Ch.426Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (24)

* * *

I suppose even the United States must be feeling frustrated, so I can understand why they might act this way.

“If it’s not about the video, then it seems they have their own issues as well.”

“Honestly, East Japan itself is a kind of trigger. I think it was inevitable from the moment they relocated Black people there.”

I agree with that point.

To be frank, didn’t they hastily send Black people there without anticipating the potential discontent that the East Japanese Yamato people might show later?

At first glance, this seems like they’re reaping what they sowed.

However, all that remains now is America’s pride, isn’t it? Bluntly speaking, what if America says, “We’ll solve this!” and sends in troops to help the Black population?

It doesn’t seem like a democratic nation would do such a thing. But they probably won’t simply take our words at face value either.

“I can’t imagine America bowing their heads.”

“Well, they certainly won’t bow their heads.”

Even if they don’t bow their heads, their pride will surely take a hit.

“Alright, in any case, I hope we can both resolve this matter cleverly. It would also be good to separate the Yamato people over this Black issue.”

-“We’ve received a call from the American President.”

“Oh, so it’s finally come.”

Like the Korean President, the American President was also someone I’d never heard of in the original history.

I think his name was Frank something, but anyway, he’s in a position of being blackmailed by Mini Ana-chan with the video.

As President, he essentially showed himself manufacturing tactical nuclear weapons.

Anyway, I agreed to have a candid conversation with the President of the United States as a condition for deleting the video.

[“It’s a great honor to be in contact with you like this. I am Frank Houston, President of the United States.”]

So his name is Frank Houston. What an unusual name format.

There’s no need to consider it an honor. We’re just doing this for mutual benefit.

Honestly, I didn’t personally blackmail him with the video, did I? Mini Ana-chan did the blackmailing, and I sincerely offered to delete the video.

That aside, I’m truly pleased to be speaking with him like this.

We should have regular conversations like this from now on. The Roman Treaty and American peace will lead human society to prosperity in the future.

“I’m very pleased to be speaking with you like this, Mr. President of the United States.”

[“Aren’t you the one who’s been blackmailing us, Elder?”]

Snap!

What the hell is this guy saying?

Did he just dare to call me “Elder”? Did my ears hear that correctly?

This evil Yankee bastard—calling me “Elder” when my face is that of an eternal idol, Anastasia?

For a moment, I was so angry I considered cursing him outright, but I managed to hold back.

“Elder? That’s quite disrespectful, considering I am the Russian Tsar.”

How dare he call the Russian Tsar an “Elder”?

Should I let this guy get away with this? Ah, let me be patient. In terms of appearance, he’s the older one anyway.

Didn’t he show me that disgusting tactical nuclear scene? Well, it was Mini Ana-chan who showed it to me, but he’s the one who recorded it.

[“Ah, I see you’re a woman. My apologies.”]

Is this bastard trying to provoke me?

This is clearly a deliberate jab. He’s trying to get back at me because I’m blackmailing him. That’s what he means, right?

If this continues, I might end up becoming the thug here.

But if I get excited now, it’ll only benefit them.

I’ll pretend I know nothing and act as if I’ve only been asked to mediate this issue. What can they do about that?

“We’ve also received the proposal from the Yamato Association. Let’s discuss the East Japan issue. As a saint, I don’t wish for the situation to deteriorate further.”

Sincerely, like a saint. As a saint. I cannot ignore this situation.

I cannot simply stand by and watch the regrettable division occurring in East Japan.

And if they’ve requested it first, I can’t refuse. That’s my approach.

[“Hmm, are you allowed to handle this matter independently? Shouldn’t you get permission from the Roman Treaty?”]

“This has already been discussed with the Roman Treaty, so it’s not an issue.”

My return never really had much meaning to begin with.

The return was merely to let the public know I was alive. The leadership of the Roman Treaty already knew about my existence.

That’s why I can act on my own like this.

[“Then do you have any clever solutions in mind?”]

Yes. This is the main point. We need to clarify how to deal with East Japan.

It might not seem like much now, but it’s quite threatening.

This could potentially be known as the East Japan Crisis in the future.

Therefore, I want to resolve this more intelligently and wisely.

“Let’s have them accept the proposal through a vote. Or let’s grant them separate independence.”

Separate independence.

This could be a suitable way to resolve the East Japan issue.

If we grant independence to the Yamato people, wouldn’t it be a win-win situation for everyone?

[“So you’re resorting to that kind of tactic.”]

What tactic? The way he says it makes it sound like I’m playing tricks on East Japan.

“It’s not a tactic.”

[“If their desire for separate independence is strong, what do you want us to do?”]

“Grant them separate independence.”

This is the best compromise I can offer.

Honestly, it’s difficult to completely expel the Black population.

That would mean dispersing such a large number of Black people across the world.

[“Huh, so in the end, you intend to bring them under West Japan’s influence.”]

“More than half the world already praises me, so why would I need to?”

When half the world already praises me, what’s one archipelago?

[“Hmm. Very well. Please share your esteemed opinion, Your Majesty.”]

There’s nothing particularly esteemed about it. This is a very simple matter.

“Wasn’t it a mistake to relocate Black people to East Japan in the first place? You should have sent them to Argentina or somewhere else.”

That’s how I see it.

At that time, if they had pushed for Black relocation to South America, they would have had to accept it.

Some concessions would have been necessary, but at least today’s issues wouldn’t exist.

[“I believe it was Your Majesty who first suggested the Japanese relocation.”]

Yes, I did bring that up, but I only suggested it.

It was MacArthur who implemented it.

However, if I admit that here, who knows how much they’ll blow it out of proportion.

They might say I’m trying to back out after proposing Black relocation.

So, I’m going to be brazen about it.

“It wasn’t me.”

I don’t know anything! That wasn’t my suggestion!

How can you possibly deal with this?

[“I clearly heard it was you.”]

What did you hear? Can the dead MacArthur testify again?

Even if they resurrect MacArthur and bring him before me, I can brazenly deny it.

So I strongly denied it.

What can you do with your tactical nuclear weakness when I say it wasn’t me?

“No, it wasn’t me. I don’t know if President MacArthur tried to frame me that way, but it wasn’t me.”

It came up in an unofficial, private conversation.

In that process, we said we wouldn’t interfere with the relocation policy. It was just verbal exchanges, so there’s no transcript like we have now.

So if I deny it, that’s the end of it.

[“No, how can you just gloss over it like that?”]

What can you do if I gloss over it? If I say it wasn’t me, that’s the end of it.

“You know how friends sometimes joke around? President MacArthur tried to frame me to get back at me.”

I don’t know anything. Really, I don’t.

The dead MacArthur tried to frame me to get back at me.

Go back in time and think about it?

Is that my problem? The past is the past, and now is now.

If I, who has lived for a century, say it wasn’t me, then it wasn’t.

“Sigh, anyway, if the Yamato people have decided they don’t want to mix and they want separate independence, the compromise is this: separate the Black and Yamato people and establish a Yamato-only nation.”

[“On that cramped archipelago?”]

It is a cramped archipelago, but if we go back in history, it’s not entirely unreasonable.

In the past, under the Han system, or during periods when Japan lacked a strong national identity.

At that time, the lands ruled by daimyos were essentially countries in their own right.

“It wouldn’t be bad to make that country a neutral state that no one interferes with.”

Wouldn’t it be perfect as a neutral state?

[“Like Thailand or such countries, you mean?”]

“Yes. And keep the unified organization as it is.”

[“It seems like the Black population would be left hanging if that happens.”]

That would be the case. Usually, the Black people tried to assimilate with the native Japanese in East Japan and insisted they were Japanese too.

Anyway, this incident will cause a big commotion in East Japan.

They’re about to be divided in ways they don’t even realize.

“They’re outsiders to begin with. If they want to live on the archipelago, shouldn’t they cooperate with and bow to the original inhabitants? It’s not like you’re going to relocate those fifteen hundred Black people to the American mainland now, are you?”

Personally, I find it amusing that all Black people in America disappeared with just that level of relocation.

It seems a very small number remained, but they appear to have been absorbed naturally.

Anyway, from my perspective, separate independence is better.

I’d prefer to stay out of this if possible, but the Yamato Association’s antics have been too impactful.

[“We at the United States have thought of another solution.”]

“Tell me. What method?”

[“Like the old dual empire system, running the country as an eastern alliance.”]

“An alliance without a king? Oh, you mean federalization?”

Why are you making it sound so complicated? Of course, with different races and Yamato nationalism, it’s a bit of an odd form. But applying an eastern alliance to this seems a bit off.

[“Yes, a loose form of one country.”]

Well, then. Anyway, wouldn’t it be better to divide them?

Create separate armies and run diplomacy and policies in an integrated manner.

And establish regional governments to delegate ethnic-related policies separately.

“Then, let’s separate the Yamato and Black residential areas, form a unified government, and establish Black regional government and Yamato regional government.”

[“Hmm, not bad. But they need to accept it.”]

“If they don’t accept, they’ll have no solution either.”

If they don’t accept, the Black people will have no solution either.

After all, the Black people are the outsiders. Unlike the natives, they have no justification to be on the Japanese archipelago unless they appease the Yamato people.

They only immigrated because they were caught up in America’s relocation policy.

[“When you put it that way, we have no grounds to refuse.”]

This guy? Isn’t he just dumping everything on us now?

In other words, “We just followed what you did.” Is that the kind of stance he’s taking?

“Well then, I’ll leave it to the United States to persuade the Black population.”

If you’re going to pass it to us, you should take proper responsibility too, right?

* * *

Kanto Republic

President George of the Kanto Republic heard the proposal from the American President, who had reached a conclusion with the Roman Treaty.

It was essentially an order, a directive in all but name.

“This is absurd. It’s just a country in name only, but it’s essentially separation, isn’t it?”

[“Then what do you propose? Frankly speaking, without the Yamato people, the Black population loses their claim to being Japanese.”]

President Frank spoke curtly to George.

“I can accept quotas at most. But if we divide the military as well, couldn’t it potentially lead to civil war?”

[“With the U.S. forces stationed there, what’s there to worry about?”]

“The priority is whether they’ll accept it. We’ll hold a vote.”

[“We still consider your country an Asian ally, a blood ally. We hope you’ll consider this positively.”]

“I understand that well.”

After the call with the U.S. President, President George of the Kanto Republic convened the National Assembly.

“Will the people accept this?”

“The right-wing is predominantly Yamato. Whether the Black population will reject it is another matter.”

“Sigh. Alright. Let’s hold a vote for now.”

For now, all we can do is hope things work out well.

And the Yamato people said something unexpected.

“I guess the President is different after all.”

“Even though he’s a Black president, he’s quite sharp.”

“It was wrong from the beginning. Those people who belonged in cotton fields acted like they owned the land and made a fuss while we were struggling from the war.”

The history of the Kanto Yamato people was tragic.

They had to endure greater retribution from the war than expected, and those Black people who came to the devastated Shinjuku took control of everything.

In this process, the Yamato people could only raise their voices in modern times.

The compromise proposed by the President this time, while not entirely satisfactory to them, was enough to quell their discontent.

Of course, this was only applicable to the Yamato people.