“Then…” Siegfried decided to ask another question. “What about the troops stationed in the cities while you were retreating here—”

“I abandoned them,” Emperor Frederic cut him off and nonchalantly responded and continued. “There was no value in keeping those cities anyways, but it’s not that they have any strategic value.”

“Huh?”

“Crane City’s topography simply offers a huge advantage to our forces on top of being abundantly supplied. And I already sort of knew that the fake pope was going to slaughter everyone in those cities to set an example to the others.”

“You… expected it?”

“Yes, I did! Do you really think I didn’t have the foresight to see that far in the future?”

“…!”

“Hoho! That fool! He wanted to set an example, but all he did was turn the people against him! Haha!” Emperor Frederic said with a laugh. He smiled and continued. “Thanks to his foolishness, the people have completely turned against the papacy, and the men are enlisting in record numbers out of anger! Hahaha!”

“I… see…”

“Should I say that he outsmarted himself? That cult leader is rich, but he’s going to be judged by the people in the end!”

“Ah, sure… You’re quite good at manipulating...