At the beginning of the second month of the Central Calendar, a crowd had gathered in the broad plaza that stretched out before the gates of the Imperial Palace in Leiforia, capital of Leifor. Banners fluttered in the chilly wind—some bearing the sigils of trade guilds, others more provocative: the sky-blue field and nine-tailed comet of the Holy Milishial Empire's August Star of Heaven and placards with pro-Runepolis messages.
Chants rose in waves, directed at the head of state residing beyond the barrier.
"Our sailors deserve protection too!" the field coordinator cried. "Why reject the safety proposal!?"
Placards decried the Leiforian government's refusal of the Holy Milishial Empire's maritime safety proposal put forward some time ago. Dockworkers, merchants, and even retired sailors questioned why the technologically advanced and mighty Holy Empire's offer to guard trade routes—including Leifor's own—had been turned down.
Inside the palace, behind thick paneled doors and the fogged windows of drawing rooms, however, Leiforian officials were less than composed.
"Damned fools with foreign flags," grumbled one of the ministers. "How in all the skies did they even get permits for a public gathering in the Central Precinct?"
"Probably they didn't," came the sneering reply from another official. "Those Middle Landers must be behind all this."
"Bah. Don't just spout nonsense without evidence," an older minister chided the two men. However, his expression made it clear that he too wasn't really happy with this whole situation.
Unbeknownst to Leifor, all of this unfolded as the Holy Empire quietly escalated its defensive posture against the Annonrial Empire through diplomatic channels since the latter half of last year, other than their cat-and-mouse games at sea. Yet, unable to disclose this classified intelligence to foreign powers without risking mass panic or geopolitical turmoil, the Holy Empire concealed its strategic preparations behind the guise of counter-piracy cooperation.
Thus, in a typical Milishian manner of diplomacy—with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer—the Holy Empire proposed strengthening trade lane protections under the guise of escorting convoys and combating piracy and sea monsters. This seemingly generous offer had already met with measured success among the smaller kingdoms. These nations, reliant on primitive navies or mercantile alliances, were easily swayed by the Holy Empire's promises of security and patronage. But when they turned to nations with established navies, the reception soured. Foreign courts accused them of running nothing more than a maritime protection racket.
Especially Leifor, with a bigger navy and stronger maritime tradition than Parpaldia due to its suzerainty over archipelagic vassal states, compared to the Dragon of Philades' landlocked colonies. In addition, Leifor was already chafing under the established world order, and perhaps resentful of its status as the "weakest" superpower. Negotiations with them dragged on, as politely worded communiques masked their suspicion. Neither side budged.
Then, as abruptly as it had proposed the plan, the Holy Empire withdrew its offer gracefully, with an air of wounded magnanimity. In a public broadcast through World News, a Milishian Foreign Ministry official praised Leifor's "steadfast spirit of self-determination" and solemnly declared that the Holy Empire would honor its sovereignty with understanding. To the world, it appeared a benevolent giant stepping back with dignity. To Leifor, it was a thinly veiled insult, but now it was left to explain to its citizens why it had spurned aid that others—even Mu, though under far more equitable terms—were positively considering.
And behind it all, the Order of the Ancients and the White Lotus' collaborators had already sown the seeds. Their quiet machinations had nurtured a narrative among the populace that "the Holy Empire cares more about Leiforian sailors than their own government does."
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Just A Reincarnation Story (Summoning Japan Edition)
Fanfiction"Unacceptable. If there's one thing that a conveniently appearing overpowered entity in this world has shown us, is that we are seen as weak and hopeless. I find that previous life's terms unacceptable. I want a better world. With these hands, I dar...
