The day after Verus and Sora arrived at the Grunt mansion, Lord Grunt returned from the old capital. His daughter's letter had informed him of Verus's arrival and the agreement struck between Verus and the Grunt family.
Dismissing the others, Grunt regarded "Ruth" — Verus in disguise — then abruptly dropped to one knee.
"Grunt, your incompetent old servant, pays homage to Crown Prince Verus," he intoned.
Verus blinked in surprise, flustered, and moved to help him up. "Lord Grunt, what's this? Please, rise."
Grunt bowed his head in shame. "The royal family has favored us for generations, entrusting us with Albion's minerals. Yet in your hour of crisis, we bent the knee to traitors. This old man feels endless disgrace."
A shadow crossed Verus's eyes, but he forced a smile. "The rebels swept most of the land — unstoppable. Even had Grunts joined the royalists, it would only have delayed the end. I… hold no grudge."
Relief softened Grunt's features. He rose.
"The old man concurs with Asiya and Your Highness's discussion yesterday. But I bring news — perhaps we advance the timing."
"What news?" Verus leaned forward eagerly.
Grunt relayed Parliament's decision from the day before.
Verus's eyes gleamed. "With their expedition to Toristine pulling troops away, local garrisons weaken. If the expeditionary force stalls against Toristine, we strike — they can't return in time. Victory odds soar."
"Precisely," Grunt agreed. "Yet even halved, the four great families outmatch us: Houses with thirty thousand, Megans twenty thousand, Manis and Paces ten thousand each. Grunts field only fifteen thousand — not even thirty percent."
"This calls for Toristine's aid," Verus said. "The guard I brought is a key figure there. Fetch Asiya and him — we discuss together."
"Truly hidden in Toristine after the civil war? Someone — bring Asiya and that guard."
His raised voice carried the order. Moments later, soldiers summoned Asiya and Sora.
"Allow introductions," Verus said. "This is Sora, captain of Toristine's Griffin Squadron."
Grunt and Asiya's eyes widened in shock. The Griffins' fame was mostly Toristine-bound, but Sora's exploits had reached foreign spies: appearing at the Magic Academy a year and a half prior, rooming with Louise Vallière, knighted after the incident; succeeding Captain Varut post-Albion civil war; crushing Albion's dragon knight at Talu Village; besting court mage Li Xiumeng; defeating Kelmania's red-robed mages in the wedding contest. Personal prowess neared Square-tier; survived Duke Yanryu's pursuit; subdued Princess Alice without her familiar. Betrothed to Louise Vallière — rumored ties to Churuka Zerupst, Tabasa, even Queen Henrietta.
"Unexpected indeed," Asiya said, mastering her surprise.
"You're Sora, Griffin captain? Why the disguise?" Grunt asked dubiously.
"Verus's cross-dressing to evade eyes — many know my face."
"To business," Asiya prompted. "Father summoned us?"
Grunt repeated the expedition news.
"Perfect opportunity," Sora's eyes burned.
"Even halved, the four families overpower us," Asiya noted.
"You seek Toristine's forces," Sora said.
Verus turned to him: "A rare chance — please, Sora."
Sora stroked his chin, pondering minutes.
Silence fell; the others awaited his word.
"Agreed — I'm about eighty percent certain. I'll bring Toristine's army, but I command the joint operation."
Grunt and Asiya exchanged glances, hesitant. "How many troops?"
Sora smirked: "Post-expedition, they leave thirty thousand? I'll swell our ranks to one hundred thousand when civil war erupts."
"One hundred thousand!!" Father and daughter huddled, whispering.
"If you ensure Grunt casualties don't exceed Toristine's by over twenty percent, I yield command," Asiya said.
Sora's lips curved: "Naturally — I'll treat both armies equally."
"Very well — let's plan in detail," Asiya said.
Sora grinned: "Overthrowing a nation… intriguing."
Verus, Grunt, Asiya: ······
The four conferred secretly all day. Orders flowed from the study; Grunts mobilized at high speed. Sora's letter — sealed with the water gem — winged via pigeon and airship to Toristine's Henrietta. At Sora's pleading, Shui Linger vowed safe delivery and authentication as his hand.
Grunts mustered thirty thousand well-equipped soldiers, normally scattered at mines. Now armed, twenty thousand converged from mines toward the port.
En route, mercenaries — paid by Grunt funds — swelled their ranks; elite Grunt troops peeled off one by one. At the nearest port, only twenty thousand remained: twenty thousand in enchanted armor as elites, the rest three thousand ragtag mercenaries in cloth and crude arms. They tented routinely; third day post-Parliament, under cover of ten thousand Grunt "troops," they boarded two hundred airships and flew toward Gallia.
Grunt retained ten thousand mine guards; ten thousand "replacements" hid in towns and cities.
Sora's letter reached Louise first, then Henrietta.
Albion's seventy thousand expedition via Gallia imminent; Verus, Sora, Grunts launch Albion civil war in coordination. Contain the seventy thousand. Mobilize thirty thousand elites: twenty thousand enchanted armor, ten thousand academy mages, Sora's guests. Airships to Grunt-port city for pickup.
Henrietta consulted Osman, Duke Vallière, and Marshal Gramont. They deemed it ideal to end the Albion war. Cooperation approved: Gramont's twenty thousand enchanted guards plus ten thousand troops, with Gandalf Merlin, airshipped to La Rochelle; Henrietta's decree granted Gramont command of southeastern forces, recruitment rights, authority to execute disobedient earls and below; Gramont hastened southeast to muster, deploy, prepare for renewed war.