The Martial Unity

Rui wanted to facepalm so hard. “This isn’t even a war between human nations. It’s a war between species and civilization. Surely she’s not that unreasonable.”

“In actuality, she isn’t,” Prime Minister Edward replied. “The issue is that she can’t easily choose such drastic military options after campaigning on anti-war and anti-militaristic sentiments. If she decides to go through with such a drastic military deployment, she will earn the ire of her citizens who have grown sick of war.”

Rui frowned. “Even though this is for the good of the nation?”

Prime Minister Edward scoffed. “They don’t know that and certainly don’t trust their government when the latter says so. This is one of the greatest flaws of the Republic of Gorteau. All its policies need to be weighed against the sentiment of its voter base. A base who knows nothing about politics.”

That did indeed sound extremely annoying.

“It leads to stupid policies and doctrines in place while common sense solutions are ignored because they are not politically palatable,” Prime Minister Edward continued. “It is tricky, but if you are skilled enough to leverage it to your advantage like your father did when he crippled their war power and I did when I effectively usurped control over their military power, then you can get what you want.”

Rui fell into thought about the country as his mind spurred into action, trying to figure out more about how he could do just that. “…You mentioned she was elected because of anti-war and anti-militaristic sentiment.”

“Correct. The third Great East Panamic War had a devastating outcome on the Republic of Gorteau,” Prime Minister Edward replied. “For one, the Republic of Gorteau is a highly consumerist economy, not to mention the largest economy in East Panama. The war caused supply-chain disruptions in the form of losing supplies from the allies of the Kandrian Empire, which naturally hit consumerist economies harder. It cost the Republic of Gorteau the Bradt Distribution Service, which was an extremely important distributor of goods and services to the nation.”

Rui understood why the citizens of the Republic of Gorteau came to dislike the war so intensely. “The supply-chain disruptions caused immense scarcity of supplies, which led to inflation, recession, and mass unemployment, I’m guessing. A once economically flourishing nation had been ravaged by a brutal economic downturn due to a war that was unnecessary.” Prime Minister Edward nodded. “This caused widespread anti-war sentiments as people correctly blamed the war for all their woes. The Democratic Socialist Party noticed this enormous wave and decided to ride it, making it their biggest appeal. Their propaganda intensified already intense dissatisfaction with the war and the Martial-industrial complex. And now it is something that the democratic socialists cannot divorce themselves from. If they are perceived to be aggressive with their military, they will earn the ire of the foolish average voter and lose their next election.”

Rui massaged his forehead with his hand. “Surely the fact that the beasts and monsters are ravaging their borders should make them realize the importance of fighting back.”

“It does, but it will only incur their wrath if the Martial Sages are sent away,” Prime Minister Edward mused. “In their minds, in the face of such an existential crisis, Martial Sages should fight to protect them. Instead, them being sent away will be perceived as the result of a corrupt system.”

Rui groaned as he understood this dynamic well. “Basically, the leaders in charge are hand- tied due to the fact that their people are traumatized about events in the past and are being irrational.”

As for trying to convince the population of their rationale, that would not work. Rui understood democracies well enough to know that. Most likely the Democratic Socialist Party found that its own propaganda was coming to bite it in the ass in the Era of Darkness. Nobody could have predicted the Beast Incursion would have commenced this close to the elections. By then the effects of their propaganda had already taken root and was too late for them to turn back.

Funnily enough, he realized that this exact thing had happened with President Raymond and his anti-Kandria propaganda. With the return of the Emperor of Harmony, President Raymond had become reluctant about picking a fight with the Kandrian Empire as it was headed once more by its formidable leader.

But alas, he couldn’t have pulled back then. The propaganda had dug in too deep and now he was expected to deliver on his campaigning promises to the people of the Republic of Gorteau.

Rui just hoped that the current President of the Republic would be more reasonable and prioritize the long-term prosperity of the nation as opposed to short-term electoral concerns. Regardless, he had no intention of helping the nation with his gifts if they refused to join the initiative that his father had proposed.

The fate of East Panama could depend on whether or not they acquiesced.

“So I’m going to have to be truly compelling to get them on-board with the plan,” he realized.

Was his breakthrough offer powerful enough?

He truly wasn’t sure.

“I’ll figure it out when I get there.” He shook his head. “For now, thanks for the advice.”

He regarded the prime minister with a mixed expression. “It’s time for me to depart. Don’t fall. The Kandrian Empire needs the Britannian Empire to continue standing and serving as our shield.”

The man’s mouth curled with disdain while Rui smirked.

“Well then, goodbye. I have already fully recuperated. I don’t want to waste any more time, so I will be departing from the Britannian Empire immediately.”

It wasn’t long before he finished all the preparations, stocked up on potions, and departed the Britannian Empire. He wasn’t given a farewell like he normally got when leaving a nation.

He didn’t want it either.

He was not friends with any of these people as far as he was concerned.

And thus, he departed for the Republic of Gorteau, traveling through the ravaged Human Domain infested with beasts and monsters.