“Your Excellency, here are the books you requested.”
“Leave them there. I’d like some time alone.”
“Yes, sir.”
In the office of the Doge of the Helvetian Republic.
“….”
Enrico Dandolo gazed at the newly delivered books with a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
“A sequel, huh…”
The author of these works was the same mysterious figure behind the bewitching pamphlet that had taken not just the republic but the entire Helvetian Peninsula by storm.
If they were openly calling these books follow-up works, there was bound to be some connection in their content as well.
What kind of ideas was the author trying to incite this time?
With a sense of anticipation, Enrico opened the books.
It took him over ten hours to read both volumes from cover to cover.
He meticulously dissected every single line, breaking down the text as though analyzing it word by word.
Finally, exhausted, he let out a weary sigh.
“Conscription, is it…”
Both books repeatedly emphasized a single core idea: the implementation of a national conscription system, drafting citizens into military service.
They provided an abundance of rationale and arguments, asserting that as the times change, so too must the paradigm of warfare.
“This feels more like a thesis than propaganda.”
The books were incredibly persuasive.
The writing was eloquent and refined, and the arguments so compelling that the reader couldn’t help but be convinced.
Yet unlike the previous pamphlet, these works lacked the same incendiary power.
In other words, they didn’t instantly awaken nationalist fervor in their readers.
It felt like the target audience was highly educated individuals, those well-versed in governance and policy.
It was as if the author intended these books for the nation’s leaders, hoping they would read them and act accordingly.
The author’s identity remained unknown… but their intentions were clear.
They were presenting a strategy for Helvetia’s future, offering direction amid the nation’s swelling nationalism.
“But this is too blatant…”
Enrico clicked his tongue.
It was too obvious.
After all, it had been barely two months since he’d resolved to embrace war.
And yet here was a perfectly timed publication, filled with knowledge tailor-made for his ambitions.
The idea that this was all mere coincidence was laughable.
Clearly, someone had anticipated his course of action — and had been preparing these materials well in advance to capitalize on it.
(Though in reality, the author had simply reacted immediately after receiving intelligence. Still, Enrico wasn’t entirely wrong.)
After all, Kang Cheonsu had brought forward Machiavelli’s The Prince precisely because he knew Helvetia would choose war.
“But this… isn’t bad at all.”
A twisted smile curled Enrico’s lips.
Yes, he was being manipulated by some shadowy figure’s scheme — but why resist when that scheme aligned so perfectly with his own goals?
Whoever this mysterious puppet master was, they clearly wanted war.
They were pushing for a conflict to unify the Helvetian Peninsula under the republic’s banner.
And they undoubtedly wanted the Republic of Helvetia to emerge victorious — or at the very least, to secure a dominant position in the fight.
Moreover, their aims likely included thwarting the foreign powers eyeing the peninsula for conquest.
Otherwise, why go to such lengths to provide this kind of strategic knowledge?
“Very well. I’ll play along with your plan.”
Enrico saw no reason to feel displeased.
Whatever his benefactor’s true intentions, their efforts were clearly beneficial to Helvetia.
If following this strategy led to the republic’s unification, if it secured the power and throne Enrico dreamed of — then he was more than willing to dance on their strings.
Breaking away from them — or turning against them outright — could wait until after he achieved his ambitions.
“….”
“Guards! Summon the generals.”
“At once, Your Excellency.”
When the military’s senior officers arrived at his office, Enrico got straight to the point.
“You called for us, Your Excellency?”
“Yes. There’s something I’ve suddenly become quite curious about.”
“Please, ask us anything.”
“Enrico’s eyes gleamed with calculated intensity.”
Would it be possible for our nation to implement conscription?
“The generals, momentarily startled by the sudden question, exchanged glances before slowly nodding.”
It’s not impossible.
“There will be some resistance since it’s a system we’ve never implemented before, but…”
“If we’re given enough budget and time to train and arm the recruits, it’s worth trying.”
Though the republic had relied on mercenaries for a long time, the generals were well aware that the nature of warfare was evolving.
The only reason they hadn’t adopted conscription yet was inertia — the comfort of sticking to established methods — and fear of change.
But if their leader had made up his mind, there was no reason to oppose it.
After all, if they were preparing for war against the Kram Empire or the Navre Kingdom, they would need as many soldiers as possible.
A system to supplement their forces beyond mercenaries would only be an advantage.
“But the real question is whether the citizens will agree to conscription. Who would willingly march off to war just because they’re told to?”
“So we need a way to sway public opinion?”
“Exactly. If we can get people to volunteer for military service, that would be ideal.”
“Hmm…”
So that’s why The Prince was published alongside The Social Contract.
It was meant as a tool to promote and justify the necessity of conscription to the people.
Was this the author’s plan all along — to indirectly spread propaganda through the government itself?
He’d wondered why the books’ tone was so formal and academic, rather than outright persuasive.
Now he understood.
If the author had openly urged readers to join the army, the response would have been, “Who does this writer think they are, deciding national policy?”
Instead, by appealing to reason and preserving the government’s authority, the books guided the republic toward conscription without making the message seem forceful.
“Quite the mastermind, aren’t they?”
Enrico was genuinely impressed.
That the author had not only anticipated the need for conscription but also predicted Enrico’s reaction and the challenges he’d face — and then wrote the books accordingly — was a level of foresight that left him in awe.
“…I’ll handle that part myself. You just make sure the army is ready to train the conscripts when the time comes.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Once his mind was set, there was no room for hesitation.
Diplomatic friction with neighboring countries was inevitable, and open conflict was only a matter of time.
If the republic hoped to stand against foreign powers, they would need to lay their groundwork swiftly.
“I’d like to meet them someday.”
Enrico found himself hoping — that one day, he’d meet the mysterious orchestrator behind all these events and have a proper conversation.
*****
“Achoo! Who’s talking about me?”
In the middle of his meal, the sneeze caught him off guard.
Was someone gossiping about him somewhere?
Not many people in this world even knew who he was, after all.
“Are you alright?”
“It’s nothing — just an itchy nose. I’m fine now.”
Waving off Kalia’s concern, he picked his fork back up.
They’d gone out to enjoy a rare good meal — no sense in ruining the mood.
“Wow, this steak is amazing.”
“It’s one of my favorite places. Always busy, but worth the wait.”
“Yeah, I can see why.”
Sure, the price of one meal here was half a day’s wages from his labor jobs, but it was worth every coin.
A restaurant serving grilled steaks as big as the plate — even back on Earth, places like this weren’t exactly common.
Man, how long had it been since he’d had a proper steak?
“So, what’s your plan from here?”
“What do you mean?”
Mid-bite, savoring the beef, he looked up at Kalia, who had already finished her meal and was sipping her coffee.
“With just three books, you’ve set Helvetia on the path to war. Soon enough, the Kram Empire, the Navre Kingdom, and Helvetia will all be engulfed in conflict.”
The Kram Empire, controlling the northwest of the peninsula, and the Navre Kingdom, holding the northeast — their clash with the Helvetian Republic was now inevitable.
And if things escalated further, even the Hispania Empire, with its small foothold in the central west, might decide to jump into the fray.
Even without the puppet states and client kingdoms established by foreign powers, at least three major nations were now poised for war.
“Will you just sit back and watch them tear each other apart? Or do you have something else in mind?”
“Nah, I don’t have any plans. Not yet, anyway.”
He answered without hesitation.
At this point, the snowball was already rolling downhill — there was no need for him to intervene any further.
“If things continue like this, the Helvetian Republic will almost certainly lose the war.”
Sure, he’d stoked nationalism and pushed them toward war, even helping them establish a conscription system without damaging the Doge’s pride.
But that alone wouldn’t be enough.
Once total war broke out, the republic’s defeat was all but guaranteed.
For all their high morale and internal unity, Helvetia was still a small nation.
In a long-term war of attrition, they’d inevitably be overwhelmed by sheer size and resources.
No matter how superior their military system or how strong their resolve, the gap in national power was too great.
They’d probably go down fighting, but they’d still go down.
Unless, of course, they suddenly developed chemical weapons or rocket artillery — but that technology was still 300 years away.
“But other nations won’t let that happen.”
Other countries with long-standing grudges against the Kram Empire and Navre Kingdom — and those who refused to see them grow too powerful — would inevitably step in.
This world was like medieval Europe: if you showed weakness, everyone dogpiled on you.
“All we have to do is sit back and watch. Let the powers-that-be escalate the war and open up battlefronts on every side.”
He could sit in his armchair, eat popcorn, and enjoy the chaos from a safe distance.
*****
And sure enough.
“S-Sir! Breaking news! The Allein Kingdom is preparing to enter the war!”
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