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Chapter 53
CHAPTER 53 – MOVEMENTS OF EACH COUNTRY (1)
The eleven nations were devastated by the Gra Valkas Empire’s surprise attack, having many of their people taken as prisoners. To negotiate the return of their citizens and to convey their desires towards the Gra Valkas Empire, they headed to the diplomatic counter in the provincial capital of the Leifor district, Leiforia.
Among these nations with high pride, the majority of their opinions could be summarized as “Just shoot at Gra Valkas!”, so this would only be an informal visit. It was also unclear what the Gra Valkas Empire had meant when they had said “Fall within our great country”, so the diplomats needed confirmation regarding the Empire’s goals.
Ambassador Asada, who had fought a tongue-in-cheek battle against the Parpaldia Empire, was well qualified to be the Japanese diplomat and was hastily dispatched to negotiate the return of the Japanese prisoners.
The participants in these negotiations were:
Holy Mirishial Empire, Director of Western Foreign Affair, SiwarfMu, Diplomat, NookaulJapan, Diplomat, Asada TaijiNation of Agartha, Foreign Minister, Lipin
These were the four countries entering the port, having sent a magical signal in advance. Leiforia, which had been bombarded by the super-dreadnought Grade Atlastar and turned into ashes, seemed to have recovered slightly, although there were still many scars.
Entering the country, they saw the state of Leifor: a former powerhouse with no animation. The eyes of the people, dead and devoid of motivation and ambitions, gave the diplomats a glimpse of the Empire’s harsh governance.
The Empire also told them that, even if they became hostile, they would be protected so long as they were at the diplomatic window, so they entered the branch office in a dignified manner.
Why do I have to deal with difficult cases again

Tired, Asade entered the building that was said to have an imperial diplomat.
Ten minutes of waiting in the conference room later, the door opened and a man with a bad face told them to come in.
“Well, powerful nations of this world, what business do you have with this poor guy?”1
Dallas, a diplomat of the Gra Valkas Empire, made a rude remark unfitting of his profession, causing the faces of the other diplomats to harden.
Stepping forward, Asada stated, “The Japanese government expresses its regrets for the armed assault carried out by the Gra Valkas Empire, requests compensation for the sinking of the patrol boat Shikishima, requests an apology to the bereaved families, demands-”
“Well! Are you Japan, a transfer nation like us?!” Dallas interrupted. “I hear that our battleship sunk your ship in just one shot. Even between transfer nations, such a difference is evident! Being a diplomat of a weak country must be painful. By the way, what is regret? How specifically do you deal with it?”
“The Empire’s remarks at the eleven-country leadership conference can be taken as a declaration of war upon the world. Your attitude is reminiscent of a certain country from our past who turned the world into their enemy and fought with vigor. Do you think you can win?” Asada politely asked.
“No matter how many weak nations form a coalition, they will not be strong. The weak will remain the weak.”
To this response, Asada leaned forward. If Japan were to be provoked in the current situation, there was a real chance of repeating the previous tragedy, so he decided to be bullish to prevent such a thing. However, when he tried to speak, the diplomat from the Holy Mirishial Empire moved in front of him.
“I am Siwarf, Director of Western Foreign Affairs for the Holy Mirishial Empire. Our country harshly condemns the surprise attacks and barbarism you have created in the port city of Cartalpas and demands formal apologies, appropriate compensation, and an immediate withdrawal from Leifor. I have come for the handing over of the person responsible for this barbarism, and for the return of the prisoners.
“My country, the Holy Mirishial Empire, has not come to negotiate like the other countries.
“This is not a request. This is an order.
“If you do not obey, we will not be the only enemy. Not limited to the eleven developed countries, this is the consensus of the Central World.”
When Dallas tried to respond to the angry minister, the room’s doors opened and a beautiful woman with slanted eyes stepped through them.
“Cielia
”
“Dallas, from here on, I will negotiate responsibly.”
“But the person in charge is
”
“That is a command. It is safe to say that the other party is a coalition of the world. It’s too much for you.”
“Guh
 Understood,” he grunted, giving up his seat to Cielia and sitting next to her.
“I’ve heard the story,” she continued with a dignified face and clear eyes. “The Empire’s ideas are as explained at the eleven-country conference. No changes.”
“What does the Gra Valkas Empire want, then?” Siwarf asked as he glared at her.
“Falling at our army’s doorstep, of course. The sovereignty of any nation will not be recognized.”
“More specifically?”
“Colonies. Is that easier for you to understand?”
“Do you think the Central World will drink to this?”
“No, I don’t think they will drink to it now, but when they’re defeated, you’ll be drinking to our plan, no matter the state of your miserable armies. The diplomatic window is open — if you feel for your people, make a decision quickly.”
“You mock!– 
 Will you not accept the return of the POWs?”
“Until the end of the war, prisoners will not be returned. If you fall to our army, the prisoners will be returned.”
“Will the human rights of POWs be recognized?”
“That is
” Cielia’s eyes swam momentarily. “That is up to us to decide. We have no obligation to answer you.”
Cielia hurts my heart, Asada remarked after witnessing their exchange. However, there was still work to do.
“Ms. Cielia, Japan demands the immediate return of the Japan Coast Guard staff.”
“Did you not hear me? Prisoners will not be returned until the end of the war.”
“If you are a soldier, you can understand that you are a prisoner of war. However, the Japanese people you have captured are not military personnel. They are akin to police of the sea in their work as staff of the Japan Coast Guard.”
“So, you are saying that the ship that downed a lot of fighters was not a warship?”
“Yes. They are not military personnel. As in other countries, ships of the Coast Guard are not military ships.”
Still sitting next to Cielia, Dallas opened his eyes and butts in. “What’s the Coast Guard? So what? Are you trying to say that Japan sent the Coast Guard, which combats piracy, to the eleven-country conference across the sea instead of warships?”
“That’s right. So you are not capturing so-called military personnel, thus we demand their return, immediately.”
The moment Dallas is about to curse Asada, Cielia motions at him to back down and begins to speak.
“I don’t care about the definition of military personnel in your country. It’s not a warship while having such anti-aircraft capabilities? It’s no good to make these decisions on a country-by-country basis. They bravely challenged us, who had an overwhelming advantage in military power, and lost. I personally appreciate it. We shall treat them as military personnel.”
“I’ve told you that they’re a police force just now. Since you’re insisting on treating them as military personnel, are they guaranteed to be safe?”
“As I answered earlier, it is up to Japan to decide.”
Asada felt as if Cielia’s eyes were in confusion. Are you wondering something?
A small silence followed. Taking the initiative to restart the conversation, Mu’s diplomat, Nookaul, began asking questions.
“I am Mu’s diplomat, Nookaul. From the previous conversation, I understand that you aren’t willing to negotiate the return of prisoners and, as I’ve guessed from the mood, we just really want to know the facts.
“So, you have currently declared war against the whole of the Second Civilization, including Mu. And, at the eleven-country conference, you declared war on the Central World and Japan in addition. Is this correct?”
Cielia looked at Nookaul with eyes that pitied his stupidity and gave an answer that would have a significant impact on the future of the Gra Valkas Empire.
“Oh, no doubt.”
Nookaul smiled a little and looked towards Asada. For Mu, who was already at war with the Empire, his job during this meeting was only to drag Japan into the war. For that, he found that it would be necessary to have a clear statement that a state of war had been declared against Japan. Neither the atmosphere nor an off-handed remark would be acceptable as definitive, but the official statement of the person who conveys the intentions of the Gra Valkas Empire would be more than enough.
The contents of her statement were already recorded on an IC recorder purchased by one of Mu’s other diplomats in Japan, and Nookaul, who had achieved his diplomatic goal, smiled a big smile.
“Understood.”
Sensing the situation, Asada sighed inwardly. I was done in

“Enough. The Gra Valkas Empire is not willing to accept the return of prisoners and we,  the world itself, are being asked to become your colonies. This has been made clear. Is there no doubt, Ms. Cielia, that this was a clear case of mistranslation at the highest levels?” Siwarf asked.
“There is no mistake.”
“Then, finally, let’s speak for the people of the Gra Valkas Empire. The number of fleets operated by the Holy Mirishial Empire far exceeds the number of ships you fought. Based on our magical engineering and industrial power that is far superior to the other countries, an early surrender is recommended.
“Let us pray that you won’t get caught up in the war and die.”
“Well, our offer still stands as well. If you care about your people, let us proceed with the early surrender.”
With that, the meeting ended and Cielia left the room. Just as the other diplomats were about the leave, Dallas turned to them.
“For you, this seems to have been informal, but now that our substantive, official country-to-country conference is over, let me give you my little personal impression.
“A coalition of the weak, no matter how many disorderly members you gather, cannot beat our Empire. The Empire will rule all the nations under it. Yoo too, as a coalition of this world. There will be pride to consider, but it’s better to think seriously about whether you want to capitulate or fight until the end as a weak country in a weak coalition.
“Well, not that I think you guys have a head to think with anyway.”
As the faces of the diplomats clouded over, Asada spoke in return.
“Then, I would like to give my personal impressions. You cannot see reality. I do not think that you can be considered a civilized country at this time, given your armed intervention in an international conference and your declaration of war upon our countries. When Japan, my home country, decides to participate in the war, it will be the beginning of the end of the Gra Valkas Empire.
“Your country should study a little about what the Parpaldia Empire in the Third Civilization had done to Japan and what has happened since then.
“Keep your diplomatic window open. If you want to surrender early, ask to enter Mu and knock on the doors of the Japanese embassy there.”
POW negotiations were unsuccessful.
The conference ended.
Second Civilization, Sonal Kingdom
An urgent meeting was held in the King’s chamber between the Sonal Kingdom, which borders the lands of Leifor, and Mu. This emergency meeting was being held due to the fall of Leifor and the virtual annihilation of the Foreign Minister’s escort fleet at the eleven-country conference.
“Above is the damage to the Foreign Minister’s escort fleet and the trajectory of the battle.”
For the Sonal Kingdom, the eleven-country leadership conference was a meeting of great powers, so those eleven countries were assumed to have brought their elite fleets.
“What
 even Mu’s Mobile Task Force was wiped out?”
The king was stunned at the practical decimation of more than 60 of Mu’s elite warships.
“Yes, the opponent is the super-dreadnought Grade Atlastar that destroyed a large number of aircraft and the great power Leifor all by itself.”
The conference room quieted down.
“The legendary ship that destroyed Leifor by itself
 its strength has proved to be genuine.”
“It is said that the navies of the Second Civilization tremble just by hearing the name of that ship. Only Mu’s fleet was thought to be able to cope, but in this battle, even Mu’s naval task force was as helpless as the other navies against the Gra Valkas Empire. Fear is spreading.”
“The ‘warship’ of the Japanese navy that was said to be the ultra-high tech, which dismantled the Third Civilization power of the Parpaldia Empire unharmed, was easily sunk in front of the battleship Grade Atlastar. Even that country, against the Grade Atlastar, is powerless.”
Japan was recognized as a great power of the world because it dismantled the Parpaldia Empire unharmed. Therefore, the Japan Coast Guard patrol boat’s sinking, seen as the sinking of a Japanese warship, added to the horrifying image of the Gra Valkas Empire as an indomitable power.
“Furthermore
 This is not definitive information, but according to a spy in the Holy Mirishial Empire, the 0th magic fleet of the Holy Mirishial Empire was attacked by the naval task force of the Gra Valkas Empire and was wiped out.
“

“Again, this is uncertain information.”
The king’s chamber plunged into despair.
“If the 0th Magic Fleet was wiped out, there is no way to resist them in this world
”
Silence.
“Foriegn Minister!”
“Yes?”
“For the people
 In some situations, consider the path of surrendering without a fight.”
The king and some of the attendants began to cry.
“Understood. I will also consider the path of surrender. It will be painful to lose our 1200-year-old country and traditions
 ”
As such, the Sonal Kingdom considers surrendering without fighting.
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