A Spider For A Fly[CLOSED|AENEAS]

[Viridisolum]

THE REPUBLIC OF AURINSULA
Diplomatic Mission Complex of the Imperial State of Viridisolum

Viridisian Diplomatic Mission Complex Main Entrance

Ambassador to the Republic of Aurinsula for His Imperial Majesty's Government in Viridisolum Her Excellency Chiyuki Meya K. Broun is watching the news from home with his official secretary, press secretary, chancery heads, and other members of the Viridisian Diplomatic Mission to Aurinsula and embassy staff. The news highlighted the recent revelation and new national dilemma of girls and women kidnapped to be shipped off and slapped with prices for men under the influence of paedophilia. The Kolsop Administration has had enough of these dilemmas. They are trying hard to protect themselves by solving the economic recession people have constantly demanded them of or else. The people on the other hand are banging hard on the doors of Government Palace asking for solutions to all unsolved issues which are beginning to be dismissed automatically after being forgotten or at least left alone for a month or so.

Ambassador Chiyuki Broun envies her colleagues. They are able to clearly see what is happening all around them, all that their eyes could perceive. She does not enjoy this universal luxury God supposed to have given her upon the start of her very existence. All she could do is look but not seeing anything at all, only to pretend doing so. She listens and feels in order to clearly see. As a Christian Catholic, she does not mind if God failed her with the gifts of sight. God has destined greatness in each and everyone, not only those who are followers of his one and true church, but those who are in other churches and religions. She is already blessed to have become a representative of His Imperial Majesty's Viridisian Realm. She enjoys being a public servant at home and still here, overseas. What else could she ask for?

There were times she faced challenges, most dire was the Second Chon War. A war which began following the Kingdom of Chonburi attempted invasion of the Aurinsulan Republic in the 8th of March in the Year of Our Lord 2008. The Aurinsulan capital city of Xinjiang was one of the major population centres that were devastated. In the late eve of devastation the Embassy of Viridisolum was opened to the public for Aurinsulans aspiring to become Viridisians and Viridisians who work and live in Aurinsula like in any other day. Ambassador Chiyuki Broun was on her way to the Viridisian Embassy preparing in Green House, the Viridisian Ambassador's residence in Aurinsula. She finally left and was on the road to the Embassy until the devastation commenced. She, her personal secretary, and her security hid in His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Service in Viridisolum official vice regal motorcade. Not all of them made it out alive. The Ambassador was not one of them. She was informed that the Embassy and Green House was obliterated. 167 lives were lost. 32 were from the Diplomatic Mission, 86 were Viridisians, and 49 were Aurinsulans. Nobody expected what has happened. It was not known to His Imperial Majesty's Government in Viridisolum that the Chons would be this reckless resulting to significant loss of life, including foreigners.

After that the Viridisian Embassy and the Ambassador's diplomatic residence was rebuilt. The two however exist next to each other to reduce expenses, for the Ambassador to have easy access, and to reserve the use for the HIMFS vice regal motorcade in times of need and formalities. The property where Green House once stood was sold off. The two diplomatic facilities were designed in fused neo-classical and Northwestern Minean architectural form.

Ambassador Chiyuki Broun does not know what to say or feel about what happened. She only heard the violent nature of modern air warfare. She only felt the earth shook. She felt the pain of her people and others in that time. Yet she cannot express herself on that certain past. Probably she was too shocked. Probably she was afraid to mention it. Probably it was too much to bear. Now she listens to this report disgusted. Who would dare to take other's daughters forever to serve one's sinful satisfaction in exchange for money? Humanity nowadays is no better than humanity before. There will always be immorality at extreme lengths based on the scale of reigning time. But this could be put to an end. This is a problem that can be stopped.

Though what can Ambassador Chiyuki Broun do? She is just His Imperial Majesty the Emperor's Head of the Diplomatic Mission in Aurinsula. The Emperor's vice regal representative to its government and people along with the Viridisian people in the country. She is not the Prime Minister, well not yet, or even the Grand Secretary but they share similarities in their roles and responsibilities. She is after all a vice regal representative embodying His Imperial Majesty. In this country she represents and guides the Viridisan overseas workers. In a ridiculous sense she is His Imperial Majesty if one would put it that way.

Ambassador Chiyuki Bround is expecting the Viridisian National Police to send an advisory "to increase awareness and measures in evaluating applicants for residency." Now she wonders if the Imperial Intelligence Service - Viridisian Branch would care to send an advisory too, tighter than the VNP's proposed belt of protecting security in the streets at home. Maybe the IIS-VB would be caring enough to send an agent of theirs to impose an order in the Diplomatic Mission for immediate implementation just as popular culture portrays them.

"Your Excellency, by the way we have 33 applicants and 22 were accepted from the batch of last month." Chiyuki's official secretary, Maron Barnad Koes, said leaning down to the Ambassador's wheelchair.

"22, I thought there were 25, Mister Koes?" Chiyuki asked, squinting as she recollected thoughts about the matter at hand.

'Either one has failed to submit papers or attendance in citizenship test, interview, a hearing with a citizenship judge, or in a citizenship ceremony. Most likely one has failed to submit papers . . . Less likely one have failed attendance in a citizenship ceremony. The last that happened was when my parents were teenagers. Who would miss that? Everybody wants to be Viridisian . . . And every other nationality in the World. Anybody would love a country in Viridisolum's calibre regardless of the economic scenarios . . . But that would make anybody dumb then.' Chiyuki thought.

"One was an IIS-VB watch-list name. Two failed to attend an interview." Mister Koes replied.

"Strange, is the IIS-VB in control of everything? Foreign affairs included? Next they'll overthrow the Prime Minister. I guarantee you one day they will once they realize they could. Of course it will be done discreetly and no one will know. They may have orchestrated Medor's end persuading members of the legislature to do their bidding. Their sort of people would do anything to get anything."

"The IIS-VB has authority, not that powerful although I'm sure. We are not that deep in the recession yet to be turned against by stately organs. Now the Minister of Foreign Affairs has a letter for you faxed this morning. He'll also be available for telephone as soon as you've read the letter at this time for inquiries."

"Eh, let us continue this in my office. It will not be pleasant to have a discussion on the Foreign Affairs Minister's letter publicly, err, openly. His letters are the sort that would spring smiles."

[Aurinsula]

At about 2:15 in the afternoon - after even the most generous allowance for lunch-time, and in Aurinsula that's pretty generous - a Mr. Bo Changgong made a telephone call from his office landline (an insurance company with its offices in the up-market Golden Bell Plaza, in Ningdong) to the Viridisian Embassy. Introducing himself by his name, he politely requested to attend dinner that evening at the Ambassador's residence. He mentioned that he had an involvement with various groups that would be willing to assist the Viridisian government with its recent problems involving Estoni. Thankfully, there was a recent cancellation, leaving the Ambassador's schedule free - and, perhaps out of curiosity, the request was granted. Dinner was at 7:30.

When the appointed hour arrived, they were four. One was Mr. Bo Changgong, a tall, thin man of later middle age with a pencil mustache - very much the fashion with men of a certain age - and a wry smile perpetually crossing his face. The second was Mr. Rao Qingping, perhaps in his middle-30s, with a darkened face and an evil expression; he did not look Yang, and had the glancing airs of an outsider. The third was a chauffeur who drove the car and did not presume to enter. The fourth, and most important, was Mr. Cheng Zhaoyi - approaching 60 and very fat, with beady little eyes and a clean-shaven face that made him look vaguely unwholesome. They were all adorned with two-piece suits, including neckties and shiny black leather shoes. They submitted uncomplainingly to any search required of them, carrying nothing except two bottles of liquor as a gift for their host.

Over dinner, they chatted amiably for as long as they could get away with it. Topics included baseball (especially the up-coming international tournament, with regards to which nobody expected much of the Aurinsulan team), film and television (Mr. Bo's wife was a drama addict), and the Ambassador's impressions of Aurinsula. Only Mr. Bo was a native of Xinjing, and Mr. Cheng exhorted the Ambassador to get out of the city and explore the countryside and second-tier cities - including his home-town of Laicheng - which he regarded as much superior and more authentic than the capital. Mr. Rao did not speak unless spoken to, primarily to agree neutrally with Mr. Cheng's points. Mr. Bo had been to Viridsolum before - albeit on vacation - and he extolled at length his delight at the place, having hit up all the obvious tourist sights and taken his picture next to them.

Finally, when the food was finished or they could delay it no longer, they cut to their main point. Mr. Cheng's English was very weak, so when it came time to talk seriously, he dropped all pretense of speaking directly and relied on Mr. Bo to translate for him.

"Mr. Cheng represents a certain organization within Aurinsula and abroad that has had a long rivalry with similar organizations in Estoni. On the understanding that your country is suffering from the activities of these Estoni organizations, it seems to be the case that our group and your country have a common adversary. That being said, we would be interested in joining forces with your nation to combat these adversaries."

"This is Mr. Rao," he said, as though introductions were never performed. "He is an operative for our group. With your permission, if you were to invite Mr. Rao and, say, 50 of his assistants to Viridsolum, then he would be able to set up activities against the Estoni organizations and prevent them from doing evil things, without the official involvement of your government and thus without damaging your government's and country's reputation for neutrality."

"If this is a permissible course of action to you, then all we would require is 50 - " at which point Mr. Cheng interrupts him.

"Excuse me. 60 permanent residence visas for your country, and we would take care of the rest. Mr. Rao and his people will expose and neutralize the Estoni activities in short order. This will relieve your country of this burden, and will also aid us, as it will be striking a blow against our enemies. If this is acceptable to you, then we would be willing to begin immediately."

[Viridisolum]

New Green House

Ambassador to Aurinsula for Viridisolum Chiyuki Broun spent her day arguing through the phone with His Imperial Majesty's Ministry of the Crown for Foreign Affairs and its honourable minister, Varkan Loide Xeryo, who decided to close emigration for the working class and middle class in the Aurinsulan Republic and other prosperous democracies. Viridisolum can no longer accommodate the lives of those who hope for a better life due to the economic situation in the Nation. The Imperial Crown Minister of Foreign Affairs gave Her Excellency time to adjust the Viridisian Diplomatic Mission to this new immigration policy. By the end of next month there should be no immigrants from Aurinsula. The Ambassador did not want to disappoint the applicants nor does she want foreigners to see Viridisolum in this state. Finally the Ambassador and the Foreign Affairs Minister reached an agreement. Their time spent in this phone call costs her afternoon appointments to be cancelled and out of frustration she moved the rest of her appointments tomorrow. Her Excellency's day was ruined with a debate with the Minister.

Chiyuki Broun's official secretary, Maron Koes, informed Her Excellency from the Official Correspondence and Public Affairs Office that she has a new appointment pre-approved by them for this evening. A Mister Bo Changgong requested to have dinner with the Ambassador at 7:30 in her residence, New Green House, to discuss and offer his assistance to combat Estoni black market activities in Viridisolum until its eventual defeat. She has lost all of her evening appointments so she and her curiosity approved the request. The OCPAO advised her to have the Foreign Affairs Minister and His Imperial Majesty's Minister of the Crown for the Interior during the dinner on phone speaker. The Ambassador refused to have them on the lines during that occasion since it would be inappropriate to use while eating and that she does not want to hear the Foreign Affairs Minister's voice. She asked for her first aide-de-camp, Guang Turshtan C. Aaylburdeg, to stand beside her to help in communicating the expected Aurinsulan guest.

The maids and butlers of New Green House arranged the residence's dining room and dinnerware. First Aide-De-Camp Guang Aaylburdeg waited for Ambassador Chiyuki Broun's arrival in the room. At exactly 7:30 she arrived in a wheelchair pushed by her second aide-de-camp, Jørden Augustes Zaldher. The appetizer served was a Filipino dish called "Tinola" consisting of chicken, green papaya wedges, and chili pepper leaves with ginger, fish sauce, and onions. The main course was another Philippine dish "Pork Adobo" which is primarily pork marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. Instead of mashed potatoes that are routinely served in Viridisolum white rice was served since it is abundant than potatoes in the Homeland. Crème caramel was the dessert.

The guest arrived accompanied by three unknown men. All of the guests were inspected by His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Service Security guards. The liquor for Ambassador Chiyuki Broun was taken by a butler to be brought down to the basement storage room. They were welcomed and led by the Ambassador's personal secretary, Joey Samuel F. Tordale upstairs to the dining room. Personally Joey was suspicious of the guests' presence. They brought an unusual aura of uneasiness, for Joey at least. He did not bother wondering further about his feeling and walked on to do his job.

They arrived at the dining room and Ambassador Chiyuki Broun's personal secretary Joey Tordale bowed from the waist for the Ambassador and introduced to Her Excellency the guests. Two butlers closed the doors when the guests entered and the personal secretary left the room. The butlers guided the guests to their sits and as they seated. First Aide-De-Camp Guang Aaylburdeg also felt the same feeling Joey felt towards the guests. Second Aide-De-Camp Jørden Zaldher felt nothing and only cared when this is all over to rest in the confines of his bedroom to feel the warmth of his wife. The Ambassador, being unable to judge appearance, enjoyed their company. She never had any extraordinary audiences such as this before even if they may be the same ilk solicitors came from.

Ambassador Chiyuki Broun, a middle-aged woman with greying brown bouffant hair is wearing a white power suit, a black pussy bow blouse, and a pearl necklace. Her brightly blank eyes narrowed at the guests and age is starting to appear on her face. First Aide-De-Camp Guang Aaylburdeg is a very tall, well-built young man wearing an Imperial Viridisian Army service uniform which consists of a black beret superimposed by the Valaran Imperial Insignia and a black single-breasted tunic along with black trousers and Hessian black leather boots. His tunic is solely decorated by an aiguillette on his left shoulder. Second Aide-De-Camp Jørden Zaldher is also a young man not tall or short although shares the same build with Aaylburdeg and uniform.

'Baseball must really be one of this country's savoured sports. I've never noticed since I only take notice of Aurinsula's politics and critical events that could or will affect Aeneas, in away. I find it now fascinating for their infatuation of baseball . . . I've . . . Hmm . . . Err, I don't know what to say about soaps since I never liked those. I find it very, very unrealistic. Those situations presented in these soaps are only and will stay creations of hopeless romantics. Chiyuki thought as the guests talked to her.

Ambassador Chiyuki Broun admitted that she expected Aurinsula to be like the Empire of Kirisaki culturally. It was an idea that endured in the days of past at a time which she was very young until she came to Aurinsula as a diplomat of His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Service. Though there are several aspects that resemble Kirisaki in Aurinsula. Even then it is hard for her to say because of her inability of sight. All of her opinions about Aurinsula depend on what she reads in braille and who she asks and tells. Anyways, as she always reminds herself . . .

'One who sees is blinder than another who is blind.'

Ambassador Chiyuki Broun never explored Aurinsula outside Xinjing and the farthest she has gone was the old estate where the original Green House was in the outskirts of Xinjing. Why are they even telling her this? She obviously cannot see. Experience from her travels here was the breeze passing through her limousine's windows and nothing more. And she has forgotten what it was like in Viridisolum after seven years of representing Viridisolum in Aurinsula. The only distinction that she could compare is the breeze in the Homeland and here in this country, she dislikes the air in Xinjing busiest streets because of automotive exhaust fumes. The smell of gas brings her discomfort. Everything first about Viridisolum in her mind is what the "Official Factbook of Viridisolum" states in its overview, starting with "The Imperial State of Viridisolum, simply the State of Viridisolum, commonly referred to as Viridisolum is a confederate parliamentary constitutional monarchy in the Region of Aeneas, situated in Northeastern Minea below Southeastern Agenor, in the east of Kirisaki."

"Mr. Cheng represents a certain organization within Aurinsula and abroad that has had a long rivalry with similar organizations in Estoni. On the understanding that your country is suffering from the activities of these Estoni organizations, it seems to be the case that our group and your country have a common adversary. That being said, we would be interested in joining forces with your nation to combat these adversaries."

Dinner was fully fulfilled and Mister Bo Changgong, Mister Rao Qingping, and Mister Cheng Zhaoyi, has spoken their true intentions. Ambassador Chiyuki Bourn gestured for her first aide-de-camp Guang Aaylburdeg to come close to her ears, close enough for to whisper. The First Aide-De-Camp has to be very close and because he is too high he had to be on his knees.

"Her Excellency asks all of the maids and butlers in this room to go outside and wait for Second Aide-De-Camp Zaldher to ask you to come in and attend us once again. Thank you very much." The First Aide-De-Camp announced to the maids and butlers present in the dining room. They have done as he said and silence has fallen upon the room for five seconds.

"This is Mr. Rao, he is an operative for our group. With your permission, if you were to invite Mr. Rao and, say, 50 of his assistants to Viridisolum, then he would be able to set up activities against the Estoni organizations and prevent them from doing evil things, without the official involvement of your government and thus without damaging your government's and country's reputation for neutrality." Mister Bo continued.

"If this is a permissible course of action to you, then all we would require is 50 - " Mister Cheng interrupted.

"Excuse me. 60 permanent residence visas for your country, and we would take care of the rest. Mr. Rao and his people will expose and neutralize the Estoni activities in short order. This will relieve your country of this burden, and will also aid us, as it will be striking a blow against our enemies. If this is acceptable to you, then we would be willing to begin immediately."

"Your Excellency, I strongly advise you to hear second opinion from the Administration about this, most importantly their knowledge and consent. We are not the government and we certainly do not represent and hold authority over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Interior to make a decision on national security. And ma'am, I believe these are leaders of criminal elements that our police may have been fighting against. We are in the midst of dangerous people. I say we call in the guards and the city police and stall them here. They don't have any weapons so we don't have to worry if they resist. Me and Zaldher will protect Your Excellency if ever things get out of hand and shout for help. There are other people outside." The First Aide-De-Camp whispered to Chiyuki.

'What is one to do? What is one to do? I absolutely agree with the First Aide-De-Camp. This is madness. I'm not supposed to agree to grant unprocessed residency permits and to do so at a whim. Absolutely madness, the most ridiculous. This is against the law. I will face punishment if I will agree with this but, I will face danger for my life, family, and of my aides, and the diplomatic mission will be in jeopardy . . . I should think about their offer. They hold a promising resolution to my country's problem of Estoni sex slave smugglers. I shouldn't. Oh hell. God please help me . . . I may be able to fool them after this . . . Or to agree and provide . . . First I'll inform the IIS-VB, they'll know what to do. They'll understand better of my situation. They'll help me explain this over to the Crown. They are involved in this variety of initiatives all the time so I shouldn't panic.'

"I . . . I find this indeed acceptable so I shall endeavour to fulfil your request in order for this to begin. I will issue 60 permanent residency permits to any of you who will be in charge of handling these. This will be done at the highest degree of secrecy and so I wish to send these permits to a discreet location under a dissociated name. Nobody in this room will speak of this meeting and of my name. Would that be fine gentlemen?"

[Estoni]

Smoke curled up into the rafters of the small cafe in which certain distinguished members of the Eesti diaspora in Viridisolum were currently residing. They were just a few streets from the embassy and were awaiting a distinguished guest. Why he was coming they did not know but they weren't happy about it. They had come to regard this little corner of Minea as their personal fief and opposed even minor interference even from their superiors in the select brotherhood of the Cornfield Road.

As they called for more opium to be brought to them they noticed a small man in an immaculate suit and dark glasses striding through the restaurant. In spite of his lack of presence he swept through the crowd of drinkers with ease. His confidence alone seemed enough to cut a swathe through those before him and as he came to their table he sneered in disgust.

Roki Vukovic was not a proud Eesti man. He was not even a proud Srpskan in spite of what he had done during the war. But he was proud enough to recognize where he came from and what he was. And now he looked down upon his 'associates' with disgust. He had had to pass through a reed curtain to reach their backroom and he had found them reclined upon couches barely above the floor smoking opium from long pipes while clad in full length silken robes. He spat straight into the opium lamp where his saliva sizzled and left an unsightly black mark on the otherwise clean brass.

These men had clearly been here too long he thought for they were adopting the habits and dress of the 'taipans' of old. Like those opium pirates of yesteryear they had become decadent and loose in their dealings and they shamed him. Suppressing the desire to kick the men into positions of attention he began to speak in a flat monotone.

"You have disgraced the Cornfield Road. You have exposed our dealings here. You have brought unwarranted attention upon yourselves and our dealings here and there will now be a reaction. You must be ready for it and you must do it alone. the rest of the brotherhood has been betrayed by you and unless you can redeem yourselves you will receive no help from us. You are alone and that is all I have to say."

Before the vaguely incapacitated and now thoroughly shocked men could respond he had turned upon his heel and strode from the room and back into the bustle of the cafe. They could follow his progress from the slight bulges and contractions in the crowd as he passed out and into the street. They looked at each other with mute fear in their eyes.

Their organization was only about 100 strong and they felt they could only trust about forty of these men implicitly. Without even a word of farewell they all rushed off to their respective safe houses to plan their next move and check their passports were in order and the open ended return flights to Estoni were booked and valid.