Reincarnated with a Country Creation System
Chapter 48: Ego Issue

Votswana, Gaborone.

A day later, Prince Theodore sat at a large wooden table, watching as Lord Reginald stepped forward with a document in his hand.

"Your Highness," Lord Reginald said as he approached the table, bowing slightly before setting the folder down. "We have received reports from our intelligence in Zambesi. The situation has taken a significant turn."

Prince Theodore motioned for him to sit. "Go on, Reginald. Tell me everything."

Reginald opened the folder, revealing aerial photographs and detailed reports.

"The Valorian forces have launched their initial airstrikes. Both Kandara and Moba have been utterly decimated. It seems the Valorians sent bombers to target key military installations and supply lines."

Theodore leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What about the Matalebe forces? How did they fare?"

Lord Reginald flipped through the papers. "According to our intelligence, the Matalebe forces suffered severe casualties. Reports suggest that of the thousands stationed in Kandara and Moba, only a handful—around 35 men—survived the attacks. Commander Shabaka was among the few to escape, but he and his men trekked to Moba, only to replace it in ruins as well. The destruction was... total."

The prince's eyes narrowed. "Total? No survivors at all?" Experience the journey with m_vl_em_p_yr

Reginald shook his head solemnly. "None, Your Highness. The Valorian bombers hit them hard. Bodies were found scattered, dismembered, and burnt. It was clear the Valorians were not holding back."

"That's ridiculous," Prince Theodore cursed. "How could a country such as Valoria send their bombers at Zambesi and not be detected by our forces?"

"According to our radar officers, the plausible reason is that they are just too high."

"Too high?" Prince Theodore repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "You mean to tell me that our radars couldn't detect them because of their altitude?"

Lord Reginald nodded, flipping to another page in the report. "Yes, Your Highness. The Valorian bombers were flying at an altitude far beyond the range of our radars installed in Zambesi. We can safely assume that Valoria has a modern air force that can rival our own…"

"You can't make such an assumption simply based on altitude alone," Prince Theodore interjected, his frustration growing.

"Your Highness, there's more. The Triesenese fighter aircraft that were dispatched to intercept the Valorian bombers... they have gone missing."

Theodore's eyes widened. "Missing? What do you mean, missing?"

Reginald cleared his throat. "It is highly likely they were shot down. There has been no communication from them since their last transmission, and they've not returned to base. We believe the Valorian forces anticipated the interception and neutralized the threat."

The prince slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing in the room. "How is this possible? There's no way our fighters were taken down that easily!"

He stood abruptly, pacing around the room, his hands clenched into fists.

Lord Reginald remained calm, though he knew the situation was becoming more precarious by the moment. "Your Highness, it seems we have underestimated their military capabilities. The Valorians are far more advanced than we anticipated. Their bombers, their air tactics—it all points to a well-prepared and technologically superior force."

Theodore turned sharply toward him, eyes blazing with fury. "Are you suggesting that Triesenberg isn't good enough to handle the Valorians? Heck there's no way we could possibly lose to that nation who just appeared out of nowhere! Well, this warrants something. I need to inform my father. Tell them that Valoria is a threat that we must eliminate immediately.

If Valoria is capable of decimating entire cities in Zambesi without us even detecting them, then they pose a greater danger than we could have ever imagined."

"Sir…you are making a hasty decision. Aren't we going to follow the plan? To use the Matalebe forces to figure out the capabilities of the Valoria?"

"And we already knew what they are capable of and it's time to take action."

"Your Highness." Reginald interrupted cautiously, "With all due respect, making rash decisions now could jeopardize our position. If we act without fully understanding the extent of Valoria's capabilities, we could be walking into a trap."

"Trap?!" Theodore snapped. "The Empire of Triesenberg is a nation that even if it walked into the trap, it will still tear it apart and come out victorious!" Prince Theodore finished defiantly.

"Your Highness…please listen to reason," Lord Reginald urged, keeping his tone steady despite Theodore's rising fury. "The Triesenberg Empire has always been powerful, but that doesn't mean we should underestimate this new player on the global stage. Valoria has proven themselves capable of conducting precision airstrikes, something we clearly weren't prepared for.

If we move too quickly, we risk exposing weaknesses that Valoria could exploit."

Theodore glared at Reginald, his chest heaving as he struggled to control his anger. "So what are you suggesting? That we sit back and do nothing while Valoria continues to make a mockery of our forces?"

"No, Your Highness," Reginald replied carefully. "I'm suggesting that we stick to the plan. Let the Matalebe be the pawn for figuring out what Valoria's military capabilities are, while we gather more intelligence. We should focus on fortifying our defenses and ensuring that, when we do strike, we do so with full knowledge of our enemy's strengths and weaknesses.

Acting recklessly now could lead to disaster."

Prince Theodore was silent for a moment, his hands resting on the back of his chair as he stared at the documents laid out on the table. His mind raced with thoughts of retaliation, of vengeance for the humiliation his forces had suffered. But even he had to admit that Reginald's words held weight. Charging in without fully understanding Valoria's capabilities could prove fatal.

"Very well," Theodore said, his voice low but resolute. "We'll continue observing for now. But make no mistake, Reginald—Valoria is not just another adversary. They have made themselves a threat to the Empire, and when the time comes, we will strike them down with full force."

Reginald gave a respectful nod. "Understood, Your Highness. I will ensure our intelligence operations continue without interruption, and that we gather all the information we need."

The prince straightened, his anger subsiding but his determination clear. "Good. Make sure the Matalebe continue their fight, and let's see how far Valoria is willing to go. But mark my words, Reginald—when the time is right, we will crush them."