Reborn As Noble Chapter 1207: Force vs. Unity ( 1207 )

Once dinner ended.

Garius stayed at the head of the table, while Rolland and Sylvia had departed for their quarters.

Francesca remained seated next to him.

He picked up his wine glass after Erinette refilled it and sipped slowly.

"Javier?"

"Yes, Esteemed Father?"

"After this, head to rest with your girls. As I mentioned earlier, tomorrow will be hectic, so get proper rest."

"As you command, Father." Javier nodded, preparing to rise, but Garius spoke again.

"Keep in mind, Javier. When everything wraps up, I want thorough notes, manuals, and records on every invention and tool you employed to cure Gracelle—particularly the mana defibrillator, advanced monitoring setups, and those precise surgical instruments. They’ll greatly improve our medical facilities."

He tapped his temple. "I recall clearly from your notes something about... a hospital."

Javier nodded with a smile.

"I’ll ensure it’s all prepared once matters settle. If you’ll excuse me, Father, Mother." Javier bowed to them both.

Francesca flashed a mischievous grin. "Don’t exhaust yourself too much tonight~ And keep the noise down~"

Javier’s cheeks turned crimson. "M... Mother!" he whispered sharply.

Garius shook his head with a sigh, as Francesca chuckled softly.

Once Javier exited the dining hall alongside Liana, Gloria, Felicia, Delya, and Mimi, Garius looked over his shoulder.

"Alf?"

Alf advanced, hand on his left chest, the other behind his back, bowing deferentially.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

Garius reclined in his seat. "Have you reached out to the Armand Estate?"

"I’ve already gotten in touch with the Armand Estate, Your Majesty." Alf nodded with a smile.

"Mm... So Hesbeirn and Gilmon are positioned within the estate?" Garius stroked his chin.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Hesbeirn and Gilmon await orders inside the Armand Estate." Alf grinned. "The primary Armand barracks at the rear have been alerted and stand ready. My House of Assassins and the Shadow Unit have also been warned to stay sharp."

"Mm..." Garius nodded. "Excellent. Though Armand’s defenses are tough to crack, even with our innovations and elite forces, caution is key. Our foes can’t strike Armand soon—they lag behind, stuck with horses and old tactics—but certainty demands vigilance."

"No need for excessive concern, Your Majesty. Hesbeirn and Gilmon can surely protect the Armand Family. Plus, Prince Marcellus and Prince Cedric have acted proactively on their own."

Garius grasped his wine glass, reclining as he swirled the liquid pensively.

He released a deep breath. "Marcellus and Cedric know already, Alf?"

Alf nodded. "Indeed, Your Majesty. They’re drilling their mage squads and paladin forces in readiness. Hesbeirn picked top units, with Gilmon lending support. The Advisor Jarman and Keeper of Law Savran aid in scouting and evaluating promising talents from Armand."

"Mm..." Garius pondered. "Smart to enlist Ex-Royal Advisor Jarman and Ex-Royal Keeper of Noble Law Savran for their talent-spotting skills. Klimar was blind to their worth when he demoted them. He overlooks their true prowess too, and that Gilmon ranks second in strength, almost matching Hesbeirn."

Garius sighed and sank deeper into his chair. "Seems a civil war is inevitable, right? Even deploying our troops and Javier’s knights to seize other lands wouldn’t foster true loyalty. Conquest yields short-term dominance but sows hatred and splits."

"Dear..." Francesca eyed him. "Is this regarding those three?"

"Mm... yes, Honey." Garius offered a weak smile. "Everyone knows this brewing civil war stems from those so-called ’Celestial’—or truly ’Terrestrial’—forces. They exposed the seal sites and goaded the late Edmund, late Gurdan, and Gumarak to seize those Terrestrial powers."

He shook his head. "They spread their Saints of the Three Gods doctrine too, riling former summoned heroes to war against Armand. Their goal: shatter our solidarity and sap our strength."

He produced a cube, activating it. A sharp holographic map materialized; Garius pinched to expand the view, displaying the entire continent.

"With Amazarak Kingdom collapsed and Gurdan slain, his sons, nephews, and kin wage civil strife. The land fractures into factions—some back the firstborn, others the second, some another group."

Garius stared intently at the map. "Those three grasp the Human Kingdom’s flaws: divided, power-hungry, ripe for strings. They bided time for weakness. Doubtless, they’ll dispatch agents to fan the Human Kingdom’s civil war into full chaos and rift."

"The issue lies in... our ignorance of their summoned heroes’ numbers, power, or armies." He eyed Alf. "Any updates from mana satellites and Sky Eyes surveillance?"

Alf inclined his head. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but findings are unchanged. The distant three continents suffer thick, unnatural clouds or magical barriers, blocking sharp visuals or intel."

Garius breathed out. "No progress still?"

He settled back. "I’d hoped for a glimpse of their lands to track motions and strategize better."

He eyed the hologram once more. "It’s ages since I saw Dragon Nation’s King Sroku and Queen Fanzia. Last encounter was the Ruler Summit years back, pre-Celestial War. Curious about their fate."

Garius sighed, gazing at the continental map. "If we could gauge their status now, it might guide our preparations."

Alf nodded. "Your Majesty?"

"Hmm?" Garius turned to Alf. "What’s on your mind, Alf?"

"You should see this." Alf presented a ten-page dossier. "Delivered from command center via Shadow Ghost unit."

( End Of Chapter )