Then he frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the commander of the royal army—the only foreigner in the chamber:"Let's not pretend this is all done out of goodwill or patriotism. These nobles don't send their people to us to defend the realm—they send them to rid themselves of excess population. They lower their population density, reduce crime, and avoid unrest in their own lands… while keeping the battlefield as far away from themselves as possible."
A heavy silence fell. Some nobles looked visibly displeased, while others remained still—like they knew he was right but lacked the courage to admit it.
Then, Bestov added, his voice softer now, but still clear:"Some of them even exploit the situation to gain access to rare resources found only in the northern provinces… in exchange for sending us more of their citizens. A silent trade no one acknowledges—but it exists. And as you can see… we are on the verge of collapse."
