“Very funny of you,” John reprimanded. He was talking to a certain suit, who had been wearing a different face yesterday – that of an interviewer. “If you want to get information to without running into Claire, there are more effective thods.”
“Consider petty, petty indeed,” the Horned Rat responded. “I take it you truly have heard nothing about a Shogun?”
“No… what more do you know?”
“The funny thing… nothing.” Richard folded his exceptionally average hands over his belly. “Sothing is stirring in Japan, to the surprise of nobody. Either we have a Latebloor adept at both fighting and covert action or, more likely, two entities. Might be two Latebloors, a Latebloor and an old god that managed to hide – although I don’t know who – or sothing else.”
“Why do you think two is more likely than one?” the Gar asked, only for the Horned Rat to point at him. “You’ll have to explain that one.”
“Prodigy of the Generation of Monsters, and still you weren’t capable of training both your covert abilities and personal powers simultaneously to a degree that you can stand up to . A singular Latebloor who is capable of eluding while dealing such massive damage to a Worldturtle at such a distance would have more potential than you or Romulus.” The Horned Rat paused for a mont. “I will not lie, not lie for a mont, about this when I say that that prospect scares . I can coordinate against you. I can coordinate against Romulus. I wouldn’t be able to coordinate against such an entity.”
John gave the possibility consideration, then nodded. “I suppose it’s either an entity like no other, two of incredible but still understood levels of power, or you are the backer. For once, I fully believe that you have nothing to do with this. A crisis in Japan would not benefit you at this ti. It would benefit .”
“And who wants to raise allies above themselves?” the Horned Rat responded plainly.
An eternal truth of power blocks throughout history was that they ford around a mighty nation. Russia, in many parts of history, had expanded its sphere of influence over most of eastern Europe. Austria had been famous for a long ti for having fingers in every European pie. In current tis, Germany and France worked together to keep the European Union functioning. Even a technically unified empire, like Ro, had derived most of its power from certain provinces in Greece and Italy.
In any partnership, there were more and less powerful participants. Those at the top got the most to say, either by virtue of general understanding or just because they had enough value to throw around in exchange for favours. It was, typically, in the interest of everyone involved to gun for a spot as close to the top as they could, because entities in a pact that had nothing to offer were, at best, ignored and, at worst, exploited.
Being at the top, by comparison, in every hierarchy ever, ca with its boons.
In the alliance between Fusion and the Illuminati, the Illuminati could muscle in on Fusion at almost any ti. There had been no reason for them so far, but the French-centred guild made up a fair share of their trade, sent over people for educational programs, and just generally helped the Federation make a solid foundation. An investnt by the Horned Rat against his world-dominating neighbour.
What happened if Fusion got too strong too fast? Then this relationship would reverse, suddenly Fusion would have the threat of pulling economic aid or educational programs. No one wanted to play second fiddle – especially not the people who used to be the conductors. Even the Horned Rat would be pulled aside by disgruntled co-rulers if he put the Illuminati into a lesser position in a relationship.
One of the reasons, doubtlessly, that the Illuminati had annexed Great Britain during the Five Days War was that it was the obvious and only path for them to expand their powerbase. That way, they could keep growing as Fusion was growing, and so stay in the driver’s seat for a couple more decades. Especially since the British Isles had both Protected Spaces that were still used by the diminished inhabitants of the islands and the Channel leyline. Gathering Faith from northern Europe, this ‘minor’ leyline went out into the Atlantic and fed into the major leyline that then flowed into the Atlantic Fuse.
When it ca to quickly expanding their power, the British Isles were all the Illuminati could have asked for. It was nearby, it had too few people to mount a resistance, while having worthwhile infrastructure, and it had an abundance of natural resources through proximity of a minor leyline that was, in reality, almost as powerful as a major one.
Most of these things also applied to Japan.
Japan had its own Abyss rooted out in the WW2 era, but many of its Protected Spaces would still be around. The Koreans had kept the population confined to the inland and low lying areas. More importantly, in order to avoid continuous raids from the mainland, the island nation would likely take whatever guarantee they could. The entire nation was practically placed on top of a leyline. The only drawbacks that Japan had over Britain was that it was further away and that the culture of its people was not as similar.
Still, if Fusion could secure a hold on the island nation, then that would counteract the Illuminati’s growth. Left behind would only be the question of what had more potential to grow: North Arica or France?
Between John’s abilities and sheer landmass, the outco was obvious.
The Horned Rat had and doubtlessly would fabricate certain crises to help or hinder Fusion’s growth. It wouldn’t surprise John to find out that the Horned Rat had been deliberately hindering the Abyss of the continent from consolidating. So far, he had a hint of that in where the Small Lake Pact had been located, in the form of so old French graffiti. Since the god had been waiting for soone like John to co along, keeping a part of the world ‘clean’ for conquest would have been in his interest.
Also getting Japan was just too much to be in line with that.
“The only way I see this playing out in your favour is if you suddenly reveal that you want Japan to join the Divided Gates – for which you do not have the international political capital,” John elaborated further on his thoughts. “There’s a reason why you waited for Romulus to invite the Federation. It’ll be difficult enough with his backing.”
The Horned Rat just shrugged and smiled. “I suppose we will continue to be in the dark on Japan then.”
An infuriating character.
__________________________________________________________________________
The Imperial Harbour.
A Protected Space that existed right next door to the Eternal City. Ro proper was landlocked, at least as far as its Abyssal side went, for reasons that John could only speculate about. An understandable basic factor would have been that, until the relatively recent advent of Mobile Barriers, the sea actually did not matter to Abyssals for most things. Considering the age of the Greater Empire, its Illusion Barriers were created not only with that in mind, but also with the demand that they always had to be inhabited by sobody, until Protected Spaces ca along.
Consequently, the Imperial Harbour was one of the newest large-scale barriers of the Abyssal superpower. It showed in the various constructions that were still going on along the shoreline – and only that. Romulus’ architectural vision for Italy was as present as ever. Roman columns supported triangular roofs of pale stone. Artistically swung piers connected to artificial islands, creating bays and docks that could be dried out for ship maintenance. Vast, multi-level structures held within tal fras. Workers were welding and hamring, assembling new ships by the mont.
They were far from the only people around. Ro’s population was ridiculous by Abyssal standards. 225’000, by popular estimate, located just in the actual Eternal City. One city that, on its own, equalled more than 2/3rds of the ENTIRETY of Fusion’s roughly 300’000 citizens.
That population had co out in droves to see the arrival of the Arican guild. Their cheers could be seen from over a kilotre away. Heard, even, as it competed with little winds. Barriers of this size, several kilotres across, did develop their own air turbulence to so degree, but not much.
There was work. There were people. There were walls painted with murals of legendary actions and statues of Romulus, Sol, Luna, Krieg, Rodaclam, and so many other prominent figures of the Greater Empire’s history. Everything was new and yet everything felt ancient, because even freshly carved rocks in this place were a continuation of three thousand years of one lasting civilization.
“What a grand display…” John muttered, between respect and envy.
“What’s bothering ya?” Rave asked.
“For all the advances Fusion is making rapidly, this is sothing you cannot gain at an accelerated pace.” He gestured over the several kilotre stretch along the shore. All of it was carved stone or stone waiting to be carved. The smooth surfaces would be covered in murals, the ground in mosaics, and upon everything would lay the heavy mantle of ancestral responsibility. “The magic of history. The air that this place, and only this place, is this specific place.”
There was an easy jab at his terrible formulation there, one that Rave and the other harettes chose to ignore, as the ships glided towards the harbour. Mages by one of the artificial bays weaved together elental magic to create an explosion of forces that perfectly mimicked Fusion’s flag. A greater way to show them where they were to make landfall, they couldn’t have asked for.
From the bustling comrce of the stands erected in anticipation of the crowd, over the crowd itself, to the clear effort that had been made to make the dockyards appear as busy as possible, power was projected outwards. John loved to think of the Greater Empire as what it was: old. The problem with nations was that their age had nothing to do with their power. Only decadence and resource constraints weakened a nation, and the Greater Empire was shaking off millennia of rust.
Fusion was growing, consolidating and innovating. The Illuminati were forging ahead in similar ways. Rex Germaniae was going through rapid social reform. In so many fantasy stories, the old empire was strong due to inertia, but not so here. John was staring at the reclamation of vitality by a titan. The Sons of Ro were governed by an absent father no longer.
The yacht settled in the centre of the bay’s curve. Expert actions on both sides rapidly connected the pier to the docking points of the yacht.
John had made every preparation he could to make his landfall impressive. The Ego Blades hovered behind his back, slowly circling like a weaponized halo. By his side walked Rave and Momo, the First Lady and Chancellor of Fusion respectively. While the feline Lightbearer had elected to wear a pink dress equally elegant and appropriate for the diterranean sumr climate, Momo wore her usual maid uniform with pride. So did the three won imdiately behind them. Aclysia, Beatrice, and Claire were their entourage, the last of them holding a parasol to ward off the sun’s endless rays.
Only after that first group had made landfall, did the second group co forward. Accompanied by a second surge of applause, the six elentals moved off the boat. They made a show of it, Sylph and Salamander especially, forming a double helix of green-blue and black-red, before arching back down and landing next to Gno, Siena, Undine, and Stirwin.
The Creator Puppet showed up next, for one mont remaining in its golem form, then changing visibly to John himself. For a mont, he just stood there, then tra and Nia stepped out from behind the walls, and nuzzled against his sides. For all the prestige attached to this event, or especially because of it, the Gar felt very happy to play to his reputation. Groping them was out of the cards, however, especially with tra in most of her armour, only her face left uncovered.
Last, then, were the crafters of the harem. Delicia rushed out first and gave the entire world the smuggest grin an alchemy maid could muster. Scarlett was swift to follow, Hailey hesitated for a bit, Lee and Lorelei lagged behind more than their plan had demanded.
‘Oh, co on, if I can endure this, so can they!’ Momo complained ntally.
John chuckled, but was too busy executing the finale. Entirely unnecessary esoteric gestures hid from the watching crowd the dull and chanical button presses he actually had to make. Transferral of ground was already complete – the land they stood upon leased to Fusion for the duration of the eting between the Divided Gates.
That was the prerequisite cleared for the outpost to be erected. The structure of dark tal and wood was practically the opposite of the light stone that dominated the environnt. It was foreign, its design more modern, and the blue circle in the middle flared, discharging potent mana into the air that hid the inside of the gazebo-esque structure for a split second.
Then there were four more. John himself, for a third ti, the Ambassador Double stepped out. This had been the most difficult part of the entire display – because he had only two arms and three lovely ladies that needed hugging. In the end, he had decided to princess-carry Eliana in her black sumr dress, while Nathalia and Nightingale strut confidently behind him, covered in black scales and a dress as dark as midnight.
While the crowd burst into one last series of cheers, the harem consolidated in one spot.
“Never did I think I would be greeted in Ro with applause again,” Nathalia comnted.
“We’re quite popular here,” Rave remarked with a smirk.
“We did help extensively in the Five Days War… if it hadn’t been for ripping Romulus’ heart out, they probably would love Eliana.”
“I regret nothing,” the goddess of genocide growled.
The sound of the crowd stopped in an instant, like fla smothered under a blanket. Waving and jumping along the elevated shore ended after a few seconds’ delay. A wonderful sound, like a singing glass, filled the air instead. Atop the staircase that connected the harbour to the city along the shore stood a singular figure, his ancient body half-consud by various crystals. They pierced the robe he wore deliberately, as if they were decorations added, not part of Rodaclam’s actual physique.
“The Sons of Ro greet you!” Romulus’ chancellor declared, the voice reverberating in the singing sound. From all the other ships, civilians and military ca ashore, forming loose groups and perfect rows. “My Emperor invites you all, to rest here for the day, for those that watch the ships to rest for longer, and for those that will partake to move to the Eternal City co tomorrow. And you, John Newman, the Gar, you and yours are invited to follow . The Apex wishes to speak!”
“I humbly thank you for hosting us,” John responded, his own voice boosted by Sylph. “We accept your offer to rest and I will be most pleased to et Romulus!”
The people cheered again, as the Gar approached the stairs.
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