Dark Fate, Chapter 206

Chapter 206 – Introduction

When we got to the Palacio de Las Garzas, which was the presidential office and residence, like the White House in the US, there were more officials, staffers, and bigwigs in a conference room, waiting for us. Not just bureaucrats, either, from the looks of things. Representatives from the Assembly were there, as well as more adventurers. Basically, a good helping of the people with actual power in the country, roughly thirty in all.

President Arnal took his place at the top of the table, as was his right since this was, literally, his house, and made introductions. Too many to list them all, but I recognized that these were the people I needed to bring on side to make this work well. Oh, I could just force things through, but that would send the wrong message, not just to the people in the room, but to the other countries that would be observing, and taking notes.

Once introductions were done, Arnal looked at the room, and said, “There’s no point in avoiding what we all already know, so let’s get into it. Panama as we know it was mortally wounded by the Initialization. You know it. I know it. The people know it. That we have staved off collapse this long is testament to the hard work of all of you, and others who have done the impossible. But there is no future in a slow decline to chaos.

“After taking the advice of many in government and the Assembly, as well as representatives from the adventurers, it was clear that we needed to join with a stronger power in order to survive. But who? Our neighbors are in much the same boat as us. There are scars throughout the region of US and European colonialism. And joining with countries like Russia or China would put us in the middle of a proxy war. So, who should we turn to? Then, Sra. Hyde brought up the possibility of Ceres, a new power without any of the cultural baggage the more established powers possess. I agreed with her, and so I directed Minister Cortés to contact the Kingdom of Ceres, and see about joining them.

“We were prepared to accept being folded into Ceres directly, and becoming a part of their country. To sacrifice our pride in order to ensure that our people prospered. However, King Greene offered another option. Taking inspiration from the British, Panama will join with Ceres to become the Ceresan Empire. I invite King Greene to explain what this will mean for us, going forward.”

I rose from my chair as Arnal turned the floor over to me. “I’m sure you all know of me, and how I don’t have much patience for pointless platitudes or flowery language for the sake of it. So, cards on the table. The reason we’re moving forward like this is because I’m looking to the future. Panama is the first country to ask to join with Ceres, but I seriously doubt it will be the last. As President Arnal said, your neighbors are in similar straits as you, and so they will be watching what happens here closely.

“That said, I intend to change Panama as little as possible, and only so much as is needed to operate as part of the greater Empire. I have no intention of being the next colonial overlord from far off lands. There will be changes, of course, but the day-to-day governance will be done by the Governor, appointed by myself, and local laws will be made by your National Assembly. Imperial Law will be the supreme law of the land, but anything under that is up to you, much as your territories acted with the national government before now.

“The first of these changes will be to the judicial system as a whole. Judicial dueling, and the ‘band’ system, as defined by Ceresan law, with a focus on the Black Zones, will be implemented, to help channel people’s violent impulses, giving them a legitimate outlet, rather than fostering dissent. Judicial slavery will be part of the law of the land, as well. Anyone who is dissatisfied with that point is free to tell me some way to keep a high Tier 2 individual in prison if they do not wish to be there that is not grossly expensive and wasteful of resources or utterly inhumane. There is a reason why it is the most common means of dealing with prisoners in the galaxy, with the next most common being some form of death penalty.”

I could see that no one looked particularly pleased by this, and some looked offended by the very notion, but no one was speaking out, just yet. “As far as nonconsensual, non-judicial or private slavery goes, whether it be for settling debts, breaking contracts, or anything else, it will be up to your assembly to set local laws for such things. The Kingdom of Ceres has its own laws on that, which you may choose to copy, or not, but those are the Kingdom’s laws, not Imperial law.”

A hand rose from the audience. One of the members of the Assembly, I believe. When I called on him, he asked, “What about taxes?”

“A good question, and one I was getting to. There will be an Imperial income tax of 10%, and a limit on National income taxes of a further 10% on all income, with no exceptions. The richest and the poorest pay their share. Even the Emperor pays his taxes. For the provinces and municipalities, they can charge sales taxes and other fees, as well as getting money from the national government, or the Imperial coffers through grants.”

I took a breath, and said, “However, Imperial citizens are guaranteed a certain standard of living while in Imperial territory. There will be a certain baseline for food, shelter, and so on offered to all citizens. It will not be luxurious, by any means, but it will cover the basics required for living. Those who want more than just what they need to survive shall have to work for it, but the Ceresan Empire will not have homelessness or starving children within its borders. At least, not once the infrastructure is in place.”

I saw a couple eyebrows raise at that. “Yes, infrastructure. There will be work for everyone, in the coming days. Efforts will be made to make safe the roads connecting the provinces, and transports are being brought in to connect the cities, but more will be needed, and is being planned. A network of teleportation platforms will be installed, first connecting every provincial capital to the nation’s capital, then connecting every city, village, and town within a province to the provincial capital. When that is done, Panama will be connected to a network which shall connect all the territories of the Ceresan Empire within the Solar System, allowing someone to walk from Panama City to the moons of Jupiter and beyond in moments.

“Trade is the lifeblood of any nation. Trade brings ideas from one place to another. Trade encourages the mixing of peoples and creeds, and makes a nation stronger than it would be otherwise. Trade also makes a powerful argument for others to join with us, and share in the prosperity it brings.”

I paused for emphasis, and then said, “But prosperity brings envious stares from those who would rather steal from others than build for themselves. It requires strength to protect it, and so Panama’s days of no longer having a military must end. The Ceresan Royal Army will have a base in Panama, and we will have squadrons of craft ready to help protect this land, and its people, from threats, both System-wrought and those caused by jealous rivals.

“One of the first pieces of Imperial Law to be initiated is a mandatory service requirement. Upon reaching the age of adulthood for their species, as defined by the System, everyone will be required to serve at least four years in the military, or eight years in a field supporting the common good, such as teaching, being a doctor, taking up work as an adventurer, and so on. We all remember the chaos of the Initialization. Nearly a quarter of the human race from the time before is dead. I will not say that everyone must be a fighter, for not everyone is cut out for military life. However, if you don’t want to fight, you must still contribute in some way, because the initialization was only the first crisis we must face, and threats like the Incux, or worse, are out there. We cannot be found wanting.”

Looking to the adventurers in the room, I said, “Changes will also come to the adventurers among us. The Ceresan Adventurer’s Guild will expand its operations, to cover Panama as well, offering organization, guidance, and resources beyond what you now have. Local guilds will form chapters of the national guild, which will all report to the Imperial guild. In the future, we will develop identification cards for adventurers, which will be accepted as valid identification anywhere within the Empire, encouraging adventurers to explore the different holdings the Empire has, or will gain in the future, with less bureaucratic headaches. I hope you all enjoy the prospect of exploring new dungeons in the future.”

I was about to continue when panicked shouting came from outside the room. Someone was demanding to be seen, while staffers were saying a meeting was in progress. But, apparently, it wasn’t something that could wait, as the door burst open, and a young man rushed in.

President Arnal rose from his chair, frowning. “What is the meaning of this intrusion?”

“Mister President!” cried the staffer, “It’s terrible! A monster has been seen approaching the canal from the sea! Reports say that it is a Giant Kraken!”

“What? How far away is it?”

“Twenty kilometers southwest of San Jose Island. A container ship spotted it, and called in the threat before they were destroyed. They said that the beast’s arms wrapped around the entire ship, and each one was as thick as four containers put together.”

I frowned slightly at that news. “If I may, President Arnal, a Juvenile Kraken is a Tier 1 monster. If an [Appraise] check came back with it being a Kraken, then you are looking at a Tier 2 creature. However, a Giant Kraken is a Tier 3 creature. It is quite early for something like that to have spawned, though it is possible that this creature has just been exceptionally good at hunting or defeating rivals, and tiered up the normal way. If the report on the creature’s size is accurate, then it is most likely a Giant Kraken, indeed. At any rate, the most powerful adventurer that I can see here is Miss Hyde, who is almost to Tier 2. Even if it were a Kraken, and not a Giant Kraken, it would still be a foe that is beyond your abilities.”

The president nodded grimly, and took a moment to gather his thoughts. “Is it a foe that you could take on, King Greene?”

I took a breath, and considered that. “If anyone on Earth can, it would be me, and my companions. At the very least, I believe that we can ‘encourage’ the beast to go elsewhere. But it is troubling about the timing.”

The president’s eyes narrowed. “You think someone did this deliberately?”

“While I said that it may have risen in Tier naturally, there are ‘supplements’ designed to force monsters to grow at an accelerated rate, quickly advancing to the next Tier. However, such forced growth has consequences, drastically shortening the creature’s lifespan. A Tier 2 creature forced to Tier 3 would likely have a life expectancy of months, at best, more likely weeks. A human who took the supplements would be dead in hours, perhaps days. However, for those who want to ‘go out with a bang’…”

The president nodded as I trailed off. “Then, it seems as though we musk ask for your assistance, even before our alliance is officially begun.”

“You need not ask. The Ceresan Empire protects its own.” I looked over to my pets, where they were standing by the door. “Summon the shuttle, and prepare for battle. It is time to show the world your power, girls.”