Darkstone Code

Chapter 1108 - 1106: Everyone Is Preparing for That Day

On the second day of Akumal’s arrival in Amelia, he delivered the speech "The World Needs Peace," once again shaking the entire world.

On the third day, as a witness, he observed the communication meeting between Amelia’s elected representatives and Special Zone officials, such as the Governor.

The two sides sat at tables arranged in two rows, separated by some distance. The elected representatives came from different cities, and they were the most prestigious individuals locally. They received the trust of the locals, who sent them here for communication.

Akumal sat in a chair between the two sides, but he remained present without participating in any of the proceedings.

Journalists from various countries truthfully recorded the scene with their cameras. Under Akumal’s influence, disputes were resolved in an orderly manner through communication.

Issues were addressed one by one, or new developments occurred, which also shook everyone!

This embodies Akumal’s spirit and his ideology!

Indeed, there are many ways to solve problems; why resort to violence?

Why not try non-violent methods?

No one thought this way before; perhaps using violence was too easy, but now people are starting to value this non-violent approach.

It looks promising, at least for now.

Even problems that couldn’t be solved by violence were resolved, and in this moment, everyone believes that Akumal and his ideas will become a guiding force influencing the world’s configuration.

Later, after the day’s negotiations concluded, the Governor returned to the Governor’s Mansion, followed closely by the officials.

The Governor worked from his residence, which is divided into five parts: the front courtyard, basically a garden, followed by a locally styled four-story office building.

Exiting the office building leads to the central courtyard garden, and further beyond is the Governor’s living quarters, with a detached three-story house in Gafura’s aristocratic style, and finally the back garden.

He doesn’t need to commute between his residence and office, which is a privilege akin to that of an Emperor.

The Emperor never needs to leave the Imperial Palace to work; his office is within the palace.

The Governor’s authority is exceptionally large; he’s essentially the Emperor of Amelie Province, controlling everything here. If necessary, he can even oppose certain requests from Gafura’s Main Island.

As long as he deems those requests "unreasonable" or "rude," he can refuse to implement them.

Throughout history, those who achieved the Governor position were always trusted members of the Imperial Family or highly influential nobles.

Back in the office, a group of officials gathered, and someone couldn’t help but ask, "Your Excellency, some agendas clearly exceed our discussion scope; we could potentially ignore these issues."

Some topics submitted by elected representatives today were not within the responsive strategies, such as a city’s representative proposing a degree of autonomy.

It’s because the residents of the city harbor fear towards Gafura people; every city was affected during the initial suppression of rebels.

Initially, agreeing to such matters is absolutely impossible; the Gafura spent so much time and effort stabilizing the situation to where it is now, and suddenly you want autonomy, then granted autonomy?

Who would call the shots then?

But unexpectedly, the Governor not only patiently listened to their arguments but also provided them with a definite answer.

He allowed the locals to appropriately integrate into government agencies, such as the police and other departments.

This displayed the Governor’s sincerity that everyone felt; later came an array of issues, except for a few cases like locals requesting to form their army being declined, most reasonable, non-extreme demands were acknowledged by the President, or at least minor concessions were made for compromise.

The Governor sat in his chair, his right thumb and forefinger resting against his chin and cheek, supporting his face, sitting tilted.

It seemed as though he didn’t hear the officials speak; after about twenty or thirty seconds, he looked at that official, "Letting them be police won’t impact our control over locals, and instead, they’ll tend to align more with us."

"They’ll resent crimes committed by their compatriots even more, using harsher methods, which won’t affect us, and this matter doesn’t need discussion, let’s see the specific situation first."

The official nodded and closed his mouth, while other officials raised various issues, all patiently addressed by the Governor.

This included topics like reducing existing local taxes, ensuring locals receive as equal treatment as possible...

After all queries were answered, the officials left one by one, commencing work and preparing operations.

The room was left with only two people.

The Governor and his son.

He had two sons; his eldest son was right before him, while his youngest son was studying abroad and showed no interest in politics, which nicely avoided brotherly conflict over inheritance.

Of course, forgoing power meant the Governor compensating more in monetary terms, to which his eldest son had no objections.

In Gafura, as long as you have a title and privilege, making money is straightforward.

"Father, I don’t quite understand why we’re making so many concessions?" Once everyone left, the eldest son acting as Secretary looked for a place to sit, pouring himself a glass of wine.

The treatment towards locals before wasn’t as mild as it is now. Although internally within the Empire, as well as the Governor, were leveraging Akumal’s ideology to quell the lingering unrest, his eldest son viewed their concessions as excessive.

Some issues could change little by little, like the locals’ craving for autonomy; initially, insignificant work could have been given to them, gradually allowing them to gain some authority.

Rather than instantly permitting them to become police, inducing further desires.

The Governor glanced at his eldest son, twenty-something, appearing to fit the Empire’s aesthetic appreciation for nobility.

Handsome, charming, face slightly elongated, rendering a serious countenance, looking appealing even with a wig.

But he still lacked a broader perspective, not entirely his fault, as he was young.

"We must stabilize the situation here as quickly as possible."

The Governor said something incomprehensible, and his eldest son didn’t understand, "Why?"

The Governor gazed towards the Empire’s direction outside the window, beyond the horizon, where nothing was visible, no flag-billowing Gafura Main Island, yet his gaze seemed to traverse countless distances, overlooking his homeland from the sky.

"Because the Main Island is about to be in chaos."

"Once disorder happens there, whether we’re stable here becomes very crucial."

The Governor seemed somewhat sentimental, who could have imagined the Imperial Family, after reclaiming power for so long, hadn’t inherited over several generations yet before the Prime Minister took it back.

Taking it back aside, they seemed intent to sever the Family’s chances of reconnecting power in one stroke. Once this storm begins to brew, it’ll affect all of Gafura’s territory.

If conflict erupts between the nobility and the Imperial Family, massive confrontation, and possibly civil wars could ensue.

Of course, he’s fully aware, the Prime Minister and the Emperor will try their best to contain civil war outbreaks, as evident by the fleet departing port.

The whole world is currently very tranquil and peaceful; when naval ships depart, there’s practically nowhere to go, just aimlessly drifting around the West Ocean.

This will last for a while, about two to three years, not too long.

All matters must resolve before the next war outbreak; it’s generally believed that a new round of war will erupt approximately seven to eight years later!

This isn’t some scholar’s expert guess, but a kind of fact; including the Federation, each country feverishly pushes advancements in military technology, updating and replacing military equipment.

For example, countries previously opposing Gafura are excessively building various warships and military equipment.

These things aren’t for show or defense against anyone; their only function is offense!

Given the current industrial level, military equipment will undergo two cycles of innovation and deployment in seven to eight years, meaning if war doesn’t happen, their efforts during this period will be wasted.

At that time, whether for their already manufactured military equipment or past hostilities, they’ll necessarily instigate a war!

The war’s losers will bear the cost, with others plundering wealth, resources, even land from them!

The Prime Minister knows this, and the Emperor knows this, so they won’t delay the "decisive battle" till the outbreak of war as it benefits Gafura nothing.

From political entity change to adaptation needs time, many modifications, meaning at least four to five years for entire Gafura adjustment.

Whether the Prime Minister triumphs or the Emperor triumphs, it’s the same.

If the Prime Minister succeeds, he’ll establish a political power institution with the Prime Minister as a new core; the Imperial Family withdraws from the ruling stage.

If the Emperor wins, he’ll indeed reform Gafura’s political system, preventing further occurrences like the Prime Minister seizing power.

No matter who leads these changes, a lengthy habituation time is needed, followed by war preparations.

Besides, even the Governor himself doesn’t foresee Emperor’s favorable prospects in this game, as he practically holds no impressive chips.

Stabilizing Amelia’s situation is actually the Governor’s most significant support in this game.

As long as it’s stable here, the Emperor needn’t worry about potential issues; he can focus on Main Island’s matters.

Yet the Governor isn’t worried about whether his power will be affected, as no matter what, within three to five years, no one can shake his position.

And these are things his son doesn’t understand.