Nihonkoku Shoukan: Beyond

Chapter 48: Emerging Crisis

GVE Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ragna, Gra Valkas Empire, 13th March, 1640 CCY

"Deputy Director, here's your report on Japan. The people from their Foreign Affairs Ministry sent it to us yesterday." – Cielia

Cielia walks into the room of her deputy director, Gesta, with a stack of documents in her hands. Ever since the transfer, no... even before that, since the world war broke out, the importance of the Foreign Affairs Ministry has steadily been reduced. With all of the nations standing against the Empire recalling their ambassadors and evacuating their embassies, communications out of the country have been taken over by the Kaiserliche Armee, even to the countries that have stayed neutral or allied to the Empire.

The number of staff of the Foreign Affairs Ministry has steadily decreased recently due to their work being deemed unnecessary in the wake of barbarian hostile nations who refused to establish diplomatic relations channels. But... with the first contact with Japan, the first peaceful kind in this world, and the appearances of their mysterious flying ships on their doorstep, that alone signaling a monstrously powerful country, the Ministry has all of sudden become of the utmost importance again.

In fact, the Ministry may prove to be more important than ever, as noted earlier, they are now dealing with a new nation that, with the most optimistic assessment by the borderline delusional expert, were still deemed to be equal to that of GVE in its prime, if not even more powerful. As such, not only the laid-off employees were suddenly recalled into their office once again, but also new recruitment was put on as the currently available manpower was deemed not enough to deal with a country like Japan. Right at this very moment, the Kaiser himself is coming back to Ragna to personally begin the diplomatic talk with their representatives. It goes to show how important this new diplomatic relationship is if the Kaiser deemed it worthy of his personal attention.

"Oh? That was fast. Did you have time to verify their information with the KSD?" – Gesta

"Well... sir... everything in this dossier is... how should I put it, matching what the Spezialdienst knows a bit too well. But, some other things are just, as they put it, outside of the existing knowledge." – Cielia

"Hm...? Outside of the existing knowledge? What do you mean?" – Gesta

"About their... cooperation with their surrounding countries, in not just the economy but also military and education. He said it was because Japan had just become a major focus for them in the 3rd Civilized Region about a few months back due to the sudden broadcast."

"Cielia, are you sure?" – Gesta

"It's... what the director of the KSD said, sir. He said that after seeing this dossier." – Cielia

"So... you think this dossier is not... trustworthy?" – Gesta

"While I have my reservations, sir, we have nothing better to base our negotiations on. The director of the Spezialdienst has already stamped this. But maybe we should take it as a suggestion since we don't really have the full scope of their economy and military." – Cielia

"I see. Hm... about these figures... what... trade regulation...? Calculated and written based upon the estimation of the Empire's economic power...? I know that they have enough information about our military to make an entire toyline based on the same design...but was their knowledge about us really go that far?" – Gesta

"I... don't know sir. But it was still something of utmost concern. The KSD is launching a full investigation to see if there's anyone selling information and a spy network." – Cielia

"These people are truly scary, aren't they...? Now I really understand why Mopaul and Dallas were ordered off this case. We absolutely cannot risk any misconduct that could cause a diplomatic incident like in Paganda." – Gesta