BXBX NOVEL Chapter 424: The Alliance Offer.
Whether Dubois Food obtained the rights or not wasn't her concern; she knew that developing astronaut food for long-term stays in zero gravity environments would be costly. Whether they succeeded or not, it would be a lesson for them. They might have regretted it or they might not be up to Daniel.
— Evening - Golden Summit Restaurant —
Within the Golden Summit Restaurant, a luxury high-end establishment chained under the subsidiaries of the Golden Empire Group, the ambiance resembled that of a palace. It boasted numerous private rooms, each adorned with themes from various countries such as British, French, medieval castles, and classic Japanese motifs, all meticulously designed to perfection.
Daniel's group entered here under Greed's invitation, both Daniel and Koyuki carrying a lot of plastic bags and boxes containing many plastic models of monsters and robots. They hadn't bought toys and plastic models for quite some time, which made the two of them happy and smiling as they entered the venue.
Many attendants came over and politely took the baggage from the group, keeping it in a safe place for Daniel, allowing him and his group to enter the venue without worrying about their belongings.
In a Middle Age castle-themed room reserved by Greed for Daniel, she sat near the seat of honor and waved her hand, gesturing for Daniel to come over and sit beside her.
"How are you? Did you enjoy the movie?" Greed asked her beloved after he had settled into the seat of honor.
"Yes, very much so. It's been a long time since I watched a giant monster movie," he turned toward Koyuki. "Right?" he asked for her opinion.
Koyuki, a self-proclaimed giant monster and mech movie fanatic, readily agreed. "Absolutely! It would be—"
Greed cut her off with a raised hand. "Stop right there. When you're going on with your fangirl rant about giant monster movies, you never shut up. Aren't we here to listen to Ms. Anastasia?" said Greed.
Yes, Anastasia offered to tell Daniel's group everything that happened in Russia and the current situation of the Curtained World according to The Romanov.
"Let's order something to eat first," Envy suggested. "We'll listen together after we finish eating. I believe it should be quite a serious tale; one might lose their appetite, and I think everyone is quite hungry right now," she added.
"Thank you, Lady Envy," Anastasia expressed her gratitude, and then Daniel's group began to order their food.
"Wait… where's little Sylvana? Didn't you bring her along?" Koyuki inquired, noticing that the young girl wasn't with Greed.
"She's with Pride. And before you ask, yes, Pride threw a tantrum to keep little Sylvana with her. She said Sylvana makes her feel more calm, and happy," Greed explained.
"Huh? A tantrum? What happened?" Daniel asked, curious.
"She wanted to break out of the hospital to follow me here, but she can't because she needs a final checkup tomorrow before they can release her," Greed elaborated.
Hearing this, Envy let out a tired sigh at Pride's tantrum, while Koyuki chuckled. Daniel massaged his temples as if he had just heard a silly joke.
The doors swung open, revealing a procession of waiters carrying trays laden with an extravagant array of dishes. The air filled with enticing aromas as sushi platters, Buddha Jump Over the Wall pots, and perfectly cooked steaks adorned the table.
Each dish, from delicate nigiri to hearty broths and tender steaks with herb-infused butter, showcased culinary mastery. Fine wines and spirits completed the luxurious feast, transforming the table into a scene of culinary opulence as Daniel and his companions indulged in the exquisite cuisine.
Among the fine wines, one caught Daniel's eye—Seongju Hanok Soju, an old and luxurious brand from Korea. Although not a frequent drinker, Daniel saw it as a perfect souvenir for Michaela, knowing her appreciation for such beverages.
"I think I will take that Soju wine as a souvenir for Michaela. She should like it," Daniel said, thinking about Michaela.
"You know..." Envy started as she sipped the wine in her hand. She continued after placing her cup down, "That wine is the main business of a renowned Korean mage family."
"Really?" Daniel asked with interest.
"Yes, it's the Kim family. They are mages specialized in body enhancement magic, so they're more of a fighter family than mages since they have their own blade arts and body enhancements. They have become a renowned blade family that secretly holds a lot of political influence in Korea," Envy explained, then turned to Anastasia.
"Your Highness, you mentioned that you have something to tell us regarding the alliance. May I know what it is?" Envy inquired.
Anastasia's smile faded as her role as a princess and main diplomat took over. She coughed a few times to clear her throat and adjusted her mindset to become more serious. The noble air hung in the room as Anastasia began to speak.
"First and foremost, Lord Emberweave," Anastasia addressed Daniel. "We must thank you for helping us deal with Satan, sparing us from owing him an unspecified favor. You forced him to use that favor in the easiest way possible for us to repay it. For this, we, the Romanovs, thank you," she said, bowing respectfully.
Anastasia then recounted the events when Daniel hunted down Satan, who fled to Russia and sought refuge from Daniel within the Romanov's palace. However, since the favor was merely to hide Satan, not protect him, the Romanovs didn't intervene when Daniel confronted him.
In the end, Satan, terrified of Daniel, destroyed his own body in the mortal realm and returned to his hell realm, permanently ending his dealings with the Romanovs—a cause for celebration.
"You're welcome, I guess," Daniel replied casually as he sipped his drink.
"Before we begin, I would like Lord Emberweave and everyone to know about the state of the Curtained World in Russia and its vicinity," Anastasia said, beginning to narrate recent events.
After the magic controversy and the Hightower's use of memory-altering spells on a global scale, they withdrew all their personnel and assets from Russia back to Europe. This left Russia's magical community vulnerable to the Qing Empire's attempts to take over.
The Romanovs tried to resist, but with the memories of non-magical people erased, they no longer recognized the authority of mage families like the Romanovs. This made it difficult for mages to defend their territory or gain compliance to their requests.
The Russian mages didn't showcase their magic or re-establish authority because they feared the Hightower's return and potential investigation or punishment. The Hightower's influence and authority still held sway in Russia.
To worsen matters, the Qing Empire was liberal with magic, especially among their high society, employing mages and being aware of magical practices. They required vast resources, and Russia, being large and rich in magical resources, including a secret realm in Siberia with rare creatures like unicorns, became a target.
Furthermore, there were reports that the Qing Empire sent people to Alaska to search for secret realms containing magical resources. They also planned to expand their influence in Southeast Asia since the Hightower had withdrawn from that region.
Daniel nodded in understanding as he listened to this information.
"So, Your Highness, what do you envision for this alliance? Are you seeking to purchase weapons or do you want us to participate in your conflicts?" Daniel inquired.
"No, Lord Emberweave," Anastasia answered directly. "Our vision is for you to establish a powerful organization capable of resisting the Qin Empire's aggressive expansion. We hope the Romanovs can be a founding member."
Envy interjected, "Your Highness, you mentioned the Russian mages' fear of the Hightower. Are you still paying their membership fees despite their withdrawal?"
Anastasia shook her head. "No, those payments ceased the moment they pulled out their personnel and resources. Now, we face the very real threat of being absorbed by the Qin Empire."
"That's good, because I don't think they are going to return to Russia anytime soon. From my perspective, I think they will focus their strength on protecting themselves and their influence in Europe for now," Envy analyzed.
Koyuki piped up, "What about the Hephaestus Institute in Greece? They have labs in Siberia and Alaska, wouldn't they help?"
Envy shook her head. "The Institute's primarily a research organization, Koyuki. They wouldn't pick sides in a conflict. Their main concern is self-preservation, and they only interact with the Hightowers to sell their products and share research findings."