Silence pressed heavily down upon the conference hall.
Deep furrows carved themselves into Neville’s face.
The one to break that stillness was Secretary of State Bryan of the United States of Columbia.
“Commies, is it… Certainly not a pleasant word to hear, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Leaning back obliquely in his chair, he spoke.
“We, too, have no desire to see that red tide cross the ocean. But, Lieutenant Colonel, ours is a country more sensitive to numbers than to ideology. Do you truly believe that single photograph you tossed out can change the minds of our United States bankers?”
Bryan extended his right hand. Then he raised four fingers, forming the number four.
“Forty million gold. That is the total amount of loans our United States banks have sunk into the Republic. The moment the Imperial Army enters Elancia and topples the republican regime, that forty million gold evaporates into thin air.”
Then, folding his fingers, Bryan struck the table with his clenched fist.
“To us, that is a disaster more terrible than communism.”
Thud.
“Tell me. Is the Empire going to repay that money on their behalf? Or do you simply have the gall to tell us to swallow the loss?”
I smiled. It was the question I had been waiting for.
“I understand the United States’ concerns precisely. That is why we have prepared another measure. Please, take a look.”
I placed another set of documents on the table.
[Proposal for the Imperial Government’s Succession and Payment Guarantee of Republic Bonds and Loans]
“This is the official proposal of the Imperial Government. ‘The Imperial Government’s Succession and Payment Guarantee of Republic Bonds and Loans.’ And… the matter of ‘allocating priority negotiation rights for postwar reconstruction projects.’”
Bryan’s eyes fixed on the title of the document.
“Succession… did you say?”
“That is correct. The Republic owes the United States forty million. If those commie bastards seize power, they will call it filthy money wrung from the exploitation of the people and refuse to repay even a single coin. But our Empire is different. We are a civilized nation that respects private property and international contracts.”
I added,
“As soon as the Empire restores order in Elancia, the Imperial Government will assume all of the Republic’s external debts. The bankers of the United States will not lose even one gold. Rather…”
I lowered my voice by a tone.
“They will profit.”
‘Captivating Eloquence.’
[Skill ‘Captivating Eloquence (Lv.3)’ has been activated.]
“How much steel, concrete, and capital do you think it will take to rebuild the Republic devastated by war? Railways, harbors, communications networks… His Majesty’s will is to grant United States companies priority allocation of forty percent of those vast interests.”
Bryan’s eyes narrowed. The calculator in his head was spinning furiously.
Forty million gold in loans that were certain to become losses would be converted into safe Imperial government bonds, and on top of that, there was the vast blue ocean of postwar reconstruction projects. There could be no sweeter temptation for capitalists.
“…Forty percent. His Imperial Majesty is generous, Lieutenant Colonel.”
He could not hide the corners of his mouth rising. Soon after, glancing briefly at Minister Neville, Bryan nodded to me again.
“The United States is a nation that pursues practical interests. I cannot deny that the Empire, which will repay debts and even hand over business rights, is a far more attractive partner than commies who refuse to repay debts and confiscate factories.”
Ding—
[Skill ‘Captivating Eloquence’ is influencing ‘Bryan.’]
[‘Bryan’ feels a powerful attraction to your proposal and has begun to consider the Empire’s intervention positively.]
“In other words, the United States… is willing to support the Empire’s ‘public security operation.’ The spread of communism must be stopped. Indeed.”
“A wise decision. The Guards will protect the United States embassy and banks first of all.”
The United States had come over. The guardian of capitalism had taken the hand of the Empire, which had declared itself the breakwater against communism.
Now, only the United Kingdom remained.
I turned my gaze and looked at the isolated Minister Neville.
“Minister Neville. The United States has agreed as well. If only the United Kingdom opposes… well, there is nothing to be done. But history will record it.”
“Record what, exactly?”
“That the United Kingdom of Victoria abandoned the venerable Empire and sided with the commies inciting the massacre of the bourgeoisie.”
“Now, see here!”
Neville’s face turned red and blue by turns.
“We supported the Republic, not communism!”
With trembling hands, Neville pulled out a handkerchief. His forehead was already drenched in cold sweat.
“A-and this is… not a matter I can decide on my own. I need instructions from my home government, and also…”
“Time will not wait, Minister. Even at this very moment, while the United Kingdom blocks the Empire’s entry, Elancia will be turning red.”
I added,
“If you do not wish to see Londinium’s newspapers print, in great headlines, ‘United Kingdom Foreign Minister Abetted Communist Massacres,’ you would do well to give your answer here and now.”
For Neville, who came from the Conservative Party, that was no different from political suicide.
Ding!
[Skill ‘Captivating Eloquence (Lv.3)’ dominates the atmosphere of the conference hall.]
[The initiative in the tripartite conference has completely passed to you.]
“Phew…”
Neville let out a long sigh.
“…We will permit entry into Elancia. But occupation will not be allowed. Put into writing a promise that authority will be swiftly transferred after the establishment of a provisional government.”
“A provisional government.”
I shouted for joy inwardly.
The key was who would form that provisional government. Under the pretext of purging the communists, we only needed to fill it with moderate puppets to the Empire’s liking.
“A reasonable proposal. The Imperial Army will administer matters only until the red stain has been washed away. We agree.”
I gave Minister Josef a look. The minister, who had been sitting there dumbfounded, hurriedly pulled out the prepared agreement.
*
Once again, Londinium.
The Queen’s glass conservatory.
“…So, you accepted the Empire’s proposal.”
The Queen spoke in a calm voice.
Sitting opposite her, Foreign Minister Neville wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. It was not merely because of the hot, humid air of the conservatory.
“It was an unavoidable choice, Your Majesty. They wielded the card of communization far too skillfully.”
Neville continued as though making excuses.
“The United States of Columbia was the first to go over. Once the Empire stepped forward and offered to guarantee their debts, if we opposed it, even our cooperation with the United States would have been at risk of collapsing.”
“The Empire will repay the debts on their behalf…”
Snip.
The sound of scissors rang out. A severed thorn dropped to the floor.
“An interesting idea. A soldier coming forward with ledgers and fear instead of guns and blades.”
Neville clicked his tongue.
“It was an indescribably unpleasant sensation. That man, Max Jaeger.”
“…Oh?”
“We tried to surround him with diplomacy, yet when we came to our senses, we were dangling in the middle of the web he had spun.”
Neville shook his head as if sickened.
“I cannot forget his eyes. As though… he already knew what I would say before my tongue even moved. Eyes of intolerable arrogance. I even had the illusion that I was reading from a script he had written in advance.”
“…A script.”
The Queen answered indifferently as she moved the scissors to the next branch.
“You’ve done well, Sir Neville. Explain it properly to Parliament. Tell them it is better to indulge the Empire’s little farce than to have Reds planting their flag on the banks of the Londinium River.”
“…I will bear that in mind, Your Majesty.”
Neville bowed deeply and left the conservatory.
Only then did Queen Charlotte set down the scissors she had been holding. Her shoulders sank ever so slightly.
Sidney Wellesley, Director of Intelligence, approached. She had been guarding Charlotte’s side like a shadow all along.
“Sir Wellesley.”
“I heard, Your Majesty.”
Sidney expertly lifted the teapot and poured black tea.
“Neville is a coward, but it is not as though he has no eye for people.”
Charlotte accepted the teacup Sidney handed her. Warmth seeped into her fingertips.
“The result of the negotiations is one thing, but… Max Jaeger. That man troubles me.”
“Yes. He coordinated the interests of three nations and drew in United States capital, securing both justification and practical gain. It is not an idea a mere lieutenant colonel should be capable of.”
As Charlotte sipped her tea, Sidney continued.
“The problem is Arthur.”
“Yes. Has there been any improvement?”
“That is… rather than an improvement, the situation has become even more bizarre.”
Sidney took a thin file from her breast and placed it on the table.
“This is today’s report. ‘Status of the Target’s Asset Portfolio Reallocation and Funding Support for Pro-Imperial Factions Within the Republic.’”
The Queen set down her teacup and skimmed the document. Then she wore a dumbfounded expression.
“Is this a report from an Intelligence Bureau agent, or a weekly report from an Imperial investment banker?”
“Arthur… is claiming that he has gained the target’s trust and penetrated deep inside under that pretext. However…”
Sidney’s brow furrowed.
“The flow of funds he manages is, in the end, helping the Empire’s victory. Lobbying funds for the United States and operational funds inside the Republic. Arthur is in charge of laundering and transferring all of those enormous funds. This is clearly…”
“A failure.”
The Queen spoke coldly.
“Yes. Beyond serving as the target’s treasurer, he is now acting as a faithful servant of the Empire’s hegemonic strategy.”
“Arthur is competent. He is not a foolish man. If such a man cannot even grasp the situation and is going on about ‘building trust,’ there is only one possibility.”
Charlotte lightly tapped a rose thorn with her finger.
“It means that man has taken control of Arthur’s thought processes themselves. So thoroughly that he cannot even recognize he is being used.”
It meant Max Jaeger had turned even the finest blade sent by the United Kingdom into his own sheath.
It was insulting.
The fact that the United Kingdom’s finest spy was being played like a chess piece by a mere lieutenant colonel of the Empire was an unbearable humiliation for Sidney, the Director of Intelligence.
“Admiral William’s warning was correct.”
Sidney bit her lip. Humiliation stained her expression.
“Max Jaeger is… dangerous. He must not be left alone.”
“Then what shall we do, Sir Wellesley? Send another agent?”
Sidney shook her head.
“No. If Arthur failed, other agents will be no different. He seems exceedingly skilled at reading and manipulating human desires. A clumsy approach will only add to his assets.”
She looked straight at the Queen.
“I will go.”