Aldegia Kingdom.
Within the royal palace of the capital, Verterace.
Afternoon.
The palace gardens.
A white-haired woman clad in a black knight's uniform strode briskly into the garden, stopping before a Nordic-style pavilion where she bowed her head and reported solemnly:
"Your Highness La Folia, ten minutes ago, your private number received a communication from America."
"America?"
Inside the pavilion, a woman with snow-white long hair opened her clear azure eyes, her lips curling into an intrigued smile:
"How interesting. I wonder which of my acquaintances from America this might be?"
As she spoke, La Folia set down her teacup and tilted her head towards the female knight, extending her hand:
"Justina, pass me my phone."
"Let's see which friend is contacting me."
"As you wish." The knight called Justina stepped forward, handing over a bulky black phone with a distinctly unfeminine design that had been prepared in advance.
Taking the phone, La Folia couldn't help but complain:
"So heavy. No matter how many times I hold it, it always feels unbearably heavy."
"Every time I see this model, I can't help but criticise – couldn't the Research Department make encrypted phones lighter? Like the SDS's internal models."
Justina could only smile wryly at the princess's characteristic petulance:
"I suspect the Research Department hasn't fully mastered this world's mobile technology yet."
"After all, the kingdom's research efforts are currently focused on deciphering England's knight system."
La Folia immediately raised a finger to her lips:
"Shh~"
"Justina, that's not something we should discuss so casually."
"After all, England is our friendly neighbour."
"This subordinate believes 'suspicious neighbour' would be more appropriate."
Justina maintained a stern expression, clearly unconcerned about hiding her true thoughts:
"Ever since our kingdom accidentally crossed the Abyss and became Denmark's neighbour in this world, England has shown us the most hostility in all of Europe."
"Even now, the Holy Ring Knights remain stationed in western waters, guarding against England's naval forces, while our internal security constantly hunts spies from across the channel."
"I hardly consider such an England to be a friendly neighbour."
Hearing this, La Folia smiled and said playfully:
"So does Justina prefer having the vampire nobles of the Warlord's Empire as our neighbours instead?"
Justina's face twitched as if she'd tasted something foul, replying with undisguised disgust:
"...No. If the alternative is those filthy vampires, I suppose English pirates' flaws become somewhat tolerable."
Before the Aldegia Kingdom crossed the Abyss into this world, their neighbouring nation had been the True Ancestor Empire known as the Warlord's Empire.
That was a behemoth led by the Lost Warlord Ki Juranbarada, who commanded 72 familiars of calamitous might and ruled over countless ancient Vampires.
The Aldegia Kingdom had been locked in conflict with the Warlord's Empire for a thousand years, so their hatred and hostility went without saying.
Compared to that warmongering empire of a different race, England's actions, though repulsive, were at least something the Aldegia Kingdom could tolerate.
"You see? So I say there's absolutely no problem with friendly neighbours~"
La Folia laughed with an air of ease, seemingly in rather good spirits.
"You appear quite pleased?" Justina asked, eyeing La Folia curiously.
The princess's genuine cheerfulness made her deeply intrigued.
"Pleased? No, no—more like taking malicious delight."
La Folia played with the brick-like device in her hand, smiling cheerfully as she said:
"The Intelligence Department has confirmed that the Warlord's Empire have also crossed the so-called Abyss and arrived in this world."
"What?" Justina froze momentarily before her expression drastically changed. "Your Highness, are you certain of this information?"
"It's confirmed. After all, it was Miss Meer from the SDS who delivered this news half a month ago."
La Folia's smile faded slightly as she continued:
"We traded away an entire Rainbow-class battleship for this intelligence, so there's no need to doubt its authenticity."
"Then... where are those Vampires from the Warlord's Empire now? Did their territory also appear in Northern Europe like ours?"
Justina frowned, her expression unusually grave.
The Aldegia Kingdom's crossing had brought its entire territory to this world, occupying the sea to Norway's left and facing England across the waters.
It was precisely because a sudden military power had appeared as their neighbour that England - Europe's perennial troublemaker - had maintained strained relations with Aldegia.
After Aldegia's appearance, England found itself sandwiched between Aldegia above and France below, encircled by two major powers.
Meanwhile, the original Nordic countries gradually moved towards unification as international relations shifted.
Under such circumstances, poor relations between England and Aldegia were almost inevitable.
Yet none of this compares to Aldegia's wariness towards the Warlord's Empire.
After all, that was the continental hegemon that had suppressed Aldegia for over a millennium - they couldn't afford not to pay attention.
"Not Northern Europe. Nor Asia, nor the Americas, nor Africa either."
La Folia's smile grew increasingly radiant as she spoke, even carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
As La Folia's knight, Justina was well-versed in this world's geopolitical landscape. Thus, when La Folia hinted this far, she immediately realised the Warlord's Empire's current location:
"If it's none of those, then the only remaining place would be... the Australian Demon Realm?"
The Australian Demon Realm.
A legendary prison world sealed by the terrifying Abyss Artefact known as the Wall of Sighs.
An alien domain only accessible through the Border Control Bureau, jointly governed by the Five Great Powers.
Rumoured to contain all the powerful aberrations and difficult-to-handle alien species since the Abyss Descent, it was a notorious, chaotic region well known throughout the mystical side.
'Has the entire Warlord's Empire appeared in such a place?'
At this thought, Justina couldn't help but want to laugh. She could already imagine the bewildered expression on the Lost Warlord's face when discovering hundreds or thousands of alien species suddenly appearing in his nation.
"That Lost Warlord must be having quite the difficult time now?"
"I heard they just crossed over recently and are currently in complete chaos..."
La Folia tucked a strand of her silver hair behind her shoulder before continuing lightly:
"But for now, we needn't concern ourselves with such matters."
"After all, escaping the Demon Realm is the Lost Warlord's problem to solve."
"Now then, Justina, such news is merely for amusement. Our kingdom's current priority remains establishing leadership among the Nordic nations and suppressing England and France's influence in this region."
"Of course, that's a matter of broad policy. For now, I should see which friend is messaging me."
As she spoke, La Folia opened her phone and glanced at the incoming message.
Instantly, her expression turned peculiar.
"What's the matter, Your Highness?" Justina asked curiously.
"My good friend Lacus Clyne has invited me to Japan to attend the funeral of an English diplomat who died unexpectedly."
La Folia explained with a somewhat strange expression.
"Ah, this..." Justina was also baffled by this.
Leaving aside whether an English diplomat's funeral warranted attendance by a crown princess, why would the funeral be held in Japan?
At that moment, La Folia carefully reread the message, then her eyes lit up as she smiled and said:
"How interesting. This tone doesn't sound like Lacus... Meer perhaps?"
"Specifically inviting me to Japan... and for such an occasion."
"It seems the deceased diplomat was rather special."
"I'll gather intelligence for you immediately." Justina saluted with a knight's courtesy before turning to collect information about the dead diplomat.
La Folia didn't stop her, merely narrowing her eyes with amused delight:
"While an occasional outing wouldn't hurt, such a vague invitation... fufu~"
"Hehe, it seems those two pink-haired darlings need my help this time~"
With a pleased smile, La Folia dialled a number, instructing subordinates to signal her impending visit to Japan.
"Let's see what matter could possibly compel such a choice from you~"