Vol 4 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3: Temptation
“To be able to take up Your Majesty’s precious time is an unrivaled honor” Tin Kuihan said as he bowed deeply
“Time is short, Ambassador” Ramaj said as she waved her hand to display her frustration “Although I do not mind ti you anymore of my time”
“Your Majesty’s words are just what I was thinking” - Tin
“Then co Tin Kuihan upon the mobile platform
A bodyguard in the outfit of the platforuard with unease
“You can be rest assured, Areatest asset is the ability to ‘forget’ No matter what you say from this point forth, this person will not utter even one word of it If you do not believeyour time with pointless courtesy”
“No Not at all” Tin finally joined Ramaj on the mobile platform
“Then we shall proceed to the n
The an to move
“Has the Pri?” Tin began
“Yes he has” Raain “If you are referring to the alliance deal, I trust you already knohat my response was to the Pried since”
“Perhaps Your Majesty is having a negative opinion” the ambassador bowed down for his words
“Regarding which part of the alliance do you have in mind?” Ramaj asked “The enemy may destroy it However, ill a friend do?”
“It would be sharing eternal friendshi+p”
Ramaj smiled “That would be impossible, Ambassador”
“Your Majesty does not believe in a lasting friendshi+p?” Tin's eyes turned to a grave look
“I will believe it if it is between one individual and another individual Even if it is eternal, it is after all for the endurance of a person's life However, a nation does not disappear easily Especially regarding my Empire” - Ramaj
“My country wishes for permanence in particular, too” - Tin
“That is only natural” - Ramaj
“However, this desire is unlikely to occur” - Tin
“Why do you think this?” - Ramaj
“It does not ress, our country is already pressed on the verge of destruction” - Tin
“That is unlikely” Says the Empress with an indifferent tone
Ramaj actually has no interest in whatever fate that awaits the Hania Federation and does not hide this fact It is only courtesy that she did not state it openly
“No, it is so Indeed, although to speak of it would be inappropriate that is” - Tin
“You need not worry, Auessed why Tin was hesitant, “Naturally, from your respectable country's point of view, you would consider all options shall my Empire fall Fortunately, we do not have to pay any mind, as above all, it will not fall”
“However, that is reatest fear” Tin lowered his head, “Under those conditions, the Three Nation Alliance would not easily forgive our nation, and when that time comes, they will find any excuse to declare open war on our nation”
“I believe when that time does come, it would be the critical time when everyone considers their oorth” - Ramaj
“Of course there are those a us that trust we can clear this difficulty on our own In my opinion, our country is certainly one that relies on the tactic of slipping between powerful nations to reatest weapon is our diplomacy and we are very proud of that fact To that extent, we are certain that after this war is over, ould no longer be able to maintain friendly relations with the Three Nation Alliance This being the case, the Hanai Federation is ra up our diploht will not get us our desired result” - Tin
“When you say ‘ho do you really mean?” - Ramaj
“We are certain that over the course of this battle, Your Majesty’s eneradually dwindle down to the United Mankind” - Tin
“Basically, the other two countries will be sed (annexed) by the United Mankind?” - Ramaj
Raht because there already has been serious discussion within the Empire about the likelihood of this very scenario
The United Mankind is a country comprised of a coalition of various subordinate star syste more and more nations, they further increase their territories This type of development is actually quite sireatest difference is that the United Mankind does not have one dominate race like the Abhs Because of the Abh’s personalities, they bear the responsibilities for the developinning been the core race and that has not changed since However despite the United Mankind’s fundaed policies at its core, it is flexible and tolerates how each country goes about i them
If the United Mankind were to actually annex The People's Sovereign Stellar Union and Greater Alkont Republic, even though its core will likely see soes in makeup, but will unlikely encounter any difficulties in internal integration
However, if the newborn United Mankind were to, in-the-end, beconore the situation of the Hania Federation any longer
“Then your people should all be cheering on for a victorious E correct?” - Ramaj
“Certainly, at the very least if we are talking about this war” – Tin
“So what you are saying is that if ere to for the E the best she can to suppress emotions from her tone, out of courtesy, otherwise it would be too obvious that she wasthe Ambassador’s naivety “Unfortunately A side-by-side with others To fight alone, even in defeat would be better than to die alone with no-one to mourn for you This is the Empire, or rather; this is the Abh’s reason for existance”
What Raed to hold back a part In reality she never did consider revealing all their battle tactics to the Hania Federation based just on their alliance
Even though their military's forces are sizable, but their equipment is outdated to the point where even their command systems have problems If confronted with an all-out war, the Hania Federation would probably have difficulties with just defenses alone This is the current assessence
Even if an alliance were stuck between the two nations, then the Empire would probably have to send part of their forces to help defend the Hania Federation: isn’t this the very definition of to be bounded
“No matter what, you need not trouble yourself” Ramaj already decided to end their conversation with the A way to go When that time does arrive, I hope that both our nations could peacefully co-exist, but I fear that the person holding the position of Eer be I”
“Is that so? Well, I do not expect this war to end before , but from the perspective of my country, the end is already near”
“How about this,” Ra point “After the Empire’s victory, the Hania Federation would becoalaxy Is the Hania Federation prepared to confront the Empire? Or is the Hania Federation prepared to extend eternal friendshi+p to the Empire? Or is the Hania Federation confident that it can defeat the Empire?”
“I think I may have crossed the line” The A an elephant and a e: no one would even consider the possibility of peaceful co-existence between the two Of course as thethe elephant”
“Then does your nation plan to extend eternal friendshi+p to the Empire?” – Ramaj
“In a certain sense, yes” – Tin
“In a certain sense?” Ra said, although that interest is still only a tiny sliver
The mobile platform is at the halfway point Ramaj directed the operator to decrease the inal speed was already considered to be above average pace Basically, the platfor pace, but in reality the difference is quite minor
After the estured with her eyes for the Ambassador to further explain himself
Tin’s expression all of a sudden became tense “What I am about to tell you now, I have not informed the Prime Minister beforehand”
“So, you have so that you wish only I hear?” – Ramaj
“Correct” – Tin
“If the Prime Minister were to hear of this, I am sure he will not be pleased” – Ramaj
“I realize doing this may underrave” – Tin
“Oh?” Ra opinions within your alliance, then all the more reason for the Empire not to strike an alliance you”
“What I aative impacts on an alliance between our countries It’s just that if the citizens of my country were to learn of this, then I may be mistakenly labeled a traitor”
Ra, “Even if it’s an enemy, the Empire does not look kindly to traitors, much less to people froh I must admit that relations between our countries are not even that friendly, but hopes that we can maintain whatever positive relations we have between us For us to accept a traitor would be an act of betrayal from the viewpoint of your country This will undoubtedly tarnish our prestige and creditability To put it more clearly Ambassador, I don’t think this alliance deal has any value to justify any cost from the Empire to acquire”
“This is why I said there could be s In addition, I believe the only reason that Your Majesty would think this way is because of your the deep emotional connection with ‘country’ Provided, to accept a traitor is an act of betrayal, then the Empire has already committed this offense, more still is this was a recent event”
“I am unable to turn a blind eye towards this accusation; you don’t truly believe that I have committed such a treacherous act before?” She said as the forain returned to a smile; a smile infamously known as the ‘Abh’s Smile’
“It is this type of treacherous act that Your Majestyabout peace and prosperity” Tin firaze
“I request that you clearly explain your words” Ramaj said with a stiff tone
“The Hyde Country” The Ambassador said only these words
‘Oh? This is interesting’ Raer ‘just interested’ She has already aware of what Tin’s words were getting at as a wave of interest and dislike starts to interweave, stirring up a violent wave in her mind “That is to say that your country plans to become a part of the Empire…”
“Your Majesty!” The Ambassador interrupted the Ely reckless bravery “Provided that I have the fortune to accoalaxy the Gaftnosh, I will definitely explain everything I have said”
A sain been revived on Rah it is but a tiny sliver of warmth
“Very well Ambassador, I shall accompany you back to the i us on our passage” – Ramaj
“May I ask who these two are?” – Tin
“The Prime Minister and the Chief of Military Command” – Ramaj
“As you wish” Tin’s face displays a smile of confident victory as he took a deep bow The mobile platform came to a stop
Upon leaving the imperial throne shi+p, the ‘Gaftnosh’, Ramaj has yet the luxury of even an ounce of rest as she heads doards the Hall of Larkspur in the Imperial palace
Normally, she would have enjoyed some solitude on her way back, but the ambassador from the Hania Federation has happily snatched that joyous time away from her However, she believes that her ti
“What do you think?” Rareat hall
Both the Prime Minister Burashu and Chief of Military Command Faramunshu have followed the Empress off of the Gaftnosh as they proceeded towards the palace
“Although it sounds hard to believe, I think we can still trust hiinally, the Hania Federation’s citizens lack interest in outer space, but when the population becareat for one system, they had to look for other star systeround worlds are very similar, or perhaps because of it, many of the planets are self-sufficient and the level of interplanetary exchange is surprisingly low Even if in the next moments, they are completely cut off from Plane space, each planet could quickly adapt Perhaps they would not even feel the least bit inconvenience fro in the first place was to avoid absorption by the other nations”
“Is that so?” Ramaj asks as she nods
Ramaj actually has little interest in the citizens of the federation; rather her only interest lies in their th At anization, but regarding any other facet of the federation, she could care less about it After all, she is the empress of an empire and the commander-in-chief of the overnance of the people in the hands of the feudal lords
“In this sense,” Burashu continued, “The ambassador's proposal would leave the problems of space to the Eround worlds Ideally they would like to preserve some influence on matters of space”
“But we cannot allow that to occur” Ramaj replied casually
“Your majesty is correct; therefore the a from their view point If they are to be annexed by soood fit for them, and there is also a certain level of trust between the federation and the Empire”
So what the a was actually for the Empire to annex the Hania Federation
After all, if the federation is bound to be doo their new ruler But things are not always so pure and sih the federation hopes to eventually let the Empire take care of o about their lives on land
In addition, the ambassador insisted this would not be submission, but rather ”permeation” to describe the proposal’s intentions
In other words, from the view point of the Empire, the Hania Federation would be annexed But from the view point of the Federation, an eleh the core of the Empire to become a part of the Human Empire by the Abh
During the discussion, the Eht up a question: if the Empire were to be defeated, wouldn’t this proposal worsen the Hania Federation’s positions?
The ambassador feels that the end result would matter little Even if the Hania Federation were to be ‘liberated’ by the Three Nation Alliance, the territories that sold themselves to the Empire will becoovernment that allowed it to happen would simply be dissolved
What the officials of the Federation's central governly si the precedent of Hyde country, for a few of their important star systems, the lord appointed must be a prominent person from the Federation For the rest of the star systems with little importance, the Empire could appoint whomever it deem fit
Secondly, the ambassador hopes that the Empire could provide a few uninhabited, but habitable planets not within the territory of the Federation After all, there would be those in the Federation who sees the deal as betrayal, so the officials ould dissolve the Federation would want a place where they could live with their relatives and supporters without fear of retaliation
Of course, if the Empire were to be destroyed in this war, then those officials who dissolve the Federation and their descendents would surely face severe punishment But as stated, these people are all ready to face the risks and consequences of their actions
Ramaj suddenly remembered the late Prime Minister If it were he, surely he would not think of living in the same star system as with these people
“What is your opinion on this coed for his response
“I believe we should reject this proposal” Faramunshu responded in an expressionless tone
“Explain your reasons” Asked Ramaj
“The problem lays in the ‘other condition’ that we must split up our forces and defend the Hania Federation territories, or rather, the former Hania Federation’s territories Even before that, we must first send troops over to relieve their military of their duties Quite frankly, ill be hard pressed to find enough shi+ps to accomplish this in a timely fashi+on” - Faramunshu
The ‘other condition’ that Faramunshu spoke of is the demand that the Empire must defend the territories of the Hania Federation at all costs
In comparison to the other conditions, this one is rather troublesoreatly restrict the Empire’s military operations