649 – Patriotism (2)
Everyone knows that the Minerva Empire withdrew its troops stationed in Starbirk.
Originally, I would have liked Starbirk because it was independent, but I couldn’t easily like it. The reason is the media.
I wouldn’t know if an amicable agreement had been reached between the Minerva Empire and Starbirque, but without that, I just withdrew the troops.
So I couldn’t help but suspect that it was an advanced deception tactic using the media. Many people, not just high-ranking people, thought so.
[The Empire of Minerva awakes from Starbirque. What do they want from the sea?]
[To strengthen the naval power by openly recruiting the navy…]
[A huge number of enlistment applicants flocked to the recruitment advertisement alone.]
Until the Minerva Empire made a move to strengthen its navy.
Apart from the fact that Isaac handed over the blueprint of the sailboat excavated in the Gerios Kingdom, the strengthening of the naval power was announced.
I wonder why most countries are strengthening the sea, which is not worth much. In response, the Minerva Empire was roughly surrounded.
[There are too many pirates, making maritime trade difficult. Unavoidable action.]
At first glance, this is an acceptable answer. In fact, in the aftermath of the Great Depression, pirates targeting merchant ships have increased.
But if you dig deep, you can see that the words of the Minerva Empire are strange. It is none other than a mana locomotive.
A mana locomotive will be introduced in the future, so why not invest in the navy instead of investing in it? A navy that costs countless resources to build a single ship?
Astute leaders and nobles could see that the Empire was up to something. However, the Empire also thoroughly hid the project.
If the production of the sailboat is found out, neither you nor I will strengthen the navy. Then you will naturally understand your intentions.
Moreover, the Empire did not completely give up on Starbirk. It starts with not even saying anything.
[The Minerva Empire doesn’t take any action. Is Starbirch really independent?]
[The Minerva Empire, where even the lord returns after the army. Starbirk has become a land without an owner.]
[However, Starbirk is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Empire…]
Is it true that Starbirk is really independent because it doesn’t tie the knot properly? I had a question.
If it was the same, the leaders of each side would have discussed it, but that kind of air did not flow right away.
If it was intentional, it was extremely vicious, and it’s not like the empire couldn’t do diplomacy to say it didn’t know.
Leaving the room ambiguous is bound to be a fraught situation for Stabirk.
[The position of the Minerva Empire. It is true that it drew attention from Starbirk. There will be news soon.]
Especially, he used the media savagely. It seemed to give hope, but it dragged the time.
In fact, this is natural, from the perspective of the Minerva Empire, Star Birk is a very important strategic point.
It’s been announced that we will strengthen the navy, but we can’t give up sweet fruits. In the first place, international politics is like this.
Above all, the balance of power goes back and forth just by giving the ‘justice’ itself. The Minerva Empire is like playing a tug-of-war.
Thus, Starbirk is currently in a situation where it seems independent but not independent. To sum it up a bit more, this is it.
“So what do we do now?”
So what are we doing now? Nothing more, just this situation.
Mersha, a beautiful woman with silver hair and bronzed skin, asked a question with a slightly uneasy expression.
In response, Asala, the man who led Star Birk’s independence, tore his hair roughly with a complicated face. Things got so twisted.
“Well… I’m still not quite sure. What the hell is the intention of the empire. I sent a delegation, but…”
Asala, who had a strong desire for independence, was not happy with the current situation. This wasn’t the direction he wanted.
Fight against the mighty empire, motivate the Starbirk people, and furthermore, become the center of resistance.
This was the primary goal, and the empires attacked one by one. Because the Empire will never give up on Starbirk.
But at some point, he suddenly withdrew all of the garrison in Starbirque, saying he would grow the navy.
I was so embarrassed at that time that I decided it was a 100% deceptive tactic. While you’re not paying attention, the army will come in.
“One of the important people in the Empire must be called here. Maybe the Empire wants that too.”
“You mean we have to bow first.”
“Because I need to properly understand their intentions.”
The Minerva Empire is overwhelmingly strong, and Starbirque is infinitely weak. It is thanks to the attention of the international community that it has been able to endure so far.
While trading with Makina, the cold treatment towards Starbirk had been going on for a long time. This was the moment of independence.
However, when I became independent due to the geography of fishermen, I completely lost my direction. The justification is gone.
The great cause of founding a country against the empire. And it started to become a butterfly effect.
“There is a lot of talk internally. There are many voices saying that the empire is deceiving them, and that the country should be established immediately.”
“On the other hand, there are those who have to move slowly like we did.”
As Mersha and Asala said, Starbirk is currently divided into two factions.
One is that the empire must set up a government before saying anything else, and the other is that it must be resolved slowly through diplomacy.
For Asala, who fought numerous diplomatic battles with the Empire, the latter was inevitable. First of all, Asala is by no means stupid.
The gap between the Empire of Minerva and Stavirk is wide. I tried to invent a gun to make up for it even a little bit.
“Who is the representative of the hardliners?”
“Jacques. This is Jacques Eric Dunta. One of his patriotism is hotter than you, Assala.”
“I don’t want Starbirk to become a sea of fire.”
There are many Starbirks who are united with patriotism as much as they have been active in the independence movement.
The problem is that the independence movement was close to a kind of agitation. Also, in the Minerva Empire, it seems to have been restrained to some extent.
As a result of the combination of these two, quite a few Starbirks had a strong resentment towards the Empire. It was also for surveillance that the garrison was deployed.
“Don’t do anything useless. Come to think of it, isn’t Zach also working hard to invent weapons?”
“Yes. He is actually the general manager.”
“Whoa…”
Asala let out a deep sigh. Even though there are many anxiety factors, there are too many.
But at the same time it makes sense. Armed conflict would have existed if the Empire hadn’t struck a single shot in this way.
I don’t know why he changed his mind, but it was a headache for Asala. Also, the world doesn’t turn on its own.
Smart tok tok-
[Asala. The delegation has returned.]
Just in time, the delegation sent to the Empire has returned. Asala immediately took her back from the chair.
Meanwhile, Mer Shah walked towards her door and greeted her delegation. A total of three delegates were sent to the Empire.
But when I opened the door, it wasn’t just the delegation that caught my eye. In response, Mersha widened her eyes.
“Sage?”
“What?”
Assala was startled when she said that Mer Shah was a wise man. Then, as I looked toward her door, there was one person who stood out.
Unlike the delegation made up of older people, the elderly with fine wrinkles. Gray hair and a well-groomed beard.
Lastly, the deep blue eyes shone brightly. Usually, the eyes of the old man die, but the wise man did not.
The wise man looked at Mersha and Asala, who were dumbfounded, and then opened his mouth in an old voice.
“I have something to tell you, so can I come in?”
“Oh, yes! Of course. Others come in too.”
Asala greeted the delegation and the sage with a bright expression. She didn’t forget to pull the chair out of courtesy.
This is how the seat was prepared. Soon, after Mersha prepared her light refreshments, the real talk broke out.
“So, what did the Empire say?”
Asala asks the delegation in a respectful tone. I hope that a good story will come out.
The eldest man in the delegation opened his mouth. Judging by the hardened expression, it’s not a very good reaction.
“He didn’t give me a definitive answer. He said there were still many things to consider and that he had invested in Starbirk.”
“Damn it. Oh, sorry.”
Unbeknownst to me, swear words came out. Asala apologized urgently, but no one vomited.
That’s how shameless the Empire was. That investment must also mean a ‘factory’. The workers, of course, would have been Starbirks, not imperial citizens.
“Is that the only answer?”
“Fortunately, I got something. The Crown Prince and Princess of the Empire want to meet Asala-sama. They say they have something to share.”
“Tell me not to be funny.”
“So did we. But this time, Asala-nim said they were visiting this place, not going to the Empire.”
“Yes?”
Ah Salah, as well as Mersha, who had been listening quietly, widened her eyes. The imperial family visits Starbirk.
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Not just one, but two. This is obviously an unusual message.
Usually, Asala and Mersha would have headed for the Empire, but this time it’s the opposite.
This means only one thing. There is something to suggest first on the other side.
“······When is it?”
“Asala-sama answered as you wish.”
“··· ···”
Even the visit schedule is set by this side. Even if the meaning is big, it’s too big.
If we were going to declare war, we would have sent a messenger with a declaration of war. However, the imperial family of the empire, and even two of them, were different.
Is Asala in response to this? While thinking about it, the wise man who had been listening silently until now opened his mouth.
It was an old voice, but strangely, it was a voice that drew attention.
“Take it.”
“Sage?”
A word from the sage drew everyone’s attention to him.
The sage continued to speak with his characteristic calm face, even though numerous eyes were focused on him.
“Currently, the Empire doesn’t have the capacity to catch two rabbits. Not only do the aftermath of the Great Depression remain, but we also need to focus on our relationship with Zenon. Above all, strengthening the navy itself means giving up one place. “
“Did you really give up Stavirk in exchange for strengthening the navy?”
“No. I’ll take it again in 20 years at the earliest. Through a stronger navy.”
Everyone’s expression hardened at the wise man’s words. Occupying Starbirk again with a stronger navy.
Stabirk is a structure that requires a strong navy due to the characteristics of the terrain. The sage also mentioned over and over again that if you want to become independent, you should raise the navy first.
“I said the present empire, not the future empire. As long as the navy of the powerful empire surrounds the sea, Starbirk’s fate will be over.”
“But guns are also important weapons…”
“It’s important. The Empire is a country that has a strong army and only invests in that branch. If the navy is also strengthened, no other country will be able to stop it.”
“··· ···”
“Above all, the moment of independence, the empire will use dirtier methods than now. Now it recognizes it as its own land, but from the moment of independence, Starbirk is a ‘foreign country.’ Understand?”
Asala nodded. No matter which country is bordering, the relationship is on the rough side. You can’t be friendly if you want to be friendly.
Even the relationship between the Minerva Empire and Terse Kingdom, which are located along the sea, is not very good. If this is the case, Starbirk doesn’t even need to explain.
“······Does that mean that independence should be delayed?”
“That’s what the empire wants too. Aren’t there still many voices saying we need to establish a government? If that happens, it will naturally cause a rift. What we need now is not independence, but unity.”
“In the worst case, it could even lead to a civil war.”
At Asala’s conclusion, the sage nodded heavily. At this, Asala’s expression suddenly hardened.
I changed my body for independence, but a civil war broke out. It’s the worst of the worst imaginable.
The reason why the Minerva Empire dragged out the issue of independence must be due to this. I think I clearly know what the empire’s ulterior motive is.
“Then what does the visit of the prince and princess mean?”
“It’s pressure. If an accident happens here, it’s like giving the empire a justification.”
“What if it’s an accident…”
At Asala’s question, the wise man quietly opened his mouth.
“Patriotism.”
“Patriotism?”
“Yes. Perverted patriotism to be exact. Let me warn you.”
The sage continued with a serious voice.
“Get rid of all those with twisted patriotism.”
“That’s… What do you mean…”
As the bewildered Asala stuttered his words, the sage silently finished his words.
“Otherwise, Starbirk will become a sea of fire.”
******
At that time, the Maishal estate.
“What? You want to go to Starbirk with me? Why do you? No, how did you know I was going to Starbirk before that?”
Lina has arrived at the Myshal Mansion after being called by Isaac.
Isaac shrugged her shoulders as she answered Lina’s question with her eyes wide open.
“I don’t know. Mora told me to go unconditionally. Are you going to disobey God?”
“······Unlucky. Anyway, okay. I won’t talk about it anyway and I’ll be back.”
The future has changed.