Author Notes:
Honestly, I don't think this new RM chapter is as well written as I would have hope. It's either my skill is deteriorating or that my mind is not where it should have been. Do tell me if there's anything I need to fix, lads and lassies.
As for anything else... Well, tomorrow is the last day of the Monthly Recruitment Drive? Anyway, if nothing else, you can join my Discord for shits and giggles that we're up to on a semi-regularly basis haha.
https://discord.gg/cVZxJ29ruh
https://www.patreon.com/Heartbreak117
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POP
A mystifying stream of bubbly, clear liquid spews out after a satisfying pop. From the opened bottle, held in the hands of Lu, the chilled air seems to fall softly below like a hazy waterfall.
"Champagne time~!" Lu announces in her attractive voice, prompting Agent to carry forward a tray, topped with empty glasses.
With a brief flourish, Lu tips her upper body to pour the mesmerizing liquid into the prepared champagne flutes. Under the enchanted gazes of the family's kids, and much to their bubbling envy, Agent then goes around to distribute the aged drinks to the adults around.
Hel, noticing their curiosity to try out the sparkling drink, reaches to pat their heads, one by one.
"Kids shouldn't partake in this, at least not yet."
While there are a few pouts, with Rozaliya sporting the biggest due to her burning desire to try out such a beautiful beverage, Lu is quick to come to the rescue with an alternative offering.
"Well, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to let them try some ginger beer. Just enough to let them see if they can enjoy the bit of alcohol in it."
Agent, ever the dutiful servant, bows with an empty tray in her arms. "I will have the appropriate portions readied immediately."
Before the maid can move to procure the kiddie order, much to the expectant looks of Sirin and the rest, Nicolae, who has been holding her champagne glass up to play around with the light, suddenly interjects from the side.
"Oh! Oh! Yggdra, don't you have some of that brew you kept around for occasions like this?"
Being called upon, Yggdra, who has been enjoying Yuki's figure in the live broadcast, hums in acknowledgement.
"I most certainly still have them." The Mother Goddess says before snapping her fingers, prompting the drinks in question to pop into existence in the form of finely crafted bottles of various colors.
Yggdra goes on to say.
"Their alcohol content is roughly similar to or less than that of a normal ginger beer, and they come in different flavor sets. The girls can pick whatever they fancy. Agent?"
"Understood." The maid curtsies before moving to prep additional mugs for the little girls.
After a few minutes, every one of them in the chamber, Agent included, had beverages in their hands. As the live footage showcases the aerial parade over the signing of the Erusean Instrument of Surrender, Elysia twirls the liquid in her champagne flute.
"Well, it's official now, no more looking over our shoulder..." Elysia then turns to Eden, who is analyzing one of the kids' beverage bottles, winking. "Dear Eden, how about you do us the honor on this fine occasion?"
Eden, pulled out from her mulling, points a finger at herself while looking over to Yggdra and the others.
"Huh, me?" From her tone, it's clear that Eden thinks the honor of facilitating the day's special toast should go toward Lu or Hel, if not Yggdra.
Elysia and the others nod at Eden with encouraging smiles and gazes, gently expressing their desire for Eden to take the lead in the subsequent celebratory festivities. Sirin and the other kids gather around with eager anticipation, their eyes exuding fervent joy and curiosity for a taste of whatever is in their little hands. Rozaliya, amusingly, would have immediately downed her mug if not for her twin, Liliya, pinching her arm and causing the pink-haired teen to yelp cutely in pain.
The adults chuckle at the sight. Eden, who is not unused to hosting formal events during her singing tours, opts to start the celebrations with a simple but heartfelt toast.
"For our dear Reich Marshal! For our Eternal Reich! Cheers!"
"CHEERS!!!"
CLANK
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Mirroring the festive mood in the most private chamber in Berlin, the Forbidden City of Beijing is alight with boisterous laughter.
Cao Long, the one true Emperor of the Chinese dynasty, has his face flushed with unrestrained pride and joy after he witnessed the Belkan broadcast of the Eruseans signing their surrender. Pride because the gambit he made years ago to become the Belkans' foremost ally after their fallout with the Japanese has once again been proven sound. Joy because he has entrusted the future of not just his family, but also that of his citizens, to the right people.
There's next to nothing that can stop the Reich's rise now. Cao Long's daughter, Mei, will only soar higher and higher thanks to her deep personal ties with the Belkan royal family. It's thanks to his family's safety being secured that Cao Long is able to conduct without fear wide-reaching reforms, military buildups, and foster alliances with other political powers who share similar interests.
With high spirit, Cao Long slaps his knee before standing up while swinging his hand across what is a private viewing chamber.
"Come, old friend! I want us to be the first to go and congratulate the Reich for such an astounding victory!"
Sitting nearby is General Liu, Cao Long's friend and trusted confidant. The aged Chinese General, while truly happy that the Reich is once more the dominant faction on the world stage, is willing to play the pessimist for his excited Emperor.
"Do you not feel a shred of worry about such meteoric rise, Your Majesty?"
Cao Long laughs freely.
"Who says I don't? I consider myself one paranoid ruler, but experience has told me that there are times when one needs only to go with the flow and reach their most cherished wish, not digging an entire river up for a box of fake gold. If Belka's rise results in the Chinese people achieving everlasting peace and prosperity, won't I become the most sinful of all Emperors for denying our very lifeblood that splendid future because of?"
General Liu falls silent at the light, yet sincere tone the Emperor uses. Once again sensing the burning, if hidden, resolve of Cao Long in making the best of the situation, the General nods before following the Emperor out of the private viewing area. Cao Long smiles before confidently striding ahead. This has been one of the countless times they made such banters, constantly trying to ascertain and strengthen the determination of one another on the road to be walked. The familiar rhythm is a welcome addition to Cao Long's usual itinerary, which either involves courtly politics or passing on rulings and judgments.
"Tell me, how is our Eastern Army doing?" Cao Long asks General Liu.
His old friend is swift to reply with full certainty.
"Special provisions have been made to facilitate wartime Command and Control, and to reinforce the logistic chain during multinational force deployment. Our troops are well fed and well disciplined. They have taken to training with Belkan and American military advisors well, and the addition of the new American-made semi-automatic rifle has bolstered Frontline Infantry morale by a lot. We have also heavily invested in the aspect of unconventional warfare, as suggested by the Belkan advisors. Cultivators, like the ones from Mount Taixuan and other similar sects, are hired to craft specialized equipment and help the troops familiarize themselves with supernatural combat and tactics."
Cao Long nods with a pleased hum before instructing.
"I am very pleased, but the current Eastern Army alone is nowhere near enough to defend the entirety of Eastern China. We are not the only ones improving in the last few years... Accelerate the update process. I need at least 75% of the Eastern Army, hundreds of thousands of men and women, to become the living wall that will force our foes down to their knees. Additionally, expedite the formation of the National Guard. Though they may be using outdated or surplus equipment, just one lucky guerrilla fighter can decide the outcome of a major campaign. In my vision, the National Guard will be critical in bleeding the enemy dry of their precious assets. With Belka's sudden victory, the Japanese will be feeling restless, soon."
"Your Will be done." General Liu replies with seriousness. "And I will enforce a stricter border patrol."
While Cao Long's directive will put an additional strain on the Dynasty's coffers, the Chinese are constantly making money from the Reich's endlessly devouring and Ustio's opportunistic markets. The Dynasty can now fund a lot of things simultaneously, like modernizing its Navy and even building licensed warships, for instance. Gone are the days when they had to come to the Reich in search of affordable naval vessels.
The Cao Dynasty of now is different from what it was a few years back, before Cao could push for his national reforms. It is exuding with a vitality that stokes the greed of the Japanese ruling class.
Their minor chat comes to a halt when a door ahead of Cao Long is opened by General Liu, revealing just beyond the threshold a mixed group of soldiers and an entourage of different nationalities. One group is from the Reich's embassy, while the other is Cao Long's Chinese bodyguards and clerical staff.
An ambassador, representing the Belkan Reich, moves to bow neatly in front of the Chinese Emperor.
"Your Majesty, may I presume that your viewing experience has been quite an eventful one?"
"More than eventful. It went beyond even my wildest expectations. The way it was represented made me perfectly satisfied. Now, may I trouble you with accompanying me on a trip to your embassy, Ambassador? I wish to offer your rulers a more personal congratulation."
The ambassador bows deeply once more, exuding an air of respectful, yet truthful joy.
"It will be an honor for us to host your presence, Your Majesty. More than that, may I be bold and suggest Your Majesty visit our rulers in person?"
Cao Long raises an eyebrow, replying.
"Hoh? And you mean...?"
The Ambassador opens a briefcase, which contains an envelope that is simply adorned, but made out of the finest materials, before passing it over to a Chinese clerk. The clerk receives it, intending to check the envelope for danger, but Cao Long waves him off and lets General Liu receive the tastefully crafted envelope.
The Ambassador bows with a smile.
"Due to our swift victory, some may even say it's too fast a victory, we have been helpless in finding a good venue and timing to host Your Majesty's presence over in Erusea. However, it has come to my knowledge that the Reich Marshal has personally coined a letter of invitation for Your Majesty."
"A letter of invitation, you say? For what occasion, to be exact?" Cao Long asks, now sparing the Ambassador his full attention.
The Ambassador smiles kindly as he replies.
"It's an invitation to the Victory over Polania Parade, slated to take place in Warsaw in the near future, Your Majesty."