My profession panel inspires loyalty.

Whose husbands are they, and whose children are they?

At this moment, no one is paying attention to these things.

In May of the 133rd year of the Extraordinary Calendar, with the White Eagle Empire's emperor continuously revealing strategic information, the Crimson Heart Society achieved repeated victories on the main battlefield.

[And over time, the fruits of victory grew ever greater.]

Finally, the White Eagle Empire's army devised a plan to launch a surprise attack against the Red Heart Society.

Because of the plan's critical importance, the White Eagle Empire's high command believed that there were high-ranking spies within the Federation, and therefore did not share the operational plan with them.

There was no other way; the Red Heart Society's reaction made them suspicious.

[It was even rumored within the military that the founders of the Red Heart Society might know even what kind of underwear their high-ranking officers were wearing that day.]

Therefore, this crucial plan, this retaliatory plan against the Red Heart Society's advance, was being carried out intensively by the White Eagle Empire's army after obtaining permission from the White Eagle Empire's capital.

When the Federal Central Army sent someone to inquire, the White Eagle Empire's army immediately drove them away.

Why are you asking this?

What's there to ask?

[To find out the details, so that it's easier to tell the spy and leak this information, right?]

They were fooled so many times, lost so many comrades-in-arms, and their strategic goals were repeatedly retreated from; that was a clear indication of the Federation's irresponsibility.

Despite the Federation's heavy losses, the White Eagle Empire's army did not trust them.

[The Federation and the Red Heart Society share the same roots, so there's a certain probability that this was orchestrated by the other side.]

[Are we supposed to prevent them from suspecting the Federation, or are we to blame His Majesty the Emperor for the battlefield defeats and the presence of high-ranking spies within the Federation?]

Isn't this a joke?

What does this have to do with His Majesty the Emperor, who is millions of miles away?

In this incident, the Federation's high command clearly sensed the White Eagle Empire's distrust of them.

In an effort to regain trust, they presented a pre-prepared self-investigation report: a deputy secretary in charge of federal economic affairs.

Regardless of whether the other party is a spy or not, the Federation's economy has long since collapsed to the point of no return.

[Furthermore, their family is the weakest, making them the most suitable cannon fodder.]

When this news reached the Red Heart Society, you were slightly taken aback as you looked at the battle plan that the Emperor of the White Eagle Empire had just sent.

[Not only are you confused, but the Emperor of the White Eagle Empire, who is currently having a private conversation with you, raised an eyebrow.]

[Isn't he the spy?]

However, seeing that you weren't paying attention to this, he knew it was all a show orchestrated by the Federation.

The war has dragged on so far that even the White Eagle Empire's finances are starting to strain.

After all, the compensation for a soldier's death is an extremely high sum.

Although aristocratic families bore part of the cost, a significant portion was covered by the national treasury.

Therefore, at a great cost, he must seize this opportunity to reclaim the imperial power that rightfully belongs to him.

His broadsword was itching for a strike!

Chapter 117 Why Did His Majesty Plot a Rebellion? (5k)

In June of the 133rd year of the Extraordinary Calendar, with the help of the Emperor of the White Eagle Empire—a top-level traitor—the Red Heart Society's counter-encirclement operation against the White Eagle Empire's planned sneak attack achieved unprecedented success.

In a short time, the White Eagle Empire's army suffered heavy losses.

The promise made by the White Eagle Empire general to bring all White Eagle soldiers home next year on Mother's Day is, in a sense, about to come true.

After all, the army was decimated, making it completely unnecessary for them to remain in the federal center.

However, in the current White Eagle Empire army, wounded and maimed soldiers are everywhere, and a sense of despondency and decadence permeates the surroundings.

No one knows whether tomorrow or death will come first.

[The Allied Forces clearly possess superior military strength, more advanced weaponry, and even a far greater number of high-ranking professionals within their armies and warbands than the Red Heart Society.]

But why did it turn out like this?

Who exactly is that damned high-ranking traitor?

[Nobody's stupid. After this crushing defeat, everyone knows that the high-ranking traitor came from within the White Eagle Empire's army.]

[Those hypocritical generals of the White Eagle Empire, those arrogant commanders, and those bragging scions of noble families who claimed they would crush the Red Heart Society in five months.]

[Among them, there may be one or more traitors.]

The lower-ranking soldiers didn't understand. If the higher-ups and the Red Heart Society had such a good relationship—to the point of readily selling strategic information—why come to support the Federation?

What is the significance?

What did they gain by sacrificing their lives?

Are their lives really that worthless?

[In the eyes of those important figures, it's not even as precious as the foxtail grass next to it, is it?]

[Amidst this depressed and violent mood, several mutinies broke out within the White Eagle Empire's army in just a few hours.]

Furthermore, a general from the White Eagle Empire and more than a dozen scions of noble families were chopped into pieces by the bloodthirsty soldiers of the White Eagle Empire.

Even though they were equipped with various protective gear, the White Eagle Empire soldiers were all armed with high-precision military weapons, and were followed by a strike force of large-scale military equipment.

Under the impact of such high-precision military strikes, high-ranking officers who were slow to react were instantly killed.

[These military vehicles, under the careful protection of the Red Heart Society, may not have displayed much power, but during the mutiny in the military camp, their terrifying power was fully revealed.]

The Federal Central Army, seeing the enraged remnants of the White Eagle Empire's army, dared not rashly send troops to provide support.

[If not handled properly, this could trigger internal strife!]

Meanwhile, the Emperor of the White Eagle Empire, who had prepared in advance, launched a domestic propaganda offensive.

Large-scale demonstrations began to appear on the streets of the White Eagle Empire, with crowds protesting against the war and advocating resistance against it.

[Especially the families of the soldiers on the front lines, who were heartbroken upon hearing of the devastating defeat.]

They worried about the danger their families might face on the battlefield, and even more so, they feared for their lives.

So one by one, they spontaneously took to the streets, joining the anti-war movement and pressuring the White Eagle Empire to withdraw its troops.

However, some observant professionals noticed that a certain group of people in the march always stood ramrod straight, acted decisively, and moved with remarkable order, giving them the appearance of elite imperial soldiers.

Ultimately, amidst escalating public opinion within the White Eagle Empire, the Emperor issued an immediate retreat order to the troops stationed at the front lines!

The White Eagle Empire suffered a crushing defeat; the loss of its army, the decline in its national strength, the loss of its prestige in the world... someone must bear the consequences of all this.

Under normal circumstances, if the top families of the White Eagle Empire unite and devise a scapegoat plan, as long as it's plausible and can fool public opinion, the White Eagle Emperor usually won't take it too seriously.

[After all, those who died this time were troops and warbands controlled by powerful families. As long as the powerful families don't care, the White Eagle Empire's royal family doesn't really care.]

But this time, the situation is different!

To consolidate his imperial power, the White Eagle Emperor had already raised his butcher's knife.

Everything hinges on the return of the patriarchs and elders of these top-tier families to the capital.

As expected, upon their return, the Imperial Guard, belonging to the White Eagle royal family, immediately detained all high-ranking officers. The remaining troops were then taken over and reorganized into the army directly controlled by the White Eagle Emperor.

By the time these powerful families realized what was happening, they had already been imprisoned.

Once inside the prison, against the backdrop of the cold iron bars, a bold conjecture surfaced in the minds of all the aristocratic family heads.

The reason the Allied Forces suffered such a crushing defeat, and why the Red Heart Society was so well-informed about all of the Allied Forces' decisions, was because of the traitor, the White Eagle Emperor!

【His Majesty! 】

Why would you lower yourself to act as a traitor within the Red Heart Society?

If you wish to consolidate imperial power, you are welcome to speak with us, and we can sit down and discuss the matter.

Why did you waste your national strength and make such a fuss when you could have resolved this peacefully?

When this idea from the aristocratic families reached the ears of the White Eagle Emperor, he merely scoffed.

The reason why the aristocratic families were willing to yield, believing that consolidating imperial power could be achieved through verbal persuasion, was because the White Eagle royal family had already placed their butcher's knife against their heads.

They bowed their heads, not because they thought the White Eagle Emperor was supreme, but because they knew they were about to die!

Back when the powerful families were at their peak, the attitudes of these family heads were quite different.

Half of the officials in the imperial court are from aristocratic families!

Every time the White Eagle royal family raises an opinion, these aristocratic families invoke their ancestral laws to oppose it.

If he doesn't take advantage of the current weakened state of the aristocratic families to strengthen imperial power, once these families realize their mistake, it will inevitably lead to another war between the imperial family and the aristocratic families!

Therefore, this time, no matter who pleads for leniency, it will be rejected!

This time, the reasons are quite compelling!

The White Eagle Clan intervened in the Federal Civil War, disregarding the lives of White Eagle soldiers and causing such enormous losses!

[The deaths of hundreds of thousands of White Eagle soldiers!]

The disintegration of the eighteen White Eagle title battle groups!

Such losses have shaken the very foundations of the White Eagle Empire!

Therefore, no amount of pleading could change anything. When his crown prince appeared before the White Eagle Emperor, holding the ancestral precept of sharing power between the imperial family and aristocratic families, the emperor was utterly bewildered.

As the Crown Prince of the White Eagle Royal Family and the future heir to the White Eagle Empire, can't you see through the intricacies of this situation?

Are they still speaking up for the aristocratic families?

The Crown Prince's behavior further fueled the White Eagle Emperor's anxiety about the future.

[Having consolidated imperial power through scheming against the army and powerful families, even at the cost of severely weakening the nation, to cut off the powerful families' reach towards the throne, wouldn't his crown prince later decide that the powerful families are reliable and return power to them?]

Thinking of this, the White Eagle Emperor's eyes darkened, his gloomy gaze fixed on the Crown Prince kneeling below, begging him to retract his order.

Perhaps the successor I've been grooming for so many years isn't up to the task.

However, no one can stop him from consolidating imperial power!

Even his mother wouldn't do!

[While the White Eagle Emperor wielded his butcher's knife, slaughtering countless heads from the top families, you quietly removed their personal communications from your contacts.]

The other party is the Emperor of the White Eagle Empire, the supreme ruler.

And you, are the founder of the Red Heart Society.

[Perhaps your personal relationship is quite good, especially the relationship forged through numerous stock market speculations and global successes, making it arguably stronger than most relationships in the world.]

This time, the Red Heart Society achieved a resounding victory thanks to intelligence leaks from the White Eagle Emperor.

[While you two are friends, you are also rulers in your respective countries.]

Leaders can no longer be viewed as simple individuals.

[Your perspective is always determined by your own position!]

If it's beneficial, then both sides benefit.

If interests clash, both sides will instantly become adversaries who stab each other in the back.

Great power rivalry will never be influenced by personal feelings.

Those in power who can be influenced usually don't end up well.

[So you know very well that from the moment the White Eagle Emperor successfully consolidated imperial power, the next time you two meet, you could be enemies.]

In July of the 133rd year of the Extraordinary Calendar, after the White Eagle Empire's army withdrew, the Crimson Heart Army advanced triumphantly.

Within half a month, they had completely recovered the five surrounding provinces.

Meanwhile, the cavalry, mage, and assassin regiments supported by the Winter Empire, under the Winter Emperor's orders, departed from the Federation center and concentrated their forces to attack the Winter Defense Line.

[Even the Frost Empire, in an attempt to seize the opportunity to retake the Frostline, disregarded all martial ethics and dispatched four ninth-tier professionals to attack the Frostline.]

Fortunately, the old general arrived in time, and with the assistance of three wearers of the Crimson Heart Armor, the Winter Defense Line managed to barely hold back the Winter Empire's ferocious attack.

[In the same month, two ninth-tier professionals from the Sunset Empire attacked the newly completed eastern border defense line.]