Chapter 44

Chapter 44
## Chapter 44

### The Universal Convention

This was a collection of guidelines intended to govern conduct on the field of combat. It wasn’t a binding legal document or a formal international treaty, but rather a series of ethical suggestions established by the first sovereign and creator of the Empire.

Despite its lack of legal teeth, the Universal Convention held staggering social and moral authority.

‘The reason was simple: the Founding Emperor himself adhered to the Universal Convention until his final breath.’

The actual stipulations of the Convention were straightforward.

They forbade the use of toxins and the deployment of clandestine killers; they prohibited faking a white flag to launch a surprise raid; they demanded the honorable fulfillment of any pact once a seal was applied.

While the list was extensive, the fundamental goal was to preserve a shred of mutual confidence even amidst total war. If these final boundaries were breached, the nature of conflict would devolve into something unimaginably more savage.

‘The flaw, of course, is that these are merely suggestions.’

Regardless of how much tradition backed a rule, it offered no defense against someone intent on ignoring it. This was the specific reason the Universal Convention had never been codified into hard law. A book of statutes is a poor shield against a foe who has already discarded the concept of rules.

“Even with our superior numbers, better training, and grasp of the local geography, we are marching into the very center of Krepelt. If they choose to cast aside the Universal Convention and utilize every forbidden tool at their disposal, this won’t be a swift triumph—it will transform into a bloody, disorganized slaughter.”

“Krepelt abandoning the Convention? Don’t be ridiculous. I thought you were just naive, but it seems you’re actually disconnected from the world.”

Marquis Bernhardt gave a derisive snort, staring down at Lucian. His expression suggested he doubted Lucian even grasped the weight of the Accord.

“Listen boy, do you understand why the Universal Convention has endured for centuries? It is because the moment a faction violates it, they invite a nightmare. And that nightmare is always far more agonizing for the weak than the strong.”

It was true that by abandoning all ethics, a weaker force could frustrate a stronger one. Yet, such defiance was fleeting. If both sides engaged in depraved tactics, the more powerful side possessed vastly more resources to inflict pain. With an endless array of brutal methods and the power to strike from every angle, the weaker party would be utterly consumed.

“Furthermore, the Universal Convention serves as a safety net that restrains the winner from being merciless toward the loser. If a defeated party maintained their honor according to the Convention, the victor is socially obligated to show leniency.”

Following the Universal Convention was a testament that a commander kept their soul intact despite having the chance to fight dirty. Consequently, no matter how dominant the winner, they couldn’t mistreat a surrendered enemy who played by the rules; they were expected to provide the most compassionate terms possible.

A sentence of death might be reduced to a loss of lands; a crime that would normally wipe out an entire lineage might only result in the punishment of the specific culprit. If a conqueror ignored this unspoken social contract and dealt out cruel punishments, they would be alienated by every noble house in the Empire.

“Discarding the Universal Convention means throwing away that final layer of safety. Do you truly believe Krepelt, the underdog here, would be so suicidal just to win one engagement? Your worries are baseless.”

“Is that because the Empire has the depth to invade Krepelt a second time even if this campaign fails?”

“Do you doubt it? The Empire is not a house of cards that collapses just because one attempt to put down a revolt goes sideways.”

Perhaps Krepelt could break the rules once and repel the Allied Forces. But afterward, having forfeited all claims to mercy, they would be obliterated by the Empire’s follow-up waves. The Marquis’s stance was that no logical leader would choose that path, knowing they would face total annihilation later.

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement with the Marquis.

“The debate seems settled. Do you have anything further to contribute? You… the representative of the Grand Duke….”

“Brother, his name is Lord Lucian.”

“Yes, quite. Lord Lucian. If you cannot provide a counter-argument, I intend to wrap up this war council.”

The Crown Prince acknowledged the Second Prince’s correction as if the name had just slipped his mind. To argue against the Marquis at this point would be seen as insulting the sheer might of the Empire.

Still, Lucian did not back down.

“The Empire may not fall from one setback. But if similar uprisings ignite in every corner of our territory, will the throne truly have the spare resources to come back for Krepelt?”

“What are you implying?”

“I am saying that if Krepelt defeats us, whether they follow the Universal Convention or not, that failure could spark a domino effect of revolutions. If the Empire is burning on all fronts, Krepelt would have zero incentive to stick to the rules.”

After all, if they could repel the Imperial Army just once, they might secure lasting autonomy. Meanwhile, the Imperial Army would be trapped in a swamp of its own making. They wouldn’t have the capacity to send reinforcements, let alone manage a dozen other fires.

“Most importantly, the Marquis spoke of a ‘perfect excuse,’ but such things are fantasies. A revolt is a gamble where the lives of the nobility and the royal bloodline are the stakes. No one starts a civil war just to test the Empire’s pulse.”

“So, because they are desperate, you think they will resort to any atrocity? You are far too cynical.”

“And you, Marquis, are far too comfortable. Are you not framing your entire strategy on the assumption that the Empire holds every card?”

“And you are framing yours on the assumption of total catastrophe.”

“I was instructed that a commander must always look the worst-case scenario in the eye.”

“There is a fine line between caution and being so terrified of shadows that you cannot take a single step.”

“That is enough!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The Crown Prince struck the arm of his seat with force. As the chamber went quiet, he looked sternly between Lucian and the Marquis.

“I brought you here to establish a strategy, not to bicker. Do not ignore the fact that I am presiding over this meeting.”

“I crave your pardon.”

“Please excuse our conduct.”

Lucian and the Marquis bowed their heads toward the Prince in unison. The Crown Prince accepted the gesture but maintained a cold gaze on Lucian.

“And you, mind your tongue. The Empire is far from fragile.”

“I apologize if my assessment seemed disrespectful. However, since the fate of the nation is at stake, I felt compelled to account for the most dangerous possibilities.”

“Oh? Such a devoted servant you are.”

The Crown Prince directed a biting sarcasm at Lucian, who remained unfazed. Finding no reaction, the Prince clicked his tongue and addressed the room.

“Two paths have been laid out. Marquis Bernhardt advocates for a swift, aggressive strike, while Lord Lucian suggests… extreme caution. What is the consensus of this council?”

“….”

Following the Prince’s inquiry, the assembled lords hesitated, shifting their eyes between the veteran Marquis and the young Lucian. The pause didn’t last long, however. A chorus of agreement soon favored the Marquis.

“The Marquis’s plan is far more grounded in reality.”

“While Lord Lucian’s points are interesting, his lack of field command shows….”

“We can always adjust our tactics if they actually decide to ignore the Universal Convention.”

Watching the tide turn in his favor, Marquis Bernhardt gave Lucian a smug, victorious look. The Crown Prince also tilted his head toward Lucian, silently mocking his defeat.

“It appears the Marquis has the room.”

“I am merely a vassal providing a perspective. The final command is yours, Your Highness.”

“Then we shall proceed with the majority. We adopt the strategy of a lightning-fast decisive strike.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

When Lucian bowed out gracefully, the Crown Prince smirked and stood up.

“The path is decided! We march at once for the heart of Krepelt to remind those rebels of the Empire’s fury!”

—

Lucian exhaled a heavy breath as he walked toward his quarters after the meeting disbanded. He had hoped for at least a few rational voices, but the lack of even one supporter was disappointing.

“Tragic.”

“Please, try not to take it to heart.”

Hearing Lucian’s sigh, Raymond stepped forward to offer support. While he hadn’t been at the table, Raymond had overheard the entire debate from his post outside the tent.

“Your logic was sound, but it was far too unconventional for that crowd. It’s only natural they would gravitate toward the traditional method the Marquis proposed.”

“What are you talking about? Traditional? There was nothing traditional about it.”

“The fast strike. Isn’t it a basic military tenet that a short war is a better war?”

Lucian looked at Raymond for a moment, then gave a dry chuckle. He spoke softly, as if explaining a puzzle to a student.

“Do you know who is paying for this entire expedition?”

“Isn’t it Marquis Bernhardt? I understood he was forced to cover the logistics because of the incident involving you.”

“Then who benefits most financially if the war ends in a week instead of a month?”

“…!”

Raymond’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. He had assumed the Marquis was debating military science, but the man was actually just trying to protect his personal treasury.

“Then what was all that talk about mercy and the Empire’s reputation?”

“If the Krepelt royals are wiped out, the region will collapse into chaos. Even without a formal war, we’d need an army there for months to keep the peace. The Marquis would be billed for every single day those troops are stationed there.”

“And the reason the other nobles backed him was….”

“A third-born son who isn’t even the primary heir, versus the powerful head of an ancient house. In a disagreement, which side do you think the social climbers will pick? Unless the underdog has massive influence, they will always follow the status quo.”

Raymond stared at Lucian in shock. He had assumed Lucian was simply out of his depth in his first high-level council. Instead, it was Raymond who had been blind to the political theater beneath the surface.

“Honestly, regardless of what the Marquis wanted, the Crown Prince loved the plan. A quick victory is the easiest way to look like a hero. He wants to use this war to polish his own crown.”

“So… the entire strategy was chosen for politics and money?”

“Well, to be fair, my warning probably sounded like a fairy tale to them. To those lords, the Marquis’s plan felt like common sense.”

He could see their perspective. The Universal Convention had been the bedrock of war for centuries. The notion that someone would actually shred it probably seemed like a paranoid fantasy to them.

‘The tragedy is that in this specific war, the Universal Convention truly will be torn to pieces.’

In his previous life, the Krepelt uprising was a legendary event. It wasn’t famous because Krepelt won, or because the Empire eventually burned them to the ground. It was famous because they were the first faction to completely ignore the Universal Convention, which had been treated as a sacred oath until that moment.

If history books were asked when the era of madness began, they would all point to the Krepelt rebellion.

‘Because of what happens here, a few years from now, anyone who still tries to fight with honor will be laughed at as a dead man.’

A cynical smile touched Lucian’s lips. This moment was essentially the birth of all the horrors yet to come.

He had initially hoped to save lives by warning the Allied Forces. But since they had doubled down on the Marquis’s greed, Lucian would have no chance to lead the strategy. The most he could do now was ensure his own personal soldiers remained safe.

“Well, there’s nothing more to be done.”

He had offered them a way out. Since they had tossed that chance away in favor of their own vanity, they would have to endure the consequences.

Furthermore, Lucian didn’t lose anything here. An ignored warning makes you look like a fool today, but once the disaster strikes, it turns you into a visionary.

‘I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when the world starts burning exactly the way I predicted.’

Lucian glanced back at the command tent with a freezing smile before disappearing into the shadows of the camp.