Ch.174After hardship, a path will open. (3)

# Chapter 174: After Hardship Comes the Path (3)

The news that the Holy Sebelli Empire would accept the Uko’Praknar Interstellar Union as a vassal state quickly spread throughout the galaxy.

“It’s been less than 20 years since they were treated as a backwater village in the west, and now they’ve risen to become a proper great power.”

Indeed, the fact that the interstellar nation of Uko’Praknar had entered Sebelli’s sphere of influence was significant beyond just one interstellar nation submitting to another.

“From now on, the Riksi Congressional Territory, the Nurval Republic, and the Uko’Praknar Interstellar Union in between have become one body.”

“What does that mean?”

“Don’t you know? This marks the official beginning of Sebelli’s hegemony.”

This was happening after the collapse of the Kerzin Hegemony—the Pax Kerzinica—which had previously dominated the galaxy.

As for Prosnak, which had risen to prominence afterward…

“We must either kill, assimilate, or turn into soap any species other than our own.”

“Isn’t voluntary enlistment and assimilation the best option for the Giyeol species?”

They didn’t care one bit about establishing hegemony or their own era of peace, a “Pax Prosnakia.”

With their sole focus on expansion and achieving their “goals” through it, why would they care how other nations behaved?

——————————

“Ztrakfor, oh Ztrak oh.”

“Most holy, glorious, and benevolent Ztrak, protect us!”

“Sorry, everyone.”

Among those who could oppose Prosnak, there was the Ztrakfor Council.

“Kar-Duya, Kar-Duya, how is the transit trade going today?”

“…Perhaps we should try talking to nations other than just ourselves sometimes.”

Basically, apart from their immediate neighbor, the Kar-Du Holy Grand Duchy—which posed no threat whatsoever, like a capybara—they hadn’t formed any notable diplomatic relationships…

No, they couldn’t form any.

“Those iron-headed fools won’t open trade, communications, or borders.”

“Ah.”

As Arto had mentioned before, Ztrakfor faced many problems in establishing connections with other countries.

First and foremost, those damned Ten-Ron Guardians, like stubborn rock-heads, had blocked most of Ztrakfor’s borders as if they were natural terrain features.

Of course, there were places where borders with other countries were open, but…

Except for the Kar-Du Holy Grand Duchy, only a single hyperspace jump route connected to one star system.

And that system was connected to none other than the Riksi Congressional Territory…

“Why should we do anything good for Ztrakfor?”

“Opening borders to Ztrakfor will only happen when a galactic alliance crisis agenda is properly established.”

The problem was that the Riksi Congressional Territory had directly clashed with the Ztrakfor Council in the past.

And despite several decades having passed since then, the relationship between the two remained unhealed.

“That’s why we’re only dealing with you.”

“Hieeeek.”

Despite its powerful fleet and sufficient resources, Ztrakfor found it impossible to establish a new hegemony succeeding Kerzin.

————————————–

But the Holy Sebelli Empire was a different story.

Originally, Sebelli should have remained in unintentional diplomatic isolation like Ztrakfor.

This was because the Holy Sebelli Empire’s physical connections—that is, hyperspace jump routes—were limited to just one place, the Kar-Du Holy Grand Duchy, excluding Prosnak.

However, during a period of indiscriminate expansion in the past…

Among the territories where the Holy Sebelli Empire had recklessly planted their flag without considering influence, there was a planetary system that seemed worthless on its own.

That very system, beyond Kar-Du and within Riksi Congressional Territory, became a stroke of divine luck.

“Well, anyway, we also share a border with Sebelli.”

“…”

With the collapse of Pax Kerzinica and the former Kerzin Hegemony nations each going their own way…

Unlike other eastern countries that had belonged to the Kerzin Hegemony, Riksi failed to unite with them due to its isolated position in the southwest.

Additionally, they lost important strategic points in conflicts with the Roirakan Republic, frequently engaged in border disputes with Ztrakfor, and even lost half their territory when they invaded Kar-Du.

Unlike Ztrakfor, they were voluntarily isolated.

For the Riksi Congressional Territory, whose heightened sense of crisis resembled the Proto-Fuxviet approach…

Their best option for survival was to cling to the Holy Sebelli Empire, the most reasonable choice among territories they shared borders with.

And with Riksi attaching itself to the Sebelli Empire, Sebelli transcended its status as a rural backwater with fancy words but limited activity in the western region.

They began to exert their influence throughout the galaxy in earnest.

Of course, even so, Sebelli’s influence remained extremely limited since Riksi was merely a secret vassal state.

But when the former Kerzin Hegemony nations were gathering again to establish a new hegemony…

“Haha, die!”

“Aaaaaaaaahhh!!!!”

The appearance of the Warlord, a notorious troublemaker and pirate king, devastated the eastern region.

In the process, the Sebelli Empire demonstrated a kind of “leadership.”

They separated Ztrakfor, which was similar to themselves, pushing them northward.

Meanwhile, the Sebelli Empire itself created the Southern Alliance Fleet using their modest vassal states and other nations.

They successfully fought against the Warlord’s main force, simultaneously establishing their influence in both the southern and eastern regions.

As a result, during the chaotic period when the existing eastern countries collapsed and were reorganized into new nations…

The Ik Nur Val Independent Republican Federation was reborn as the Nurval Republic and immediately became a vassal of the Holy Sebelli Empire.

Afterward, they accepted refugees and the exiled government of the fallen Kerzin Federation.

When the Fuxviet invaded the Nurval Republic, they immediately dispatched their fleet.

At the same time, through underwater negotiations, they forced the Fuxviet to surrender without exchanging fire.

They truly demonstrated actions and abilities befitting a “leader of power.”

They clearly showed they were worthy of establishing a “hegemony.”

And now, with the addition of the Uko’Praknar Interstellar Union…

They had successfully formed a vast sphere of influence extending beyond the former Kerzin Hegemony (the entire north and east) to include the western, southern, and eastern parts of the galaxy.

Given this situation, as soon as news spread that the Uko’Praknar Interstellar Union had become a vassal of the Holy Sebelli Empire…

“How could we attack forces from the same faction? Cut off the rebels.”

“Wait, just a moment.”

“Handle it yourselves, good luck.”

“You faithless bastards!”

The Riksi Congressional Territory mercilessly abandoned the Uko’Praknar rebels, showing deference to their suzerain, Sebelli.

The rebels in Uko’Praknar were furious at this behavior.

“If you’re upset, declare independence and fight for sovereignty yourselves.”

“…”

The cold reality of international politics offered them no mercy.

————————————

Meanwhile, the Roirakan Republic’s plans were completely disrupted by this incident.

“Here are fleets and troops for you. Eat up and grow strong.”

“Mmm, yummy.”

The Roirakan Republic had planned to present their fleet to the Uko’Praknar rebels under the pretext of a “volunteer army”…

“I can’t believe the Sebelli Empire ruined our perfectly good plan!”

“After all the preparations we made!”

But before their carefully laid plans could be executed and their fleet could move…

Sebelli and Uko’s collusion caused their plans to fall apart before they even began.

However, this made the Roirakan Republic realize something important:

“But our supplies and fleet haven’t even entered Uko’Praknar yet.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

The level of “preparation” for supporting the rebels—including supplies and fleet support—was quite substantial.

But these preparations hadn’t even been deployed yet.

“…Let’s just clean our hands of this and be done with it, shall we?”

“Agreed.”

Realizing the situation was unfavorable, Roirakan requisitioned some of the supplies intended for the rebels in a very “traditional and legal” manner.

“Damn those Roirakan bastards.”

As a result, the rebels, who were suffering from chronic supply problems despite having started their rebellion…

“…We will no longer resist Uko’Praknar.”

They gave up their rebellion and bowed their heads once again.

This led to a exponential increase in goodwill toward the Holy Sebelli Empire from Uko’Praknar…

———————–

[Event: Goodwill Operation.]

[Uko’Praknar’s goodwill toward the Holy Sebelli Empire will be +50 for 5 years.]

While working, as soon as I received all this information, an event message appeared, giving me an indescribable, strange feeling.