Ch.158Victory Ceremony Aftermath. (2)

# Chapter 158: After the Victory Ceremony (2)

Of course, Zeltech wasn’t the only problem we needed to address.

“Then let’s conclude the matter regarding Zeltech here.”

“That seems appropriate. The details should be handled by experts rather than us.”

“Oh, by the way, Minister Arto? How do you plan to address the genocide issue caused by your Papacy this time?”

‘They’re pushing this right away.’

As that tactless person just pointed out, there was the issue of the Papacy’s racial… no, species genocide.

Given that we were a multi-species nation with far more diversity than other countries (with at least 70 different species including hybrids and subspecies).

It was no exaggeration to say that the fact they had selectively massacred a specific species was an extremely dangerous matter.

If I were to compare it to my previous life before possessing this body…

In a multi-racial country like America, what kind of reaction would emerge if murders targeted only one race?

People with average moral sensibilities would curse the perpetrator regardless of race.

Similarly, it was natural that similar reactions would emerge here.

Moreover, this wasn’t just about subspecies but the complete slaughter of an entire species—it would be impossible to expect positive reactions under normal circumstances.

But that only applies when the species in question hasn’t committed any ‘special acts.’

Since everyone knew what the Zeltech had done to us, they had been deliberately overlooking this aspect.

Thanks to that tactless Miss-Fel ambassador bringing it up…

Whether I liked it or not, having to discuss this matter was quite infuriating.

But fortunately, if there was any consolation…

Our zealots had been thoroughly meticulous in targeting only ‘Zeltech people.’

Toward other species, they displayed an attitude full of consideration and altruism—a bizarrely contradictory behavior.

Of course, from the Papacy zealots’ perspective, this made perfect sense.

To them, the Zeltech were “bastards who dared to believe in heretical ideas and even blew up our Pope.”

Meanwhile, other species were “excellent people who share our nation and religion, who must never be dragged into the punishment of heretics”—they maintained this strange position.

As a result, the actual damage from this incident was strictly concentrated on the Zeltech people.

“Regarding that matter, we are already discussing appropriate compensation and follow-up measures for those who suffered damage.”

I decided to gloss over this conversation by subtly expanding the scope of compensation plans intended for the “very few” other species who had been harmed.

Moreover, the fact that the Papacy’s authority would be split not in half but in three was something that any foreign minister or ambassador would know.

I shot a glare at the Miss-Fel ambassador who was showing a subtle reaction while waving the antennae between their carapace.

“So I don’t think we need to discuss this matter any further.”

“Indeed, it would be better to exchange opinions on more important matters.”

I naturally buried that topic and steered the meeting toward other subjects.

————————–

After that, various topics came up.

To be honest, they were just miscellaneous matters brought up by foreign ministers and ambassadors trying to take advantage of this gathering.

Above all, since they had little relevance to us, I was just half-listening to most of it.

But then the next topic…

“Since Ambassador Prosnak is here, I’d like to ask, if you don’t mind?”

“I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say.”

“There have been rumors of secret exchanges between Prosnak and the Fuxviet Federation recently. Do you have anything to say about this?”

“Well, this is the first I’m hearing of it.”

‘There was something like that?’

With the sudden mention of these two countries that had barely been mentioned recently, I maintained outward composure while inwardly shocked.

Of course, not because of the fact that these two thuggish nations were communicating with each other.

‘Damn it, the spy network’s collapse is already showing.’

I realized that our carefully constructed foreign spy network had been completely destroyed, to the point where I was learning about this fact for the first time at this meeting.

‘I’m sure we prioritized the restoration of the northern spy network, yet it still hasn’t been restored.’

But showing this outwardly would be like announcing, “Our foreign counterintelligence capabilities are completely destroyed! Please send all your spies our way!”

So I decided not to casually interject…

Instead, I quietly pretended to be uninterested while listening to the agenda.

But as life often goes, things didn’t proceed according to my plan.

“Minister Arto, don’t you feel any sense of crisis about the exchange between those two?”

Faced with this question from an ambassador whose tone seemed more fitting for a journalist than a diplomat, I briefly paused time.

[Time Pause]

…and immediately unleashed a torrent of curses at the ambassador.

‘Why are all these tactless people coming at me today? What’s with all this fuss directed at me?’

Of course, this wasn’t truly tactless behavior like what the Miss-Fel ambassador had done earlier.

From the perspective of the ambassadors in the conference room, Jamiya, the Prosnak ambassador, still hadn’t provided any answers.

And I, who had been quietly observing, was the head of the intelligence agency with supposedly the best spy network in the galaxy.

…Thinking about it this way, I felt a surge of self-loathing for leaving that supposedly galaxy-best spy network in a half-paralyzed state.

‘There’s no event message either, so I don’t even know what to say.’

After what felt like about 5 hours of contemplation…

‘There’s no point in trying to get out of this with lies. I’m not smarter than these people.’

I decided to boldly declare that I knew nothing.

Of course, I could lie if I wanted to… but as someone with no information, making up falsehoods based on my imagination…

How effective would that be against diplomatic ambassadors who had been professionally educated and active far longer than me?

[Time Pause Released]

So as soon as I released the time pause, I decided to immediately address the person who had questioned me.

“It’s truly unfortunate, but we don’t particularly know anything either.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

Of course, anticipating additional questioning…

[Time Pause]

I immediately paused time again and prepared about ten different responses.

[Time Pause Released]

I released the time pause again, fully prepared, but…

“I see. If even Minister Arto says so…”

‘Huh?’

For some reason, they ended the conversation without any additional questions.

‘What’s going on?’

Various other topics continued to come up during the meeting.

But with no further mention of Prosnak, I inwardly nodded and participated comfortably in the meeting from my seat.

‘Whatever it is, it must be for the best.’

And after discussing various miscellaneous matters, the foreign ministers’ meeting finally ended…

“Thank you all for your hard work.”

“It was truly an excellent time. I’d like to invite you all to dinner sometime soon.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Ambassador.”

As soon as the meeting ended, the foreign diplomats, ambassadors, and ministers gathered in the room dispersed, returning to their home countries or diplomatic missions.

Among them was Ambassador Jamiya, who had always seemed detached except during the discussion about Prosnak and Fuxviet.

I approached Ambassador Jamiya, who was preparing to leave, intending to discuss the earlier conversation.

However…

“As I mentioned earlier, I have nothing particular to say, Minister Arto.”

Our Ambassador Jamiya immediately put up a wall, refusing the conversation altogether.

“Hmm.”

The last time we met, they voluntarily talked about mutual friendship and all sorts of things.

Now they were putting up walls, which made me increasingly curious about what was going on.

‘I really need to expedite the restoration of our spy network in the north as soon as possible, if nothing else.’

——————————

But about half a year after the victory ceremony and the foreign ministers’ meeting…

-“From today, our great Fuxviet Federation will walk the path of eternal cooperation with the Prosnak Union!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I felt my mind go blank as I watched the news on TV about these two thugs signing a non-aggression pact.