At the edge of the ballroom, the doors swung open, revealing a trio of people entering. Krystal recognized them immediately even from a distance.

The first one was Sarolta, her hair braided into a crown on her head and wearing an ankle length dress made of white and turquoise fabric. She exuded a regal aura, and her expression was as solemn as usual, walking over to her designated spot before the flag of the Kingdom of Elbrastion.

Next was Evgeny, a burly man with graying black hair and wearing a black suit. He had a cheeky grin on his face like he was already anticipating the confrontation to come, representing the cold nation of Kamagiri.

"Looks like the first ones have arrived," Siren whispered, watching the three with interest. "Things should start getting real interesting soon."

"Yeah, no kidding," Krystal replied under her breath. "Those three alone could cause a stir, so just imagine what it'll be like when the rest show up."

As they continued waiting, the doors swung open once more, revealing the next group of participants. Krystal and Siren exchanged a look full of anticipation as they saw Aurelia and Helka strut into the room, accompanied by Xiuying and Zamazenti. Possessing pale skin, grayish blue eyes and platinum hair, Xiuying stood tall and firm to represent her own traditional nation, the Yaruborudu-based region Heiguo. Situated on the opposite side of her was Zamazenti, the eccentric king of the prosperous continent of Aberzanthan. He has a tanned complexion, his long gray hair weaving along as his amber eyes shone with anticipation.

Then came the ever-vibrant and peppy Bianca, the morion-donning ruler of the nomadic, diverse continent of Yushalia. Quite unlike most of the people of the region she rules over, she has fair skin, alongside fiery crimson eyes, and gradient orange and red hair. Her gambeson is red, white, and orange, while her leather pants and knee-high boots are both brown.

Then entered Izanami, a kitsune with snow-white hair, copper eyes, and a smirk of mischief plastered on her porcelain face. Representing the Yaruboruduan nation of Ōkuninushi, Izanami donned a red and purple kimono, white tabi socks and zouri sandals, her fox ears perked up as the cheers of the crowd filled the arena.

Next up, Zakiya took a stand for the southern region of Mu. With bronze skin and dark brown hair, Zakiya wore an all-black full suit, exuding revolutionary energy.

Lastly came the ever-infamous Gale, the hotheaded but logical brown-skinned president of Fairylyl's moon's colony, Lunaria. Her long black hair bounced with every step she took, her gray eyes darting around the stage as she adjusted her gray uniform. Seeing who she was going to be dealing with today, she let out a huff and rolled her eyes as she plopped down on her seat.

This is gonna be a long day… she thought.

"Looks like we're all accounted for," Siren said. "This room's stacked with a lot of powerful and important figures. And based on the way they're carrying themselves, I have a feeling things are about to get heated very fast."

“You don't say,” Krystal replied with a light chuckle.

Sebastian gulped, his eyes scanning the room and taking in the tense atmosphere.

…There's too many clashing personalities and ideologies here, he thought. It's like a tinderbox ready to ignite with the slightest spark…

On the other end of the arena, Echo and Louise sat on the bleachers, already well prepared for the showdown.

"Uh, I still dunno how in the world this meeting is taking place in the middle of a war…" Echo said with a lopsided smirk.

Louise nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you said it. But hey, considering what's at stake here, I guess it makes sense why they scheduled this meeting in the middle of it all. Still, this is gonna be one heck of a showdown.”

As the participants took their seats and the crowd's whispers settled into a hush, Sarolta's voice rang out loud and clear as she cleared her throat and spoke into the microphone.

"Good evening, everybody," Sarolta began, surveying the room with a steady gaze. "I thank you all for coming today. We've all gathered here on this fateful evening to discuss several key topics that are of utmost importance to us all."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembly, some of the participants nodding in approval while others simply observed silently. Zamazenti was one of the latter, sitting back in his chair with his arms folded and his expression unreadable.

Sarolta took a pause before continuing. “As we are moving into a new era, this event shall be a special one. You will notice the remote control assigned to your seat.”

Trixie looked down at the remote in her hand with nine buttons, each of them being the flags of each of Fairylyl's continents and Lunaria. She looked over to Ahina on her left and Svenja on her right, who both had remotes of their own.

“With these remotes, you will be voting for any one of the world's leaders here in support of their beliefs, values, and ideals after each input. If you agree with them, please press the up arrow button next to the flag of their country. If you disagree with them, you will press the down arrow button instead. As a rule, you must vote when prompted.”

Damn, they're turning this into a game? Echo thought, tilting her head before a wide grin spread across her face. “...Epic.”

This totally isn't gonna backfire… Siren thought with a snicker.

I wonder what happens to the ones with the most downvotes… Krystal thought.

"Firstly, as you all know, this meeting was called in order to discuss the topic of equality, diversity, and inclusion." Sarolta continued, eyeing Xiuying and Aurelia pointedly.

Aurelia shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her stoic expression unchanged, while Xiuying simply looked at Sarolta impassively without a hint of concern on her face.

"I believe it's safe to say that these topics are quite prevalent in both our countries and the world at large, and require immediate discussion and action." Sarolta said firmly. "To that end, I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on the matter."

"Indeed," Evgeny jumped in, a wry smirk on his face. "Let's hear it from our dear comrade Xiuying over here. Her nation, Heiguo, has some...interesting takes on diversity, does it not?”

Xiuying raised an eyebrow, regarding Evgeny with a cool, measured gaze before answering. "Heiguo values tradition and unity above all else," she said, her voice steady and clear. "We believe in preserving our culture and heritage, rather than mixing it with outside influences."

“Do you agree, everyone?” Sarolta asked.

A flurry of boos could be heard from the bleachers, and a barrage of downvotes bombarded Xiuying's scoreboard, rolling her eyes in response.

"In other words, you believe in remaining homogenous and xenophobic," Helka quipped, her trademark smirk transforming into a full-blown grin.

Xiuying bristled, her eyes narrowing. "We are merely preserving our cultural identity. Heiguo has stood as a nation of purity and strength for centuries, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Helka chuckled at Xiuying's reaction. "Ah, yes, the 'purity' of Heiguo. Tell me, what do you consider to be impure exactly?”

Xiuying crossed her legs, her demeanor as composed as ever. "We believe that mixing races or cultures can dilute and corrupt the purity of Heiguo's identity. Our ways have served us well for millennia, and we see no reason to change them."

Evgeny clicked his tongue, his grin never leaving his face. "Ah! The classic 'preservation of culture' argument. I suppose that means you consider anyone not part of your 'pure race' to be 'corrupting' then, correct?"

Xiuying's eyes became icy. "We simply wish to maintain the values and beliefs that have defined our nation from the beginning. Heiguo has always been a nation of Heiguonese people, and we intend to keep it that way."

Gale shook her head and crossed her arms. "Right, so it's nothing more than plain old xenophobia then. I suppose that means you've never heard of the word 'diverse' before, hm?"

Xiuying's jaw tightened, her eyes piercing daggers into Gale. "We understand the concept of diversity, but we simply do not believe in it. Our nation has thrived on the principles of unity and homogeneity for centuries, and we see no reason to jeopardize that now."

An avalanche of downvotes slammed Xiuying once more when the prompt arose once again, a cacophony of boos sounding out from the stage with vengeance.

Zakiya let out a deep huff. "So you understand the concept, you just willfully choose to ignore it. How very progressive of you."

She then turned to Bianca, her gaze turning colder. “And you! Boy, I'm excited to hear what YOU have to say about it.”

Bianca smirked and leaned forward, looking down at Zakiya who was still seated. “I see the people of Yushalia as my children, and myself as their mother, if you will. I don't share the same skin color as the Yushalis, sure. But that doesn't—and shouldn't—change anyone's view of me.”

Bianca gained both a hefty bundle of cheers from the crowd and upvotes, while a salty minority gave her a downvote count roughly one-fourth the amount of her upvote count.

“You aren't the mother of a goddamn thing!” Zakiya shot back, standing up to look up at Bianca, who was a few inches taller than herself. “What is your snow-white ass doing over there ruling a land of black and brown people?”

Bianca's smirk never wavered, her expression ever-calm as she leaned down towards Zakiya. "Oh, darling, that 'snow-white ass' of mine was trusted by Draka herself when she needed a powerful warrior to rule her continent in her place during her forced indefinite slumber. I was the best candidate for the position, so here I am. And now, I've given Yushalia hope, stability, and a unified nation. What have you done, Zakiya, except instigate rebellion and chaos, hmm?”

Zakiya jumped up from her seat once more at Bianca's words, her eyes blazing as she clenched her fists. "Hope, stability, and unification my ass!" she hissed. "You think that just because you're white, you have the right to rule over people that look nothing like you? That you're their 'mother' or some kind of savior? You're no mother! You're a whole-ass colonizer!”

Zakiya gained a tidal wave of votes, roughly balanced between the upvotes and downvotes, receiving more of the latter.

Bianca chuckled at Zakiya's outburst, unfazed by her accusations. "A colonizer, you say? You're not wrong when looking at it through your rebellious lens. But in reality without biases clouding your judgement, I am not a colonizer, as I was formally given permission by Draka to take her place as ruler of the continent, to protect it against any threat, both internal and...external." Bianca paused to side-eye Xiuying after saying 'external'. She then turned her attention back to Zakiya: "Anyways, tell me this, darling: what good would it have done if I hadn't unified the tribes of Yushalia? The country was a chaotic mess before I arrived, with warring factions fighting amongst each other and the people living in poverty. I brought them together under one banner. I gave them a nation to be proud of. What have you done, hm?”

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Zakiya's eyes flashed with another wave of anger, her voice trembling with frustration. "Yeah, whatever. The typical “These black and brown people are primitive and can't take care of themselves, so let me take my white ass over there and ‘civilize’ them, i.e. strip their cultures, lifestyles and resources from them and enslave them just for good measure”…MY FAVORITE!”

Bianca's smirk widened at Zakiya's scathing remark. "How predictable," she said, shaking her head. "The old 'colonialist savior complex' argument. It's almost like you have a script prepared for when you confront me. I did none of those things you've uttered and you know it, and I never will do those things either as I have a genuine love for your continent and the people within it.”

She leaned forward, her voice lowering a decibel before continuing. "Do you realize how primitive and uncivilized Yushalia was before I arrived? The warring tribes, the poverty, the lack of any form of stability. I made sure that their culture was not lost, but rather passed down in a more efficient and unified manner."

"Primitive?! Uncivilized?! Is that how you view us, you...you..." Zakiya trembled in silent fury, her eyes simmering as her gaze pierced through Bianca. “...Learn your place.” she barked.

"...Can my place be in your loving embrace?" Bianca replied with a mock sultry gaze as she fluttered her eyelashes, a low purr in her voice.

A wave of laughter echoed through the arena from Bianca's jest, and with that, a huge load of upvotes from the crowd. Despite her confident tone, Zakiya's face heated up as a growl rumbled in her throat. After a moment of silence to collect herself, Zakiya responded coldly:

"Bitch, please, I would rather have my skin peeled off my bones than willingly embrace you, Ms. Colonist.”

Bianca's smirk only widened at Zakiya's repulsed response. "Oh, Zakiya, your anger is like fuel for my amusement." She leaned back in her seat, crossing one long leg over the other. "You can keep referring to me as a colonist all you want. That doesn't change the fact that I, a white woman, have done something for your home country that you never could. Draka would be proud if she saw how I'm making your homeland go from a zero to a rising star in this competitive world. And you know, Zakiya, if you're so concerned with what the people think, why don't you take a look at the recent opinion polls? My approval rating amongst the Yushalis is, and has always been, consistently high. You, on the other hand, have not been so lucky.”

Bianca then gestured to the crowd with a grin. “Am I right, everyone?!”

The crowd erupted in cheers as Bianca's scoreboard was flooded with upvotes, and a few downvotes which was a drop in the ocean by comparison. Seeing the result, Bianca turned back to Zakiya with the most smug grin imaginable.

"Oh, congratulations," Zakiya retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sarolta cleared her throat again, her gaze surveying the room. "I believe we've strayed from the topic at hand," she chastised, the tone in her voice authoritative. "Let's keep the discussion civil, if you please."

Zamazenti chuckled, his amusement evident. "Can we?" he quipped with a smirk, earning a lighthearted chuckle from several others in the room.

Evgeny chuckled as well. "If nothing else, it's very entertaining.”

Echo rolled her eyes in the bleachers, leaning over to Louise. "I'm loving this already. These people are already throwing hands over their beliefs and it hasn't even been five minutes yet."

"Hah, I know, right?" Louise replied, a smirk on her face. "This is gonna be one hell of a show, that's for sure."

Trixie's jaw nearly dropped as she observed the unfolding conflict. "Damn, these leaders really know how to hold their ground, huh? It's like a verbal cage match!"

Ahina chuckled lightly at Trixie's comment, her gaze fixed on the ongoing debate below. "Yeah, no kidding. They’re not holding back, that's for sure."

Sebastian watched in a daze, tapping his fingers together. "I... I really didn't think they'd get this heated this quickly," he murmured, his eyes darting between the participants.

“Sebastian, how do you feel about diversity and inclusion?” Sarolta asked, as if on cue.

Sarolta's question hit Sebastian like a truck, jolting him out of his thoughts. He hadn't expected to be called on so soon. Clearing his throat, he composed himself and rose from his seat.

"Uh... well, diversity and inclusion are very important issues," he said, his voice just a tad shaky. "I think it's crucial that everyone, no matter where or who they are, feels seen and heard. No one should feel left out or discriminated against due to their race, gender, or anything like that."

Zamazenti grinned before turning to Sebastian. “Do tell us, my dear boy. How do you think we can achieve true equality and inclusion?"

Sebastian was caught off guard by the further questioning directed towards him, but managed to maintain his composure. "Well..." he began, his mind racing for an adequate answer. "I believe it starts with education and awareness. We need to teach people about the value of diversity and inclusion, and why it's important to respect and value everyone's unique experiences and cultures."

Sebastian's response gained a tidal wave of upvotes on his monitor from the crowd, who were all cheering and chanting his name.

Zakiya huffed with a nod of approval. "I'll agree with you on that. Education is key. But how do you plan to implement it?"

“Yeah,” Bianca chimed in, her tone laced with skepticism. “How do you plan to teach people to value and respect diversity when they're already set in their own beliefs?”

Sebastian faltered for a moment, feeling the weight of their gazes upon him. But he steeled himself and took a deep breath. "I think it's a matter of gradual change," he said. "It won't happen overnight, it's going to take time. But we need to start somewhere. We have to start with the young generations, the children and the youth, who are the future of our world. There needs to be a cultural and societal shift towards acceptance and inclusivity."

The crowd erupted in cheers yet after, the arena chanting his name louder.

Sebby! Sebby! Sebby! the crowd roared.

Gale took note of the audience's enthusiasm for Sebastian's response and couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Looks like you have a fan club," she quipped.

Sebastian's eyes widened as he heard the audience's applause, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. He hadn't expected to be praised like this, and the realization of his newfound popularity was almost overwhelming.

"I...uh, thanks," he managed to say with a sheepish grin, his cheeks flushed.

Meanwhile, Bianca and Zakiya exchanged a glance, the former still looking rather amused. "How adorable," she chuckled.

As Sebastian returned to his seat, he slumped down and let out a deep breath, his heart still pounding in his chest. He hadn't bargained on being singled out like that, and the attention had left him feeling both flattered and anxious.

"I can't believe I actually pulled that off," he whispered to himself, still feeling the heat of the spotlight.

“And you, Gale?” Sarolta asked, gesturing to her. “What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion?”

Gale leaned forward in her seat and pulled her microphone closer. “Racism is asininity at its finest,” she said without hesitation. “It is the 9900’s for crying out loud, if you still have a prejudiced mindset then you're worth no more than a shit stain in my panties.”

A vicious applause shook the arena, and so did a barrage of upvotes, with a tiny amount of downvotes that didn't even leave a dent compared to the positive reception she received.

“Can I be the shit stain in your panties?!” a man from the crowd shouted as the hype died down.

The room erupted into a mix of cheers and laughter at the man's comment, and even Gale couldn't help but chuckle. She gave him a playful wink before continuing.

"But seriously," Gale said, her tone turning solemn. "Diversity and inclusion are important in every aspect of life. Whether it's skin color, gender, or even planet of origin, we're all human at the end of the day. We all deserve respect and equality."

The crowd's applause echoed through the room once more, with a few agreeing nods coming from various participants.

Sarolta nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting around the room. "Well said, Gale. And I couldn't agree more. Diversity and inclusion are indeed vital in today's globalized world."

She turned to face Izanami on her left. "How about you, Izanami? What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Izanami, ever the mischievous one, let out a sly chuckle. "Well, well, well, what a loaded question," she purred, her fox ears perked up. "What exactly do you wanna know, my lady?"

Sarolta rolled her eyes, knowing fully well what type of response to expect from the kitsune. “Don’t play games with me,” she reprimanded with a firm tone. “I’m asking what your stance is on diversity and inclusion. Be straight with me.”

Izanami shrugged nonchalantly, her mischievous expression remaining on her face. “Oh, diversity and inclusion, huh? I’ve seen it all, dearie. We all know that Ōkuninushi has always been a nation of homogeneity and purity.”

The room fell into a thoughtful silence as the participants and audience members took in her words, some looking intrigued, some confused, and some rolling their eyes due to the expected nature of her response.

Izanami continued on, a playful smirk on her face. "I may be a kitsune, but my home is Ōkuninushi. And in Ōkuninushi, we don't really have a diverse population. It's pretty much just Ōkuninushinese people, you know? So I haven't really experienced diversity in the same way some of you have."

Sensing Sarolta's disapproving glare, Izanami decided to stir the pot further. "But hey, diversity has its perks, right? Different cultures, different music, and of course, different foods. It adds a little...spice to life, if you catch my drift.”

A chuckle echoed through the crowd at Izanami's attempt at humor, earning her many upvotes from the crowd. Sarolta, however, remained stone-faced. "This is a serious matter, Izanami," she reminded her sternly. "We're not here to discuss the culinary benefits of cultural diversity.”

Izanami shrugged nonchalantly, her smirk widening. "Oh, lighten up, dearie. Life's too short to be so serious all the time, and as a kitsune, that's saying a lot. Maybe we should take a break and have some sushi for lunch.”

A few more chuckles echoed through the crowd once again at Izanami's carefree attitude, and so did the number of upvotes on the monitor behind her. Sarolta's expression remained stoic, unamused by the kitsune's lackadaisical approach. "This is not the time or place for jokes," she replied firmly. "We're here to discuss diversity and inclusion, not plan a lunch menu.”

Izanami fake-pouted, feigning disappointment. "But sushi is so delicious! And it's a great example of cultural diversity, right? I mean, diversity is more than just skin color and all that stuff, you have things like food too! And trust me, you can't get much more diverse than Ōkuninushinese cuisine."

The room was filled with a slight hum of laughter, some amused by Izanami's stubbornness. But Sarolta's expression remained the same, clearly growing more annoyed by the kitsune's antics. "Izanami. Please take this discussion seriously. This is not a joke, and we don't have time to waste on your frivolous banter."

Izanami shrugged once more, her smirk still present. "Fine, fine. I'll be serious. But only because you asked so nicely, you uptight prude."

A few chuckles echoed through the crowd at Izanami's comment, but Sarolta's irritation was clear on her face. "This is not about being uptight," she fired back. "It's about respecting the seriousness of this meeting. We are discussing important issues that affect the world, and I expect everyone present to bring something meaningful to the conversation."

Izanami rolled her eyes dramatically. "Alright, alright. I'll play nice. But you have to admit..." She leaned forward in her seat, a sly smile on her face. "...It's so much more fun to rile you up, eh?"

Sarolta let out a deep sigh, her patience wearing thin. "Izanami, please," she said sternly. "Now is not the time for your childish games. We have serious matters to discuss, and wasting time with your antics is pointless and distracting."

Izanami huffed dramatically, slouching in her seat. "Fine, fine. I guess I'll behave myself, since you're being such a stick in the mud." She crossed her arms underneath her ample chest, a mock pout on her face.

The room was filled with a brief moment of silence, the tension between Sarolta and Izanami palpable. The audience watched anxiously, some still amused by the kitsune's antics, while others grew irritated by her lack of respect for the seriousness of the meeting.

“You know what?” Sebastian spoke up, breaking the tense silence. “Maybe we do indeed need a little break after this…”

"And speaking of breaks," Bianca chimed in, her voice filled with a hint of jest, "I think it's high time we had some snacks. Can't discuss world issues on an empty stomach, can we?"

“Now we're talkin'!” Izanami cheered. “Mochi, anyone?”

"Oh yes, mochi sounds wonderful," Bianca agreed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I do love my tacos but it's been far too long since I had a taste of those fluffy, delicious rice cakes."

"I concur," Helka chimed in, her deep voice cutting through the air. "A short break and some mochi would be welcome indeed. Perhaps it would help us all relax and approach the discussion with a clearer mind.”

“Are these guys seriously talking about mochi now?” Trixie said.

“Hey, it'll bring some levity here,” Ahina replied.

“You're right about that…”

“Mochi it is, then!" Izanami piped up, a cheeky smile on her face. "And maybe a bit of sake to wash it down."

"Oh, you're always thinking with your stomach, aren't you?" Helka teased, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Can you blame me?" Izanami retorted with a shrug. "Food is one of life's greatest pleasures. And mochi is definitely up there in the top tier."

"I must second that notion," Bianca said, nodding her head in agreement. "Mochi is indeed one of the best sweets out there. It's fluffy, it's chewy, and it comes in so many delicious flavors. Not to mention the way it just melts in your mouth…it's simply divine."

"Eh, I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to sweets," Zamazenti interjected, his voice calm and composed. "I prefer the simplicity of good old pastries. But mochi is a worthy treat, I must admit."

"Ah, a man of simpler tastes," Helka chuckled, her blonde hair bouncing gently with the movement.

“Very well,” Sarolta concluded. “We will have a small break, and then we shall continue discussing these urgent matters.”

“Mochi for EVERYONE!” Izanami shouted, with the crowd erupting in cheers as they stood up and clapped.

With the decision made to take a short break, a commotion of activity broke out in the room. The participants began to mingle among themselves, some rising from their seats to stretch their legs, while others stayed seated and engaged in hushed conversations. The atmosphere, while still somewhat tense, was slightly more relaxed as people took the opportunity to discuss lighter topics and, of course, the upcoming mochi snacks.

“Damn, this was fun so far,” Krystal said with a grin.

“Right?!” Siren replied, rubbing her palms together. “And to think that Zakiya would be the first to lose it instead of Gale? That's a shock! This is starting off better than I thought it was!”

“Heh, yep. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time until she blows too, it's classic Gale.”

“And when that happens…I'ma feel bad for poor Sebby.”

“Oh boy… But hey, he has the most upvotes right now, so I say he's doing good.”

“He deserves it. Now how about we get some mochi and unwind for part two?”

“You read my mind, Si. And while we're at it, let's see what everyone else is thinking so far.”

“Hell yeah! I know they're as excited as we are. Have at it!”