The United People's Republic of Parcion.
It was the scary kind of totalitarian state.
It was worlds away from the Galactic Empire’s loose, "let's protect our planets!" brand of unity. This was the "devote your soul to the state" variety of totalitarianism.
Latarnia, which followed a similar path, was at least based on a mutual contract: "The state protects the people, and the people protect the state." Since it was a bilateral promise, there was a sense of fairness. In fact, Latarnia would even pay for the recovery of a citizen's remains.
Taikyoku wasn't much different from us. The Prefectural Governors, who acted as planetary lords, had a duty to protect their subjects, and the subjects had a duty to serve in the military to defend the planet.
Chronos hadn't fully solidified its systems yet, but we did have conscription. Given the massive population decline and the existence of a mysterious enemy, there was little choice.
In every nation, service—including taxes—was an obligation. However, Parcion was a breed apart.
According to them, the absolute truth of the universe was written within the pages of the "Hodo" Government Gazette and the Parcion Workers' Party organ, "Truth and Justice."
Don't worry, I didn't get it either.
We managed to get our hands on some copies. They were actual paper! Real, physical paper!
We passed them around the room.
"Let's see here... 'Workers! Strike down the invaders!'"
"Who exactly are the invaders?" I muttered to myself.
As far as I knew, Parcion wasn't currently at war with anyone. Claire gave me a wry smile.
"Maybe it's Chronos?"
"Or perhaps the Galactic Empire," Wifey added. "From an outsider's perspective, the Empire looks like a predatory state rapidly expanding its territory."
I had to admit she had a point. But we wouldn't attack unless someone picked a fight with us first. People's lives were on the line. Besides, this whole expansion started because Proone picked a fight, then they collapsed while trying to dodge their debts. After that, the Zen God Race started blowing themselves up.
It wasn't our fault, right?
We kept discussing it, but the general consensus remained "totalitarian states are scary" and "they're clearly terrified of the Galactic Empire." Even Shiyun, whom I'd hoped had better intel, just said, "They are a massive trading nation, but... honestly, I do not know much about them."
Apparently, they were the type of country that loved trade but hated foreigners.
In the end, the meeting began without any real preparation. Parcion had refused to let Wifey attend; they insisted on a one-on-one meeting with the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Chronos.
A middle-aged man with a shaved head, a thick beard, and deep-set eyes appeared on the screen. His skin was a grayish-white.
"I am President Victor of Parcion."
He didn't smile. He was the definition of brusque.
"I am Leo Kamishiro Chronos, Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Chronos."
"Regarding this summit, we must address your country's acts of aggression against Magellan and Ozen."
"Both of those nations collapsed on their own first. We only incorporated certain Magellanic regions after they petitioned us for help. In other areas, we are strictly providing reconstruction aid. As for Ozen, their population has plummeted to the point where self-recovery is impossible."
Ozen consisted of refugees who had fled to Magellan and a tiny handful of survivors. To put it in perspective, the survivors were roughly the population of the planet where Edge’s family lived. Magellan was in a similar state after being ravaged by Ozen’s mechanical soldiers.
The survivors in Magellan were maybe the size of a single planet's population. I was already in talks with the Magellanic provisional government about consolidating everyone in the capital for their own safety.
"That is nothing but your country's conspiracy!"
"Chronos doesn't have the time or energy for a conspiracy on that scale. Between the Locust Terrorist Attack and everything else, we have zero interest in territorial expansion!"
"And yet the Galactic Empire stands behind you!"
"The Empire is still busy rebuilding from the Zork War! Honestly, if the Ogre God Nation hadn't opened the Gate, we wouldn't even be in this sector!"
"But in reality, the Galactic Empire destroyed Proone and seized Chronos!"
"Latarnia was the one who destroyed Proone! And I was forced into being the Grand Duke! I didn't even want the job! I literally funded the people who were protesting my own inauguration!"
I started bawling. I didn't care anymore. I was going to unload everything on this middle-aged man I'd just met.
"I was forced to graduate from high school early! I graduated from the University Division without ever setting foot in a classroom! I just got married, and I haven't even had time to be lovey-dovey with my Wifey! Zork ruined my life!"
"Wait, I heard you skipped grades and reached the graduate level..."
"I never got to go!" I shouted, continuing my rant. I spoke purely from the heart. I didn't give a damn about the consequences.
"All I wanted was to go back to my house in the Galactic Empire! I tried everything to stop the transition to a Grand Duchy, but it all backfired!"
"I-I see..."
"I didn't want to be a king, but even the groups I gave money to betrayed me and tried to crown me anyway!"
"Ah... right..."
"And once I was king, I tried to live as humbly as possible to avoid drawing attention, and I nearly starved to death!"
"...That is truly harrowing."
"And then the Ogre God people keep attacking me for something called a 'Big Brother Challenge'! When I beat them up, they get happy about it!"
"...You have endured much."
"I have! But I'm only holding it together because of my responsibility and my love for Wifey! I want to start a family, but I don't have a spare second!"
"Ah... yes..."
Victor's brusque expression was long gone. His face was now filled with deep sympathy and pity.
"I don't want more planets! I don't want more work!"
"Right. Yes. Of course..."
I slammed my hands against the desk, sobbing. Apparently, Victor had imagined me as some ambitious, expansionist warlord with a harem of wives. A tyrant. But no! My true self was just a miserable man.
No romance, no luxury, no drinking, no smoking... just work from the moment I woke up. In my tiny slivers of free time, I either cooked to escape reality or got kidnapped by Katori-sensei for training that nearly killed me.
What part of that was a tyrant?!
"Er... perhaps you should take a break?"
"I can't!"
"Right. Of course."
"The people who destroyed Magellan and Ozen won't let me!"
"Yes, I see."
"Do you have any idea what it's like to have zero privacy?!"
"I... I think I understand... well, hang in there..."
The meeting ended abruptly. He ran away!
He actually ran away on me!
And so, the first summit with Parcion ended with the other side fleeing in terror of my mid-life crisis. I suppose it was my victory.
Waaaaaaaaaaaah!