Southern Crescent Moon Convention, 1,028 (4)
Safe Haven City, honorary parliament. 4th month’s 4th week and 6th day. Noon.
Luis was in a bathroom of the honorary parliament. Most of the representatives were in the hall where the preliminary meeting would be held. Cleaning his hands on the sink, he looked up at the mirror and realized his heart was beating a bit faster than regularly.
He smirked, his nostrils emitting a soundless noise as they breathed out. Luis looked down at the sink again, his head felt lighter out of nowhere. Straightening his back, Luis looked at his left palm, then at his right. He lifted his hands and looked at them.
“Fuu…” Luis breathed out, weakly and surprised. He didn’t find it easy to process his current situation. Nobody could blame him. Many times, people have come to SHC or between the southwestern extreme of Dawn and Apreus before it was built, to settle their arrangements.
This often brought closure, and more so recognition wherever it went. More than anything, however, it was the world’s eye that mattered here and to every political entity. It hardly hosted matters that affected the entire world, but when it did, it was recorded in history.
The last time it was held in SHC, even though it officially happened in Lýmoca, was in the 8th century, where the Green Humanism and the Humane Key spread throughout the world. Now, a couple of hundred years later, still short of 300, Lýmoca had made it to the SHC again.
This time, it was Luis. Last time, it was the respected, loved-by-the-people President exposing the deep sense of humanism in Lýmoca. How well-behaved was ANS and even a dozen years after the president then finished his term?
Luis couldn’t compare to something like that, but he also wasn’t simply giving the world something to gift to the entire world, from Lýmoca, from the Lys; from the heart. But he had brought more than half of the south into the unification of the peoples and governments.
Was it complete? Of course not. Could it be completed? Luis thought so. He was confident.
Bringing his heart down a few beats, Luis looked down at himself and then at the sink again. He supported his hands on its edges. There wasn’t only Lýmoca’s image throughout history and the current world’s eyes. Fox was doing his thing in the north, and how well of a job he did.
Lýmoca now had several more territories to work with, each having their government transitioning, and then, his daughter had just married. Wasn’t he also due? When would he marry? Luis had a lot to go for a while, but hadn’t concluded the plan of any.
‘With this, I’m starting to clear everything before my deserved retirement.’ Luis thought, looking up again as he put all of that in the back of his head, still thinking about it, but not right in front of his face.
This would be the start. From hereon, he’d do everything. He’d make up for what happened in his first term, at last, after a decade of shame.
Step… step, step. Luis cleaned his hands and stepped out of the bathroom, walking swiftly and concisely, at even steps. The citizens workers watched the President step out at last and greeted him with a nod, involuntarily smiling for a brief moment until he passed them by.
A minute later, he walked to the gates leading to the selected room, which citizens opened for him. As civil workers in the council’s honorary parliament, they wore uniforms but weren’t guards. It was but the custom of this city-nation.
Their uniform was navy blue, but it appeared weak and welcoming. They wore a black, tall hat, which looked made of a thin fabric but leather-like. Of course, it wasn’t leather, or any animal, as this is SHC, and its customs were but exemplary of humanism. The benign side.
Their hats had a white plume vertically placed at the front, which was about 10 cm long, and was actually useful for writing on paper and screens. The only other color they wore was a red ‘tie’, which looked more like a painted line or rectangle on their chests beneath their jackets.
Luis walked into the hall. Many heads turned to him, of which most continued staring at him. Luis apologetically pressed his lips and nodded at them once before walking to his seat. The southern Moonblue presidents were seated all around him, forming a small globe surrounding him, although he was slightly at the front, only behind Cors’s representatives.
3 minutes later, with some representatives arriving after Luis and taking their seats, 3 council members walked into the hall and unto the stage in front of everyone. There was a desk with a thin glass at the front edge, which was in truth a wide microphone.
With the length of the desk, 5 people could speak in a volume slightly higher than a whisper, and they’d be perfectly heard by it, as long as they stood right behind it. The council members separated, with 1 of them stepping forth to speak.
“Thank you everyone for coming. Thankfully, this preliminary was successfully held on schedule. I am glad to inform everyone that everyone has arrived and been accommodated safely.”
Some clapping was heard from every party, including Lýmoca’s cabinet. The council member waited a couple of seconds before nodding, “Today, we are revising that everyone in their seat has everything accordingly. Next, we’ll simulate a voting. Everyone please answer with a yes.”
The humongous screen was turned on, showing 36 green votes from the countries’ names, including Safe Haven City and excluding the anti-Zyck and anti-KAA coalitions’ members. The latter 7 weren’t even in the list.
“Very well. Now, everyone please select no.” The council member spoke again. Another voting started, with the presidents or vice presidents selecting as instructed. The screen showed 36 blue votes with ‘no’.
“Thank you very much. Now, before we proceed to each of you voting yes and no with your country, just choose whatever you’d like for the next voting.” The council member elaborated. The screen soon showed 30 yes and 6 nos in the screen.
Afterwards, the hall went on so all 36 voters chose yes and then no in the screen, one by one, until everyone was done. At that point, the council member announced to everyone. “Very well, haha. That would be it. That simple is how it is going to be. You may return to rest. Tomorrow, the convention will begin.”
With that, the preliminary meeting ended. Everyone had the opportunity to see each other and know those who were attending if they haven’t already. Of course, there was a play at hand, which was why everyone from each group attended.
“…” After being invited to a small reunion after the preliminary meeting, Luis caught sight of a black man walking beside a renown ANS senator. They looked at each other briefly. There was no hostility, but both sides were analyzing each other.
Luis detected admiration, while he only felt curiosity. Regardless, he suddenly felt the reunion could be more than trying to see the through other countries. For example, Marcoplix was definitely going to support ANS’s choice before, but now, with everything that occurred…
***
KAA’s skies. During nightfall.
After numerous hours waiting for the right moment and the window of seamless cooperation, Fox flew the helicopters and drones directly from the city near the northwestern Merula coast to KAA’s northeast. With the aerial routes banned everywhere, there were fewer choices to arrive to KAA fast and without depending on other countries’ unknown, actual allegiance.
That was; to be powerful. What did Zyckevele’s actions do just a couple of days ago? One simple answer was directly to read the headlines about them mere hours after Marcoplix’s surrender went public.
‘The cruelty of Zyckevele!’, ‘Zyckevele’s ruthlessness’, ‘never mess with Zyckevele’, ‘Zyckevele has taken over Marcoplix in retaliation for invading their country. Was it a message? A warning?’,
From then on, more absurd headlines followed the stance of Vevuesta and Queorian, who left a lot to be desired. On the other hand, Pielsart remained silent, just like Emig and Rems, whom share history with Merula and borders from Emig’s part.
Thus, since northeastern Dawn had just been taught a lesson of true war, and not just sending troops somewhere expecting it to be all that matters, Fox wouldn’t ask for permission.
As such, from Merula’s skies, an aerial fleet of a few dozen helicopters and drones was further accompanied by hundreds of fighters. They were from Zyckevele, Merula, Iztos, and Xeoxia. Furthermore, there were a few cargo planes from the EPA Commonwealth.
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Was this, or not, a show of power? When they flew over the line dividing Pielsart and Queorian for hundreds of years, they were approached through channels. Instead of responding, Fox let them see their aerial fleet a bit more before those messages ceased.
Seeing it coming was one thing, feeling it as it flew over their shared skies was another. Neither Pielsart nor Queorian would offend Zyckevele, much less attack it. Let alone Zyckevele and the ‘northern powerhouses’ which were more united than ever.
Never before in history had they been seen not only joining each other ‘spiritually’, but they acted together and demonstrated a powerful show of union in KAA’s sake. It happened at night in the east, but the easterners lighted the midnight oil or were woken up in earnest.
They wanted to see what would happen. Some were excited, others felt trouble, and then, there was morbidness. Whichever it was, and whichever direction it developed into, there was no stopping the incoming help to the Ziacas.
The anti-KAA coalition did send some warplanes to stop or at least take down as much as possible, but they were brutally taken down by KAA’s missiles and anti-air defenses. The coalition didn’t stand a chance whenever they stepped into their enemy territory.
Almost 3 hours after they entered KAA aerial territory, Fox and the fleet arrived at KAA’s capital. It was situated about a thousand kilometers from the frontline, which had further fallen to the enemy during these days. Less than before, but quite more.
The KAA capital was where the Ziaca Nation’s capital once was, never moving. It wasn’t always their home capital, but it has always been an honorific and precious national treasure for thousands of years. And there weren’t that many in this Fourth Order.
However, while the frontline was just about a thousand kilometers from the capital, the Ziacas weren’t afraid of the battle reaching their national treasure doorstep. If history served them right, it would only give them strength, but the Ziacas were afraid of something else, indeed.
Were they to lose their entry to the sea, they would only enter a time-limit before beginning to lose this war. By then, it would be far too easy for the coalition to expend as many lives as possible but push the Ziacas down to their capital. Moreover, inviting other parties would become easier than ever thought.
Before, the Ziaca Nation enjoyed entry to the sea second only to the Lýlaco Empire. It was because of these assets that any warzone where they were being massacred wasn’t lost without massacring their enemies back.
If they lose their last entry to the sea, then they would be fully surrounded by enemies. Queorian and Pielsart won’t care about the consequences. After the enemy’s allies arrive to their aid, they would have established a most powerful Dawn coalition.
Thus, the KAA defended their northwestern front to the point of not caring about any of their lives any longer. It was tragic, a few times more than the western Radical Wars were, and already quickly nearing the northeastern Radical Wars’ numbers.
These were already by the few millions. It wasn’t a little, and at any given moment, with the right moves… the worst. Even if it only happened by half, or partially.
Fortunately, KAA defended their last entry to sea, making the enemy cower and fear the mere thought of stepping into the terrain of the feared northwestern front. Thus, the coalition didn’t brainlessly continue like it has happened in the north, and became flexible.
They expanded through Kunkek’s northeastern borders. With the other K Tribe nations bullied by Kunkek, they didn’t even dare to mention to the public about anti-KAA coalition’s forces entering their northern borders for better angles.
KAA responded swiftly, but their borders were taken by slightly over a hundred kilometers inwards, and more overall as the coalition continued marching to KAA’s southern center and further to the east. This was dangerous, but effective for the enemy.
… Fox stepped out of his helicopter with his gloves on. The airbase in KAA’s capital was top-notch and more worked than Zyckevele’s in their capital city. It was also larger, and it had a lot of militarization, but it felt safer, much safer, that way.
Before landing, Fox could see some of the enemy marching eastwards with the heavy helicopter’s detection systems. Now that he landed in the capital, which seemed peaceful, he felt the change in the air and fell apprehensive.
“Fox? Raging Blood, welcome to my home!” A person shouted from the side as Fox looked around. It was soft and gentle, but from a male. Yet, in that shout, Fox felt strong emotions and respect. He looked at the young man, which was at least 10 years older than him.
The young man has porcelain white skin, is tall, and with delicate features. To his side was a moon-skinned, pretty young woman with a similar disposition, her hair flung violently as he walked forth to meet with Fox. The rest of the helicopter stepped out of its gates.
“I am Kurosaki Yasashi. It is an honor to have you aid my nation. We need you the most now, Raging Blood. Would you follow me?” Kurosaki Yasashi said, bearing the image of a desperate young man. The young woman beside him pressed her lips but became calm.
“Drop the politeness, I won’t reciprocate.” Fox said before turning to his agents. Akina threw him a bag, giving him a teasing eye she deleted as soon as Nala tilted her head, even though Nala wasn’t even looking at her.
Kurosaki Yasashi nodded and turned around, trying his best not to have his clothes flown away. He wore a mix of elegant clothing and robes, appearing tight but more like wrapping around his body just right. He also wore all white. The young woman wore similar clothing, only more dreamy-like, and with a pale pink see-through mantle atop her dress from the front.
“This is my fiancée!” The young man shouted while Fox and the agents followed. The choppers were turned off one by one, but in the meantime, the hundreds of fighters that have escorted Fox overflew the airbase to bid and be bidden farewell.
“The East Sovereign’s son. Am I being seen as a hope?” Fox commented after the fighters went off and rapidly disappeared from the naked eye. Kurosaki Yasashi looked down at Fox from staring at the sky, a bit startled. “You are important to our nation, we believe, Raging Blood.”
“…” Fox gave the young man an extra glance before continuing walking forward. The noble building was too tall not to notice. Fox wanted to see what did that royalty-like synonym of presidential precinct had to offer. The one in Lýmoca could use some remodeling, especially after the assault in the celebration that year.
Nala and Esmeralda caught up with him, with Kurosaki Yasashi hurrying ahead to pave the way for the PSD and PR agents. He easily recognized Kusmina and Nikitina, beside the more than notorious Lean, who have visited the Sovereigns before.
… About 40 minutes later, with the streets becoming empty and clean for them, despite people everywhere, meaning this was done at the last hour, Fox arrived at the noble building. It was also a precinct, but the reason why there were medium to large structures around it was to house the people working in the noble building. Hence, its centralized naming.
On the way here, Fox saw the people of KAA. The capital was enormous, but it didn’t best Proteros City. From what he saw, it had a balance in the livelihood of the civilians many folds better than Proteros pre-cleansing operation.
These were the Ziacas, with the distinguishing features varying from both Moonblue and Twilight, which gave all Dawns another sense and depth of pretty, ravishing, and alluring and enchanting. However, this also gave them another kind of ordinary; of commonness.
Further than that, Fox could see the thoughts in their eyes, clearer than the bright sky in several hours. None of them were unaware of what was happening to their home, their land, their immense history. Neither of them believed in outside help. Thus, they knew whom to blame.
If the situation arose, even pregnant ladies would grab shovels and the crippled will run around with crates. Only they knew where they’d put their children so they wouldn’t suffer the same difficulties many in the Great Haul went through, a horrid history record hidden by the mighty.
… Fox stepped out of the car with a mask on. It was traditional of Ziaca history, and from what they used to believe in the AO, now transitioned to amulets and symbols of heaven. It had pitch-black and dark crimson outlining. Nala and Esmeralda walked out of the vehicle after him, the three of them looked up at the enormous noble building before exchanging eyes.
“Over here, please.” A beautiful young girl dressed in butler clothing gestured to them with a soft tone. She and other young girls wore similar butler-like outfits, while the young women wore maid uniforms, some a bit revealing. Fox nodded at the little thing, rubbing the top of her head.
The pretty thing blushed, with Esmeralda mirthfully smiling before hugging his upper arm, her mask making her seem further coquettish and lovely. Nala eyed Fox with interest instead.
Wearing a thin and exotic yet strangely cute and adorable small mask for her small head, Nala came off even more tender than these young girls. Fox grabbed her two hands’ fingers and fidgeted with them as they walked into the noble building.
The other agents also went in, further led elsewhere. Every single one of these few thousands could fit in the noble building. While Proteros City was huge, the noble building’s precinct bested the presidential precinct. Additionally, Fox and some others rapidly noticed the heavy security from special agents after stepping in.
All of them were 1st Grade caliber. It made sense, though. Who knows how many attempts have started because of Fox? And ever since he struck against a head of state or similar. It didn’t start at Terka, but at Lýmoca, where the vice president’s life was endangered.
Who knew how many secret world agents since then have attempted it? Of course, and as far as even Lýmoca could tell, the only ones to succeed have been Fox and PSD in general. This, of course, with Fox’s ‘clean’ history, makes it easier for Lýmoca to be pointed at whenever it happened and wasn’t official, like just recently.
As a result, the Ziacas were in the right if they wanted to take precautions when he was visiting. Fox couldn’t blame them, no one could. He would do the same if he went to his house.
Regardless, Fox was led through a slightly too long route from the bottom to the upper floors, then to the second floor above the 1st/main floor. A bit of a trick.
Fox felt even more powerful presences in the room where the Sovereigns seemed to wait for them. The closer they went there, the more such presences hidden in plain sight became the norm. At this point, he had an epiphany.
Clearly, Heart Lake’s best responders and combat elite special agents were in the capital, taking care of what was supposed to be attended. But these many stationed so close and in the same place, the same building; it was almost like they have even more spread throughout the major points inside their borders.
All in all, this Heart Lake had more probabilities to face off PSD and grow stronger than any other hoog in the world, surpassing Piya Sanctum District if given the chance. Of course, this was notorious with PSD only recruiting as usual, not counting the integration of other hoogs and their overall improvement as their nations’ territories integrate into Lýmoca.
These HL elites’ breathing seemed more powerful than Firsters, but they were all considerably, and more so, weaker than Nala. They weren’t even on par with representative captain Lian, but they were pretty strong, with the popular average near to a Captain.
Heart Lake was powerful, there was no doubt about that. Fox now understood a bit more of the secret world throughout the globe. Having gone through Paved Road, and now starting to see Heart Lake, he only needed to see more of ANS’s hoogs to get a detailed idea.
Then, it struck him. How many people have gone through the same as him? If he could gain advantage and do form his hoog secret organization in the dark, silent, and with heads low, once he came out with all that information and experience…
…