Ch.222Closed-Door Politics(?)

# Chapter 222: Closed-Room Politics(?)

Of course, when the head of state of an entire nation makes an official visit, it’s impossible to complete everything in just a single day.

Starting with the installation of temporary stations where the escort fleet of 10,000 ships dispatched from Prosnack could stay briefly and resupply for various complicated reasons.

Then there would be reviews and meetings on various current issues that needed to be conducted between heads of state.

And finally, practical discussions that needed to be carried out between working-level officials.

It was simply impossible to finish all these matters in just one day.

So for any country we would visit from now on, including our Empire.

We would typically stay for at least a week, or up to a month, to coordinate various matters.

This might be different for places like our Holy Sebelli Empire, which had warp gate networks installed throughout the entire territory.

But if we were to go to the eastern galaxy, which couldn’t build infrastructure due to various wars that erupted almost annually—the war with Prosnack, the Warlord Incident, all sorts of civil wars, and even the Fuchsviet’s Western Conquest War (as they themselves announced it).

Even children would know that just the travel time alone would take years.

Thinking about this, I suddenly began to question why Samiya had specifically chosen to visit us first.

[Time Pause]

‘Isn’t the urgent matter right now dealing with the main fleet stationed in the east and the former Kerzin Federation territory, which is presumably under the control of that bastard Emperor?’

Yet she’s starting her overseas tour by visiting countries belonging to the Galactic Alliance, investing an enormous amount of time.

It seemed incomprehensible at first glance, so I spent some time in deep contemplation.

‘Wait a minute, starting with us means… she’s planning to visit the east last.’

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind, and I realized what Samiya’s strategy might be.

‘Since Samiya has openly declared her position to the entire galaxy, normally the main forces in the east should obey her orders and return.’

No matter how much the Emperor is disguising himself as the fake Fern’dus.

The real Fern’dus is standing by Samiya’s side as the fleet commander.

Moreover, considering that the Emperor suffered tremendous damage while forcibly breaking through the John-Bernator Line.

And given that supply lines from Prosnack’s homeland to the front have been cut off, that would be the logical judgment.

But contrary to the Prosnack leadership’s expectations, most of the main forces, except for the patrol fleets of the star system, weren’t following the leadership’s orders.

Of course, this wasn’t officially announced by the Prosnack leadership; it was information obtained through purge unit members dispatched within the leadership and through Prosnack officials we had recruited.

The important thing was that since the “main forces” were essentially not following the Prosnack leadership’s orders, the leadership was in a desperate situation.

Therefore, to control those main forces, they left Fern’dus as commander in the homeland.

While Samiya herself started with our Sebelli Empire, which could be considered the “rear” for Prosnack.

It was clear she was going around the galaxy, using the normalization of Prosnack’s diplomacy as an excuse to seek allied forces.

From Prosnack’s perspective, if their Supreme Commander could travel around the galaxy and return unharmed, it would be interpreted as having made allies.

If one had the mentality of a “normal” Prosnack person, this would seem like quite a plausible approach.

‘But this method is still risky.’

After all, what’s the reason the main forces are behaving this way?

It all comes down to that bastard Emperor, doesn’t it?

Not only did he hack(?) Riel’s neural network with its powerful siege barriers and signal blocking systems to mess with me.

But he also instantly replaced the supreme leader of the massive nation of Prosnack with himself.

Would that damned guy, who’s commanding a fleet of tens of thousands of ships, respond gentlemanly to Samiya’s approach?

Although for some unknown reason, he’s currently just sitting there, ignoring the retreat order Samiya issued with her authority as Supreme Commander…

To be honest, since it’s a group under the control of ‘that’ Emperor bastard.

If Samiya says:

“We have ISTO with unlimited power.”

“Oh, really?”

Wouldn’t he just fire ion laser batteries at Samiya’s ship without hesitation?

‘Holy shit.’

Of course, such an action wouldn’t suddenly create political repercussions for Prosnack.

The death of the Supreme Commander would be a tremendous shock.

But the former Supreme Commander, Fern’dus, is still alive and well, actively working in the homeland.

However, if that happened, my intricate grand plan that I’ve been working on for over a year would be completely ruined.

‘I have no intention of experiencing such a disaster.’

What I want more than anything is to give a massive payback to that old geezer who hypnotized and brainwashed our little Riel.

Since I had no intention of having my grand plan ruined and receiving a big “screw you” from the Emperor geezer.

After contemplating for what felt like over a week to devise a strategy to overcome this situation…

‘This is it.’

[Time Pause Release]

As a brilliant idea flashed through my mind, I released the time pause and said:

“Riel, contact the Imperial Palace right now.”

“…You know it’s evening, right?”

“Yes, but it’s urgent.”

“You were thinking to yourself during the time pause again, weren’t you?”

Despite Riel’s grumbling at my sudden action, we immediately boarded a shuttle and flew toward the Imperial Palace where Artraia and Samiya would be.

———————————————–

But as soon as we landed at the Imperial Palace’s shuttle landing pad.

“Lord Arto, we were just about to come get you!”

As soon as we entered the palace, the captain of the imperial guard came walking out and greeted me with great delight.

Since the previous captain had resigned for some reason, this new one was someone I only knew by face.

As this giant, nearly 3 meters tall due to various genetic and physical modifications, approached me enthusiastically like a golden retriever while covered in golden medium-grade power armor…

Riel, who had been following behind me, quickly ran between us and naturally blocked him.

From behind her, I tried to speak to the captain in the most natural voice possible, hiding the fact that I wasn’t scared:

“What’s the matter? Is there an urgent issue?”

“I don’t know the details myself, but His Majesty ordered me to bring Lord Arto to the Imperial Palace.”

“Hmm.”

Since the captain spoke straightforwardly without hiding his intentions, embodying the typical manly image.

I nodded at his candid demeanor and said:

“Alright, I’ll go right away.”

With Riel following behind me, I naturally decided to climb onto the captain’s back.

“…Um, Lord Arto? What is this…?”

But at our action, the 3-meter giant broke into a cold sweat and looked perplexed.

His reaction left both Riel and me confused as well.

“But the imperial guards always complain about our slow walking pace and carry us on their backs.”

“That’s right, so whenever we enter the palace, we’ve naturally gotten used to riding on the imperial guards’ backs.”

At our explanation, the 3-meter giant’s eyes began to shake violently.

Seeing him literally experiencing pupil earthquakes, Riel and I looked at each other’s faces for a moment.

And shortly after:

“Could it be that the imperial guards weren’t supposed to act that way from the beginning?”

I asked with a hint of suspicion at the captain’s reaction.

“…Hehehehehe, I-I-I w-will t-take y-you t-there.”

While desperately maintaining a smiling expression, the captain began running with us on his back.

However, Riel and I noticed that despite his expression, the captain’s eyes weren’t smiling at all, so we decided to pray for his soul.

—————————————

After arriving faster than any imperial guard we had ridden before:

“Well then, I must go now, as I suddenly have urgent business.”

“Hmm.”

As the captain disappeared at an even faster speed, leaving only afterimages behind.

Based on what the captain had told me on the way, I realized that Samiya was also in Artraia’s private room, so I decided to tidy up my appearance one last time.

If we were still in a foreign minister-ambassador relationship like before, honestly, it wouldn’t matter how I presented myself.

But now the relationship had reversed to foreign minister-head of state.

As I couldn’t show any sloppiness in front of Emperor Artraia:

“Is everything alright, Riel?”

“Yes, the captain held you quite firmly.”

With Riel’s help, I tidied my clothes one last time and carefully knocked on the door of the private room.

“Yes, come in.”

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

At the voice from inside, I opened the door to the private room with Riel, maintaining the most careful attitude…

And inside:

“You came quickly, Arto.”

“So you call him that even in private, Ms. Artraia.”

“Heh, I’m the only one who doesn’t add any title after Arto’s name.”

For some reason, seeing Artraia and Samiya chatting away in very casual attire, I felt like a fragile fawn standing before predators.

“…Since you seem busy, I’ll withdraw for now.”

I immediately took a step back, naturally trying to leave, but…

“Riel, you know what to do?”

“Yes!”

“What?”

-THUD!

Riel, who had been following behind me, suddenly closed the door to the private room.

“Arto, you really should have introduced someone like this to me earlier.”

“Exactly, it’s not common to find someone who not only shares your feelings but also your thoughts, especially someone from an alien species.”

[Time Pause]

-Ding♡

As soon as the voices of the two women ended, an event message appeared with the time pause, and I felt a wave of confusing emotions rushing over me.