Author notes:
RM Vol 2: National Development - Chapter 28: Hero of Comberth Harbor (Part 2) IS UP ON PA-TREON!!!
Jesus H. Christ... It's a chapter worth almost 5.5k words! And I'm actually very proud of it! It's the penultimate of this Volume, after all. Boy, I sure need a break after this lol.
Anyway, with the new chap posted, I will be working on the Epilogue next. It's more a after-action report on Yuki's end before she goes on to spend the rest of the month with her family. Nothing too serious for now. The Spanish war and it eventual 'conclusion' will be featured in the first portion of Vol 3 so stay tune for that.
With this being the start of a new month and soon to be a new journey, I extend my heart felt thank you to all of you, especially you my Patrons. Here's to another wonderful month and another beautiful stretch of this story.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the office of the Ustian Prime Minister, a special guest is being hosted there, one that is best known as an ambassador from the Erusea Kingdom. With her face maintaining strict professionalism, even under the lecherous gaze coming from the ambassador twice her age, Dana Elvidge serves tea for both the Minister and the ambassador. After that, she then moves to a work table by the corner of the office before sitting down there. Per the Prime Minister's instruction, Dana will be jotting down the details of this meeting for later reviewing, she proceeds to do just that.
As the two men soon move past pleasantries, the ambassador delves into the matter of financial and military support.
"Prime Minister Churchill has deemed it fit to prepare the Erusean military for the eventual war against the Belkan horde. Before the Months of Demons end, we will be sending over our Expeditionary Force which is 400000 strong, with about 700 tanks, 20,000 motorbikes, 45,000 cars and lorries, 880 field guns, and 310 larger equipment, about 500 anti-aircraft guns, 850 anti-tank guns, 6,400 anti-tank rifles and 11,000 machine-guns. Armed with the latest weaponry we have available, an example will be the Cruiser Mark III and the Matilda, the Erusean Expeditionary Force will give the famous Ghost Division a run for their money." The ambassador then boasted more about what equipment and weapons the EEF would have, Dana noted these down for future reference while the Prime Minister nodded along without much enthusiasm.
"It's good that the Erusean Kingdom is finally making its move. Though you failed to mention anything about helping us in rearming our Ustian Military." The Minister pointedly said that, earning a smack of the tongue from the ambassador. "We still haven't received a single crate of rifles so far, only monetary support."
"Don't you worry about that, along with the EEF, shipments of surplus small arms and heavy armaments will be accompanying them over to Ustio. They're more than enough to outfit your hundred army divisions and Air Force." The ambassador answered, clearly not amused with his spiel interrupted.
Having none of that, the Prime Minister moves on to say. "That will leave us next to no time to familiarize ourselves with the new equipment. Our combat effectiveness will be reduced with the late delivery."
The ambassador, however, doesn't give a damn about the Ustian Minister's concern. "That's for you to figure out, the EEF will be focusing on setting up proper defensive infrastructures on the basis of your defensive line that stretches from Strasbourg to Charleroi. Unlike the previous defensive line you were so proud of, the EEF will make this new Maginot line unbreakable in a literal sense. With the number we will be sending over, it will be up to you Ustians to fill in the needed manpower to man the line."
Though he expected this, the Prime Minister can't help but quip. "You're saying as if you EEF will be sitting on the sideline."
Frowning, the ambassador responds. "We WILL be covering the northern flank, the part where the Republic of Gracemeria has been very reluctant in allowing any country other than Erusea to station an army there. This is a precaution for when Belka uses Arash as a springboard to invade Gracemeria and into the unprotected northern Ustio. If only your King hadn't made a fool of himself in front of the Gracemeria delegation, we would have been able to extend the Maginot line all the way to the sea."
Snickering, the Prime Minister retorts. "Erusea wanted an incompetent King and now you complain that he is actually incompetent?"
"Be careful with your words, Prime Minister." Squinting his eyes while reproaching the Minister, the ambassador says. "The Eruesean Kingdom has no manipulation in the crowning of King Johann Bonaparte."
Shrugging, the Minister waves off the warning. "Whatever floats your boat, ambassador Udina. Moving on to the next matter, a response must be given to the situation regarding Spain. What's the stance of Erusea in this."
"Sardegna is taking an increasingly hardline stance against their own tributary state for, and I quote, not being faithful enough. Can't exactly blame the Spanish on this as Sardegna basically left them to die in the Months of Demons for being neutral against Belka. This, undoubtedly, backfired and Spain is growing ever closer to Belka, receiving financial aid in the process." The ambassador analyzed. "Now, on paper, Belka hasn't sent any army over to Spain but the presence of their mercenaries has effectively thrown a wrench into whatever plan these Sardegnians have in mind. Intel suggests that Sardegna is planning an armed response to 'pacify' Spain but it's more than likely it's a full-on invasion to annex the state once and for all. This is undesirable for a multitude of reasons, chiefly being the cutoff of our access route to Africa."
Sighing, the ambassador then continues. "That being the case, however, Erusea can't do anything, not yet when Belka is still a thorn to be picked. Our plan right now, believe it or not, will be to support the Spanish Inquisition on whatever move they make against Sardegna. Spain must remain a buffer zone between Ustio and Sardegna."
"Even if you say that political and financial support won't be enough for Spain. Sardegna is hellbent on making any sympathetic element to Belka suffer or converted violently into their doctrine." The Prime Minister added.
This leads the ambassador to extrapolate more on Erusea's plan of action. "Though unconventional, the existence of Belkan mercenaries has stabilized Spain quite a lot. While unconfirmed, rumors have it that Prime Minister Churchill will be copying the Belkan, sending mercenaries over to Spain, and bolstering their military. It's also suspected that the Prime Minister is also communicating with the President of the USA, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to have him do the same."
Dana and the Prime Minister both raise their eyebrows at this. "The USA is halfway across the Earth, why the hell are they being pulled over here?"
"It's probably because of the upcoming election for the Presidential seat. If Roosevelt can score a few easy victories over Spain, he can easily retain the seat. This will assuage Minister Churchill's concern about a different variable leading the USA away from the interventionist policy." The ambassador explained.
"I see, the fat man wants to drag the USA into the European war sooner or later." The Prime Minister noted and so did Dana.
The two men then move on to different matters that require further exchange between Ustio and Erusea. On the sideline, Dana writes everything down, the revelation thus far has been intriguing with Erusea planning to fortify the neutral Gracemeria while also intervening to aid Spain. The secret agent plans to forward the first-hand intel back to Belka as soon as possible. She doesn't know what her leader will make off it but one thing she does know is this.
Spain will soon be a cesspool of many factions.
------------------------------------------------------------
Far away from Europe and in the land of the Rising Sun. A brown hair female, dressed in a white divine garment, is moving down a hallway connecting to a laboratory. Stepping past a set of doors that is pushed open by her magical prowess, she directs her brown eyes to a tall lady wearing a lab coat.
"You've been ignoring my summons, again." With a songstress's voice, albeit a bit cold but that's to be expected of a person of her status, the brown hair female said. "You've got the guts to dismiss me, Amaterasu, the same person that summoned you and gave you this new leash in life."
Turning around while sporting a wry smile, the lab coat-wearing lady responds. "What can I say, I'm a busy girl and with all the work I've been pulling, I can't be distracted by politics. Heck, I can't even pick up a newspaper with all the projects I've been heading."
Rolling her eyes, Amaterasu steps toward the work table, leaning over to check out the schematics laying about. "A sorry will be sufficed."
"...Sorry." The lady said before hugging Amaterasu from behind, her blond ponytail gently swaying as she did that.
"Apology accepted." Amaterasu said with a hint of a smile. "Something happened and I am angry."
The lady is just about to pat Amaterasu's brown hair when she stops to ask. "Who? Why? And should they be gone?" Her voice was laced with a certain venom.
Shaking her head, Amaterasu stops the lady from going on a murdering spree. "The delegation sent over to Belka committed a serious faux pas, one that infringed on the dignity of my niece. The relevant personnel has already been punished so you need not worry. It's just that I'm angry because they may have worsened my standing in my niece's eyes, one that I haven't seen in years. That and I'm worried that the hardliners won't take this lying down."
"I... Can't help you with that." The lady admitted with a sigh. Even though she has been here for nearly a decade, the lady's meaningful contacts can be counted on one hand, Amaterasu included.
"Don't worry, I'm not counting on you for any relationship advice. Bantering aside, something else came up on the trip. Belka is now supplying the Long Dynasty with their new armaments, ones that rival what we have in service right now." Amaterasu looks up into the lady's gray eyes before saying. "Your prototypes better perform or my plan will crash and burn."
This earns a prideful smirk from the lady. "Don't worry, once the trials are done, the Chi-To and many other weapons will put our Japan at the forefront of military might. Even with the Belkan stuff, Long Dynasty will be annexed by us in no time at all, so long as we take a cautionary approach to the enemy. After that, with the resources mined from mainland China, we will be able to make newer and better designs! In time, harnessing the power of the sun with science alone is a possibility!"
Nodding at the lady's words, the Goddess of the Sun responds. "With your guarantee, maybe my dream won't be too farfetched after all."
"The world needs to be united under one wise leader, me."
Unknown to Amaterasu and her summoned hero, a few Generals with a disposition for extreme fanatism and loyalty, just signed a very problematic order. One that promises to bring an untold number of troubles for the leader of Japan in the future.