Behind the Iron Curtain (closed)

[North Rietumimark]

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

Belinda carefully watched and studied the son of Jieke and his entourage with assiduous detail. She absorbed, contemplated, and thoughtfully came to a conclusion about every last aspect of the young Ditor, Prince Kazou and the company of armed Riyeskonsu. Belinda was a woman who was meticulous in keeping apprised of the comings and goings of the Akai political scene and its various players. From what she could surmise from heavily detailed intelligence reports on Hulang was that, despite his age, the Ditor was to be treated with a fair amount caution and everything the Rietumish told him had to be censored of anything damning. His loyalty to maintaining the Akai-Rietumimark alliance had yet to proven without a doubt, and even so, as her husband Ivan once said; Always keep a Lazin snake at arms length, as you never know when it will turn on you.

Belinda was certain that everyone Ditor Hulang was due to meet during his visit would watch what they said around the Akai...a fact she felt secured about considering most of the officials he was going to meet had more political experience than Hulang had years on the earth. Even Emily, who had the least foreign policy experience of the group, had the complete confidence of Belinda. The only person whom she had reservations about was her son, Paramount Leader Janis - whose capricious, downright erratic behaviour - caused by his constant drug use - might destroy everything. While Belinda hated to admit it, she’d been worrying extensively about the Ditor upcoming meeting with the Paramount Leader and whether the Akai Ditor would be meeting the charismatic and competent man which tried to initiate real reforms and won over the favour of his father or the useless waste of space who was better off dying from a drug overdose than running a country.

Despite her worries, Belinda was careful to maintain a stern, but relaxed appearance in front of Hulang as she bowed in deference and took in every word Hulang said as they entered the relatively warm Airport. “Thank you, you welcome was most suiting for our enterprise here. I do hope I will be meeting his benevolence today, as I want to confirm that Rietumimark is in the hands of competent leadership. Also, I want to inquire what is planned for today, as I do have a plan a few things which I will like to do in the coming days. I wish to capitalise on the legacy of my father, to allow Akai to support is valued allies in Rietumimark and to ensure that our relationship is one which is mutually beneficial.” said Hulang, speaking perfect, accentless Rietumish - so perfect that several younger members of the Rietumish entourage couldn’t help but look dumbfounded at Hulang knowledge of the Rietumish language. He then turned his head and looked down towards Emily: “And I believe you must be Emily Ozoliņš then. Your music has been particularly appreciated by some in Akai, including myself. Hopefully, my understanding of the Rietumish language isn’t horrible for those like yourself.” He spoke in a manner with was fast, yet precise and deep in its nature.

“You should expect nothing less as a Ditor of Akai, we Rietumish save only the best for our long time allies in the South. It is indeed my hope, that in the unfolding hours and days, the Akai-Rietumish alliance will not only survive, but prosper.” said Belinda in Hulang’s mother tongue with a native fluency. “I assure you, that his benevolence will be meeting up with us later in the day. He was deeply disappointed not being able to welcome you the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark and is looking forward to meeting you in person. I hope that your meeting will dissuade any fears of incompetence among the highest level of our government.” explained Belinda calmly, cautious not to give away any of her fears about Janis’ unpredictable behaviour.

As she talked, the Akai and Rietumish entourages travelled through Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport, submitting Hulang to the Airport’s full seedy ugliness first hand. The interior looked like the Ghantish Inperiala Palace and a socialist realism style Rietumish Airport rammed into each other a little too hard and Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport was born nine months later. The walls were covered with paintings of famous Rietumish revolutionary heroes engaging in heroic activities or Andris and Ivan Ozoliņš apparently having divine properties.The Airport, despite its massive size, was fairly spare of anyone but a handful of Airport support staff, who pretended not to watch timidity while going through their daily routine. Seemly blind to the Airport’s repulsive look, Belinda continued to address the Ditor’s points.

“The Paramount Leader is well aware that you’re a busy man and our own government’s business in dealing with the terrorist uprising in the Autonomous Republic of Deweden, unfortunately, means that your visit can’t be longer than more than the allotted two days. Although, if we fail to make any progress, the Paramount Leader has informed me to that we extend the visit for several more days. For the beginning of the visit, the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark has planned a brief pseudo-parade/tour of the route to Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall in honour of the decades-long Akai-Rietumimark alliance which has withstood the test of time much longer than a great many people would have expected. After the that, you will be taken to Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall to meet the Paramount Leader in person, followed by a formal meeting of the Central Planning Committee, where we’ll discuss the future of our alliance. For lunch, our government has arranged for you dine at one of Slapjšzemesgrad’s most opulent restaurant, Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant in downtown Slapjšzemesgrad. From there, it has been arranged that you’ll tour the sites of Slapjšzemesgrad which are of historical or cultural significance. During the second day, as you requested through a liaison, the necessary arrangements have been made for you to visit Deroburg, where Rietumish Security Forces have successfully pacified and purged criminal thugs and terrorists elements, such as the so called The Lord's Martyrs' Brigades, from the city.” Belinda elaborated as they approached the main entrance of Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport. It was there Hulang and his entourage were greeted by a massive, 20-meter golden statue of Ditor Jieke in the middle of a fountain with a sword with the severed head of the Ghantish Emperor Michael in one hand and a little child for whom he was protecting in the other. I’m sure that will get the attention of Hulang, thought Emily as she opened her mouth to reply Hulang.

“I wasn’t aware my music had any following anywhere outside Rietumimark. You learn something everyday.” said Emily, who was taken aback by the Ditor’s revelations. “Well, your Rietumish is flawless...perfect, especially for a foreign speaker with the precise syntax and diction that schoolteachers in across Rietumimark constantly try and instil in their students. Your Rietumish is the best I’ve heard from a non-native speaker. Although I would suggest putting on a slight accent so when you're speaking to a native speaker, so your speech patterns sound more natural.”

On that note, the Akai and Rietumish delegations reached the main entrance of Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport and exited the structure, straight into the main loading bay. Unlike the interior of the Airport, the exterior, or the loading bay at least, was simply designed and didn’t look like it had been built by ostentatious morons or drug dealers who bought and built everything they thought rich people had in their homes. Instead, the loading bay looked like the people who’d built it knew actually what they were doing and looked like any other random Airport rather than the abomination that is Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport. As with the rest of the Airport, the entire loading bay had been cleared of any curious eyes, except for several dozen masked Revolutionary Guard and CSS soldiers and a massive convoy of black, extremely expensive and specially reinforced Andris Star Grand Limousines; which were ready at a moment's notice to burst into life and speed off onto the parade route.

Then, out of nowhere, one of the three Deputy Ministers of Defence approached Belinda and whispered into her ear. “We have potentially major information about the Axis of Imperialism response to the crisis in the Autonomous Republic of Deweden. I’ve gone ahead and told the Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs to meet back inside Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport where they will meet with a liaison from the Central Military Commission's, who will debrief on the recent events.”

“I understand, I’ll be there it minute.” replied Belinda rather briskly to the Deputy Minister of Defence as she turned towards Ditor Hulang to explain the situation. “Unfortunately, an important national security matter has come up which means I won’t be able to continue our conversation briefly. However, I believe that my dear granddaughter will do a splendid job in taking my place in welcoming you to Slapjšzemesgrad. I want to apologise personally for this inconvenience as I was looking forward to get the ball rolling in cementing ties between our two regimes.” And with that, Belinda politely bowed and followed the Deputy Minister of Defence back inside Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport - far out of sight or auditive range of Hulang - where she was due to rendezvous with the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Their liaison was the Director of the Main Directorate of the Central Military Commission of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark Dzintars Bezmozgis - the country’s main foreign military intelligence agency. Dzintars was a portly man of 45, with rapidly disappearing graying red hair and sickly pale skin. Dzintars, unlike most men in the brass, had worked from the very bottom of the Main Directorate of the Central Military Commission of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark to the top through hard work and determination rather political favouritism which dominated the upper echelons of the Rietumish government. “According to our most recent satellite surveillance of Ghantar military movements, it appears that the Ghantish are planning to deploy a large force of between 20-30 thousand ground troops to Dewedish Authority by way of naval transport and has processed to move a sizable fleet through North Acheron Sea straight towards Dewedish Authority. We’ve picked up similar movement by the Demphorians and assets planted inside the Dewedish Authority’s terrorist army have witnessed an increase of foreign troops within the Ghantar 14th province. This, plus the mobilisation of at least 130,000 soldiers by the Dewedish Authority indicates there planning to act against the Autonomous Republic of Deweden very soon - the details of which we’ve failed to uncover. Furthermore, a “coalition” of imperialist states backing the terrorist issued an ultimatum, demanding we agree to their terms or face military invasion. I strongly recommend we send a fleet to meet up with the Akai Expeditionary fleet, prepare the Revolutionary Navy for clashes with the Axis of Imperialism once they move east of the Allamunnic States, and inform the Grand Conclave that the Expeditionary fleet is allowed to dock in Rietumish ports.” he finished, handing the trio copies of the ultimatum.

To: Paramount leader Janis Ozoliņš and President Olga Chapin.
From: Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Majesty King Elijah IV, Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, His Majesty Emperor Nathan IV and the Empress Sophia, Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Excellency President DeGroot of Adiron, and His Excellency President Windsor of Demphor
CC: The Cornellian Peacekeeping Organization Signatories, Organization of Cornellian States Signatories, North Cornellian Treaty Organization Signatories, The Confederation of Jedoria, the Republic of New Othman
Subject: South Dewden
Encryption: Moderate

---

Your Excellencies,

Our governments represent, together, a strong disagreement with your national policy in South Deweden based on what we have heard of acts of oppression, use of military forces against political activists, suppression of dissent and free press, and one party state ideology. While we respect your national sovereignty, we also believe your government must respect the national sovereignty of other nations lest international law and order be lost in chaos.

We would like your government to give careful consideration to the following requests:
1. That an internationally recognized neutral body—the OCS, Esperance International or some other generally agreed upon be permitted to inspect the treatment of citizens in South Deweden.
2. That diplomatic talks begin to discuss South Deweden’s status, either towards reconciliation with the Kingdom of Deweden or its independence.
3. That a plan be agreed upon to schedule an improvement of human rights in South Deweden.
Our nations, jointly, are preparing military units for land sea and air operations which could be used to support our first requirement and act as neutrals. If however you will not discuss our terms productively then they will reluctantly be used to protect the people of South Deweden from the violence of the controlling regime.

While we would prefer not to threaten, past attempts at diplomacy have not worked well, and so this is a last resort at diplomacy. We hope that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is given: a preferred solution for a peaceful resolution being sought.

Signed,

Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Majesty King Elijah IV, Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, His Majesty Emperor Nathan IV and the Empress Sophia, Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Excellency President DeGroot of Adiron, and His Excellency President Windsor of Demphor

“That’s an excellent idea Director Bezmozgis, I will take it to the Paramount Leader and persuade to move the Rietumish First Fleet to rendezvous with the Akai and will get him to order the mobilisation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.” said Belinda, her voice remaining cold and steady despite the news. Belinda had lived through the Tempesta Conflict, a war in which North Rietumimark dragged into by the expansionist policies of Akai and the mutual defence pact signed shortly after the war’s outbreak. Ironic, Belinda thought to herself, all those decades ago, it was Akai that forced us into a war with several major powers we didn’t want...and now, all these years later, it is Akai who is being forced into a war it doesn’t want. “We hold off on an official reply to that disgusting piece of blatant aggressive imperialism in its finest until after our meeting with the Ditor is over. His visit gives us a unique opportunity to seize the power from the imperialist and have any negotiations under our terms, not theirs - depending on we play the coming two days. Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, I want you both to jump ahead of Ditor and assemble the keys members of the Central Planning Committee to formulate a peace proposal using the imperialists terms in the ultimatum as a template.”

“We shall execute the will of the Paramount Leader, Comrade Belinda,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Thomas Solberg politely, a sense of irritation at being benched during one of the most important visits of a head of state had every made to Rietumimark for desk work coming through his tone. “By the will of Andris and Ivan Ozoliņš, we will succeed in our mission of coming up with peace terms acceptable for the Dewedish Terrorists and their imperialist allies.”

“Excellent,” replied Belinda, turning her attention to Director Bezmozgis, who snapped to attention the moment his superior’s gaze. “Is there anything else I need to be briefed on before I return to the Ditor of Akai, Director?”

“Ah, yes.” Dzintars Bezmozgis recalled feebly, quickly thinking back. “An aid to the Paramount Leader wanted me to inform that the Great Leader has finally wake and making his preparations for his upcoming encounter with the Ditor. He seems relatively lucid, Comrade Belinda, and positively excited for the coming two days with the Akai.”

“That is marvelous news Comrade Director Bezmozgis,” said Belinda with a fake smile, the information about her son not assuaging her fears about him screwing everything all up. “If that is everything, I formally dismiss you all to execute your aforementioned orders.” With a brisk salute, Defence Minister Ansip and Minister of Foreign of Affairs Solberg followed Director Bezmozgis out of Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport through a backdoor out to an unmarked Sedan, which whisked them away to the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall, the headquarters of the Central Planning Committee. Belinda, on the other hand, turned around and rejoined her granddaughter and the Ditor, expertly maintaining a facade of a harmless grandmother-like figure - in complete control - not allowing the news of the ultimatum to show. Continuing to hold a smile, she glanced at her watched and said. “Apologies for the inconvenience, shall we begin the parade.” At that moment, the Andris Star Grand Limousine’s chauffeur climbed out of the car and opened the passenger's seat door.

Just calling the rear cabin of the Andris Star Grand Limousines posh was a massive understatement. Specially ordered and designed for the Unity Party’s elite, the rear cabin could be best described as the perfect example of the elite’s obsession with luxurious and costly things. The inside was of the limousine was made out of only the finest wood and leather money could buy. In the rear cabin, there was a tablet charging and docking stations, fold-out tables, bottle and soft coolers with gauge golden glasses, tumblers glasses and crystal flutes; many luxuries which the Party elite bemoaned the outside world of enjoying. There was also an intercom system for communicating with the driver, who was most likely working for the Committee for State Security. And so the either the start of a stronger alliance or the end of it begins, thought Belinda as she waited for Hulang response. Yet me hope it’s the former and not latter, for the sake of my granddaughter’s future rule.

[The IASM]

Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport
Slapjšzemesgrad
Rietumish SR
Rietumimark

HULANG

---

Hulang was amused at the reactions of the communists to his linguistic ability. They are surprised that a Ditu would know their barbarian tongue; how foolish of them. I should have kept that secret however, would have been useful to see what they may make of me. He also noticed how Belinda spoke especially well in the Akai language, something she seemed particularly well versed in. She spoke “You should expect nothing less as a Ditor of Akai, we Rietumish save only the best for our long time allies in the South. It is indeed my hope, that in the unfolding hours and days, the Akai-Rietumish alliance will not only survive, but prosper.” she spoke in Akai in a manner which was especially impressive for a foreigner. “I assure you, that his benevolence will be meeting up with us later in the day. He was deeply disappointed not being able to welcome you the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark and is looking forward to meeting you in person. I hope that your meeting will dissuade any fears of incompetence among the highest level of our government.” Belinda calmly spoke as Hulang walked along side.

“Please, I am your guest, it is only polite to speak your tongue, although I must say that you are most excellent in speaking it. It also wonderful to be aware of a mutual desire to continue such a relationship and that you wish to dissuade any rumours of ineptitude among your higher levels of government. However I must confess concerns about incompetence at lower levels of the government. What may be a tiny virus may infect the organs of politics and develop into a great aliment. Fortunately we are the doctors to heal this illness are we not?” Hulang explained in a sincere manner, hinting at the current events which triggered this fiasco. “I do hear good things about the reforms implemented by his benevolence, I imagine it would be especially interesting talking to that man in person.” He continued calmly as he did. “I hope my guard wasn’t especially excessive. This is a minimal number and I’d prefer if I was able to take some along with myself.”

Hulang, always the fan of especially pleasant architecture found Slapjšzemesgrad airport to be roughly as beautiful as the aborted bastard child of socialist realism and neo classicism. It was an abomination to his eyes, a gaudy monument to the hypocrisy of the Rietumish Unity Party. It was alone aside from a few support staff, hinting at the fact that the place is barely used other than for visits like these Hulang imagined. Rietumimark’s isolation from the rest of the world would likely imply such a thing being the case. Alas the one thing which was actually surprising for the Ditor was the quality of the painting of the various ‘heroes’ of the revolution. He almost stopped to look and study them in more detail, trying to match the faces in them. “Are those Andris and Ivan I see there? Heroes of the revolution? Regardless, it is interesting to see the faces of men who I now cannot meet in such contexts. Good art nowadays is dying out and it’s always a pleasure to find those who appreciate it in its more wonderful forms.” Worth this horrible architecture at least.

The Ditu also listened as he moved around the vast complex he listened to Belinda with curiosity: “The Paramount Leader is well aware that you’re a busy man and our own government’s business in dealing with the terrorist uprising in the Autonomous Republic of Deweden, unfortunately, means that your visit can’t be longer than more than the allotted two days. Although, if we fail to make any progress, the Paramount Leader has informed me to that we extend the visit for several more days. For the beginning of the visit, the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark has planned a brief pseudo-parade/tour of the route to Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall in honour of the decades-long Akai-Rietumimark alliance which has withstood the test of time much longer than a great many people would have expected. After the that, you will be taken to Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall to meet the Paramount Leader in person, followed by a formal meeting of the Central Planning Committee, where we’ll discuss the future of our alliance. For lunch, our government has arranged for you dine at one of Slapjšzemesgrad’s most opulent restaurant, Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant in downtown Slapjšzemesgrad. From there, it has been arranged that you’ll tour the sites of Slapjšzemesgrad which are of historical or cultural significance. During the second day, as you requested through a liaison, the necessary arrangements have been made for you to visit Deroburg, where Rietumish Security Forces have successfully pacified and purged criminal thugs and terrorists elements, such as the so called The Lord's Martyrs' Brigades, from the city.”

“This is most excellent,” Hulang changing his tone to become rather cheerful - something which was especially odd for the Ditor. “A busy day shall keep this certainly interesting for sure,” he openly contemplated as he walked along. There was still the subtle confidence present within him, something he started to suspect could unsettle those around him. He seemed to do that with many of his own subjects he started to notice. “Could I inquire what food is to be served at the restaurant? Rietumish dishes I presume? And also, would it be possible to request a full update on information known by our allies.” As he listened once more he seemed also pleased when Deroburg was mentioned: “And it’s good to hear that Deroburg has been pacified, I imagine the Dewedish people will appreciate returning to peace once more.” The Ditor continued to speak Rietumish, much to Prince Kazou’s disapproval given his own facial expressions. The benefits of spending an awfully long amount of time learning.

“The Ditorate sincerely appreciates the honour which you have done, Ditu Xiao Ping Di,” the Prince explained in an official like manner speaking in the Palace variant of Akai as he referred to Jieke. What Hulang found curious was the fact that he referenced Jieke by his posthumous name, something which was likely to cause some confusion for sure.

Upon reaching the entrance to the vast complex of Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport, the party was greeted with a most unexpected of sights. Hulang recognised the mask and the face of the golden statue with ease - he saw his distant father towering over him once again. His face froze for the briefest of moments, as the young Akai and Kazou studied it. The statue carried an angular motion to it, as it presented the head of some barbarian king and was protecting a child in the other. There was a feeling of unease as he studied it, looking at Jieke once more - afar and ever greater than he. And then his eyes shifted towards the child he was protecting, and looked on with a sense of envy, his eyes ever so slightly glaring at it all. He decided not to linger any longer as he listened to Emily Ozolins.

“I wasn’t aware my music had any following anywhere outside Rietumimark. You learn something everyday,” replied the bastard daughter of the Paramount Leader of this cold land, who seemingly was curious about his previous mentioning of her music. who was taken aback by the Ditor’s knowledge. “Well, your Rietumish is flawless...perfect, especially for a foreign speaker with the precise syntax and diction that schoolteachers in across Rietumimark constantly try and instil in their students. Your Rietumish is the best I’ve heard from a non-native speaker. Although I would suggest putting on a slight accent so when you're speaking to a native speaker, so your speech patterns sound more natural.”

“It isn’t exactly popular but there is certainly a following among some of the younger circles and the officers in the Geluxu. I myself encountered it when reading up about the details of the reforms. Perhaps that might be prudent,” Hulang replied, speaking with a tone all the more modified accent as he did; retaining some elements of his artificial accentuation. “I guess this is another compliment to the work of the late His Perfection, Ditor Jieke Lazin. He helped teach me it, well gave me little option otherwise. The man did not accept failure, always trying any means to achieve his goals. And he was successful through his determination, that is for sure. And from the looks of the heroes of the revolution have done considerable work to be proud of.” Hulang studied her and her skin unusually dark as it was. If she was a Ozolin and Janis’ he likely chose a foreigner to do so it seems. He decided to ask in a tone kindly inquisitive: “So, what could I learn from the daughter of his Benevolence? About herself to clarify.”

As the two talked, they exited this megastructure they were met with a decidedly ordinary location, one which was especially contrasting the utterly hideous architecture of the interior. The only curious thing was the noticeable absence of anyone other than security officers although for the Ditor such things were reasonable normal. It took a while for Hulang to notice the mass of especially tasteless and proud limousines, ready for transport. The Ditor seemed to focus on the vehicles for a good few seconds before noticing the men next to Belinda rather curiously, whispering in her ear. The Ditor asked in a quiet manner to Emily “Who are they exactly,” gesturing subtly with his eyes.

Belinda whispered something back before swiftly returning the favour of relaying information: “Unfortunately, an important national security matter has come up which means I won’t be able to continue our conversation briefly. However, I believe that my dear granddaughter will do a splendid job in taking my place in welcoming you to Slapjšzemesgrad. I want to apologise personally for this inconvenience as I was looking forward to get the ball rolling in cementing ties between our two regimes.” Belinda bowed her head and left with the men far away, annoyingly so for the Ditor. “Regimes…” he murmured ever so silently underneath his breath in contemplation.

“It would be incorrect to refer to us as a regime,” Kazou mentioned to Hulang, speaking in Palace Akai as he did. Kazou was a man of few words, who prefered to be dutiful and let his actions speak for him. He was a useful man for sure, one who had experience as a negotiator given his extensive work with the Geluxu in Zhaoze with regards to the varying scheming factions in the area. Hulang expected the area to be a powderkeg eventually but he knew his boundaries, his limits and his capabilities. He did not expect to be able to resolve anything in that volatile area without sparking off a conflict. For him, it was a waiting game, something to learn from.

Hulang decided to stare at his uncle, not knowing the extent of the linguistic ability of the Rietumish around him. He was careful to notice the return of Belinda, who returned from whatever celestine activity she had engaged in and with it looked especially gentle as she did.
She smiled in a manner which felt alien to the Ditor, yet almost familial: “Apologies for the inconvenience, shall we begin the parade.”

“Yes, I’d prefer not to delay events myself, although I have two inquiries.” The Ditor swiftly entered the limousine with the assistance of the chauffeur along with his uncle: “Firstly what will happen to my Riyeskonsu and could you explain this ‘important national security matter’ as it does sound especially compelling? Or maybe it may be relayed latter.” as the Ditu entered the vehicle. It turned out it was especially opulent, even by the standards of the Lazins whose wealth the Ditor realised outstripped most countries. He noticed the technology first, the intercom system and the coolers. He seemed to find it almost overwhelming what was put forth before him. Now to see what the future may hold here, for now the die are still not thrown.

[North Rietumimark]

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

“Please, I am your guest, it is only polite to speak your tongue, although I must say that you are most excellent in speaking it. It also wonderful to be aware of a mutual desire to continue such a relationship and that you wish to dissuade any rumours of ineptitude among your higher levels of government. However I must confess concerns about incompetence at lower levels of the government. What may be a tiny virus may infect the organs of politics and develop into a great ailment. Fortunately we are the doctors to heal this illness are we not?” Hulang explained in a sincere manner, hinting at the current events which triggered this fiasco. “I do hear good things about the reforms implemented by his benevolence, I imagine it would be especially interesting talking to that man in person.” He continued calmly as he did. “I hope my guard wasn’t especially excessive. This is a minimal number and I’d prefer if I was able to take some along with myself.”

“Of course,” began Belinda with a polite facade of a smile whilst she closely listened to the young Ditor of Akai. “Thank you, as my late mother always said: ‘there is no greater weapon than speaking your enemies mother tongue.’ With that said, I must say that your knowledge and execution of the Rietumish language is simply exceptional, although it should be expected from someone so beyond their years. If you don’t mind my asking, how did you come to have such an intimate knowledge of my mother tongue?” Belinda inquired, hoping to learn more about the young Akai other than the rumours and speculation surrounding his upbringing. “Ah yes, the threat posed by incompetence is one that his benevolence takes extremely seriously and measures since the Paramount Leader ascended his position have been made to expunge the Party of inability at all levels. Unfortunately, no matter how audaciously one cleans a wound, some parasitic elements always find a way to survive.” When Hulang explained his reasoning for the large guard, Belinda listened carefully and replied. “I understand, the protection of one’s self, especially one who rules hundreds of millions of people, must take every procedure to protect yourself. I assure you, that we Rietumish maintain a similarly sized guard for his benevolence.”

As they talked and walked through Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport, Hulang migrated towards the portraits and paintings of the various ‘heroes’ of Rietumimark’s revolution, almost coming to a complete stop to look at them and study them in closer detail, trying to match the faces in them. “Are those Andris and Ivan I see there? Heroes of the revolution? Regardless, it is interesting to see the faces of men who I now cannot meet in such contexts. Good art nowadays is dying out and it’s always a pleasure to find those who appreciate it in its more wonderful forms.”

Belinda wasn’t surprised at all when Hulang immediately recognised Andris and Ivan, two of one of the most influential people of the 20th century, whose rule over Rietumimark was continuing to long lasting effects,not just in Belinda’s motherland, but all of North Acheron. Belinda joined the Ditor in examining a painting of the broad-shouldered, blue-eyed, tall and handsome Andris - who was clad in an unflattering - despite the quality of the painting - military fatigues, covered by a large overcoat, and accessorised glasses. Beside him was his son, Ivan, a brown eyed, dark haired man wearing exceptionally ominous Revolutionary Army uniform, a black cape, and polished jackboots. The two men were standing atop of a plentiful field full of grass and colourful flowers, behind them were beautifully painted rolling green hills and snowy mountains, underneath a clear blue sky. Other heroes or the founding members of the RUP included the late Minister of Public Security Ojārs Rubiks, former Foreign Minister Alexander Krieviņš, Alfrēds Lapsa, Gints Avotiņš, and Rietumimark’s first female cabinet member Eiženija Zālītis

“Yes, the men in the portrait are Andris and Ivan, great heroes who forged one a handful of socialist states and the longest standing socialist nation in our region against all the odds; the international isolation, sanctions, and the omnipresent threat military intervention. Despite all of these threats towards my motherland, we’ve conquered almost all of the former Tsardom of Rietumimark, except for the rogue terrorist Ghantar-puppet state for which we’ve heard rumours about your government willing to sell weapons to the DA, the RUP has established free education and health care systems for everyone who lives in Rietumimark which rivals the likes of Adiron and has industrialised a once poor and agrarian economy.” said Belinda rather bluntly, airing one of the most alarming issues for the Rietumish - rumours about Akai planning to sell the Z13 to the Dewedish; an issue which she wanted to address before anything. Whilst she spoke they walked past a portrait of Ojārs Rubiks standing thoughtfully and calmly in front of crashing, thrashing waves of an impending thunderstorm. The waves representing the country’s pervasive enemies plotting against the benevolent Rietumish state. “But in any case, I must agree that fine art is becoming increasingly hard to come by.”

“This is most excellent,” Hulang changing his tone to become rather cheerful - something which was especially odd for the Ditor. “A busy day shall keep this certainly interesting for sure,” he openly contemplated as he walked along. “Could I inquire what food is to be served at the restaurant? Rietumish dishes I presume? And also, would it be possible to request a full update on information known by our allies.” As he listened once more he seemed also pleased when Deroburg was mentioned: “And it’s good to hear that Deroburg has been pacified, I imagine the Dewedish people will appreciate returning to peace once more.” The Ditor continued in perfect Rietumish.

“We’ll be dining Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant, which is unique in Rietumimark for it serving traditional Rietumish cuisine with a distinctive Akai twist.” Belinda began to elaborate as they walked. “The head chef, Arturs Helmanis, was one lucky enough to earn a travel visa to your great country when he was in his early twenties to study in the Ditorate’s different cuisines. Using that knowledge, he recently returned to the Ozoliņšist Republik and with the permission from the Ministry of Culture, he opened the restaurant last year, which has since become one of the most popular in all of Slapjšzemesgrad.” When Hulang requested a full update on information about what the Rietumish knew, she immediately followed the Party line. “All relevant data pertaining to the present situation will be provided later in the day.” Belinda was slightly taken aback when it appeared that Hulang seemed pleased with the news coming out of Deroburg. “As you will see tomorrow, the lies being spread by the Axis of Imperialism that Rietumimark is universally opposed in the Autonomous Republic is grossly inaccurate.” she remarked coolly.

“The Ditorate sincerely appreciates the honour which you have done, Ditu Xiao Ping Di,” the Prince explained in an official like manner speaking in the Palace variant of Akai as he referred to Jieke.

Reaching the entrance of the endless complex of the Airport, the Party was met by an enormous statue of Ditor Jieke. Emily turned her head towards the young Akai and briefly glimpsed behind the mask of the Ditor, the first truly human emotion that Hulang had demonstrated so far during his visit; unease, jealousy of those other themselves being the object of their father's affection...being caught below shadow of a father who could care less about your existence and whose legacy continued to cast a yoke over their life. She subtly observed Hulang as his face froze for the slightest of moments before he turned his attention to what Emily had to say and replied with a tone all the more modified accent as he did; retaining some elements of his artificial accentuation.

“It isn’t exactly popular but there is certainly a following among some of the younger circles and the officers in the Geluxu. I myself encountered it when reading up about the details of the reforms. Perhaps that might be prudent. I guess this is another compliment to the work of the late His Perfection, Ditor Jieke Lazin. He helped teach me it, well gave me little option otherwise. The man did not accept failure, always trying any means to achieve his goals. And he was successful through his determination, that is for sure. And from the looks of the heroes of the revolution have done considerable work to be proud of.” Hulang studied her and her skin unusually dark as it was. If she was an Ozolin and Janis’ he likely chose a foreigner to do so it seems. He decided to ask in a tone kindly inquisitive: “So, what could I learn from the daughter of his Benevolence? About herself to clarify.”

“Interesting, never in my wildest thoughts did I think I would have a following of any sorts outside of the Ozoliņš Republic, especially how most of my music is patriotic political rock.” Emily contemplated, as Hulang explained how he stumbled upon her music. “Fascinating, from what I’ve read about the former Ditor, he seemed like a very colourful character who did a lot for not just Akai, but North Rietumimark as well. There are a great many circles in my motherland who hold Jieke in almost as high esteem as Andris and Ivan. Your description of Jieke sounds a lot of my great-grandfather and grandfather - who were famous in their day for their dogged determination, a trait which I can say skipped a generation in Janis.” she said softly so only Hulang could hear the end of the sentence, although spite lingered in her voice, irregularly using the Paramount Leader’s first name instead of His benevolence or Paramount Leader, an offense in Rietumimark which landed many people in re-education camps for months. When Hulang asked to know more about Emily, she was surprised, not only by Hulang’s inquiry but by the realisation about how little how she actually knew about her mother’s side of the family except for what her grandmother fed her. “I never met my mother, who according to my grandmother and all my family members, died due to complications following my birth. I don’t know much about her other than her first name, Anna, and that she met while His benevolence was in the Revolutionary Army.” Emily lifted her hair with one hand to reveal a silver locket necklace around her neck. She promptly unlocked the necklace and opened the locket to show Hulang a fuzzy picture of a face of a beautiful woman a couple years older than Emily, with glossy hazel eyes, darker skin and bold-looking face similar to that of Emily, with freckly skin, and thick black hair. “That’s her, my mother...the only picture I have of her,” she said getting somewhat choked at the sight of her, having always found talking about her mother a difficult subject. Quickly, she sought to shift the direction of their conversation. “So what is your mother like, the Dowager Dihei?”

Whilst they talked, they exited the Airport and entered the decisively ordinary loading bay of Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport. The Ditor studied the gaudy Andris Star Grand Limousines for a good few seconds before noticing the men next to Belinda rather curiously, whispering in her ear and asked in a quiet manner to Emily “Who are they exactly,” gesturing subtly with his eyes.

“That’s one of the Deputy Ministers of Defence - Vilhelms Brīnums, Defence Minister Ansip, Minister of Foreign Affairs Thomas Solberg and finally the Director of the Main Directorate of the Central Military Commission of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark Dzintars Bezmozgis.” Emily whispered to Hulang, leaning over towards Hulang so not to be overheard, thinking back to the old adage her grandmother told her; In Rietumimark, someone's always listening to what you're saying. As she finished, Belinda turned, relaying important information about her having to leave before bowing her head and left with the men far away - leaving Emily with the two Akai. Shortly after Belinda left, Kazou, for whom Emily had come to see as a man of few words spoke to Hulang in Akai which she didn’t recognise - although she was sure that one of the hundreds of Covert listening devices which saturated the Airport picked up what he said and was in the process of trying to translate it. Emily immediately noticed the return of her grandmother, and more importantly, the look she had on her face...the reflective, disarming familial look she had seen shortly before the shit hit the fan.

“Yes, I’d prefer not to delay events myself, although I have two inquiries.” The Ditor swiftly entered the limousine with the assistance of the chauffeur along with his uncle: “Firstly what will happen to my Riyeskonsu and could you explain this ‘important national security matter’ as it does sound especially compelling? Or maybe it may be relayed latter.” as the Ditu entered the vehicle.

“Your Riyeskonsu will be accompanying us in the limousine behind us,” Belinda said, gesturing towards the limousines at the rear of the one they were entering. “As for the national security matter, it will be explained later on as it does tie into the reason for your visit.” Then, as if on cue, the convoy of gaudy, flashy limousines roar to life and navigated their way through a network of roadways and onto the parade route. They followed a path carefully thought out and indicted by the Ministry of Public Security in the days preceding the visit of the Akai and flanked on either side by thousands of spectators - intermixed with Rietumish security forces- clad in winter coats, braving the freezing conditions behind police barricade to pay their respect to the Akai-Rietumimark alliance. Many gleefully waving Akai and Rietumish flags, carrying pro-Akai slogans crudely written on large signs, and some even went so far to wear imported Akai masks or cheap knock offs of with various designs and colours to honour the long alliance.

It was easy to a non-Slapjšzemesgradian native to immediately notice the lightness, if not, nonexistence of the traffic, the weary, washed out look of the passing pedestrians, the saturation of anti-Allamunnic, Edomite, Dewedish, Demphorian, Ghantar and Nekulturnyan billboards and graffiti. One billboard caught Emily's eye, which was situated by a glossy new apartment blocks built only a matter of months ago, which read; ‘Down with the Allamunnic, Death to the Ghantar, Exterminate the Dewedeni!’ Others espoused similar messages of defiance or violence towards Rietumimark’s many enemies. Throughout the parade, beneath the cheers from the spectators, there was a particular, almost unnatural, absence of the monotonous rumble of thousands of car going about the city, a sound which was the defining feature of all modern cities; thanks to Rietumimark having the lowest rates of car ownership in the entire region, a byproduct of the RUP’s determination to remain self-sufficient and decades of international isolations.

They passed by dozens of new kiosks on the streets selling snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines, and colourful toys. There were half-dozen flashy new restaurants serving not just Rietumish, but foreign cuisine as well, contemporary high-rise flats, and large department stores. Other landmarks the convoy passed were Andris Ozoliņš University - the first university built by the RUP and the largest university in the country housing over hundred thousand full-time and part-time students and Andris Ozoliņš Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in Cornellia with a capacity of 150,000, and was yet another classic example of the extreme hypocrisy of the ruling Party. Other more surprising sites of Slapjšzemesgrad was a modern lookinging ice rink, a bowling alley, a water and theme park below the sinister shadow of Ministry of Public Security building, a massive, rectangular concrete structure with no windows which stood twenty stories tall and was placed so it could be seen from most of Slapjšzemesgrad; the nerve centre of the ruling Party’s oppression of fifty million people.

The convoy came to a gradual stop at Andris Ozoliņš Square in the centre of the Slapjšzemesgrad, directly in front of Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall- the seat of the Supreme General Assembly and Central Planning Committee. Briskly, the chauffeur jumped on of the limousine and politie opened the door for the Rietumish and Akai inside. Outside waiting for them was another 60 man honour guard of the 3rd Honour Guard Battalion - one of six battalion sized forces responsible for the protection of members of the Supreme General Assembly - were the same uniforms of the 1st Ozoliņš Guard Regiment back at the Airport. Standing at the end of the assembled guard was the Paramount Leader himself, Janis Ozoliņš flanked by numerous bodyguards. Janis was a tall man at 6’6 (1.98 m) man, with deep brown eyes, jet black hair and beard. Formerly handsome and muscular, decades of the party life, with excessive drug and alcohol abuse had seen Janis’ once well toned body become much thicker and his good looks become eroded and replaced by a deep seated ugliness which laid within his soul. Wasting no time, one of the Paramount Leader’s bodyguard announced his arrival, causing all the Rietumish in the velocity to stand to attention. “May I announce the arrival of his benevolence, Paramount Leader of Rietumimark, the First Secretary of the Rietumish Unity Party, the Supreme Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the Great Leader of the Rietumish people, and the Supreme Commander of the Rietumish Revolutionary Armed Forces Janis Ozoliņš!”

Janis preceded down the steps of the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall towards the Ditor and the encourage. Belinda held her breath, nerve spiking through her much-aged body, hoping...even praying that Janis would behave just this once. “Your perfection, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” said the Rietumish dictator as he saluted the Akai. “I look forward to the working with you over the succeeding hours and days.”

[The IASM]

I apologise for the delay, IRL has gotten in the way here.

The street of Slapjšzemesgrad
Slapjšzemesgrad
Rietumish SR
Rietumimark

HULANG

---

“Of course,” began the steel Queen whose face was sculpted into that of benign smile, her attention focused on Hulang. “Thank you, as my late mother always said: ‘there is no greater weapon than speaking your enemies mother tongue.’ With that said, I must say that your knowledge and execution of the Rietumish language is simply exceptional, although it should be expected from someone so beyond their years. If you don’t mind my asking, how did you come to have such an intimate knowledge of my mother tongue?” Belinda investigated, with praise followed by more inquisitive questions. It was something which Hulang had to remind himself constantly is the general lack of knowledge many had on him. For him it was a curse, one which would undo him were it used against him. He did not trust Belinda in the slightest, to him she felt like she was Ivan were he a woman instead and more importantly still alive. She seemed to be constricting information, a tactic Hulang was all too familiar with. Alas he’d would use the usual story he had for such details.

“It was my father Jieke who orchestrated my tutelage with the help of a few excellent linguists. He himself is… was significantly more impressive in his handling of foreign languages. His work as an intelligence officer certainly gave him an advantage there - or at least what he told me,” he spoke so much more quietly and softly. The rigidity of his speech almost collapsed as he paused to contemplate. “My father was a man who was… predominantly occupied with his work.” The young Ditor chose the next words carefully; realising how little he only possessed a distant familiarity with his father“He… helped teach me the language to say the least,” he said before moving on, his eyes clearly hinting his discomfort around the topic. His mind continued to buzz as he contemplated what else. Do not invite curiosity you fool!

“Ah yes, the threat posed by incompetence is one that his benevolence takes extremely seriously and measures since the Paramount Leader ascended his position have been made to expunge the Party of inability at all levels. Unfortunately, no matter how audaciously one cleans a wound, some parasitic elements always find a way to survive.” Belinda explained as she commented on the RUP’s ineptitude. Hulang in the few moments continued to lesson “I understand, the protection of one’s self, especially one who rules hundreds of millions of people, must take every procedure to protect yourself. I assure you, that we Rietumish maintain a similarly sized guard for his benevolence.”

“This is fairly limited by Akai standards,” Hulang noted about his hundred man guard, masked and cloaked in thick black silk like they were the spectres of the dead haunting the modern age. “The Riyeskonsu are the size of a division back home, and possess considerable amounts of combined armed weaponry. Alas, they are often used to guard the property of my family and not much else.” Hulang thought more on the matter and recalled seeing the queer guards who surrounded Jieke who seemed not part of any service he could have ever recalled.

The Iron-Lady Belinda began to simultaneously observe the Ditor as they focused on the two leaders. Hulang found Andris the image of what he found a revolutionary leader to look like. He was tall, dark and handsome possessed a pair of sapphire eyes. Yet he was clad in the dull uniforms oft found in old communist Regimes. To the Ditor he actually looked like revolutionary. It was Ivan who Hulang found something more familiar to what he knew of here. He looked little like his father in terms of characteristics., his eyes darker and his clothing looking like more an Akai general if you excluded the traditional masks. The quality of the picture is what Hulang admired the most; a passionate hater of much postmodern art he personally found beauty where it was present.

“Yes, the men in the portrait are Andris and Ivan, great heroes who forged one a handful of socialist states and the longest standing socialist nation in our region against all the odds; the international isolation, sanctions, and the omnipresent threat military intervention. Despite all of these threats towards my motherland, we’ve conquered almost all of the former Tsardom of Rietumimark, except for the rogue terrorist Ghantar-puppet state for which we’ve heard rumours about your government willing to sell weapons to the DA, the RUP has established free education and health care systems for everyone who lives in Rietumimark which rivals the likes of Adiron and has industrialised a once poor and agrarian economy.” said Belinda rather bluntly, much to Hulang’s interest. He himself was unaware of such rumors that she described although he could certainly speculate. “But in any case, I must agree that fine art is becoming increasingly hard to come by.”


Hulang remained silent as his eyes became increasingly stern, he himself imagined that it may have been Sanfu who orchestrated such an affair. Well there goes my surprise gift, I was hoping to present one as a gift to the Ozolins here. : “While I am glad your nation had done so much for the people - something which is neglected by many nations abroad these rumours are quite awfully concerning for myself, given that I have not heard about them myself. This being said, I can imagine certain disloyal cliques may have been attempting to arrange such a thing. Less these rumours are false, I will plan to conduct an investigation and remove the associates from wielding considerable power over such a matter.” Hulang latter leaned in slightly and spoke in a more hushed tone: “I do have one Z13 in particular stored in my plane to be given as a gift actually, although I’d prefer if you kept it a surprise for those here.”

In response to Hulang’s inquires’ about the days Belinda replied especially informatively: “We’ll be dining Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant, which is unique in Rietumimark for it serving traditional Rietumish cuisine with a distinctive Akai twist.” Hulang passively nodded, as he watched Kazou and Emily with caution. “The head chef, Arturs Helmanis, was one lucky enough to earn a travel visa to your great country when he was in his early twenties to study in the Ditorate’s different cuisines. Using that knowledge, he recently returned to the Ozoliņšist Republik and with the permission from the Ministry of Culture, he opened the restaurant last year, which has since become one of the most popular in all of Slapjšzemesgrad.”

“This sounds most delightful,” the Ditor voiced with a sense of genuine curiosity with the option he was being presented with. “I always do enjoy the opportunity to taste new foods, and this sounds rather unique.” He once again returned his attention to Emily to gauge her reaction - he suspected she was more readable than her mother.

And when he asked for a full update on information about what the Rietumish knew, she immediately followed with what seemed to be almost a dodge. “All relevant data pertaining to the present situation will be provided later in the day.” She seems surprised almost that I wish for the destruction of those hypocritical nuisances. He quietly laughed to himself as he listened: “As you will see tomorrow, the lies being spread by the Axis of Imperialism that Rietumimark is universally opposed in the Autonomous Republic is grossly inaccurate.”

“The truth does not matter, what people believe does,” Hulang quoted in high Akai, recalling one of his father’s old maxims in response. To Hulang it was one of the things he felt was underappreciated matter that knowledge was often a tool to shape the minds of people and its potential application was curious.

When outside, he continued talking to Emily with some considerable interest: “Interesting, never in my wildest thoughts did I think I would have a following of any sorts outside of the Ozoliņš Republic, especially how most of my music is patriotic political rock.” Emily contemplated, as the Ditor nodded with his crimson eyes seeming softer in a way. “Fascinating, from what I’ve read about the former Ditor, he seemed like a very colourful character who did a lot for not just Akai, but North Rietumimark as well. There are a great many circles in my motherland who hold Jieke in almost as high esteem as Andris and Ivan. Your description of Jieke sounds a lot of my great-grandfather and grandfather - who were famous in their day for their dogged determination, a trait which I can say skipped a generation in Janis.” she quietly spoke to the Ditor much to his curiosity. Such a dangerous comment, I think I’ll keep an eye upon. And this all but confirms what I shall expect of Janis them. Hulang responded rather simply with a smile and a nod, his eyes once cold now reflecting it.

It seemed Hulang’s investigations into Emily were almost a tad bit too precise, something seemed slightly off as she contemplated: “I never met my mother, who according to my grandmother and all my family members, died due to complications following my birth. I don’t know much about her other than her first name, Anna, and that she met while His benevolence was in the Revolutionary Army.” The bastard daughter of the Red Tsar lifted up her hair to show the only son of the Black autocrat a locket necklace, held around her neck. She promptly unlocked the necklace and opened the locket to show Hulang a fuzzy picture of a face of a beautiful woman a couple years older than Emily, with glossy hazel eyes, darker skin and bold-looking face similar to that of Emily, with freckly skin, and thick black hair. “That’s her, my mother...the only picture I have of her,” she spoke somewhat difficulty on this particular topic. And in turn fired an especially loaded question for Hulang. “So what is your mother like, the Dowager Dihei?”


This caught him especially off guard, and the hint of rage seemed to burn inside as Hulang’s once warm face chilled. “She is a responsibly astute woman whose beauty is which was without peer,” he began in a voice faking any semblance of warmth, his eyes remained harsh and stone like. “I do care for her,” he noted somberly recalling the ruin she had caused him in Ghant, causing the incident which trapped him away from Amelia and brandished him no different to his worse ancestors. He leaned close in, enough that his warm breath could be felt upon the flesh: “And yet Jieke did not touch her, and went away from her scorching flame. I can explain more at a latter time.”

At the airport Emily also answered his question with regards to Belinda’s men it seemed. “That’s one of the Deputy Ministers of Defence - Vilhelms Brīnums, Defence Minister Ansip, Minister of Foreign Affairs Thomas Solberg and finally the Director of the Main Directorate of the Central Military Commission of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark Dzintars Bezmozgis.” Emily whispered to Hulang, as he in turn listened cautiously. Belinda seemed to return, and the Ditor found her deceptively unreadable, almost completely so for himself. She’s good it seems, although I do wonder what they were talking about. They’re not telling me something.

“Your Riyeskonsu will be accompanying us in the limousine behind us,” Belinda replied in her factual manner, beaconing the Ditor to enter. “As for the national security matter, it will be explained later on as it does tie into the reason for your visit.” As the Ditor settled he continued to find the unpleasant and tasteless luxury around him increasingly overt. He took it in as he watched the vehicle began to begin moving along the path which was to be expected. Hulang stared out the window, sincerely separate from the reality outside. Spectators in the thousands seemed to line the streets, flags waving with a welcoming warmth. The Ditor did contemplate how utterly different it was to his welcoming of the Edomites to Lazinato where he had entire sectors of the city declared empty. It almost amused him to contemplate the contrast, yet he found the masks that some wore vulgar, almost repugnant. “Totally clanless those masks are,” he spoke in Akai, reflecting on the fact that they were so common in their appearance, something to which Kazou responded with a quiet nod..

Hulang studied the streets so empty and bare, nearly devoid of life except the wrathful energy brought on by the radical hatred presented by the billboards and graffiti. There was a clear and professed hatred for anything even remotely associated with Ghant here it seemed. To that I can sympathise the Shaoye thought to himself as he reflected on his growing rage with regards to the Ghantish. So stubborn, self-righteous and suicidal they were they seemed willing to condemn themselves to a war utterly catastrophic for all involved for mere land. That and they seemed content to ruin every joy he could so desire. Alas he found no sympathy for those professing such desires for extermination for the Dewedeni when simpler solutions were available he felt. He turned his head to watch Emily again, studying her once more in great detail, as she watched the outside world. He found her strangely interesting to himself, for reasons he was not sure why exactly. Perhaps the slight curiosities and mysteries around her or perhaps something even he did not know. This was all intersected with various sites, such as new Rietumish restaurants serving new dishes, modern tower flats among more important things. A huge university and stadium also seemed to be the two most dominant sites were it not for Hulang’s discovery of something he was all too familiar with. A building which stood out from this glistening modern Slapjšzemesgrad was this brutalist affair which stood twenty feet tall and lacked any sort of windows. Hulang had a suspicion that this was the building were the Ministry of Public Security resided. He leaned over and asked Emily with an understated voice, asking in Rietumish once more with now an accent slightly influenced from the ones he was hearing: “You do have an interestingly ideal arrangement for a city here despite the constant threats, from the outside world. You can colour me impressed for sure, although I am wondering, what was that building there?”

When the convoy came to a halt in a location which Hulang had researched, Andris Ozoliņš Square in the centre of the Slapjšzemesgrad, a matter which filled with his confidence as he studied the building in front of him. There as he exited the car with the help of a chauffeur, he observed the sixty men awaiting them, soldiers of a ceremonial guard and finally the third Red Tsar. He stood taller than the Ditor by a few good inches, possessing eyes brown pigmentation and his hair was even darker. Yet while Hulang was on the exterior almost angelically androgynous and albino; here was a man who was distinctively in decay. He seemed fatter than the images he had seen of him - presumably due to the effects of the various drugs he had consumed it seemed. His guard, quickly responded to the resplusive Janis as he stood there, something which seemed to energise the Rietumish present: “May I announce the arrival of his benevolence, Paramount Leader of Rietumimark, the First Secretary of the Rietumish Unity Party, the Supreme Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the Great Leader of the Rietumish people, and the Supreme Commander of the Rietumish Revolutionary Armed Forces Janis Ozoliņš!” Hulang made sure that his uncle Kazou was close by behind him on his right along with his Riyeskonsu and Emily on his left as he approached the centre.

Janis preceded down the steps of the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall towards the Ditor and the encourage something he returned now masked once more: “Your perfection, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” began the Rietumish autocrat, proceeding to saluted the Akai. “I look forward to the working with you over the succeeding hours and days.”

While all the Akai present began to perform far greater bows Hulang let them do so for a few seconds before lowering his head respectfully - partially avoiding the tradition of the Ditor not greeting his host: “Your benevolence, it is rather marvellous to see a fellow leader and to be greeted so wonderfully - if the rest of the trip continues to be of such a high calibre, I imagine I can only return praise. It is a shame that we are mutually under threat once more however the Akai are ready to ensure the security and long term prosperity of both our peoples. Rietumimark can rely on us to defend it in its hour of need.” Hulang paused, after introducing himself in Rietumish, hoping to leave a good impression on the deformed character in front of him. “I myself have with the help of a few of my ministers outlined a proposal which I hope may be quite suitable for Rietumish interests.” He grasped his hands together and stared at his supposed equal before him: “Now lets hope we are we waste no time in the coming days, for the good of us all.”

[North Rietumimark]

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

“It was my father Jieke who orchestrated my tutelage with the help of a few excellent linguists. He himself is… was significantly more impressive in his handling of foreign languages. His work as an intelligence officer certainly gave him an advantage there - or at least what he told me,” said Hulang, noticeably much more quietly and softly. His usually rigid his speech subsiding as it was replaced by brief silent contemplation. “My father was a man who was… predominantly occupied with his work.” The young Ditor chose the next words carefully; realising how little he only possessed a distant familiarity with his father “He… helped teach me the language to say the least,” he said before briskly shifting the subject matter, his eyes clearly hinting his discomfort around the topic.

The iron lady was unimpressed by the Ditor’s response to her inquiry about his past. A woman who sought to control and thrived in controlling every situation she was put in, the fact of being deprived of knowing more than just rumours and speculation about the young Akai picked away at her, like a subtle ich, slowly eating away at her extremely controlling personality. She had gone so far to learn further about the Ditor that she secretly authorised Committee for State Security to establish a clandestine task force, assigned only to undercover more about Hulang’s past. Millions spent several months later, the task force found nothing concrete other than hearsay and palace gossip, and the task force was consequently disbanded, its head purged, and any information about its existence was buried.

Underneath her impassive face, which was imbued with a deceiving convincing cordial smile, seething irritation briefly overcame her. Nothing the young Akai said shed any light on the events earlier in his life which moulded him into the young man that she walking and talking to. Everything he said she had suspected or already knew. What peaked her interest, however, was how Hulang’s usually rigid speech became much softer as he seemed to almost pause in mid-speech to contemplate the matter and how obviously uneasy he was talking about the subject. Additionally, she was intrigued by Hulang use of present tense before quickly correcting himself to past tense. If the Ditor had demonstrated any emotional attachment to his father, Belinda was have discarded this as a simple accident caused by the void caused by the loss of his father. However, nothing Hulang said indicated to her he had some if any, emotional relationship with Jieke beyond Hulang’s aforementioned remarks about his father and the nature in which Jieke disappeared left her wonder, was Jieke truly dead as she, and much of the world, had assumed? Nevertheless, best not to linger on this subject for the moment, I doubt I’ll get anything beyond what he just said, she thought to herself as she nodded understandingly at Hulang as he changed the topic.

“This is fairly limited by Akai standards,” the Akai Ditor remarked about his hundred man guard accompanying during his visit. Belinda inspected the men, all masked and cloaked in thick black silk - their dress code made her think that they were pseudo-human guardians of a dark underworld for the condemned. “The Riyeskonsu are the size of a division back home, and possess considerable amounts of combined armed weaponry. Alas, they are often used to guard the property of my family and not much else.”

Belinda felt her mind spinning, the potential that Jieke was indeed still alive and what may have befallen the former Ditor swirling around in her head. Perhaps Dowager Dihei orchestrated a coup d'etat against Jieke and had him killed and replaced with their son, I wouldn’t put it past the cold hearted bitch. Or maybe Jieke had some sort of nervous breakdown. Her mind running with conspiracy theories, it was Emily who replied to the Ditor’s question. “So the Riyeskonsu are like our own Revolutionary Guard Special Protection Forces?” she inquired, referring to an elite Rietumish praetorian guard force tasked with the personal protection of the Ozoliņš family, key government sites and officials, Slapjšzemesgrad, and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to the power of the Ozoliņš family. “The RGSPF acts in a similar way, it’s roughly the same size - a division and enjoys using only the most advanced weaponry the Central Military Commission has to offer. Much like your Riyeskonsu, they to are assigned to protecting my family’s assets and additionally act as a counterweight to any elements within the Revolutionary Armed Forces that may seek to topple our regime. Would the Riyeskonsu take up an alike role if such an event were to occur in Akai?”

Belinda closely watched Hulang, monitoring his reaction to her words about the rumours of an arms deal between Akai and Deweden...and it wasn’t the response of a guilty man. Rather, the Ditor went silent, his sharp crimson eyes becoming increasingly stern, and it was in that moment that the iron-lady realised that she suspected the wrong Lazin. “While I am glad your nation had done so much for the people - something which is neglected by many nations abroad these rumours are quite awfully concerning for myself, given that I have not heard about them myself. This being said I can imagine certain disloyal cliques may have been attempting to arrange such a thing. Less these rumours are false, I will plan to conduct an investigation and remove the associates from wielding considerable power over such a matter.”[/i ]Hulang then, unexpectedly leaned in towards Belinda and told her in a tone just shy of a whisper: [i]“I do have one Z13 in particular stored in my plane to be given as a gift actually, although I’d prefer if you kept it a surprise for those here.”


Belinda was both relieved and concerned about Hulangs words on the matter. It dissuaded her fears about Hulang lacking any desire to continue the decades-long Akai-Rietumimark alliance, whilst simultaneously leading to further, although small, concerns about the stability of Hulang’s rule. “I sincerely hope that these concerning rumours turn out to be just baseless rumours which our paranoid foreign intelligence agency picked up, with nothing to them.” the iron lady expressed, a subtle genuine unease permeating her voice. “Oh...you’re too generous,” she stumbled out, caught characteristically off guard by Hulang’s revelation. “I certainly shall not speak a word of this to anyone until the appropriate time. I feel obliged to say that I too have a present to bestow later in the day.”

“This sounds most delightful,” the Ditor replied with a feeling of genuine curiosity. “I always do enjoy the opportunity to taste new foods, and this sounds rather unique.” He said once again redirecting his attention to Emily - who herself seemed what enthusiastic for the day's events. Belinda ‘briefed’ Hulang on what the Rietumish knew about South Dewedish situation, to which Hulang appeared to quote something in high Akai, one of a few Belinda didn’t have a grasp of - much of her exasperation. They continued to walk, Hulang and Emily talking to each other out of earshot of the hawkish Belinda, who examined the two’s interactions closely. They seem to be getting along rather nicely…

“She is a responsibly astute woman whose beauty is which was without peer,” he began to explain as they reached the loading bay of the airport. Emily immediately recognised a particularly familiar sense of faking the semblance of warmth in his voice and rage flicking behind his strident and stone like crimson eyes - the exact look she saw in her face every time she saw her reflection. “I do care for her,” he noted rather drably. He leant in towards Emily, so close that she could feel his breath on her bare skin. “And yet Jieke did not touch her, and went away from her scorching flame. I can explain more at a latter time.”

“Sounds very intriguing,” she said, her curiosity peaked at what Hulang meant. She too followed Hulang in leaning in close, her voice just below a whisper as she said; “I know a place in the capital which hasn’t been bugged by the CCS, if you want to elaborate what you mean further - well beyond prying ears?” her eyes cautiously moving towards her grandmother.

Outside the airport, Emily answered Hulang question as best she could before her grandmother’s return Belinda. Once she explained the way into which Hulang’s Riyeskonsu would be travelling in a fact-based manner of speaking. The convoy, roaring to life, began to follow the preordained parade route. Whilst driving through the streets of the Rietumish capital, Hulang said in clear Akai; “Totally clanless those masks are,” he spoke in Akai, apparently commenting on the fact that they were recurrent in their appearance - to which Kazou replied with a simple nod.

Emily gazed out the limousine window, out into the world on the other side of the glass. She let her mind wander, thinking about the toxic anti-Dewedish/Ghantish sentiment expressed by many of her countrymen or women and what was the point to the endless cycle of violence which had grown into the evolved into the norm for most Rietumish - many of whom were born into families who had or had being brainwashed into a siege like mentally. She wondered what it would be like beyond the ‘iron curtain’ her ancestors had built around Rietumimark and to live the countries which the RUP loved to demonise so much. Emily observed random people going about their daily routine past the lines of spectators, seemly oblivious to the arrival of the head of state of a foreign country. Some were people going to work, leaving work after a long night shift, and others, for whom Emily scrutinised closely, were families of different sizes dropping off their children at school before heading to work. It was these kind of pedestrians she analysed in the closest detail, the interactions between parent and child and especially mother and daughter. It was during times like this she would imagine what life would be like if her mother hadn’t died...that her father wasn’t interested in the slightest about his first child. In this fantasy, she lived with loving parents, the perfect him, a dog or two, and younger siblings who didn’t see her just as their father’s bastard. Emily was so deep in thought in fact, that it took her a second to realise that Hulang was speaking to her.

“You do have an interestingly ideal arrangement for a city here despite the constant threats, from the outside world. You can colour me impressed for sure, although I am wondering, what was that building there?” Hulang inquired, leaning over to her and asked using an understated, and slightly more accented voice.

Emily looked over at what he was referring to and immediately recognised the building; the headquarters of the notoriously ruthless Ministry of Public Security. The government department responsible for keeping the Rietumish Unity Party hold on power in check, often extrajudicially apprehending and detaining actual and perceived ‘hostiles’ to the government and maintaining a dozen concentration camps across Rietumimark. The fact he didn't know what the building was, but probably had an inclination, informed Emily that her grandmother's continuous purges of ‘spies’ had worked - Akai, the only country in Cornellia with any significant presence of spies and moles in operating inside Rietumimark, hadn’t managed to infuriate key parts of the regime. “I believe that’s the Ministry of Public Security,” Emily half-lied using a hush tone, unsure whether her grandmother would approve telling Hulang the building's structure

The convoy came to a stop at Andris Ozoliņš Square in the centre of the Slapjšzemesgrad. Emily followed Hulang and the other occupants in exciting the limousine to be greeted by the massive structure of Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall. Emily closely appraised the building in assiduous detail, recalling her lessons with her history teacher - Peters Baltcepure - about this very building. She remembered him explaining that the building was formerly known as Cietoksnis Ledus or the fortress of ice, due to the fortified complex becoming covered by a layer of ice during the winter months and how it Slapjšzemesgrad’s oldest building. It was believed to have been build in the 12th century AD by Prince Mihails of Slapjšzemesgrad - also known as the Prince of Darkness for his extreme cruelty during the conquest of the peoples whom previously resided in modern day Slapjšzemesgrad and during his reign against alleged enemies of the realm. Built to inspire fear among his subjects and be a looming symbol of his dynasty’s power, the fortress remained among his kin control for centuries until the Cornellian invasion of the Principality of Slapjšzemesgrad in the 17th century. During the siege of the city, Cietoksnis Ledus was burnt to the ground by the invading Cornellian forces and it subsequently rebuilt to fill a similar purpose that it was used for under Mihails and serve as the administrative nerve centre of northern Rietumimark.

The influence of the Cornellian occupation was subtly obvious by the simple aesthetics of the building - which seemed to perfectly blend traditional Rietumish and Cornellian architecture together to paint a most ethereal experience for the eye. The old walls which once surrounded the fortress - destroyed by the RUP during its purges of cultural imperialist influences - laid forth for all whom passed by the full beauty of the structure. The white walls was made from a mix of limestone and marble, with massive dome-shaped towers surrounded the buildings on four sides - true to its name - of which were covered by a thick layer of froze and ice. Truly this is one of the few pretty buildings left in the Rietumish capital.

Emily turned her attention to her estranged father and Hulang, the former of whom had just finished reciting a part of his script. “Your benevolence, it is rather marvellous to see a fellow leader and to be greeted so wonderfully - if the rest of the trip continues to be of such a high calibre, I imagine I can only return praise. It is a shame that we are mutually under threat once more however the Akai are ready to ensure the security and long-term prosperity of both our peoples. Rietumimark can rely on us to defend it in its hour of need.” Hulang paused briefly before continuing. “I myself have with the help of a few of my ministers outlined a proposal which I hope may be quite suitable for Rietumish interests.” said Hulang, grasping his hands together and staring at the repulsive man before him: “Now lets hope we are we waste no time in the coming days, for the good of us all.”

“Thank your perfection, I’m over the moon that you’ve enjoyed your visit to the Ozoliņšist Republika and I hope that it will only continue.” the Rietumish Paramount Leader began. “Excellent, I’m anxious to hear your proposal to find a long term solution to the crisis, although we can only hope that the Ghantar and their proxies don’t act impulsively before we can reach an agreement. Whilst we’re on the topic, I too have important information just developing in the past several hours of the utmost importance.” he said, his voice controlled and almost business-like - as though he were reading aloud a script - and gave Hulang a manila folder containing the CPO ultimatum. “A more thorough briefing will occur during our meeting with the Central Planning Committee.”

[The IASM]

“Manipulating different information: If you make inquiries by manipulating different information, then even unknown details will become apparent.”

---

Upon marble steps.
Slapjšzemesgrad
Rietumish SR
Rietumimark

Hulang

---

“Thank your perfection, I’m over the moon that you’ve enjoyed your visit to the Ozoliņšist Republika and I hope that it will only continue.” The increasingly repugnant and revolting Rietumish Paramount Leader responded to the Ditu’s rehearsed introduction. It appears we have found the one beautiful location in all Slapjšzemesgrad the Ditu thought to himself as he admired the hybrid design of its structure. He felt small against its huge walls, ones which utterly dominated their open surroundings with the intent to intimidate. Its age however was still visible, not by any faults of the structure but by the virtue that it was designed well. While it was nothing compared to Jieke’s Da Migong complex - an Akai testament to reactionary modernism in terms of palaces, it still served its purpose well. It took a while for him to respond to the Janis as he continued talking: “Excellent, I’m anxious to hear your proposal to find a long term solution to the crisis, although we can only hope that the Ghantar and their proxies don’t act impulsively before we can reach an agreement. Whilst we’re on the topic, I too have important information just developing in the past several hours of the utmost importance.” he said, in a manner so detached and cold it felt discomforting for the Ditu to listen to. But he could not linger on this for long, a folder coloured as the same colour as always was handed to him. “A more thorough briefing will occur during our meeting with the Central Planning Committee.”


Hulang opened the folder then and there, a eunuch quickly coming to hold something which to him explained a considerable amount. He quickly changed to Akai as he read it, his mind scanning over it in his native tongue: Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Majesty King Elijah IV, Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, His Majesty Emperor Nathan IV and the Empress Sophia, Her Honorable Majesty Queen Annabelle XIII, His Excellency President DeGroot of Adiron, and His Excellency President Windsor of Demphor - so our enemies have identified themselves he thought to himself as he continued to study the document prying the ultimatum presented. “Well… shit,” he whispered in Peasant’s Akai underneath his breath, his eyes shifting around manically as he finished this warning. “Anyways, shall we move onwards,” he added with his composure swiftly returning.


“Of course your perfection,” said the Paramount Leader Janis, continuing with an almost detached tone in his voice. Not pressing the subject of the ultimatum anymore, the Paramount Leader promptly turned around and began to lumber up the stairs which lead inside the massive Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall building. Janis’ fat body seemed to almost swing left to right whilst he clambered up the stair, his breaths becoming heavier and shorter with each step he took. To anyone who watched the Paramount leader closely, it was somewhat depressing to note that the blob of a man they followed was the head of state for 50 million people in one of the most tense periods of many Rietumish people’s lifetime and lack the willpower to at the least keep his weight in check. Significantly held up by Janis, they finally reached the entrance inside the building, where an obviously out of breath Janis was briskly escorted away by two aides - a plain looking woman with blonde hair and blue eyes in her early forties and a man with darker hair and peculiarly was wearing black sunglasses in the middle of winter. Both aids looked harassed, stressed and slightly overwhelmed - presumably keeping Janis’ behaviour under check.


Hulang studied Janis with his eyes, carefully as they walked up the stairs his lingering and pathetic form was one which he found all the more revolting every second his eyes were laid to observe his hideously obese form. Yet despite this a morbid fascination drove him to continue in a way, as he did not avert his eyes from this corpulent degenerate. One could see the effect of a life style with ease, his rather that the rumours of his existence and his latter decay were true. How could this debased debauched deteriorating degenerate possibly have been the once great reformer Jieke had on record? It seems poor fathers is something I and Emily do share. It was a source of quiet black humour for him as Janis was moved away by his two aides.


The inside of the looming structure of the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall followed the aesthetic looks of the outside of the building. Refurbished several times under the ancestors of the ‘Dark Prince’ and later during the rule of the Romans, the individual influence of the of the architects and their unique artistic outlook and time period for which they resided could be observed in the slightest details of the beautiful paintings and mural of varying age lined the gold and silver walls of the interior of the building, depicting stylist portraits, often reflecting the time that they were painted, of famous descendants of the Prince Mihails of Slapjšzemesgrad - the ‘Prince of Darkness’ - who got their portraits painted through noble and ignoble deeds during their lifetime. In spite differences in age between most of the murals, the eternal battle between old and new was done in such a way that it worked; perhaps one of an only handful of buildings in the world that successfully struck the perfect balance between older and newer painting designs and styles. Their footsteps echoing off the meticulously well-maintained marble floors, it was Belinda who surged forward to lead the Ditu’s entourage to the meetings location, drawing herself close to Hulang so she could say; “Unfortunately, I have been informed that his benevolence forgot to take his medicine today after being under the weather for the past few days - presumably caused by recent stress. But, do not worry, he shall be rendezvousing with us at the meeting.” she said with a great deal of either real or the facade of concern in her voice.


“Of course,” Hulang almost dryly commented, a deep cynicism underlying what his views on the paramount leader.. He himself came to increasingly admire the assembly hall, and its increasingly oppressive beauty - to him it was… liberating. The portraits of the old progeny of Mihails, reminded him of the thousands of forms of portraiture back in the palaces of Akai. It felt deeply monarchical and pleasurable to be in a place without the same excessive iconoclasticism of most regimes. Hulang walked with a sense of well measured grace which was seemingly infinitely practiced, one which stood in great contrast to Janis. The sense of precise vigor he carried on into his speech towards Belinda: “I am sure that His Benevolences’ aides will continue supporting his health and that the rest of the government can perform quite admirably. This being said this ultimatum proposed is quite the impediment for a mutually prosperous futures. Although I do think my own proposal still holds up fortunately, despite the CPOs attacks on it.” Hulang at this time looked towards Emily once more, deeply curious about the dynamics of the Ozolins and her place in them. He did wonder whether his focusing on her was actually noticeable or not, and regardless whether it is useful or not.


“Indeed, hope that the Ghantar and CPO don’t act impulsively, long enough for us to negotiate a real lasting peace rather which isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” said Belinda, not surprised at all by Hulang’s straightforward and cynical remarks about the Paramount Leader’s disappearance. They approached a checkpoint manned by members of the Revolutionary Guard Special Protection Forces in clad in suits - which they clearly looked unaccustomed to in wearing - with AR-15s slung over their shoulders who were talking amongst themselves - joking about sports and discussing their personal lives. However, upon a single gaze on the Ditu and the entourage, they shot to attention and saluted the Rietumish and politely bowed to Hulang; allowing them to pass the checkpoint unabated. Through the checkpoint, they ascended an enormous marble staircase - one which wouldn’t have looked out of place in an imperial palace in Edom, Ghant, or even Akai - rounding a winding corridor straight into an expansive conference room - in fact the room was so large that it could comfortably house a family of five with space to spare. From the subtle detail of how the room was designed, it appeared to be once have been an office for the occupants of the buildings. There was a single, rectangular window which gave a view of the entirety of western Slapjšzemesgrad, a urban sprawl of concrete expanding outward as far as the eye could see and the Slapjšzemesgrad river, the river for which the city was named, dividing the city both geographically and socially. On the side of the river closer to the looming structure that was the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall was far more built up and modern, whilst the part of the city across the river was far more dilapidated and rundown.


In the centre of the room was a large, beautifully crafted oak table which stood atop granite floors and was paired with handmade oak solid chairs - where the important members Central Planning Committee members sat quietly talking nonchalantly about work and personal issues. On either end of the table were where the supposed equals, Janis and Hulang, were to sit, the two national flags of the respective head flanked their chairs, marking where they were to sit; with Janis due to sit at the far end of the room and Hulang closest to the main entrance. At the moment they entered the room, Janis appeared from a backdoor - looking remarkably more alert than he previously did - and took his seat at the end of the table. “Please take a seat,” said Belinda, gesturing towards Hulang’s designated seat, whilst she took a seat on the flank of Janis’ chair, followed dutifully behind by Emily. “Before we begin, would you like to be introduced to the ladies and gentlemen that make up the Central Planning Committee?”


Thank good my seat is far away from that profligate the autocrat thought to himself as he began to observe the scene around him. Scanning the various faces which surrounded the areas that he was around with his usual analytical glare; only to realise the excess of it all before his eyes only for his eyes to shift over to the dilapidated parts of the city. That which his eyes were not meant to see. He loathed it, the hypocrisy of it all that a regime claiming to be for the people had such an opulent and ornate existence, so detached and so hedonistic. It for him lacked purity, a sense of an ascetic aesthetic, which should permeate government in his and his father’s eyes. It was drilled into him that he only the most important part in the machine that was the state, the brain of the great organ of the nation. And this to him seemed demented and delusional, and not increasingly unworthy of the power it possessed. Perhaps I might make a better communist than it might seem, better than the many here it seems he thought to himself as he collected his mind from its rampant pedantry and was glad to have little of his sentiment leak from his cold face. He took his seat at the beckoning of Belinda and steepled his hands, leaning over so that they hid his mouth. His eyes turned to Emily as she spoke, his hand gesturing towards her while trapped in the pyramid of his limbs and he replied in his Rietumish once more: “Yes… that would be remarkably useful. You see I was only able to read up names but one was never able to acquire photographs of those involved. So should you care to explain?”


“Of course, your perfection,” Belinda replied in a business like way, her hawkish scanning the room, pondering which CPC member she could introduce first. “As you can see, you’ll recognise Dzintars Bezmozgis, the Director of the Main Directorate of the Central Military Commission of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark, from your fleeting meeting at the Airport,” she said, gesturing with her hand towards Bezmozgis who sat on the other flank of Janis. Bezmozgis promptly stood up, revealing his pot belly to the entire room.


“It's an honour to meet you in person,” said Director Bezmozgis nervously, bowing towards Hulang in deference to the head of state. Broad faced, stocky, with vanishing red-gray hair and sickly pale skin, he smiled before sitting back down, quickly adding. “If half the rumours about you are true, I feel rest assured that the situation in South Deweden won’t escalate any further and settlement that everyone can agree too will be reached.” As though on cue, Edmunds Makarovs, the Commander of the notorious Revolutionary Guard climbed out of his seat and performed a raised fist, with his left arm, which was bent at 90 degrees at the elbow. Makarovs was by far the eldest man in the room, easily able to be Hulang’s grandfather or great grandfather. He symbolised the last bastion of the Rietumish Unity Party’s Ozoliņšist ideological purists who would drone on about far more naive times following the fall of the Tsars to anyone who was caught by him; a breed of Party member quickly dying out in their hundreds every week. Indeed, it was likely he would be joining his fallen comrades from the way he struggled to both stand and keep his arm raised - which shook weakly. “I am Comrade Edmunds Makarovs of the Revolutionary Guard,” he proclaimed to the room proudly. “I look forward to working with you, Comrade Ditu Hulang.” his voice fading as he nearly collapsed back into his seat.


He was followed up by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Thomas Solberg, one of the men who were part of the welcoming committee at Slapjšzemesgrad International Airport. He stood up and simply bowed in Hulang’s direction before quickly sitting back down. The excessively titled the Marshal of the Revolutionary Army and the Ozoliņšist Republika of Rietumimark, Ivan Borodai, was next to climb to his feet, accompanied by the also inordinately titled Admiral of the fleet Daniel Löfgren, Marshal of the air force Samuels Zaldāts, the Chairman of the Central Military Directorate of Intelligence and the commander of the Special Operations Force General Kristaps Ozolinsh, and finally Marshal of the Strategic Rocket Forces Lt Gen. Jāzeps Vītols. All old men pushing their late seventies and cronies the Minister of Defence Andrus Ansip who all ascribed to dated military tactics and heavy rely on much younger and talented military officers to keep the Revolutionary Armed Forces from being completely obsolete tactically. They all stood up from their seats, and introduced themselves to the Ditu, telling him their name, rank, and function inside the CPC.


Next was a rough looking man, who wore uncharacteristically for a senior member of the Rietumish government his battered, old ordinary winter soldier's coat which hailed from the days of the Rietumish Revolutionary Wars. “I am Einars Ozoliņš, the uncle of his benevolence and the brother of the late Paramount Leader Ivan, you probably remember me from the Airport, I’m officially the Minister of Internal Affairs,” he said with a proud salute and then sat back down, allowing the person next to him to go next.


A short blond haired, dark green eyed older woman in her mid-forties who wore heavy makeup was the latest person to seize the attention of the room. “Alena Ozoliņš, the deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission,” the eldest daughter of Ivan and Belinda introduced herself, confident and bold in the way she carried herself, Alena was very much her mother’s daughter down to the subtle mannerism shared between close family members. “It is a pleasure to meet you in person and I have only heard good things about you.” she finished rather diplomatically.


Alena was succeeded by Indulis Ozoliņš, the chairman of Rietumimark’s foreign intelligence agency, Rietumish Izlūkošanas Pārvalde - known better by its abbreviation RIP. He, much to his hatred, closely resembled his eldest brother Janis, sharing his dark brown - nearly black hair, equally dark eyes, and facial features. But those largely superficial similarities were the only things the two brothers had in common. Whilst Janis was spoiled, born with a golden spoon in his mouth and had everything given to him on a silver platter, Indulis, the unwanted surprise of the family, was ignored by both of his parents and had been forced to work for everything he’d earnt in his life; nothing just fell into his lap. Janis’ overindulged and pampered upbringing had left him lazy, soft, and dissatisfied with life; leading him to always learn for a high, whether it be physical activity in his young or drugs, alcohol, and sex in his latter years. Indulis’ far more humble beginnings, on the hand, moulded his character into becoming a workhorse, highly driven, industrious, and ambitious sometimes to a fault - determined not to be anything like his brother and to make his long deceased father finally proud. Indulis, lacking a present father figure in his life, came to hero worshipped Jieke, embracing and spreading his ideology, Kuaiyanism, with a passion zeal which few could replicate. Indeed, Indulis was the face of Kuaiyanism inside Rietumimark and was singlehandedly responsible for surging its popularity among the country frustrated youth. He climbed to his feet and stiffly bowed further lower than anyone else in the room.


Indulis was succeeded by President Olga Chapin and then a more recent addition to the CPC; Jokūbis Astrauckas - the despotic mayor of Deroburg, whose poor and kleptocratic leadership brought this crisis upon Rietumimark. Servile and grossly incompetent for his job as mayor, he abused his position to amass an enormous amount of riches for himself and his allies. This style of rule had directly lead to the second Dewedish rising and footage of the Nesa Square massacre from being released into the outside world. Jokūbis’ obsequious personality was paired perfectly with his outward appearance - being a stocky, fat, and always appearing to bowing sycophantically no matter whether he was sitting or standing. He formally presented himself, informing Hulang of his name and title but didn’t give any indication what his role actually was, before quickly sitting back down, slipping down chair. With that, the CPC had come full circle, back to Belinda who clapped her hands together and declared. “Now everyone has briefed the Ditu on your basic information, I believe it’s time to start.” her sharp gaze turned towards Hulang and said, “Is there anything else you would like to know or say before we begin?”


Patiently, Hulang watched the whole affair with a sense of slight demise met at the bizarre irony of it all, that members of a communist hereditary autocracy were bowing before a monarch of an alien totalitarian realm. It would have been unusual for him not to have relished all the conversation about rumours, and how positive they were, it left him unsaid areas and with an appetite for much more about this mysterious junta. He himself was quite glad to be able to have a superior grasp of the situation as he attempted to read the various individuals around himself and this most imperialist of tables. It seemed there were quite a few Ozolin's present at the table, one of whom Jieke had written rather positively about in his reports while the rest he had his usual pessimism for which he regarded most who lived with. Indulis, who in his eyes was worthy of Rietumimark and the responsibilities of power that came with being an autocrat. Belinda, Jieke had mentioned little of much to Hulang's great displeasure, mostly writing about Ivan in his reports when she was referenced. Yet, there was in retrospect a hint of respect from that utilitarian totalitarian. Alena Hulang knew even less about than her mother yet the two seemed uncomfortably similar. Much of the military on the other hand carried a special places in Jieke's mind for being a target of complete and utter hatred which he rarely showed for anyone other than uncle Yanfeng. Thanks to Thomas Solberg, Jieke and now Hulang had learned about the Dewedish genocide and how utterly pathetically it was handled. 'It was trying to realise a masterful renaissance sculpture… with a sledgehammer' as the late Ditu put it, in one of his calmer moments about that folly. Hulang found it interesting that he lacked disapproval for the genocide itself but more it's timing and performance for which he saw as a catalyst for term oil in the so fragile region. Olga was one of the few people Hulang knew quite a lot about, given how her life was kept in the land of Ghant and other such places. Rumours surrounded her, such as a having a relationship with Nathan IV - like many women it seemed - or possessing closer relationships than most with House Gentry, being descended from a Ghantish princess if his memory recalled correctly. It seemed the Gentrys appeared in every tree but his, which made things so much simpler on family trees.what intrigued him the most was her presence at that infernal midsummer's ball, the one which had so painfully soured things for himself. Alas he presumably should be quiet about such things here. "I have a few questions before we begin, firstly I assume this is Mayor Jokūbis Astrauckas I have before myself? Then the gentleman should possess quick the insight into how this situation emerged," he began with seething contempt radiating masked under formality of his polite facade. "I myself would most humbly demand such enlightenment from the respectable gentlemen. And also, please tell me when you wish to hear my own insights into these matters and where did you hear these rumours? I apologise if my curiosity may be rather… forceful."


Jokūbis felt the colour slowly and painfully drain from his face as Hulang directed the entire room’s attention towards him. He felt like he was at school again, surrounded by condescending and judgmental gazes from his classmates, waiting...hoping for him to fall flat on his face. In truth, Jokūbis lacked any true insight into the events on that fateful morning that led to this exact moment - during the early hours of the Nessa Square massacre, he was passed out drunk - two naked prostitutes lying on either side of him. By the time a triggerhappy senior officer of the Dewedish Protection Corps had ordered his men to slaughter hundreds of people, he was still asleep, only to briefed about the situation hours after it happened. A political manipulator before a Rietumish patriot, he at first tried to bury the massacre and hide its existence both to the world and his own government; events didn’t play out that way. His entire political career, and indeed his life, was on its deathbed, lingering on the verge of an irrecoverable and likely violent end. “Yes, I...I’m in fact Jokūbis Astrauckas, th...the mayor of Deroburg for nearly ten years.” began a nervous Jokūbis sweating vaguely in the cool room, striking out to take a sip of water before continuing. “According to the municipal level head of the Dewedish Protection Forces - who briefed me shortly after the false rumours of a massacre occurred - no such ‘massacre’ ever occurred. But rather, agents from the Dewedish Authority’s intelligence service - the Dewedish Security and Intelligence Service - spread propaganda and lies that the so called ‘Nessa Square massacre’ actually existed - which it didn’t. Manipulated by these outrageous lies, armed terrorists and criminal thugs have taken to the streets to riot and loot the major towns and cities of the Autonomous Republic of Deweden, whilst tricking the international community into believing that frankly heinous video...” he paused to anxiously laugh, as though it confirmed the video was actually inauthentic. “Allegedly depicting the massacre. Because of this deception on the part of the Dewedish Authority, hundreds of people have been killed by armed Dewedish thugs and foreign mercenaries hired by Gentries who have been spreading fear and terror not only my city but all of Deweden. Only the heroic bravery shown by our security forces have saved tens of thousands of lives from tyranny and restored law and order in much of the region. That is how the situation played out, for me at least. Although I’m curious to hear your thoughts on recent events.” Jokūbis lied through his teeth, trying to hold the facade that he was in fact in control of his own destiny and that of his city.


The Ditu seemed deeply unamused across this long explanation to hide and mask the deep failings of this particular individual. He was playing with a pen for the entire thing, his eyes only moving from it when they were to contemptuously study him in the pauses. And what displeasure rotted inside that mind, hidden behind that face and yet those crimson eyes of his captured a sense of burning vehemence which began to slowly permeate before returning to his steepling. There was little evidence of humour on his face as he began to laugh with almost intentional ridicule in it. His voice was decidedly polite despite the content of words, yet with them there was still the mask of rage. And so he began in Rietumish, quick and precise as ever: “What a most lovely list of excuses filtered behind a party line and your own lies in order to save your own sin. You are not only disgusting but an embarrassment to the office you serve. We are in a private place here, the truth can be laid bare and perhaps I would have forgiven we’ve you for your failings. Maybe I would have forgiven you for your utter ineptitude which has brought us closest to war ever since 2004/05. Your failure to control your men, your failure to remind the Dewedish the consequences of resistance and to ensure that they do not do so, your failure to not inspire hatred but fear instead is a testament to your ineptitude. And yet you mock us so by laughing at us on such a serious matter?” Hulang paused for a few seconds, almost daring the mayor to interrupt him before letting his polite rage continue. “It does not matter whether it actually happened or not, you let the consequences of it spiral out of control into a decline which might very much destroy the legacy of all our forefathers, even mine. Your actions have concocted a cancer of the likes I hoped never to see appear in my lifetime again.” And the Ditu paused again with his unending glare staring upon Jokūbis before he finished. “You should be glad that my proposal is quite merciful for yourself, my father in comparison would not have been so kind.”


If Jokūbis had been a different, if he’d have had a dissimilar upbringing perhaps he would have made a feeble retort to Hulang’s firm lambasting of him and his handling of the crisis - attempting to at the very least issuing a counter-argument. But Jokūbis was and would never be that man, a person who exuded self confidence in his own abilities and his handling of the crisis. But rather, Jokūbis would never be that self-assured person, as, for his entire life, his default setting during times of stress was always cowardice and any courage he may have had, buried in the deepest recesses of his consciousness, evaporated the moment he gazed into Hulang’s cold crimson eyes, which flickered with a passionate contempt for the man he was looking at. Jokūbis sent a desperate, imploring look around the room, hoping that someone...anyone would raise from their chair and come to his defence. He was sent flying back to his early days in school when he was the indulged fat kid, bullied unmercifully by the school’s poorer, older students. He recalled how he escaped their torment, puckering up his lips and kissing arse during his entire time at school. His servile, spineless behaviour only continued when he entered public life - allowing him to rise all the way to the position of mayor of Deroburg. Time seemed to slow down as the mayor silently pondered what to do next...what could he say to avoid an ignoble end which seemed inevitable. “I’m...I am s...so honoured, that you would be lenient towards me, your perfection,” said Jokūbis obsequiously towards Hulang, practically begging the Ditu for further clemency. “If you would be so kind, h...how would I fit in into your proposal?”


“Spare me your ideas honour,” Hulang replied with a sense of annoyance in his voice as he continued. While there was a clear disdain carried in every aspect of his character in that moment, there was still a sense of control to him. His hands were clenched and stiff as the rest of his body, so precise in every motion. He did often wonder how bizarre and how curious he must look at times, almost especially alien. Alas, the blue Ghantar probably are weirder. He himself glanced as his drink of water but decided not to take a sip before continuing, “You are as unfit to lead in my eyes and your removal from your position is in my eyes of the utmost importance. You make a mockery of the ideals of your forefathers and the revolution. You are unfit to be a communist.” Hulang realised that he had not actually explained what he had planned. He himself thought the whole proposal was rather indigenous himself, although he equally recognised how his own personal biases might factor in. He was just glad that he had his stepfather Molxue and his uncle Qiang at hand to process and advise upon the details of it so it could be realised. “I myself do think regardless I should let the others speak now as the whole plan shall reveal what I will do with yourself, mayor.” He coughed quietly, his throat rather dry now but he did not touch the water regardless. “Apologies for that, we in Akai have been increasingly concerned about the competence of our allies public servants. We only wish the best for them as do I, and I do feel the Mayor here is a testament to these concerns. Now, shall we continue?”


Humiliation, that was the only adjective to describe how Jokūbis’ was feeling in the moment. Nothing in his entire life could match up to the disgrace and utter scorn Hulang had shown towards the mayor, who was left completely speechless - unable to put together a single thought. There was nothing he could say to shift the conversation in his favour, to snatch victory from the claws of defeat. So he collapsed down into his seat, slumping in his chair and attempting poorly to hide from the rest of the room. For those watching, shock amongst the more incompetent members of the Central Planning Committee surged through their thoughts - If the Ditu was more than willing to publicly shame Jokūbis without giving it a second thought, what was going to stop him from doing the same to them. Others, however, who had far more confidence in their expertise at running the Rietumish government, were far more amused - although they skillfully hide any such amusement, retaining the facade of remaining impassive and collected at the spectacle of Deroburg’s mayor humiliating end to his career - a day which would be discussed amongst the upper classes of the Rietumish autocracy for years to come.


“We all understand, your perfection,” said Belinda, breaking an awkward silence which encompassed the room following Hulang brutally blunt remarks about Jokūbis. Belinda continued the pretence of being unaffected by the Ditu polite rant about the mayor, although she found it somewhat ironic for the leader of a quasi-fascist monarchy to call out a life long communist for not being fit to call himself a true communist. What political leanings in Hulang hiding from us, she mused, her face remaining inscrutable - not letting anything of what she was thinking to reveal itself through her body language nor look on her face. “Now such issues have been aired and all questions have been answered, I believe it’s time to move on, too far more pressing matters pertaining to imperialist aggression in this ultimatum and the ongoing crisis in the Autonomous Republic.” she turned her attention to Director Bezmozgis, who was a nervous wreck at the best of times, was clearly had been affected by the Ditu’s rant. “Do presume you’re ready to brief the Ditu and his entourage on what information we have?” she inquired, hoping that he would suffer the same fate as Jokūbis.


“As we might expect,” began Director Bezmozgis, climbing out of his chair and gesturing to an aid to close the blinds. He then preceded to lean across the table towards a laptop which was connected to a projector on the wall opposite to the window, tapping the spacebar which caused a grainy satellite picture of the Tempesta Ocean to appear with the Ghantish fleet sailing north in the direction of Dewden. “The Gentries have dispatched their navy, probably carrying a Ghantish expeditionary force to Deweden to enforce the CPO threats of war, as you likely know already. Fortunately moving such a large fleet during a period of significant tension has given the Ozoliņšist Republika an ample amount of time prepare to prevent their arrival in the Dewedish Authority’s port.” Bezmozgis paused, indicating to his aid to pass the Akai a manila folder, containing inside the Revolutionary Navy’s plan to engage the Ghantish fleet at the northerly tip of Rietumimark, whilst dispatching the Revolutionary Navy’s warm water fleet located in southern Rietumimark to join the Akai expeditionary fleet in the Tempesta. He then tapped the spacebar once, switching out the previous satellite picture of the Tempesta Ocean for one of the Dewedish-Rietumish border. “Furthermore, the Dewedish Authority’s mercenary armed forces have mobilised at least 250,000 military personnel, stretched along the border.” Again Bezmozgis paused in mid-speech, motioning for his aid to hand the Akai more files, this time holding detailed intelligence reports on Dewedish Royal Defence Forces ORBAT, recent movements of Dewedish Divisions, and speculation on CPO battle plans. “We expect any CPO invasion to be focused predominantly neither close to the Gulf of Deweden or the Nekulturnyan border. Naturally, we have forces stationed in those regions, prepared to fight to the death to defeat the mother land from an imperialist invasion. In the short term, the Committee for Foreign Affairs has come up with a proposal to, at the very least, deescalate the crisis in the short term, Comrade Minister of Foreign Affairs Thomas Solberg.”


“Thank you Comrade Director Bezmozgis,” Solberg remarked coolly, assuming the room’s attention whilst deciding to remain sitting. “With the threat of war so imminent, I, along with several other colleagues, have come with a short-term fix for a long-term problem. Under our proposal, your Akai marines which were sent along with Carrier Task Force One act as peacekeepers - as Akai is the only country in the region which at the moment who have the trust of both Deweden and Rietumimark - and man a buffer zone between areas under the Dewedish Separatists and government; enforcing a ceasefire between our government and the separatists and their Dewedish sponsors. This, we believe, will buy us time to begin negotiations between the North Dewedish government, the Dewedish Separatists, and the Rietumish government to reach a long-term solution to the violence with Akai acting as an intermediary. Furthermore, the Ozoliņšist Republika is prepared to allow unarmed CPO aid workers - protected by the Akai marines to enter areas under the control of the Dewedish Separatists to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in need. What is your thoughts on our short-term proposal?”


Kazou had been quietly stalking the Ditu this whole time, blending in with his background and the rest of the Akai surprisingly well in all his subtle nature. He passively had observed the Ditu behind his mask, which he had put on upon exiting the car. He seemed passively to take note of the events around himself, the quiet obedience to his master was quite present. Hulang in reality had not invited him but was given his presence by Viceroy Heng Ryuunguo - one of Jieke’s oldest associates and the chief of the Department of State Affairs or Shangshu Sheng. He was an ancient borderline centurian now, a good thirty years Jieke’s elder in 2014, and a relic of many aeons passed. The Shangshu Sheng was at best a grossly bureaucratic body which would make even the Hostillians sudder in its excessive complicity. All serving Heng were thirty different ministries all subject to various overlapping areas. All held together by the sheer will of Heng and his administration despite Jieke’s better judgement. Their interservice rivalries had more than one murders associated with them. Regardless Hulang had to hope for his use here. “I think the proposal works however I must stress under no circumstances should the first shot be ours if it comes to war. The Ghantish-Dewedish irredentism can be faulted by the virtue of their mindless aggression and our manipulation of international war against them. If they illegally attack us, we can force their bellowed allies to abandon them in that sense.” Hulang paused again as his eyes glanced around to Solberg and then Belinda, watching them cautiously with his now controlled eyes. “The main risk for our operations is that that Starl and his cronies the are irrational factors here. They have an undesirable obsession on the reclamation of South Deweden which borders on suicidal. I doubt that nothing short of a hostage situation over their entire people could hurt them. However it should be noted that the North Dewedish population does not wish to engage in another war according to recent intelligence. This is further more rather useful to us when you also consider that Queen Annabelle XIII of… the uncontrolled Dewedish territory is also likely to be against the war something which I hope my uncle can exploit in his trip to the territory to plead with them.” Hulang was always amused at how his uncle’s dreams of a friendlier Akai just collapsed before his eyes so spectacularly; his marriage to the sister of an adulterous Empress managed to make him a pariah to the Gentry’s, his support of Deweden has tied pushed Akai to the brink of war. All he had left was an oil project and somehow Hulang did not think that would last long after this whole affair. “The main reason why we have our task force is stationed in the Tempesta is to ensure that they’d be able to horrifically maim oceanic trade there. It’d cripple the economies of those involved in it and would certainly bring them pain. However our marine compliments are more than enough to police the tiny border area. For sure.”


“I can assure you, although certain elements within the Revolutionary Armed Forces are pushing for Rietumimark to take a far more aggressive stance towards the Dewedish Authority and their proxies operating inside the Autonomous Republic - the Central Planning Committee entertains no such plans of having the Revolutionary Army firing the first shot. Quite to the contrary, we believe that the Ghantar-Dewedish forces initiating the conflict to be paramount to any successful outcome for the Ozoliņšist Republic.” Belinda made a point of mentioning, attempting to reassure the Akai that the Rietumish didn’t hold any plans of firing the first shot. Hulang’s broaching the subject of the Queen and the majority of the population of North Deweden being opposed to war gave the members of the CPC ease that they still had some time to avoid a war that most of the members didn’t want. “News that both the Queen and a significant portion of the Dewedish Authority’s population are against another war is certainly encouraging and will likely buy us time to avoid war. I hope that Sanfu’s efforts within the Authority will bear fruit and set the stage for a long term peace.” Belinda said, getting pleasure from the thought of Sanfu watching a decade of his hard work of collapse before his very eyes. Perhaps this crisis has some uses after all. “The biggest wildcard in this situation will unquestionably be the Dewedish Separatists, whose intentions and agenda remain unknown quantity at the moment. We strongly suspect that their leadership, better put, what remains of their who survived are crackdown last year, to be facilitating most of the present violence. According to our intelligence operatives embedded inside the organisation, the separatists are fractionalised along ideological lines - predominantly between Republicans, Monarchists and genocidal theocratic Dewedish supremacists - and competing personalities. This could work in our favour in delegitimizing the Separatists, weakening the overall position of the Ghantar-Dewedish argument that all people inside want to join the Dewedish Authority. But it can also work against us, as negotiating with nonstate actors is difficult at the best of times, one which is fractionalised, it can be...frustrating and prolonged.”


Hulang nodded as Belinda explained the details more and more so yet some issues like the matter of some in the Revolutionary Army desiring more aggression towards the Dewedish concerned him rather deeply. Any of these men are unacceptable to leave in charge of their units less they start a war. Generals are not loyal dogs, they are ravenous wolves who feed upon their own fears. They must be spied upon at all times. 1984 taught us that. “I must insist there must be no chance of this going wrong thanks to some closeted hatred or mania. Every single piece on this Xiangqi board of ours must be placed with excellent caution so that we know how it may act in the future. And we must predict every possibility so that we are prepared to react to them.” Hulang leaned over with keen interest when they moved on to the topic of the Dewedish rebels. What he found amusing is how they were portrayed as being heroic by many media sources in the Northern nations as freedom fighters rather than the bastards they were. Hulang was perfectly aware of how it could be argued that the Rietumish were worse but it was the hypocrisy which got to him the most. “You should set up proxies to send information about the worse of these Dewedish separatists and their actions to social media sites across the world but especially Dewedish Social Media platforms. You see, it will thoroughly stigmatise these brigands with we are able to present to the world a picture which is ultimately disgusting and revolting. Plus if we can link Starl to these cretinous creatures imagine what we can do to destabilize Deweden’s internal politics? This is a weapon you do not need to be seen wielding in order to have an effect. A gun whose hand you cannot see. And it fires bullets filled with the right poison.” Hulang stared at his water once again, the temptation to drink it becoming all the more stronger. “I myself would also recommend using Akai’s marines to pacify the region also to allow us to either cripple Dewedish rebel groups and also to get their leaders to… well I what I plan for them shall be revealed in the Panacea proposal.”

[The IASM]

“I can guarantee you, your perfection, that all senior military officials inside the Revolutionary Armed Forces, not matter their personal views on the matter of the Dewedish and their Ghantar allies, won’t do anything without the expressed permission from the Central Military Commission - for those who act impulsively without our consent always meet brisk ends,” Belinda said, interrupting her youngest son Indulis before he could speak up. “I firmly agree with the proposal to set up proxies to spread information about Dewedish war crimes against the people of the Autonomous Republic. Unfortunately, our intelligence services infrastructural cyber informational networks on thee internet remains severely underdeveloped. Perhaps, your perfection, you’d be willing to assist us with advisors to us develop and improve such a networks?”

“An excellent idea and a point for which I have been championing for too long,” said Indulis somewhat irritably towards his mother - Belinda. Indulis, for most of the meeting, had been subjugated to the back, far from the Ditu and hadn’t been able to get a word in edgeways thus far. He coughed slightly, clearing his throat before continuing. “I think that it would be advisable to begin destabilising both the Dewedish Authority and their separatist allies, by clandestinely providing covert indirect support to theocratic, Dewedish supremacists - whose ideological outlook aren’t too dissimilar to that of the Theocratic Council or the Arbites Materia and incompatible with the present Dewedish Authority’s government and its foreign backers - in the form of turning a blind eye to their smuggling operations moving fighters and weapons in and out of the Autonomous Republic, making on minor attempts to eliminate their leadership, whilst your Akai marines cripple more moderate rebels groups should your peace proposal fail. This, coupled with information warfare will likely completely delegitimize the entire Dewedish separatist movement - strengthening our position, while weakening the Dewedish position.”


Hulang spectated the understated dynamics between Belinda and Indulis rather curiously, Indulis despite his own efforts seemed deeply unable to overwhelm Belinda’s position. A matriarchal mother, how familiar a fate. “That I do concur with although we should ultimately be cautious not to create our own poison here and strengthen the Dewedish rebels too much less we further want to ruin the region. However I am also rather cautious of to an extent of also using the Akai marines to suppress them wantonly, such an operation would be especially harmful of any long term peace progress if done so without good reason. These rebels need to attack the Marines first as much as I hate to admit it.” Hulang began to tap his fingers as he began to contemplate matters. I must not mess this up he thought as he clicked his fingers; causing several eunuchs behind him to present folders to each and every member of the CPC with a sense of refinement.These men were masked, and cloaked in jade robes, clearly thicker than what was usual for them - scarcely any skin was shown not even their hands or mouths. They were loyal obedient tools, ones which did serve quite a few purposes in Akai. Some even had their mouths sworn up or their tongues removed to be used for purposes which were best not known to other men. After they had finished, they bowed before returning behind the Ditu: “Shall we move on to a long term solution to this most awful of matters? The Panacea Proposal?”


“I believe it is prudent that we, the members of the Central Planning Committee, be briefed on the exact details of the Panacea Proposal, before continuing our discussion any further.” said Belinda rather briefly, intently curious to hear what Hulang’s had come up with.


The Ditu arose from his seat revealing his fairly impressive height of six foot three inches while also lifting up one of the folders. They were unique things, designed clearly to be quite durable with a black plastic hide covering a violent red interior document. The text came in two forms, Rietumish and Akai which were written side by side against one another. Hulang glared at the water once more contemplating whether to drink from it or not, but no he decided against it - too many stories from Akai concerned him there. One of the eunuchs walked past Solberg quietly and gracefully as always to the laptop inserting a memory stick which looked like it could survive the sack of Belisarium several times over. And with it a red image came onto the screen with the Lazin sigil and the Rietumish coat of arms in black and white. Their contrast was stark but in the centre lay a black depiction of the region fitting into an all encompassing circle centred on the north pole. “The Panacea proposal is as evidenced by its name, an attempt to cure all the illnesses caused by the region of Deweden and in particular prevent in the long term the issues, ones which could quite easily be resolved in practical terms.” Hulang moved onto the next page, it quite gracefully displaying a chart showing the different demographics of the autonomous republic and the kingdom. “I am sure you are aware of the fact that both the rebellious territory and the Dewedeni Autonomous People's Republic possess significant populations which are minorities in their respective nations. In the DAPP it is the Dewedeni who have been extremely resistant to your rule and have caused quite considerable and excessive damage to your government. This has forced a heavily militarised presence and an overall unproductive relationship. The current plague of rapist brigands who occupy Southern Deweden are all of Dewedeni stock and are ultimately rather unpleasant in terms of their war crimes which they have committed against innocent families in the area.” Hulang did not mention Rietumish war crimes despite his rather extensive knowledge of them thanks to his rather morbid fascination with such subjects. That cane latter in a more diluted form. Hulang moved onto the next slide, which detailed the situation in the Kingdom of Deweden. “In the Gentry puppet state, you see that their irredentist leader Alexander Starl has implemented a state of systematic segregation and abuse against ethnic minorities in North Deweden. This apartheid against the Rietumish in particular is ignored by the Gentry alliance and the CPO but that shall be addressed in our short term campaign. The creation of North Deweden has caused only strife due the irredentist ambitions of the Starl regime and also the Rietumish people who were also trapped by it.” Hulang moved onto the next slide depicting the population transfer of the Dewedish and Rietumish populations. “Should these populations be exchanged both parties would lose considerable risks to one another. However combined with the application of this we can achieve so much with no changes to the current lines of control and also it allows us to free one another from a variety of problems.” Hulang moved onto the next slide again, “We would lose any potential rebels from emerging from Deweden ever again in the future lest they be Rietumish, a possibility I do rather considerably doubt as much as the foreign powers do.” Hulang retained a cold and almost robotic demeanor through this all, his voice almost trying to purposely mimic that of his father's iconic own manner. “You will also deny the Starl regime and its Gentry allies the potential casus belli of ‘Dewedeni oppression’ in the DAPP, something which would further delegitimise Starl and the Gentrys efforts to try and forcibly reclaim South Deweden in the eyes of the Dewedish people. I can also rather proudly say that Queen Annabelle XIII would most likely not be able bring herself to sacrifice her countrymen over what would be over land with a tangential attachment to her people. IT also preserves the position of strength maintained by Rietumimark by forcing the Dewedish to remain behind the mountains which currently separate the two regions. Any questions on the first half of the proposal?” Hulang’s eyes captured a sense vision and grandeur which seemed to be contrast to his dry and technical voice. He seemed purposeful.


Thomas Solberg leant back in his chair, steepling whilst he carefully listened to Hulang’s Panacea proposal, absorbing every detail. He found his idea intriguing, perhaps one of the better ideas he’d heard on how to solution the twelve year headache that was the Dewedish problem. He could still remember it like yesterday, the days and weeks that this whole headache began; the early protests, Ivan foolheartedly misplacing his trust in soldiers recruited from the areas where they were ordered to fire live rounds at people they knew, and the declaration of independence by the separatists. Those days continued to haunt him, watching helplessly as hapless generals concerned about their own prestige and furthering their careers threw away what was supposed to be a swift victory against poor armed, although extremely motivated fighters and allowed the Dewedish survive to winter. After suffering surprisingly heavy losses, witnessing a drop in public support for the war following Ghant’s intervention in support of the rebels, and unable to break through Dewedish lines - the Rietumish were forced to accept an armistice. Since then, Deweden had evolved into Rietumimark’s achilles heel, preventing it from normalisation relations with the revolution’s enemies and leaving the country largely isolated from the international community. The Ditu’s plan was certainly an idea which his fellow CPC members could accept, it undermined the Dewedish and Gentry arguments for the unification of the former Grand Duchy for which allowed them to rally such a large international support and much more importantly, would grant the Rietumish a chance to permanently to remove the Gentry-backed government-in-exile as a major threat by depriving its support which in relied upon to remain relevant and purge the traitors that fled the Second Tsardom to Deweden. The main major obstacle for the Ditu’s proposal from being implemented was whether the Dewedish were willing to give up their most powerful bargaining chip in the pursuit of international peace. “I must admit, your plan is one of the more plausible proposals I have heard in my twelve years in attempting to end this exasperating conflict,” Solberg remarked, hiding his discomfort of being so close to the Akai eunuchs, whose clothing style reminded him of evil minions loyal to the villain in a foreign horror movie; being clad in jade robes which almost covered every inch of their body and masked, which in combination gave Solberg the creeps. “I believe I can talk for all my Rietumish comrades, in saying that such a proposal in its present form is something which we would all be willing to agree to. However, managing to convince to the Dewedish and their Gentry allies maybe a looming task. Whilst according to your accounts, the present Queen of the Dewedish Authority might possibly more agreeable to your proposal due to her opposition to at the thought of another large scale conflict between our nations, persuading the likes of the authoritarian strongman Starl and the Queen’s great-uncle - the Admiral Prince Abelard of Ghant, who due to his familial relations to the Queen likely has a great deal of influence over her - will probably be far more difficult harder to convince that your proposal is the only way to prevent another war not just tomorrow, but the in years to come.” Solberg said, leaning forward to review the file in Rietumish, which one of the eunuchs given to him - briefly contemplating what to say next. “Therefore, I imagine that influencing the Ghantar and the Demphorians, whose influence over the internal politics is immense, will be paramount for the success of the plan - whether playing upon the idealism of PM Izarbegiratzeak or the echo of President Winsdor. Should we succeed, then both the Dewedish Authority and rebels will have no choice but to accept the plan, as failing to do to so will presumably delegitimize their claims and give us a free hand in dealing with the Separatists. Otherwise, I can’t see the Dewedish weakening the negotiating position under the current circumstances in the Dewedish Authority.”


“I should point out that it is in their interest to comply as well lest they allow us to obtain the propaganda piece that they…” Hulang began to put on a slightly mocking voice as he began to speak Dewedish before translating it back into Rietumish in a more serious tone: “ ‘they are oppressing our people and we need to liberate them’ when we gave them a clear opportunity to do so. We also could point out how this is the maximum we are willing to concede and their is one other point which would bring me to the second part of this particular proposal if you are at all curious.”


Most of the room chuckled in amusement at Hulang parody of the Dewedish, except for Janis, who had yet to say anything throughout the entire meeting - probably too high to speak- and Jokūbis, who after his public flogging by Hulang, had remained sitting quietly in his seat, too demoralised and fearful to speak. “I understand, I was simply pointing out that we must take steps to maximise our chances for success.” Solberg politely said, taking a sip of water from his glass to both moisten his throat and drown any doubt from his mind. “Please, continue with your proposal.”


Hulang seemed pleased with the reaction of the room, yet his dutiful eyes returning back to the presentation. "Another way to lure then into accepting this proposal is to conduct an exchange which allows us to directly deal with the more unpleasant rebels directly as well as also providing the Dewedish with the illusion of vengeance." Hulang began forming a rather understated grin as his eyes began to return to Jokūbis. "An offer which would essentially take the form of the transfer of some minor or incompetent officials who were involved in 2004 and the mess in Deweden afterwards especially as of late. For you see this can help facilitate some vital restructuring of various government institutions as well as also providing an opportunity to satiate the hunger for retribution which the Dewedish do possess as well. Plus pressure could be applied for them to accept such an offer also. In return we get to do whatever we wish to the Dewedish war criminals operating in Southern Deweden under 'neutral Akai' supervision of course." Hulang began to take slow careful steps around the table as his eyes began to scan the faces around it. He seemed to savour every moment and eventually came to stop right behind Jokūbis. "I do think myself that we are in need of a new mayor of Deroburg myself, one who is capable of managing such an operation efficiently without corruption or ineptitude. Someone who could deal with the various rebel operation in Deweden effectively while the failure here is punished for his ineptitude."


The slightest mention of a sacrificial lamb saw uncertainly spread across the room - with the exception of Emily, who was far too young and obscure to be selected - among the Rietumish, like ripples moments after a pebble had been thrown into a pond - their default state of self preservation causing many to wonder...who would be Hulang’s lamb. They watched the Ditu walk slowly around the room nervously, though they hid their fear masterfully except for Jokūbis - who looked like he was about to have a heart attack - waiting for who he would pick. The most anxious of them all was the Minister of Defence Ansip, who was directly involved in the genocide and was wanted for his involvement by several international human rights bodies. They all internally took a sigh of relief when Hulang came to stop at non other than Jokūbis - whose colour in his face all but disappeared as the young Akai finished speaking. “It is an undeniably an interesting idea, your perfection,” began Belinda quietly confidently, her hawkish eyes descending upon the condemned Jokūbis - like predator a stalking its prey before dealing the final, fatal blow. She savoured the pathetic slight of Deroburg’s mayor, fearful and alone with a pleading look on his face; hoping for someone to valiantly come rushing to his defence. For years now, she’d laboured for Jokūbis’ removal from his present position, but the man’s friends in high positions of power and the Party’s bureaucracy had lead her nowhere...until now. “I suspect that they might accept that proposal, as it does satisfy their obsession for revenge which has driven the Dewedish Authority’s foreign policy and its demagogue dictator Starl for the past twelve years. If you don’t might my asking, do you have anyone in mind who would replace the incumbent mayor of Deroburg and led such an operation?”


Hulang seemed especially curious at the reactions his actions were getting from across those in the room. They probably were officials who have had decades of experience, years working at varying degrees of effort, years spent exploiting relationships to arise to power and years spent focusing on politics when they could have been spent elsewhere. And he had power over them, the ultimate power to decide some of their fates. If you looked in that most brief of moments, and studied the young Ditu in that particular moment in time in intense detail - one could spot the sense of deep satisfaction he felt. “I would also add that a large list would be almost undeniably appealing to these particular individuals, so one which may be extended to include some other names might also be prudent. This on top of a small section of minor individuals with a reputation for incompetence.” Hulang noticed Andrus Ansip’s deep anxiety as he walked his way past and now his eyes lay heavy upon him. Jieke’s records on 2006 from Solberg did make reference if albeit indirectly in the primary communications to him and his reputation was one undesirable if one decided to look up his reputation with globalist organisations. I should look up myself one day, and see what comes up. I imagine it’d certainly be amusing to see what those barbarians think of myself. Hulang made his way over to his seat again but did not sit down as he responded to Belinda’s rather intriguing inquiry. “I’d recommend someone fairly young myself who generally has a track record for competence and would likely be able to assist in the destruction of the rebels. Indulis here would be the ideal candidate although would his position with the RIP be an issue? If not there are other potential candidates.” Hulang turned his eyes to study Emily once again, wondering when she might take on a stronger role in the government. It seemed she certainly possessed some potential for sure in his studious eyes.


Belinda took a few seconds to ponder Hulang’s words, considering thoughtfully how to play the succeeding moments after she spoke. It appeared to her that the Ditu was indicating that he not only wanted Jokūbis, but a much larger and enticing fish to sacrifice to the Dewedish and their Gentry masters. While such a move would, without a doubt in her mind, go a long way in mending fences between the Dewedish and Rietumish peoples - Belinda had far more pressing domestic political considerations to think about. The entire Rietumish political system revolved around a complex web of political alliances and arrangements which spanned from the minorest Party official to the men and women of the Central Planning Committee. No one made it anywhere without collecting dirt and obtaining an affluent and wealthy sponsors who’d spent time and money advancing that said person’s career. A single ripple within the web could have lasting consequences for years, and in some cases, decades. Belinda had already begun planning how she would deal with the potential ramifications of Jokūbis’s abrupt removal. Many who’d maneuvered the future former mayor into his position wouldn’t be pleased to see him scapegoated and replaced after they’d spent so much political capital into Jokūbis retaining his position. There will be hell to pay. Furthermore, Hulang’s remarks about having suspects - even though they were incompetent - handed over was an entire can of worms in of itself. Several of Belinda’s kin were directly involved in that mess, predicament which had pulled them down to this path which had led to this very crisis. She couldn’t let Hulang handover anyone, it was a redline that she wasn’t willing to cross. It would be too easy to link her sons Janis and unstable Raimonds and the potential consequences of the imperialist CPO reopening proceedings and pursuing her family was a risk too great for her. She would have to guide the Ditu to a different patsy, one whose links to the genocide were dubious at best and had no knowledge nor links which could be traced back to her brood...her flesh and blood. “In addition to handing over Jokūbis, I can speak for all my CPC comrades, in that we are completely willing to offer to purge the entire regional government of the Autonomous People's Republic of Deweden, place certain officials under detention for their part in this current mess, and give over a handful of policies which have an harmful effects on the region’s Dewedish population. However, the Ozoliņšist Republic is not willing to hand over those who was a participant in the unfortunate events of 2004/05. It has been our government official policy on the matter to deny its existence and that the Gentry imperialists grossly exaggerated the number of civilians killed during the conflict to increase public sympathy for the Dewedish terrorists. Agreeing to this is simply out of the question, for it undermines and makes redundant a policy we’ve had for over twelve years by essentially acknowledging its existence. Rietumimark is willing to reverse its policy and admit to the Nessa Square massacre occurring and handing over those, like Jokūbis, who were responsible. Too many key government officials within our government may become exposed if we were to follow through with your plan.” said Belinda, closely subtly observing the young Akai Ditu. The proposal to have Indulis become the interim mayor of Deroburg was an intriguing idea, one racked with risk. Belinda was too old not to be acutely aware that Indulis was a threat to everything she’d built, to the legacy was wanted to leave for her dear Emily and Hulang’s proposal was potentially the best opportunity yet to delegitimise her youngest son - ending any notion that he could succeed Janis in becoming Paramount Leader. However, it was a gamble. If he was able to deliver, it would catapult his reputation and career to meteoric heights amongst the Rietumish security establishment - possibly making him and his Iron Guard of Rietumimark a threat to her position and political clout inside the Rietumish government. Best to get him out of the capital, buying me time to further cement my assets within the government. “I believe it would be an excellent idea to have Indulis, should he want such a position, to be the mayor for the time being.” She took attentive note on how Hulang’s gaze fell upon her granddaughter Emily at least twice, to as far as her knowledge - which gave her an idea. “Perhaps, my dear Emily could serve as a liaison between your perfection and Indulis during his tenure as mayor of Deroburg, briefing you on pressing recent events and operations inside the Autonomous Republic up until the threats in the region ceased to exist. It would be a superb chance for Emily to gain more political experience and it wouldn’t be too difficult, for it seems you too have established quite a rapport.”


Indulis knew his mother too well not see past her pretense, he knew...sensed that she sought to see Indulis fail in miserably in the Autonomous Republic; had felt an overwhelming desire to see her disappointed, even if it required uplifting his growing family to Deroburg. “I’ll gladly accepted the assignment to crush the terroristic rebels and restore law and stability which in the Dewedish parts of my motherland, which have lacked both both for too long. Additionally, I relish an occasion to spend time with my niece and I’m certain that my family would as well - assuming Emily would like the job.” Indulis said, his mind racing to his wife Yekaterina, his daughter Helena, and their unnamed unborn son. He was all too conscious of that Belinda would use Emily to spy on him, what he was doing, and his progress in crushing the Dewedish Separatists. He pondered using his cunning wife to draw his niece way from his mother’s sphere of influence and draw her into his way of thinking. “Out of transparency, I should inform the Ditu that, should your attempts to find common ground and eventually peace with the imperialist fail, the Central Planning Committee has initiated a backup plan - the Jo...Order 999; the complete transferal of a significant portion of the hostile population of the Autonomous Republic of Deweden up of the Republic and into relocation camps located in Rietumimark proper. Following the opening days of the crisis, the CPC agreed that, under the cover of ‘counter-terrorism’ and ‘anti-crime’ operations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, spectacle the Dewedish Rapid Reaction Force, will commence subtle the forceful eviction of people from opposition strongholds to the aforementioned relocation camps located in the Rietumish Soviet Republic. We estimate it will take at least between one to one and a half months to reduce the hostile population by between 10%-20%, allowing the loyal population to become the majority. Once this becomes a reality on the ground and the imperialist have turned their backs on peace, the Rietumish would agree to allow a CPO administered independence referendum in the PARD, with foreign observers. With the demographic situation being shifted in our favour, the referendum will end in a defeat for the separatists and their imperialists backers will be forced to recognised the Autonomous Republic of Deweden as part of Ozoliņšist Republic of Rietumimark.”


Hulang had been watching intra-dynastic and intraparty politics subtly edge out before one another with an intense curiosity. He had sat down now after slowly patrolling his way around the table with deep focus on the various voices around him. He was quite aware of the fact that Belinda was trying to move him away from implicating the various people of the 2004/05 horror-show, for what reasons however Hulang had to speculate. Possible familial involvement is probable, although there is also the fact that it might be rather crippling to lose so many members of government so quickly and without ‘experienced’ replacements. Although there certainly might be other issues posed by this also. Acknowledgement might lead to a whole variety of issues which may be increasingly problematic for the regime. A curious situation but an understandable one. “I am quite sympathetic to your particular situation. While the exact numbers of those dead due to the situation in 2004 might be quite variable with the Dewedish exaggerating for political gain, I can imagine some consequences might be more problematic for you and your accomplices now if such a de facto acknowledgment is given. However while I do agree with you I would also mention that the Akai are prepared to find any length to avoid war, and I am also equally unfettered to find victory in this situation over the Gentry imperialists.” He latter continued on the matter of the Mayorship of Deroburg “I think the proposal to have Emily Ozolins communicating the ongoings in the the Autonomous Republic is one which is quite…” Hulang paused as he tapped the table and then lifted the glass of water contemplating whether to drink it. He held it up into the light to study it, to see if it looked off in any way no traces of drugs and anyways I’ll know from my guards he thought as he took a small sip of it before putting it down. “She’d make excellent option and a good choice. The Next political generation is of great importance to all and should be nurtured to become rather prosperous.” He paused again before making a jest in a deadpan manner not to dissimilar to his usual form of speech: “And this may I add is completely unrelated given my own youthful age.” He looked down solemnly afterwards, before continuing to listen. "How would this communication occur?"


In response to order 999, something which Hulang found especially reminiscent of some of the approaches taken by the Akai in 1984, a year which made the start of the 21th century look like child's play in comparison. Hulang had been lectured many times about the story, one which Jieke experienced first hand warlord Taijian, the man who set Akai ablaze in order to turn it into a modern day Fu Jia stratocracy whose ideals stood not to far away from that blasted Christian Han rebel. After Jieke had deployed his nukes, instead of massacring the troops and servants of the false king Taijian, he forced them into labour to not only rebuild what was destroyed but to help build his projects after it. He told him that cold night that after that he had most of the soldiers executed, regardless of the fact that they were mere conscripts. To him, they were a potential threat and one that possessed good reason to resist. Oh what horrors would have Jieke inflicted if Deweden was Akai, the horrors indeed. "That does of course an issue arises if the CPO rejects any involvement which might occur thanks to the Ghantish scum. We also do not want a repeat of the crisis we are dealing with now on a far larger scale so we need to control communication in Deweden and what is relayed to the outside world. This is actually rather easy for us, for Jieke was a man who believed in quite a few things one of these things was that the war can be fought without firing a single bullet. The Geluxu, an agency I assume. Indulis will be well acquainted with is Akai's principle intelligence agency," mostly due to the rivalries among the alternatives are increasingly compromising and Molxue is rather competent one of its Cells, Cell 13 to be precise possess one of the region's most advanced cyberwarfare and one of the most powerful suites. I imagine it'd be easily possible for us to suppress communications across most of Deweden, while attacking its internet structure and crippling it in many other delicious ways despite their own advances. Regardless it makes the project all the more plausible. However I still feel though that Order 99 is an inferior alternative to my own proposal." Hulang paused a second to think about his next few words carefully: "I also have another idea which I wanted to receive some of your thoughts on. Akai as you may know is a member of the CPO. We while restricting international law must realise that it can be used a weapon against the Gentry imperialists and their proxy state. If we can propose a peaceful resolution, such as an international recognition of the DAPP being under your rightful control through the Panacea proposal any irredentist measures by Starl and his allies would be illegal under international law. We could quite swiftly and effectively force them to give up all credibility if they still continue or permanently force them to end their goals. Either way the result is good for ourselves. Thoughts?"


Belinda was slightly taken aback from the ruthless pragmatism demonstrated by someone so young. Jieke certainly taught this boy well, he’s well beyond his age, especially when compared to certain other world leaders. His words about wanting to best the Gentry scum, the Lazin’s dynastic rivals for generations, gave her some caution optimism about the future of Akai-Rietumish relations with Hulang as Ditu. “I’m glad that you under the completely avoidable predicament that we Rietumish have unfortunately found ourselves due to incompetence on our part.” her eyes lingering on the Minister of Defence Ansip, remembering how his poor judgement and bad advice to her late husband cost the lives of thousands of Rietumish regulars and irregulars fighters during the conflict. She recalled how he constantly threw more and more soldiers into the fray - often using completely outdated and useless tactics in totally wrong situations over and over again with costly results. Had it not been for the history between Ansip and herself, he would have been thrown from his position and forced to have an early retirement. Sometimes she would wonder what she might have achieved had things played out different, had the Rietumish security services done their job properly and crushed the revolt before it centralise and organise itself. What if, two words she kept using a lot recently - far more often than she cared to admit - now many of her old comrades were biting the dust. “Excellent,” she said upon hearing agreeing to having Emily act as a liaison for Indulis. “I must echo and be firmly in agreement with your words - Rietumimark of all places needs to grant the next political generation more opportunities to thrive in a very gerontocratic society. On the topic on how you would communication, I was thinking that a private server should be set up for which you two can remain in contact and kept up to date on the comings and goings of the situation in the Autonomous Republic, unless you can think of a better way to be in touch?”


Belinda listen meticulously whilst Hulang went into detail about Geluxu’s potential use of cyber and informational warfare to the assist the execution on the ground of Order 99. She marvelled at the advancement of Geluxu’s Cell 13 cyber and electronic warfare capabilities and how far the Rietumish lagged behind their Akai counterparts. She recollected when a younger member of the Ministry of Public Security suggested after the Dewedish mess in 04/05 that the Rietumish Izlūkošanas Pārvalde, Rietumimark’s foreign intelligence agency, follow the Akai lead in investing into the establishment of a cyber warfare directorate. Paramount Leader Ivan, whose psychological state deteriorated rapidly after the Dewedish Uprising and his years of heavy smoking and alcohol abuse having finally caught up with him - manifesting itself into severe psychosis - rambled on for two hours about how the internet was an imperialist plot to spread secret messages to his enemies, accused him of being an imperialist agent aiming to unseat Ivan, and had the poor man hung, drawn and quartered. No one after that dared mention anything about the internet until long after Ivan died in 2012. Since then, the Rietumish had been desperately been playing a game of catch up with the rest of the world. “Cell 13’s assistance in the implementation of Order 99 would be a massive help. Unfortunately, our intelligence services present in the cyberworld is quite limited when compared to other forms of espionage for a number of reasons and the biggest weakness of Order 99 would have been our inability to fully control what comes out of the Autonomous Republic through the internet. With your help, the chances that Order 99 will be successful is far greater. Naturally, however, the CPC would prefer for your Panacea proposal to succeed, rather than relying only on Order 99.”she said before addressing Hulang’s next point. “A clever idea which will certainly blindside the Gentry imperialists, your perfection. It would make any further claims, should you be successful, null, void, and more importantly, illegal,” engaging in a slight smirk, before briskly moving to a completely different topic. “Whilst what I am about to ask isn’t pertinent to the present subject, the Ozoliņšist Republic would like to formally offer to the Ditorate of Akai to license an naval base along the southern Rietumish coastline.”


Hulang had listened to Belinda quite intensively, a partially for professional reasons as his role as Ditu and autocrat of the nation but also to him she was a puzzle just waiting to be cracked open. She was so particular in her mannerism, and her mind seemed purposely detached from her words to the point of excellence. She seemed to be one of the experts at playing the game of politics and power, and she made an excellent study. Hulang was quite intrigued by her proposal. An Akai naval base in Southern Rietumimark would be of incredible use for us. Especially if we are also able to extend our ability to project power with air bases also. It would be another Élbannin… no a new Élbannin. Hulang’s face remained emotionless and formal aside from his piercing eyes as he began, not before taking another drink: “I, the solitary one must receive a such gift of mutual benefit. It should allow a far greater presence in the Northern Tempesta Ocean while also protecting his loyal allies.” Hulang spoke in Palace Akai to formally decree the worlds of the Ditorate, with one of the eunuchs translating at his side. He continued with a slight smile visible in only his eyes: “His Perfection also wishes to in return offer support for a Rietumish nuclear program to make attacking the Ozoliņšist Republic politically and practically unfeasible. This would take form in technological, scientific and economic support for such a project. Akai’s nuclear arms project is still continuing and thriving with its own devices now being modernised to work with the fourth generation of nuclear technology. We wish to extend this most comforting luxury to our allies in Rietumimark. Such an offer however may be only completed with mutual partnership between Rietumimark and his own divine realm in future on many a matter.”


The Rietumish were incredulous at what they were hearing from the eunuch, a goal...a dream which many of members had have since their youth was finally about to come true; the Ozoliņšist Republic was about to receive the superweapon they’d long dreamed for - one which would strike fear into the hearts of the most harden imperialistic irredentist of Allamunnic States, the Dewedish Authority or the Ghantar Empire. Several of the stiff militarymen of the room, leaned over towards each other, eagerly speculating the potential consequences for the Revolutionary Armed Forces once the Rietumish obtained the nuclear weapons. Others quietly gasped in surprised at the eunuch announcement - quickly whispering to their neighbour about what may have brought on this change of policy on the part of the Akai. Even Janis seemed to stir in his drug induced, detached state, his dark, lifeless eyes looking around the room, perhaps wondering what was going on, but too high to launch any inquiries into the subject. Belinda, Emily, and Indulis, however, remained straight-faced, not letting anyone know what they were thinking; professionality their one number concern. Once the initial disruption from the CPC members passed, it was Belinda who opted to speak on behalf of Janis, her voice serious and business like, not conveying her joy at the thought of Rietumimark having nuclear weapons - a stark difference from her other comrades. “Speaking for the entire, my would like to thank the Akai people for such a humbling gift for the Rietumish people. Today shall truly be an historic day in the histories of Akai-Rietumimark and our alliance, one in which will be remembered and discussed by our children and children’s children for decades to come.” said Belinda, following the normal theatricals which often punctuated meetings within the upper echelons of the Rietumish government. “However, I almost forgot, would you accept an airbase to compliment your new naval base, the Central Planning Committee would also like to include an air base, its location inside Rietumimark which will be decide by your perfection, alongside the naval base - for one without the other would be an equivalent to sacrilege.”


Hulang seemed particularly intrigued with how he had stirred up and provoked such an undisciplined reaction from the ranks of the CPC. While he left his body intact in its usual perfectly serene state of solitude, it was his mind which found it interesting. Yet what Hulang found most telling were two things, one even Janis seemed to be awoken from his drug infused haze by his comments reaction and that only three people seemed to be resistant to it. Hulang’s eyes glanced to all three, studying them with the intense scrutiny, masking the frustration that lay inside. Why must you be so hard to work out! Hulang began to speak again in Rietumish, authoritative and devoid of any pleasure: “I do wish to stress that last clause; that such an offer however may be only completed with mutual partnership between Rietumimark and his own divine realm in future on many a matter.” And on the last point he seemed to have achieved something of great use to Akai, something which could easily be used to strengthen it for years to come. I might have just done something which has alluded me for so long. Achieved success abroad. His mind floated to his time in New Edom and how he messed up his attempts to impress royalty there immediately, how he humiliated himself before the eyes of Ghant and destroyed what chance he had of repairing things and how he realised that perhaps Akai and New Edom may have been closer were it not for his repeated mistakes months ago. Here he was on the verge of achieving true success. “And the air base and naval base maybe just what Akai needs to help protect our ally and also crush our enemies in future. Once, my family used to rule as Kings of Élbannin, a land which we used as our naval base to wage havoc across the Northern seas. Now once again, the Akai can once again instill fear across the seas, our fleets the torment of our enemies once again, the flail of their minds, the heroes of the noble. And now we might be able to soar across the skies of Acheron also, what wonderful power we are in possession of now. ” Worth more than any damn nuke. “Might I ask, would it be possible if I could conclude this meeting with a few words?”


Belinda seethed eternally at the unmoving, inscrutable look bathing Hulang’s face, expressionless as it was observing - coming to a conclusion to the slightest detail, the most minute piece of body language someone gave away. She saw flickers of his father inside the boy, the leader of one of the largest and most powerful nations within the world - a cold, emotionless machine of a man beyond nothing to further his own agenda. Yet, curiously, beneath his inhospitable exterior, she saw fleeting glimmers of humanity within him - a caring, emotive normal person underneath all the baggage life had stacked against him. She found it fascinating, espying the brief flashes of the internal battle between his father’s shutdown, vacant behaviour and basic humanity which Belinda believed simmered inside each and every person the moment they were born. It frustrated her not being able to read more into it, too see past the mask...the wall which Hulang appeared to encase himself constantly; keeping everyone at arm’s length. One day, perhaps one day I will uncover what makes Hulang, Hulang. “The Ozoliņšist Republic is fully prepared to work alongside our Akai allies and accept such a clause with our comrades.” she said, her voice remaining just as disciplined as ever. “Please, go ahead and end the meeting with a few words for the room.”


Hulang then with the permission of the room, rose from his chair and began to lecture once more; his voice however this time was different, it was a commanding affair with the hint of passion occasionally flickering. “What we have done today is commit ourselves to a matter which is of exceptional importance to us all,” he began calmly. “Our future often hangs in the balance, decided by factors which we are all subject to. And as we all know, fate can be a harsh overlord but yet we can still thrive. For my comrades here, have helped envision a burning vision of the future, forged in the depths of our mind and they shall emerge steaming. Yet while it may burn our flesh to hold this future, it may burn the flesh of our subjects, might I remind you all that once this is complete we will be in a position greater than ever before to stand tall in the world. No more shall the Gentry’s who have waged vengeful violence against us both for generations feel free to do so with impunity, no more shall they build chains around us with their networks of families, no more shall they use inconveniences as a way to inflict misery on millions. No more! Let us write the history of the future on our pages, let us lead the way onwards, let us find… victory in our rendezvous with death.”


A heavy applause to Hulang’s speech by the members of the Central Committee echoed around the room, smiles and grins imbuing the faces of many of the Rietumish men and women in the room. Olga carefully watched them curiously, especially the lifelong military men who’d shot out greedy looks - gleeful at the thought of having Hulang sweep in a solve all the problems which they helped create; the Akai Ditu arousing montage playing straight for the naive idealists which many of them first started out being when they first joined the RUP and the Armed Forces. Her mind wandered towards Hulang, his face remaining ever impassive and unreadable, and she pondered what might be running through his mind, what he made of the CPC and their mirthful looks on the men who forced the Akai to this briefest moment time - on the verge of another war in the Tempesta. Hulang was a peculiar sight to behold, far from the amoral beast who some claimed attempted to rape the Emperor of Ghant’s little sister Amelia which a great many nobles in Ghant went great lengths to make him out to be. Rather, he didn’t seem to be physically threatening type which would partake in such violence. Instead, he seemed like one who would manipulate and play people through the mind - using other people to do his dirty work for him...which made him far more dangerous than people realised. She than appraised Belinda, a woman she despised with all her soul, sitting her in seat quietly and deadpan, she too carefully watching the Ditu, inspecting him...looking for a hole in his armour to exploit and take advantage of. She returned to observing the room in general and wondered, what unforeseen consequences would arise in the following days and weeks after this meeting and what will be in store for the poor people of Deweden now Hulang had seemed to want to further invest in Rietumimark. “Today is certainly an historic day for Akai-Rietumimark relations, wonderful and inspiring words which sum up this meeting perfectly, your perfection.” Olga half lied. “Now that we have discussed everything that needs to be addressed, shall we conclude this meeting?”


“Yes we shall,” Hulang responded in as cool terms as ever as his crimson eyes glared out of the window once again to look over the desolate cold city before him. I shall make this right, I shall make it perfect.

[North Rietumimark]

“The Other Ozoliņš”

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

Upon the Ditu’s final words, the meeting between Hulang and the Central Planning Committee was finally adjourned; much to the relief of Rietumimark’s Paramount Leader who seemed to be desperate for another high. The grating of several dozen chairs against the assiduously well maintained granite floors and the faint murmuring of the CPC members climbing to their feets filled the expansive conference room as occupants in the room began to filter out. Emily could feel the sense of opportunism, elation, and relief being emanated from people within the room. But beneath that initial brew of positive emotions, simmering just under the surface, trepidation and fright sewed - emanating from Jokūbis. He had the look Emily had seen a great many times - he was the picture of the condemned. He sat in his seat petrified, staring emptily into his glass of water - contemplating how he’d got here and what might happen to him...wishing he’d done things differently. Emily’s gaze caught Olga’s, who remained seated, pretending to organise the various folders and files she had been given during the meet. Their gazes interlocked for only a matter of seconds and Emily was drawn in. She could feel herself seeing the world through Olga’s eyes and experiencing her emotions which flooded through her mind. Emily could immediately feel just by looking into Olga’s blue eyes that she was deeply worried...the look confliction brewing just below the surface, although she disguised it extremely well. It seemed Olga was mulling over what she would do...how she would play things. Suddenly Olga seemed to realise that Emily was reading her a bit too well and abruptly broke eye contact and climbed from her seat - promptly leaving the room.

“An excellent speech, your perfection,” Belinda remarked softly, gently rising from her seat along with the rest of the Central Planning Committee members in the conference room; closely watching Hulang’s every movement. “Eloquently put, your perfection, I am certain that your address and this entire meeting will be remembered and discussed by Rietumish social circles for decades to come. Now the meeting has concluded, shall we move on to lunch?” Belinda asked politely, gesturing towards the room’s main entrance. In the background, Janis’ two mysterious, harassed looking advisors appeared through a secret backdoor in the corner of the room, placed just so it the door was hidden underneath a dark shadow and escorted the befuddled Paramount Leader out of the room.

Without wasting any time, Belinda, joined by her granddaughter Emily, accompanied the Akai in exiting the massive conference room, allowed to leave first by the other members of the Central Planning Committee, down the enormous marble staircase which they had previously ascended, through the checkpoint being manned by members plained clothed Revolutionary Guard Special Protection Forces who recently got on shift, and descended down the marble steps to the entrance - back to where they started. Outside, the convoy for which they traveled in, remained in place - patiently waiting for Belinda and the Akai’s return. The Square of the Revolution where the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall was centred - was completely empty. The various shopping stores and cafes were desolate and only the human presence was the heavy security detail attached to the Ditu’s protection during his time in the city. Snipers lined the rooftops, several helicopters hovered above them - waiting at any minute to swoop down and deploy the special forces inside and evacuate the Akai if push came to shove. It was almost midday by now, apparent from a stunning noon sun high in the sky, rays of sunlight sparkling off undisturbed snow.

A chauffeur for the limousine which they were to travel in, climbed out of the vehicle - smiling as he did - and offered to help the Belinda, Emily, and the Akai inside the limousine. Once the entourage was inside, the convoy came roaring to life, speeding along the winding roads of central Slapjšzemesgrad. Quaint as they were old, most of the pavement was built under the rule of the Romans and subsequently retained and maintained under the rule of the Rietumish Unity Party - who much rather preferred the aesthetics of a Roman road compared to the ugly roads built by the government which they run. Beyond the charming roads of the city centre and the traditional Romanesque flair of many of the structures which wouldn’t have looked out of place in somewhere like Ghant or Latium through which the roads ran. The convoy passed through an intersection and entered a far more recently built part of Slapjšzemesgrad - evident by a dramatic change in architectural style. The building where far more regimented and rectangular - boxy even with a blunt disregard for aesthetics. Propaganda espousing pro-government and anti-Axis of Imperialism slogans and billboards warning of the inevitable war with the imperialists was everywhere. Yet, in spite the crude bluntness to most of the buildings, there was an eerie normalcy to the place...a strange bespoken comfort to everything despite the situation. Walking along the streets of Slapjšzemesgrad, people went going about were going about their daily routine without a taking any notice of the massive convoy.

“What has your impression been of Slapjšzemesgrad and the Central Planning Committee members thus far?” Emily probed the young Ditu, attentively curious about what Hulang made of everything he’d witnessed thus far. She looked out of her window, their limousine was driving on a road which was parallel to the Slapjšzemesgrad river, admiring the natural beauty of the river - a river which had yet to be corrupted by the RUP. “Is not your first state visit to Rietumimark?” she said softly, so softly that Belinda wouldn’t be able to snoop into their conversation.

Ultimately the convoy came to a measured stop at prodigious, Tsarist-era building which sat directly in front of the Slapjšzemesgrad river, giving customers a clear view of ‘pretty Slapjšzemesgrad’. The structure had refurbished and repaired recently, but unlike many other more modern buildings around it, it strutted decorated period, English Gothic architectural style which was unique to the city. It was a single story and characterised by a pointed arch, elaborate windows tracery subdivided by tightly spaced parallel mullions up to the point that the window begins. The structure was flanked on either side by shops, tourist centres, and cafes - all constructed by to face the river. There were multiple guards outside the main entry, plained clothed like many of the others the entourage had encountered; further encompassed by more security stretching out from more than several blocks in each direction. Again, the chauffeur got out of the vehicle and assisted the occupants in any way he could.

“Hello and welcome to the Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant!” said an elderly, homey voice emerging from the two large doors, being pulled open by two waiters, which led inside the restaurant. There, they were all greeted by a portly, stout older woman in her early sixties, although she looked much more worn than even Belinda, with strawberry red hair intertwined with gray, and a wide hospitable smile. Her tone was welcoming and warm, but nevertheless firm and authoritative. She was clad in a chic, black and white restaurant uniform commonly found in most upscale eateries. “I am Jevgenija Mussorgs and I’m here to formally greet you and thank you for choosing Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant to host such a prestigious event. You honour the entire staff for entrusting us with such an important event and please feel free to critique us on anything which shall further the experience for our customers.”

With that, Jevgenija beckoned the entourage to follow her inside and it was Belinda who assumed the lead in the entourage in entering the restaurant first. The interior featured white slender and regal tall columns, the ceiling was intricately vaulted, giving an onlooker the appearance that they were entering an ethereal cage made of stone and glass. Expensive crystal chandeliers, with brilliant rubies encrusted inside, adorned the ceiling. The entire structure exuded wealth and affluence - a showcase to the power and riches that the RUP processes; from the opulent seats to the golden silverware. Not a single expensive was spared to turning the restaurant a palace fit for a king. The whole spectacle was quite ironic, for that the people who championed to have the best intentions of the working man to live as if they were royalty bound by blood.

The building itself was divided into two dining halls - each capable of seating well over hundred guests at any one time. One of the dining halls was designed to be the main eating area for customers which had been completely emptied by security forces in preparation for the event, whilst the other dining room was a banquet hall designed especially for major events such as birthday parties, family reunions, among other social gatherings. It was the banquet hall where Hulang would meet Belinda huge family. Advancing through the grandiose grand entrance to the banquet hall, they there greeted by Belinda second eldest son Raimonds Ozoliņš.

“Your perfection, it a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” said a rough, hoarse voice coming from Raimonds, who struck out to shake Hulang’s hand. Raimonds was a tall man, not much shorter than Hulang, with thick, almost to a point that they looked swollen, lips, graying military style sandy brown hair, and haunted blue eyes which lacked any emotional depth to them. Raimonds was clad in his old Revolutionary Guard uniform which he rarely, if ever, seen not wearing in public. For all intents and purposes, the man was noted as a military genius - directly responsible for completely overhauling the Revolutionary Armed Forces and purging its leadership of egocentric and incompetent senior officers. However, his achilles heel was his unpredictable mental state which made him extremely capricious and psychologically unstable; suffering from a wide range of psychological disorders triggered by an assassination attempt at aged fourteen. “Please, let me introduce you to my family and show you around. This is my darling wife Madara Lovekaty, our daughters Jeļena, whose thirteen, and Elīna, whose twelve. This here,” he said directing Hulang attention to the small child with curly sandy-brown hair and large, bright blue eyes clinging to Raimonds arms. “Is my youngest and only son Anatolijs. Come on Anatolijs, say hi.”

Anatolijs shot Hulang an expression of fear at the peculiar look of the Akai Ditu and promptly shoved his head into his father’s chest, attempting to hide from the man who reminded him of some kind of being from the underworld. “Ahh...our little Anatolijs has always been a shy child,” remarked Raimonds’ wife of twenty-four years - Madara Lovekaty - emerging from behind her husband with their two daughters. Madara was, even in her later years, a beguiling and voluptuous of forty-four years old with long, silky blond hair which ran down three-quarters of her back and mesmerising amber eyes. Yet, beneath her looks, she was a devious and cunning woman whose ambition and narcissism was even greater than her good looks. A great beauty in her youth, she took full advantage of her of them to snag the second eldest son of the Paramount Leader in 1992 and greatly boost the prestige of her family within the RUP autocracy. Madara was flanked to her left by Jeļena, a stocky, overweight young lady who unfortunately inherited most of her aesthetics from her father. She had a fat circular face, to which, at first glance may have appeared to be completely distended. Her thick, untamed curly light blond hair, her eyes was a gentle light brown, and her skin had a reddish/pink hue to it which resembled pink skin in certain light. Her sister, Elīna, on the other hand, was a split imagine of her mother and already had the hallmarks of becoming a stunner when she got older. The two girls joined their mother in bowing in respect to the head of the state bashfully, blushing profusely as they did. “Would you mind to enlighten my husband and I on how you have found your trip to the Ozoliņšist Republic, I hope you’ve found the Central Planning Committee to be hospitable and cordial to your perfection,” Madara said playing dumb as if she hadn’t already heard what occurred during Hulang’s meeting with the CPC. Madara next turned to Emily, with a duplicitous smile on her face. “Emily, would you be a darling and escort your cousins to the dining table while we talk to the Akai Ditu...thank you.”

Emily reciprocated Madara ’s fakeness with her owned feigned smile at a woman she had only utter contempt for. She had to find her aunt to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a viper drooling with venom, just waiting to sink its grasping fangs into someone. Greedy bitch wants to gain the favour of the Ditu and use that to further her agenda in the Rietumish government. I wouldn’t put it past her if she isn’t hoping to match make Hulang with her prettier daughter. “Of course, it would be my pleasure,” said Emily with a sarcastic tone in her voice, taking her cousin Anatolijs from her uncle's arms. “Hulang, I’ll see you a little later.” Emily added quickly, with a subtle bitterness to her tone whilst she chaperoning her younger cousins to the table, while Madara, Raimonds, Belinda, and the Akai began the slow process of introducing Hulang to Belinda’s large family.

The first of the Ozoliņš family Hulang met was Alena, her husband Kristaps, and three sons - Kristaps Jr (23), Voldemārs (21), Markuss (18), and two daughters Dagnija (14) and Ilona (10), along with Voldemārs girlfriend and famous Rietumish tennis player Jeļena Radēviča. Hulang was next met Vilhelms (38), Belinda’s third eldest son and fourth child, and his wife Larisa and their two children Ivans (8) and Solveiga (6). Eventually, Hulang found himself with Indulis and his family - his pregnant wife Yekaterina and their two-year-old daughter Zuzanna.

Emily felt an almost obsessive compulsion closely watched the young Akai Ditu while he when through the grueling task of being personally introduced to each and every member of Belinda’s brood. Each one of the serpents dispelled devious flattery and deceitful compliments to both earn the goodwill and favour of Hulang. They were certainly Belinda’s and Ivan’s children - unlike the clumsy, obsequious actions taken by many of the Central Planning Committee - their sycophantic praise was much more cunning, nearly in imperceptible to a great many, if not most, people. Each, working an angle to try and attempt to influence Hulang in favour of their agendas Fools, like Hulang won’t be able to see well past your facade and view their scheming underbellies. She took her seat at the large banquet table while the Ditu did the rounds, besides her cousins Elīna, Jeļena, and Anatolijs; subsequently joined by a breathless Dagnija.

“Jesus, the portraits don’t Hulang any justice,” remarked Dagnija, fanning herself with her hands in an exaggerated manner, her cheeks still red from where she had been blushing. Dagnija was not too dissimilar from her mother Alena, forwarding stunning dark green eyes, long, wavy blond hair which she had in a twisted french braid, and lots of makeup to promote and further magnify her aesthetic looks; with no doubt to impress the Ditu. Dagnija was an intelligent cunning and manipulative little cowson, a master at reading people and situations and knowing how to unscrupulously shift them into her favour. She’d done it over and over again whilst attending primary and secondary school without guilt or regret. “Those crimson eyes and white hair...their just so powerful. I think I would make a great, no excellent Dibai - the first Rietumish one in history.”

“Getting ahead of yourself much,” Elīna laughed out loud, much to the infuriation of her cousin. Elīna had all the hallmarks of growing up to become stuck up bitch later in life. She was supercilious and arrogant to fault; supreme in her faith in her inherent superiority to the masses. Such a haughty beliefs further amplify by the servile behaviour of most of her friends at school and a certain degree of spoiling by her parents. “Ignoring the practical of such a coupling, why would Hulang want to marry someone with no royal blood and misplaced intentions when every beautiful princess at his feet. Not to mention you like him because of his position.”

Dagnija fumed at her cousin's comments, crossing her arm defensively and glared at Elīna. “You are just jealous, little cousin, that he would never go for a tiny bitch like you.” spat Dagnija viciously, venom seething inside each and every word. “You ‘re so pathetic and envious of me, that I have always been far more popular, beautiful, and intelligent than you. Just admit it bitch, admit it!”

Emily sighed heavily at her position at the banquet table, being stuck listening to her cousin's petty arguments about the most trivial matters as they see-sawed back and forth; slinging insult after insult at each other. It was a position Emily had always found herself in for her entire life, an outcast relegated to the fringes of social gatherings like this. It was too embarrassing, too much to ask for to have the bastard daughter of Janis to be front and centre for the entire Party to see for Janis’ current, money grabbing wife - Alise - to bare. For Alise, Emily was an existential threat to her children’s future and their rightful places as the successors of their parents. “You can guys stop bitching at each other for just one minute? You’re bringing shame and dishonour to yourselves and family. Do you girls think it is a coincidence that you are here, at the end of the table, the furthest possible seats from the Ditu?”

“Shut up bastard, what the hell do you know?” snorted Dagnija with the pretence of confidence in her voice, uncertainty clinging to every word. “The only reason that your here is that grandma feels sorry for you because you killed your own mother during childbirth. If my mom had a choice in the matter, you would have been discarded out into the streets with the rest of Janis’ scummy bastard children; where you belong.”

Dagnija’s words strung bitterly, although she had heard different versions of Dagnija’s statements from her extended family all the time. She bit her lip, swallowing the temptation to retort - knowing more strife would only feed her cousin. So instead, she pretended not hear her cousin and went about carefully placing Anatolijs into his booster seat. Predictable, Dagnija lost interest in continuing to argue with Emily and returned to quarreling with her cousin Elīna. A mere moments later, a hush came over the room as Janis, Alise, and their children Lilija (7), Rihards (5), and Janis Jr (2) entered the room and formally presented themselves to the Ditu; taking their seats at the other end of the grand banquet table - with Janis sitting at the head of the table, Hulang sitting to his left, Alise and her children to Janis’ right. Belinda wasn’t too far from her erratic son, keeping a close eye of their conversation.

Janis had changed into an oversized business suit - a deliberate attempt to disguise his overweight, borderline obese body from the assembled - his dark jet black slicked black and a smug smirk nagging at the ends of his mouth. He completely broke traditional Akai-Rietumish diplomatic protocol, by embracing Hulang as if he was an old comrade and then took his seat as an army of waiters descended upon them to serve out the lunch dishes. For the appetisers, the waiters served out sumptuous Bacon Rolls (Pirāgi) and Vegetable Tarts (Sklandrauši), which had been infused with Akai spices - which were uncommon in Rietumish cuisine due to high import costs - and several of the dishes ingredients had been substituted with Akai ingredients. As the dishes were served out among the tables many occupants, Janis’ ambitious wife Alise leaned over towards Hulang as said. “Perhaps, now we have been formally introduced, that it would be proper to discuss furthering economic ties between our two countries?”

[The IASM]

Inside the Andris Ozolins’ building
Slapjšzemesgrad
Rietumish SR
Rietumimark

Hulang

---

The Ditu quietly paused to take his success in, his mind was spinning with as if on a high. He looked down at his hands and began to flex them slowly, letting them click as he began to circle them. He paused in his motions as he put on once again his freakish mask, its soft silk padded interior resting upon his now uncomfortably warm flesh. As his did, he watched his various allies stalk out of the room like a plague of rats. They scurried away leaving only a few in the room, Hulang’s cursed eyes rested upon the loathsome specimen that was the condemned Jokūbis. He seemed petrified as a mummified corpse as he seemed to gaze into his chilled class. It amused Hulang more than anything else, to know that it was a foreign boy autocrat who spelled the demise of one irritant from a land far away. The fact he could do so with mere words was a pleasurable notion, he felt quite unrestrained as it was meant to be. He treaded in the courtly swamps of Akai with much caution and here he was able to tread upon the weaklings without a care in the world.

“Your perfection, that was quite the productive meeting,” Kazou flatteringly commented as he moved something into the hands of one of the various eunuchs. It looked like a tablet of some kind, probably the Secretariat military standard Ming slates issued around. Hulang had one himself and often relied upon it to coordinate a great variety of things. It was connected to a great nexus which was the remains of his father’s primary server. “I imagine Secretary Ryuunguo will be most pleased with this particular result as will Marshal Long.”

“They are loyal hounds,” Hulang replied cooly speaking in a tongue clearly native to him. “Smart ones of course, and dangerous when not fed.” Whether they are hungry or not that is the question. “Still this is a step beyond what even they might have taken in the past.”

The Ditu’s uncle hummed to himself, pondering a response: “In the past, dear nephew, in the past,” he said echoing his old great uncle Zhu-Di. Were it not for attempts at superficial primogeniture done by Sunzhi then Youxian and latter Jieke’s scheming, it is highly probable that Hulang’s great great uncle Zhu-Di would have been Ditu. He was far wiser a man than Long, and far stronger to. Principle ruled him, rather than any sense of practicality due to an unwavering faith in his own principles and the vision of his father Sunzhi. A faithful student of Prince Laurence, it is quite probable had he been chosen Akai may have been far closer with Ghant than ever before. Yet the poor fellow was an ancient man nowadays, denied a chance to rule by Jieke who decided to make an example to him and sent him to stay as a court liaison to Ghant in one of his more merciful punishments.

“An excellent speech, your perfection,” Belinda quietly commented as she arose from her chair along with the rest of the CPC present. Hulang had a sense that she was watching him in a way which was most studious and unrelenting attentive. “Eloquently put, your perfection, I am certain that your address and this entire meeting will be remembered and discussed by Rietumish social circles for decades to come. Now the meeting has concluded, shall we move on to lunch?” The polite manner in which she asked was discomforting to the Ditu who observed the two servants of the adipose rex drag him away. There was a certain disgust which was slowly beginning to boil inside Hulang, one solely directed towards the corpulent being who was dragged away by aides. They were like eunuchs, those servants of his - yet he was kept in a state of suspension by them. Hulang wished the rotund specimen would die and make way for someone far more capable. It took him a moment to realise how his glare must have been before controlling his expressions once again.

“Lunch does sound rather pleasant,” Hulang replied in Rietumish as one of his eunuchs gave him a new coat - one of which seemed more appropriate for the climate and yet was a tad informal in comparison to his usual dress despite its overtly imperial flair. It was composed from traditional Akai colours, with a strong mandarin collar surrounded by a mane of deep scarlet fur. This was finished with a white trim and with silver embroidery displaying the multiple headed three eyed and seven toed beast that was the Lazin ouroboros. “I am rather peckish to say the least and I must depart from this particular affair as much as I do enjoy it.” He then with a nod ordered his men to follow him once again. He was quickly flanked by Belinda and Emily who followed the huge mass of the noble elites down the marble staircase in this old yet beautiful palace. Hulang was not phased by the overt military presence, and did not react to the sheer emptiness of the square of revolution. To him, it was an increasingly normal occurrence to have such vast areas of space and this was a fairly tame example. However Hulang very quickly came to notice something which set his mind racing with caution - the glare of a scope and then several. The security around the site was so present and yet he felt deeply uncomfortable with it all, the distinct lack of control he had over it. He was glad to have put on his mask again as he felt the rays of the sun come bearing down upon him. Lazin flesh forced them to stay behind their masks quite often when without protection.

There was a chauffeur who with an arranged smile exited the long limousine and offered to help the various VIPs. Hulang ignored his help with a distrusting glance and took his seat in the centre of the vehicle to be followed by his uncle. What Hulang began to realise as he watched the snake convoy begin to move once again - it seemed that the RUP were in capable of creating any beauty whatsoever. In all aspects they seemed sterile at best or at worse like Doctor Frankenstein. They created unnatural abominations inspired by the past but unable to truly replicate its splendor, instead creating their delusive depictions. Why must the communist be so devoid of any good aesthetics? Perhaps Jieke had a strange obsession with them by other people's standards.

“What has your impression been of Slapjšzemesgrad and the Central Planning Committee members thus far?” Emily inquired catching the unmasking Ditu off guard as she did - something she had a surprising propensity for. Hulang watched her as she stared out upon the river and thought of an answer.

“I feel there is a history to this place which has been… not lost but rather disturbed. Walls are missing and the old is repurposed to serve new means while being surrounded by utilitarian monoliths. It is familiar in that sense,” he spoke in a naturally more melancholy manner. “And the CPC seem to remind me of my father’s descr… some of them are quite marvellous to be truthful. Indrulis certainly intrigues me, he seems to be diligent, dutiful and… deprecated. He is your uncle is he not? It should make things a bit easier I imagine, if you are not like my own family.” He spoke in a slightly harder to hear voice, one decided to catch Emily’s ear and only hers.

“Is not your first state visit to Rietumimark?” she continued softly, replicating Hulang’s own voice and mirroring its characteristics it seemed.

“Yes it is, but it is not my first visit abroad however. That’d be New Edom and one of Jocasta’s balls when they were trying to find a suitor. I was younger and a tad bit more rigid than I am now but I was not the one on offer. Those were my uncles, like Kazou here.” Hulang said gesturing to his uncle whose face seemed to be carrying more than a few well hidden scars despite his relative youth. He was holding onto a drink of whisky, and taking small sips in a manner which was strangely refined and Akai in its manners. “As you may know, I did fail in that capacity as she is now married to a particularly good swordsman who happened to be Dakmaran…” One who best me in a duel much to my humiliation and further humiliation he thought as he removed his singular crimson glove to get a glimpse his own increasingly mangled right hand. From what was visible, the flesh was repaired yet clearly a battle zone full of jagged and savage scars and a singular straight one. “The only other one abroad to my recent memory was the Midsummer ball in Ghish but the less we speak of that…” Hulang paused again as he realised something: “Olga… the Chapin girl. I saw here there at that ball, and this Albard fellow was also there. Do you mind if I make a request. Monitor… no control her communications at all times, especially after that meeting, at all times. If that is not being done already of course given her ancestry.”

Hulang was busy contemplating more possible threats to his schemes before he realised that the convoy had ceased its motion. Before him lay a building of Tsarist grandeur in a manner which looked deeply out of place. What in the world is English Gothic doing in Rietumimark? Hulang’s thoughts became increasingly puzzled by what stood before him. Perhaps a Tsar brought over a foreign engineer to fall in line with new trends. That is the most plausible scenario but perhaps it was due to modernisation schemes… so many questions. It seemed fresh and well maintained, something of a rarity it seemed for sites not of any importance in Slapjšzemesgrad it seemed. As he got out - once again ignoring the chauffeur - he hastily walked down in order to avoid putting his helmet like mask on again and studied the guards at the gates, scanning them and their behaviour in a reflexive manner. However he was more puzzled by what emerged from the doors.

“Hello and welcome to the Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant!” boomed a warm but antiquated voice which came from a figure shaped as such. The doors parted like the seas of Aiji before Moxi, held by servants and emerging from the two large doors. The site which awaited Hulang was that of an aged burly woman who clearly was of considerable age. There was sense of humanity which the upper clique of this nation - and his own for that manner - lacked. A beaconing smile was paired with a welcoming voice which alured those to those rare delights oft found in restaurants. Her tone was welcoming and warm, yet retained the matriarchal authority which the young Ditu was quite familiar with. “I am Jevgenija Mussorgs and I’m here to formally greet you and thank you for choosing Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant to host such a prestigious event. You honour the entire staff for entrusting us with such an important event and please feel free to critique us on anything which shall further the experience for our customers.”

It is not like I had any choice in the matter the Ditu thought to himself as he followed Belinda inside the restaurant. The interior was however typical for much of Rietumimark - a taste of ironic opulence, a spoiled beauty. White and gold featured prominently while columns were surrounded by chandeliers off excessive beauty. It disappointed Hulang the sheer lack of taste articulated by the RUP, it seemed to be a common feature of modernity. He recalled his father’s words with a sense of bitterness: Everywhere you turn in this world there is disfigurement and mutilation - monuments to barbarity are erected across the earth. They themselves on a path of progress but are decaying - awaiting new flesh to be born from its remains. Hulang noticed that there was considerable difference in Jieke’s displays of wealth - it seemed far more artistic to his child. He built a demonstration of order and supremacy in which he created an aura of untouchability. There were no golden cutlery in his domain rather perfectly reflective silver - unspoiled. As Hulang walked around he saw it divided into two gargantuan dining halls - not as large as Kaizangong’s chamber of the clans but still an impressive sight regardless. The Ditu’s eyes glanced around to spot one room completely filled to the bring with security of every kind. But there was another figure which greeted Hulang.

“Your perfection, it a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” introduced a rough, hoarse voice which emerged from Raimonds Ozoliņš. He who struck out to shake Hulang’s hand, which he after a few seconds pause reluctantly yet firmly accepted.

“Colonel-General, the feeling is appreciated,” Hulang replied calmly and smoothly in quiet Rietumish. It was clear from the moment Hulang began to study the man, that he was an interesting character. He was nearly as tall as the Ditu himself with huge wormlike lips, desert like sandy hair in a military cut and the part which fascinated Hulang the most. His eyes were shallow things, like looking into puddles of rainwater - the Ditu glared at them with his own crisp crimson cameras - photographing various features of Raimonds. The Ditu also noticed the uniform he wore was quite similar to the rest of the revolutionary guard, unsurprising given what he had heard of Raimonds. Madly brilliant is the way his father put him, reported to be an excellent reformer of the military but also an unhinged individual. Hulang wore a deadpan face when studying him - one deeply formal.

“Please, let me introduce you to my family and show you around. This is my darling wife Madara Lovekaty, our daughters Jeļena, whose thirteen, and Elīna, whose twelve. This here,”[,i] he said directing Hulang attention to the small child with curly sandy-brown hair and large, bright blue eyes clinging to Raimonds arms whose Hulang’s gaze alternated between - studying them all with the same attentiveness he did their father. [i]“Is my youngest and only son Anatolijs. Come on Anatolijs, say hi.”

The young boy’s reaction was deeply amusing for Hulang. Anatolijs stared at Hulang with a sense of terror he felt strangely familiar, his head diving into his father’s chest. With this Hulang chuckled with natural amusement before returning into his perfect form. Fear me lesser creature, for I am your torment he joked internally as the faint residue of a smile remained on his face. “Ahh...our little Anatolijs has always been a shy child,” the wife of the mad Colonel-General - Madara Lovekaty he presumed - sliding out from the shadow of her husband with her spawn. Hulang then systematically moved his eyes to study Madara as quickly as possible, and saw something familiar. Her still present beauty was much familiar to the Ditu in particular her figure reminded him of Tingzi back home. Unfortunately the Ditu knew little of her, so he resorted to his default policy for unknowns - distrust. On the left of her mother was Jeļena, a short chubby thing who looked more like her father than most overweight young lady who seemed to get the worst outcome from the genetic lottery. She had a corpulent pan like face paired with wild curly blond hair, gentle brown eyes and skin which seemed to reveal more pink than Hulang’s somehow. Hulang found her to look like a less drug ailed Janis and was equally disgusting to him. And on the opposite end of the spectrum lay her sister Elīna who seemed to be a clone of her mother. The two looked virtually identical and Hulang’s mind pondered on her potential political use for someone ambitious. They all bowed before Hulang - the girls seemingly displaying a kind of blush as they timidly did so. Fear again? “Would you mind to enlighten my husband and I on how you have found your trip to the Ozoliņšist Republic, I hope you’ve found the Central Planning Committee to be hospitable and cordial to your perfection,” Madara commented naively. Hulang suspected either this was deliberate as Belinda’s own plays or the woman was deliberately a halfwit. He preferred to be cautious and chose the former option.

Hulang glanced at them both and studied the two - how fitting a powerful lunatic and a scheming wife to help him. His response came in his usual tone, in Rietumish again he tried to hide his words from the girls and the boy: “It was certainly a most enjoyable of meetings, the progress made might be of considerable help to everyone. The building itself is also rather beautiful - almost… uniquely so if I do say so myself. The trip so far has been enjoyable at least although I do feel sorry for those who stood out in the cold to so kindly greet myself. I wish I could repay their warm welcome. Regardless Emily here has been quite excellent if I do say so myself. As has Belinda of course.” Hulang paused and began to move around slowly, gesturing to his eunuchs to remove his coat to reveal his equally imperial and communist suit underneath. He spoke diplomatically but with a hint of veiled critique: “You yourself have quite the family, smaller than some of the broods of my relatives yet still quite adorable, especially young Anatolijs here. How does their education fair?”

Madara rotated to face Emily, with a ritualistic smile on her face. “Emily, would you be a darling and escort your cousins to the dining table while we talk to the Akai Ditu...thank you.”

Hulang quietly observed the exchange of artificial smiles with hidden amusement, watching Emily create her own smile. Oh they have intra-dynastic politics to, how delightful. And it seems she is trying to isolating me with herself. How unsurprising. “Of course, it would be my pleasure,”[i] replied Emily sarcastic tone in her voice as she took her young cousin to the table. [i]“Hulang, I’ll see you a little later.” she fleetingly added with a quiet venom to her tone whilst she engaged in the task of dealing with her various cousins. Hulang she called me, Hulang. This was all while the arduous task of dealing with introductions began.

There was a common theme of all his interactions was intense flattery of a self-serving nature as was tradition it seemed for families like these. They had been brought up well by Belinda and Ivan it seemed. Hulang was used to the various comments often thrown by these types, and as always Jieke altered him to their manipulative intent. It was the unexpected daughter Alena and Kristaps which the Ditu met first, along with their children Kristaps Junior, Voldemārs, Markuss, Dagnija and Ilona. This was with the curious addition of the Rietumish tennis player Jeļena Radēviča who was the girlfriend of Voldemārs or was it Kristaps? Then there was Hulang was next met Vilhelms Ozoliņš, the matriarch’s third eldest son and fourth child, along with his wife Larisa and their young children Ivans and Solveiga. And this was followed up by Hulang eventually meeting the unexpected Indulis - his pregnant wife Yekaterina and their two-year-old daughter Zuzanna both present nearby. As he passed Hulang tapped his soldier, quickly if quietly spitting out: “Would it be possible to speak latter? I want to know the man whose responsibility shall be my nation’s survival.” Hulang then turned his head to watch Emily, noticing he sat near her cousins - now unsurprisingly.

Hulang scanned around as he made his rounds around the table, taking in the various dialogues which floated around. Yet it as he was nearly finished he stopped as his ears picked up a conservation which he decided to subtly overhear. “Jesus, the portraits don’t Hulang any justice,” One of the girls spoke, with Hulang subtly glancing to see who it was - Alena’s daughter Dagnija turned out to be the one voicing those sentiments. “Those crimson eyes and white hair...their just so powerful. I think I would make a great, no excellent Dibai - the first Rietumish one in history.” Hulang had to intercept the barely audible amusement he had at the comments but decided to continue listening. I wonder if she is just ambitious or entitled... or ambitiously entitled. The line blurs after a while.

“Getting ahead of yourself much,” her cousin Elīna jested quite audibly, something which began to enrage Dagnija. This shall be fun, if only I have time to fully spectate this. Elina elaborated her point: “Ignoring the practical of such a coupling, why would Hulang want to marry someone with no royal blood and misplaced intentions when every beautiful princess at his feet. Not to mention you like him because of his position.”

Dagnija rather understandably was infuriated with the accusations of intensive improbable gold digging. And then she fortified her posture and stared down her cousin before spitting seething vitriol: “You are just jealous, little cousin, that he would never go for a tiny bitch like you.” Hulang knew these emotions quite well, being witness to several among both his families time to time. “You ‘re so pathetic and envious of me, that I have always been far more popular, beautiful, and intelligent than you. Just admit it bitch, admit it!”

The sense of pity Hulang felt for his friend was increasingly present as he observed the whole affair with his imposing guards and uncle at his side. She visibly sighed as she watched them squabble like chicks over their parent’s food. Yet Hulang had some reasonable suspicion that this was more than ordinary for herself given the Ozolin’s preparation of aristocratic norms. She was situated at a fringe of luxury, with the rest of the embarrassments and misfortunes to family prestige. Hulang had plenty of time of observe it happening with his own, how Yanfeng’s seat always remained empty and how Sanfu always seemed to be seated the furthest away from Jieke. Hulang himself however felt strangely isolated whenever he wasn’t dictating the affairs - instead a pawn of a larger organ at hand. Only recently has he began to flex his own power, yet his visage as a prince still remained. “You can guys stop bitching at each other for just one minute? You’re bringing shame and dishonour to yourselves and family. Do you girls think it is a coincidence that you are here, at the end of the table, the furthest possible seats from the Ditu?”

“Shut up bastard, what the hell do you know?” retorted Dagnija with a sense of putrid arrogance as she mocked Emily. “The only reason that your here is that grandma feels sorry for you because you killed your own mother during childbirth. If my mom had a choice in the matter, you would have been discarded out into the streets with the rest of Janis’ scummy bastard children; where you belong.”

With this Hulang turned around and demonstrated a indomitable contemptuous glare which wouldn’t have been out of place on his father’s own - a nostalgic sight for those old enough to recall it. He contemplated taking steps forwards to personally inform her of his disdain but instead told a eunuch of some considerable rank but decided to continue moving again as he was introduced to Janis’ legitimate family as a hush overcame the room. The children were quite young, the eldest was probably born while North Deweden was separate to Rietumimark. Hulang always found children strangely adorable, and felt an unusual warmth for them until he had to spend a sustained period of time with them. Hulang was displeased with his own placement at the table, the head he considered was much more preferable but even then the notion of being next to Janis was one which made him deeply uncomfortable. The only vague reassurance was Belinda’s presence nearby and the small army of assistants which followed Hulang. His uncle Kazou stayed with his associated around him, disinterested in the meal for sure. The Communist overlord was dressed in a huge business dark suit, something which hid the bulk and flesh hidden underneath - something which Hulang tried to avoid imagining whenever possible. Gods I do look more communistic than he. Hulang was fine if his increasing discomfort was becoming clearer to some of the sharpest observers but it was his next action which caused considerable disruption.

As Janis tried to embrace Hulang, much to the latter's horror. He was ensnared in the grip of this pig like creature and Hulang lost his composure almost completely with a disgusted snarl emerging temporarily while he reflexively tried to separate himself with an increasingly tense push. His Riyeskonsu seemed to also animate all a sudden as they did, their militaristic instincts taking hold as they prepared for caution. This was all the while the instinctual tension felt in Hulang’s figure awoke from its slumber, prepared to resist - a programmed caution. Janis probably would have noticed it were he not in a drug induced haze. The Ditu quietly cursed to himself in a rapid borderline unintelligible rant in the palace dialect of Akai: “That rotten, disgusting, degenerate, repulsive, cretinous, corpulent…” Great he disrupted my composure for all to see. What a fool is he… Hulang tried to compose himself again, but the smile he wore for the children was spoiled with a pair of brilliant crimson eyes. Such sensitivity to touch was nothing Hulang rarely hoped to demonstrate to others. He spoke in an understated tone in Rietumish now, gesturing for his men to calm return to their more passive stances: “My apologies for that reaction, your benevolence but may you remain from such embraces and involuntary embraces in the future. As you can see I can have quite poor reactions to them. And yes, could I make a speech?”

Hulang turned to face the whole brood of Ozolins present at the table, with a glass of clear water held in hand. He began in fluent, precise Rietumish although devoid of any accents - his words being warm but calculated: “My dear hosts, what can I do repay the pleasure you have given me. You have given me one of the most hospitable welcomes a friend of Rietumimark could ask for. A tour throughout the great city of Slapjšzemesgrad and let me observe the great objects of history within the nation. The extremely productive meeting I had with your comrades has allowed us to move forwards and now could help resolve the great plague which infects us all. And I do love the warmth I have received by yours truly… despite apparent reactions of course,” Hulang paused as he looked around the room his eyes drifting at its corners near Emily and Dagnija: “You do flatter an unfortunate soul like myself - especially some I have noticed. And your conversations are so intriguing to listen - your interactions as a family enlightening. And I do of course, wish the further departure of knowledge to the enlightened minds here, so it can be departed to the younger generations so that they too can be as… virtuous beings as some around them. And while I do have plenty more high praise, I do believe we have a meal to eat. But before then, let us raise a toast to Rietumimark and to Akai so that our continued prosperity may be eternal!”

With that tone set he took his seat, moving away from Janis as much as possible without causing offense and began to study the food before him. Bacon rolls and vegetable tarts were ravenously devoured with intense speed by the Ditu - something which surprised none of the other Akai present. While not the finest spices - those were barred from export as per old Lazin laws - they were still a wonderful reminder of home. But it was Alise who caught the Ditu’s attention after he finished. “Perhaps, now we have been formally introduced, that it would be proper to discuss furthering economic ties between our two countries?”

Hulang responded to this in a critical if constructively so manner, his voice slightly playful in its character: “How so, Madame, because at the moment there are considerable obstacles set in between us such as the forces of anti-culturalism among others. The insecurity of the region at the moment is of considerable difficulty of the Akai and I imagine any significant trade could draw action also which could mutually cripple us. Now unless there was something like the vast gas fields which could potentially solve the undisclosed oil crisis which we have at hand and further undermine Dewedish in existence. Now that would certainly be marvelous, would it not?”

[North Rietumimark]

“The Other Ozoliņš”

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

Belinda felt a single emotion flutter in her stomach, it an emotion she’d experienced a great many times before; victoriousness, the sweet, sweet taste of victory for which she’d hard earnt. Belinda had acquired what eluded her for twelve infuriating long years since Akai’s trust in the Rietumish Unity Party that was blown up by the gross mishandling of the 2004-2005 Dewedish Insurrection and subsequent rumours of the genocide emerging out of Dewedeni Autonomous People's Republic coming out. It was amid the interlude years that was truly afraid for the medium-to-long term survival of the country she’d helped build. During those years the RUP was at its most vulnerable, when she honestly doubted if North Rietumimark had been faced an international coalition poised to invade like her motherland was facing now, Akai may not have come to North Rietumimark aid. But now, after a several hour long meeting with the youthful Ditu, any fears she harboured had been assuaged. The Central Planning Committee had managed to handcuff Akai to their fortunes and long term survival, from now on, Akai would be compelled to protect Rietumimark, not just because of a piece of paper signed forty-four years ago, but to defend its investments and military base and that wasn’t even the best part. Hulang’s deal to assist the Rietumish with their nuclear programme would work in Rietumimark’s favour in the short-to-long term interests in two important ways. A nuclear Rietumimark would not only make the imperialist world order think twice before threatening the dynasty she’d built but also end that cowardly fifteen column Sanfu’s dream of the Dituate severing ties with the RUP’s regime in favour of repairing relations with the likes of Deweden and Ghant. In a nuclear-phobic Cornellia, Akai actively providing assistance to Rietumimark’s nuclear weapons programme, a so-called rogue nation in the eyes of the imperialists for not submitting to the globalist agenda of the Gentries, Christian Clergy, and the international banks of world domination, would most certainly badly damage -if not destroy, Akai’s relations with many of the RUP’s enemies - pushing Akai further into the RUP’s embrace. Should everything fall in line, never again would the imperialists dare threaten the Ozoliņšist Republic.

Belinda did bother to listen into Hulang conversation with his uncle Prince Kazou, knowing all too well that the events that had just transpired over the past several hours at all been recorded by multiple wiretaps and camera placed throughout the conference room. There wasn’t a single blind spot, not the slightest detail was missed. Everything would be then be reviewed repeatedly by agents of Ministry of Public Security at their ominous headquarters in the centre of Slapjšzemesgrad, who would meticulously go over, sometimes for hours, the most minute details and come to conclusion to its potential meaning in a much larger, picture of things. The hours of footage caught of Hulang would greatly assist Belinda’s army of highly trained psychologists who would subsequent evaluate his behaviour and send Belinda reports of what the slightest tell could mean in regards to his past; all of which would greatly help in her quest to uncover more information and about him.

At the very least, in the event that everything we discussed with Hulang collapses in the next few weeks and month, at a minimum, I shall have a cleared picture of who lies behind the mask, she thought to herself. The events that followed were extremely uneventful, as she and the Akai entourage vacated the Andris Ozoliņš Assembly Hall and began the long drive to the next location in the Ditu’s official visit to Rietumimark. Although she watched in slight amusement as Hulang deliberately ignored helped offered by the chauffeur, giving the man a glance of distrust - whose face remained deadpan, clearly used to abuse by more often than not haughty and spoiled RUP officials and their kin. Belinda sat facing Kazou, gazing out the window - watching the city streets fly by in a blur. Emily sat across Hulang and quietly shot the Ditu with a question.

“I feel there is a history to this place which has been… not lost but rather disturbed. Walls are missing and the old is repurposed to serve new means while being surrounded by utilitarian monoliths. It is familiar in that sense,” Hulang in a tone than was far more natural and personable, rather than his usual seemingly melancholic manner. “And the CPC seem to remind me of my father’s descr… some of them are quite marvellous to be truthful. Indulis certainly intrigues me, he seems to be diligent, dutiful and… deprecated. He is your uncle is he not? It should make things a bit easier I imagine, if you are not like my own family.” He spoke in a slightly harder to hear voice, one decided to catch Emily’s ear and only hers.

Emily found herself almost uncontrollably engrossed with Hulang had to say. It was fascinating for her to hear an outsider’s perspective on Rietumimark and how the RUP’s rule had shaped the country, its people, and landscape in innumerable ways. She could still remember as if it was yesterday when she was horrified found out that, in spite what her tutors taught her, that Rietumimark wasn’t truly one of the richest and most prosperous nations in all of Cornellia after left a wealthy retirement town for the first time. Even today, she had recurring dreams of the sheer destitution she witnessed. “I feel the same, a lot of the buildings here seem off somehow, that they’re out of place. Impulsively designed and built in the moment, without consideration for the surrounding architecture. Almost as if many of the prettier structures simply extension of their egos, utilised only to show off their wealth and power.” she explained to Hulang softly, care not to arouse the suspicions of her grandmother. “Yes, Indulis is indeed my uncle...” she paused in mid-sentence, trying to think of the proper way to eloquently put the family dynamics of the Ozoliņš dynasty. “He is certainly underappreciated and undervalued by the CPC...and my grandmother. I suspect that they fell out sometime in the past, possibly over Jan...his benevolence,” she struggled to say. “Succession of my grandfather Ivan. But my grandmother doesn’t really talk about it with me.” she speculated aloud.

“Yes it is, but it is not my first visit abroad however. That’d be New Edom and one of Jocasta’s balls when they were trying to find a suitor. I was younger and a tad bit more rigid than I am now but I was not the one on offer. Those were my uncles, like Kazou here.” Hulang said gesturing to his uncle. “As you may know, I did fail in that capacity as she is now married to a particularly good swordsman who happened to be Dakmaran…” he said, removing his singular crimson glove. “The only other one abroad to my recent memory was the Midsummer ball in Ghish but the less we speak of that…” Hulang paused again as he realised something: “Olga… the Chapin girl. I saw here there at that ball, and this Albard fellow was also there. Do you mind if I make a request. Monitor… no control her communications at all times, especially after that meeting, at all times. If that is not being done already of course given her ancestry.”

“Jocasta...hmmm…isn’t she Queen Maria of New Edom’s younger sister? From what I have heard of her, she is quite capable in her own right, especially in a country whose reputation with women’s rights is far from good. I wonder how Cornellia’s geopolitical situation would look today had you been the one on offer and the two of you had married?” she inquired, although she found the thought to be irrationally...unpleasant and uncomfortable at best. Emily looked over at Hulang’s uncle, who, in spite of his relative youth, was carrying more than a few subtle scars. She then turned to look at Hulang’s own battle scars on his arm hand. From what she could see, his hand was repaired, but yet, clearly scared, a jigsaw puzzle of painful looking jagged scars and a singular straight one. Emily was taken aback by Hulang revelations about Olga leaving the country to go to the midsummer ball. She hadn't been informed, which irritated her immensely, but she wouldn’t let the Ditu know that. “Olga is certainly been constantly monitored by our CSS. Although, I am sure that their efforts will be redoubted following this meeting.”

Before Emily knew it, they had arrived at Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant, sliding past a bubbly fat older woman who greeted them, and ultimately found Hulang being introduced to her uncle Raimonds Ozoliņš, who struck out to shake Hulang’s hand, which he did...reluctantly and yet rigidly accepted Raimonds’ hand.

“Colonel-General, the feeling is appreciated,” Hulang replied calmly and smoothly in quiet Rietumish as Raimonds finished introducing himself. Hulang appeared to study Raimonds in assiduous detail, before being acquainted with his family; his wife Madara Lovekaty, their eldest child and daughter Jeļena, Elīna and their only son and youngest child Anatolijs. There were several chuckles as he when diving into his father’s chest, in fear of Hulang following their introduction. They Emily couldn’t help but notice Madara carefully watched Hulang’s glance as he studied her family.

“It was certainly a most enjoyable of meetings, the progress made might be of considerable help to everyone. The building itself is also rather beautiful - almost… uniquely so if I do say so myself. The trip so far has been enjoyable at least although I do feel sorry for those who stood out in the cold to so kindly greet myself. I wish I could repay their warm welcome. Regardless Emily here has been quite excellent if I do say so myself. As has Belinda of course.” Hulang replied to Madara’s careful inquiry into his thoughts on the trip. His response was crafted in his normal, seemingly default tone which he appeared to use with those he disliked or mistrusted - trying to keep his words from the ears of the children standing close by. He paused and moved around to move around unhurriedly, gesturing to his many eunuchs to remove his coat; unveiling his communist, yet imperial suit hidden underneath. “You yourself have quite the family, smaller than some of the broods of my relatives yet still quite adorable, especially young Anatolijs here. How does their education fair?” he asked, speaking diplomatically, with a subtle critique woven into every word.

“That is superb...excellent to hear. Unlike a great many nations and their people, we Rietumish truly appreciate and cherish our allies abroad, whether they be next door or an ocean way. Many people consider Akai to be one of our closest and important allies and it is the least we could by giving Akai latest Ditu who has never visit, officially or unofficially, our blessed country. I hope that this most recent meeting will bring our two countries closer than ever.” Madara said softly and slowly, choosing each and every word carefully, not revealing anything beyond what she wanted Hulang to see. “Why thank you, Hulang. I do hope to meet your family when you meet miss right.” she said with a coy smile. “Jeļena and Elīna are each doing exceptionally well, both girls are at the top of their respective classes and are poised to go to top of the top universities in Rietumimark. Anatolijs on the other hand, is still too young to start attending school, but Raimonds and I have already appointed tutors to start his studies. How about are yourself, were you not taught by tutors?”

Soon afterward, Emily was rushed off to the look after her younger cousins; which signaled the beginning of the long and arduous task of Hulang being introduced to the rest of the self-serving vipers of Ozoliņš brood. Each taking turns at obsequious fawning with the ultimate goal of earning his favour. Eventually, Hulang found his way to Indulis and his family. Belinda, who was out of audible range, took a particular note of how Hulang made a point to talk to Indulis beyond the normal exchange of pleasantries. “Would it be possible to speak letter? I want to know the man whose responsibility shall be my nation’s survival.” quietly asked him, before turning his head in Emily’s direction

“Of course, your perfection,” Indulis replied in a subdued tone as to avoid being overheard by the people in the room and the listening devices installed throughout the massive restaurant. He looked around the immediate velocity of where he and the Ditu where standing, his eyes looking out for anyone seeking to listen in. “I have many ideas and plans for which may peak your interest, some pertaining to improving Rietumimark’s standing in the international community, so then we may never find ourselves in the current predicament...again. I shall talk to you later, in a far more secure and private settings. Not amongst duplicitous serpents with eyes in the back of their heads.”

The room was abuzz with noise, the loud unintelligible ramblings of dozens of people talking, engaging in a multitude of different conversations which intermixed in the air, creating an almost cacophony of voices circulating around the expansive dining hall. Belinda’s hawkish eyes remained on Ditu and his entourage as the Akai flowed around the hall, like a school of fish following the ocean's current. Abruptly, the Akai entourage almost came to a complete halt and seemed to nearly walk towards the end of the table, a scornful scowl edged onto Hulang face - one which wouldn’t have looked out of place on the face of his’ father - only to be stopped by a eunuch of high rank after saying something to him.

Upon reaching the head of the table where the Akai were to be seated, the Akai entourage was introduced to Janis’ family - his wife Alise, and their children Lilija, Rihards, and Janis Jr. Unfortunately for Hulang, rather greeting the Ditu with a salute or bow, the intoxicated Paramount Leader struck out and embraced Hulang. The air was sucked from everyone’s lungs and the hall was overcame by a deathly silence as they watched the effrontery before their very eyes. Hulang positively lost his cool, almost freaking out as he attempted to get free from the embrace. It was a morbid scene to behold, a humiliation to the long Rietumish tradition of honouring the backward Akai traditions during events such as this. Belinda turned away at the spectacle in absolute disgust. Why must something always go wrong, she thought to herself as turned away and glared at one of the Paramount Leader’s senior aid - who promptly walked over to explain himself.

“I am sorry, I tried to keep him in line...I tutored him on what to do when greeting the D...Ditu, what to say to him over and over again.” muttered the senior aid, a man in late- thirties, with rapidly evaporating, thin graying brown hair, light blue eyes with deep bags underneath with, and a bulging pot belly. His already pale skin had gone a ghostly white and he struggled to spit out every word - forcing them out with all his strength. “He has gotten much worse in recent months, his addiction to methamphetamines and pleasures of the flesh. His benevolence behaviour has become increasingly erratic, there is no way I could predict th...this happening.”

The sound level in the room began to gradually rise as Hulang broke himself free and decided it was better to forward the facade of control rather than to admit to the Ditu that she none over the Paramount Leader. She dismissed the assistant with a subtle gesture with her left hand, shooting the man with a look which told him This is not over, our conversation will continue at a letter date. She turned back to the Akai Ditu, her face ever impassive and calm, as though nothing that had just occurred had happened. She liked most people in the room, put on the pretense nothing unusual or Hulang controlled violent response to it had just transpired. Something, the illusion of ignorance is better than exposuring your knowledge.

Hulang spoke in an underemphasised Rietumish now, clearly gesturing for his men to calm return to their more passive stances: “My apologies for that reaction, your benevolence but may you remain from such embraces and involuntary embraces in the future. As you can see I can have quite poor reactions to them. And yes, could I make a speech?”

The look on the Paramount Leader was that of a daze, an overwhelming feeling of a euphoric numbness. His reaction was not one any would expect, a simple smile before taking his seat at the head of the table. “It is quite alright, your perfection,” Belinda stepped in for her son, as would many mothers of high position would to ensure the lasting of their family’s reputation. “As I said earlier today, his benevolence is not feeling his best today, possibly caused by the stress of the ongoing situation in the North. I to would like to apologise for his...misguided and unfortunate mishap. Please go ahead and say what you feel you need to say.” she finished smoothly, wondering what might be going on in the young Ditu’s mind as he began to address the dining hall.

“My dear hosts, what can I do repay the pleasure you have given me. You have given me one of the most hospitable welcomes a friend of Rietumimark could ask for. A tour throughout the great city of Slapjšzemesgrad and let me observe the great objects of history within the nation. The extremely productive meeting I had with your comrades has allowed us to move forwards and now could help resolve the great plague which infects us all. And I do love the warmth I have received by yours truly… despite apparent reactions of course,” Hulang paused in midflow, his crimson eyes darting around the room, each one of his words having the semblance of warmth, yet they were probably more than likely calculated to maximise his point: “You do flatter an unfortunate soul like myself - especially some I have noticed. And your conversations are so intriguing to listen - your interactions as a family enlightening. And I do of course, wish the further departure of knowledge to the enlightened minds here, so it can be departed to the younger generations so that they too can be as… virtuous beings as some around them. And while I do have plenty more high praise, I do believe we have a meal to eat. But before then, let us raise a toast to Rietumimark and to Akai so that our continued prosperity may be eternal!”

The end of the Ditu’ speech was met with a rapturous applaud from the room, during which Alise made a point to say something to Hulang, who replied in a critical, yet slightly sarcastic reply. “How so, Madame, because at the moment there are considerable obstacles set in between us such as the forces of anti-culturalism among others. The insecurity of the region at the moment is of considerable difficulty of the Akai and I imagine any significant trade could draw action also which could mutually cripple us. Now unless there was something like the vast gas fields which could potentially solve the undisclosed oil crisis which we have at hand and further undermine Dewedish in existence. Now that would certainly be marvelous, would it not?”

Alise was taken aback by the Ditu’s response, clearly not expecting it. A professional in the arena of politics and high society, recovering quickly, a well crafted fake laugh, accompanied by a smile. “Of course, your perfection. It would make no sense to start increasing trade now between Akai and Rietumimark during such troubling times. What I failed to correctly reticulate is, once this crisis is over, furthering economic activity between our nation’s might be in the best interest for both our people.” said Alise coolly, occasionally pausing to nibble at the food before her. “Especially since, in recent years, the Ministry of the Economy and Economic Success has discovered large deposits of natural gas in the Autonomous People's Republic of Deweden. Unfortunately, much if the natural gas is located in hard to reach places which with our present equipment, can not fully be exploited. However with Akai assistance, I believe we can come to an agreement, once this crisis is resolved, which will benefit both our people.”

Not long after Alise’s words, the appetizers were withdrawn and replaced with entrees - which consisted of Karbonāde (Breaded Pork Chops), Bukstiņbiezputra (Groats Porridge), and Aukstā zupa (Cold Beet Soup) - all of which were infused with Akai flavours. It was shortly after the table began to dig in when Belinda decided to probe Hulang boundaries and ask about his mother. “So tell me, your perfection, how has your mother been as of late?” she inquired, forwarding the facade of actual care for the woman and her we being. “It has been quite awhile since we last spoke in person and I would love to know how she's doing?”

From there, lunch at Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant went off without another hiccup - especially from the Paramount Leader - who spent most of his time in his own little drug induced world; barely saying a word to anyone. The conversation was far more miscellaneous than previous subjects. As the room finished dessert, which included Debessmanna (Cranberry Pudding) and Rupjmaizes Kārtojums (Layered Rye Bread Dessert), and the hall’s waiters began clearing the table. Belinda looked up at a pair of well dressed and tall assistants standing close towards the dining hall’s main entrance, gestured towards them bring something out. As though on cue, the talking in the hall died down and Belinda motioned to Hulang to turn his gaze in the direction of the entrance. “After much talk about it before arrival, we Ozoliņš have decided to bestow a gift for you, a token of appreciation for the Lazins loyalty to the Ozoliņš Republic through a great many dark times.”

Through the entrance, the pair of assistants reentered the dining hall carefully carrying a with a sword case. The hall was silent, as they all eyeballed the assistants and the Ditu. Slowly approaching the Akai as to avoid arousing the Ditu’s many guards, they placed the sword case towards the left of where Hulang was sitting, one of them gently and steadily opening in front of him to reveal a beautifully crafted, very old Rietumish arming sword. “This sword has been the Lord Commander of the Rietumish Royal Guard since the rising of the Baltkalns Dynasty to power in the old Tsardom towards the end of the Late Medieval period,” Belinda explained while she admired the sword. The sword was a reflection of centuries of Rietumish military thinking, a crude, blunt instrument of destruction of armour and flesh, yet deceptive in its lightness of weight and agility, gliding through the air like a much nimbler weapon. It was clear the moment you set your eyes on it, a great deal of thought and work went into its construction, not a single detail was overlooked or missed. It was a piece of art in its own right, an elegant and deadly piece of craftsmanship to which few weapons of its kind could compare. “It sword was given to the founder of our nation, Andris Ozoliņš, by Hugo Ericson - the last Lord Commander of the Rietumish Royal Guard - following the capitulation of the last remaining Tsarist forces in Ivanburg who refused to surrender until the very end. As an enthusiast of such weapons, I hope you enjoy it.”

[The IASM]

”Inside the mind of the cold prince”
Slapjšzemesgrad
Rietumish SR
Rietumimark

Hulang

---

Such a cold and vulgar place Slapjšzemesgrad is. Its cold winds chill the soul to all varieties of suffering and misery. A commitment to the infantile, feeble, weak totality of the RUP, what a most pathetic of sights. Soon it shall die in some way or another, but who shall feast on its corpse… who. The Ditu thought as he was driven down to the restaurant which awaited him with Kazou keeping his despondent attitudes hidden, he seemed almost bored by the whole affair as he continued to jot down and transcribe the various details he noticed. Belinda seemed not to care as she stared out the window without a care. It was almost certainly a usual affair for the likes of her, Hulang thought. Yet it was his small discussion with Emily that absorbed most of his attention.

It was a fascinating thing to see someone as isolated as the bastard daughter of Janis Ozolins. The Rietumish elite seemed to find comfort in distancing themselves from their own failings, not to keep focus on any particular reality but rather to ignore it all together. While there was a thin line between them, there always was this sort of affair in regimes like these. Jieke on the other hand was all to aware of the many faults Akai had despite his best attempts to reduce them to a state of non-existence they still tormented him as much as they did Hulang. He always emphasised carefully masking your flaws but never neglecting them - something the Rietumish seemed not to practice. Despite this Emily seemed to retain some more genuine ideological convictions, unlike the previous generation before her. Her questions intrigued the Ditu, she seemed more willing to latch upon something different and open unlike herself. “I feel the same, a lot of the buildings here seem off somehow, that they’re out of place. Impulsively designed and built at the moment, without consideration for the surrounding architecture. Almost as if many of the prettier structures simply extension of their egos, utilised only to show off their wealth and power.” she almost whispered to Hulang, with care not to create suspicion. “Yes, Indulis is indeed my uncle...” she paused in mid-sentence, seemingly hesitant to be frank and considering her worlds as cautiously. “He is certainly underappreciated and undervalued by the CPC...and my grandmother. I suspect that they fell out sometime in the past, possibly over Jan...his benevolence,”[i] she forced out, somewhat stumbling with her words. [i]“Succession of my grandfather Ivan. But my grandmother doesn’t really talk about it with me.” she contemplated aloud.

“Very interesting…” Hulang replied with a knavish grin quietly emerging across his face, looking to be a more subtle affair than most. It seems there is a division there ready to be exploited, one which if you could carefully manoeuvre around the cracks or maybe even widen them… “I can certainly understand such a situation, if it does sound milder than my own.” Of course I doubt that any of these Ozolins would have the vision to kill one another if forced to. Jieke was well and truly feared for his unfettered approach to dealing with family. Should they not serve the interests of Clan Lazin, they were to suffer a cessation of existence. Their records annihilated, their deaths swift and unglamorous. The mere thought for Jieke’s survival was one that haunted Hulang for precisely that purpose. The story of his grandfather Prince Hei certainly did not help calm such thoughts, bombed on a flight to the Allamunic States due to his planned treachery.

Emily seemed further more intrigued by his own remarks. “Jocasta...hmmm…isn’t she Queen Maria of New Edom’s younger sister? From what I have heard of her, she is quite capable in her own right, especially in a country whose reputation with women’s rights is far from good. I wonder how Cornellia’s geopolitical situation would look today had you been the one on offer and the two of you had married?” she inquired, reaching uncomfortably close into Hulang’s own mind far to deeply for his liking. It was a thing he often contemplated but rarely wished to bring up due to its fantastic nature. They asked for Christian suitors… never forget that. He remained uncomfortably silent for a short while, wondering how to respond.

“Things would be different.” He responded in a tone most melancholy.

“Olga is certainly been constantly monitored by our CSS. Although, I am sure that their efforts will be redoubted following this meeting.” Emily responded with regard to Hulang’s comments on Olga.

“It’s interesting to think that she was able to go there in the first place,” he contemplated as he stroked his hair contemplatively. I wonder whether to have a trim some time soon, then again I’d rather not have one here.


“Colonel-General, the feeling is appreciated,” Hulang replied calmly and smoothly in quiet Rietumish as Raimonds finished introducing himself. Hulang appeared to study Raimonds in assiduous detail, before being acquainted with his family; his wife Madara Lovekaty, their eldest child and daughter Jeļena, Elīna and their only son and youngest child Anatolijs. There were several chuckles as he when diving into his father’s chest, in fear of Hulang following their introduction. They Emily couldn’t help but notice Madara carefully watched Hulang’s glance as he studied her family.

“It was certainly a most enjoyable of meetings, the progress made might be of considerable help to everyone. The building itself is also rather beautiful - almost… uniquely so if I do say so myself. The trip so far has been enjoyable at least although I do feel sorry for those who stood out in the cold to so kindly greet myself. I wish I could repay their warm welcome. Regardless Emily here has been quite excellent if I do say so myself. As has Belinda of course.” Hulang replied to Madara’s careful inquiry into his thoughts on the trip. His response was crafted in his normal, seemingly default tone which he appeared to use with those he disliked or mistrusted - trying to keep his words from the ears of the children standing close by. He paused and moved around to move around unhurriedly, gesturing to his many eunuchs to remove his coat; unveiling his communist, yet imperial suit hidden underneath. “You yourself have quite the family, smaller than some broods of my relatives yet still quite adorable, especially young Anatolijs here. How does their education fair?” he asked, speaking diplomatically, with a subtle critique woven into every word.

“That is superb...excellent to hear. Unlike a great many nations and their people, we Rietumish truly appreciate and cherish our allies abroad, whether they be next door or an ocean way. Many people consider Akai to be one of our closest and important allies and it is the least we could by giving Akai latest Ditu who has never visited, officially or unofficially, our blessed country. I hope that this most recent meeting will bring our two countries closer than ever.” Madara replied in comfortable tones with words which were so carefully chosen to adorn her image and to show precisely what she wanted. The Ditu was more than familiar with it, his eyes gave that away and let them do so for his amusement. “Why thank you, Hulang. I do hope to meet your family when you meet miss right.” she said with a cunning grin which reminded him of his mother Tingzi all too much. “Jeļena and Elīna are each doing exceptionally well, both girls are at the top of their respective classes and are poised to go to top of the top universities in Rietumimark. Anatolijs on the other hand, is still too young to start attending school, but Raimonds and I have already appointed tutors to start his studies. How about are yourself, were you not taught by tutors?”

Hulang wondered how much of Madara’s words were simple flattery for her children, a site to impressive the Ditu or whether they were genuinely progressing well. The right name could bring out the rare gifts of fortune in a place like this. His eyes glanced over at them, distantly studying them. “You would be more or less unsurprised to learn that I was taught by some of the finest men in all Akai. It was and well is comparable to the classical education given to the Romans although all the more intense and fruitful in my case. The Lord Commander of the Riyeskonsu served as my tutor when it came to the matter of arms, the Grand Lord for the Treasury as my economics tutor, my father Jieke as a politics tutor, several religious scholars for the topic of faith and philosophy, and scholars of the great universities were all mine to use. And use them I did, I am at least competent in virtually all areas which relate to my status as a ruler, and do possess considerable skill in other fields. I apologise if that sounded boastful, but it was purely factual in intent. My education was giving me the tools help improve my nation and the world beyond it.”

“Of course, your perfection,” Indulis replied in a subdued tone to the Ditu’s inquiry as he walked around. Clearly hushed to minimize detection by the people and presumably the endless bugs around. He had the eyes of someone who scanned, watching carefully and cautiously for those who could listen in. “I have many ideas and plans for which may peak your interest, some pertaining to improving Rietumimark’s standing in the international community, so then we may never find ourselves in the current predicament...again. I shall talk to you later, in a far more secure and private settings. Not amongst duplicitous serpents with eyes in the back of their heads.” Hulang simply nodded with a glance of his eyes as he moved along.

In the aftermath of the humiliation he experienced at the hands of the Janis, the Ditu returned to his calmness as the rest of the room seemed to stare in utterly terrified awe. You fool, why did you allow yourself to be taken in such a position. He was furious that he allowed his strength to be demonstrated, to see that it was so carelessly done. The instincts that were burned into his mind visible once again, free of his control. Fortunately the sound level returned to its previous state as he noticed Belinda dismisses an assistant with a glare he found especially unnerving yet unsurprising. And suddenly when she turned back, her face was as it was previously, an artificially perfect construction, a front to mask up the emotions of the scene.

Hulang wished the torture that was being in the presence of this man would cease soon, he would prefer being slowly tortured by his step-father to trap next to him for another second. His face was possessed by a dumb and idiotic smile, it belongs to a simpleton who was too high to think. “It is quite alright, your perfection,” Belinda said as she stepped in. “As I said earlier today, his benevolence is not feeling his best today, possibly caused by the stress of the ongoing situation in the North. I to would like to apologise for his...misguided and unfortunate mishap. Please go ahead and say what you feel you need to say.” she finished smoothly, as the Ditu’s rage was directed towards something more productive.

“My dear hosts, what can I do repay the pleasure you have given me. You have given me one of the most hospitable welcomes a friend of Rietumimark could ask for. A tour throughout the great city of Slapjšzemesgrad and let me observe the great objects of history within the nation. The extremely productive meeting I had with your comrades has allowed us to move forwards and now could help resolve the great plague which infects us all. And I do love the warmth I have received by yours truly… despite apparent reactions of course,” Hulang paused in mid flow, his crimson eyes darting around the room, each one of his words having the semblance of warmth, yet they were probably more than likely calculated to maximise his point: “You do flatter an unfortunate soul like myself - especially some I have noticed. And your conversations are so intriguing to listen - your interactions as a family enlightening. And I do of course, wish the further departure of knowledge to the enlightened minds here, so it can be departed to the younger generations so that they too can be as… virtuous beings as some around them. And while I do have plenty more high praise, I do believe we have a meal to eat. But before then, let us raise a toast to Rietumimark and to Akai so that our continued prosperity may be eternal!”

The end of the Ditu’ speech was met with a rapturous applause from the room, to which Hulang bore a slight prideful grin while doing so. Hopefully that shall make up for that oaf’s insolence. Alise’s intrigues were met with the Ditu’s harsh and sarcastic response, clearly cynical if intelligent nonetheless. “How so, Madame, because at the moment there are considerable obstacles set in between us such as the forces of anti-culturalism among others. The insecurity of the region at the moment is of considerable difficulty of the Akai and I imagine any significant trade could draw action also which could mutually cripple us. Now unless there was something like the vast gas fields which could potentially solve the undisclosed oil crisis which we have at hand and further undermine Dewedish in existence. Now that would certainly be marvelous, would it not?”

Her response amused the Ditu, clearly seen to be surprised by it. Just as expected he thought as he amused himself with the starters. Yet his fun was short-lived as her response shifted to a fake laugh, one which the Ditu saw through quite so easily, along with the smile.“Of course, your perfection. It would make no sense to start increasing trade now between Akai and Rietumimark during such troubling times. What I failed to correctly reticulate is, once this crisis is over, furthering economic activity between our nation’s might be in the best interest for both our people.” said Alise as cool as ice, while the Ditu efficiently ravished his meals at a pace seemed to give the indication that he was starved of food for the past few years. “Especially since, in recent years, the Ministry of the Economy and Economic Success has discovered large deposits of natural gas in the Autonomous People's Republic of Deweden. Unfortunately, much if the natural gas is located in hard to reach places which with our present equipment, can not fully be exploited. However, with Akai assistance, I believe we can come to an agreement, once this crisis is resolved, which will benefit both our people.”

Upon hearing that the Ditu was most intrigued with a sight most interesting meals which emerged before him. He was quite saddened to know that he would need to offer a response first. The reports were right[./i] He wore a confident grin constructed for a singular purpose of superiority. “Well it seems we have just found another mutually beneficial arrangement. You see Akai more or less possesses the technology to achieve this for sure and the economic backing to do so. On the topic of trade in general, I imagine a resumption of trade would be possible one peace has been established. We would probably allow the importation of luxuries at a reasonable price if possible as well as supplements of basic products.”

After this he feasted on his meal savouring the fusion of tastes with his usual hunger but before he was asked another more painful question. [i]“So tell me, your perfection, how has your mother been as of late?” she inquired, unleashing a small swarm of unpleasantries inside his head. “It has been quite awhile since we last spoke in person and I would love to know how she's doing?” Alise continued the food turned sour in his mouth.

Hulang thought rather lowly of his mother to say the least, the two only met properly four years ago, a purposeful thing by Jieke to keep both separate to prevent maternal instincts from manifesting. It was a similar thing to what the Lazins did with siblings until they were six. They’d be aware of one another's existence but barely ever be in one another's presence for long. For whatever reason Jieke purposely did so and keep them separate as oil on water. Without it, the two developed a poor relationship of mutual benefit and she saw Hulang as a stolen part of herself which she sought to reclaim. “She is doing quite well, she is currently handling the court in my absence and dealing with the nobility as per usual. If you are more interested in her personally she is current rearing her new twins Prince Aboluo and Princess Adimisi, born after her recent marriage to Colonel Marshal Molxue Woerjin of the Geluxu.” Hulang was particularly factual and especially unemotive as his grin faded from his face.

Fortunately for the Ditu little more exciting events took place - Janis remained in a drug induced haze preventing him from bothering Hulang much although he bored himself with regard to the small talk. He hated the faux formality and interest of it all, he would have loved to just have been reading some historical tome. He had one about Bergorian history and the Post-Cornellian Period on the go at this time, but neglected to take it with him. Desert was quite delicious if a tad bit overtly Rietumish, yet regardless the Ditu while not entirely used to the cutlery was more than capable of eating. He then finally noticed something of interest to his eyes, albeit he preferred to keep his observation as subtle as normal His crimson eyes stared rightwards as he noticed Belinda address a pair of servants. And when this occurred, the knew something was coming and shifted his body upon Belinda’s gesture. His eyes lay upon the entrance: “After much talk about it before arrival, we Ozoliņš have decided to bestow a gift for you, a token of appreciation for the Lazins loyalty to the Ozoliņš Republic through a great many dark times.”

And in the dead silence a pair of servants carried forth a sword case in the most delicate of manners. The Ditu tried to retain his usual stoic outward appearance yet once again his eyes betrayed him instead proclaiming a sense of boyish joy. Through the entrance, the pair of assistants re-entered the dining hall carefully carrying a with a sword case. He gave a gesture for the Riyeskonsu to stay passive as they should with a gesture of his hand and placed it before him on the now clear table. And the blade itself was a sight to behold, a late medieval looking arming sword which was adorned with gold. “This sword has been the Lord Commander of the Rietumish Royal Guard since the rising of the Baltkalns Dynasty to power in the old Tsardom towards the end of the Late Medieval period,” Belinda explained as Hulang arose from his seat, as he strokes the sword from the tip of the blade. Hulang saw a deeply Rietumish in its character. It was a blunt, brutish blade specialised in the division of flesh and yet when the Ditu picked it up there was light sensation to it. It felt around the same weight as one of his longer Jian blades and felt into his hand as easily. He began to move it around slowly and carefully as he observed and study it in all its innate glory. “It sword was given to the founder of our nation, Andris Ozoliņš, by Hugo Ericson - the last Lord Commander of the Rietumish Royal Guard - following the capitulation of the last remaining Tsarist forces in Ivanburg who refused to surrender until the very end. As an enthusiast of such weapons, I hope you enjoy it.”

“A great honour I assure you,” the Ditu spoke as he thought to himself quietly. Hulang bore a large grin across his face as he stepped away from the table with a master like level of control and towards his own guards. The blade was lifted before his face diving it into two; it was held in his gloved right hand as his left remained hidden behind his back. And with it one of his guards, who was armed with a more traditional modernised and partially ceremonial dao variant, prepared to duel. Yet to call it that would be a false affair as the Ditu so effortlessly manoeuvred around his guard’s attempt to strike and as if he had predicted how the whole affair would go was holding the blade at the back of his guard’s knees. He was a duellist and this was a swift demonstration of this. It was a calm and especially cautious motion, with a scientist's precision and yet it moved like lightening. He signalled another two guards and they tried to attack simultaneously, their blades coming down to which Hulang manoeuvred around them both with an almost gymnastic flexibility before quickly performing simulated decapitating strikes to create the pretence of their deaths. “It is a fine blade this, it will serve me well. To wield the sword of your founders, to mock the Ghantish allies with it… it serves me finely indeed,” he replied once more with his voice dripping with pleasure.

[North Rietumimark]

“The Castle, Duel, and the Secret Treasure”

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

“You would be more or less unsurprised to learn that I was taught by some of the finest men in all Akai. It was and well is comparable to the classical education given to the Romans although all the more intense and fruitful in my case. The Lord Commander of the Riyeskonsu served as my tutor when it came to the matter of arms, the Grand Lord for the Treasury as my economics tutor, my father Jieke as a politics tutor, several religious scholars for the topic of faith and philosophy, and scholars of the great universities were all mine to use. And use them I did, I am at least competent in virtually all areas which relate to my status as a ruler, and do possess considerable skill in other fields. I apologise if that sounded boastful, but it was purely factual in intent. My education was giving me the tools help improve my nation and the world beyond it.” the young Ditu replied to Madara’s inquiry, much to her delight...a little more of the veil of mystery of Hulang’s background being slowly removed, one tiny tidbit of information at a time.

“That is indeed, a very impressive list,” Madara remarked, genuinely impressed the Ditu’s list of tutors, although it was no surprise. From what she’d heard and later ascertained that was Jieke was not for doing things half-arsed, everything he did was meticulous, a man who executed his plans with clinical efficiency. “That is an extremely striking list of tutors of expert calibre, it is no wonder that you have been such an effective leader, far more that many leaders of similar background,.” she said, referring to the likes of the debauched womaniser Nathan of Ghant, apparently not seeing the irony in such a statement - regards to Rietumimark’s own Paramount Leader’s behaviour. “But’s enough of my chattering, don’t let me hog you. Belinda, would you like to guide him to meet the rest of the family.” she said with the facade of a smile.

But not unlike a moth attracted to a flame, she continued to hover in visual range, her beady amber eyes closely watching the young Ditu’s movements as he when through the arduous task of being introduced to the expansive Ozoliņš brood. Her eyes narrowing when Hulang pulled aside Indulis to talk briefly in private. She seemed to affected more than most at the crass effrontery laid before her during the Paramount Leader's blunder, although she quickly recovered, taking her seat beside her husband Raimonds, well in audible range of Hulang and the rest of the Akai entourage. She too took part in the rapturous applause following Hulang’s speech and listened with a particular curiosity at Hulang’s conversation with Alise.

“Well it seems we have just found another mutually beneficial arrangement. You see Akai more or less possesses the technology to achieve this for sure and the economic backing to do so.” the Ditu replied, a grin which emitted confidence intermixed with an undertone of superiority. “On the topic of trade in general, I imagine a resumption of trade would be possible one peace has been established. We would probably allow the importation of luxuries at a reasonable price if possible as well as supplements of basic products.”

“That’s excellent news,” Alise began calmly, hiding her excitement at the prospect of all the revenue such a trade deal would generate, to feed the Rietumish war machine and its ongoing military modernisation programme. Her initial inclination was to begin a propaganda-esque, anti-globalist, anti-Gentry speech on the importance of those who oppose such forces must remain self-sufficient and unbeholden to foreign, imperialistic powers. A pragmatist before an ideologue, she opted to cut through the normal Party bullshit and decided to be far more direct. “Akai technology will greatly assist with our efforts for the exploitation of the large natural gas reserves lying just beneath the surface of the Autonomous Republic of Deweden. Rest assure, the Akai investment will greatly help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom unfortunately reside in poverty and instability thanks to in large part foreign sponsored-terrorists and criminals. I will make it my mission, once this crisis is over, to get the Ministry of the Exploitation of Natural Resources get in touch and begin negotiations to nail down the specifics of the deal.”


“Good, I do not wish to be too reliant upon FODE myself, while I am friends with the New Edom… Crown Princess Jocasta Obed, I cannot hold such great trust in the rest of the organisation. And he who controls the oil controls the world as the Akai proverb goes. Removing a FODE monopoly there means that we are freer in our actions and provides an incentive for both of us to keep South Deweden under our control,” Hulang responded his voice cold and as calculated as ever.

The events preceding Alise reply when off smoothly, with no major points of interest beyond an attempt at probing into Hulang’s personal life - to which he replied: “ “She is doing quite well, she is currently handling the court in my absence and dealing with the nobility as per usual. If you are more interested in her personally she is current rearing her new twins Prince Aboluo and Princess Adimisi, born after her recent marriage to Colonel Marshal Molxue Woerjin of the Geluxu.” he said in a very matter-fact and unemotive tone as his grin faded from his face. Apparently suspecting that was all she was going to get out of Hulang, she decided wisely to probe any further.

The main event came when a pair of servants bestowed the Akai Ditu a mighty medieval blade of the Lord Commander of the Rietumish Royal Guard. Hulang had a boyish enthusiasm underneath the stoical mask he wore throughout this time among the serpents of the Ozoliņš brood. For the first time Belinda saw Hulang not as the adult...leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world as his maturity portrayed, but rather the boy he still was and she seemed forget. “A great honour I assure you,” the young Akai Ditu spoke, a large grin adorning his strange face, stepping away from the table with a seemingly expert like level control of his body, striding over towards his own guards. The fine blade was lifted before his face diving it into two; it was held in his gloved right hand as his left remained hidden behind his back. Then, suddenly, one of the Ditu’s guard, armed with far more traditional modernised and partially ceremonial dao variant, prepared themselves to duel there master. The air was sucked out of the room as the Ozoliņš stared in amazing at the show about to play out before their very eyes; for many, it was the first time they’d ever seen such an event. However, they were all to be disappointed at what transpired next, as Hulang moved so effortlessly, nearly gliding around his guard’s attempt to strike the Ditu. It was so obviously apparent who was the better duelist by the brief demonstration of Hulang skill. He appeared a calm as can be, as though he was simply sparing with teacher, and especially prudent motion, with a specialist’s precision. He calmly signalled for another pair of guards to duel. The pair of guards tried to visit attack simultaneously, sending their blades down upon Hulang, to which the Ditu, with the technic of someone many years of his senior, flawlessly manoeuvred around them both, before performing the simulation decapitating strikes to create the pretence of their deaths. “It is a fine blade this, it will serve me well. To wield the sword of your founders, to mock the Ghantish allies with it… it serves me finely indeed,” the Ditu replied, his voice oozing with satisfaction

“That is excellent news to hear. Indeed, it was a deep concern of mine would kind of gift we should bestow to you...and it is a weight lifted that I chose right and that you enjoy our gift to you.” Belinda said cooly, a smile on her face as she carefully watched the Ditu. Only if I could see the look on their faces...that a weapon that Baltkalns family for so long was given away so easily and now adores someone who stands in opposition in everything they and their Ghantish puppet masters stand for. The sword would forever besmirch in the stubborn view of the unreconstructed and backward Baltkalns. She gently climbed out of her seat and gestured towards the grandiose exit. “Now that we have all been replenished, I can’t think of a better opportunity to move on to a different stage of your visit and unveil your perfection’s second part of your gift.”

Across the expansive dining hall, Dagnija swooned over Hulang unashamedly, broken only by her occasional glances at her own reflection on the used, silverware on the table, fiddling with her long sandy brown hair or fixing perceived flaws in her makeup. “You know, Elīna.” Dagnija said out of the blue, fanning herself as she watched the young Akai Ditu talk to their grandmother Belinda. Apparently, out of the blue, it appeared that Dagnija had seemed to have gotten over her spat with her cousin Elīna, having not spoken to her since their quarrel earlier during the dinner, something which was standard practice with among the younger members of the Ozoliņš family. “I think I might be in love. I can see myself now...wearing some of the finest clothing in all of Cornellia...living in massive, residing in stunning, gargantuan palaces older than most nations, wearing one of the Akai’s strange masks, obviously it’ll be the most beautiful in all the land.”

Hell will freeze over before than any of that shit would happen, Emily thought herself, drowning out her cousin as she droned on about her idealisation of life at Hulang’s side. Like Hulang would really fall for an opportunistic golddigger like you. she snided. “I think you would make a good couple,” Elīna replied, making a complete 180 from her previous position on the matter not that long ago. Jesus, am I stuck with a group of unhinged bipolars? “I am certain, you’ll become the envy of every spoiled, pompous princess and ‘noble’ ladies who unfortunately infest the world which poor Hulang is from. They will not know what hit them when you hit the seen with a bang.”

Before they could continue, the family’s matriarch, Belinda, seized the attention of the dining hall, her hawkish gaze scanning the room as she loudly tapped her wine glass. Almost instantly, the cacophony of noise which had previously swirled around the grand hall. “Whilst, it has most enjoyable catching up with everyone and introducing the young Ditu of our dear ally to all of you, I regrettably must announce that our Akai comrades and myself must depart and press on, into a different part of his visit, ” she revealed to the entire hall, her cool and collect voice reverberating around the sweeping dining hall. Emily struggled to hide her grin at the sight of her Dagnija, the wind withdrawn from her wings as she listened to her grandmother. The realisation that she wouldn’t be able ‘seduce’ the Ditu striking her down particularly hard. Who knew the next she would be in the same room as Hulang, when the next time she’ll be able to see him again, the next time he would visit the Ozoliņšist Republic once more. She confidently rose from her seat, along with the rest of the dining hall, and strode over to rejoined her grandmother’s side, continuing to escort the Akai delegation during their visit to Rietumimark. As they left the dining hall and subsequently the restaurant, Emily’s eye caught that of Dagnija, who promptly scowled and silently worded the bitch.

Through the gaudy Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant they went, ignoring the frantic salutes of the restaurant’s staff not expecting them so soon - ultimately finding themselves back where they started, at the convoy. The chauffeur hopped out of his vehicle and opened the door for Hulang and his entourage. By now, the relative warmth when they had first arrived, had dissipated, replaced by a nasty, seemingly bitter cold. The sun was almost completely gone, hidden by thick cloud cover and the shorter days of the winter months in northern Belisaria. Surely, it wouldn’t be long until the embrace of nighttime would return...and with it, even colder temperatures. Inside the warm limousine, the convoy burst into life yet again and began moving towards its next objective. The streets of Slapjšzemesgrad remained comparatively sparse, the pathways almost completely empty - with the exception of the RUP’s state security personnel and their checkpoint - which were omnipresent, restaurants and places of recreation either closed for the rest of the day or close to it. Whether this was by design or coincidence, only Belinda would know, but Emily still found the sight eerie, to have her city so desolate.

Nevertheless, the convoy continued to forge through the seemingly endless capital of the oppressive regime, the ugly, boxy blocks of the state-housing and the industrial sector of the city gradually giving way by residential and suburban areas of lower Slapjšzemesgrad. Huge, twenty-to-thirty thousand square foot houses, a great many with swimming pools and large, perfectly maintained, although covered by a thin layer of snow, adored with gimcrack decorations aiming to out shine their neighbours. It was apart of the secretive state which few outsiders ever got to see, the magnificent, by Rietumish standards, residences of the Party’s elite, a far cry from the overcrowded estates only a few kilometres to the north of here. Comfortably, Emily suspected, that if any foreigner was to be dropped inside one of these houses, they would most likely suspect that they were in any old suburb in a wealthy democratic western state such as Ghant or Adiron.

Similarly to earlier parts of the Akai’s trip, the quaint, suburban pathways and pavements had been cleared completely in advance of the convoy’s journey. Heavily armed security personnel maned every street, while overhead, at least a dozen helicopters hovered over ahead at all times. It was excessive in many ways, but in the eyes of the regime, it was completely worth it: to ensure the even when off without a potentially devastating hitch. Eventually the suburbs were too replaced, first by even more larger houses...mansions, six-to-seven thousand feet with acres of land endlessly stretching out in all directions. Many of these mansions had foreign sports cars worth more money than most ordinary Rietumish could hope to make in a lifetime and were assiduously maintained by legions of servants not too dissimilar to the days of the Tsar; something which the RUP constantly lambasted in its propaganda.The Ditu’s eyes seemed all but contemptuous of the whole affair, a gaze unendingly scornful. But these to were soon out of sight, succeeded by the rural outskirts Slapjšzemesgrad. Here the land was thick marshal land, frozen over by the colder temperatures of this time of year. The massive mansions were gone, well out of visible range, and as far as the eye could see, the natural beauty of the the - untouched by the destructive hands of humanity was, in many ways, almost ethereal to the eye.

With the sun’s life giving light starting to fully fade, the convoy approached a colossal gate, flanked on either side by an equally enormous wall, covered with vines and foliage, which encompassed the entire property. The convoy came to a halt at the main gate and two CSS proceed towards the led vehicle in the motorcade. The two men, who were clad in heavy winter clothing, spoke briefly with the led vehicle’s occupants, being handed something - to which they looked over once - before hand it back and gestured towards unseen CSS agents. Moments later, their was a distinctive groan from hidden gears, the gate opened, revealing what lay within. Their vehicle followed a charming brick road which led them deeper into the property, flanked on both sides by exquisite gardens and several beautifully sculpted water fountains, all of which remained frozen over by recent snow. Then, all of a sudden, rounding a particularly dense treeline, the convoy reached its destination - Slapjšzemesgrad Castle.

The mansion, better put castle, was a picturesque and looked like it had come straight out of a Christmas card in some Christian country. Originally, the castle construction was ordered by the notorious Prince Mihails of Slapjšzemesgrad shortly after his cementation of his rule over the barbaric people of the marshlands in the 12th century. It initially served as a barracks for his legions to protect Prince Mihails’ and his descendants southern flank from their rival Christian fiefdoms, raiders, and brutish pagan tribes yet to be civilised. In the 14th century, Prince Jevgēņijs IV of Slapjšzemesgrad ukase, authorising the raising of an artificial island, further reinforced by an earthen fortification wall, whilst the inside was partly reconstructed to be suitable for a man of high station. Six rounded towers dominated the skyline at every corner of the castle, reconstructed several times to adjust to updates in military technology. The convoy pulled up at the main grand staircase and grandiose entrance into the castle, coming to a complete halt directly at in front of it. Members of the castle’s staff responsible for Slapjšzemesgrad Castle the day-to-day upkeep of the structure descended down the staircase and opened the limousine in for which Hulang and entourage resided. Submissively bowing in deference to the Akai and Rietumish as the strode up the stairs and into the main hall.

“May I present to you the second part of your present,” Belinda said gesturing towards the interior of the enormous castle in a general sense. Her eyes closely monitored the Ditu’s reaction to such a gift, watching his every move with the precision of a scientist. The hall was large and circular, with towering golden ceilings and elegant marble floors, while a lavish diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling; all of which lacked any practical value other than to show off. The entire castle followed the late classical architectural style of northern Belisaria - with some inspiration taken from the late Ottonian Empire - who dominated early Rietumish civilisation. “Slapjšzemesgrad Castle, recently restored, after the castle was unfortunately badly damaged when brave revolutionaries liberated this estate during the middle of the people’s revolt against the Ghantar’s puppets whom occupied the halls of power, to its former glory following months of hard work by the industrious workers’ of Rietumimark and talented architects. And it’s my pleasure, to unveil that it was the Central Planning Committee voted overwhelming to gift you this property as a token of our gratitude to your family’s undying support for the Ozoliņšist Republic for the past four decades, in good times and bad.” She shot a look at one of the sheepish servants who hovered in the background, waiting to assist their esteemed guests at a moment’s notice. One of the servants, a short, chubby, strawberry blonde girl not much older than Hulang, promptly and cautiously - clearly intimidated by the Akai - approached Hulang and handed him a ornate wooden box; inside laying the keys to the property. “Everything you saw when entering the estate and everything see here is yours. We made a point to make sure that everything you may need is fully stocked and the staff, dutiful and loyal, are prepared to do anything you command. It is my hope, when where you need a break of sorts or return to Rietumimark at some unforeseen date in the future, that you come and stay here, compliments of the Rietumish people. If I remember correctly, the land around here is particularly scenic during the summer months and not too far way there are a number of places of recreation, including the hot springs, farms and private lakes for you and any family members you may want to bring up here to enjoy.”

A retreat, given to an ally, how wonderful. It is like my kindness to Jocasta has been karmically rewarded. Hulang himself was not especially interested in the grand scope of buildings for nothing could best Da Migong and its vast complexes. He seemed more interested in studying the features of the palace as they approached, the unique evolution of the styles and the effort put into it. His eyes looked upon it favorably, a grin forming across his face after a brief moment of contemplation. And when he was handed a box which he opened to claim the keys to the estate, his gaze came down upon the girl who he seemed amused by. His glance was sharp as it was intimidating, as if the Ditu seemed to recognise the discomfort in her and was toying with it. “I myself must tell you truthfully what a great honour you grant myself. Such a fine estate will be a marvellous addition to my holdings, and I just express my wholehearted gratitude. I however would like to ask a few things, firstly could I have my own men providing the security here?” He then mused for a few seconds before continuing, “Am I also going to sleep here tonight or is there somewhere else planned?” His eyes then turned back to the servant girl before him, who he possessively placed his hand upon, “And clarify to what extent is anything you command?”

A grin was all Belinda was to get from Hulang, as the young Ditu retained his mask of stoic composure, frustrating so. Belinda carefully watched Hulang as he opened the box to receive the keys to the estate, taking note at how he seemed to derive some amusement at the unquestionably intimidated young servant girl who ended up giving the Ditu the box. If I were a portly mouse, I too would be nervous of a strange looking Akai, a foot taller than myself and famous for his for his mastery of medieval weapons. “Of course your men can assume the role of protecting the grounds from the CSS, this massive structure has a sizable barracks designed specifically to house any security personnel manning the grounds at any given. I would assume that safeguarding this property will seem such easier than the expansive Da Migong, which must dwarf this castle.” she said, answering the first of Hulang questions. “Due to security reasons, we’ll having an early start tomorrow when you will tour the embattled city of Deroburg, in the Autonomous Republic of Deweden - therefore, it was planned that your perfection and your entourage will be staying a hotel in the middle of the capital - close to the airport. Regarding the servants, they are prepared to do anything your servants in Akai carry out. Do you have any more questions?”

Hulang mused for a few seconds, before explaining in a straightforward tone, one clearly hinting some other ambiguous thought “This is good, as that does mean literally anything I command,” Hulang said as he studied the girl before him with his invasive gaze. It seemed to be as thorough as a forensic scientist, watching every detail. “Aside from that shall we continue?”

“Certainly, they will loyally do anything you say, and if any refuse...retribution will be swift,” she said with a mencing hint to her tone, clearly directed not towards Hulang, but rather the servants hovering like flies around them. The colour drained from her face and it was clear she wanted to be released from Hulang’s orbit, the initial novelty of meeting the Monarch of a strange foreign country having faded, replaced by an increasing concern for her own safety. “Yes, certainty. Although, as my guest, I must ask. Is there any type of beverage you would like before we continue on?”

“Just some water will suit me, preferably five degrees celsius above freezing with ice if that may be possible,” the Ditu responded offhandedly, something followed by the shuffles and whispers of the eunuchs in various dialects of Akai.

Before another word could be spoken, one of the servants sprung into action, briskly provided the Ditu with two glasses of water, one with ice and the other without, for Hulang’s choosing. The Ditu chose the one with ice and behind him the eunuch took the spare glass. Once the Ditu had picked one of the glasses, Belinda began the tour of the large, although it must of been modest at best for the Ditu, property. Much like the grand entrance hall, the general design of the castle continued to follow a late classical architectural style of other parts of the castle. Their footsteps echoed off the meticulously well maintained marble floor beneath their feet as the Ditu and the entourage entered deeper and deeper into the castle, passing numerous luminous, circular rooms of varying kinds. Unlike many after places in Rietumimark, Slapjšzemesgrad Castle had a feel and underlying charm about it which kept the traditional aesthetic to the rooms - giving the structure a layered sense and soul which most buildings in the country otherwise lacked. The castle was divided into four major sections or blocks which encompassed a courtyard containing the bones of what once a flower garden and pond - both of which were snowed over - giving the courtyard a cozy aesthetic.

Pressing on without reprieve, Belinda nonchalantly gave the Ditu a brief overview of the many rooms contained inside the castle, as not to waste to much of their precious time with the Akai Ditu. Ultimately, the entourage were guided by Belinda into a large, rectangular room - which was designed simplistically, without any elaborate designs found in the rest of the structure - located in the far eastern sections of the castle. Relatively dark in comparison to the rest of the castle, the only source of light coming from modestly sized oval ceiling window, a pair of stone faced servant gently opened the entrance into the room, in what turned out to be far different from any other room they’d seen. Emily struggled to put together what possibly the room could be used for, but Hulang would have recognised its use immediately - it had all the signs of being a room for the ancient practice of dueling. With a flip of a switch, the room was illuminated, revealing the space in its entirety.

“From what I have heard, you appears to that you are passionate enthusiast for the arts of medieval weaponry...and well, in honour of your official visit and the sword that we so generously gifted to you earlier today, I believe that it is the perfect opportunity to test your new blade in combat during a friendly duel.” Belinda explained to the Ditu cooly, allowing him to take in the room and the news as she spoken, one eye always trained on his reaction and what details she could abstract from them. “Therefore, I have organised for you to engage in a duel - assuming if that’s what you would like - with Kaspars Gabovs, who served as the tutor to the Baltkalns, the former oppressors and puppets of the bastard Gentries, and whom has admitted to having trained several male members of the now disgraced dynasty on the use of a blade. From what we have seen in practice from him, Kaspars, in at least our opinion, is likely the only person skillful with a sword enough to pose you any significant challenge.”

“I assume my demonstration has helped filter out the others?” Hulang jested in a dry manner, carefully awaiting the end of as he molested the hilts of his new Rietumish blade. “You would be correct in saying that I am a fan of the art of swordsmanship” he corrected with a degree of passion and humanity leaking through his genuine interest. He moved into the centre of the room, his eyes taking note of the old duelist. “I assume you would be familiar with this blade Mr Gabovs,” he spoke in Rietumish, inquiring about his opponent “Please allow me to test it,” he said drawing the ornate arming sword from its sheave. “Do not flatter me with an easy defeat, it would be insulting.”

“It certainly assisted us in determining whose wouldn’t sufficient in a one-on-one duel with yourself. The way you dealt with your guards was most...impressive to say the least. I suspect that it will be discussed among Rietumish Unity Party members and their families for decades to come. I was too be bold, I might say your demonstration may become a cultural reference amongst the younger members of my family as an adjective for a decisive and utterly overwhelming defeat within a few weeks or months. ” Belinda said with a lightness to her voice which for the most part, she’d otherwise lacked when in the presence of Hulang and his Akai entourage. Slowly, her and Emily moved to the far side of the room, close to the door as Hulang moved to the centre of the room.

From the corner or the room, disguised by a thin layer of darkness, Kaspars emerged from the shadows, unveiling himself in full to the Akai and his Rietumish master; Belinda. His emergence had a subtle sense of staging to it, Kaspars - the antagonist - facing the protagonist - Hulang - in one final battle towards the end of a foreign action movie; to which only one would come out alive. Furthering his persona, Kaspars wore darkly coloured light armour, with an emblem of his ‘noble house’, which curiously seemed to closely resembled that of the Gentry coat of arms. His finely trimmed short hair was of a dusky gray, his wrinkly skin - bearing the marks of late age - was hidden under thick gray beard and cartoonishly large eyebrows, and his distended stomach sagged over his belt, his once muscular physique having long devolved into pure fat. His amber eyes narrowed as his gaze laid upon the sword Hulang was poised to strike him with - recognising its design immediately. He has the weapon of the Lord Commander of the Imperial Guard...how the hell did he manage to get his hands of that fine sword...we all believed it was lost. Those Communie thugs most have stolen it from its rightful place among the true Monarchs of Rietumimark, not these criminal, regicidal usurpers.

“It is a pleasure to meet you in person, your perfection,” said Kaspars gruffly, his voice hoarse and rough, the result of years of heavy chain smoking. Although overweight, his steps were light and precise, mirroring the decades younger Akai as he approached the centre of the room. “Indeed I am,” and it does belong to foreign filth like you… “I have come to learn much about it and for a great many year believed it lost during the horro...I mean glorious revolution in 1951/52. I hope you take good care of that blade, too much Rietumish history has been lost already.” he said, pulling out his weapon from its sheave, his steady hands tightly gripping his blade - a weapon of considerably lesser quality than that of Hulang’s sword. “I wouldn’t imagine doing anything otherwise, I may be old but I could never envision just handing you victory on a silver platter...I am much too proud for that.” Kaspars seamlessly transitioned into his starting southpaw dueling posture, one in which initiated a willingness to initiate the first attack. Noticing the substantial difference in height between the two, with Kaspars barely pushing 5’5 in comparison to the 6’3, he would have to use both his decades of experience and his smaller body to its fullest advantage, using speed to out maneuver the Ditu and age to anticipate his movements. Imitating the Ditu’s motions for the better part of forty-five seconds, slowly reducing the space between the two - knowing his significant disadvantage regarding Hulang’s longer arms and far superior reach. Engaging the Ditu with a large space between us will only benefit Hulang. Suddenly, sensing a chance to fully gage the skill of Ditu, he launched his first probe, moving at the speed of a man much younger than himself, he struck his blade towards Hulang, going hard and slow towards Hulang’s left - suspecting him to be right handed.

The Ditu’s stance was one serenely stoic with his intensely focused gaze, yet it seemed to mask a monstrous strength. His eyes seemed to lose any degree of warmth, becoming as cold as the harshest of Rietumish winters. He seemed to watch every single tiny motion of Kaspars - every quiet step and he seemed to lock down any unnecessary motions and movements of his own. He held the arming sword before him in his right hand using it almost like a rapier, spinning it once before Kaspar made his move. And when he did, he seemed either to have anticipated the speed or was used to it; vanishing out of the path of the attack instead of intercepting it. The Ditu then politely asked: “I assume this is to first blood, Mr Kaspars,” as he then began to move for his own attack, looping around his foe’s blade as he moved with almost inhuman haste. The ornate sword began to move like a blur, in a calculated motion as it fell straight towards his foe’s forearm. His voice seemed in breath yet energised, “I assure you I can go further.”

Out of pure instinct, Kaspars just barely managed to pull his forearm out the way, operating subconsciously as he, a mere seconds before Hulang countered his probe with far faster than he ever could. Kaspars pulled back slightly, resetting himself and giving himself some pause to think how he might out play Hulang - whose reflects were seemingly than of an olympic athlete in he or her’s prime and were in a far different league than Kaspars. Why did I ever let myself get so out of shaping, he thought to himself, as he tried to compose his already heavy breathing, preparing himself for the eventual next attack. “Indeed, your perfection. Just testing the waters so to speak.” Kaspars said once his breathing had stablised a bit. Quietly moving one foot in front of the other, he aggressively went for another strike, this time, shifting his dueling stance to an orthodox stance, swinging low, going for Hulang upper right leg before guiding his blade upwards in the direction of his right hand; aiming, in a single blow, to knock the weapon out of Hulang’s hand and end the duel quickly. All the while, Kaspars positioned himself in such a way, to make himself a smaller target to hit.

Hulang’s response was almost predictive and anticipatory in its nature intercepting the strike with as Hulang shifted his body to once move move out of the way. He meticulously used his crossguard to catch the blade, suppressing it with all his terrible strength so he could close towards Kaspars in a vicious Prise de Fer. He himself began to try and suppress and crush his foe’s ability to resist his next few strikes. He then attempted to try and place his leg behind Kaspars’ with it closing in to try and destabilise him. This was the followed with a break with the sword suppression and instead attempted to in a brutally swift motion slice across the chest with great precision coupled with forceful strength.

Hulang intercepted the Kaspars’ strike, shifting his body once again out the way long before Kaspars’ sword could do any damage. He assiduously made good work of his crossguard to catch Kraspars’ blade and suppressing with his far superior strength - it evident more than ever as he struggled to relocate under the brute strength of Hulang. Kraspars watched helplessly as Hulang went from the defensive to offensive, beads of sweat streaming down his face as parried the attacks with his blade or shifted his body out the way to avoid the strike. His old age, however, played against him as he badly mistimed Hulang’s last strike and screamed as the poor quality armour he was clad in shattered with a hard, crack which rung around the door as Hulang’s new blade sliced his forearm. Caught off guard by it, Hulang subsequent attempt to destablise his footing found some success as he stumbled back, but his lower centre of gravity played in his favour and was able to briskly regain his footing - knowing that if he was a larger man, the duel would have ended just then. Falling back slightly, he found himself yet again forced to react to another blow by Hulang - whose sword moved in a slicing motion toward his chest. He maintained, just about, to retort Hulang’s blade, taking advantage of its monument to deflect the strike with his blade, before countering with a riposte - drawing a 270 degrees circle with his sword before thrusting it in the direction of Hulang’s torso.

The Ditu seemed oddly and perhaps unusually to be enjoying this to a careful observer. There was a look to his eyes that seemed to enjoy every successful strike, every slice, every ounce of pain inflicted. It seemed less conscious and more embedded into the deep unconsciousness of the Akai monarch. He seemed displeased when he saw the recovery, his foe made and remaining keenly aware of his foe’s sword. He used the motion of his missed strike and that of his fast reflexes to retreat away from the blade with haste only to perform his own incredibly aggressive counter-riposte, his blade’s motion being conversed as it looped around to perform first a series of feints and then began an unyieldingly vicious push designed to overwhelm Kaspars. Those who could witness it could barely do so, as the Ditu performed a variety of tight, rapid slashes, each aiming from at the various extremities of his foe ranging from the legs to the sword arms - seemingly trying to penetrate the weak armor. And then this began to shift, with each strike becoming stronger and stronger as they fell; with one final strike attempting this time to first to forcefully lock his foe’s blade in the hilt This was followed with another gambit, to pull him towards the Ditu by the blade only to be met with overwhelming force from a shove; exploiting a more Akai style of martial arts to try and get him on the floor. Yet despite all this, Hulang’s face remained mostly stoic and unemotive with the exception of his eyes which burned their crimson red.

One thing kept old Kaspars in the duel was his enormous wealth of experience, tens of thousands of hours of it training, practicing, or teaching his pupils. His ability to anticipate the Ditu’s strikes and adjust his positioning accordingly before the Akai’s sword could do any harm. He just barely managed to dodge Hulang aggressive counter-riposte, countering each of Hulang blinding slashes, each perry taking more and more out of the aged Kaspars. The advantages the Ditu had over him were, in the eyes of the old man, overwhelming. Youth, far better reflectives, and equipment. His only hope to frustrate the Ditu, continuing to avoid his heavy blows and hope he’d make a mistake...unwittingly allow an opening for him exploit. Hulang pressed, seemingly designed to overwhelm the old man into submission or into making a lethal error and thus, he did his best to eschew Hulang’s swift slashes, until finally he attempted to forcefully interlock Kaspars blade at the hilt. Old Kaspars could see what was going to happen before it did. He reacted promptly by releasing his blade from his hand, the sword falling to the ground with a metallic ring. He immediately attempted to grab the weapon and retreated to a far corner of the room; sensing at was only a matter of time before Hulang consequential victory.

Hulang’s response was a simple one, almost entirely predatory in its manner. He watched Kaspar’s retreat and performed a vicious uppercutting kick in order to keep him away from his blade. He then dashed to pick it up with his other hand, gaining another advantage. He speedily stalked his prey before him as he moved forwards with his swords held defensively in one position. He used both blades to create a path of constricting feints, to further push Kaspars into the corner of the room. He then with ease began to beat his foe with his already impressive legs, aiming for his guts before using the ornate hilt to first strike his knees before using it to uppercut his foe’s lower jaw with brutal alacrity. This was followed with his own sword held in his left hand being placed at his throat and the other at his stomach. The Ditu’s eyes glared at him, demanding surrender as he continued his onslaught mercilessly.

Like a predator on the steppes of southern Rietumimark, Hulang brutally pounced upon his prey long before Belinda, Emily or even Kaspars could fully comprehend what truly was happening. Hulang executed a perfectly timed uppercut kick a mere seconds before Kaspars lunged for his blade, sending him flying back upon his arse, recovering shortly after Hulang swooped up Kaspars’ blade - gaining a pivotal edge over his opponent. Old Kaspars began to stumble back, avoiding the Akai’s feints as he staggered back into a corner, eventually tripping over himself and falling hard on the sand floor. Hulang then preceded to beat the old man with an almost amoral callousness to it, seemingly wanting to completely reduce the man to near death. Kaspars looked into Hulang’s cold, dark crimson eyes recognised a look in them, one which demanded his surrender or else. Sputtering on blood from his mouth, he feebly raised his hands his surrender, struggling to pathetically mumble: “I...I surr-” he tried to say, coughing up a fist full of blood into his upperarm. “I surrender...I concede.”

Hulang quickly and swiftly sheathed his weapons and placed his borrowed blade back in his foe’s sheath upon hearing his surrender, withdrawing from his strikes. If anyone could see his eyes, they could see there still was a lingering bloodlust hidden beneath. “It was a good fight, I'd advise becoming lifter on your feet and in your body - you’d handle yourself better if you did,” he spoke as be pulled out a lavishly patterned silk handkerchief from a pocket and began to wipe the blood. “Please use this, you deserve it,” he commented softly as he helped the foe he had so brutally attacked mere seconds ago. He whispered in his ear: “Survive, I assure you the future might be expectedly better than this present. Perhaps this sword might end up with its old owners.” Hulang then moved to the centre of the room and then performed the deep bow of the head before the assembled party. “I hope myself and Mr Kaspars provided a good spectacle and that you enjoyed this duel.” He spoke in his precise and perfect Rietumish as if he had not just beaten a man so viciously a moment before. It seemed almost uncanny how he shifted his purpose so easily. His eyes studiously observed the crowd but Emily and Belinda in particular.

Kaspars was taken aback at how effortlessly the Ditu appeared to transition, from a warrior with unyielding hunger for blood, to finish his enemy to someone who, at least on the outside, was under complete control of himself. “Thank you, your perfection.” Kaspars replied roughly, strugglingly to climb with the Ditu’s help once Hulang had finished wiping most of the blood from his face. “You were a worthy opponent, one of the most technically gifted and talented swordsman I have battled with for a long, long time. Indeed, I once a fit and slim as yourself in my prime, long before than most of you were born. But alas, like so many older men, my once strong frame has given way to all this fat. Perhaps in a different life I might be fitter, however, I never expected to duel again since I retired for teaching the ancient and quite beautiful art of swordsmanship.” Suddenly, once on his feet, Hulang closed in and whispered something which further taken for words at Hulang’s remark....specifically the second part of what he whispered into his ear. Perhaps this weapon may end with its original owners? What he planning, what is going on here, behind the curtains which I able unable to see with these old eyes. Kaspars looked into Hulang’s eyes and gave him a look which told him that he understood what he would have to do before being quietly escorted out of the room with the assistance of two servants who’d been lurking in the background to receive medical attention.

“It was an excellent display of an art which is so unfortunately dying in much of the world with the widespread use of other weapons of war.” Belinda said so confidently, ignoring her regime’s contribution to the face. She glanced at Hulang and observed at how much he resembled his father in a brief, oh so fleeting moment, a nearly psychopathic joy inflicting pain upon others, especially his enemies. It would seem that Hulang is more like Jieke than I previously anticipated, she thought to her beneath a smile, watching Hulang as he moved to the centre of the room. “I’m glad you have enjoyed yourself and Kaspars proved himself opponent, capable enough to offer some challenge. Before we continue, do you need anything, water or some food after your duel?”

The Ditu seemed to be barely sweating and barely out of breath, retaining an alien level of self-control. “I shall need no food, it is better for myself to be temperate in my diet. It sets a good example for my men and is good for my health,” he responded in a calm manner. “Please do take care of him, maybe allow him to train someone. These martial arts are useful for the refinement of the mind,” Hulang added, speaking unusually favorably of his foe.

“Of course, I understand. I will personally make sure that Kaspars will receive only the best medical treatment whilst he recovers from quite a physical and challenging fight. Furthermore, I’ll begin the necessary inquiries to get Kaspars teaching an art which yourself and Kaspars enjoy so much-”

Before Belinda could say another word on the matter, a hurried looking aid of Belinda’s burst into the room quite abruptly and immediately strode over to the Paramount Leader’s mother, “Comrade Chairman, we have a situation regarding your eldest son has come up.” she whispered into Belinda’s ear so the Ditu couldn’t overhear them, unintentionally sending a nervous glance in the direction of Hulang. Emily looked at the aid, a woman with pepper coloured, short curly hair, dark brown - almost black eyes, and heavily sun damage skin - who appeared in her mid-to-late forties. If Emily recalled correctly, the aid was her second cousin and Belinda’s niece, one of the many daughters from Einars half-dozen failed marriages. “His benevolence has apparently found the whole visit of the Ditu of Akai to Rietumimark to be extremely ‘stressful’ and since you left, he went clubbing in the capital’s notorious redline district and...um well....he’s had...he’s had an overdose, a particularly close call. From what I can make out, he mixed the some newer narcotics which have recently hit the street and it trigger it...the overdose. He almost died had it not been for the brisk actions of one of the many whores with him, who got him help just in time.”

Jesus, motherfucking Christ, why must Janis always insert himself into everything I try to do and crap all of over it from a great height. Why must my baby boy always consume most of my time! “Shit, I believed...no not believed, I’d hoped that he would for once behave and not embarrass the family during such an important time in our country’s history. At least he was furtive in his actions and at present, Hulang does know of his condition nor what he did during his visit and I would hope it will remain that way.” she spat quietly underneath a cold and steely exterior, seething with rage and anger at her son’s reckless and downright idiotic decision. The only thing she could do now was leave Emily with Hulang and his Akai entourage whilst she buried all the evidence of Janis’ indiscretions and ensure that Hulang never finds out. “Thank you briefing me on the situation with my moronic eldest son, I will make to figure this out and take the necessary steps to deal with this...furtively.”

“Certainly, Comrade Chairman,” the aid said quickly, her tone barely above whisper as she spoke, her eyes looking at Hulang and attempting to figure out whether he had any inclination what had happen. “I will go back to the car and get ready to drive you to see him at his private dacha about an hour’s drive outside the city where he is presently receiving treatment by the family doctor. I shall also make the necessary calls to inform those privy to the situation you will be becoming soon.”

“Thank you, Comrade,” said Belinda with a smile, facing her hand on the aid’s shoulder. “I will catch up with you in a minute. First I need to spin another lie which we allow me to leave.” And with that, the aid turned around and walked out of the castle towards the car in the driveway. Belinda turned her head in Hulang’s direction and said: “I am so sorry to tell you this, but a recent development has forced me to cut my tour of the castle a bit short. Not to worry, it isn’t anything to warrant concern, but rather a bureaucratic misstep which requires me immediate attention. I’ll try to get back as soon as possible, but it’s likely I won’t be able to see you until much...much later, so I’ll have to leave you in the capable hands of Emily.” Belinda explained briskly, leaving what the details as vague as possible.

The Ditu seemed to have been paying attention to the whole affair which went on before him with considerable attention. His eyes watched the lisps of Belinda and the aide he presumably did not recognise. His glare was masking a very well hidden suspicion, one which might have been familiar to Belinda in particular when she mentioned Janis when he arrived. “It is quite a shame that you have to depart so soon on what seems to be quite the important bureaucratic mistake. I hope whatever it may be could soon be resolved so that we may meet again soon,” the Ditu explained in his melancholy verse. “Farewell,” he concluded as his eyes then shifted to his contemporary Emily. “I imagine Emily would be more than capable given her exemplary behaviour throughout today,” he complemented with flowery terms, his face remaining mostly stoic aside from a pleasant smile. He moved towards Emily, placing a hand on her shoulder as he whispered into her ear: “I think that opportunity might have arrived.”

“Thank you for being so understanding,” said Belinda fending a smile under which insecurity and frustration simmered, boiling within her conscience, this day of all days...the day she’d been seeking since the disaster that quickly evolved to become the 2004/05 Dewedish uprising - the catalyst for all this shit haunting the Rietumish Unity Party of these years later - and had badly damaged Akai trust in the RUP’s ability to effectivity rule Rietumimark. “I look forward to seeing you and your entourage later, your perfection.” Belinda said briskly, spinning around and quickly exiting the large room without saying another word.

[North Rietumimark]

Emily silently watched her grandmother leave the room, she had found the whole affair to be eerily similar situations in which followed her father Janis doing something idiotic, ignominious, or downright dangerous - normally almost always involving alcohol, drugs, or women or all three. She listened to Hulang’s remarks about her to Belinda absentmindedly, her mind thrown off balance by what she’d witness Hulang do during the duel and more especially his enjoyment in inflicting pain upon Kaspars. She’d been witness to brutal acts of violence before, it was unavoidable as it was omnipresent in Rietumimark. But there seemed to something different when it was Hulang committing the violence, it appeared her at least, that there was a more psychopathic, almost animalistic element to it which she had never seen before, and yet, it was clean and precise, which blow designed to inflict the maximum amount of damage on his enemy with the least amount of effort...to achieve victory in the shortest period of time. She tried to push unease into her subconscious, remaining quiet until they faintly heard the sound of Belinda’s car driving off to some unknown location. She then slipped her hand into her coat pocket and revealing something which had the appearance of a garage opener and walked to the edge of an adjoining room, pressing one of the two buttons on it which read in Rietumish On and Off and walking inside. “This strange looking device will allow us to talk freely, without the threat of being overheard for the next hour,” she began to explain, handing Hulang the device. “Belinda uses a similar device when she doesn’t want to be overheard by her own various bugs and I managed to steal you one to use whenever you’re in Rietumimark. It essentially loops the previous hour of footage in a room and uses whatever the bugs were able to record and loops it for another hour, allowing the user, specifically us, to speak freely without the threat of any my grandmother cronies listening in on us.”

With this Hulang seemed to be quite pleased as he examined the device: “I must assume it is working then,” he quietly seemingly not taking any chances with this particular danger. He then turned to Kazou and his own collection of servants, eunuchs and guards and calmly commanded: “Please leave us and remain outside at a reasonable distance.” With this his men bowed and exited in two columns, each retaining a sense of formality that could be best suited to an archaic church procession. He waited to the moment they had exited the door. His head slowly turned to face Emily with a warm yet serious disposition. “Wonder what this mess is about. Belinda is too important for a simple bureaucratic mistake.” He seemed to ponder for that moment: “So then, you wished to learn about my family did you not? What details do elude your net… eludes your knowledge? The mystery around the displeasure caused by my mother I recall?”

“I strongly suspect it has less to do with a bureaucratic mistake and probably has more to do with Janis, he’s always got himself into messes which Belinda has had to clean up. Although, for how abrupt she’d left, I believe that this blunder might be more severe that in one’s past.” Emily said, thinking aloud about her beliefs on the matter of her pathetic excuse of father. She paused for a moment, complicated what exactly had peaked her curiosity earlier in the day and what she might want to know. “If I am remembering it correctly, we were talking about your parents and your relationship them...particularly how Jieke didn’t touch her and left her. By the same token, is there anything you would like to know about my family?”

Hulang’s response was constructed quite carefully, it seemed almost uncomfortable for himself to talk about. “Anything… this will be noted. Well as you may or may not know, my father I highly suspect to have been asexual possibly even antisexual after the death of my half-sisters mother in childbirth. She is a natural child but I am not, conceived along with Jiexiu and my other siblings from that union in some variant of In vitro fertilisation which my father had created. Records suggest a 250 million Lazin-Yuan budgetary black hole for that particular period so I suspect that has something to do with it. Tingzi to him was very much nothing more than a wife to use in the court and to bear his children. He found her temptress ways distasteful and wanted merely her genetics for their children. To this token Tingzi hated him and saw him as a rapist who stole parts of her body from her and denied her the happiness she seeked. She sees me and Jiexiu as extensions of herself stolen by him and one which she has sought to control and claim for herself ever since his death. Hopefully this suits your tastes?”

Emily listened with shock, intense curiosity, and some concern at what Hulang confided to her. She’d heard the horrible things Jieke had done through rumours and faint whispers whenever his name was brought up, but the honest truth, uncorrupted by speculation and hearsay as it was often accompanied in Rietumimark was hard to come by saying the least. “That is quite sufficient,” Emily said with a hint of uncertainty in her voice, unable to come to the decision whether to be empathetic, pity almost or act as those what Hulang’s when through was normal, an everyday occurrence. “I’m sorry to hear it, I can certainly empathise with your situation, especially in regards to parent who despises you. I don’t really know that much about Janis, but what I have been able to ascertain over the years, Janis, indeed most the family, blames me for my mother’s death and consequently repudiated me from the family. I suspect that he refuses to even acknowledge my existence might be due to the fact that I remind him of her...or that’s what I prefer to tell myself as he just might as likely does not care about anything beyond his own needs and desires.”

“Oh neither of them despises me, Jieke sees… saw me as an instrument for him to play- a way of making all Akai dance to his tune from whatever place he resides now. Tingzi on the other hand…” Hulang paused again trying to phrase what he wanted to say carefully: “She takes after her name sake in my family’s long history, and is whatever the reverse of Oedipus is - Electra I think. I am something she must reclaim from my father,” he said referring to mythology and history to try and be anything but blunt. It was clear that this was uncomfortable for him to talk about, let alone explain - tried to mask it as well as he could. “It’s an unpleasant reality but alas I must deal with it.” Hulang’s eyes were quite carefully adjusted to watch his accomplice with a sense of intrigue as he listened to Emily’s words about Janis and her own father. “You remind me of my half-sister, Lilisi. Her mother was the only women Jieke was even thought of to care about, if he even could love. Princess and Dibai Mei Jialazin, a cousin once removed of himself, she was a fair small woman from what I have seen of her in video. She gave him the ability to interact with man - pushing him to make some of the reforms he did to education and helped him support the slaves he freed. Yet she died five years before my birth giving birth to Lilisi and a stillborn son. After that he decided to focus on achieving enlightenment, losing his attachments to the world and be a wise and prudent ruler. I imagine he did care for her enough to visit her once every fortnight aside from that he kept her alone in Xiaoxiagong palace in Lazinato. Whether it was to try and protect her from the Akai or to keep her out his mind I do not know, he never wrote it down.”

’Sees...whatever place resides now’ - present tense, she thought to herself incredulously at the thought of Jieke still being alive and the million dollar question, Why would one of the most powerful men in all of Cornellia fake his death at the height of his son. She listen to Hulang thoughtfully, quite clearly reading his discomfort at discussing his family. I would too if my family was as screwed up as that. “It appears that the unfortunately early deaths of women that both of our fathers’ may have genuinely cared about is a tragic theme which both our countries share and the consequences of their deaths had on their subsequent policy making we are all living through.” she said, quickly running through how to pose the question on Jieke and how he might possibly be still alive. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you suspect that Jieke may still be alive. I couldn’t help but notice that on several occasions during your visit. Do you have any cause to believe that Jieke may still be alive?”

“Jieke seemed to be harder in spirit and school after her demise but even then this is Jieke we are speaking about. He had also at the same time as he was freeing slaves, was unleashing enough biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to make Urdontia and Nekulturyna look like they were pleasant places,” he explained. And as he listened to Emily again a smile began to creep across Hulang’s face as he listening to her last remarks, “You probably do not know this but his body was never found and there was no evidence of a kidnapping or any kind of murder. The whole court seemed to move along like clockwork and crowned me monarch a month after his vanishing. Either someone more powerful than him kidnapped him, he left willingly or he decided to commit suicide. He was only 58. Either way I treat it as if he was dead as it seems his spirit still moves Akai forwards. I simply do not know if he is alive or not although the possibility I cannot dismiss. I do doubt you have similar rumours surrounding Ivan or Andris fortunately. ”

Emily initiate shock and concern was gradually replaced with increasing inquisitiveness the longer Hulang spoke about Jieke and revealed things that Belinda most likely would have killed a great many people to know many times over. From the way Hulang described his father, he sounded less and less human and more and more like a complete amoral monster, antisocial with a moral code which shifted repeatedly to match his agenda and the necessary steps to achieve it. Hulang’s description of Jieke was in many ways completely different to the profile the RUP had toiled to tirelessly to create, one in which believed Jieke to be far more human than he, at least in the way Hulang spoke of him, is or was. Officially Belinda and her counterparts suspected that Jieke to man with clear psychopathic traits, which were only further exaggerated and only got worse following the death of the closest person he’d ever loved, but were dampen down by Hulang’s half-sister’s mother - the freeing of the slaves evidence of this belief. If what Hulang’s was telling her was true, the RUP closest held beliefs about who Jieke was grossly wrong. I would put it past Jieke if he manipulated the RUP to maneuver the situation that in his favour. “No one in all of Rietumimark knows that his body was never, in spite certain elements to find out.” Emily said, increasingly realising that this sounded less like something which could actually happen and more a plot in a fantasy drama novel, packed with action and adventure based in some far off country like Ghant centuries along probably titled - The Mystery of the Lost Emperor or something like that. “I doubt Andris would be willing to fake his own death when, from what I have heard of him, he genuinely believed in the socialist cause and dreamed of Cornellia achieving a communist society. I suspect he would roll in his grave if he saw the state he’d created now...aligned with foreign Monarchy. I would accuse the entire party of betraying the workers’ cause and label us all revisionists. Ivan on the other hand...there remains some speculation that he’d might of faked in own death after suffering a mental break. His physical and mental health was far from perfect during his final days and others whisper that Belinda may have forced him to fake his own death and then stashed him away deep inside rural Rietumimark to live out the rest of his days so he wouldn’t do anymore damage to the RUP and Akai-Rietumimark relations. Especially considering his woeful mishandling of the Dewedish Uprising.”

“You should use Andris’ grave as a dynamo to make power and export it to the degenerates around us. And then watch as they strengthen Rietumimark and you gain grasp over their energy,” Hulang jested with some amusement as he listened to his friend. “Belinda certainly seems the type. She reminds me of my grandmother Youxian, the Grand Dowager Dihei and Ditu Long’s regent. She is the one who sent Jieke over to Rietumimark all those years ago. She is well and truly ancient now, nearly 90. Her husband died forty years ago at… well I do have no proof for this but I suspect Jieke in his quiet coup after the Tempesta War may had him made comatose. I remember reading up about it,” Hulang rambled as he continued to slowly turn Emily into a confidant of his. “It is not above him, I know he did cut off his life support in 1984 to act as Ditu without the constraints of the Grand Conclave and to allow him to use the nukes as well as arranging the accident which claimed my grandfather Prince Hei, when he tried to despoil his reputation abroad even moreso on his flight to the Allamunnic States. Why he did nothing to Yanfeng or his other brothers or even Pingan for that matter I do not know, frankly, perhaps the pretense of caring about his family? Or maybe the taboo of kinslaying was something he sought to avoid, given how subtle he was with the other cases,” He did pause once more contemplating something as he walked onto the sand, staring at the blood stains on it. “Nobody outside of my close family knows about Jieke’s fate, and I do suspect Tingzi’s quick reaction and opportunism as well as Jieke’s ten thousand failsafes is why I am here today. Well… Princess Jocasta and her husband are privy to most of what I have told you also. I couldn’t shake Michael, a jealous and overbearing character for sure so he now knows of that. It seems at every step there is a Ghantar in the way.” Hulang then made a gesture to Emily to come over, “Now then, I have a few questions of my own to ask. Firstly, why the hell did Belinda of all people get Janis to succeed Ivan? Surely Indulis’ inferiority complex - if I am reading him correctly - could have been satiated with such a maneuver and he does seem far more talented than your father. Had Jieke been granted the misfortune of a son like him, he’d likely end up in a worse state than Nathan ever did. No offense meant to yourself. Secondly, I have read reports on Indulis and his Iron Guard although they are unfortunately rather limited, could you enlighten his ideals and goals to myself? And thirdly, you seemed to be talking to two your cousins, who were they? And is there a balcony of some kind we could go to? There are some rather beautiful views that I feel we are missing.”

Emily couldn’t help but laugh at Hulang’s remarks’ about her great-grandfather Andris, replying promptly by saying: “Nearly everyone in Rietumimark has great respect for Andris, not only founding the Rietumish Unity Party and its regime, but also for successfully defending against overwhelming odds in face of far better armed and trained opponents. With that said, few people beyond gerontocratic holdouts still hold on to the ideas of world revolution and Andris’ other ideologically based policies.” Emily listened riveted by the close kept of the interworking of Lazin family, one which dwarf her own family’s both in its complexity and sheer size. The intrigues of the Ozoliņš dynasty seemed that of pathetically trivial and inconceivably petty in comparison to that of the literal life and death struggles within the Lazin dynasty and even more so composite in it inter-family rivalries and alliances. When Hulang spoke of Jocasta and Michael, she was quick to add: “If I were to open a dictionary and look for the words overbearing and jealous, I am certain that Ghantar would be a synonym for both those words. If the Ghantar would just stay on their godforsaken island, the world would be a much better place for all of us. It seems to me Ghantar only good at seducing their way into foreign royal families, blindingly honouring pacts which often contradict their own agenda and stupidly blundering into things that don’t concern them.” she finish some spite in her voice.

“I am not really sure why Belinda decided to push for useless Janis of all people to succeed my grandfather to become Paramount Leader over many other far more competent and superior candidates.” Emily began. “What is widely believed among upper Party brass, is that Belinda pushed for Janis over Indulis or anyone else in because she could use him to rule via proxy and clement her position as the leading figure within the Rietumish Unity Party - with mixed results. For whatever reason, Belinda has always seemed to hold the standards much higher for Indulis than her other children, which has lead to some serious animosity between the two. Oh, I don’t mind, from what you told me about Jieke, if Janis was his son, I would expect anything less from him. As for the Iron Guard, from what I’ve heard about it, seems to be syncretic political party which combine the works of Kuaiyanism and Ozoliņšism to form a strange pseudo-far right and left wing ideology claims that it wants create a highly centralised state that Jieke envisioned which would be used to build up the industrial and military capacity of a socialist state which, whose new military and economic power would subsequently used to liberate the workers’ of the world. Although, whether this hypothetical state would actually use its military muscle to export the world revolution is still up in the air and seems to be a topic of hot debate with the Iron Guard, with a victor in the ideological debate yet to emerge.” Emily was slightly taken aback by Hulang inquiry about which one of her many cousins she was talking to while they were having lunch at Andris Ozoliņš Restaurant. “The older of the two is Dagnija - my aunt Alena’s eldest daughter - who, out of her own admission, is in love you and the younger of the two is Elīna - Raimonds second eldest child and youngest daughter. Why so you ask?” she said curiously, wondering why on earth Hulang would ask about those two. “Of course, there is a balcony up stairs which has an expansive view of the back gardens.”

“There is a joke in Akai, were two Belisarian royals from different countries decide to marry after falling in love with one another, at a ball. So they wait and wait with their families and the wedding day comes and it turns out half of their familial guests are the same Gentrys,” Hulang dry delivered, seemingly using it to demonstrate the Akai’s contempt for various dynasties in the region. “The Gentrys are a problem for us both, let us hope that we can humiliate them soon in spectacular fashion,” he said concluding that particular point. “And it seems Indrulis is possibly trying not to stray too far from the RUP party line while also maintaining his own differences,” the Ditu seemed to only add his observations and not his actual thoughts on the policies proposed. “Jieke once told me that Rietumimark needed what he called ‘a People's Czar’ a ruler that synthesises the best aspects of the past and its rich tradition and the current and its vast progress to make a superior future. But yes, I shall keep an eye on him, I wanted to test him with the Deroburg appointment although admittedly that was a bit on the fly by my standards.” He then continued once more moving on the topic of Emily’s cousins and spoke with great stoicism which seemingly continued his bemusement: “I do pay attention to all details in a scene if possible and it seemed your corner was rather amusing. Kept out of sight away from His Benevolence and His Perfection - there seemed to be considerable commotion full of emotions that seemed to change as quickly as Ghantish Internal Politics. Anyways perhaps I should entertain this Dagnija’s whims for my amusement, to toy with her. She seems to be a rather dull sort in a sense. Anyways, I am surprised she’d even take a liking to me, a foreign Akai monarch whose skin is colourless and his eyes crimson. Maybe it's the title, rather than appearance,” he commented with a sense of genuine curiosity to his voice along with something else which was not quite clear. Hulang then began to head towards the stairs, anticipating what was there.

“Good one, although now days, that joke holds a disturbingly high among of truth in most at weddings between major royal families. I would reply with a joke of my own, but most Rietumish jokes about the Gentries are state issued and generally have an artificial, propaganda-esque vibe to them which ruin the joke.” she said through a muffled laugh as the two climbed up some stairs to the upper floor balcony. “Indeed, my uncle is. I don’t think enough people yet have come to the realisation that the original RUP dream of world revolution died when Andris did. I suspect once people realise that, the Iron Guard will follow the shift in attitudes and completely abandon the dreams of a dead man.” she speculated as their conversation moved over to the subject of Emily’s cousins, listening to Hulang comments about Dagnija with a degree of relief. “Danija is a superficial, fickle girl easily swayed by her surroundings - believing herself to be much smarter than she actually is and, as you discern correctly, is rather dull. Toying with her might give you some amusement initially, but she would quickly become tiresome to be around, I definitely find that the case even spending only a few minutes in the same room as her.” she explained as they reached the top of the stairs. Taking note of the Akai entourage, the second floor was quickly desolate, with all the servants having left the castle for the servant quarters, a brisk walk away from the castle. The second floor followed a similar design to that of the ground level, although the overall architecture was far more minimalist in execution. “I suspect it is a combination of the two. Danija is one of those girls who is automatically attracted to those of the opposite sex who told positions of power and influence, and is likely more in love with the lifestyle your title of Ditu would provide her than the man who holds the title. With that said, though your aesthetics may be quite unique among most demographic groups, I’ll be hard pressed not to find a girl who wouldn’t say you are easy on the eye.” said Emily with a sly smile.

“The parasites of wealth power and prestige, jadelovers as we Akai call them. They love the jade of the throne rather than the man or woman sitting on it,” Hulang described with a sense of contempt as he studied the upstairs: “While some prove to have some talent, the vast majority seem to be unworthy and downright detrimental to their spouses.” Hulang looked around the second floor, seemingly looking around with the eyes of a designer. He murmured in Akai: “I should do some refurbishing and some delousing.” He then continued and expanded upon his reasoning: “Take Nathan of Ghant for example, a well intentioned fellow despite his natural ineptitude. His loins and heart however are his greatest weaknesses, not only are they laying down the foundations for further dispute especially given the fact that many of his bastards come from noble or royal families which still wield armies but also because these women distract him from his nation. His courtly dalliances cost him everything. This is of course on top of his poor reasoning and moronic intelligence as well as his immense emotional issues. His emotions drive him, not his logic.” Hulang’s vision of Nathan seemed much more resentful in some areas than others. “I tell myself that I will not fall into that trap, I will not become some lecher upon a throne. I must be marvellous and magnificent, I cannot allow myself to fail.” Hulang seemed to be quietly possessed by an alluring grin and a stare which seemed somewhat bewitching: “Why thank you, Miss Ozolins.” He seemed almost taken aback by the comments at first and then rather pleased. He paused and allowed his unexpectedly deep voice to manifest: “I can only say in response that you do have an uplifting charm to yourself.” Before he continued his ascent up the stairs to the balcony he subtly offered his bare hand to Emily, the soft, slender and refined things that they were with a warm smile on his face.

“Jadelover, the Akai never cease to amaze how they are able to come up with the most eloquent ways of naming words with not so eloquent meanings.” she commented jokingly and lightly, finding the Akai and indeed Hulang view on things to be particularly interesting. “Men like Nathan and Janis have, and always, will be distracted by a pretty face and a pair of breasts, allowing them to quite easily unwitting useful idiots to those who seek enlarge their own power and/or influence - usually at the expense of the nation at hand. Fortunately for Rietumimark, Janis has always been nothing more than my grandmother’s proxy for own political ambition, in spite of his gross incompetence, and attempts to influence Janis and guide Rietumimark from afar by elements within the RUP haven’t unsuccessful. Despite all his foibles, Janis has always been a capricious type, one who has always been difficult to control, even for my mother. From the way you explain it, it seems that Nathan doesn’t share such a trait.” Emily found herself unprepared...surprised even by Hulang’s response to her remarks, especially from someone with a steely, inscrutable exterior which was damn near impossible to read beyond what Hulang wanted you see. “Thank you,” she said, sounding somewhat thrown - something Hulang seemed to be able to do any too often for her liking. She looked down and noticed that was Hulang offering his hand to her. Uncertainty about how to preceed swirled around in her mind for several moments - before she decided to take his hand. “Best Danija not find out about our time alone or girl have a fit of murderous, jealous rage!” she joked lightly, closing her eyes and feeling a faint cold wind rush into her bare flesh as they strode through the empty halls and entered the balany.

“I imagine no one else but us would know, should your device be functioning correctly; but who knows jealous rages can be fun to watch, maybe you shouldn’t have agreed to my little request,” Hulang teased with a quietly dramatic tone as he held onto Emily’s hand gently. “You sure you wouldn’t want to see that? I imagine you could enjoy it rather... considerably.” He viewed the cold lands of Rietumimark before him, the snow covered fields which stretched on forever and the dim low sun shun solemnly behind a thick layer of cloud as the day moved to night. He stared deeply and intensely at it, with the sort of reverence one might offer a work of art. His breath seemed to freeze in the stagnant chilled air, slowly moving away like the pure smoke of a fuming cigar. Hulang’s analyzing gaze still seemed active, yet here it seemed to be reflectively appreciating the world around them. There was tranquility to Hulang as he began to speak, his gaze shifting to Emily with a sense of both calmness and “There is something intensely beautiful about this place - well and truly. It seems separate and far away from the troubles of the city, from the crisis in Deweden. It is an island in a sea of tempestuous turmoil. I can meditate on things here, be removed from the petty squabbles of the court and the land.” He paused as he seemed to shift his focus closer to her: “Thank you for offering me this, genuinely from every corner of my spirit. I think I will use this as my seat when I am in Rietumimark and for dealing with this crisis. Let it be known that you can come any time you wish and use it as you wish… well with a few caveats here and there of course.” His grasp began to become firmer, as his eyes dilated and seemed to gaze into her own hazel eyes. His body faced hers, his own athletic form contrasting with her own: “If I am to be honest I think we are more alike than our families realise, or ourselves.” There was a hesitance to Hulang then and there, as if he was thinking about something whether it be an action or a matter at hand, he seemed to be willingly lifting his veil so that a Emily could make a few peeks at what lay underneath.

“It would be extremely amusing to watch that little spoiled brat come to the realisation that she won’t be having want she wants, like always.” she remarked mirthfully, with a hint of bitterness to her tone as she gazed out of the balany, to the outer world ahead. “But I would much prefer to keep this between us, otherwise I will be hard pressed by grandmother for all the dirty details about you, your past, your family. It’ll be easier not to mention, as I’m not one-hundred percent that I might accidentally mention something so sensitive.” Emily said with a far more serious tone, turning her gaze to look at Hulang, watching him thoughtfully observe the skyline, seemingly reflecting about things...the situation he found himself. “Yes, there does seem to a natural serenity which is otherwise lacking in so much of Rietumimark. This castle is almost like a hidden paradise amidst of the deepest inner circles of hell, free of the echoes, scheming, and excessive intrigues of the wider world at hand. I am certainly glad that you like this place and hope it serves you well in the coming years.” she replied briskly as she carefully listened to the second part of what Hulang had to say. He shifted his gaze, meeting that of Emily’s with a tranquility she’d never seen since his arrival to Rietumimark and what he said next completely took her aback…left her shellshocked almost. Never before had anyone shown her such kindness, to offer her something without any strings attached...with no hidden agenda which was so pervasive in her everyday life. “I don’t know what to say, I’m taken aback. Um...thank you, thank you very much. No one in my entire life has given me anything without demanding something they want in return, a string attached so to speak.” Her heart fluttered as Hulang turned to face her and yet when he did, there was different about him...a subtle change which she might pick up. A hesitance and uncertainty nearly which starkly contrasted the self-possessed and decisive Hulang’s she first met at the Airport. “I concur, there are a number of uncanny similarities between us and our dysfunctional families which cannot be denied,” she said with a tense nervousness to her voice, seeming to brace herself to peek beyond the coat of arm which Hulang had put up around himself and view the person which lay beneath.

“Yes… and there are some more, the fact that we are both the unloved children of our fathers...” He spoke with a byronic melancholy. And then, with a great pensiveness, Hulang slowly but surely pulled up his bare arm’s sleeve of his rather ironic jacket to show a glimpse of what lay underneath “please look, if you wish to understand me perhaps this shall tell you better than I can what Jieke did to me.” With it raised back to his elbow it was clear that his body his flesh was carefully divided by gracefully hidden lines. Upon further examination, one could feel the that they were not some freakish genetic trait but scars - surgical ones. They followed the curvature of the muscles with an anatomic precession, with certain points having what seemed to be old injection marks. There was a clear medical artistry to it all, one which seemed almost inhuman in its precision. All of this was well hidden and well masked, yet the physicality of it all despite these reductions still existed. This was all on top of a refined build, which seemed to be naturally suited to Hulang. “I shall let it speak for itself, but everything you see of me if has Jieke’s hand somewhere down the line. I am his perfect monarchal homunculi in that sense although he failed to predict my own mutations which lead to me. I am quite certain that only yourself and a few chosen others know what I just told you.” Hulang let Emily examine it before shifting his eyes. “I think you are more than worthy of keeping that one secret of mine.” He moved his other spare hand onto Emily’s lower neck, but before doing so withdrew and removed the glove letting his bare flesh do so insead. “Now… I wish to focus on just ourselves for our own sakes.” He gazed deeply into her eyes his head began to move closer, with the invitation of embrace lingering on as his pale red lips prepared with quietly passioned anticipation.

Emily found herself unexpectedly struggling to gaze upon Hulang arm, what seemed to be careful lacerations which had the appearance, on first glance, to have been surgically done. She’d always believed that Jieke was far from a nice person from the stories she had heard through via the grapevine and open speculation whenever someone decided to bring the former Akai Ditu’s name during a casual Party social event such as a gala. But the more Hulang lift the veil about the true, unfiltered nature of his father, the more and more she came to realise the truth about Jieke...that he was nothing short of a heartless, unfeeling, monster who stopped at nothing to achieve his goal. How could any parent mutilate their flesh and own blood like that, surely Jieke wasn’t...isn’t a complete automaton? And yet, simmering just beneath her shock and outrage, she couldn’t help but admire a subtle beauty to it, how carefully Jieke must have ordered the men who did that to Hulang to keep the scars as faint and innocuous as possible; so much so, that one could have easily mistaken the scars for strange birth marks of a sorts. “I am so sorry for what Jieke did to you. No child truly deserves what he inflicted upon you to satisfy whatever twisted vision for he had planned your future. The more explain him to me, the more egregious his actions and nature become. The man seems to have lacked any sense of humanity or morality and executed his plans cruel callousness which few men in history could rival.” Emily gently reassuringly placed her hand on Hulang’s shoulder, a look of stone dead seriousness on her face as she said: “I assure you, I will never tell a soul as long as I live about what you have confided onto me today. Your secret, so to speak, is safe with me.” Hulang placed his bare hand upon her neck and gazed into her eyes, she looking into his deep crimson eyes. She mirrored Hulang, matching him as she drew closer towards him, she heart in her throat as reciprocated Hulang invitations, drawing closer and closer towards him until their lips met and they kissed.

Hulang’s reaction was seemingly focused in the moment of it all; his eyes initially widened before slowly closing them as he fell into the moment. While in the cold, he was definitely passionate as he let it linger for an intimate time. Hulang seemed to at least understand the theory but seemed to inexperienced yet regardless there was a honest rawness to the expression. His grasp was firm and gentle throughout it all and then it began to weaken after what felt like a lengthy and particularly gratifying moment for him. He moved away slowly and cautiously, his smiling lips somewhat moist and as his eyes emerged there was a sense of pleasure evident. And it then slowly faded consumed by an inferno of guilt and doubt which in turn return was used to try and hopelessly reforge his stern exterior. He spoke in tones which betrayed his actions: “I… we… should not have done that. What did I let come over myself… I...”

Emily closed her eyes, letting go of whatever previous unease she’d held on to and let, whatever was to happen, happen. As their lips interlocked, she felt all the previous internal conflict, shock, and turmoil fade away into the background, a seemingly euphoric sense coming over her in this most intimate of moments. Although it seemed to Emily that Hulang wasn’t the most experienced in the realm of romantic, this kiss was by far the most pure and passionate she had. Their lips lingering together for what Emily felt to have been prolonged period of time, she followed Hulang in leisurely moving away; an elated, somewhat bashful smile adorning her face in delight at what had just occurred. But as with so many good things in Emily’s life, that feeling of joy soon became eroded, evolving itself into guilt and apprehension. What have I done, she thought to herself, stumbling back several steps as those feeling began to consume her. I promised my grandmother I would stay focused, objectively amass intelligence about Hulang’s past and the Lazins dealings for her. Have I just betrayed her trust in me...betrayed my country in letting my feelings get in the away of my assignment. Everything will be far more complicated now. She looked at Hulang and could quite easily tell he was having similar dilemma, both in the tone he used and the weakness to his normally deadpan exterior. “I am sorry, we...I shouldn’t have done, we shouldn’t have.” she struggled to spit out, unconsciously placing her on the left side of her face, close to her lips - her mind racing at a thousand miles an hour. “I just don’t know what c...came over me just now.”

Hulang seemed to watch Emily with considerable concern with an a seemingly uncharacteristically open empathy. However he focused on regaining his composure, his breath slowly taking on a twelve second cycle of breathing in and out. He did not move too far back remaining on the verge of intimacy but not protruding in it. “This is my own fault… not yours,” he said as he seemingly began to think to himself. “I should not have gotten so close…” he continued as he touched the back of his neck as his voice continued to make attempts to hide what he meant. It seemed he wanted to say something else but instead knew he had to say something else. “Our countries are at mutual risk of war and I did that… we are fortunate that you turned off the monitoring… just lets not try and do that again. At least until this crisis is over… I think it should be for the best for both of us hopefully.” He then murmured something in Akai, in a voice different to his own one lower and domineering: “Let your passions, your greeds, your gluttonous hungers and your yearning lust float like blossom in the spring winds and let them go far away.” He seemed to be quoting someone else, and reminding himself of something.

Emily listened conflictingly to what Hulang had to say. A large part of her uncontrollably felt disappointed as Hulang spoke, he seeming to want to say one thing, but ended up saying something else. And yet, another part of her knew that it was all for the best, the least worst option...or at least, that is what she decided to tell herself. She closed her eyes and took several long, deep breaths to clear the turbulence from her mind, gradually restoring her composure with every breath. “I concur, it’s best, at least in the world’s current state, that we keep this to ourselves and not mention it to anyone until our two countries are in a less unstable and critical time.” Emily replied tempestuously, slowly but surely regaining her equilibrium. “I thin...think that is best we keep this moment to ourselves and try to forget about it...or at the very least keep it locked in the past until things around us stablise and this crisis comes to an end.”

There was a melancholy to Hulang then and a disappointment as he continued: “No let us not forget this moment, this treasure,” he spoke disagreeing with a manner filled to the prim with a sense of rejection. “Let it be another addition to our cause to succeed in this matter. More fuel to our the fires that burn within us that lead us through the darkness we reside in,” he spoke with a sense of understated realised conviction as he then placed a hand upon her and looked into her eyes again, this time not attempting the same intimacy as before but instead offering something. “If anyone asks, tell them that I gave away nothing like usual, let it be a secret between us,” he practically suggested as he agreed with Emily in softer voices. By now his eternally precise manner had returned yet a smile returned to our face: “Does that sound good, better than rejecting this?”

“Of course, forget was way too strong of a word, I definitely misspoke amid my...my emotion and for that, I apologies.” she said softly, her tone becoming a bit more upbeat when Hulang firmly disagreed with the idea of forgetting what had just transpired. He does truly have feelings for me, she thought to herself, the beginnings of a smile betraying itself at the ends of her mouth. She lock gazes with Hulang as he placed his hand upon her shoulder and spoke with unyielding conviction “I agree, I have no intention of telling my grandmother or anyone else for that matter about what transpired while we were alone. It won’t be that difficult to convince my grandmother that you didn’t give anything away, as there are few people who are as masterful as you in remaining stoical and unreadable as yourself. This will be our treasured secret.”

“It is fine, that I do assure you I sympathise with,” Hulang said with a smile slowly coming across his face. He seemed to be amused almost with those last comments as if a suspicion of his was just proved right. “That it shall be, so far I am very pleased with how this has gone so far. I have reaffirmed the faith of your government in the loyalty of my own, I have outlined a plan and minimised every risk that I can to the point that the only risk now lies in the Ghantish-Dewedish-CPO coalition provoking things unlawfully. I have a success to call my own, one that will be as large as the formation of the Akai-Rietumish alliance by my father, maybe even greater. And furthermore with the resumption of trade, we can help begin our mutual prosperity, your father’s wife has divulged something which will further keep the Akai interested in your country and might even get Sanfu to be sympathetic, natural gas deposits in Southern Deweden. Natural gas which can be turned into the fuel Akai so desperately needs. And of course the crowning jewel, the nuclear program which shall turn Rietumimark into a venerable fortress which can defend itself. Now all we need is a new generation to secure the succession and you I think would do most well among its ranks, ”Hulang spoke at length with a sense of pleased pride so hungry for more. “But anyways I do not want to let the others start to get suspicious now. I imagine too long of a gap in the footage will become noticeable over time. That and rumours can be so ever productive as I have learned elsewhere.”

“Certainly,” Emily said now smiling brightly at Hulang, his words about her place among the next generation to lead Rietumimark into the future meaning an unexpectedly a lot. In the near distance, the remote silence which had previously encompassed the property was broken by the muffled rumble of a car’s engine and the clacking of the metal from the nearby gate. “It sounds like my grandmother has returned from cleaning up Janis’ most recent screw up. Best we get inside to greet her.” With that, Emily led Hulang inside, closing the balcony doors behind them, descended back down stairs to the dueling room. Once back within the room, she subtly gestured for Hulang to turn off the device. As he did, the sound emitting from car’s engine came to abrupt end and with it, Emily felt for the first time in her life optimistic for the future.

[North Rietumimark]

“Hulang's Final Day”

Slapjšzemesgrad, Rietumish SR, Rietumimark

A dazzling winter sun hung low in the twilight of the very late afternoon, its rays of sunlight sparkling off the light snowfall. It was a picturesque sight, one straight out of a Christmas card which might see at a store, an alluring impulse purchase for those seeking to add to their Christmas festivities. All around, everything in sight was covered with a thick layer of snow left over from light snowfall which may have occurred earlier in the day. A blume of snow followed the convoy’s journey back to the Slapjšzemesgrad, slowly but surely returning to ‘civilisation’. Few people were out at this time of the day, some people having already gotten home from school or work, and only work crews were out hurriedly clearing the pathways and road of snow before the convoy arrived - accompanied by only a handful of stragglers. The luxurious mansions of the highest elitist within the Party were soon replaced by the far more simplistic suburbs, before they to gradually faded into the horizon - with the city of Slapjšzemesgrad taking its place.

The city streets had been completely cleared before the Ditu and his entourage’s arrival, for reasons presently beyond Emily. Perhaps Belinda wants no one to tip off Hulang about Janis’ little screw up or for Hulang to her rumours about it. The Janis situation must be much, much worse and far more serious that I previously thought if Belinda is taking all these measures to bury the truth from Hulang. The city was eerily quiet, only a handful of cars being permitted by the omnipresent state authorities to use the roadways and the roads that we were allowed to use were far and in between - with much of the capital corner off for the Ditu’s visit. The convoy moved unopposed through the empty roads at a brisk pace, unhindered by any form of traffic and before Emily knew it, the convoy had come to stop at the Andris Ozoliņš Hotel Slapjšzemesgrad - a looming, excessively grandiose modern structure for which Hulang was to spend the night and typically used to house foreign diplomats.

“This is where our paths part,” said Belinda trying to appear casual, her unease about the Janis situation being hinted at and almost given away by a hesitant look in her eye. She forced a smile to ward any inquiring questions about the Paramount Leader and followed the Ditu out of the limousine. “The Presidential Suit has pre-booked for you to spend the night, whilst similar rooms have been arranged for all your entourage. Refreshments and food will also be available to you throughout your entire stay at the hotel. Please tell me, do you have any questions?”

“Yes, I do have one,” Hulang began as he began to exit the vehicle studying the structure before him with a look calm and stoic as usual. He seemed to had been focused on cleaning his sword throughout the time back and played with it distantly trying to focus on something else. “You disappeared for quite a while there, and it seemed quite serious from what I was able to overhear. Now I am asking for an honest answer, what exactly has happened which made you worry and made you interrupt a tour for the Ditu of Akai? While there is some matters that can be attended to, I imagine this one is rather important. Should it affect any of our arrangements, I do wish to know.”

Belinda remained stoic as she listened to the Ditu’s question. She was taken aback by it, how would he know or suspected that it was far from a minor incident. What gave it, what part of my mask reveal that it was far more serious than I made it out to be? “I assure you, that what occurred will have no serious effect on our plans for Autonomous People’s Republic of Deweden and ending it terrible crisis.” Like my poor boy would actually do something of significance or play an actual role in the coming days, “What happened, as I previously mentioned, was a bureaucratic mistake made, embarrassingly, by his benevolence some time after we left the restaurant. I was able to stablise the situation and have it under complete control. So while I do commend your inquiry, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.” Belinda explained slowly turning the stoical look on her face into a nonchalant smile, as if they were discussing a miscellaneous topic.

The Ditu gave a nod which further evidenced his doubt, one which was calculated in such a manner to make Belinda aware of it. “Thank you for the explanation there, it was very informative.” His response was one which seemed to have the implication of sarcasm hinted behind its formality. I am smarter than you think. What are you hiding from me… a simple bureaucratic mess up does not require you. “Anyways I must thank you for your most excellent hospitality throughout today. My father, mother and grandmother’s praise of yourself was most accurate and for the generations that shall succeed me shall further speak these words of praise.”

“Thank you,” said Belinda softly, faking a sense of humility in her voice as the pair engaged in a sort of mental chess. It wasn’t difficult for Belinda to gage that Hulang was sceptical of her explanation - quite evident by the sarcasm just below the surface of each word. It would seem I have underestimated you, I will not make that mistake ever again, “Similarly, I must say that you have met and exceeded all of my expectations about yourself and I can’t think of better world leader suited for guiding our nations out of this sticky crisis even have found ourselves, not only surviving it, but thriving as a consequence. I will be see you tomorrow, bright and early for your trip of the troubled APRD.” she finished with brightly, hoping to deflect from the mentioning the Janis situation.

“Indeed farewell, I do wish you can sleep well in this most turbulent of times, I know I will not,” Hulang bidded as the realisation of his eventual insomnia came over him. His uncle Kazou stood next to him, and calmly watched over the boy ruler with a passivity that had been common throughout the trip. Hulang was more than aware that he was acting as a proxy for someone, presumably his old associate and the good friend of Jieke’s Chancellor Heng Ryuunguo. “How have you found this trip dear uncle?”

“Most enlightening your perfection, our hosts have been most exemplary in their marvelous conduct I feel, a good indication of things to come,” he responded in his rather calm soothing voice. “The Grand Conclave will be most pleased with your performance also.”

“I do hope,” Hulang added as he turned to face Belinda again. “Can I make a request that my visit to the APRD is accompanied by a media team of yours? I imagine it would be quite conducive to what I have planned,” Hulang said as he was about to depart inside.

“Certainly, your perfection. An excellent idea. I’ll definitely make the necessary preparations later tonight for a media team to be put together and to follow us during your trip to APRD.” Belinda replied quite briskly, internally kicking herself for not coming up with the idea before Hulang. “Goodbye, I look forward to seeing you and your uncle tomorrow.” And with that, Belinda smiled and waved, climbing back into the limousine - which roared back into life - and took its occupants to a location unbeknown to the Akai.

“She reminds me of Youxian,” Kazou spoke in Akai to his nephew. “Her steely manner, her pride, her tireless efforts, her hardline politics, her spirit. She reminds of of the Grand Dowager Dihei far too much to be comfortable. I wonder what Jieke must have seen in them when they met,” he pondered curiously as they walked towards the hotel with the Ditu.

“She is not my mother that for sure, and I am glad she is not,” Hulang spoke in palace Akai, his mind floating elsewhere as he stood outside, hoping to avoid any bugs. “Any updates on the progress of the fleet?”

Kazou looked at one of the eunuchs who brought over a tablet device of some kind, clearly Ming like the rest of the Lazin’s electronic toys but this was “Yes, it has reached its destination in the central Tempesta and Grand Admiral Tajin has ordered that with the ascent of the Grand Conclave to reinforce Carrier Task Force One. While it is in position and ready to engage in strikes against international trade in the Tempesta of all parties, we are sending 4 more of our Haixiao SSGNs, 18 of our SSNs and six extra destroyers to reinforce.” Kazou paused however as he read on. “Reports of Sanfu’s visit however have been less than favorable to ourselves. ‘Starl is an uncultured barbarian swine who hungers for this conflict and will try and get it as irrationally as possible’. The Queen however seened much more open.”

“Good, good everything is proceeding as has been foreseen,” Hulang spoke with a great pleasure to his voice. All my work, all my talent and efforts are slowly but surely becoming a reality. Years of toil slowly becoming a reality, years of misery coming to fruition, years of lost children finally being worth it. I can crown myself with a crown of gold should this succeed and be heralded as the hero I must become. “All the pieces are falling into place although we do need something to ensure the Edomite’s do benefit from this all. But that is a matter for another day is it not.”

“Indeed,” he agreed as they began to enter the grand hotel before them all.

Waiting inside was a woman not much older that Hulang, twenty-one or twenty-two, smiling brightly at the pair as strode inside the hotel. Andris Ozoliņš Hotel Slapjšzemesgrad design plan was not too dissimilar nmany other larger than life structures like it. The lobby had a deep red carpet, high ceilings with exquisite light fixtures, and expensive seating arrangements - complemented by a fully stocked cocktail bar. “Hello and welcome to the Andris Ozoliņš Hotel Slapjšzemesgrad!” the hotel employee said brightly with an unmoving smile. She gestured to one of the many elevators and added. “Before I escort you to yours, would you like anything to eat or drink. I assume you’ve had a very long day.” Her voice was annoyingly bright and cheerful, one which would be used to placate screaming toddlers by a parent - possibly employed by the hotel staff to lull its cliente into a false sense of security.

“Thank you dear host,” Hulang began as his analytical gaze began to scan the girl before him, approaching with a sense of purpose as he calmly marched down the carpet, and looked around to see the environment around him. He listened to one of the hostess with his glare entirely dispassionate and devoid of any hint of emotion. He recognised the sort of smile which glared at him, one which he found most displeasing to bare witness to. The Akai were very much masters of the utilisation of masks, both on a physical and a metaphorical level. To them the face was just another shield for information, one entirely malleable in its nature and form. They did a poor job as hiding the artificiality of their smiles, they were too static, too tense. It did not help that the voices used by the staff were as soothing as a piece of sandpaper being drawn across a scrotum - further adding to Hulang’s suspicions. “Would you like anything is what they are asking dear uncle,” Hulang explained in Akai to his uncle.

“Oh, marvellous I am rather famished,” Kazou responded in a rather despondent manner, apathetic and clearly tired. Hulang still retained his youthful energy to his manner despite the stoicism, as he watched his uncle think of something. “I shall take the strongest whiskey they have.”

Hulang nodded as he contemplated his own drink, and meal. He had little taste or appreciation for alcohol, his mind associated it with a sense of spiritual degradation he always found distasteful. Kazou on the other hand seemed to relish in his whiskey, ever since he came back from Keng and Zhaoze and his campaigns there. Meal wise he always wondered about Acheronian food and what it could offer but never got around to it. “I would take a piece of cake please, and some orange juice with lemonade please while my uncle wants...” he paused to make air quotes with his hands at roughly eye level, “‘the strongest whiskey’ you have.”

“Certainly, I am glad that I could be of service after, what have must've been, a hard day works. Please wait here for a moment I shall get your drinks and food with the utmost priority.” said the hostess with deference, smiling at Hulang’s tongue on cheek quote. She bowed her head, quietly, and yet quite briskly, slipping away from the Akai and disappearing behind a door which led to the kitchen - giving Hulang and his uncle another spare moment.

“So what did you discuss with the paramount leader’s bastard in your momentary seculsion,” Kazou asked with a sense of unsought inquisitiveness as he looked around. Time for some tactical dishonesty. Hulang’s feelings for the girl formed a curious alignment with his interests. While she seemed torn between her duties and her feelings it seemed. Hulang understood it far too well, yet he in his eternally tempestuous thoughts had realised that given her role her feelings could be exploited. Yet there was a new sentiment slowly creeping into Hulang, one’s slivering spectre - guilt. He felt guilty for an action he knew was rationally better, it was something Hulang found strangely disconcerting.

“Pointless small talk,” Hulang replied in a manner in which he faked a sense of apathy to the whole issue. “You know I am good with my mask, you should know this by now.”

From seemingly outside of nowhere, the hostess reappeared, carefully carrying the hotel’s finest and strongest Rietumish whiskey, coupled with a piece of specially made Victoria Sponge cake joined by a glass of orange juice. “Thank you for your patience,” the hostess said once in audible range, a stiff and unmoving smile on her face as she gestured for the Akai to follow her. “Please allow my escort you to a table we’ve reserved for you. I was told before your arrival that your perfection is someone who enjoys his privacy, thus all tables at the far end of the cocktail bar have been prepared for you and available for your choosing.”

Hulang eagerly eyed up his cake, a treat he always did enjoy indulging in while his uncle swiftly took his drink. I have done enough exercise to warrant one. Upon noticing the gesture, they followed the hostess to the table. “You would indeed be correct, so thank you,” Hulang said at he began to scan the tables around. He had a particular system he relied upon when choosing a table to sit at when he had a choice, preferably a seat in which he could see the various avenues of entry in the corner of the room. And this is what he did, moving to a table in the corner where he took his cake and sat down. “Thank you” he said to the hostess in Rietumish, before noticing Kazou was about to take his seat. “Uncle, go somewhere else. I wish to be alone.”

Kazou froze as he listened before obeying his master’s command. “As your wish, your perfection,” he responded as he took his drink to a seat elsewhere in the room, somewhat buffered it seemed. Hulang did not trust his family on the basis that they were his blood but rather that he saw them as a den of vipers. He kept them at arm's length whenever he could so that he could not be poisoned by their venom. And so Hulang sat there, slowly eating his cake as he looked over the Rietumish city through the windows at night, longing for sleep at his thoughts slowly tired.

The hostess closely watched the Akai interactions with some curiously, finding the strange looking Akai to be of deep interest of the Committee for State Security. ‘Keep eye on them,’ her tall, portly, and clean shaven CSS handler told her before the Akai arrived. ‘Watch everything, listen to whatever you can pick, and tell me about what you can make of their body language.’ She stood patiently in the corner of the empty bar, her arms behind her back as she waited to offer any assistance to the hotel’s esteemed guests. As Hulang appeared to be finishing his beverage and food, she approached him and asked: “It seems that you’re almost done. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Aside from peace in Arcologia, a trustworthy Gentry and a fully clothed Edomite, I am fine thank you,” Hulang responded with a tired sarcasm in his voice, not bothering to face the girl and instead casting a glance with his left eye. He had been watching everything around him with his usual paranoid keenness, and the man talking to er all but confirmed his suspicions. He was more than exhausted at this point but he could not let his guard down. Not in the slightest. Weakness is the first step towards disgrace. He turned his head to fully face her, and slowly arose from his seat. “I would wish to be taken to my room now, should it be possible. I imagine tomorrow shall be just as busy.”

“Certainly,” she said somewhat taken aback by Hulang’s sarcastic response. She nodded and proceeded to gesture for the Akai to follow her to his room for the night. There footsteps echoed through the empty hotel, which was evidently being run by a skeletal staff during the duration of the Akai’s visit. Their walk to the room was silent as the hostess wasn’t particularly willing to prey into Hulang’s personal life as she was instructed and get another curt, sarcastic reply. The hostess led Hulang into a golden, gaudy elevator, which subsequently ascended them to the top floor. Through the elevator, she showed him to the Presidential Suite. “Your room, your perfection,” she began as they reached the door leading into his room. She unlocked a large, grandiose door with her equally grandiose key and handed it to Hulang. “If there’s anything I can get for you, please let me know.” she added, gesturing with her hand towards the suit’s phone.

Tasteless as a piece of concrete, and just as foul the Ditu thought as he examined the gold which seemed to permeate every aspect of the area. If there is one thing he hated about Rietumimark it was its seemingly lack of taste of decency among its architects. Of course I own the only other building in this country not to either be a communist block or a monument to party egos. “I would like some cold water, preferably in a bottle which I can drink without it pouring all over me while I sleep,” Hulang responded to the girl’s inquiry. “Preferably a large amount, to last the night. Is there a toothbrush and toothpaste inside?” He inquired this as he unlocked the door with the key and opened it with caution, waiting to see where he will be sleeping.

Following a seeming obsession with the colour gold, the Presidential Suite's interior was a tasteless and vulgar room, huge in size and garish aesthetics. The suite had the appearance of trying to be crude interpretation to that of the palaces of Ghish and Rome, with the ceilings being painted a combination of gold and white, with the crown mould a slightly darker shade of gold - goldenrod almost . The walls there the colour amber, while the carpet was a glaring chartreuse; all of which was topped off by saffron coloured light figures, furniture, and bedding. “Of course, your perfection. I’ll get right on that.” she briskly replied to his first inquiry, before shifting her attention to his second question. “There’s several clean toothbrushes and toothpastes of every flavour imaginable in the bathroom. Is that all?”

Gods it continues in here as well, Hulang thought studying the the room, with almost visible scorn as his guard slowly faulted. At least with this much gold, I will know when the sun has come up. He began to search for a cupboard and upon finding it opened it, and began to try and find somewhere to store his clothes. He took off his wonderfully detailed and ornate silk zhongshan, undoing its buttons at the front. This was then followed by him removing the equally detailed and yet entirely hidden undershirt, which covered both his arms and his abdomen, revealing both the full body covering extent of the faint scarring and the Ditu’s elegantly athletic physique. The Ditu thought to himself one last thing to ask… wait she is still there isn’t she - you should be more cautious than this, recalling the presence of the girl at the door to which he turned around and asked with his sword still at this side, “please may you inform my staff to bring my clothes and equipment for tomorrow thank you.”

“Definitely, your perfection,” the hostess replied quickly, attempting to get a better look into what he might have been doing inside his hotel and what thing the Ditu may have accidentally left for a prying eye to see. “I’ll get your glass of water and inform your staff of your instructions. I am glad to help.” she said promptly disappearing to carrying his directions.

With this Hulang began to make his final preparations for the day as he finished undressing himself and entered the bathroom, after placing his sword carefully on some of the furniture in its sheave. He began to run the bath as he locked the door behind him. He enjoyed the more personal nature of him setting up the bath, deciding not to use the shower as he let it bubble up, watching it on a throne of a different nature. He could hear the quiet footsteps of the eunuchs, preparing his room all the while he submerged himself into a field of bubbles far too tall in nature and let his flesh absorb the faintly steaming heat of the water. He thought on the matters at hand tomorrow, his tour of Deweden and hopefully his potential success there. His mind as he further submerged began to focus on Amelia how she must have been feeling knowing that this crisis threatens her family, a thought Hulang sympathised with. Then Jocasta and how she must have been wondering at least once about her friend in Rietumimark. Hulang valued both alliances equally and desired to merge them both when he could. And then to his half-sister Lilisi who remained in Ghish, a potential hostage should things go sour. He contemplated on this and more as he emerged from the water, his colourless flesh turned a vibrant shade of rose by the heat. He took a towel and wrapped it around him after drying himself, then brushing his teeth for five minutes. After removing the towel, he approached his bed bare and decided to remain under its comfortable sheets for the remainder of the night until awoken.

The sun had barely raised above the horizon when a convoy of two simple looking vehicles silently approached the hotel, pulling up at the entrance of the lobby. An uniformed and tough looking CSS agent climbed out of the passengers side front seat and walked briskly to the reception. With haste, the Andris Ozoliņš Hotel Slapjšzemesgrad’s staff informed Hulang’s staff to make the necessary preparations for his departure and with lighting efficiency. Once Hulang and his uncle were both dressed and ready to leave, the pair were escorted out to the hotel and to the convoy by last night’s hostess - who looked considerable more bedraggled and tired than when the Akai last saw her - almost as though she’d been up all night. The hotel was dead quiet, only the dull hum of the AC filling the air as they strode through the massive building and eventually finding themselves at the lobby’s entrance and the convoy waiting for them. Hulang and his uncle were each given a vehicle to take them to the back to the airport where it all began and onwards to the Autonomous Republic of Deweden. The drive there way fairly straightforward and brisk, arriving at the airport only twenty or so minutes after setting off from the hotel. Upon their arrival, the Akai were briskly hushed into a reinforced Tu-134 coupled with an escort of zveno of half-dozen MiG-29s. The inside of the Tu-134 had been refurbished considerably to be fit for someone of Hulang’s title; although it was noticeably less ostentatious than the Presidential Suite at the hotel. It was tastefully designed, clearly aimed to be to provide comfort for its occupants rather than show off the Party's wealth or someone’s echo.

Through heavy cloud cover, the city of Deroburg emerged - giving the Akai Ditu a bird’s eye view of the city which had forced his trip to Rietumimark. The de-facto division of the city into the wealthier Rietumish south and the much poorer Dewedish north was glaring evident by the how transpicuous the northern quarter of the city was in comparison to the south. For as far as the eye could see, dilapidated or even completely destroyed structures littered the Dewedish part of the city, the scares of the three month bloodbath of the costly Battle of Deroburg. Such inequalities were only emphasised by the ‘peace walls’, which partitioned the city and whose barbedwire seemed to gleam as it caught the early morning light.

The Tu-134 circled the city several times over a few minutes, before making its descent and gently landing at Deroburg Revolutionary Air Force base. In spite the tense geopolitical situation in the Autonomous People’s Republic of Deweden, the air base was remarkably quiet, far from a busy military installation preparing for an invasion - more than likely, as with every location Hulang had visited in Rietumimark, it had probably been cleared before the Ditu’s arrival. Once the aircraft had land and Hulang exited the airplane, he was greeted by Belinda and a fireteam of four heavily armed men from Rietumimark’s elite Special Operation Force. “Hello, your perfection,” she began calmly, carefully adjusting her bullet proof vest. “It is wonderful to see you again. I trust everything went smoothly and without incident.”

Hulang and Kazou had been mostly preoccupied with their own affairs for the majority of the time travelling, with Kazou recovering from what seemed to be either the best hidden hungover possible or severe sleep deprivation. His manners were all perfect as always yet he seemed somewhat faded. He had seemingly been reading a report although the young Ditu wondered how much attention he would have been paying. Hulang had mostly enjoyed his rest, needing little sleep to be properly functional in nature. He thanks to the efforts of presumably quite section of eunuchs he awoke to find the imperial clothes of the Ditu awaiting him. It was the Dragon robes which awaited him, a black set of silk robes which contained well hidden armor. It was typically Lazin in design. It had this tastefully decadent amount of ornate embroidery, gold coloured silk depicting the ouroboros dragon of his own wen sigil which surrounded the Lazin’s own sigil; this featuring prominently on his chest. Flowing from this were silver depictions of fiery solar patterns giving each a celestial appeal to the dragon. Combine this with the smaller wens of the kingly clans, in awe of the Ditu seemingly. This sun which radiated across his crest contrasted deeply with the black silks which seemed to almost devour the light, with dark crimson patterns covering the piece. His shoulders were surrounded in a particularly impressive cloak which was much to his discomfort made from especially burdensome with a kevlar, carbon silk composite being the main composition of it. It was simply jet black, and covered his full-shoulder pauldron from which a medallion depicting his monogram hung. And to top it off he wore his mask, ever impervious and ethereal looking. He looked like an emperor, a king in black. The contrast from yesterday must be shocking. Kazou on the other hand wore a Prussian Blue Navy trenchcoat, one which seemed quite useful given the weather here and his own mask. He had brought four of his own best Riyeskonsu including their Anyingguan commander to escort him. He approached Belinda with a steely gaze but greeted her favorably: “It is a pleasure shared,” Hulang explained sharing his introduction, proceeding with a lack of cynicism and hint of optimism. “The night was most pleasant although I do think in future some cooperation between our staff could sort out some clothing when I go to my castle. Please to tell the servant girl that she performed most admirably,” Hulang said, innocently unaware of the implications of one his terms. “Anyways what shall the agenda be for today and where is Emily for that matter?”

‘servant girl that she performed most admirably’...I didn’t expect that Hulang would be one to want her to perform that kind of task, she thought with an internal smirk - remaining ever vigilant about retaining her deadpan exterior. “Certainly, your perfection. I suspect that she would be glad to hear that.” she said amicably, taking note of his use of cynical and a slight hint of sarcasm tone to his voice. “Today’s agenda won’t be as busy as yesterday’s, particularly because of the unstable security situation. Firstly, you’ll be touring the city in an armoured convoy, seeing the sights and sounds of what these terrorists have done; followed by an inspection of a hastily improvised refugee camp - accompanied by a media team which film the whole occasion. Once completed, it’s been arranged for you meet with several senior local officials - a PR exercise really - before returning to the capital for some rest and leaving for the Dewedish Authority.” she explained breathlessly, before quickly adding: “As for Emily, I believed it to dangerous to travel to the Autonomous People’s Republic and thus, decided for her to stay in the capital.”

Hulang nodded in response to Belinda’s explanations of the affairs of the day with considerable attentiveness. He wondered how he appeared to Belinda and how he would appear to the peasants which occupied the standard population of this area. He did pity them but held a special distaste for the cruelty of the rebels. “I thought the city was pacified. Surely armored convoys like this would be unnecessary then? I’d understand if it is just a precaution but it seems to contradict previous information relied to me,” he explained. “Aside from that I am fine with this routine, I want to create images which can be used to create a favorable image of myself here, one which can be used to undermine Starl. I checked the polls the other day, the war is 30% support for the war if they are correct. It gives us a stronger position to give myself a good image, one of a hero. That and it gives you extra profit when you sell the rights to the footage.” When he heard about Emily there was a sense of disappointment to his voice in his response, “That is… disappointing. I quite enjoyed her assistance yesterday. Alas I can understand why you made that decision.” Before departing the plane he turned to Belinda again and told her: “I should mention, I am probably more protected than you in this and my guards are similarly well equipped. Do not worry for my safety should these dangers remerge.”

“While the city has been pacified, there’s remains the ever present threat of sleeper cells and lone wolves who continue to linger in and around the city. Whilst it can be seen as excessive, the protection of your persons while you remain in Rietumimark is my utmost prioty. The terrorists, we suspect, would make an attempt on your life should an opportunity arise, both to undermine Rietumimark’s reputation and sour relations between our two countries. I am not sure if you are aware, but Lazins’ aren’t popular in these parts and there are a great many person who may try and assassinate your perfection if given the chance. I’m not 100% about the phrase, but better ‘safe than sorry’ as they say.” she said not now taking it the Ditu’s choice in clothing, which, to her at least, overtop for touring a backwater like Deroburg and its motley occupants. “That’s excellent to hear, let’s hope they listen to their people for the sakes of the millions of people who live in the Dewedish Authority and the Autonomous People’s Republic of Deweden. In anycase, is there anything else you would like to know before we begin?”

“There is not,” the Ditu slightly responded as he made the first few steps into this strange and brutal land which awaited him.

“Excellent, let us press on,” Belinda said, gesturing for the Akai to follow her. Thus, this strange mix of more minimalistically dress Rietumish and exquisitely put together Akai strode through the deserted air base and eventually making their way to the aforementioned convoy waiting at the base’s entrance. The convoy was made up of mostly western NCTO armoured personnel carriers and humvees which were captured following the annexation of the former ‘Restored Tsardom of Rietumimark’ or South Rietumimark and were common among a select few the Revolutionary Guard units tasked with defending the regime from internal threats. Once everyone was seated in their respected humvees, the convoy set off through the final checkpoints for Deroburg.

The vehicles followed a neglected country road commonly used a Revolutionary Armed Forces to ferry troops and supplies in and out of the air base for fifteen minutes, before turning off the road and joining the main Deroburg-Slapjšzemesgrad motorway which links the two cities. The roadway leading into Deroburg was quiet and empty of any vehicles - civilian and military alike - no doubt cleared beforehand, during the preparations for the Ditu’s arrival. The roadway leading out of Deroburg, however, was as busy as ever. Endless columns of supply vehicles buses and massive lorries choked the road, the chaos only being kept in check by a grim looking battalion of CSS MPs. For half-hour, the convoy sped along the roadway, being joined by half-dozen attack helicopters and accompanied by another half-dozen transport helicopters carrying members of the CSS elite Bruņinieks Spēks special forces; in the background, the deary city of Deroburg drawing ever closer with each passing minute.

Passing through the final checkpoint, the convoy entered Deroburg proper. The city looked, as one would expect of settlement in an active war zone, a bleak and rundown city - congested with people as far as the eye, many of them internally displaced. Impromptu market places and mini-tent cities filled any large, open space, whilst the heavy presence of CSS agents and internal security forces hovered menacingly over the populace. This pitiful sight continued without end as they convoy toured Deroburg. And yet, through all this misery, the glimmers of the Party elite’s luxury shone through. Huge, fancy apartments towered over the boxy, poorly built flats, expensive restaurants and shopping centres were littered throughout the city, often being cordoned off from the general population to enjoy and at times faring the scares of the recent riots. Eventually, after another forty minutes of driving around Deroburg under the close observations of the city’s security services - the convoy pulled up at a refugee camp hurriedly put together at a what could only have been former train station.

As the convoy came to a halt at the camp, an immense horde of people poured out of their tents and gathered at the entrance to catch a glimpse of the Ditu. The substantial presence of CSS MPs, local police, members of Dewedish Protection Corps, and active duty soldiers of the Revolutionary Army. They promptly held back the swarm of people as the Hulang and his entourage climbed out of their vehicles. A media team from the regime’s Rietumish People’s News Agency, sprung into action when they arrived, filming the Ditu and his uncle closely as they entered the sprawling camp under heavy armed guard - although the guards were to be edited out. The grim smiling faces of the internally displaced met Hulang as they gazed upon him rather incredulously and curiously - staring in bemusement at his strange choice of clothing.

Hulang seemed almost entirely unphased at the sight of such desolation laid bare before him, lacking neither horror or disgust. Instead he was more curious about it, increasingly obsessed and drawn to the chaos. He saw the various camps of people like a colonial adventure would observe animals in the dark continents of Akai and the Shrailleen islands. He then turned his attention to the various CSS guards and watched them with concern, as did his own men from behind their anachronistic armor. Yet there was one thing that did cause great annoyance to the Ditu and that was the architecture that which remained seemingly intact and unscathed, the party’s tasteless palaces of un-proletarian hedonism. Oh how he loathed it all, the mockery of everything that the revolution stood for, the hypocrisy of it all. He gave no signs of his distaste but yet it lingered in his mind. And then as he exited the vehicle, he grasped his swords in each hand arising from the vehicle without assistance - purposefully standing in a position where he could examine the crowd. His uncle kept in the back, while his guards hid their weapons to look discrete. The Ditu looked regal, imperial, yet still in a manner alien to the people here. Yet he smiled upon realising their reaction to his choice of clothes, whether it was confusion or curiosity he did not care. He had their attention, and that is what he needed. He began to approach, offering a simple and swift royal wave to them as his hand emerged from underneath his cloak - his steps calculated to bring him at a reasonable level of closeness to look at the crowd while being out of reach. He then using his very capable Dewedish introduced himself in a reasonably loud voice to the group before him, “People of Deweden, I am Ditu Hulang. It is a pleasure to be here however I just wished that it could be in better times.” I have an idea… he thought to himself as a devious internal grin floated in his head.

The crowd was visibly to be taken aback by Hulang fluency of their native tongue, quite clearly not expecting Hulang to have such advanced knowledge of the Dewedish language. There were all caught hanging on every word, deeply curious what this strange looking and dressed man had to say. Sensing this, Belinda turned to Hulang and said: “Is there anything you would like to say to these people who’d suffered such horrors at the hands of the rebels?” If he says yes, it would make an excellent PR opportunity she thought to herself as she waited for his reply.

Hulang seemed more than pleased with the response he was getting, he expected they might be angry to see the foreign monarch that had helped condemn for so long. Instead, they seemed intrigued, eager to hear his words in their tongue. The grin underneath his mask was a delicious one, he enjoyed the power he was about to wield with only words. He did not turn away from the crowd as he listened to Belinda, only whispering quietly, “Yes... they shall hear.” He then looked around and prepared a more booming voice. “People of Deweden, I come here not as a foreign weakling who shall watch as the horrors of the day to continue, to spectate as a coward on the sides. I come here as the man who will forge the peace, one permanent and strong — not another ceasefire in between brutality. I look around and see the consequences of this pointless chaos when a solution has stared us in the face.” He began to raise his arm outwards from underneath his cloak again, “I see it all. I want to give you the opportunity of peace, for stability. I see ruins here instead of a city full of history and prosperity. I want to give you an opportunity to see a way forwards, instead of suffering at the hands of those who would rather slaughter kin for a piece of land.” He then raised both of his hands outstretched, using them to emphasise his words and sentences, like a Roman orator of old, his voice driving forwards a sense of increasing energy controlled and formal in its composure. But this was not the climax - yet retaining the proper form of a monarch. “Yet there are obstacles ahead, like those who value the land you stand upon more than your lives. They are selfish demons, those whom history shall condemn but you are cursed to endure. I WILL END THEM… So that you shall know peace and freedom. Let me tell you now, there is a plan devised to grant you, your families, your grandchild whether born or not, a home which is safe and secure. A new future awaits you all. No more shall you suffer here, not more! I will do everything in my power to make sure this happens, and if it is delayed, it is halted, if it stopped, know this. I shall stand against those who prevent it, whether they he the war hungry Starl who values you less than the dirt and rubble you stand upon or the Gentrys in Ghant who feel the same!” He then began to raise his hands. “I shall help guide you to this future, know that. I do not wish to let you down either and I will use every measure to secure this. Let my words give you hope, let them illuminate a path forwards! And know this if it gives you that glimmer of hope, this bit of evidence that I do care I... ended... Jokūbis Astrauckas’ rule here! He shall rule over you no more! Let us march together towards a brighter future!” Hulang’s hands were both now raised at head level, having finished in speech in his low booming voice, being careful to make the crowd electric and to push forth this vision onto them. Now let’s see how this goes over…

The end of his speech was greeted by an overwhelming applause and cheers from the crowd of refugees, cheers echoing out across the street - the crowd lapping in it up almost too much, as though they had no choice in the matter. Best we move along before Hulang gets any ideas, Belinda thought to herself as she began to usher the Ditu along. From there, Hulang was shepherded from one pre arranged feel-good photo op to another, all designed shine the Ditu in the brightest of light. Often depicting him doing noble things such as feeding malnourished refugees in drabby clothings or distributing clothing to cute looking children under the age of five. Once they’d taken all the pictures and everyone was happy with the end product, Belinda swiftly hushed the Akai out of the refugee and back to the convoy; which, at posthaste, barrelled towards the next stage of the Ditu’s visit to Deroburg.

[North Rietumimark]

The convoy surged through lightly congested the streets, aheading south towards the so-called ‘green zone’ - a fourteen-square-kilometre area located in the centre of southern Deroburg, where the city’s administrative buildings were headquartered. The district was physically cutoff from the rest of the city by a 50 metre tall wall which surrounded the entire area. It was protected by a detachment of CSS agents and Republican Guard soldiers - all of whom manned the four checkpoints leading in and out of the green zone and had strict orders to shoot-on-site anyone who haven’t received approval directly from the major him or herself.

Entering the green zone was like being teleported to a completely different country thousands of kilometres away. Opulent shopping complexes, restaurants, living accommodations and even a relative large amount of vehicles - though they were mostly made up of 60s and 70s design and, probably, build. Pedestrians who filled the pathways took little notice as the convoy when barrelling towards the mayoral building which lied in the dead centre of the green zone; ultimately arriving at the mayoral building within half an hour. The vehicle for which Hulang pulled up at the at the entrance, where standing waiting for him was four elderly members of the Dewedish branch of the Rietumish Unity Party - each man greeting the Ditu with a smile.

Hulang’s response to the speech seemed at first almost artificial although he wondered whether there was appetite for such a thing. But before he could investigate his curiosity Belinda carefully whisked him away. Hulang found himself rather tired as he engaged in the various photo opportunities presented to him, almost humiliated by it. Yet he did enjoy looking after some of the smaller children, reminding them of his younger siblings Aboluo and Adimisi. He did take limited care of them in place of their often absent and increasing apathetic father Molxue - serving an almost fatherly role. I did bring the wrong clothes for this he had thought as he engaged in this. He would have to edit and select these images he knew, or at least have people do it. A part of him however appreciated it, and found that it could be if used tastefully a good sign of his kindness. When in doubt, trust in the Geluxu to edit it properly he thought. The Akai peasantry rarely ever saw the Ditu, instead his proxies usually served as his more seen presence. Informative videos that depicted him tended to be from official ceremonies and often marked with requests to bow heads in respect. After this he got ferried into the convoy once more, being taken to the next part of his trip. It turns out he would learn even more of the cowardice and decadence of the party as he would enter the green zone of Deroburg. He looked upon the checkpoint and its guards with a glance of respect but he found the grand wall which lay before him spoke of just how threatened the RUP was in the area. Yet instead of meeting himself with a fortress, he found an island of decadence, distraction and degradation once more. He noticed the pedestrians, the first he had seen in all of Rietumimark it seemed, and studied them and tried to deduce what each were doing as they made their way towards the mayoral building. Upon arrival he did exit once more without the help of his associates while Kazou took some help in exiting from the luxurious vehicle. Hulang took a glance at Belinda and turned his head towards her, “Who are these men? Mandarins of your government here I imagine?” he inquired whispering his words. Regardless he approached them, his mask hiding his expressionless face with only his eyes serving as a hint. “Thank you for your welcome, I am His Perfection Ditu Hulang I Lazin, I assume you must be some of Mayor Jokūbis Astrauckas former assistants or associates,” hinting at his fate. “I also assume you may have heard about what happened to him? And may I request we move inside?”

“To an extent. These men are the ranking members of the Central Planning Committee of the Autonomous Republic of Deweden. Indeed, they are some of the most powerful men in this godforsaken wasteland.” Belinda whispered into the ear of Hulang, taken aback that he didn’t already know who them men are. It seems that my Committee for State Security Counter-Espionage Directorate is doing a better job well beyond my expectations. “Unfortunately, I cannot join you for this part of the trip as there remains business to attend to following the change up in the mayor’s office, but I’m certain these fine gentleman will prove to be fine company.”

“Your perfection, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” said one of the four men, who appeared to be the leader and most senior of the group. He looked as though he have been in his late-seventies or his early eighties, with large, almost cartoonish moustache, sporting a heavily distended the portly belly and the nose of a heavy drinker. He was a tall, lanky man whose height was hidden by his constant hunching over, clad in his military uniform. “Let me introduce myself, I am Peters Vladis - Chairman of the Committee for State Security’s Autonomous People’s Republic of Deweden Directorate and member of the Central Planning Committee for the APRD. These men beside me are my fellow comrades who also retain seats on the Committee.” he explained as he struck his hand out to shake Hulang’s. “An excellent idea, please follow me.”

Hulang nodded upon listening to Belinda’s explanation, he generally speaking only bothered to learn the names of those who were relevant to him and while they might have appeared on the list, they were not names he recalled. Regardless, he only nodded and listened as Belinda once more departed to whatever was an issue. He turned to face the antiquated fellow before him and listened to his host, his eyes seemingly apathetic yet instead he paid intense attention. “It is a pleasure to meet you Chairman Vladis, something I must extent to your comrades.” He looked down at his hand presented and instead of raising his to accept, instead of his the guards put it down: “It would be uncustomary to to touch you, apologies, Akai culture can be quite bizarre on these areas. Anyways, please do lead in.”

How obnoxiously Akai, I forgot how insufferably superior Akai highborns hold themselves, old Vladis thought to himself, continuing to smile as he walked up the steps of the large mayoral building. “Silly me, in my old age, I totally forgot to recognise such tradition. That is what happens to you once you reach your twilight years.” Vladis said, attempting to make light of the blunder. “Please them me introduce you to my comrades, the man to my left is Sten Akls, the Chairman of the APRD’s Ministry of the Economy and Economic Success. To his left is Bendiks Blaus, the Revolutionary State Presidium of the APRD and finally to my right is Artjoms Cers, who is the Supreme Commander of the Dewedish Protection Corps.” Vladis explained, gesturing to each man he talking about at one time - each of whom were varying shades of gray, balding or completely bald and old enough to be Hulang grandfather or even great-grandfather.

If this is how is running Deweden no wonder they are so inept, a bunch of nearly blind senile old men. How marvellously in need of replacing. Hulang studied each of them and then greeted them as well in fluent Rietumish: “Chairman Akls, Mr Blaus and Supreme Commander Cers. I would like to inquire generally speaking how is the situation at the moment? Deroburg seems mostly pacified but how about the rest of the country?”

“The situation in the APRD has stablised significantly since the beginning of the uprising by the terrorists and, although their initial objective of putting pressure on Rietumimark through the international community has worked, it was a pyrrhic victory, has their riots flushed out most of their cells. Indeed, we estimate that somewhere between 50-75% of their senior leadership in the APRD’s major cities have killed or captured and their activity and capabilities across the board have been significantly eroded. The terrorists only posed a threat to our securities forces in the undeveloped and lawless eastern areas close of the Gentry-puppets Tsardom.” Commander Cers informed the Ditu, adjusting this half-moon spectacles which revealed his squinting, bleary blue eyes. “All major cities and towns and at least 70% of have been pacified - with the terrorists effective sandwiched in the mountainous and rural east - without the ability to resupply through Nekulturnya without having to travel through government-held areas.”

“Have you been killing these insurgent barbarians or just been pushing them back? And has this been confirmed? If we do not exterminate these vermin you are causing a problem for yourself latter when they reorganise, also have you evacuated the areas they are operating in? If not do it immediately, for then you have control over the civilian population and can investigate them in camps which are secure, controlled and it separates the barbarians from their potential allies. That and I’d also recommend creating an area of denial between the Nekulturnyan border just in case,” Hulang coldly explained as if he was reading from a book. “And this time do it quietly, we will assist in disinformation and information suppression if need be. We retain the capacity to perform this. Maintain a blackout so that the barbarian societies are not privy to our operations.” He listed off the orders in a methodological manner, adapting his marshal’s advice on the issue. He then paused before asking: “When would you expect Indulis, to become Mayor here you think? And would you be able to provide information about him to me?”

“We have of course been making sure to eliminate as many of those terrorist bastards as we can, however, to obtain information about the inner works of these barbarians does require for us to capture their leadership. Estimating the losses can be notoriously difficult and often unreliable, however the numbers I told you is what we can surmise from our spies operating among the terrorists.” Cers explained in his long and monotonous tone, feeling slightly irritated that a child decades his junior was telling him what he should do. “We already have a policy of removing civilians who told sympathies with the terrorist as part of our ‘four blows’ counterinsurgency doctrine - in which we attempt to deprive the terrorist of food, funds, intelligence and recruits by forcibly removing civilians residing in regions that the terrorists are active. In pursuit of that policy, we’ve made sure to prevent the terrorists from having any sort of land bridge with Nekulturnya to deprive them of necessary supplies to wage war. Akai support in such operations is greatly appreciated, and yet, I’ve already been quietly conducting such operations since the end of the Terrorist Uprising of 2004/05, having reduced the Dewedish population living in the APRD from 90% in 2005 to 55% according to our latest census. In fact, we believe, due to falling birthrates and immigration to other parts of Rietumimark or to the Dewedish Authority, that the Dewedish population will make up just 30% of the population by 2030.”

“Indulis?” Chairman Vladis inquired in a confused manner. “Did Comrade Chairman Belinda not already tell you before you arrived? Comrade Indulis is already here, briefing us on the events that occurred during the Central Planning Committee and that Indulis would be replacing Astrauckas and we were just discussing the details of the transfer of power?”

“Those were only suggestions, ones derived from our experiences with much worse situations, such as 1984 and the 1960s, which I was advised to recommend to you by my marshals,” Hulang explained, half lying about the exact details. With hearing about Indulis that the Ditu smiled underneath his mask underneath his face, exactly as planned. “That is excellent to hear but I was unaware of this state of affairs, it was one thing Comrade Chairman Belinda neglected to mention to me. Could I perhaps meet with him? And how are you finding him? Hopefully a superior replacement.”[/i]

Do you believe me to be an old man, incompetent and prime for replacement, boy?, Cers thought underneath an impassive look on his face. “I understand and excellent suggestions they were.” he said as they entered the mayoral building through a large pair of glass doors and into the lobby. “Indulis is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the arse Astrauckas - a vile, self-serving, nepotic man who cared only for enriching his own pockets and showed a disturbing willingness to turn a blind eye to crime or even engage in it. Indulis, on the other hand, has proved himself to be a highly competent and motivated to complete his task at hand.” he told Hulang, himself wondering why Belinda, who was usually so precise, forgot something so important. “In any case, please follow me, I’ll take you to see him.”

“It seems I am good judge of character then, to see this potential in him, and this degradation in the other” Hulang audibly mused, intrigued at how these buildings seemed to be different in character to the various garish and gaudy buildings in Slapjšzemesgrad, sleeker and more brutalist in character - ugly all the same just in a different manner. “Anyways please lead the way,” Hulang said following his guide to the office of his potential ally.

Cers nodded in acknowledgement and led the way through the structure towards the room in which Indulis was located. The interior of the mayoral building differed greatly from other structures Hulang had been, for while many of the buildings in the capital were often designed to show off the Party’s wealth, normally being brassy. The mayoral building, on the other hand, was cold and austere, dominated by windowless corridors and huge metal doors. After passing unabated by the various security checkpoints, they finally reached the conference room for which Indulis resided, passing flawless through the metal door which led inside. “Comrade Indulis, your perfection.” Cers said gesturing towards a standing Indulis.

Hulang found the room particularly interesting, as his eyes picked up the shift in architecture. He surely would not have had the time to refurbish this already, surely? Well it is just stripping it down… yet unless someone has done a good job this is likely to be constructed this way. “Mayor Indulis now I assume?” Hulang said introducing himself, “You mother neglected to mention your transfer here but thanks to comrade Cers and Chairman Vladis’ helpfulness I was alerted to your presence. Apologies for the delay in our meeting, could we please have everyone else outside?”

“Certainly,” Chairman Vladis said, nodding slowly as he and the rest of this comrade backed on of the conference room; exiting the room and promptly beginning to speculate about the strange circumstances of this meeting between the two. Whatever is going on between Belinda, Hulang, and Indulis - just keep me out of it. A man my age doesn’t survive this long by being political, he thought to himself as he joined his comrades in wandering down the corridor back to the lobby to get some coffee.

“Your perfection, it is a pleasure to meet you again,” Indulis said as he motioned with his hand for Hulang to take a seat at the head of the empty conference room table as he took a seat. “Don’t worry about bugs, I personally made sure to clear the room of any cameras or microphones before our meeting. In any case, what was you wanted to speak to me about?”

“It is a pleasure shared,” Hulang took a seat at the end of the conference table, taking a firm but slightly less formal position. Upon hearing about the bugs he laughed and asked: “So is that why this room does not look like a tasteless man’s palace? Or was that just coincidence?” He then continued: “You should borrow one of Belinda’s devices. They can be quite useful.” He then lost the slight humour he was able to indulge in, returning to a form of stoicism: “Anyways, I have a personal interest in you. You see my rhetoric about new leadership is not just all fluff and words, in fact I intended the vast majority of what I said. Now let me ask, what do you know of Kuaiyanzhuyi? I believe you are quite the fan correct?”

“Better safe than sorry. This place seems to full of vipers and I would prefer to keep this conversation between us rather than allow one of my rivals to overhear because of my laziness.” Indulis replied quite drily. “I know quite a bit about Jieke’s teaching and have studied it intensely during my younger years. Why do you ask?”

“Well you see, Akai… no I am hugely dissatisfied with the recent incompetence of the Rietumish Unity Party in leading the Ozolinsist Republic of Rietumimark. Crisis after crisis, I cannot afford to tolerate any more incidents from it as otherwise it will be the death of Akai one day and of Rietumimark. The fact that Rietumimark still holds to that decaying ideology of communism is hideously impractical and has probably lead to several nations like New Edom being interested in opposing you. Furthermore, a part of the reason for the military bases is to ensure that in times of war, we will not need to spend weeks traveling across the Tempesta.” Hulang paused after his little rant and then continued: “I want an ally which at the very least is tolerable for the rest of the world and is not a drain upon me. My father commented well upon you in his journals before he disappeared, ‘an ignored potential hero’ he described you as. And your behaviour, track record and ideology seems to indicate once your brother inevitably dies that you will be a worthy successor. Part of the reason why I got you this office is I wanted you to hold it to that end. Am I making sense so far?”

Indulis was at first shocked at what Hulang had told him, followed immediately by a deep sense of euphoria. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, in utter disbelief about the words being emitted from Hulang’s lips. For his entire life, everyone around him, except his dear wife, had put him down and told him he would never go anywhere in his life. And yet now, he’d just found out, the man who’d throughout his youth he had hero worshiped, not only viewed him in a positive light, but described him as ‘an ignored potential hero’. Only the birth of his daughter and marrying his wife could beat the feeling of elation at now. The unwanted youngest child of Ivan’s to potentially become the Paramount Leader, what are the odds. “You are making plenty of sense. The continued policy of the RUP espousing of communism no longer makes sense for the long term survival of Rietumimark in the face of so many enemies. Alas, that’s is happens when a nation becomes dominated by old men, out of touch with reality.”

“Indeed, there is a certain issue when a detached incompetence begins to infest systems, you would be ideal in leading reform, this being said I do not want you to… unnecessarily destroy and do what my father did was build, repurpose and reform. If there are gerontocrats in the way retire them one way or the other,” Hulang explained before leaning over and steepling on the table, his hands masking his mouth. I do like looking like father don’t I he thought to himself. He then somewhat awkwardly added: “I wish... also to add, that if could, please do take care of Emily. She does have considerable potential and could make a good associate… no protege. And you would be in a good position to exploit it.” The Ditu tried to hide his dissatisfaction in his voice as he became irritated with his poor addition. “Anyways, would you be open to such an option?”

“I concur, leaders who become out of touch with the common man and live in their own personal bubble surrounded by seedy, sycophants often end up in the pages of history. Immediately abandoning communism in the short term will be impossible. While there are a great many within the regime who’ve woken up and seen the light, too many remain stuck in the past and would violently oppose, at least for the moment, any sudden change to the system.” Indulis explained, rubbing his three day old stumble as he thought about what to say next. “Therefore, I agree with your ascertain that reforming Rietumimark rather destroying the elite will be the way to go. I’ll also make sure to make a point of putting young Emily under my wing and protecting from those who would do her harm.”

“Thank you, I do appreciate that greatly,” Hulang explained glad to get that out of the way. “I would like to ask of you, what intelligence do you have on the Dewedish government? And their current abilities? I want to diplomatically be able to destroy Starl and maybe even circumvent him. If possible. I will not be weak like my uncle.”

“From what we’ve been able to ascertain from a number of residencies, the Dewedish government is deeply divided between warmongering jingoists led by Starl and far more moderates led by Queen Annabelle. This division, I believe, with the proper pressure applied, could be exploited to further both of our interests. Militarily speaking, their armed forces will be the weakest link in an eventual conflict between CPO/NCTO forces and our own. While they do have a number of well equipped Brigade sized formations, most of their army will be made up of ill equipped conscripts who will need a lot of support from their allies to effective against the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Indeed, a one-on-one conflict between Deweden and Rietumimark would end overwhelmingly in favour because of that fact.” Indulis said with a extra spring to his speech. “If you’re interested, I can send you everything we have on Deweden’s military and economic abilities? ”

As Hulang listened he did so with a smile which was only indicative of his utter enjoyment of this whole game, he enjoyed briefings like these especially. He often pondered whether it was the joy of knowing how to compromise and break his enemy or the general satisfaction from the sense of duty he experienced. Yet now he focused on the matter at hand. “Wiring this shall be most appreciated by myself and my mother’s husband Censor-Marshal Molxue Woerjin. I think Annabelle will be my main target, I hear my uncle has been mostly dealing with Starl and had little success with him.” Hulang then arose from his chair. “It was quite marvellous to learn that my suspicions have been proved correct and for once positively so. Please do take care for yourself. Let this meeting be the spark of something greater. But now I must leave. Farewell” Hulang said as he then exited the room to be handled by who was waiting outside and for his eventual return to the capital. He had replaced his stoic exterior with an equally constructed but authentic sense of youthful glory as he made his way outwards into this new world which awaited him.

“That’s excellent to hear, your perfection,” said Indulis, rising to his feet with a smile on his face. “I’ll wire you everything we have on the Dewedish Authority later on. Goodbye, Comrade Ditu.” he said as they parted ways, beaming from ear to ear. Outside the door, Chairman Vladis and his entourage had returned from the lobby with small cups of coffee in there hands, having been talking to Hulang’s uncle about miscellaneous subjects. They snapped to attention once the Ditu exited the conference and the entourage waiting for him pressed on with the tour of the mayoral building. Once everything was said and done, the Ditu was whisked away back to Slapjšzemesgrad and then onwards to Deweden.