Chapter 0836: Humiliation

"Your Highness, Germany is the world's foremost power. Their navy has even defeated the Royal Navy of the British Empire. Thus, the gap between us and them is inevitable! The Imperial Navy has already begun to make strides; though we may not surpass the German navy, we will surely narrow the gap!" Kato Takakami, sensing the discontent on Crown Prince Hirohito's face, quickly attempted to reassure him.

Hirohito nodded solemnly. "Indeed, the Germans are formidable. However, they have more enemies than just our Empire—the Americans, the British, and even us. Once their navy is dispersed, it will no longer be such a threat!"

"Your Highness speaks truly!" Kato Takakami responded, seeing that Hirohito was not intimidated, and nodded with a sense of approval. After all, they all regarded the young prince as the future hope of the island nation.

The "Fuso" battleship, guided by a tugboat, entered Wilhelmshaven Harbor.

As Hirohito and Kato Takakami descended the gangway, they were confronted with an embarrassing sight: the German government had sent only a low-ranking official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive them. This infuriated Hirohito, nearly to the point of rage.

At his young age, Hirohito was naturally eager to prove his worth and was in the midst of his competitive and proud years. He considered himself the crown prince of the island nation, a figure of high nobility. For him to travel so far to attend Germany's naval parade was a grand gesture that should have earned Germany's full respect. By all logic, Germany should have greeted him with due pomp. Yet, they had sent only a minor official, an insult that clearly signaled their disregard for him—and the island nation itself.

Kato Takakami, too, wore a displeased expression. Though the island nation had been defeated in the recent war, it had not been utterly crushed. Their coastal cities had been devastated, but they had merely chosen to cease fighting, not out of defeat but out of a desire to avoid further bloodshed. The island nation was still one of the world's great powers, and Germany's actions were nothing short of a humiliation.

"Your Highness, please bear with it. This is Germany," Kato Takakami advised.

Hirohito nodded reluctantly, understanding that Germany's power could not be challenged so easily.

The island delegation was then escorted onto a train. Although there would be a naval review in Wilhelmshaven, it was preceded by a military parade in Berlin. Therefore, all foreign delegations were to first travel to Berlin before heading to the harbor.

Once aboard the train, Hirohito's pent-up frustration could no longer be contained.

"Damn it! I am the crown prince of the Empire! The Germans should have sent someone of equal rank to welcome me!" Hirohito raged.

"Your Highness, the German heir is only four years old," Kato Takakami replied.

"Then what about the German Emperor's brother? Surely, they could have sent him? Yet, they sent no one! This is a direct insult to the Empire!" Hirohito's anger was palpable. The Germans' disdain for the island nation was more than he could bear.

"Your Highness, the Germans are indeed unreasonable. However, for the sake of the Empire's interests, it is unwise to provoke them further," Kato Takakami reminded him. The island nation was still in the midst of a rebuilding phase. If they angered Germany now, the consequences could be disastrous.

Hirohito nodded. Though he was young, he understood the wisdom in Kato Takakami's words. He knew that these slights should be remembered for the future, when the island nation would be strong enough to retaliate.

Upon arriving in Berlin, the German Foreign Ministry had again sent only low-ranking officials to greet the delegation. Hirohito and Kato Takakami were both deeply dissatisfied but refrained from making their feelings known.

However, when it came time to arrange accommodations, the island delegation was expected to stay at a hotel arranged by the German Foreign Ministry. Yet, Hirohito insisted on lodging at the island nation's embassy in Germany.

Clearly, Hirohito's youthful temper had flared. Kato Takakami tried to persuade him, but the prince remained stubborn. Reluctantly, Kato Takakami negotiated with the German diplomats, and eventually, the Foreign Ministry consented to the delegation staying at the embassy.

German Foreign Minister Walchit reported the matter to Emperor Qin Tian.

"Hmph! That little brat seems to have a bit of character! But who does he think he is, acting so boldly in the Empire?" Qin Tian coldly remarked.

While Hirohito was still a mere teenager, and Qin Tian, a grown man, would find it beneath him to engage in petty disputes, the German emperor had little fondness for the island nation. Particularly Hirohito, whom in another timeline had committed grave offenses. Were it not for American intervention, Hirohito would have long since faced a military tribunal. In this timeline, Qin Tian would not tolerate such arrogance.

"Your Majesty, shall we teach those islanders a lesson?" Walchit inquired.

Walchit knew well that Qin Tian held no affection for the island nation, which was why the Foreign Ministry had deliberately slighted the island delegation. Initially, Walchit had assumed the islanders would let the matter slide, but instead, Hirohito had dared to retaliate. To Walchit, the island nation was merely a defeated power. Had Germany not been so distant, they would have already crushed them.

"Let the meeting with the island delegation be postponed until the very end," Qin Tian instructed.

According to the schedule, Qin Tian would receive the delegations in order of national strength and their relationship with Germany. The island nation, though recently defeated, was still considered one of the world's great powers and should have been seen earlier. However, with a single command, Qin Tian relegated them to the very last.

Hirohito and Kato Takakami waited in the embassy, growing increasingly anxious as the hours passed. Despite other delegations having been received, their summons had yet to arrive. The delay was becoming unbearable.

If Emperor Qin Tian refused to meet with the island delegation before the military parade, it would signal an unequivocal declaration to the world that he despised the island nation. Such a public slight would surely prompt other nations to take advantage of the opportunity. The island nation's position would become untenable.

In desperation, Kato Takakami went to the German Foreign Ministry to request an audience with Emperor Qin Tian. The response was the same: wait for further notice. This only deepened the sense of uncertainty among the island delegation, and Hirohito, in particular, felt the pressure mounting.