves from their attacks.
Completely exterminating them is beyond our capabilities.”
Most of the representatives seated around the round table responded to Merlin’s proposal with concern and distrust.
They had all heard of the almost invincible strength of the Lionheart Queen, Lion El’Jonson, and many of them believed that if the knightly orders truly joined forces, exterminating the Great Beasts might actually be possible.
But what happened afterward?
Without the Great Beasts, what would become of the knights?
Whether consciously or not, everyone had to consider their own future.
Who could say whether this proposal was genuinely intended to eradicate the Great Beasts, or whether it was merely an excuse for the ambitious Lion El’Jonson to absorb the smaller knightly orders under her command?
“Luther, what does The Order think?”
After listening to several polite refusals, Merlin turned his attention toward Luther.
The Order was the largest and most influential knightly order on Caliban.
If they joined the crusade, many of the smaller orders that were still hesitating would likely follow them.
As long as The Order agreed, the plan could move forward.
Luther rose from his seat with a wry smile.
“I would first like to see Lion El’Jonson’s detailed strategy.”
Cooperating to eliminate the Great Beasts was certainly a good thing, but he needed to know exactly what Lion intended to do.
“Here.
Lion El’Jonson’s campaign plan.”
“Thank you.”
Luther accepted the parchment scroll Merlin handed him.
At first, he glanced toward Lion El’Jonson in surprise and gave a slight nod.
But the further he read, the deeper his frown became.
“Hmm…”
“The Order will consider this proposal carefully.”
Luther let out a quiet sigh.
“But we must acknowledge that the Great Beasts have existed on Caliban for longer than any of us can imagine.
They have ravaged this world since ancient times.”
“I think…
cooperation on this scale requires further discussion.”
Not long afterward, at the gates of New Spring Town’s fortress—
“The Order still needs us.
Aldurukh could be attacked by Great Beasts at any time, so we cannot remain away for too long.”
“Won’t you at least stay for dinner?
We’ve prepared bread baked from New Spring Town’s freshly harvested wheat, craft beer, and hot, juicy steaks…”
“That truly does sound like a feast worth staying for, my friend.”
“But this is the season when the Great Beasts are most active.
I’m sorry, but we must return to Aldurukh as soon as possible.”
“Very well…”
Merlin stood at the gate and watched Luther and the knights of The Order ride away.
The meeting had ended on a sour note.
Most of the knightly orders had found one excuse or another to brush aside Lion El’Jonson’s proposal.
The meeting that was supposed to unite them against the Great Beasts had ultimately accomplished nothing.
In truth, Merlin had expected something like this.
Uniting all of Caliban’s knightly orders and completely exterminating the Great Beasts was an enormous undertaking.
In the history Merlin knew, it had taken years of campaigning to accomplish.
And then there were groups like the Order of the Crimson Grail and the Knights of Lupus…
In the original history, both had opposed the Primarch, and the Knights of Lupus in particular had already fallen under the influence of Chaos.
If people like that had eagerly volunteered to join them, Merlin would have been far more worried.
Since peaceful negotiation had failed, the next step was obvious.
Divide and conquer.
Win over those who could be persuaded, isolate those who couldn’t, and deal with their enemies one by one.
Merlin considered their options as he walked back into the fortress-monastery.
“I’m back, Lion El’Jonson.
Are you all right?”
He pushed open the doors to the meeting chamber.
“Why?”
Her voice was quiet, yet carried an authority that was difficult to resist.
“Why was my proposal rejected?”
She didn’t understand.
She was one of the strongest knights on Caliban.
Why would anyone dare question her strength?
And why would anyone reject a plan she knew would work?
“Merlin, I need a reason.”
In fact, as part of her original plan, Lion El’Jonson had even considered turning today’s meeting into a trap.
If she killed the most important leaders of the other knightly orders here and now, the remaining members would naturally fear her overwhelming strength and submit.
If Merlin hadn’t strongly opposed the idea, then according to Lion’s calculations, the knightly orders might already have been unified.
“…Don’t you think that approach is a little too inhuman?”
Merlin’s expression became awkward.
“And it’s not just that.
Your campaign plan proposes using villages as bait to lure out the Great Beasts, while requisitioning their garrisons and effectively abandoning smaller settlements to their fate…”
“That’s too ruthless.
Luther and the others will never accept it.”
“It is the optimal choice.”
Lion El’Jonson’s emerald eyes remained fixed on Merlin.
Stubborn as ever, she showed no sign of changing her mind.
The knightly orders called it cruel.
Lion El’Jonson called it efficient.
Only by doing things this way could they reclaim Caliban in the shortest possible time and finally end humanity’s suffering at the hands of the Great Beasts.
“You…”
Merlin sighed.
“Let’s think of another way.”
As expected of the Emperor’s eldest daughter.
Cryptic, completely unable to understand the human heart, and with emotional intelligence that left much to be desired.
Even having half her sons rebel against her was exactly the same.
Like father, like daughter.
“The dinner’s canceled since nobody’s staying.
I’ll go tell the cooks to stop preparing everything.”
Merlin helplessly turned to leave the meeting chamber.
“Come here.
You’re not allowed to leave.”
Lion El’Jonson raised her head and calmly grabbed the hem of Merlin’s robe, refusing to let go.
“Let’s talk properly.”
“The usual place.”
It really helps the fic grow!