Arthur leaned forward, grinning like a devil, his voice carrying across the entire chamber.
"Let's be clear about something—if any of you attempt to defy us and start hostilities, the only thing you'll receive in return is a much stronger anvil dropped on your territory."
The weight of his words settled over the room like a looming storm.
Silence.
Not the tense, furious kind. Not the kind where leaders argued back or tried to force a response.
No—this was dead, suffocating silence.
Even the most hard-boiled generals and diplomats hesitated, their minds racing through what Wallonia's response would actually mean.
And they knew the answer already—it would mean total devastation.
Then, in the middle of the tense standoff, a voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"The République de Frechen wishes to open formal diplomacy with the Wallonian Empire."
Every head in the room snapped toward the Frechen delegation.
The Frechenian representative—a sharp-eyed, impeccably dressed man named Jean-Baptiste Lavigne—stood tall, unshaken by the hostile glares of the other nations.
Frechenia—or rather, the République de Frechen—was a newly revolted republic, still at war with the Vistaran Empire and the Duchy of Murvacia. And more importantly—it was losing.
It was only a matter of time before the Müller Empire intervened to crush them completely.
Jean-Baptiste knew this.
That's why he bet everything on Wallonia.
If there was one nation that could guarantee Frechenia's survival, it was them.
A Shockwave Through the Tribunal
The moment the words left Jean-Baptiste's mouth, the entire tribunal hall exploded into chaos.
The Balerick Union's delegates went pale, the Gaion representatives looked furious, and the Przeskians nearly erupted into shouts.
The Müller Emperor, Friedrich IV, slammed his fist on the table.
"You DARE betray the established order?! Frechenia belongs to Murvacia and Vistara!"
Jean-Baptiste stood firm, adjusting his gold-embroidered navy-blue coat with an air of aristocratic defiance.
"Frechenia belongs to NO ONE. We will decide our own future."
Arthur and Erich watched the exchange with mild amusement.
Then, Arthur casually raised his hand.
"Alright, alright. Let's settle this right now."
All eyes turned toward him.
"Wallonia officially recognizes the République de Frechen as an independent and sovereign nation."
BOOM.
It was like a political earthquake had just struck the chamber.
Wallonia had just thrown their full weight behind Frechenia—in front of every major power in the world.
The Müller Emperor's face twisted in fury. "This is unacceptable! We demand the Frechenians return to their rightful rulers!"
Arthur grinned. "Or what?"
Przesky, Müller, and the Old Powers in Rage
The Przesky representative was practically shaking with anger.
"You are deliberately dismantling the world order!"
Erich shrugged. "No, we're just improving it."
The Müller Emperor rose to his feet, his voice filled with cold fury. "Wallonia is a threat to global stability. You cannot simply reshape the world as you please!"
Arthur leaned back, arms crossed. "Watch us."
The room erupted again, but this time—the power dynamic had completely shifted.
Wallonia had just created an alliance in front of the entire world, and they didn't even bother hiding it.
Balerick and Gaion were now scrambling, realizing that the political structure they had relied on for centuries was now falling apart before their eyes.
The Müller Empire and Przesky were enraged, but they were also trapped—any action they took now would mean open war with Wallonia.
And they all knew how that would end.
Arthur sighed dramatically. "Alright, I think we're done here. Frechenia, we'll be in touch. Everyone else—you know where we stand."
Erich smiled. "Meeting adjourned?"
Silence.
No one objected.
The world had changed in a single moment—and there was nothing the old powers could do to stop it.
The tribunal had descended into chaos.
Arthur and Erich had already made up their minds—this farce of a tribunal had no value to Wallonia. The old powers were foaming at the mouth, hostilities were already brewing, and there was no point playing along anymore.
So, before they could be dragged into any more pointless arguments, Arthur leaned forward, voice sharp and unyielding.
"We'll make this simple. We, as the accused, will make our final demands before we leave."
The room fell into tense silence.
Arthur continued.
"First—Wallonia and the République de Frechen will sign a formal defense and non-aggression pact. Any attack on Frechenia will be considered an attack on Wallonia."
A chill ran through the hall.
Frechenia, already a thorn in the side of the old monarchies, was now officially under Wallonia's protection.
That meant if Murvacia, Vistara, or Müller Empire moved against the republic—it would be war.
"Second," Arthur's tone darkened, "Wallonia will personally order an economic and military blockade against the Müller Empire and the Przesky Commune."
A single statement, but the weight of it was immeasurable.
The Müller delegation shot to their feet in outrage.
The Przesky representatives erupted into furious shouts.
Even the Balerick and Gaion delegations paled—they had relied on trade with Wallonia for critical resources.
With a blockade in place, the entire balance of power would shift.
---
The Collapse of the Tribunal
The anger in the room boiled over instantly.
The Müller Emperor, Friedrich IV, slammed his hands onto the table, eyes burning with rage.
"This is an act of WAR! You dare blockade us?!"
Arthur, without missing a beat, smirked.
"No, Your Majesty. It's just business."
The Balerick and Gaion delegates exchanged looks, their faces contorted with realization.
They knew—if they stayed any longer in this circus, they would be dragged into war too.
Almost in unison, the Balerick and Gaion delegations stood up.
"The Balerick Union dissolves this tribunal. We will not involve ourselves further."
"The Gaion Empire follows suit. This is no longer a civilized discussion—it's a precursor to war."
Friedrich IV's face twisted in disbelief.
"You would abandon the order we built?!"
"No," the Gaion delegate responded coldly. "The order has already collapsed."
Arthur and Erich exchanged amused glances.
The two largest economic powers had just walked away.
And that left the Müller Empire and Przesky Commune alone in their rage.
---
Müller's Final Gambit & Wallonia's Fury
But before Arthur and Erich could leave, the Müller Emperor snapped back into action.
With his face twisted in royal arrogance, he pointed a gloved finger at Arthur.
"Wallonians. You will retreat from this tribunal in 30 minutes. Leave and never return."
For the first time that day, Arthur's amusement vanished.
Silence.
A deep, suffocating silence.
Then—
A slow chuckle.
Arthur stood up, eyes glinting with barely concealed fury.
His voice was calm, measured—but deadly.
"I was going to leave quietly. But since you had the audacity to give me an ultimatum—let me give you one in return."
He glanced at Erich, who simply nodded.
Then, Arthur faced the entire tribunal.
"If the Müller Empire starts hostilities with Wallonia…"
He let the weight of his words settle.
"Then I will graciously bombard your empire. But not entirely—I still want a fight."
A deathly chill swept across the room.
The Müller Emperor's face paled.
The Przesky delegation, despite their hatred, looked uneasy.
They had just underestimated how far Wallonia was willing to go.
Arthur adjusted his uniform.
"Now, unless you have any more ridiculous demands—our business here is finished."
And with that—Wallonia had just sealed its next war.
As Arthur and Erich exited the Tribunal, they were met with a concerning sight—a massive military presence had formed around the Azimuth-class battleship.
Soldiers from the Müller Empire, Przesky Commune, and their allies had mobilized quickly. Hundreds of artillery pieces, dozens of old-model tanks, and thousands of rifles were all trained on the Wallonian warship.
It was a clear message—if Wallonia did not leave within the next eight minutes, they would force the issue.
Arthur and Erich exchanged glances, neither of them impressed.
"Seems they really are eager for war," Erich muttered.
Arthur smirked. "Not yet. But they're close."
---
The Frechenian Request
As the duo approached the massive boarding ramp, a delegation from the République de Frechen hurried towards them.
Their leader, a grizzled and sharp-eyed representative, stepped forward.
"Messieurs, we would like to request transport with you. Returning by land is far too dangerous with Müllerian and Murvacian forces everywhere."
Arthur, without hesitation, nodded.
"Of course, you're coming with us."
The Frechenian delegation looked surprised—they had expected some conditions, but instead, they were met with acceptance and friendship.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Arthur smirked as he led them up the ramp. "It's Emperor, but I'll let it slide."
Erich chuckled, "It's easier to work with allies than make more enemies, after all."
The Frechenians hurried aboard, just as the Azimuth's automated defense systems locked onto the surrounding threats—letting everyone outside know that any attack would be suicide.
---
A Deal for the Future
As soon as they reached the command bridge, the real discussions began.
Seated in the expansive briefing room, the Frechenians immediately brought up their concerns.
"We appreciate your protection, but Frechenia is still a weakened nation," the representative admitted. "If Müller or Murvacia invades, we cannot hold out."
Arthur leaned back, arms crossed.
"That's why we're giving you more than just protection. We're giving you power."
The Frechenians leaned in, intrigued.
"We're going to supply you with development, industry, and economic assistance," Arthur continued. "And as a gift, we're handing you a modern navy."
The room fell silent.
Erich pulled up a holographic display—the ship lineup filled the screen.
Modern Destroyers
Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carriers
Nuclear Submarines
Advanced Battleships
Missile Cruisers
231 ships in total.
Just 3% of Wallonia's naval strength, but for Frechenia, it was an overwhelming force—a navy that could outmatch most of the world's fleets combined.
And it was all being given to them.
"You'll have full logistical support until your industry can sustain itself," Arthur added.
The Frechenians were speechless.
"You would give us this… freely?"
Arthur grinned. "Call it an investment. If Frechenia rises, we both benefit."
The Frechenians knew immediately—this was not just a gift.
This was Wallonia putting its full weight behind them, making them an unstoppable force in the coming war.
---
A Final Glance at the Battlefield
With seconds left before their deadline, the Azimuth's engines roared to life.
As the massive warship lifted off, Arthur and Erich stood by the observation window, watching as the soldiers and tanks below gradually became smaller and smaller.
The Müllerians and Przeskians stood frozen, staring up at the departure of a vessel beyond their comprehension.
Arthur smirked one last time.
"We'll see you on the battlefield."
And with that, Wallonia had officially chosen its allies—and its next war.
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