Qua-Toyne Principality,
Qua-Toyne City,
Prime Minister’s Official Residence,
Prime Minister Kanata was pacing around nervously in the reception room as he waited for the foreign diplomats to arrive.
Under normal circumstances, the foreign ministry would organise a ball to welcome any new diplomats first and only then move on to establishing diplomatic ties as they laid the groundwork over a few months or years depending on their level of cooperation.
After a rigorous review and renegotiation process, the heads of state would convene to finalise a treaty, thereby solidifying a new friendship between nations.
However, the current emergency, particularly the escalating tensions on the Lourian border, demanded a deviation from the norm. The prospect of facing another adversary, especially one demonstrating advanced metallurgy through their formidable warships, was untenable. Yet, if the UN proved to be tyrannical, they would have little choice but to comply and accede to their demands.
It was truly pathetic for a head of state to feel so helpless, yet the mere sight of their warships warranted significant caution in dealings. What other horrors might they conceal if they could achieve such technological feats?
Unable to shake off the nervousness, Kanata tried to reassure himself. "Calm down, it’s going to be fine," he muttered, entering the room.
He was promptly greeted, by an entourage of diplomats, who had been guided there just a few moments before and now rose to their feet in respect.
In an instant, a woman with dark brown hair approached him, extending her arm in an unusual gesture. "Hello, my name is Astrid Berg, a representative of the United Nations," she announced. "It is my utmost pleasure to be accommodated by you on such short notice; please accept my gratitude. Beside me are the diplomats from our remaining constituent and founding nation-states. It is an honour for us, to meet the Prime Minister without any previous mediation."
Kanata surveyed the group of approximately 12 individuals, all ostensibly human, though some bore such exotic skin that he nearly confused them with dark elves. He had never encountered such dark-skinned humans before today.
With a swift nod, he courteously replied though, not returning the gesture, "Yes, it's our pleasure. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
On his side, Kanata was accompanied by Foreign Minister Rinsui and five other members from the ministry as they took their seats.
Without hesitation, Rinsui with a bow, sharply, announced, "I will preside over this meeting. I am Rinsui, Quatoyne’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. May the honourable gentlemen and women before me please introduce themselves and state their purposes?" He dove straight into the heart of matters with his inquiry.
Within moments, a rather robust man rose, declaring with confidence, "My name is Maverick Wilson, representing the United States of America. It is my sincere pleasure to meet Your Excellency."
He was swiftly followed by the Russian diplomat, who bowed curtly, expressing, "My utmost gratitude for meeting us on such short notice. I am Victor Mikhaylov, representing the Russian Federation."
As he concluded, a raven-haired woman stepped forward, announcing, "Greetings to our friends in this new world. I am Lian Wang, representing the People’s Republic of China."
Next, the dark-skinned gentleman, whom Kanata had found unusual, stood, stating, "I am Dhruv Rawat, representing the Republic of India. We are most delighted to meet you at this juncture."
Lastly, a silent, spectacled man stood, articulating, "My name is Tanaka Kazuhisa, a diplomat from Japan. Despite our abrupt visit today, I am pleased that the country’s representative will meet with us. It is an honour for us; please allow me to express our utmost gratitude."
The cascade of new names and affiliations left Kanata and his fellow ministerial members awash with confusion, pondering their meaning.
As Rinsui nodded in acknowledgement, Astrid stood, distributing several documents pertinent to their current situation.
Getting the documents Rinsui frowned as he got one look at the document, as he apprehensively announced “Excuse my rudeness, but I am unable to read what’s written here!”
Somehow, this knowledge surprised all the diplomats as Maverick quickly responded, “How surprising, we assumed that you spoke English since you seemed to understand us.”
Rinsui shook his head, clarifying, “No, from our perspective, it’s you who are speaking the common tongue. But I’m curious do you all not speak the same language?”
Before any of the diplomats could answer, Astrid interjected, "No, other than the US and India sharing English, we all use completely different languages."
While Rinsui pondered this unusual revelation, Kanata took a chance to ask, “That’s peculiar, whenever you speak, it seems that you’re speaking the common tongue though?”
"What? How can that be?" Lian Wang exclaimed, rising somewhat aggressively. She continued, "Please allow us to verify this!"
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Swiftly, each of the diplomats attempted a conversation in their native languages, which, much to the diplomats' astonishment, the inhabitants of this new world were able to comprehend.
As the surprise settled, Victor, curious about this phenomenon, voiced, "Now, that’s a handy ability, but how is it possible?"
Rinsui and Kanata, both devoid of answers, shook their heads, choosing instead to proceed with the discussion. "We have no idea," they admitted, "but for such a mysterious phenomenon to occur, something must be truly amiss."
The diplomats nodded in agreement as Astrid took charge. "No issues," she assured, "I shall orate the document instead." Clearing her throat, she began, "We hail from a group of countries collectively known as the United Nations, located approximately 2000km north of your country."
Astrid paused for a moment, to allow the information to soak in, then glanced at the two gentlemen, inquiring, "Do you understand these units?"
They nodded promptly, with Rinsui responding, "Of course, but there are no nations. We have previously encountered a few tribal towns and villages, but nothing more than that. Did those tribes band together to form nations?"
The Indian and Chinese diplomats visibly bristled at the suggestion but held their tongues. Taking the lead, Maverick explained with a calm demeanour, “That's a misconception. The five nations collectively span a vast land area of approximately 40 million square kilometres. It would be erroneous to describe us merely as 'villages'.”
Rinsui’s jaw dropped to the ground when he heard the words ' 40 million’, for a landmass that massive, it was simply impossible for any random tribe to just develop such an area in a few years or even decades.
Kanata and his fellow officials mirrored Rinsui’s shock. Tanaka rose from his seat, adding, “Though it may be difficult to explain, we were all inexplicably transported to this world from our home planet Earth and have yet to understand why."
Still sceptical, Rinsui responded, "We were informed about this by our scouts, but the idea of entire countries being summoned is beyond comprehension. The mana necessary would be astronomical. Forgive my directness, but it's challenging to accept such a fish tale.”
A collective sigh emanated from Astrid and the diplomats. Their story was indeed hard to swallow, even for them. If roles were reversed, they would likely dismiss such claims as insanity.
Seated again, Tanaka nodded while Astrid interjected, "Your scepticism is expected. Even on Earth, if someone claimed their nation had shifted 2000km overnight, we'd doubt their sanity. To bridge this gap of understanding, might we suggest that you send a diplomatic mission to our lands? A firsthand account might offer the evidence you need to believe."
Rinsui frowned at the notion, after all, the individuals under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs weren't just public servants, they were citizens of Qua-Toyne. Dispatching them into uncharted lands potentially fraught with danger weighed heavily on him since any harm befalling them would be his responsibility.
Sensing his internal conflict, Prime Minister Kanata leaned in, his voice hushed. "Minister Rinsui," he began, "they showcased advanced aerial crafts above Maihark and sailed colossal metal warships. These aren't mere feats that an island nation achieved overnight. Their capabilities far surpass our understanding. Building a rapport with them could be pivotal, especially with the looming Lourian threat."
As both came to an understanding, Kanata straightened up, addressing Astrid and the other diplomats, “Gentlemen and women, I am curious as to what you wish to gain from our country, after all, I don’t believe that you would come this far just for sightseeing?”
The diplomats exchanged glances, silently communicating, before Astrid spoke for the group. "We primarily seek certain foodstuffs which are currently scarce in our nations and essential natural resources. Specific requirements from each nation will be detailed in forthcoming discussions."
Kanata perked up at the mention of food and enthusiastically replied, "Ah! If it's food you need, we can assist. As for natural resources, we may have limitations, but that's a conversation for another time. Pardon my curiosity, but how self-reliant are you when it comes to food supplies?"
The Indian diplomat, Dhruv, responded, "Of the five nations here, three are prominent food exporters and maintain a stable food supply. The other two can be efficiently catered to through our existing distribution networks."
Rinsui marvelled at the adeptness of these seemingly junior diplomats. Their composure and clarity were remarkable. If their claims held merit, this newfound alliance could indeed herald a renaissance for Qua-Toyne.
Rinsui, sensing an opportunity, posed an eager question. "Are we the first nation you've made contact with since your unexpected relocation?"
A chorus of nods followed Astrid's affirmation. "Indeed, Qua-Toyne is our inaugural diplomatic engagement. While we've observed other nations on this continent, we’ve yet to interact with them."
Rinsui's chest swelled with pride. "You're in good fortune then. Our lands are divinely graced by the goddess of fertility. There’s no seed that doesn't find roots in our soil. Even the most neglected plant burgeons to its fullest potential here. We're confident we can meet any agricultural demand you might have." He beamed, oblivious to the magnitude of his commitment to these hungry giants.
A brief predatory glint flashed in the eyes of the diplomats from Earth, but they quickly masked it with decorum. "Very well," they concluded in unison, nodding courteously. "We'll reconvene as scheduled. We appreciate your hospitality." They bowed in unison, this time avoiding the initial missteps of their greeting.
As the delegation departed, Kanata pulled Rinsui aside. "Foreign Minister, expedite the preparations. This mission could greatly enhance our standing amongst the populace."
“Certainly Prime Minister!” Rinsui replied bowing, and making his exit, leaving Kanata alone as he contemplated if what he did would be the bane of their nation or not.
…
Outside in Qua-Toyne City,
As the group of six diplomats exited the prime minister's residence, they chose to stroll through the city's streets, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of this world's culture and everyday life.
Maverick deftly pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it and taking a deep drag. "This place," he began, exhaling a thin stream of smoke, "seems much more primitive than we anticipated. Throughout my career, I've travelled to many underdeveloped regions, but even they had better infrastructure than this." He gestured toward the basic structures that made up the city's 'Merchant District.'
Astrid, adjusting the collar of her formal attire against the unfamiliar climate, chimed in. "Their technological progression is starkly different from ours. Yet, there’s a raw, historic charm here, an authenticity that mirrors the cobblestone streets of old European towns."
With a melancholic tone, reflecting on her Norwegian heritage, she remarked, "This place evokes memories of the pre-industrial towns that once dotted my homeland. Although they've faded into history, it's heartening to see that such a way of life still thrives here."
Lian Wang, observing the bustling market stalls and artisans at work, remarked, "The vibrancy of their culture reminds me of the ancient towns along China's Silk Road. While they might lack modern infrastructure, the traditional attire and handcrafted goods are a breath of fresh air amidst our world of mass production, something we’ve long since lost in our never-ending pursuit of technology.”
Dhruv, with a reminiscent glint in his eyes, noted, "This feels like a journey through India's historical epochs, the eras of kings, queens, and ancient practices. Their 'mana' might be a parallel to our Vedic rituals, harnessing energies in ways we've moved away from, it’s something we have yet to fully comprehend.”
The rest nodded as Tanaka, captivated by a street performer weaving ethereal magic in the air, pointed out, "This power might be something we have lost to time but, who knows we might have advanced holographic displays, but their power is something we cannot explain."
Victor glanced at the bustling city and shrugged, "We must remember that development doesn't always equate to skyscrapers and digital screens. Their strengths might lie in areas we've yet to discover. Let's not underestimate them."
As the diplomats ventured further, they were approached by enthusiastic children, marvelling at the foreign visitors. Maverick, despite his initial reservations, handed a young boy a small American flag pin.
Astrid looked at the surroundings, her lips curling into a smile. "It's reassuring to see that, despite everything, this isn't an entirely foreign land."
The group nodded in agreement, continuing their journey towards their vehicles, eager to discover what this New World held in store for them.
…
TBC