The next day Riojme and Jang were taken to a performance in the arena that Jake and Ming had visited. It involved synchronized color flashing and patterns on hundreds of Replini. In her review of the show, Riojme said that it was like synchronized swimming or dance but it probably would have looked a lot better if it was seen through Replini eyes.
Skepre offered to take Jake for another walk in the natural area which he accepted. Halfway through, the Emperor joined them and Skepre requested leave to borrow Jake’s headband to inspect it. Jake agreed reluctantly since he felt safe and figured it was unlikely Skepre could learn anything from it at all, let alone anything dangerous. Skepre left Jake alone with the Emperor.
“Jang mentioned that you were not from the same environment as the rest. I don’t want to pry but do you come from a unified world?”
“No,” Jake replied. “The world I come from is divided into various nations like yours that are always fighting. We have never been united.”
“Of course,” replied the Emperor, “this is the nature of things. As long as people are free, some will want different things from others and there will be conflict. Your world will unite eventually, but just as certainly, it will be divided again. I would like your advice on a situation. The northern tip of our continent is connected by a thin thread of land that ends in a very tall mountain range. The border between the Black Kingdom and the Red Kingdom is in the middle of the land bridge. At the base of that mountain range is a sparsely inhabited valley. I doubt it has more than a million people, but they are culturally more similar to the Black Kingdom than to the Red Kingdom. The mountain range has only one road through it to the Red Kingdom but a subway tunnel and several roads connect it to my Kingdom. I believe the Red Emperor doesn’t treat them well and they would be happier under my rulership. The Red Emperor is not willing to relinquish the territory and I am considering sending troops into the valley to correct the situation. The border will be, de facto, moved up to the mountains. What do you advise me to do?”
Jake didn’t know how to respond. “Your Majesty, I am greatly honored that you would look to me for advice but I am not experienced with these types of matters. Do you think that the Red Emperor will fight back?”
“I believe the Red Emperor is weak and unworthy. He will not fight. He will just allow it. He has a vast territory and this will make little difference to him.”
“Then if it is in the people’s best interest, it sounds like you should do it.”
The Emperor turned red, thanked Jake for his advice and left. Skepre returned the headband before Ming noticed it was missing. Jake didn’t tell Ming about the conversation with the Emperor and wondered if any comment would have been correct. Would his advice be responsible for a war on this planet?
