Felix extended his hand, and the Black Empress did the same. Their gloved hands met in a firm handshake. At that moment, the senior figures on both sides exchanged brief glances and gave subtle nods, no words needed.
"Having traveled such a distance, I am pleased to meet the King of Liberation in person," the Black Empress said calmly. "I hope this discussion will prove beneficial to the future life and development of both Kazdel and Leithanien."
Though the Black Empress was known for her severity and often left a harsher first impression than her counterpart, Felix was indifferent to such distinctions. To him, whether the one standing before him was the Black Empress or the Golden Empress made little difference. As long as it was one of the twin empresses, the negotiations could proceed.
Yet this also revealed the inherent flaw of a dual monarchy. If Felix were to reach an agreement with the Black Empress while the Golden Empress held a different opinion, what then would become of that decision?
For minor matters, such conflicts could be overlooked. But when it came to issues that might determine the fate of a nation, reaching a final verdict would become exceedingly difficult.
Hildegard was already in her thirties, and the mature confidence of a Leithanian woman was evident in her bearing. She was no gentle white sheep, but rather a powerful, ambitious goat. As their hands parted, Felix noticed the calluses on her palms and immediately understood that her skill with the sword was likely far from ceremonial.
"Lady Hildegard, this is an outcome we both wish to see," Felix said with a faint smile. "Kazdel is no longer what it once was. I believe now is the right moment to set aside past grievances and seek a path forward together."
"Hehe. Let's get going then."
"Please."
They gestured to one another and walked ahead, leaving the unspoken assessments and exchanges of the senior officials and bodyguards behind them.
Once inside the black vehicle, Felix watched as Hildegard entered the car ahead. Loughshinny sat beside him, with the driver and the bodyguard, Nian positioned in the front seats.
"How does it feel, coming here for the first time?" He asked.
Turning slightly, he took in the scene beside him. He was still wearing his familiar general's uniform, though it had been updated in style. New insignias adorned his shoulders, representing Tomorrow's Development and Kazdel, placed side by side to symbolize their current relationship. The senior officials accompanying him had also changed into the latest generation of uniforms, designs that echoed the ancient attire of Kazdel's royal court while incorporating the futuristic aesthetics of Tomorrow's Development. The result was unexpectedly harmonious.
Loughshinny wore the uniform of a member of the Kazdel royal court. The fusion of armor and machinery lent her a heroic air, masking the gentleness on her features.
"Lady Hildegard wasn't particularly warm toward us," Loughshinny said cautiously, "but we could clearly sense her willingness to establish diplomatic relations."
"There are problems both inside and out," Felix replied, resting his hand against the window as his gaze drifted toward the soundproofed driver's compartment. "I've told you about Leithanien's history before. On the surface, everything appears calm, but the remnants of the Witch King's faction are still active in the shadows. Even with the Gesatzswächter and the Empresses's Voice standing at the top in terms of combat strength, there's no guarantee that those remnants haven't already infiltrated the country."
"So…"
"True peace doesn't exist on this land," Felix continued. "Sometimes, peace is something that must be forcibly maintained. From my current perspective, Kazdel is the only nation that can truly inspire fear and a sense of threat, especially now."
"The royal courts are united and acting in concert. The Sarkaz are no longer mere mercenaries scraping by for survival. They are free to choose their own paths, no longer worrying about living day to day. Now, they only need to consider what kind of future they wish to create."
"Kazdel is terrifying. That's why Doctor Kal'tsit once led a multinational coalition to defeat it. Of course, back then, Kazdel was the one who started the war."
Felix spread his hands slightly. "Although Kazdel occupies the smallest territory on this land, when all the royal courts stand together, any technological advantage becomes nothing more than a tumbleweed before them."
"Setting that aside for the moment, Kazdel's unification is indeed a threat. But its current peace has also eased the tension of neighboring countries, because the nation most capable of aggression has chosen not to continue down that path. Why do I say the most capable…"
"Among the nations that are openly viable for diplomacy at present, Leithanien, as mentioned earlier, is troubled by an undercurrent of rebellion from the remnants of the Witch King's faction. In Higashi, according to information I obtained from Ingrid, the civil war is still ongoing. In Columbia, the conflict between the military and the government remains intense, while the dukes of Victoria are each fighting their own battles. On top of that, General Theresis is lurking in Londinium, watching everything with predatory intent."
"As for Kjerag, although it appears to be an independent nation, it is in fact the backyard of Victoria's dukes. Kazimierz is still mired in internal strife, with the Chamber of Commerce firmly controlling the economy. If war were to break out, even military salaries and expenditures would be subject to their whims."
"Laterano has no interest in initiating wars and only cares about its own small territory. Rim Billiton focuses solely on industry and invests little in its military. Siracusa and Victoria share the same fundamental issue: too many families. Even with Madam Sicily and the Grey Hall, it is difficult to keep those families truly loyal. As for Yan, it possesses overwhelming strength, yet it has not launched an invasion in over a thousand years. Their approach has always been, 'I treat you with respect, and you treat me with even more respect.'"
Loughshinny blinked. "So, at present, Kazdel is the most capable of waging war?"
"We may not be the strongest," Felix replied with a smile as he looked out the window, "but if war were to break out now, we would not fear it. To be honest, I would even welcome other nations invading our land. In the past, the Sarkaz lacked advanced weapons and could only rely on Originium Arts. Now, after joining forces with Tomorrow's Development, how many flowers of war could Kazdel make bloom? I am genuinely curious to see such a future."
Loughshinny gave a bitter smile. "That kind of future should never come to pass."
Felix chuckled softly. "It is only a thought. In the past, Kazdel sought revenge. Now, Kazdel seeks only to move toward the future. Without threats, war itself becomes meaningless."
As they spoke, their vehicle arrived at the Twin Towers, the tallest structures in the city and a destination many pilots dreamed of conquering from the air. Though known as twin towers, they shared a single main entrance. The attendants and subordinates of both the Black and Golden empress passed through the same grand hall before heading to their respective workplaces higher up.
Just like at the airport, a long red carpet had been laid out. Unlike before, however, this place was crowded with reporters, cameras flashing nonstop as they eagerly recorded this diplomatic moment.
Felix stepped out of the vehicle, the long sword at his waist, and walked steadily onto the red carpet. Behind him followed his loyal senior officers and guards. Their presence alone exerted a quiet pressure. The senior officers appeared calm and restrained, yet even a single glance from them was intimidating. The guards' gazes were just as sharp, and their equipment was something the reporters had never seen before.
This diplomatic event was nothing short of astonishing.
The reporters also quickly noticed that, although this was a diplomatic mission representing Kazdel, Sarkaz made up only about half of the delegation. The rest were men and women of other races.
Since when had Kazdel become so international?
What shocked them even more was the identity of the leader at the very front. The man with a halo above his head was, in fact, a Sankta.
It had long been known that Kazdel's official leader was no longer General Theresis, or rather, that Theresis had lost the war for Kazdel and was now officially studying in Londinium. But no one had ever said that the new leader of Kazdel was a Sankta.
What kind of explosive news was this? Weren't Sarkaz and Sankta supposed to be sworn enemies? Weren't they meant to draw their weapons the moment they met? That might be an exaggeration. More realistically, they would at least harbor open hostility toward one another.
Yet for a Sankta to ascend the throne of Kazdel, such a feat was unprecedented and would likely remain so.
The journalists, unaware of Kazdel's internal changes, were understandably stunned. The Black Empress, Hildegard, saw things differently. In her view, this situation was the result of the King of Liberation's exceptional leadership. Had it been someone else, such as General Theresis, he would never have appeared at a diplomatic event like this. Even if he had, he would have brought only Sarkaz with him.
Hildegard's curiosity toward Kazdel deepened. She had always leaned toward war and had tacitly allowed nobles to profit from it, yet now she believed that ending the war was the correct choice. Kazdel's decision to conceal its fangs after finally growing them was unsettling, but it did not place the nation under public condemnation.
This invitation had been the right decision.
Hildegard gave a slight nod and once more shook Felix's hand on the red carpet. The moment was captured by countless cameras, and for the next month, the newspapers would undoubtedly be filled with this scene.
The group entered the hall and proceeded into the Black Tower. After ascending the steps, they arrived at a spacious and brightly lit conference room. Representatives from both sides took their seats, while Hildegard and Felix sat at the head, facing one another with a small coffee table between them.
Soon, the maids stepped forward to serve tea and water. Hildegard was the first to speak. "First of all, on behalf of Leithanien, I welcome the King of Kazdel and his retinue to Zwillingstürme. The renewal of diplomatic relations is, I believe, something both of us hope to see."
Felix nodded slightly. "After a long period of conflict, war, and internal turmoil, Kazdel has finally regained peace. Our current focus is on employment and production, matters that directly concern the livelihood of the people. Kazdel is gradually changing, and it is indeed gratifying to be able to revisit the relationship between our two nations under such circumstances."
There was nothing overtly remarkable in these opening remarks, yet Hildegard caught a subtle implication. In the past, even during wartime, Kazdel had imported grain and handicrafts from Leithanien. Some nobles had profited from the conflict, despite the hostility between the two sides.
Although the war had ended, trade between the two nations had never truly ceased and continued even now.
Hildegard nodded inwardly. The explanation made sense. It was unreasonable to expect all Sarkaz to survive solely as mercenaries. Kazdel was steadily becoming a true nation. Its future standing, however, would depend heavily on the outcome of this diplomatic engagement.
It was not that she opposed war outright. Yet when she looked at the high-tech attire worn by the delegation opposite her, which plainly displayed their wealth and technological sophistication, Hildegard understood the level of military power Kazdel now possessed. This visit was, in no small part, a deliberate show of strength.
Reporters hurried to capture every moment, afraid of missing any significant detail, while Hildegard continued her discussion with Felix.
The first point of agreement was that both sides would temporarily set aside the losses and reparations stemming from the previous war. Since both nations had suffered casualties and damage, and given the premise of peaceful diplomacy, there was little value in reopening debates over victory and defeat. Moreover, Kazdel at that time had not been under Felix's leadership. If responsibility had to be assigned, it would fall on General Theresis and the late Sarkaz King Theresa.
Once peaceful coexistence was acknowledged, many other matters could be discussed. Progress, however, could not be too rapid. Among the Sarkaz, there remained deep-seated hatred toward those who had invaded their homeland, a sentiment that could not simply be erased. Taking this into account, Felix proposed the establishment of a Kazdel embassy in Leithanien, along with a branch of Tomorrow's Development, to facilitate future negotiations on imports and exports.
Hildegard agreed.
Next came Leithanien's request. They hoped to send a group of Spire Casters, scientists, to Kazdel to conduct research on Originium Arts. The request was reasonable. Kazdel's land and climate were indeed well suited for such research. Felix agreed as well, stating that the matter would be handled by Saria.
The meeting continued in this measured exchange, point by point. Felix remained patient throughout, fully aware that the most significant matter had yet to be raised.