Episode 196. Shadow Peace – Before the Storm (2)
Exactly one month after Christine’s warning that the Abyss Corporation is believed to be preparing for war with the Eastern Empire.
And two weeks later, Christine, who had gathered herself again, appeared before the National Assembly and reported the possibility of war between the Eastern Empire and the Abyss Corporation as the Director of National Intelligence.
Clear signs of war began to arrive one after another from the French embassy dispatched to the Eastern Empire.
“opium? “Isn’t that a medical item?”
“It can also cause strong addiction and hallucinogenic effects. Additionally, the opium made by Abyss Corporation is said to have stronger addictive and hallucinogenic properties by mixing it with the devil’s magic.”
“Tsk, I was afraid they might be devils, so I sold them things like that.”
“If there was such a thing, why didn’t it sell it to the Central Continent? “I don’t know, but I think it sold quite well in the Central Continent as well.”
President Talleyrand answered the lawmakers’ questions.
“In the central continent, there is still direct hostility toward Pandemonium and there are many countries. “Until not long ago, most countries did not react negatively to transactions with Abyss Corporation, so they probably avoided sowing hostility by selling such drugs.”
“The arrogant elves of the Eastern Empire are not active in dealing with the Abyss Corporation at the national level, so they are giving drugs to the civilian population?”
“That’s right. “In the Central Continent, they pretended to be noble because it helped them manage their image, but in the Eastern Empire, which was a single country and closed anyway, they were behaving like devils.”
You like coexistence. I guess they are devils after all.
In fact, even in the Central Continent, if you look at the maneuvers carried out behind the scenes, the Abyss Corporation was the source of almost all evil.
“Approximately after the Eastern Empire began to interact with Francia, the Tsar began to publicly ban opium and punish opium smugglers from the Abyss Corporation. I thought it could be managed to some extent…”
If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a need for us to be discussing it here.
“However, according to what the Eastern Empire embassy has learned, opium is being smuggled in large quantities mainly from the southern and Far Eastern territories, which are beyond the full administrative power of the Eastern Empire. There was even a case where a smuggling organization armed with demonic weapons defeated the imperial security forces and took over the city.”
Talleyrand took a moment to catch his breath and then spoke.
“It is said that when the Tsar declared a subjugation order, the Abyss Corporation sent a warning that measures could be taken to protect Abyss Corporation employees and assets within the Eastern Empire.”
The word is a warning, but in reality, it is a call for war if the Tsar tries to suppress the opium smuggling organization.
Talleyrand, who had said that, turned his gaze to Christine, and Christine stood up.
“The National Intelligence Service believes that this is a move made after the silence and internal cleanup of the Abyss Corporation over the past two years and all preparations to wage war against the Eastern Empire.”
“Hmm…”
There was silence among the lawmakers.
For 400 years after Pandemonium fell, the Abyss Corporation never fought a war.
At least that was the case in the central continent. There was talk of eradicating barbarians from the new continent they discovered, but that was completely someone else’s business.
But still, no one ignored the power of the Abyss Corporation, and even though it was relatively closed and far away, the fact that a country connected by land was being attacked was somewhat alarming.
“…Isn’t it too early to discuss it yet? It is unclear whether war will really break out…”
“The Eastern Empire will not bend, and the Abyss Corporation is also taking direct military action for the first time in 400 years. The intelligence agency’s judgment is that war is already a fait accompli since neither side will back down. And based on the Abyss Corporation’s technological and information capabilities, they would have calculated that they could at least win the war against the Eastern Empire.”
This is the assertion of no one else but Christine, Countess of Aquitaine.
Although the lawmakers could not refute that fact, that did not mean that there were no other opinions.
“But even so, it’s not our job, is it? Francia had just recently emerged from a long civil war and subsequent wars. “Involvement in the affairs of other countries…”
“However, the diplomatic relationship between the Eastern Empire and Francia was established on the premise of a united front against the devil. Anyway, it is our only ally along with the Iberica Brotherhood, so it is very difficult to ignore.
President Talleyrand spoke and I also helped.
“They actually sent reinforcements in the war against Krafte and even taught us artillery technology. “If we don’t have the resources right now, we are enjoying peace, so if they ask for help, we should at least consider providing support.”
“Hmm…”
To be honest, I don’t think Franzia can provide much support, but it would be even more difficult to blindly ignore her.
Since the Eastern Empire will also send an envoy anyway, we will have to discuss the details, but… It
seems like the lawmakers are still worried, and Christine opens her mouth again.
“There is one more important matter.”
“What, Count of Aquitaine?”
“You probably know this because you received a drone report.”
The lawmakers immediately furrowed their brows.
It was denied internationally.
However, this does not mean that the National Assembly ignored my report. Because the devil’s influence is less likely to reach them.
There may be some who think it is somewhat exaggerated, but at least there are no people who deny the existence of drones.
Christine slightly tilted her head and slowly read the material she had brought.
“This is based on a report that compiled the Eastern Empire’s claims and embassy reports and was separately investigated by the National Intelligence Service. The estimated territorial area of the Eastern Empire is at least 10 times that of Francia, and its population is more than 4 times that of Francia.”
“Ha, I believe their ridiculous claims right away-”
“This is the standard determined by the National Intelligence Service to be as conservative as possible, so in reality, it is likely to be higher than that.”
As the meeting room became quiet due to Christine’s assertion, Christine ran her hand through her hair and said,
“This is just in case, if the Abyss Corporation takes over even a portion of the vast territory of the Eastern Empire and starts converting their population into drones…”
Although it is the most terrible scenario.
“…There is a possibility that we will be able to supply enough troops to conquer the entire central continent.”
The problem is that that is a sufficiently realistic scenario.
* * *
Christine’s warnings were taken quite seriously in the National Assembly, but they were also largely rejected.
In particular, the National Assembly is focusing on the fact that Christine is both a naval admiral and my wife.
Because both Christine and I have a position where increasing armaments in preparation for war will lead to an increase in power.
Above all, members of the National Assembly have never encountered a drone directly.
No matter how brutal the actual battle with the drones was, all they saw was the result of the Iberica Brotherhood and I defeating the drones.
Many members of the National Assembly are concerned that Christine may have exaggerated the threat of Abyss Corporation and drones or assumed too much of a worst-case scenario.
Anyway, neither I nor Christine expected the National Assembly to prepare for war and issue a mobilization order before the war even started, so it didn’t matter.
The important thing is to be aware of that possibility in advance and act as quickly as possible when the situation actually occurs.
What was really important was how the Eastern Empire came out…
in two weeks.
I, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Christine, Admiral of the Navy, and Governor-General of Ange Talleyrand Brissot welcomed those who arrived as envoys from the Eastern Empire.
It’s a familiar face.
“It’s nice to see you again, Lord Konstantinov.”
“Haha, it’s nice to meet you, Marquis de Lafayette. His Highness, the Grand Duke of Elsion, was also satisfied as he told the Tsar about the bravery and amazing tactics that the Marquis personally demonstrated as Commander-in-Chief.”
I glanced at Grand Duke Elsion, who had his arms crossed and his chin raised with an arrogant look on his face.
This elf?
no way.
Still, it’s diplomacy.
I answered with a grin.
“That’s a coincidence. “I have also reported to Her Majesty the greatness of His Highness the Archduke Elsion and the Eastern Empire’s artillery.”
“Oh, that again. ha ha ha! “Isn’t this just heart and soul?”
Konstantinov was delighted and began to explain to Elsion in their own words.
I still didn’t lie.
-The artillery of the Eastern Empire is amazing. Actually, the commander didn’t deserve his age.
-is it so? It would be helpful to our soldiers if we learn from that cannon.
-Even if I don’t, I definitely plan to secure it, Your Majesty.
Of course, that was the conversation I had with Eris, but it was true that the majesty was reported anyway.
Elsion listened to Konstantinov’s report with a very arrogant expression and then said something as if he was throwing it away.
“Grand Duke Elsion also thinks highly of you, Marquis, and is grateful for your favor!”
Konstantinov talks very enthusiastically…
…but no matter how you look at it, that’s not the face that said those things, is it?
Anyway, through Konstantinov’s interpreter, Grand Duke Elsion, the three governors, and Christine exchanged light greetings and greetings.
Surprisingly, Grand Duke Elsion did not seem very surprised when the young woman Christine was introduced as a naval admiral and head of the intelligence agency.
I’m always surprised when I see diplomacy with human countries, but I guess that’s not true by elf standards.
Then came the main point.
Archduke Elsion said a few very brief words…
“Regarding the welcome we received today from the heads of each French army and the three presidents of the National Assembly. His Royal Highness, Grand Duke Elsion, expressed deep satisfaction on behalf of the great, noble and unique Tsar, Guardian of the Continent. The friendship between the two countries will be as long and eternal as an endless stream of water-”
Long, long, complicated, and anyway, long, drawn-out diplomatic rhetoric flows out.
…At the very least, if Grand Duke Elsion managed his facial expressions and pretended that he really thought that way, Konstantinov’s tearful efforts would have been meaningful.
I slowly tilted my head and asked President Talleyrand.
“So what did you really say?”
Talleyrand whispered softly to me with a rotten smile on his face.
“Then let’s begin. “I just said this.”
…Then that’s right.
Talleyrand may not be a diplomat, so he eagerly learned the language spoken by the high-ranking noble elves of the Eastern Empire, and has now reached a point where he can understand it to some extent, even if he does not know the pronunciation.
Of course, the Eastern Empire was a bit extreme, but diplomatic conventions were common, so we pretended not to notice and listened to Konstantinov’s long-winded and meaningless efforts.
“Thus, the great, noble, and only guardian of the Continent, the Tsar, expects the honorable Revolutionary Kingdom of Franzia to act faithfully against the threat of the vile and evil Abyss Corporation-” “
What is it this time?”
“I will fulfill my duty as a tributary and participate in the war.”
…I feel really sorry for Konstantinov, who is somehow turning Grand Duke Elcyon’s arrogant words into believable diplomatic rhetoric, but seeing Grand Duke Elcyon, whom the Tsar trusted and sent him, act like that, I don’t think the Tsar will be very sane.
Since the Revolutionary Kingdom of Francia cannot pay tribute, it seems that Maurice Talleyrand’s diplomatic detour of offering tribute as a kind of gift was translated into tribute for the kingdom as they pleased.
Talleyrand, who persuaded such friends to receive reinforcements and artillery technology, looks truly great.
Anyway, despite the long, verbose, and painful efforts, Konstantinov’s interpretation, which was meaningless… or rather, a creative diplomatic investigation, resulted in the words we had been waiting for.
“What is it this time?”
After hearing Grand Duke Elcyon’s short, blunt words, Talleyrand froze with his mouth wide open, so I turned my gaze to Konstantinov’s mouth.
“Therefore, the great, noble, and only guardian of the continent, the Tsar, has no doubt that the Revolutionary Kingdom of Franzia will gladly provide anchorage for the Empire’s Blue Dragon Fleet and assist in the attack on the base of the vile and evil Abyss Corporation!”
Oh my god.
