The Martial Unity

”It is true that the Underworld is primarily a domestic threat, but in the context of the threats posed by the Arakai Web Civilization, the Underworld is a highly vulnerable intel leak for human civilization,” Minister Ru continued, unperturbed by the participation of a leader who was otherwise explicitly hostile to human civilization. ”The reality is that we are in a very delicate state right now where the Arakai Web Civilization has yet to detect us and has yet to realize that our civilization is responsible for the death of one of their highly precious Divine Mothers and important outpost world.”

Her eyes narrowed.

”That, my esteemed colleagues, is perhaps the only reason we are not at war. At least, not yet,” Minister Ru continued with a serious tone of voice. ”Our intelligence analysis from information that the Kandrian Empire has managed to gather suggests that the Arakai Web Civilization is likely to blame another advanced civilization for this, the Aquadite Ocean Civilization, located here.”

She waved her hand, causing the projection systems in the conference room to project a hologram featuring a three-dimensional map of the Orion Star Strand, pointing to the territory of the Aquadite Ocean Civilization that was some distance away from that of the Arakais’ territory.

”This is of great fortune to us because it diverts their attention,” Minister Ru informed them with a calm and composed tone. ”It is one of the reasons that they haven’t discovered it, because they aren’t actively searching for a perpetrator anymore. Ideally, this arrangement could continue indefinitely, albeit unlikely as human civilization grows more and more prominent and the light of our civilization eventually reaches them, allowing them to detect anomalous changes. But more than that, the Underworld poses a very direct threat to this fortunate set of circumstances.”

She waved her hand, shifting the map of the hologram to that of human territory, with numerous dots spread across a specific portion of the edge of human civilization.

The part that was closest to the Strehegeld Star Systems.

”Each of these points is the location of an incident of an illegal attempt to travel to the Strehegeld Star System despite explicit prohibition from the Gaian Alliance,” Minister Ru spoke with a heavier voice. ”These are often mercenaries operating in the gray, pirates, fixers, and other parties belonging to the Underworld attempting to bypass the restrictions on traveling to the Strehegeld Star System.”

”They want the esoteric matter that is known to be present within the star system from the debris of Planet Amadeus III?” Arastia frowned, representing her own organization in the meeting.

”Correct,” Minister Ru nodded, turning back to the map. ”The rate at which pirates and traffickers have been trying to enter the Strehegeld Star System has been increasing alarmingly. Initially, after the incident, there was minimal attempt to bypass the prohibition and travel to the Strehegeld Star System.”

This was the period of time when everybody was genuinely afraid of war and the destruction that a more advanced civilization could bring upon them.

However, more than three months had passed since then. The fear of war and destruction slowly began to fade as everybody continued living their lives. The more time that passed, the more people were confident that nothing was going to happen.

And if nothing was going to happen, then why bother being afraid of whatever was in the Strehegeld Star System?

While legal organizations and even settler states wouldn’t dare, even if they were less frightened than before, the forces of the Underworld were much more inclined. These were forced led by individuals who innately had higher risk tolerance. After all, the Underworld was a dangerous stratum of humanity.

They were willing to take the risks that came with the Strehegeld Star System.

”Thankfully, every attempt so far has been foiled,” Minister Ru said with a hint of relief. ”This is thanks to the diligence of the frontier states, the leaders of which are present in this meeting today. As the Minister of Harmony of the Kandrian Empire, I would like to take a moment to offer my appreciation of your commitment to humanity’s security at its very edges. The Kandrian Empire will not forget your contributions.”

Several leaders who were seated further away and down the long table sheepishly smiled, lowering their heads with nervous appreciation.

”Haha, not at all, Your Excellency. We are grateful to have been of use, and the Stharthic Union will continue to defend humanity’s interests.”

”As the Prime Minister of the Shenwein Republic, I am grateful to the generous financial and technological aid that the Gaian Alliance and the Kandrian Empire have offered to our state, without which this would not have been possible.”

”As the President of the Jarkarthar Federation, I too would like to offer my gratitude to the Minister of Harmony.”

They were the three frontier states that were closest to the Strehegeld Star System, within which an overwhelming majority of the illegal attempts to reach the prohibited star system were made.

”The Gaian Alliance and the Kandrian Empire will step up the aid that we are offering you in suppressing these illegal activities,” Ru continued with an authoritative tone. ”And we expect that you will continue to do your best. I will note, however, that the report detailed unsatisfactory security states and the flaws and holes in the security apparatus that could lead to one of these attempts being successful, leading to the demise of human civilization.”

Her expression grew serious.

”The Kandrian Empire will personally be intervening to ensure that these holes are fixed, for the stakes are too high. In particular…”

She turned towards the Jarkathar Federation.

”We are concerned about the high risks associated with your deficient state capacity, President Jarkarthar.”

It was the same polity where Ria and Runark had spent their time in the frontier.

The President of the Jarkarthar Federation broke into a cold sweat under the powerful and heavy gaze of the Minister of Harmony. He was a bigshot back in the frontier, the leader of an entire state. He controlled an entire planet.

But in this meeting, he kept his head low. He was just big fish among blue whales and players who could actually steer the fate of human civilization.