Ch.421Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (19)

* * *

Now that I think about it, there’s something that comes to mind.

Is Africa functioning properly? In the original world, Africa was engulfed in civil wars with refugees flowing out everywhere.

They even had UNICEF? SELF? Anyway, some kind of support going in to help Africa.

In the current world, it’s somewhat better, but I haven’t heard many reports from that region lately.

“Speaking of which, is Africa running smoothly?”

I’m not really sure since I haven’t paid much attention to Africa recently.

“Yes, Africa is naturally regulating its population as well.”

“I see. Let’s take a look.”

First, I acquire new knowledge from AI Anastasia through brain synchronization.

Right. I see. Africa is also running in an interesting way.

Africa’s history has progressed differently from the original timeline, taking a different direction.

If the original history had African inland countries filling the African continent, here they don’t exist.

After forming a union under Ethiopia’s leadership, infrastructure in the inland became meaningless, and with migration efforts, Africans rebuilt their nations centered around coastal areas, which then became part of the African Union.

Right. If I had to compare it to something, it would be like Australia.

The countries operate strictly in coastal regions.

They said that as the future progresses, they’ll slowly develop toward the inland areas.

That way, they won’t have to live as impoverished nations lacking everything like before.

Actually, even now, the nations established around the coastlines lead the African Union, and their GDP isn’t particularly low.

This makes me curious about South Africa.

South Africa also has Japanese immigration—I wonder how they’re reacting to all this.

“Come to think of it, what about South Africa? Does AI Ana-chan not have information?”

“South Africa is operating under an independent system, so I could find out if needed, but I don’t know at present.”

Operating independently? Hmm, so that happened.

Wait, didn’t AI Ana-chan expand into South Africa in the early stages?

“Didn’t you expand there? I clearly heard that South Africa was included in the early stages.”

“Yes. I could intervene, but this came from the Rome Treaty side.”

That’s interesting—the Rome Treaty side decided to just observe for now? What kind of issue is this exactly?

“I know South Africa well. There’s an Okhrana branch there.”

Maria suddenly said this.

I see. So instead of AI Ana-chan, Maria gathered intelligence through the Okhrana.

“Oh, really? Tell me. I want to hear what’s going on.”

I wonder what our South African people are thinking.

“South Africa has basically become the South African version of East Japan.”

“They’re not Black, I assume.”

“Correct. Japanese descendants make up about half the population.”

South Africa’s current population is approximately 10 million. I don’t know how many there were in the original history, but the number must have decreased significantly after completely separating from the original Black population.

With the Japanese added, it’s about 10 million.

“How did this independent system come about?”

“It was proposed by the Japanese-descended Prime Minister of South Africa. He suggested that South Africa should adopt an independent operating system in preparation for any potential crisis.”

Is it meant to be an alternative to AI Ana-chan or the Aegis system?

“A replacement for AI Ana-chan?”

Are they trying to create an entirely new cyber government?

This is troublesome because it’s the emergence of a third party—should I stop it?

Though I suppose we could bring them under our control anytime.

“Not a replacement—the idea was to make it the only country in the Rome Treaty-Commonwealth without AI Anastasia.”

“Oh, I see.”

That’s interesting. To think such a place exists.

Is it like a modern-day ark built in preparation for human extinction?

No, rather than a modern ark, it’s more like a city or ruins deliberately left unmodernized to preserve civilization.

“Wouldn’t it be problematic if their independence becomes too strong?”

“South Africa is a country that needs the Commonwealth’s help anyway. It should be fine.”

In the original history, South Africa had terrible public safety.

Somehow, I’m a bit concerned about the Japanese in South Africa.

“The Japanese-descended Prime Minister of South Africa proposed independent operation, and unificationists are emerging in East and West Japan. Isn’t that a bit strange?”

I think there’s some connection here. My instincts are never wrong.

* * *

After the conversation with Anastasia, the West Japanese government was shifting its opinion against unification.

After all, the Tsar had said it wouldn’t happen if even one Japanese person opposed it.

“Unification will be difficult after all.”

“Since the Emperor also opposed it, there’s nothing we can do.”

“That’s right. We have no choice. Besides, there’s considerable opposition, isn’t there?”

“Yes. The Balhae Federation and Israel haven’t reacted favorably either.”

The Balhae Federation and Israel had expressed concerns about West Japan’s unification theory.

It wasn’t because they were trying to check Japan’s power—even unified, Japan wouldn’t be strong enough to challenge the Balhae Federation or Israel. They were simply concerned about Northeast Asia falling into chaos.

In fact, the cabinet and the Emperor were hoping for the same outcome.

“This is rather unfortunate for the unificationists.”

“It’s not necessarily bad to address it preemptively. Rather than having unificationists working underground, the Russian Tsar actually did us a favor by bringing it up.”

“That’s right.”

It’s better to just think of this as a good opportunity to suppress the unificationists.

“But isn’t this good for us?”

“Yes, it is. We can avoid unnecessary trouble.”

This way, we can frame it as though we tried for unification but couldn’t because the opportunity didn’t present itself.

Meanwhile, in the East Japanese Kanto Republic government, there was also much talk among unificationists.

“Hmm, is this really the right approach?”

“This will make unification more distant.”

“What does skin color matter? They’re mixed with Koreans themselves.”

After World War II, under the leadership of the third president Lee Bum-seok of the newly established Balhae Federation on the Korean Peninsula, those who opposed the thorough elimination of the deeply rooted yangban class mostly migrated to the Japanese Commonwealth, where a Korean-descended Emperor had taken his place, resulting in some mixing.

However, they certainly didn’t look as non-Japanese as those in East Japan, so it didn’t apply to them, but from the Kanto Republic’s perspective, it was simply offensive.

Well, if they don’t want to do it, they don’t have to.

It’s regrettable, but there was no reason to push for something that even America wouldn’t approve.

However, the students had a different perspective.

“Unification with those darkies? That’s absurd!”

“Those racists! We’re Japanese too!”

“Your mother is Black, you bastard. How dare you pretend to be Yamato!”

“You’re dead today!”

They had been influenced by the unification theory that had risen from their home countries.

When the West Japanese Commonwealth expressed opposition to unification with various excuses, students from both West and East Japan were affected.

Around this time, the Republic of South Africa was being led by a Prime Minister of Japanese descent.

It was a reality far twisted from the original history.

This Japanese-descended cabinet was planning something new.

“Why should we support the unificationists? We are South Africans, not pirates from that island nation.”

Yes, the Japanese descendants in South Africa were promoting the unification theory of the Japanese archipelago at this time when AI Anastasia and the Aegis system were interlocking.

There was one reason.

“Well, we shouldn’t deny our roots, no matter what.”

“That’s right. Although we came from the archipelago and are called fugitives by those mainlanders…”

They wanted a unified Japan.

“Isn’t the problem with unification the Black people in East Japan?”

“Those Black people need to be expelled. Wasn’t that part of the plan you all agreed to from the beginning?”

Their first objective was to completely push out the Black people from East Japan.

How? In a political sense.

Frankly speaking, if the Black people in East Japan were to leave, East Japan’s population would never be able to overcome West Japan.

If unification happened under West Japan’s leadership, then they could exert influence on Japan.

Of course, the unificationists would need to build up enough strength for unification, and the current West Japanese cabinet would have to step down.

“That’s right. That’s why we said we’d temporarily hold off on AI Ana-chan.”

“Since the Tsar himself has attached himself to the unification theory, we should also withdraw.”

“No. We should move forward especially at times like this.”

“Frankly speaking, wouldn’t the Tsar also want this?”

Until now, they had only been playing the role of bystanders from behind, but they believed that when they were sufficiently prepared, the Tsar would accept them.

They held such a belief.

The fire of Japanese unification was being kindled in an unexpected place.

* * *

While investigating South Africa, we obtained some extremely shocking information that felt like a blow to the back of the head.

The origin of the unification theory was South Africa.

This was so shocking that my mouth fell open involuntarily.

“Wait, the origin of the unification theory is… South Africa?”

The origin of the unification theory is South Africa. Japanese unification, that is.

You might think I’m talking nonsense, but there are Japanese descendants in South Africa, aren’t there?

“Yes. It seems to be a plot by the Japanese descendants.”

Maria answered while checking the report.

A plot by the Japanese descendants.

Are they doing something in South Africa that even Japanese politicians in the Balhae Federation wouldn’t attempt?

Or is it possible precisely because it’s in South Africa? Since no one could criticize them if it’s led from South Africa.

“They’re advocating for one Japan. What’s their goal?”

One Japan Plan. This is what the Japanese descendants in South Africa are advocating for.

Looking into it, it seems like the descendants of those who came from Japan are feeling guilty about what their ancestors did. Something like that, I suppose.

“It seems they’re advocating for one Japan with the intention of exerting influence on them once Japan achieves unification.”

First, they would manipulate the unificationists from behind to unify Japan.

Next, they would make the unificationists form the unified Japanese government.

Then, South Africa, which supported the unification from behind, would control them from the background.

The plan is so plausible that I honestly want to applaud and clap my hands.

“That’s absurd.”

“Yes, it does seem a bit far-fetched.”

However, assuming it could be implemented, it’s not a bad thing.

If it really could be implemented and South Africa could indirectly control from behind, that is.

Even the United States wouldn’t notice with this level of dedication. After all, there aren’t many U.S. forces in Japan except for the main U.S. military.

“But if the plan is implemented, it’s not a bad thing, right?”

“Yes, it’s not bad. If it’s really possible, that is.”

Of course, it’s about bringing Japan under direct influence. It’s not a bad thing at all.

However, strictly speaking, this is something that would annoy us.

Commonwealth countries, unlike simple Rome Treaty member states, have that aspect.

A somewhat independent part? That’s why it feels like Britain accepted South Africa’s proposal, leading to this situation.

“But I don’t think there’s a need to push it.”

We could unnecessarily involve the entire Rome Treaty in Japanese affairs.

“Yes. It’s already in the Co-Prosperity Sphere, so it’s ridiculous to unify it and place it directly under Rome Treaty influence.”

“Goodness, they’re too greedy. Won’t this lead to complaints from the United States later?”

No, before that. Is South Africa that significant?

Is it impressive enough for Japanese descendants to settle there and act so boldly?

I can’t quite grasp which way it is, but what’s certain is that Japanese descendants must have established themselves that much in South Africa.

“The problem is that it’s a bit extreme.”

“Extreme in what way?”

How extreme could these guys be?

“Yes. These people aim to expel Black people from East Japan.”

Expelling Black people. That is indeed extreme.

Haven’t Black people already established themselves significantly? The Kanto Republic has more American-style buildings than traditional Japanese wooden structures.

Black people have even mixed to the point where they make up half the population.

“Is expulsion even possible?”

“That’s why they’ve stirred up the multiracial issue.”

South Africa has brought up the race issue. That’s ironic.

South Africa is also a multiracial country.

“But there hasn’t been much said in East Japan itself.”

There hasn’t been much of an issue in Japan, where the multiracial problem should be erupting.

There seem to be some fights between the Japanese Commonwealth and Kanto people at universities, but that’s something that will resolve itself.

“There are Kanto people who insist on pure bloodlines. If they really aimed for assimilation with Black people, pure-blooded Japanese wouldn’t still exist.”

I understand that feeling. It’s not about racial discrimination, but I think I’d feel some discomfort if my own child were Black.