Summoning Our Country - NHS Kai

Chapter 21: Parpaldian Excellence

NOTE: This is rose. We're currently moving forward with efforts on revising the previous chapters. Other than that, it's kind of sad that we could only pump out a chapter once in a while compared to before. With the release of this chapter, we've entered the last phase of this arc. We're going to announce something once Chapter 23 releases.

Discord: https://discord.gg/p7NJppEjza

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Central Calendar 20/07/1639, Imperial Palace, Esthirant, Parpaldian Empire, 12:30

As the festivities of Proclamation Day were in full swing all across the imperial capital Esthirant, a tense atmosphere hung over one particular meeting room in the imperial palace situated on one of the hills to the city's north. Here, in the midst of gilded mirrors and shining, golden fixtures were two rows of men with their own unique mindsets and interests facing off against one another in an uneasy yet controlled banter–a process of back and forth better known as a meeting. Despite their mutual interest in constructing a diplomatic relationship between their two countries, they've come to realize that there was more than one topic on which they've reached an impasse. Unyielding and determined to have their way, both parties remained rigid with many of the things they've talked about; ominous signs that the relationship that they were building was about to have multiple plausible points of failure all across the spectrum.

"Before we move on for lunch, I'd very much like to revisit one point we've touched on before."

On one hand were the pish-posh suit and vest-wearing diplomats and officials of the Parpaldian Empire, the established regional power of the Third Civilization Region, which encompassed the majority of the Philades continent and its outlying islands. At their helm was a man named Kaios, department chair of the Parpaldian Third Foreign Affairs Department, whose flashy coat dyed with magnificent imperial red signified that he was not shy of his inclusion in the higher echelons of Esthirant society.

"Mmm. Let's."

On the other hand were the diplomats of the country of Japan, whose elegant black suits and matching navy blue ties exuded an impression of highly optimized simplicity. Having undeniably inscribed its name onto the annals of Asheran history in its opening act of geopolitical maneuvering, their growing regional influence meant that it was well on its way to challenge the Parpaldian behemoth on the Philadean stage. Leading their troupe of diplomats was the daring Tanaka Noboru, whose distinguished efforts in Fenn and post-war Louria convinced the bigwigs back in Kasumigaseki that he was the right man to send to Parpaldia, a top-level decision that still irks him to this very moment.

Even though the flags of the two nations stood proudly together, both off to one corner and all along the long table they used, they were by no means friends; although if anything, that was the goal that they were working towards.

"Regarding the bilateral recognition of the demarcation of our spheres of influence..."

As the words flowed out of Kaios's composed lips, the official sitting next to him pulled out a rolled-up map made out of the finest local printed paper.

"Oh?"

An unintentional response from Tanaka, whose unimpressed expression held back the majority of what he could have said.

Demarcating spheres of influence? At this kind of meeting? First I've heard of it...

The Parpaldian official handed the map to an aide standing behind him, who then proceeded to walk towards a moveable board at one end of their long table. After unfurling the map, the aide then attached its corners to the board.

The map depicted the southern half of Philades, the Altaras Strait, and Rodenius, along with their outlying islands. Border demarcations were present and so were the names of nations while most geographical features were not, indicating that this was a geopolitical map. There were, however, two colors of note that dominated the colorless map. The first one was lemon yellow, which colored the Parpaldian Empire, the Altaras and Sios islands, Awan, and the rest of the Philadean continent. The other was wine red, which colored Japan, the islands of Fenn and Gahara, and the entirety of Rodenius.