Ch.258This is the peace of our time. (2)

# Chapter 258: This Is the Peace of Our Time. (2)

The peace treaty was proceeding with more friction than expected, yet simultaneously better than anticipated.

“My brother is inside.”

“…Thank you.”

Of course, the issue of the Fuxviet Federation’s characteristically rock-bottom diplomatic credibility…

It still posed a significant risk when it came to concluding the peace treaty.

“How can we trust the Fuxviet?”

“Frankly speaking, what if they pull that ‘it was our predecessor’s doing, we know nothing about it’ excuse again? We’d have no recourse.”

Those who had directly suffered from the Federation’s misdeeds.

Particularly figures from the political and business circles, including the Eastern Three Nations, showed quite strong opposition to the peace treaty.

Additionally, the Loirakan Republic could maintain its exclusive trade status with the Fuxviet by simply doing nothing.

Since they didn’t want to lose their economic interests through a peace treaty.

“Please, please sign the peace treaty!!”

“Weeeeeell…”

“Arrrgh!”

Normally, such an ambiguous attitude would have resulted in the agreement being dragged out indefinitely…

——————————————

-“I’m truly grateful. Thanks to you, our mother Fuxviet has gained time to catch her breath.”

“Well, isn’t it fortunate if we can resolve things amicably?”

Not a chance.

From my position, needing to roll out a 250,000-vessel Snowballing Fleet against that Imperial Heir brat, I couldn’t tolerate such petty interest disputes.

How long were we supposed to keep over 60,000 ships—combining ISTO treaty forces, our fleet, and the Rixi fleet—stationed there?

While appropriate threats could suppress simple “interest” issues like Loirakan’s…

-“But it’s remarkable. How did you manage to bring the Eastern Three Nations to the negotiating table?”

“…”

As the Fuxviet Foreign Minister expressed his puzzlement through the communication screen.

The Eastern Three Nations.

That is, the Syr-Hod Alliance, Nurval Republic, and Uko`Praknar weren’t just dealing with interest issues.

Since their very survival was at stake, they had indeed shown quite negative reactions.

As seen above, the prevailing opinion was blatantly “How can we trust scum like the Fuxviet!” which says it all.

But I had already prepared countermeasures for that aspect.

“Minister, over here!”

“Ah yes, thank you Riel.”

As Riel brought the peace treaty draft, I unfolded it and addressed the Fuxviet Foreign Minister.

“You can see our solution in this treaty draft.”

-“…Hmm.”

“The Galactic Alliance’s peace monitoring team, and the dispatch of our personnel to strengthen neutrality within ISTO.”

The solution was to utilize the now half-obsolete Galactic Alliance.

———————————–

Among the nations in the galaxy, excluding the Pioneer Empires that refused to engage in diplomacy with “inferior species” from the beginning.

The Galactic Alliance once included all the relatively powerful interstellar nations.

Now, however, all those nations except the Prosnak Union and Fuxviet Federation had joined a single federation.

The “Interstellar Security Treaty Organization” that I created, which left the Alliance’s position somewhat floating.

Its ambiguous political standing had become so precarious that even ordinary civilians ridiculed it.

User(Diplomatic Enforcement IP): Isn’t ISTO basically the Galactic Alliance now?

User(Propaganda IP): For real lol

User(Propaganda IP): Like if ISTO is better than the Alliance…!

User(Civilian): Is that really true? Surely the Galactic Alliance is still better than ISTO…

User(Diplomatic Enforcement Purge Team IP): GO!!!!

User(Diplomatic Enforcement Purge Team IP): Not believing in ISTO is losing faith…!

…While there was some media control in place.

The internal public opinion in our Holy Seveli Empire as well as.

ISTO’s internal opinion… no, the opinion throughout the galaxy was undeniably like that.

But that was merely the opinion of “civilians.”

From the perspective of national leaders, as the Alliance was the only mediator capable of facilitating dialogue and negotiation among the three “powers”—ISTO, Prosnak, and Fuxviet.

Paradoxically, compared to the era when it was dominated by the former Kerzin Federation and Pax Kerzinka, being small and disorganized.

The Galactic Alliance now actually had a stronger “presence” politically, creating a curious outcome.

Of course, the Alliance wasn’t ignoring public opinion either, so.

There must be internal dissatisfaction toward ISTO, but…

ISTO(Seveli): Hey, you.

Galactic Alliance: What?

ISTO(Seveli): We’re trying to make a peace treaty with the Fuxviet, but public opinion isn’t good.

Galactic Alliance: So?

ISTO(Seveli): Could you co-sign as a guarantor?

Galactic Alliance: !!!

While it somewhat felt like joint liability.

In other words, ISTO was essentially declaring “the Galactic Alliance is superior to us!” so.

Galactic Alliance: Wait, I’m coming right away.

It was an offer the Alliance couldn’t refuse, which is why they showed such enthusiastic support for the peace treaty between us, ISTO, and the Fuxviet.

And with the Alliance taking such an active role in the treaty.

“Huh… the Alliance is going that far?”

“If the Galactic Alliance directly guarantees the treaty, then I suppose we can trust it.”

The Eastern Three Nations, who had been rejecting the peace treaty citing security concerns, were left with nothing to say.

Of course, even so, opposition factions to the peace treaty wouldn’t disappear within their territories, but…

Seveli: I hear there are factions opposing what we’re doing over there lately.

Nurval(vassal state): Pardon?

Uko`Praknar(vassal state): Pardon?

Seveli: Are we mistaken?

Nurval, Uko`Praknar: Yes, that’s correct.

Seveli: Good, let’s work hard.

Two of those Eastern Three Nations were essentially our vassal states, so what could they do?

In the past, we had to be cautious due to ISTO’s internal power dynamics, so we had no choice but to leave them be.

But now we could genuinely say, “Leave if you’re upset, but you’ll pay the price,” so.

Even if the Eastern Three Nations tried to resist now, they couldn’t change the situation.

“We express our opposition to this peace treaty.”

Of course, the Syr-Hod Alliance wasn’t our empire’s vassal state, so it was somewhat awkward to pressure them directly…

“Brother, read the room.”

“ISTO says they’ll cut off funding if you keep opposing the peace treaty.”

“Ah.”

Even without being vassal states, there were plenty of ways to control the war-ravaged Eastern Three Nations, so.

Before long, the Eastern Three Nations had no choice but to sign the peace treaty draft that was transmitted from the Fuxviet and approved by me.

——————————————

Besides the reasons above, I had another reason for accepting the Fuxviet’s peace treaty.

[Pause]

[Event: Peace Treaty Negotiation]

[The Fuxviet Federation’s Foreign Ministry, fed up with the military’s incompetence.]

[The Foreign Minister, who had been openly exchanging insults and sharp criticisms with the Supreme Military Committee, personally struck a deal.]

[Therefore, this peace treaty seems sufficiently trustworthy despite the Fuxviet Federation’s characteristically abysmal diplomatic credibility.]

[Applied “Final Deal” trait to the Fuxviet Federation (Treaty terms will be strictly enforced during the current Foreign Minister’s lifetime)]

[Option 1: Can I trust them this time…? (Continue linked events)]<Selected

[Option 2: Why should I trust those who have betrayed us multiple times? (End event chain, immediately enter state of war)]

[Resume]

I had already chosen that option in the event message, and.

With all the cosmic monsters having left Aeternia…

I had no reason to reject the Fuxviet’s extended hand of reconciliation.

Moreover, what if the Fuxviet were annihilated by cosmic monsters due to being overwhelmed while I was preparing for the Imperial Heir’s raid?

That could trigger strange rumors within ISTO, and.

Above all, I didn’t think the game would end just by killing the Imperial Heir.

I thought it was right to at least attach a respirator to the Fuxviet, if only to serve as ISTO’s deterrent.