Ch.425Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (23)

* * *

As I listened to those words, I started feeling dizzy, but I forced myself to focus by filling up on sugar with some mint.

“Listening to this is making me dizzy.”

“But it’s worth proposing. Since we’re outnumbered population-wise, we need to limit numbers and secure a quota system. That’s what this is about.”

Right. That makes sense. It’s a perfectly understandable situation.

If the Yamato people were ahead in population, it might be different. But this kind of proposal makes perfect sense.

“True. It seems right, even if it feels strange.”

It’s a reasonable argument.

Would Black people really select Yamato people fairly? Blood is thicker than water. Black people would just say “I don’t care!” and vote for other Black people. That’s how it could play out.

No matter how much they cry discrimination, the Yamato people must have felt this way to make such demands.

Honestly, I probably would have made similar demands myself.

Plus, if they hand over the opposition party to the Yamato people, they’d serve as a check when a Black president comes to power.

President George worked hard for the unification of East and West Japan, but ended up being backstabbed by the Yamato people.

Well, considering that unification supporters were just a handful to begin with, George probably just vaguely considered unification plans to win over Yamato unification supporters, so it might not have meant much anyway.

South Africa is playing this smarter than I expected.

Seriously, it wasn’t the US! To think South Africa was behind this instigation! That’s another possibility.

Still, they’re quite impressive.

South Africa, I mean. I’m amazed they have such skilled agitation capabilities.

“The divide-and-conquer strategy seems to be working better than expected.”

“The main culprits being the Japanese South African cabinet, of course.”

After my return announcement, countries from the Rome Treaty sent me numerous greetings.

Well, “greetings” is putting it mildly. Each government knew I was alive all along.

South Africa sent someone too, but they were white at the time.

I never met any Japanese people from there.

While I’d like to applaud their divide-and-conquer strategy, from South Africa’s perspective, the fusion of Black people and Yamato people is unacceptable.

So they’ve been instigating pure bloodline factions, and the results are showing after just a few months.

Despite decades passing, this proves that Black and Yamato people haven’t properly integrated.

The Yamato people staying quiet for decades was probably inevitable since Black people managed East Japan’s Kanto Republic at the time.

Black people must have their grievances too.

They were born in Japan, and their ancestors contributed to the revival of the Kanto Republic.

In that situation, they must feel wronged. I imagine Black people won’t just take this lying down and will have something to say.

“So they’ve requested help from the US and us.”

If they only asked the US, it’s obvious they’d side with Black people, so they’re trying to bring us in too.

The Yamato Association wanted us to pressure the government alongside the US to pass this reform bill.

At first glance, doesn’t this sound plausible? I see real potential here.

In a situation where civil war could break out at any moment, this seems like a sufficient compromise.

I don’t know if Black people will accept it, but these conditions seem acceptable even to the US.

From the US perspective, East Japan is a country they can’t afford to lose.

The Ezo Republic exists but isn’t significant enough, while East Japan has enough weight to minimize the Co-Prosperity Sphere’s Pacific expansion.

“Your Majesty, what will you do?”

“Honestly, I think there’s potential here.”

This approach could achieve our minimum objectives.

We could separate the Yamato people from Black people as South Africa wants, and bury the unification of East and West Japan for the time being.

One thing’s for sure—the Japanese South Africans are likely from East Japan.

They advocate for a unified Japan while simultaneously “liberating” Yamato people from Black people in East Japan.

That alone tells us everything we need to know.

They’re probably from East Japan, which explains why they’re particularly concerned about separating Black people there.

Makes sense—West Japanese people wouldn’t go to South Africa due to existing Rome Treaty support, or if they did, they’d be an extreme minority.

They were just looking for a new place to settle.

So if this is limited to East Japan, it seems like something the US might accept.

“It’s not a question of possibility.”

“Why? Is there another issue?”

“Would the US want our involvement?”

No, probably not. The US wanting our involvement would be like letting a cat guard a fish shop.

When you think about it, it’s very simple logic.

Would the US mobilize troops again like in the old days to beat up the Yamato people?

“This has become quite ridiculous.”

But we can’t just refuse to help either. What’s the best approach?

Perhaps we should have an honest conversation with the US, or maybe visit East Japan together with the US President.

Since videos aren’t as effective anymore, what about offering to delete the videos as a condition?

Honestly, I didn’t expect those videos would be so useful until now, but anyway. I think it’s not a bad idea.

Come to think of it, aren’t those videos really useful?

“Hmm, do you have any good ideas?”

“I might have one. About those videos.”

“Ah, of course! Those. Quite terrible, but potentially useful.”

Mini Ana-chan’s infiltration of the US really brought unexpected rewards.

Those incredible videos have been quite useful to us.

We’re not using them as a joke but for our cause, for the national interests of the Rome Treaty.

“Those videos are being put to good use.”

“Indeed. Mini Ana-chan did a spectacular job.”

No lie, securing those videos was genuinely meaningful.

They’ve allowed us to gain the upper hand in diplomatic battles.

I’d heard there were many people with such tastes in the West, but who would have thought they’d leave video files behind?

Well, in Korea too, I’ve seen many cases where couples record intimate videos and then one party spreads them online after breaking up out of spite, but still, this is the kind of thing you’d only expect to see in comics.

Reality is indeed crueler than fiction.

“However, there are surprisingly people like this too.”

Looking at the new report Maria uploaded, I found it quite amusing.

People who want to fight Black people. Those filled with determination to drive Black people out of their land completely.

They’re a minority too, but given the current situation, I wonder if they’ll grow in numbers like the unificationists.

The thought suddenly occurs to me.

Would these right-wingers commit terrorist acts against Black people?

One of their proposals was to deport Black people to Liberia.

“Expel all Black people to Liberia? That’s quite unusual.”

“It was once a proposal in the US. A bill that was scrapped due to Your Majesty’s Japan immigration proposal.”

The US plan to relocate Black people to Liberia.

Apparently, it was a Republican relocation plan that emerged shortly before I proposed the Japan immigration plan.

However, they abandoned it because it would require our permission and diplomatically appear as submission to the Rome Treaty.

“Well, sending them to Liberia itself implies confrontation with the Rome Treaty.”

It’s not an easily achievable development.

Are they suggesting pursuing this now? Does that make any sense?

It could be interpreted as hostility toward us, the Rome Treaty.

Of course, the talk of expelling them to Liberia might just be angry venting because they don’t want to see them.

“Of course, Liberia is just one potential destination.”

“In reality, they’d be happy to expel them anywhere possible. That’s probably it.”

Unfortunately, while its feasibility is another matter, I can understand how much these Japanese far-right groups despise Black people.

“Yes. They’re just extremists who want deportation from the homeland.”

Extremists, huh? It sounds fresh when put that way.

Having seen what Japanese right-wingers were like in the original world, it’s historical irony that their anger is now directed at Black people.

The US probably dislikes these types too, don’t they?

“The US would dislike these people too.”

Then, we should consider the possibility that they might accept our proposal.

* * *

United States of America

Around this time, the US also became aware of the situation.

The US sent more intelligence agents than Russia to East Japan to investigate the situation.

What they discovered inside East Japan was quite horrific.

Far-right groups rising in East Japan. These were people who hated Black people and were desperately trying to expel them.

Frankly, the US found such people troublesome.

“Have you ever seen such lunatics? They want to kill all Black people?”

“As expected of descendants of Imperial Japanese remnants. How can they have such insane thoughts?”

“If gun ownership were possible, we’d be doomed.”

Honestly, it might just be talk, but if this isn’t resolved, wouldn’t they make weapons and fight even without guns?

These Japanese are that kind of people.

Historically, the US viewed East Japan as a nation of stubborn people.

People who kept squirming even when stepped on. How much effort did MacArthur expend trying to kill them?

President Frank, who was compromised by Mini Ana-chan, also honestly disliked East Japan.

“What does the Yamato Association say?”

“They’re reminiscent of a dual empire system.”

No, perhaps the situation is much worse than a dual empire.

Isn’t it like having two countries inside one government?

A Yamato quota system might be acceptable. But openly opposing Black presidents by securing a Yamato opposition party is problematic.

Given the current Yamato sentiment, it essentially means they intend to pressure any Black government.

“How should we handle this matter?”

“We must speak plainly. If we accept this, East Japan will become a fully pro-West Japan Yamato regime.”

West Japan belongs to the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Behind the Co-Prosperity Sphere stands the Rome Treaty.

If we accept this proposal, it would be like handing the archipelago to the Rome Treaty on a silver platter.

That can’t happen. We can’t accept it.

“So they seem to be suggesting a balance in the middle.”

“Either way, our influence will diminish.”

“Then we can’t accept it.”

“Even if we did accept, would the Black people in East Japan agree?”

That’s right. How will East Japan’s Black population react?

Surely they won’t want to give up their interests either.

“Well, that’s true.”

“Perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to proceed in an unstable state like Austria-Hungary in the past.”

Austria-Hungary. A country that has now become the Danube Federation.

However, if asked whether creating a dual empire based on race is appropriate, one can’t help but question it.

“So that’s our only option.”

“Sir, the Rome Treaty side has proposed a phone call between the Tsar and you.”

“Why should we accept their proposal?”

The US President gritted his teeth.

He hated that damned video, Mini Anastasia who dug into others’ private lives, and their master, the Russian Tsar. He hated them all.

“They say they’ll delete your videos as a condition for accepting.”

“Hmph! Fine! Let them spread it!”

“Sir, it’s not just one or two, but over ten videos.”

What kind of videos are there so many of? Just how far did that Mini Ana-chan infiltrate?

All sorts of thoughts were running through his head.

What would happen if all ten were leaked at once?

Wouldn’t that damage America’s standing considerably?

What would happen to the President himself? There had already been several assassination threats.

Of course, those weren’t because of the videos, but still. The situation would certainly not be easy.

It was too horrifying to even imagine, let alone express in words.

“Let’s talk to them directly for now.”

“Yes, sir.”

This was the moment of contact between the US and the Rome Treaty that had never happened before.

* * *

Is contact with the US really the right move?

I had to think about this several times. The East Japan issue can only be resolved if the US and Rome Treaty help each other find a compromise.

Meanwhile, the opinions of East Japan’s Black population? Is that my concern? That’s a separate issue.

Honestly, they’re making things so troublesome that I’m tempted to just nuke East Japan and be done with it.

Although South Africa instigated this, it probably erupted because of accumulated grievances.

Even if South Africa hadn’t interfered, it would have exploded eventually, so isn’t it better that it’s happening now?

So I’m being patient. I’m not psychotic enough to trigger something and then drop nuclear bombs on it.

However, whether these Americans will accept our proposal is another matter.

“But will these guys actually accept our proposal?”

“They have no choice, I believe. And it’s not just about the videos.”

Maria tilted her head as she spoke.