Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 54-3: Stockholm Conference (Part 3)

On the second day of the Stockholm Conference, after a period of warm-up discussion in the morning, Gustaf V was unable to contain his rising curiosity.

"Goddess Amaterasu, respectfully, I have been wondering why your delegation hasn't been contributing much to our discussions, is there a deeper reason behind your silence?"

The pointed question has placed a damper on the ongoing talks between multiple parties. Almost everyone cast their gazes between Gustaf V and Amaterasu, the question has evoked a strong sense of curiosity in them. For the most part, they're content to see how it will play out.

Outwardly, Amaterasu doesn't react, but inwardly, she is feeling indecisive and frustrated. What she has come to learn is quite damming, alright, it's why she has instructed the rest of her delegation and Vill-V to only supply the bare minimum of information that's required in this conference. But what she and the rest of the Japanese diplomats hadn't expected was for the conference to be very, very active on the first day. The talk about the transcontinental railway has given birth to a very spirited discussion that left Japan in an awkward place. They hadn't anticipated a multitude of treaties being proposed left, right, and center, leaving Japan being the odd one out, keeping to themselves when they had a share in the Asian continent.

Being put on the spot like that, it's not like Amaterasu can just spout a lie as a cover-up and be done with it. Most of these humans here are expert politicians, they can deduce a lie when they see one. Besides, as a Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu would rather not tell a lie unless she has no other choice. The information she holds, while it's a potential hazard to not just Japan but also Belka, isn't quite worth the risk of letting it be found out by other means. The last thing Amaterasu wants is to have Japan caught on a political backfoot... Again. Though it has been a long time already, Amaterasu can still feel the phantom pain left behind by the fiasco that led to Belka's dissolution of the alliance with Japan.

So rather than withholding the information, Amaterasu gestures for a diplomat in her envoy to speak in her stead. She has these sleazy figures employed for a reason, better them than her to bear the brunt of the work.

Amaterasu watches on as the Japanese diplomat stands and starts spewing some information that's accompanied by the usual pleasantries. But since she has spent way too much time with Vill-V, Amaterasu likes to boil the matter down to be as succinct as possible. The short version is this.

"We have come across some most troubling news that the disaster isn't quite as natural as most would think. Rather, it's highly possible that magical events were involved in the catastrophe. How do we know? Well, we have supernatural beings walking amongst us, that's why."

Ok, Amaterasu's inference of the speech might have contained a bit too much sass, but it's a good summary of what the speech is about. And true to Amaterasu's fear, the room, while not going under a stage of riot yet, does descend into a chaos of words and barely concealed heated discussion. Amaterasu subtly frowns in her seat, already expecting the worst from the other dignitaries. Fortunately, Vill-V isn't one to let Amaterasu stew in her own thoughts. The mad scientist stealthily sneaks her hand beneath the table, interlocking with Amaterasu's as a show of support. The Sun Goddess internally approves of such an action. If Yuki can walk around with fine ladies for a multitude of reasons, Amaterasu sees no reason why she herself can't.

Soon enough, pointed questions and thinly veiled accusations start being thrown in the direction of the Japanese delegation, with the Japanese diplomats expertly navigating the minefield that, while theirs to make, they have no map to act as a reference. One wrong step and Japan may as well be truly isolated on the world stage, a matter that definitely can not happen for at least a couple of years. Japan of now still has to rely on imported resources to run itself, even with Vill-V's geothermal power plant and wind farm providing a significant quota of electricity.

That said, during the heated discussion, both to explain the magical nature of the disaster and to avoid the political fallout for holding such information, Amaterasu notices that amidst the messy conference room, the Belkan delegation is surprisingly peaceful. Her good sister-in-anything-but-blood Lu merely views the proceeding conversation with nothing but a bemused expression. As for the rest of her delegation, Bryn has been stoic and unsurprised, much like the rest of the Belkan group.

Ah... As expected, Belka already knew something about this. If the deities in Japan could feel the thrumming mana beneath the ground, then it's a no-brainer that Belka could also. But still, to be that unconcerned...

Being stuck in her own head, Amaterasu fails to stop one of her diplomats in time. Having been annoyed by the Westerners, with them pushing for information they don't have on hand, a Japanese diplomat decides to throw the hot potato over to the Belkan delegation.

"While we are unable to offer more details, surely Belka, a nation that has even more sensors than us, will be able to shed more light on the matter."

You bloody fool! Putting them on the spot like that is no different than us slapping them in the face! Amaterasu would have loved to scream at the knucklehead that had just kicked Belka under the table. But the damage is already done, even with Lu forgiving Amaterasu for her subordinate's wrongdoing, she highly doubts the rest will see that way.

Still, with the attention now all on the Belkan delegation, the Devil herself only offers a confident smile. The silence stretches on for a full minute until Ambassador Udina of the Erusean Kingdom speaks up in an irritated tone.

"Well, we are waiting for your response, Belkans."

Unbelievably, Lu answers with this.

"Does it matter whether you learn more from us or not?

"What the Hell does that even mean?! You have the responsibility to offer everything you know! Unless you have a hand on whatever the Hell this mess is?"

Lu just chuckles, not at all fazed by the accusation from the Erusean ambassador. Even with the entire room casting their attention on her, Lu still sports an all-knowing grin.

"Like I said, does it even matter? It already happened, people already died, and the culprits are either five feet under or missing. Are you sure you want to learn something that will cause another great upheaval, right after the last one?"

Right, her tone surely implied something that is too major for anyone to pass up. Amaterasu has a feeling that she doesn't like where this is going, however.

Before the annoying Udina can speak up, Gustaf V has already interjected, also similarly displeased with Erusean ambassador due to his overall tone like many others. The man has to learn that Erusea is not the only world superpower in the room, and the Kingdom's golden age has long passed.

"Empress Venusian, you implied that you know things may impose a detrimental effect on the world?"

"A smart question, King Gustaf. Yes, Belka possesses information about the true reason behind the catastrophe. However, to discuss it in a not truly private setting will cause untold panic among the common populace. The violent force of man sometimes rivals that of mother nature, you know?"

Gustaf V reads between the lines, understanding that the very reporters who have been scribbling notes furiously have now become an obstacle. Unfortunately, they can't just kick these notable reporters out or what they will write will burn this conference to the ground.

Lu easily notices the conundrum of Gustaf V, the Belkan Empress gives the hard decision for the Sweden King to make, knowing full well the nature of Sweden's main religion. 

"King Gustaf, by all means, if you want me to reveal what I know, you need only say so. I hereby swear on my title that what I will say is nothing but the truth. However, I will not be responsible for any detrimental effect that the revelation will cause to you or anyone else."

Lu smiles mysteriously.

"To facilitate your decision-making, let me offer you a hint. If you're as smart as I think you are, you will understand the reasoning behind my subterfuge. What is your faith, King Gustaf the Fifth, and should you take that leap along with it?"

The hint, disguised as a question, makes everyone adorn a pensive frown. Still, it doesn't take long for Amaterasu and some others to realize what Lu is getting at... And the potential implication behind the question.

King Gustaf V also realizes that as a trickle of sweat rolls down his temple. The man, as a Protestant, knows full well the shenanigans that involve Christianity in this day and age. Nonetheless, Gustaf V is a King, first and foremost. And it's his duty to learn the truth in his people's stead. Steeling his resolve, Gustaf V first instructs his ministers to be ready for what's about to come. It's yet to be seen just how effective they will be to weather the future, however.

"Empress Venusian... Even if the information is as dangerous as you have implied, I think that by working together, we will be able to mitigate any fallout. So please, share with us what you have learned. If need be, I have faith that everyone in the room can cooperate by setting aside our differences."

Lu grins.

"Well said, King of Sweden. Then, with your blessing, my retinue will be showing all of you what's dubbed by my subordinates as the Fall of a Religion. Ironically enough, it wasn't because of me, but it's caused by their own hubris."

"By the end of today, Christianity as we know it will be crumbling like Jericho."