Ch.151Victory Ceremony (1)

# Chapter 151: Victory Celebration (1)

After a brief moment of contemplation.

‘There’s no need to overthink this.’

[Option 2: They’ll need me to make the party shine. (Proceed with linked event)] <Selected>

I chose option 2, indicating my participation in the event, as if it were the obvious choice.

Of course, instinctively I wanted to choose option 1 and avoid the troublesome event, but…

As the event message warned, doing so would likely strain my relationship with Artraia.

If it were anyone else, I might not care, but I needed to avoid damaging my relationship with Artraia at all costs.

Of course, this was purely a choice for the empire’s operation and future.

It definitely had nothing to do with any strange attachment I’d developed while being squeezed dry by Artraia.

‘Of course that’s right… wait, who am I even making excuses to?’

[Pause Released]

Having sorted out my feelings, I released the pause and began working.

‘But how will I prepare for the dress code? They should have told me at least a month before it starts.’

—————————–

About a week later.

While Riel was temporarily away, I was in the middle of my work, but…

Even as I worked as usual, perhaps because the results of my previous choice hadn’t yet materialized.

‘Ah, I should start managing the overseas spy network more strictly.’

I was about to manage the overseas spy network, which I’d been hearing was falling apart due to recent neglect.

But at that moment.

-Ding♬

[Pause]

[Event: The Empire is Strong and Safe!]

[The Holy Sebelli Empire has recently experienced all sorts of controversies and incidents both domestically and internationally.]

[Particularly the activation of debtor rights by corporate and trade unions that purchased large amounts of government bonds.]

[The characteristic confusion and wandering of domestic public opinion.]

[Finally, the recent Zeltech refugee massacre and the resulting internal atmosphere that was heading toward civil war.]

[It was only natural that neighboring countries reacted with concern to the Holy Sebelli Empire’s situation.]

[Therefore, the Holy Sebelli Empire is using this occasion to demonstrate its strength on a large scale while simultaneously reassuring neighboring countries by commemorating the victory in the Nanomachine War.]

[Applied ‘Situation Terminated Declaration’ trait to Holy Sebelli Empire (Diplomatic Influence +10%), however if additional situations occur during the event, it will change to ‘All Talk’ trait (Diplomatic Influence -20%)]

[Applied ‘Time of Victory’ trait to Holy Sebelli Empire (Happiness +5% throughout the Empire, Resource Supply Rate -5% during application period)]

‘What kind of timing is this…?’

Just as I was about to manage the intelligence network, an event message appeared, forcibly determining what I needed to do.

[Pause Released]

Sighing deeply inside, I released the pause, and immediately Riel, who had been away, burst through the office door and shouted at me.

“Minister! Did you hear about that?!”

“…You mean the ‘festival’?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Saying that, Riel began to quickly brief me while manipulating the terminal she was holding.

After filtering out all the flowery language and parts that wouldn’t stick in my memory anyway.

Reconstructing only the parts I remembered.

“So, to summarize, delegates from various countries are being dispatched to celebrate the resolution of the current situation, and I need to receive them?”

“Wow, your ability to summarize someone’s detailed explanation so roughly is truly a talent.”

Facing Riel, who was making an expression reminiscent of some orange-haired twin-tailed girl who looked like she was about to spit.

I tapped the armrest of the sofa with my finger, lost in thought.

“…Wait, are all countries with diplomatic missions or embassies coming?”

“Yep, and besides that, because of our… achievements, Zeltech’s capital has been destroyed, so there’s talk of various foreign investors coming to take advantage of the gap.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing that the event would likely be more successful than expected, I nodded and asked Riel again.

“So when does the event start? I don’t think I heard that part of the explanation.”

Setting aside the thought that such information should normally be mentioned at the beginning of an explanation.

“Oh, about that, I heard it starts on the first day of next week?”

“Hmmmm.”

Hearing that it would be held sooner than expected, I unconsciously let out a groan.

“If it’s any consolation, Minister, you can just wear your uniform and be done with it, right?”

“…”

“Considering you usually wear casual clothes instead of your uniform, just wear the uniform for 2-3 days.”

“…”

‘If you say it like that, what does that make me who was worrying about dress codes?’

As expected of a hate-intelligence humanoid who doesn’t understand human hearts.

I had to feel sad at how she mercilessly stabbed at the heart of a sensitive adolescent male (soon to be 37).

——————————-

A week later, on the day of the event.

“Pleased to meet you, Minister Arto of Diplomatic Enforcement.”

“Thank you once again for allowing the refugees entry, Ambassador Ermanos, on behalf of Her Majesty and the Empire.”

I was enjoying meetings with ambassadors from various countries inside the massive entertainment complex forum selected as the venue.

…Actually, rather than enjoying it, it was more of a blood-draining experience, but as they say, if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

“Minister Arto.”

“Well… it’s been a long time, Foreign Minister Colinto.”

And incidentally, it was like meeting someone again after about 100 chapters in novel terms.

I hadn’t seen him much since the secret subordination contract with Riksi, but somehow he had survived the Nanomachine War.

“Thank you for last time… though some imperial media outlets were quite malicious back then.”

“…”

“Ah, of course, I think it was worse for you, Minister.”

As he mentioned the zoo date (!) incident, I nodded and said.

“It was several years ago, but it’s still quite vivid.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, because the next day I suffered the calamity of being summoned by Her Majesty due to those bizarre slanders.”

“Oh…”

He too must have suffered from gay slander like me, as he showed vigorous nodding in agreement.

And just as my conversation with Riksi’s Foreign Minister Colinto ended, ambassadors from other countries entered, and I began to respond to them again.

‘Ah, this is annoying.’

If this were what people typically think of as a ‘foreign ministers’ meeting or conference’…

I wouldn’t need to shake hands with each ambassador as if I were the host, but…

“Pleased to meet you, Minister Arto of Diplomatic Enforcement.”

“This is our first time meeting in person? Pleased to meet you, Deputy Foreign Minister Arianid.”

Unfortunately, that would only happen after this event ended and the ambassadors’ “congratulations” were over.

Above all, because I was placed in this situation under Artraia’s will that no one but me could receive the diplomatic ambassadors in the empire.

‘Sigh… if Her Majesty says so, weak me must follow.’

I had no right to refuse.

Of course, my current “power” was at such a tremendous level that I could refuse if I wanted to, but…

If I did such a thing, I would most likely be forcibly established as an icon by the anti-Artraia faction that still remained in the empire.

Moreover, if I did that, those with resistance to the imperial authority including Artraia and her faction would…

‘If even Minister Arto refuses, is this right, Your Majesty?’

It was obvious they would use me as an excuse to cause trouble for Artraia.

Although I could handle such situations whenever they arose…

Since doing unnecessary things itself causes irritation.

It led to the strange result that just suffering alone like this actually made my body and mind more comfortable.

“It’s been a while, was our last matter helpful to you?”

“…Ambassador Jamiya, I’m afraid I can’t answer that in this venue.”

Of course, I wish he would refrain from attitudes like the Prosnack ambassador trying to assassinate(?) me.

Anyway, after receiving even Prosnack’s Ambassador Jamiya.

At some point, I naturally opened my mouth toward Riel, who had come to stand by my side.

“Has everyone who’s coming already arrived?”

“No, soon we’ll have representatives from the Seban Administrative Region and other vassal states, the Zeltech Corporate Union, and other corporate and trade unions coming.”

“…”

Hearing that there was still much more to come, I felt my strength draining and my shoulders drooping.

But right after that.

“My goodness… how can you be tired already, child?”

The moment I heard that loving and gentle tone, I felt a sudden vitality flowing through my tired body.

And thinking that such a feeling was certainly not ordinary, I raised my head.

“…!”

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at seeing the Pioneer Empire’s ambassador—no, the Saint—who had come to warn us during the previous Nanomachine, or rather Extinction Device incident, suddenly appearing before me with two guards.