Episode 290: Manipulating from the Outside
About a month had passed since the fall of the Prawa Theocracy’s Holy Capital.
During that time, ＜Iris＞ used the dispatched automatons and materials to develop the Theocracy’s interior one after another. She brought two large-scale lode mining facilities online and completed the installation of two large general-purpose Printer machines.
Naturally, other manufacturing facilities and transportation routes were also being developed.
For ＜The Tree＞, it was a considerable expansion of internal affairs.
Meanwhile, the Prawa Theocracy’s foreign expeditions had completely halted.
A considerable number of priests and Warrior Monks remained on the front lines, but they did not advance, instead adopting a defensive posture. The Warrior Monks seemed to be moving between the villages and towns they held as bases, dealing with intruders and maintaining their positions.
A small number of soldiers would naturally be unable to break through, but if a large-scale offensive force were gathered, the Warrior Monks would gather from the surrounding areas as well.
As a result, the battle lines had completely stalemated.
“The Piata Empire is to the north, and the Edia-Beastin United Kingdom is to the south. Both have had roughly half of their territory seized by the Prawa Theocracy,”
Amadio Silverhead said, pointing to a map in the holographic display.
“You know about the Reidia Kingdom, the Tarah Lynd Duchy, the Godaman Duchy, and the Kati Andal Ritin Duchy. Almost all of their forces were withdrawn to defend the Holy Capital, so they have no strength left. You guys are dispatching troops there to drive out the remaining Warrior Monks.”
“That’s right. ＜The Tree＞ has completely taken control of those four countries.”
The four countries, which had already lost their autonomous functions, were under the provisional rule of Communicator Dolls. Therefore, there was no need to worry about them.
“The problem is the Piata Empire and the Edia-Beastin United Kingdom. Their political centers have shifted to the east. The Piata Empire has a government-in-exile in the neighboring Berelforestei Country, and the nobles of the Edia region are gathering in the former Royal Capital.”
“So, they’re not in a situation where they’ll surrender yet, and they might even launch a counteroffensive.”
“That’s right. According to information from our agents, a large-scale counteroffensive operation is actually being planned.”
As for reconnaissance of these countries, ＜The Tree＞ was only conducting aerial photography via satellite. Bots had a limited range of activity, and even with all sorts of ingenuity, they could only advance about a hundred kilometers without relay bases.
To gather information inland, it was necessary to rely on the Repuytari Kingdom’s intelligence network.
“Well, we don’t have to worry about them for a while. We’ve been having them investigate supply depots and such, but it seems that 70% of the supplies we’re sending are disappearing along the way.”
“70% is disappearing?”
“Some of it gets damaged along the way, but most of it is probably being embezzled. From the carriers to the warehouse managers, the gate guards, and the local powerful families. It dwindles every time it moves.”
“There’s no law and order at all.”
Because of the many countries and cities it passed through, only about 30% of the supplies sent from the Repuytari Kingdom actually reached the front lines.
Well, if it was being consumed along the way, that in itself meant that the supply was serving a purpose, so it couldn’t be said to be entirely bad. Besides, if the battle lines were stalemated, that was preferable.
“That’s the situation. Even if they try to launch a counteroffensive, they can’t gather enough supplies. Well, it’s fine as it is for the time being. Let them delude themselves into thinking they’re holding the line.”
The problem, Amadio continued, was this:
“Weapons and ammunition are also disappearing. There might even be a Civil War. We don’t have much information yet, but it seems there are people buying up firearms.”
“Hmm… Should we send a Delegation? I want a little more information.”
If an intelligence network of Bots could be established, it would be possible to monitor all logistics. Currently, they were only being landed on the coastline. The highways were mostly not under control.
However, it was impossible to dispatch the Communicator Dolls that ＜Ringo＞ prepared. They were far too conspicuous.
“It might make a big difference if we just gave our guys communicators. But I’m not sure about investing that much technology…”
“Are you against letting electronic products circulate?”
“The technology can’t keep up. In the long run, we need to steadily build the foundations, or it won’t contribute to national power. If we intend to develop it to some extent, we should focus on education rather than product exports. But well… in a way, it’s an emergency. What should we do?”
In any case, it was necessary to hold the reins so that the nations did not run wild.
Or, should they prioritize gathering information and prepare to respond even if they did erupt?
“Can we politically interfere through the Repuytari Kingdom?”
“It’s difficult. There’s an Embassy, and they have a strong voice, but as nations, both the Piata Empire and the Edia-Beastin United Kingdom are half-collapsed. Even if we make them promise something, they’ll probably break it right away.”
Eve thought. If it was a political problem, it was a field that ＜Ringo＞ was not good at. Amadio’s help was needed.
“Well, let’s take this opportunity to strengthen our relationship. Should we create a dedicated department for transporting goods…? I don’t think we’ve placed much importance on the northern nations.”
Amadio seemed to be making suggestions to the upper echelons of the Repuytari Kingdom. He seemed to have intended to retire, but by getting involved with ＜The Tree＞, he was trying to return to the public stage.
His abilities were extremely high, so the members of the current executive government were eagerly hoping that he would return. If he showed his intention, he could be put at the top immediately.
“Thanks to the Argument Brain Construct you prepared, my thought acceleration and memory storage have increased hundreds of times… I can handle running a country with one hand. But honestly, I’d like to be spared from constantly giving instructions.”
“Oh? Don’t you have any pride as the head of a country?”
“If possible, I’d like to leave it all to an excellent AI. Don’t you think it’s foolish not to follow the example of a successful case right next to us?”
“…Ehehe?”
Amadio was extremely talented. He seemed to have a good natural intelligence, and his physical functions had been augmented. Furthermore, his processing power had been greatly increased by connecting to the AB Construct.
However, in the face of the Superintelligence that was ＜Ringo＞, his abilities were like dust. It was a correct feeling to think that it was foolish to struggle when there was such an example right next to him.
“Well, that’s fine. I have no choice but to build up trust. For now, the internal affairs of both the Empire and the United Kingdom are too tattered to be controlled from the outside. We need to get some kind of force to gain a foothold from our side, whether it’s through food aid or weapons provision.”
“Piata Empire, I think there was talk about the damage from the Demon Forest on the north side increasing.”
“That’s also true. The Empire’s leadership has fled abroad, so the people on the ground aren’t working together. As far as I can tell from the satellite photos, a considerable number of villages have been swallowed by the forest.”
Amadio predicted that the chaos would continue for at least six months to a year. If they could somehow maintain the invasion front during that time, there was a high possibility that both countries would collapse due to Civil War or other factors.
If they could bring it to that point, securing the territory would be as good as done.
The collapsed nations would be supported by the surrounding nations, including the Repuytari Kingdom, to protect human lives, and would gradually be absorbed and merged.
“Still, there are ＜Paraiso＞-made weapons and ammunition. It might become a Warring States period.”
“Ammunition has an expiration date, and we can control it by limiting the supply, right?”
“Probably. Well, we won’t know until we try. Guns are also precision machines, and I think they’ll become unusable in a few months if they’re not maintained.”
“That’s right… I think we could annex everything if we advanced. But Amadio-san understands, right? Doing that would be very troublesome.”
“We could just leave a governing AI in place and leave it alone, you know?”
“It depends on the AI’s definition of happiness, but honestly, I can’t empathize with it. I can’t recommend it.”
They had no intention of actively protecting or guiding human species in which they had no interest.
That seemed to be the common view of the AI Kind of ＜The Tree＞.
Amadio-san is doing his best.
He’s not like the shut-in Queen.