Chapter 3: Diplomatic Sojourn: The Cordial Visit

Qua-Toyne Maihark Port, December 25, 2245/1639, 10:42 AM

Yagou was perched on one of the wooden crates at the port, engrossed in a book that held crucial information for their journey. He was waiting for the boat, a generous provision of transportation from the Solstice Empire. Accompanying him were Hanki, the general of Qua-Toyne, and two others.

"It's truly unbelievable that it only takes one day to arrive at the Solstice Empire," Yagou mused.

Moments later, Theron Wildclaw appeared to inform them of the ship's imminent arrival. "Greetings, gentlemen. We have prepared a cruise ship for our voyage to the Solstice Empire. Please, follow me," he announced.

As they followed Theron, Hanki began to express his aversion to sea travel. "I detest traveling by ship. It's always so dark and damp. I've heard tales of people falling ill during long voyages. This ship, known as a cruise ship, is said to reach our destination in a day, but I question the veracity of that claim," Hanki grumbled.

Yagou responded, "I share your skepticism, but it is the country that boasts an enormous iron vessel."

After some time, they reached the other side of the port following Theron. "Gentlemen, that will be our ship," Theron gestured towards the shore. A vessel then materialized from the distance, as if shedding its cloak of invisibility.

The sheer size of the vessel, coupled with its ability to float in the sky, left them in disbelief. 'It's colossal, and it flies too,' they thought, awestruck.

Suddenly, a small flying object approached them, making a smooth landing at one of the available docks.

"Gentlemen, let us board the Aether Sprinter to reach the vessel," Theron announced.

They boarded the aircraft, with Hanki showing initial hesitation but eventually stepping inside. Once everyone was seated, the aircraft's door closed and it began to float towards the vessel. The smoothness of the movement surprised them, as they hadn't expected the aircraft to move without causing any shake.

After a few moments, the aircraft landed on the vessel. As the door slowly opened, it revealed the stunning beauty of the deck. They were escorted to their rooms, which were so luxurious that they seemed designed for royalty. They were also shown to the hall where the dinner tables were set.

"This place looks as if it's inhabited by light fairies," Yagou remarked.

Hanki then wondered about the vessel's power source. "Could I ask, how can this ship move and fly simultaneously?" he inquired.

Theron turned to him. "Since the engine is considered outdated by our standards, I suppose we could tell you its name. The ship is powered by a Quantum Pegasus engine, a fusion of science and magic," Theron explained.

Hanki and Yagou were curious about the engine. "Is it possible for us to see this thing you call an 'engine'?" they asked. Theron looked at them seriously.

"I apologize, but that information is classified," Theron responded, causing Hanki and Yagou to look disappointed.

"That's unfortunate. We would have loved to see it," Yagou said.

They then retired to their respective rooms. Yagou began to write in his diary upon reaching his room.

[Today, I witnessed something extraordinary. This nation possesses an iron wyvern, as well as a massive iron ship that soars through the sky. The vessel's hall is bathed in bright light. Upon our arrival, we were provided with rooms that seemed designed specifically for nobility. Does this mean that the Solstice Empire could rival or even overpower the Great Powers?] Yagou finished his writing and closed the diary.

"I'm quite excited to see what other wonders they will show us," Yagou mused.

Meanwhile, Hanki was relaxing by one of the pools, sipping a beverage called Mango Mystique. "An enormous vessel that sails the sky without the need for sails or oars," Hanki mused, taking another sip of his drink. "It must be quite impressive."

Solstice Empire, Sunspire. December 26, 2245/1639, 9:15 AM.

Aginite Harbor

From a distance, they could make out the contours of the land. As they drew closer, the structures came into view, revealing the enormity of the port. Beyond the port, the sprawling cityscape stretched out, a testament to the grandeur of the Solstice Empire.

The sight of the port, as well as the few iron vessels docked there, each massive in their own right, left them in a state of shock and disbelief.

"Behold, the country of the Solstice Empire," Theron began, his voice echoing in the vast expanse of the harbor. "And right in front of you is the Aginite Harbor of Sunspire City." He paused for a moment, letting the grandeur of the scene sink in before continuing. "Once we have docked, we will be traveling by a hover car to our accommodations at the Night Star Hotel. Tomorrow, you will have the honor of meeting Her Majesty."

After a while, they disembarked from the vessel and boarded the hover car. The journey to the hotel was smooth and uneventful. Upon arriving at the hotel, they entered the grand lobby to check in.

"Please make yourselves comfortable while I handle the check-in process," Theron told them, gesturing towards the plush seating area.

One by one, they took their seats, their minds buzzing with the day's events. "It's unbelievable that such a country exists," Hanki said, shaking his head in disbelief. "All of this is too surprising."

Once Theron finished checking in, he returned to them, a small box in his hands. "Apologies for the wait. Oh, and I almost forgot, please take this. It's a small token from the Empire. Make good use of it during your stay here," Theron said, handing them the box. Inside was a wristwatch, which left them confused.

"To clarify, this is a wristwatch. It tells time. Right now, it's 9:52 AM. Around 11:25, we'll head to an airshow where our outdated aircraft will perform for the people. Since we still have some time, I think we could stroll around the city," Theron suggested.

Excited to explore the city of this technologically advanced country, they left the hotel. As they strolled around, they saw buildings made of connected stones, roads, and a variety of demi-humans, elves, and demons. They were somewhat afraid of the latter. They also saw pale elves and dark-skinned elves, whom they correctly identified as dark elves. This shocked them, as they knew that dark elves had gone extinct due to the Holy Milishial Empire's hunting.

"Mr. Theron, are those dark elves?" Yagou asked.

Upon hearing his question, Theron looked at the dark elves and then back at Yagou. "Yes, they are indeed dark elves. Is there a problem?"

"No, it's just that dark elves were known to have gone extinct in the past millennia," Yagou explained.

Understanding what he meant, Theron responded, "Oh, I see. So, seeing a living dark elf among us must be a shocking discovery for you."

"Yes, it is. And what about those pale elves?" Yagou continued.

"They are vampires, not elves," Theron clarified, shocking Hanki, Yagou, and the other two. They had never heard of vampires before, as they were considered mythical.

As they continued their tour, they stopped asking questions, still processing the existence of vampires. As they walked around, an accident occurred.

BANG

A sudden, loud noise captured their attention. "A car crash, huh? That's rare. Sounds like someone has been injured," Theron commented. Upon realizing that an accident had occurred, they immediately rushed towards the scene.

Yagou, seemingly taking on the role of a hero from a movie, declared, "I shall heal her." Theron looked at him with confusion, sensing an unfamiliar, small amount of mana within Yagou.

Yagou then navigated his way through the crowd to the injured person. "Excuse me, let me through. I'll heal her injury," Yagou told the bystanders as he saw a young lady was injured.

"Excuse me, Yagou, allow me to handle this," Theron interjected, but Hanki stopped him.

"Please calm down. Yagou's skills are unmatched," Hanki assured him.

Meanwhile, Yagou began chanting spells, long and complex ones that left the civilians confused. As Yagou continued his healing incantation, he realized that it wasn't working. Confused, he stopped his chant, wondering why he couldn't use his magic.

"Yagou, if you've noticed that you couldn't use magic, it's because the empire is equipped with anti-magic technology. Only those with a license can use magic here, so please allow me to take care of this," Theron explained to Yagou, who looked at him, dumbfounded and embarrassed.

Theron approached the injured lady and extended his hand.

"1st Tier Magic: Light Healing," he said. Yagou was shocked to see that they were using a different type of magic that only required a simple chant. The spell immediately healed all of the woman's injuries, which to them just suddenly vanished, and it all happened so fast.

Yagou then ran towards Theron with a barrage of questions. "What is that magic? I've never seen anything like that before!" Yagou asked, continuing to bombard Theron with more questions. Luckily, Hanki intervened.

"Excuse me, Yagou and Theron. I know you're curious about that magic, and so am I. But I hate to tell you this, it's time to go to the airshow," Hanki informed them.

"Oh right, the airshow! Let's go, everyone!" Theron exclaimed.

He immediately hailed a taxi, and they rode to the airbase where the show would be held. Upon arriving, they saw a large crowd gathered to watch the airshow. From left to right, there were numerous stores selling food and accessories. They took a moment to look around before heading to the benches.

A few minutes had passed when an announcer's voice boomed through the air, startling them as they hadn't expected to hear such a loud voice. [Thank you for coming to the event, today we will be doing an Airshow, which consists of Eagle's Talon, Falcon's Fury, Quantum Hawk, and Neutron Phoenix. Thank you for your patience.] The delegation looked startled, so they immediately turned to Theron for clarification.

"What was that? It was so loud that we couldn't understand anything," Hanki said, with Yagou nodding in agreement.

"Well, it was announced that the airshow will no-" Theron was then cut off by a loud sonic boom which was farther away from them, to not cause any harm to the civilians. Hanki, Yagou, and their two companions covered their ears due to the loud noise.

After a few seconds, they took their hands off their ears. "Mr. Theron, what was that? It was so loud," Yagou said.

"That was the Neutron Phoenix, traveling at 5 Mach."

"What is 5 Mach? We do not understand what that is?" Hanki asked.

"It means it is 5 times the speed of sound. That's why you just heard those loud noises because the aircraft just broke the sound barrier," Theron explained to them, as they looked at him with wide eyes, unable to believe what they just heard.

As they processed what they just heard, another sonic boom could be heard. As they looked up while covering their ears, they saw the aircraft which they referred to as an iron dragon.

A few minutes later, they left once the show ended, still unable to believe what they had seen and heard. 'We're so lucky that they weren't hostile. If they were, we would have been obliterated,' Yagou thought, imagining those things flying into their airspace with no countermeasures, obliterating their wyverns. Hanki looked at Yagou and nodded, as if he understood what he was saying.

After that, they were escorted back to the hotel, where the delegates discussed with Theron. "Is it possible for us to acquire those iron dragons?" They asked.

"A technology exchange. Unfortunately, we have strict rules for that and also due to the war that happened with the Cyber Theocracy and Trinity Kingdom, we have enforced a new law to prevent our country's sensitive technology and magic from being exchanged," Theron told them.

"I see, and what does the Empire want from us?"

"Quite simple really, we only wanted to purchase some agricultural products out of interest to see if they would taste different from ours," He told them.

"Through this, I hope this would allow us to lighten up. I am looking forward to the negotiation in Sunward Citadel," Yogou said.

As they continued the discussion, Theron's cell phone rang, catching the attention of the delegates while they were discussing. He then picked it up. "I would like to apologize but I have to pick this up, so I will take my leave for a moment."

"A message? Please take your time." Theron then stood up and walked out of the room to answer the call.

Yagou and Hanki continued their conversation. "I never thought that they were only interested in agricultural products, to tell you the truth I thought they would be asking something more from us," Hanki said.

"It is fortunate, maybe they were blessed by the gods because all of those we have seen are like they were made by the gods," Yagou replied.

"Yes, all of this is just way too unbelievable, it's like we have stepped into the gods' domain," Hanki said.

Yagou acknowledged his words. "Maybe we are inside the gods' domain," he replied. "But then again it is a shame that we couldn't acquire those technologies."

"As for the Military, it would be great to have those military equipment to stop the menace of Lauria kingdom. Now that I think about it, how about a military alliance with Solstice Empire?" Hanki asked.

"Well, it might be possible because, according to this book, they often make an alliance with a smaller country that had no way of defending themselves from a stronger foe."

"Then let's make an alliance with them for the safety of Qua-Toyne."

"But we have to inform the Prime Minister first before we ask them for an alliance, but for now let's go browse the list." Yagou said as the two of them then began searching the list, as they could see a wide variety of products they could import. 

 "It seems like, it is impossible to acquire those iron dragons and the automobiles which were currently not allowed at the moment but they do offer a few selected iron roads and an infrastructure, healthcare, as well as clean water for drinking and many more, we could negotiate about it." Hanki told Yagou. 

 "So it seems, let us put it down for our delegation search." Yagou said writing it down.

Sunward Citadel Palace Conference Room.

Within the grandeur of the palace, Christine and the Custodians convened in the conference room, their discussion centered around Qua-Toyne.

Dominus was the first to break the silence. "Now that we have established a network of spies within Qua-Toyne and Quila, which are located on the northern border of Qua-Toyne and the western border of Lauria Kingdom, we could easily neutralize them if they prove to be hostile towards us. According to the shadow demons, the people of this small continent seem to be weak in terms of magic."

Christine then addressed Dominus. "Thank you, Dominus. Now that we have spies in this region, what about the northwest? Since the ISA has finally mapped out this entire world, the northwest is the only large landmass closest to us. Do we have any information from that region?" she asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Dominus responded. "We have managed to send out shadow demons and a few doppelgangers. They reported that the southern land from the northwest of ours, which has a large territory based on this world, is a barbaric country called the Palpadia Empire, which considers itself superior. Also, this world appears to be divided into four regions, which they lazily named 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and outside of civilization. We also discovered that we are in that so-called outside of the civilized area."

"I see. So, this world is quite backward. Perhaps we were sent here to guide it back to the right path. Gather as much information as you can and report back to me," she instructed.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Dominus acknowledged.

"Now, about Qua-Toyne and Quila, do you have any information about them?" Christine inquired.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Dominus began. "Qua-Toyne appears to have fertile land, which allows them to produce a large number of foods, albeit in low quantities, just like us. As for their people, they have a mix of both Faunas and Humans. As for Quila, they are all Faunas. Their land is infertile, so they mostly rely on Qua-Toyne for food. This was caused due to something they called 'black water,' which turned out to be oil. So, we have confirmed that they may have a structured oil well. Also, their people appear to have less mana or almost none at all."

"An oil well, interesting. If there truly is one, then there could be an existing modern-era country in this world. After our negotiation with the delegation of Qua-Toyne, we will send a diplomat to Quila. Now, what about the Louria Kingdom?" Christine asked.

"It seems that the Louria Kingdom is predominantly human and shows prejudice against the Faunas, or as they're known in this world, Demi-humans. Our spies have brought back reports of Louria exploiting these Demi-humans as slaves for their own purposes. Some are used for target practice, while others are sold off to the Palpadia Empire. We've also observed a significant military buildup, leading us to suspect an impending invasion of Quila, given their apparent lack of aerial defenses," Dominus relayed.

"So, they're subjugating the Faunas. Eldarion, Lucas, Aeliana, I want you to get our forces combat-ready. We may soon find ourselves in a conflict with Louria, and possibly the Palpadia Empire as well," Christine commanded.

"Understood, Your Majesty," both Eldarion and Aeliana responded, except for Lucas.

"But, Your Majesty, wouldn't that cause us to be seen as a barbaric country?" Lucas questioned.

"Are you suggesting that we should simply stand by, do nothing, and allow this atrocity to continue?" Christine retorted, her voice laced with a seriousness that echoed throughout the room. "Should we just turn a blind eye and let those Subhumans persist in their cruel enslavement?" Her words hung heavy in the air, a stark challenge to the complacency she was confronting.

As she spoke, an unintentional wave of her power seeped out, a level 2 bloodlust aura that made the air around her seem to thicken and darken. It was followed by a level 1 Intimidation aura, a palpable force that added weight to her words and made her presence even more formidable. The room fell silent, the tension almost tangible.

"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for my audacity!" Lucas stammered, his voice echoing in the silent room. "It was not my place to question your judgment. I understand the gravity of the situation and the importance of our actions. I assure you, my loyalty and commitment remain unwavering," he added, his voice firm despite his visible nervousness.

"Lucas, you are absolved of your transgression," Christine declared, her voice a soothing balm in the tense atmosphere. "However, I implore you to regain your composure and retake your seat. We have a multitude of pressing matters that still demand our attention," she continued, her tone steady yet authoritative.

Without a word, Lucas promptly resumed his seat, his skin glistening with a cold sweat. The tension in the room was palpable, the others' gazes fixed on him with an intensity that suggested they were on the verge of launching an attack.

Christine, however, remained unfazed. "Let us now turn our attention to the delegation from Qua-Toynes," she began, skillfully steering the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Dominus has informed us of the land's fertility, its ability to yield a bounty from any seed sown in its soil. I propose that we import several million metric tons of food products from them. This will not only diversify our food supply but also allow us to explore potential alternative uses for these products." She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.

"Moving on to the issue of oil in Quila," she resumed, her tone steady and authoritative. "As I've mentioned before, there's a possibility that a country from the Modern Era exists within this world. Dominus, I task your agency with the mission to investigate this claim. We need confirmation of the existence of any such Modern Era country. This information could be crucial for our strategic planning moving forward." Her words echoed in the room, underscoring the gravity of the tasks at hand.

Sunward Citadel Imperial House Diplomatic Room.

The stage was set for the much-anticipated conference between the Qua-Toyne and the Solstice Empire. Delegates from both sides had taken their seats, their faces a mix of anticipation and resolve. Christine, flanked by a few Custodians, presided over the gathering.

With a nod of her head, Christine initiated the proceedings. "Let us commence this conference. Delegates from Qua-Toyne, we have previously discussed our interest in importing a substantial quantity of food products from your lands. To be precise, we are considering an order of 71 million metric tons, or 2.61 billion bushels when converted. However, this figure is an aggregate from various countries, and we are not limiting this negotiation to your country alone. In return, we offer infrastructures, the details of which you have already reviewed from the list we provided. This includes road connections, housing, electricity, and more. If infrastructure does not interest you, we are open to payment in gold coins," Christine explained, her voice echoing in the silent room.

Yagou, one of the delegates, studied the paper in front of him, scratching his head in confusion. "Indeed, it seems so. To be honest, we are unfamiliar with this variety of commodities. I don't even recognize the coffee bean, let alone the Peach Mango. There are items on this list that I have never heard of or seen before. But I can assure you, our country alone could provide the 71 million metric tons you require," he declared, a note of pride in his voice.

Christine nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I see. Then I would surmise that your country has the capacity to produce these quantities but faces challenges in exporting them due to a lack of suitable transportation equipment," she said, her words causing both Yagou and Hanki to startle. Seeing their reactions, Christine knew she had hit the mark.

"It's merely a matter of common sense, Mr. Yagou and Mr. Hanki. From our perspective, your country would be considered an ancient civilization, so we have a fair idea of what your country lacks, which includes transportation, and a harbor that could accommodate our vessels such as cargo vessels. In the list we provided, we included infrastructure for the expansion of harbors and more. As for the transportation, it is already on the list. They are the only automobiles we currently allow to be exported," Christine clarified, her tone patient.

"I see. So Her Majesty has already considered this problem and provided a solution. We are grateful for your kindness," Yagou said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"Furthermore, we propose the construction of a railway system within your country to expedite transportation," Christine offered her words causing the delegates' eyes to light up at the prospect of a train system they had thought impossible.

"Could we also consider a military alliance?" Yagou inquired, his voice hopeful.

"Agreed," Christine responded without hesitation. "We are aware of the suppression you face from the Louria kingdom and their discrimination against Faunas. We accept the alliance." This left Yogou and Hanki puzzled about the term 'Fauna'.

"Pardon us, Your Majesty, but could you clarify what a 'Fauna' is?" they asked, their brows furrowed in confusion.

"We use 'Fauna' to refer to Demi-Humans," Christine explained, her tone patient.

"I see, thank you for the clarification," they responded, their expressions clearing.

Following their discussion, they shook hands, a symbol of their newfound alliance. Subsequently, the Prime Minister of Qua-Toyne visited the Solstice Empire to finalize the agreement. This marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between Qua-Toyne and the Solstice Empire, an event that was broadcast on HTV (Holographic Television).

Following their initial meeting, the Solstice Empire dispatched a diplomat to Quila. The Quila representatives were initially skeptical. However, upon learning that the black water, which had rendered their land infertile, was in fact a treasure trove, their perspective shifted. The Solstice Empire extended the same offer to Quila as they had to Qua-Toyne. In return for infrastructure, education, and additional benefits, the Solstice Empire was granted oil drilling rights. This marked a significant turning point in their relationship, opening a new chapter in the history of these nations.

...

Question if you don't mind, I'm unsure how this happened, but it appears that I have a vote from myself. I don't recall casting this vote. Did anyone else experience this sudden self-vote?