Fox Does Politics, Too

  “Like before, I'd like to question President Luis about how Lymoca plans to maintain the anne- integrated territories from rebelling against Lymoca to obtain their independence? Once they have mastered the technology Lymoca has, there's no stopping what could be started and be easily replicated. Only needing the people's hearts will would prove necessary.” Preato's president commenced.

  “If we go back to how empires, even closer, the Lylaco Empire conquered territory to the south and even slightly to the north, we would see it is easy to arrive to those conclusions. Missiles were still the greatest indicator of strength of the superpowers, so anyone could’ve risen with enough soldiers and firearms and a single missile launching system.” Luis began to answer.

  “Lymoca is not the Lylaco Empire. We won’t oppress even a small portion of a minority. Terka’s birth rate can attest to what intentions Lys have towards the Ly Ters— it won’t change with Cerks and Avicas or Valads. Cerka and Torka didn’t even touch our people, for starters.”

  “By the time Lymoca’s technology has spread throughout the people’s greatest thinkers and capable talents, deserving their place as a whole, these integrated territories will be both Ly and Ters, Cerk, Avicas, Valad… You can name it,” Luis gestured, slightly hanging his head.

  “It’s not a problem to share the technology. With our people, that is. We won’t sell it to anyone. Lymoca might support other countries with limited amounts of support helicopters and armored cars, but we won’t sell the technology.”

  “It’s another matter with the Pugor engines. This is to impulse humanity’s peak— space pioneering. Although that one is only one of them. I’d find it disgustingly comical if we can travel to other planets but haven’t regulated food here, nor can travel from the west to the west and from the east to the east in just a few months at worst.”

  “The EPA Commonwealth has affinity with Lymoca and deep ties with Zyckevele, who has great relations with Lymoca.” Luis tapped the table’s edge with his right index and middle fingertips. “Whoever dreams and acts on treason will be treated as traitors.”

  “However,” Luis continued after a silent pause emerged, reminding everyone what Lymoca is capable of, alone. And what meant betraying Lymoca’s trust after what they do to them. He saw some faces unconvinced, and he knew what they thought. Luis added, “If you just want out of Lymoca’s borders, besides paying a fee, it will have to be the people who move out of Lymoca. Not a single government who wants to move more money.”

  Thus, Lymoca secured their nation’s peace. Should a region integrated to them rebel and not only challenged Lymoca but harmed it in any way, the treaties would be gone, with the east supporting Lymoca. Who could compare to Lymoca, who has been on this path for centuries?

  But that wasn’t enough. Luis slightly shook his head and continued, “But that is only material. As you heard, I named several technological advancements, for the future and ongoing. Technologically focused and sustenance for global livelihood. By the time these other regions have figured how to mimic Lymoca’s nowadays technology, ‘their’ people would be Lymoca’s people, and every other region in it.”

  “A reminder, and clarification,” Luis lowered his chin, not about to show pride, his eyes deadly serious. “You would have to move against your own people, because they would be all of Lymoca’s people.”

  Luis then looked at Preato’s president, who was speechless and had to sit back down. “…”

  “He will return to ask his second question later… President Paola, would you mind?” Bernando blinked twice before facing Luis after standing up. Paola then nodded at him and slightly stood up. She bowed, a strange gesture, but only a bit. She then asked Luis, “Could you tell me about the defenses that Lymoca will have? Be detailed, please.”

  “Lymoca will be the supreme commander of all the military forces. Should any bit of territory, aerial, water, or land be threatened, by outsider forces from Lymoca’s borders, it will be the entire nation rising to the occasion. We will defend our people, land, and their blood.”

  “Their blood… is that for our lineage, too? Not just us individuals?” President Paola asked with a lighter tone, intrigued and seemingly lost. Luis looked at her for 2 seconds before responding with a wise glint resting peacefully on his sharp gray-black eyes.

  “Lye. For my blood, for your blood— blood of my blood. My work, my doings… It’s only a part of it, but I understand you got your answer by now?” Luis lightly said, almost as if reciting his heart out. He smirked politely when he saw her smiling brightly upon hearing those words.

  The president said nothing and sat in her chair, not bothering to hide her smile. Bernando looked at this and narrowed his eyes a bit, but he didn’t seem bothered.

  Collan’s president stood up next with his fists clenching and letting go in a light notion, “President Luis Heartez— You are a person who has remained in power for almost 3 decades. What do you have to say about that?”

  “I will drop all lifestyle having to do with power. If I only said ‘presidency’, I’m afraid some would have cursed me to want to become an emperor,” responded Luis. He chuckled amidst the end of his words. The presidents around the table crackled a bit, too. Luis didn’t stop there, not going to waste such a good question, nor did he want to embarrass the president.

  “It’s been a long journey, enough for any person to grow tired. I’m not Anastasiv Morozov, nor was my situation clear like in Zyckevele. My path here is done. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that with figures like Fox… Lesly, my daughter, and the growing youths in this revolutionary period— will not disappoint Lymoca.”

  “Thank you,” the Collan president nodded, almost bowing, too. He looked down at the table ever so slightly before lifting his chin again after a silence. Luis waited with patience.

  “What if one of those regions become hostile to another? We would like to know what Lymoca would think of doing if this were to happen. That Lymoca would be forged after southern brawls, after all.” He properly sat down after a nod once his words were over.

  Luis nodded a few times, contemplating. Then, he darted his eyes to the president and went, “You know. Collan has rich Valus history. Their kingdom was of better relations than neutral with the Lys. I remember reading about some treaties to exchange scientific findings leading to further meetings. Many Lys and Valus met at the time.”

  “Adding that Collan used to form part of Ly territory before the empire’s fall, you are at least half Ly blood. There’s no shame in calling yourselves Valus people. It’s an honor that shouldn’t have broken off back then because of our fault and the disorder back then.”

  The ‘Valus’ president looked at Luis, understanding what those words meant. Like Terka, the people living there were at least the great majority with mixed Ly blood. The Ly inheritance was strong everywhere. If they didn’t spread throughout the entire south, it was because of ANS thwarting the Lys’ plans.

  “HLS shall be followed, nothing else to it. Lymoca is allergic to inner conflict. There wasn’t a solution in the Great Haul, only a remedy.” Luis replied after seeing the understanding in the Valus president. The latter nodded and voiced a soundless ‘thank you’ before sitting down.

  “…” As the senior minister of Terka stood up, Bernando felt his eyes losing some focus for a few moments. It hadn’t even ended, but there was a… sense of harmony in the room. He smirked, already imagining what they would be arguing about next, and throughout the entire day.

  Enough was discussed. No more was required before entering deliberation. The most enjoyable parts of such meetings, and who knew what would Lymoca’s next step be, were about to begin.

  … Indeed, it didn’t take long. As soon as everyone spoke, and they agreed that they came to a consensus, they traced their thoughts on physical writing before presenting them each. Despite being confident and trusting 6 little presidents and a senior minister and spokesperson, Luis had to look down and support himself on the table with his arms stretched.

  It was a sight they, for some rare reason, never thought they’d see from President Luis Heartez. Even though he’s embarrassed himself on live feed many times before, and not so subtly at that. Bernando saw the vulnerability of the President and realized something. He could be ‘struck’. But no matter how he saw it that way, he did not think of a way to disqualify Luis, not anymore.

  Next, they discussed what they’d be presenting in the Safe Haven City’s ‘other meeting’, following the schedule of the untold international customs. Of course, all of that needed to pass through every president and senior minister’s needs before even thinking of presenting it.

  What’s more, revelations that left Cors and Preato helpless continued to happen, which added more to Luis’s workload in the future. Some other systems and necessary details were repassed, too. Furthermore, they were all additionally checked by every party a few times until the deep of the night of the next day before they allowed themselves to go out and rest at last.

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  Luis had a lot to explain to Lesly, then Lymoca’s cabinet, and then the Ly people, in Lymoca and the Terka region. Likewise, once explained to, Lesly had a lot to congratulate Luis with. Who would have thought?

  By just pushing ‘the rest’ in the south a little more, the south could finally be united, and ANS wouldn’t be able to do as they pleased directly at their home. As soon as news of this went out, the world would be more shocked than when Lymoca followed the First Ters-Ly War.

  No, it wouldn’t even be comparable to the Radical Wars in general, at least not yet. It was an historical event meant to be engraved in the shock of Resilient's heart.

  Unless something else happened… Then, its impact would be reduced but remain enormous.

  ***

  Zyckevele, southern HQ. It was the year 1,028th, 4th month, 1st week, and 7th day. In the same deep of the night that Cors’s meeting had come to an end.

  In the war room, mostly empty, with only some auxiliary technicians working their shift and leisurely checking around. The main operations were now to be conducted in the capital.

  Fox was picking some things in his bag, all bouts of information in the form of paper or smallish devices to deliver to some people. Once they were all in the bag, he turned around and found Esmeralda waiting for him, wearing her high NUA.

  Fox smirked and walked to her. Esmeralda stepped towards him, placing her right index finger in the middle of his lips and shushing him, “Shhhh. All PSD agents are ready, and the PR elite are at your command. Socolov actually lent you them. They’re in your care, do you understand?”

  “So, my Esmeralda chatted his Lemyonova up? And yes, I do understand. Failing this will only happen if I, Nala, or you don’t come, and we three are coming. So they will be alright.” Fox said, showing his upper right canine a little.

  Esmeralda smirked a beautiful curve to the left corner of her mouth, “So confident. That is good, mmmnn~. But don’t sell yourself short. My man is to be admired by any hoog in the world once they get to see him in action after having long chats with him in a ‘small’ room.”

  “Yes?” Fox darted his eyes down, ogling Esmeralda, who pouted her lips cutely, looking at him with bright glints flashing across her eyes. After a bit, she nodded cutely, coiling her right arm around his neck and placing her left palm on his sternum.

  Esmeralda smiled. She appeared silly, inclining her head backwards while pushing her body more onto him, “Prove me right… infinitely.”

  “…” Fox’s polycoria eyes slowly and gently turned into 8 impenetrable black pools from 7. His left eye, which had just gone from 4 pools to 3 returned to 4 pools, showing a cute sight Esmeralda became bewitched from just watching.

  Fox wordlessly bumped his forehead on hers. Esmeralda closed her eyes because of it, cutely opening them to receive a quick peck after a long, intense but loving glare from Fox. She whispered after puckering her lips, joyous to feel his push down on hers, “Let’s not keep the kids waiting anymore, mm?”

  Fox thinly smiled before grabbing her with his left arm, coiling it around her waist. As Esmeralda giggled, she was picked up with ease before being carried out of the war room with her pelvis on his ribs.

  … 2 hours later. In a tiny peninsula to the west of the southern HQ, a small naval base was filled up in silence, appearing more like a merchant convoy. Zyckevele had been doing this every now and then since the eastern Radical Wars had begun and their waters’ safety were reaffirmed.

  People lazily boarded some rather regular-sized ships. They were slightly wider than a frigate, but they were bulkier and without any defensive or offensive structure and tool respectively. These vessels looked good enough for any shipment, but it lacked luxury.

  Inside one of them, with nothing too differentiating, much less special, Fox, Nala, her team, Esmeralda, some PSD and PR elites were inside a tightly locked room. It was modified, crafted to protect the signals it would emit and receive.

  However, the people to be contacted were already aware of who was contacting them. While they weren’t told what for, mostly from their hoog sources, they could form an idea from it.

  Fox stood before a tall table with a larger-than-most laptop with a thicker structure. It also had Mintip mixed on its fabrication, appearing like an unadorned complicated robotic mess. He stood before it and pressed the keys without the laptop reacting whatsoever.

  While Miros looked at the laptop with shining eyes, and Colmillo calmly studied it, Fox pressed a few more keys before stopping. Miros didn’t notice while Colmillo’s robotic right eyebrow arched upwards. Fox voiced, “Which one of the rares had those strange and many threats? Yellow or orange?”

  “…” Miros sobered up. Then, he seemed to understand what Fox referred to after the confusion. He looked at Fox before blinking and then answering, “Ah, those. The yellow one.”

  Fox nodded and pressed a few more keys, all in its due time, before stepping backwards. A few minutes went by like this as Fox returned to stand between the other agents. Nala indifferently laid her head on his shoulder, staring ahead without emotion.

  At last, the laptop turned itself on, a shooting star-shaped glow emanated and gave color to the entire screen. Several images of a soundwave reading-like system showed functioning before the screen portrayed a connection beginning. At the same time, the ship began to move.

  “The channel was properly hidden. That’s a successful veil. Not bad, Fox.” Colmillo commented, lightly praising her boss. Fox nodded at the more intelligent and well-versed, more than him but second only to Miros, Elega. Of course, he had gained ‘inspiration’ from Zyckevele to improve.

  The screen soon showed the channel had now 2 connections, one of them being the laptop, and the other, the only one pending, from Xeoxia.

  Fox stepped forth. When he arrived near the screen, the pending invitation was accepted. A person appeared on the other side, alone and frowning at the screen. The laptop glowed up, with another interface showing Fox’s upper body until it was bright enough. The connection started.

  It was a black woman with a long, disciplined hair of an attractive soft chestnut color. She was an immense beauty, but no reaction came from Fox. This was Xeoxia’s president, Anna. Before another second passed after the first, she loudly questioned. “Is this Fox?”

  “I am, president Anna, I’m requesting permission to pass through your country.” Fox nodded before beginning the talks. Esmeralda slowly walked forth after Nala lightly palmed her butt a few times.

  “That is possible. You can have it,” the president casually agreed. Fox’s face didn’t change, nor did he move as he added, “And request the president to maintain this chat and my caravan’s route and passing secret. Your aid to hide would be yet another request, if you may.”

  “…” This made the president fall silent and react more like it. She said, “Fox, you are an esteemed guest to Xeoxia due to your service for Lymoca, who has always been a comrade to Xeoxia. I can let your ‘troops’ walk on my land, but I won’t enter this war for you, even for information.”

  “We are countries far from each other, but there are promises Lymoca will adhere to when the opportunity is given,” Fox continued. The president fell silent.

  She was waiting, and she didn’t seem convinced just yet. Fox didn’t make her wait any longer, or test her, “You’ve seen the conflict from afar. West Dawn is helplessly stuck in a war that shouldn’t have even begun. What makes you think whoever did that isn’t hovering their wrist over Pielsart now?”

  “I and the Xeoxian people are well aware of the risks for today and the tomorrow, there’s no need to bother other countries. That’s an understanding Lymoca has with the 2 superpowers, no?” President Anna lifted her eyebrows a bit.

  Fox continued, “ANS won’t give a shit if you’re confident or not. KAA was confident, and now they are vulnerable to the northeastern borders. But before you wait for that to happen, others are looking at you, isn’t it?”

  “Xeoxia doesn’t have any en-” President Anna lifted her chin a bit and slid it in the air left and right, when Fox interrupted. “But you are with Merula. Merula has a few enemies, namely Emig, Remán, and Pielsart. They all remember who stopped them from destroying KAA.”

  “Before you, president, think you have nothing to do with that still, you are also one of the eastern countries Lymoca has the best relations with… You are also weak.” Fox added before she could speak again.

  “Lymoca wants to secure you with protection.” Fox said and saw the president scowl a bit. He continued, “Not through means of a military intervention, maybe with arsenals, but Zyckevele will act in Lymoca’s name.”

  The president’s eyes widened with interest when Fox mentioned sending an arsenal, let alone in plural. Lymocan technology? Xeoxia wouldn’t even bother with trying to decipher it, as long as they had those amazing vehicles, they could eviscerate the slowly growing organized crime.

  If Lymoca promised Xeoxia that, and Zyckevele’s protection if a conflict erupted and they were in it, then they were willing to cooperate. Nevertheless, the president wasn’t a fool.

  “That sounds just right, but it doesn’t justify the meddling of my nation for your interests.” President Anna took a small breath in and out before coolly saying. Fox blinked, “Lymoca will begin trades with Lypro trees. It won’t be raw materials being delivered, just so you know.”

  “I… there…” The president was flabbergasted this time. She didn’t even bother with how limited the Lypro tree trade would be. If this was about trading, they were willing to open an even more generous offer overall. Having those scientific and natural marvels was too crucial.

  “Are you even acknowledged to make such claims? Just your word won’t be enough. Xeoxia was built because of the people’s heart’s intent.” She couldn’t just believe and accept it. This would mean the greatest benefits for Xeoxia, maybe even letting them enter the global scientific research communities before space pioneering. Just what did that mean!?

  But if that was for naught in the end, and the benefits were half Fox’s words, then…

  “Being here mean my w-” Fox rolled his eyes a bit. He wasn’t bothered, it was only out of playing a bit. But Esmeralda appeared behind him, showing her face as her helmet’s visor smoothly retracted into the helmet and showed her face. Her golden blonde hair strands flew out and bounced on her face charmingly.

  “Fox has the highest credibility from all Lys. Heavensbane— heard about it?” Esmeralda smirked with her left canines flashing from the laptop’s bright lighting. “Even if he doesn’t have a position, he is in the Lys’ hearts. Their minds are full of his acts, brutal and vicious, but so beneficial for the world.”

  “He might have been put in a break, no title nor status. The cabinet is a memory from yore now. But even if he has no title, the people gave him one. My father would have never sent-” Esmeralda turned serious after smirking, absorbing every source of attention like a black hole.

  “Miss Heartez, that is enough. Just your appearance was sufficient,” but president Anna closed her eyes and gestured with her palm, lady-like. As if trying to shoo away a mild headache. Esmeralda blinked, startled. The president sighed almost heavily and accommodated her top from its lower hem. “I will ensure these requests for you, but only while you’re still in Xeoxia. Should anyone find out and ask when Iztos or Merula deny your requests…”

  “They won’t,” said the Fox, confidently.

  …