Ch.175You, become my comrade.

# Chapter 175: Become My Comrade

Three months after Uko`Praknar became a vassal state of the Interstellar Union.

“Ah, Sebeli Hegemony, Pax Sebelica.”

“…Where did you learn such strange words again, Minister?”

As Uko`Praknar fell into the hands of our Holy Sebeli Empire.

Perhaps it was because the vast territory spanning the southwestern and eastern parts of the galaxy had all become our sphere of influence.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

I was experiencing the happiest period in recent… well, the past 10 years.

“For someone who claims to be happy, there’s not a trace of a smile on your face.”

“Hmm.”

“If anyone other than me or the Emperor saw you, they’d just say you look tired and bothered by everything.”

“Is that so?”

Despite Riel’s jab, instead of pulling out the etiquette injection rod from my pocket…

“Whatever others may say, I walk my own path.”

I operated the terminal on my office table, turned on the screen on the wall, and became lost in thought while looking at the galactic map.

*Tap tap tap tap tap*

Perhaps it was because I had become lost in thought without even pausing the system.

As I was unconsciously drumming my fingers on the table while deep in thought, Riel, who was standing by, asked me with a face full of suspicion.

“What are you thinking about now?”

“Hmm? Ah… well.”

After a moment of careful consideration in response to Riel’s question.

I looked around and then said to Riel.

“Well, I was thinking it might be time to establish the ‘Federation’ I’ve been planning.”

“…Ohhh.”

The federation I mentioned…

It wasn’t referring to something with a “red flavor” like Fuxviet, but literally meant a massive treaty organization formed by various interstellar nations coming together.

If I were to compare it to my previous life, it would be reminiscent of something like NATO—a massive organization.

Hearing my words, Riel seemed quite excited.

For the first time in a while, she rotated the antenna feelers above both her ears in circles and said to me with a flushed face.

“How do you plan to do it? I’m curious about who you’re thinking of forming this federation with?”

“…Well, ideally, it would include all countries except Prosnak and Fuxviet.”

“Ohhh.”

Of course, this was merely my own wishful thinking.

In reality, the outcome would depend on how the countries involved would respond.

Of course, it was reasonable to assume that the possibility of such a thing happening was extremely low.

“Riel, it’s time to prepare to wrap this up.”

“Yes.”

I decided to accelerate preparations for the establishment of the ‘Federation’ while riding this momentum.

Of course, it would be an absurd overreach for me, a mere minister(?), to handle such a massive diplomatic and political task alone.

“So let’s head to the Imperial Palace right away.”

“Ah, yes.”

Seeking Artraia’s permission, I immediately departed for the Imperial Palace with Riel in tow.

But if there was one thing I overlooked here…

“Arto, why haven’t you come to see me sooner?”

“Ah.”

Whether it was the establishment of the Kerzin government-in-exile.

Or the plan to make the Uko`Praknar Interstellar Union friends into vassal states.

For these and various other reasons, this was the first time I was meeting Artraia since the victory ceremony.

Considering the time, it had been nearly half a year to a year during which we had only exchanged information or seen each other’s faces through communications.

“Artraia, given the urgency of the business, perhaps we could discuss that another time.”

“It’s fine, I happen to have no other duties today.”

Without any mental preparation, I found myself like a living sacrifice thrown naked before a hungry dragon.

“…I’ll give up my ministerial position and all my power, just spare my life.”

With the thought that it would be difficult to walk out of here intact, I resigned myself to accepting reality.

Of course, such thoughts soon disappeared…

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

As Artraia, whose draconic instincts—no, characteristics—were fully unleashed, squeezed me to the very root, those thoughts quickly vanished.

——————————

A few days later.

Obviously, but it’s worth stating.

The Ztrakfor Council and the Kar-Du Holy Grand Duchy showed quite positive reactions to our proposal.

That is, the establishment of a ‘Federal Treaty Organization.’

Especially in the case of Ztrakfor, they showed an even more enthusiastic response than usual.

“We’re thinking of creating a federation, would you be interested in participating…”

“YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesMe!Me!Me!Me!Me!”

“Oh.”

…With roughly that level of intense reaction, both the ambassador at the embassy and the negotiation team expressed real-time bewilderment.

In contrast, Kar-Du agreed but showed a somewhat lukewarm response.

“But Kar-Du’s reaction is understandable.”

“Indeed, they’ve raked in so much money through transit trade.”

“Raked…? Anyway, they’ve certainly accumulated a lot.”

For Kar-Du, which wasn’t even a religious corporate state yet had been enjoying the sweet profits of transit trade.

From an economic perspective, the establishment of a Federal Treaty Organization didn’t seem particularly appealing.

However, with their suzerain Ztrakfor showing such passionate support.

And apart from the economic aspect, they seemed to accept that this Federal Treaty Organization was essentially a cheat key in terms of security and military aspects.

—————————————

And as I mentioned, when we asked other surrounding countries if they would be interested in joining this Federal Treaty Organization…

“The Sir-Hod Alliance is also showing a very positive response.”

“Hmm.”

“They’ve even stated that if an integrated military force for the Federal Treaty Organization is formed, they would provide bases and training grounds.”

Perhaps it was due to their desperate situation, with one-third of their border facing the Prosnak Union and half of the remaining border facing the Fuxviet Federation.

As Riel said, they showed an even more intense and positive response than Ztrakfor, which was quite impressive.

———————————–

However, the remaining country.

The Roirakan Republic in the southern galaxy showed an even more lukewarm response to our proposal than Kar-Du.

“Hmm, it’s quite an interesting proposal… but I think we need more time to consider.”

“Is that so?”

‘Hmm, I expected this from the Roirakan Republic.’

The very concept of a group aimed at countering Prosnak didn’t seem to generate much interest among the Roirakans…

It seemed like it would be quite difficult.

But unlike other countries…

For the Roirakan Republic, a ‘group opposing Prosnak’ couldn’t really be a matter of particular interest.

This was because the Roirakan Republic, along with the Riksi Parliamentary Realm, was one of only two nations in the galaxy that had never been exposed to Prosnak’s offensives.

In reality, who would respond with “Yes, understood” when asked to join a glorious alliance to prevent someone they had never even fought against?

Therefore, I was aware of this aspect while receiving reports on the negotiations.

“Minister, the level of support from the Roirakan Republic is disappointingly low.”

“Hmm, that’s certainly true.”

Although it exceeded my expectations.

Nevertheless, I nodded inwardly at the attitude of the Roirakan Republic, which was lower than the maximum I had anticipated.

[Pause]

‘Indeed, perhaps it’s because they’ve never even been at war with Prosnak… the prevailing sentiment seems to be questioning the necessity of forming a federation.’

Therefore, I could focus on the work without much lingering attachment to establishing a federation with the Roirakan Republic.

Or more precisely, I should say it was a thought.

And shortly after.

[Unpause]

As soon as I unpaused, I spoke to the Roirakan Republic in the most courteous and diplomatically respectful tone possible.

“Well… if that’s the case, I’m afraid we’ll have to refrain from further discussing this federation plan with the Roirakan Republic.”

———————————

However, about three days later.

-“We were mistaken. We request that you accept us into the federation as well, Minister Arto.”

“…”

We had to feel confused in many ways by the realization that the behavior shown by the Roirakan Republic had been nothing more than simple playing hard to get.