“Alright, let’s get started! Toward the formation of the World Union!”

Including Kamil, the EU delegation members exchanged greetings and handshakes one after another.

There were representatives from many other countries as well, but with nearly a hundred of them, they were waiting in the adjacent large conference room.

Here, Kamil, as the top representative of the EU side, sat across the table from Xuanwu, the top representative of the Asia Union side.

“Allow me to introduce myself once more. I’m Kamil. Feel free to take my words as those of the EU. Time is of the essence right now.”

Kamil rushed through his self-introduction, urging things along.

He was a bespectacled man in his late forties, a capable diplomat who held the top position in EU politics.

“Indeed, time is short. Just one week, after all. That’s the only window we have before that country strikes.”

Xuanwu began to speak.

The world knew.

That the Earthguard Empire was deciding its next emperor through a martial festival called the Empire Sword Martial Festival.

And that the battle was underway right now, with Road’s knight and Odin’s knight locked in a duel to determine the emperor.

“Odin, who declared war on our Asia Union, and…”

“Road Earthguard, who wiped out nearly half of our country. Whichever one becomes emperor, it’s the worst outcome. Odin might be slightly more tolerable, but Road Earthguard is a true monster.”

The two representatives nodded in agreement.

Time was running out. That’s why they had hastily arranged this meeting, skipping years of negotiations to make a decision with just the representatives.

“Then, as stated in the documents, could you confirm once more? The Asia Union desires merger with the EU.”

Kamil brought up the main topic.

Hearing this, Isshin and the others nodded, and Xuanwu spoke up.

“Regarding that, the Asia Union has passed a resolution and made its decision. We welcome all nations belonging to the EU as comrades in the Asia Union.”

Hearing that answer, Kamil stood up and offered a handshake.

“Then!”

“Yes. As of today, the Asia Union will change its name. Through merger with the EU, it will become the World Union!”

“Thank you, Xuanwu! This will save the world from a future dominated by that empire!”

The two representatives clasped hands firmly.

Thus was born a massive union nation that surpassed even the Earthguard Empire in land area.

The goal of both nations was singular.

“Defeat for Earthguard!”

A counterstrike against the world’s largest monarchical state, the Earthguard Empire.

A united front against the existence of a single emperor seeking to dominate the billions of people on this planet.

The World Union was born.

But there was one more item on today’s agenda.

That was why they had urgently gathered the representatives for this meeting.

“Up to this point, it’s all as written in the documents. But now that the Empire Sword Martial Festival has begun, it’s time to switch to the offensive. That country will surely launch a war against us. There’s no reason not to strike now while they’re vulnerable.”

Xuanwu’s proposal was this:

“And we’ve already chosen our target. We will reclaim occupied Japan with the World Union forces.”

“What!?”

Kaguya leaned forward upon hearing that.

Isshin tried to calm her down, but he himself was tense inside.

After all, this had only been decided last night.

The World Union’s first military deployment.

That the target country was Japan was something the EU side hadn’t been informed of yet.

“Japan… May I ask the reason?”

“Of course, Isshin. Come forward.”

“Yes.”

Isshin stepped forward at Xuanwu’s call.

He stood beside Xuanwu and made eye contact with Kamil.

“He is Japan’s representative. Isshin Kurokami. A former general of the Japanese military and the leader of the largest resistance group, ‘Amaterasu’.”

“I’m Isshin Kurokami. Pleased to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine!”

Kamil and Isshin exchanged bows.

“There are several reasons, but the primary one is geography. That country is surrounded by sea, making it hard to attack but easy to defend.”

“I understand that, but… I see. It’s precisely because of the current timing.”

“Yes. Right now, with the Empire Sword Martial Festival underway, they’ll be sending a large force to invade Japan. With the emperor absent and their chain of command in disarray, it will be difficult for the empire to respond.”

Xuanwu’s proposal targeted the emperor’s absence during the Empire Sword Martial Festival.

Currently, Odin was in command, but during the festival, neither Odin nor Road would take command.

Taking command meant leading that war, effectively holding the same authority as the emperor until the war ended.

Neither would allow the other that.

So, they would prioritize deciding the emperor, even if it meant abandoning Japan.

That’s why a lightning-fast invasion was necessary.

Taking preparations into account, execution would be:

“At dawn on the day of the Empire Sword Martial Festival, we launch.”

“I see. If we can take that country, it will become the greatest natural fortress in the upcoming war against the Earthguard Empire.”

Kamil agreed with the plan.

“And the primary goal of our union is the downfall of Earthguard. To that end, liberating all the occupied Special Districts 1 through 13 is key. So why not start from District 13 and work our way back? With a Japanese man like him, we have the justification.”

“Justification… A convincing reason to sway the people. But this is crucial. The citizens will accept it too. This isn’t a war of invasion, but one of liberation—for independence.”

Kamil was convinced.

In addition to the geographical factors, it was a battle they could frame as a war of liberation.

“Then, today, we’ll take a resolution among the World Union representatives. Is that alright? The justification is right here.”

Xuanwu proposed taking the resolution.

“Of course.”

Seeing Kamil nod, Xuanwu shifted his gaze to Isshin.

“Then, Isshin. I have a request for you. You’re the perfect man for the job. That’s why I called you here.”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

The meeting flowed seamlessly to a close, and they moved to the large conference room.

Xuanwu, Kamil, and Isshin ascended the stage.

The representatives from each country watched with bated breath.

Over two hundred representatives had gathered—royalty, presidents, prime ministers from nations large and small.

Xuanwu opened his mouth.

“I will now announce the decision we just made. Our Asia Union and the EU have agreed to join hands and stand against the Earthguard Empire.”

“That means…”

A murmur rippled through the venue.

They were aware of what would be decided today.

But whether it would actually be finalized remained uncertain until this very day.

“In other words, as of today, we become allies. Our ideologies, cultures, political systems, and economies differ. Some of us have clashed in the past; others have had loved ones taken. I understand there are still grudges. But right now, we stand at a precipice.”

“The greatest and worst enemy seeks to dominate the world, to conquer us and the world through eternal subjugation. But we will resist! With this unprecedented massive union state unlike any in human history!”

Xuanwu raised his fist high and declared boldly.

“Here and now, I declare the establishment of the World Union!”

The representatives from every country rose as one, applauding and celebrating the decision.

“And today, as the World Union, we will hold our first resolution. Now, for the explanation of the first agenda item.”

Xuanwu called someone to the stage.

All eyes from around the world turned to Isshin.

Isshin took a deep breath, steadied himself, and began to speak slowly.

To pour out everything he felt without holding back.

“I am Isshin Kurokami. A Japanese man.”

The venue buzzed as Isshin took the stage.

A man from a nation already destroyed.

“Six years ago, my country was invaded by the empire. Without just cause, simply to expand their territory. Our people were trampled, and my family was killed. My wife, my sister, my son… And the nation called Japan ceased to exist.”

“Tens of thousands, millions of citizens died, and the survivors were mostly dragged off to the Earthguard Empire as slaves, enduring lives worse than death even now.”

“I am a soldier. I was prepared to fight and to die. But they slaughtered people who couldn’t even fight back, taking everything without regard for children or women. After our defeat, in the face of aimless rage and despair, I even considered suicide many times.”

“But what held me back was one single thought. The survivors—my subordinates, and the citizens still suffering. And…”

Isshin looked at Kaguya.

“This girl. My one remaining family. Now counted among Asia’s Thirteen Gods, my proud, beloved daughter. For all Japanese people, I want to reclaim Japan. I want to take back a future where these children can live and laugh!”

“Father…”

“What I’m telling you is the past. A hell I witnessed with my own eyes, without a doubt. But it’s becoming the present and the future. They seek to conquer the world!”

Many had seen Odin’s speech.

The speech where Odin brazenly declared he would dominate the Asia Union lingered in their minds.

“That’s why!”

Isshin’s heartfelt cry echoed through the venue.

“We must resist! We can’t even imagine the misery our defeat would bring to the world! Fight! Not by waiting, but for freedom!”

“The World Union has been established today. Never before in human history has such a massive organization existed. This power can surely topple that empire!”

The eyes of the representatives gradually changed.

They understood what Isshin was proposing, and their hearts turned toward it.

“That’s why my first agenda item for the World Union is the reclamation of Japan!”

Isshin bowed his head.

Having bared all the feelings locked in his chest.

The representatives stood and directed their applause toward Isshin.

Isshin descended from the stage, and Xuanwu took his place.

“We can do this. You from the EU should understand. You, who were born fighting for freedom! The meaning of battle, of resistance. The Asia Union’s will is already decided.”

At Xuanwu’s call, every member of the Asia Union stood.

They all looked toward the EU representatives.

In other words, the Asia Union fully supported reclaiming Japan.

And then.

“A surprise, isn’t it? Deciding the world’s fate right here and now… But it was decided the moment we arrived, Xuanwu.”

Kamil, the EU representative, stood slowly.

Though they had discussed it beforehand, now was the time for performance.

“The EU declares it will commit all its military might without reservation. That’s what the World Union is for.”

Following those words, all the EU representatives stood as well.

And Kamil looked at Isshin and bowed his head.

“Isshin, I offer my heartfelt respect to you who fought on for freedom—as a representative of a free nation, and as one man to another.”

Isshin bowed his head in return.

Kamil raised his head and declared loudly.

“Let us fight. For our freedom, and for the children of the future. And when we succeed, let us make that day a holiday and call it thus!”

Kamil smiled at Isshin.

“World Independence Day.”

Isshin deeply bowed to Kamil and couldn’t raise his head.

Though his face wasn’t visible, Kaguya saw tears falling to the floor.

“By majority approval! Therefore, World Union Resolution No. 1 is passed. The target is Japan. The objective is…”

Xuanwu declared boldly.

“The reclamation of Japan!”