Prime Minister Gerald was walking briskly towards King Charles work room. Most of his time is spent working in that room, and prime minister Gerald was no exception. However today, he had to put together a rough report that concerned the integrity of the kingdom itself.
"Damn it all, why is one problem appearing after another. This is madness" Gerald thought to himself. Gerald entered the workroom.
"Your majesty! I have an urgent report for you that you must see immediately."
However, Gerald was surprised that Jeffery Koch, America's ambassador was already in the room with his majesty. "Why is he here?" Gerald thought.
"Oh, hand it over then." His majesty replied.
Gerald handed over the report that he has been working on for the entire night. Compiling various reports from different soldiers and messages sent from all over the kingdom. It was a troubling task on its own. Putting it all down onto a report was very difficult.
However, his majesty said something he didn't expect.
"Gerald, Jeffery here has already given me the details of the rebellion in progress. He wants me and the U.S to work together to resolve this issue."
"What!?" Gerald thought internally. How did the U.S get this information faster than me? Did they bribe some guards perhaps? Or do they already have people in the kingdom conducting surveillance?
However, his thoughts were immediately dismissed when he saw vivid images of the topography of the kingdom. It showed important settlements and key strongholds throughout the kingdom.
"Prime minister, I think you should take a look at these." Jeffery said. Gerald looked closer and saw the image. Troop movement and settlements could be seen. There was one huge settlement which had tents and encampments surrounding it. Is this real? How did they...
Gerald was lost for words. Such vivid information was hard to come by. Reports could only be made through the description of guards that might vary. In addition, it could take days for that type of intelligence to come here. And the intelligence received might not even be good or useful. "Just how did the U.S even obtain these images?" Gerald thought.
"When were these images taken ambassador?" Gerald was delighted that these images were available. However he was still flabbergasted by the United States prowess at obtaining information. Its not even their kingdom!
"These were obtained as of two days ago. We have been looking at a variety of areas, however this settlement has received most of our concern. It seems to be under siege." Ambassador Jeffery elaborated.
Gerald looked at the settlement and couldn't instantly recognize it, however using what he knows, the city must be far away since he hasn't received any messages of a siege. A city popped up and he was horrified. It was the cultivation school for magic!
"This can't be.... The western region has the audacity to attack the school of cultivation!" Gerald screamed. His majesty also nodded his head, seemingly knowing the situation already.
The school of cultivation is positioned almost directly between the western region capital and the eastern royal capital since the city of cultivation could easily dispatch people to either city quickly if necessary. In addition, it was useful for recruiting people if they are in the center of the kingdom. However, it has been a contention of power struggles between the western and eastern regions, and thus the two sides are constantly trying to place people of power from their sides in the city.
However, it seems the western region is going to try and cut off the school to the eastern region by force to prevent them from leaving.
"The U.S has been monitoring the situation for a couple of days now, however it seems like the siege has just started. Prime minister, do you know how long sieges typically last?"
"It depends. If there are magicians on the attackers side, it could be half a month. However the city of cultivation is different. They have a full group of magicians who can protect the city for a good month if necessary. Although its really baffling that the western region would make a move like this."
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"Why is that" Jeffery responded.
"Because they would draw the ire of the entire magician community in the kingdom. They would completely move the community towards our side. This is suicidal. Even if they capture the city, what good would this do?"
Prime minister Gerald looked flustered and bewildered at the situation. However his majesty looked solemn. "Gerald, they don't plan to hold cultivation city you know."
"What do you mean your majesty?"
"They know that in a war such as this, they need to eliminate as many enemies as possible. If they take the city, they won't spare anyone who doesn't side with them."
"But this is cultivation city your majesty! They can't simply pillage that city, it would be sacrilege."
"Maybe if they had a different playing field, they would consider otherwise, however they have another problem."
"Problem.... You don't mean."
"Yes, it is our food aid to the kingdom unfortunately." Jeffery replied.
With the sudden influx of food and sounds of centralization spreading throughout the kingdom, the eastern region is in a better position to win over the city of cultivation than the western region. If the city were given a chance to decide, they would probably give in to receive the huge amounts of food from the eastern region. The western region cannot wait.
"But that city has nearly 100,000 people your majesty! Full of talented individuals who study in magic and Mana manipulation. They would jeopardize our kingdom to win this rebellion!? What about the Tillerian empire and the Onleng empire? Don't they care about the future of this kingdom?"
"And that is why we must win this conflict." The king said. He looked towards Jeffery.
"Our country is willing to help in this conflict by protecting the major settlements and villages along the border of the eastern regions. I have already talked about it with his majesty, however he wanted your opinion as well."
Gerald looked towards his majesty and he nodded. Gerald thought to himself. "I haven't witnessed the United States military in action. However, they must be quite confident to deploy troops so far away from their main continent. From the previous maps, I can tell the United states is no neighbor to our country, the only connection being those small islands southeast from us.
Just how are they going to accomplish this? They specifically said that they would essentially protect the entire eastern region! Even our military cannot do that right now. Just why are they going to such lengths to help us?" Gerald thought.
"Ambassador Jeffery, I have one important question for you. Why is the United States willing to help us despite no treaty nor obligation. I can only anticipate that there will be a huge debt we will never be able to repay."
Ambassador Jeffery thought for a moment and then spoke earnestly with a smile. "Our country is in a difficult predicament right now. A civil war with our only major trading partner would only slow down trade between our two countries. Our country has a major interest in preserving the stability of your nation."
"That's it?" Gerald thought. They would simply spend their own resources to protect the stability of another nation? Why!? That is literally the opposite of what another country or kingdom would do. Every country knows that a neighbors instability is the prize of any nation that wants to get stronger. Just why does the U.S want to prevent that? They could take advantage of us and simply take over parts of our kingdom if they wanted to. They could get all of the resources they would have wanted without trade, so why....."
Gerald was stumped. He didn't know how to cope with a nation that goes completely against what is considered normal or rational of empires, kingdoms, or Duchy's. "Right." He thought. "They aren't from this world..."
Gerald spoke.
"Is that really all the U.S is asking for? To continue talks on trade? No concessions for gold or ships?"
"Prime minister, our country just wants to promote free trade with this country. It's a mutual benefit for the both of us if this conflict does not devolve into a long war. As for payments, our country usually does it indirectly. So instead of direct payments, favorable trade agreements or other treaties would help. We hope to continue our favorable relationship into the future prime minister."
Gerald thought for a moment and decided to allow for the U.S to help. "Likewise, we hope to continue cooperation into the future. You may send your forces into the kingdom then" Gerald replied."
"I will send a report later to elaborate the logistics of our forces. If you need me, just let me know at the temporary residence." Jeffery Koch left the work room leaving only Gerald and his majesty.
"Your majesty. Do you believe the United states when they say they will send their troops and only want cooperation?"
His majesty looked at Gerald in the eyes and slowly said. "Gerald, even I have my doubts sometimes when I meet with ambassadors from time to time. However, I believe this ambassador the most."
"Why?"
"Because he asked us first. Normally if a nation wanted to do something to subvert our power, they would not ask. The fact that they have sent food aid and are now providing military support, what else could we ask for? There is nothing stopping them from taking over our country, and yet they do not. So why then?"
"Because they are from another world perhaps?"
"That is the only answer I could think of as well. I cannot even start to imagine just what this country is like given everything we have seen. Just what did their world look like before? We can only keep learning to find out how this country operates."
Both of them were eager to see the strength of the United States in person.