3rd of February, 2025

Jakarta, People's Federation of Indonesia

"I don't understand, C.C.." Said Kallen. "You used to be the slave of the House of Galahad-Canossa, always at their service and now you are coming here to offer me the Geass in order to fight against your masters?"

"As a matter of fact, they are not my masters anymore. Giulio released me from the curse after defeating Lelouch, in his position I wouldn't have done the same, but that was his choice."

"This I can understand. What I don't understand, however, is why now you want to give me a Geass. Are you seeking to take some revenge against Giulio?"

"Nothing as such. It's for your own safety, you need it."

"Ah, right, you mean because of my allies? The Chinese leader does have one, right?"

"Him and the Duke of Mercia, whom you haven't yet met, but that I am sure you will. In a near future I believe also the Persians will come up with something, they have been silent so far, but are much more dangerous than all the others put together."

"The Zilkhis? Of course... Well, is there something else I should know? I mean, who are these allies that I have got? I believe they are not just after defeating Rome."

"You're right, Kallen." Replied C.C. "Indeed, they are all being led by the Guardians of Hel, does it says anything to you?"

"Not really."

"What about then the massacre of the Geass Order?"

"This of course! I was there!"

"And Nina Einstein?"

"The crazy girl in love with Euphemia? Of course. Giulio labelled her as 'The Crazy Jew'".

"She is a member of the Guardians and she is still to play an important role in what is coming."

"And what is coming, CC? I want to know."

"The Guardians of Hel were a branch of the Geass Order. You see, the Geass Order was an ancient institution meant to guard that power and make sure it would only end up in the right hands and that it would serve only, let's say, rightful purposes."

"Ah and Giulio, Charles zi Britannia, Bismarck Waldstein, VV, did they all have 'rightful purposes' in mind?"

The Order was a failure since the beginning and it could only be, once that any action from my part was necessarily destined to benefit my masters, the Galahad-Canossa, thanks to the curse made by Sir Edwbard. This was above my will."

"Right, so what about the Guardians of Hel?"

"They emerged in the 18th century, from a group within the Order that followed the so-called Path of the Titans. In other words, they believed in the need to subvert the whole cosmic order, so that they could become themselves the Gods of a new Golden Age. Charles was a follower of that path as well. Giulio and his followers instead follow the Path of the Olympus and they aim at reaching the apotheosis, however within the existing order, that they see as the only possible."

"Oh yes, I recall Giulio, Lucrezia and all that people filling themselves with this esoteric insanity."

"Yes, well, they had a point."

"And now the Guardians of Hel are behind the movement against Rome, is it?"

"Exactly, they first tried with the American Revolution, they failed, then with the French Revolution, which was a partial success, then they infected Britannia, Shin Hyuga Shaing also relied on them, although never had contact with the Guardians, to take over Euro Britannia. Now they want to destroy Rome, because Rome is one of those sacred cities that still bears the Light of the North."

"I am tempted to call you crazy and tell you to leave, but then I remember that you are 1000 years old and you have seen King Arthur."

"To be exact I'm 1524. I never encouraged anyone to accept the Geass, as it brings isolation and sadness to the bearer, yet if you wish to survive, I am afraid you have little choice."

Kallen remained in silence, thinking about it.

"Right, I will accept it." She concluded. "But with only one condition: I want to have the Geass Canceler, so that I will never be able to use it for any evil purpose."

"Sadly this is not in my power, I don't choose the kind of Geass, it's the Geass that chooses how to manifest itself."

Kallen sighed. "Be it then, I accept, whatever will my destiny be."


World News

From LVX News, 6th of February, 2025

Emperor Julius to award heros who detected the Burma Road with the Imperial Order of Ares at the Quirinale.

Proletarian Vanguard strikes again. Large explosion at the Lille's plant of the Clément Industries. IBI: Military equipment have been used in the operation.

"Japan is betraying its allies." Says Minister of Foreign Affairs, after Japanese forces cancelled landing in Taiwan.

From BBC News, 8th of February, 2025

Representatives of Chinese Government, Indonesia, India, Japan, Congo, Indochina, Burma and Siam to meet in London to discuss peace settlement. Rome promises retaliations.

From Globo News, 11th of February, 2025

Empress Carine I of Brazil proclaim official annexation of Cisplatina. "The Empire of Brazil retakes what is rightfully Brazilian" Declared Prime Minister Albuquerque Lins to the press.

Roman Ambassador to Brazil: "Rome fully endorses the annexation of Cisplatina by Brazil."


12th of February, 2025

London, Holy Britannian Empire

It was a cold and foggy evening in London, one of those typical winter evening in Southern England, humid, cold and with a dense fog. The delegations participating to the London Peace Conference were all gathered in the Presence Chamber of the Kensington Palace. There were the Regent of Britannia, Lord Henry of Mercia, the Chancellor of the Nanking China (how Yuan Xiquan's regime was now called) Hu Liheng, Mobutu I, King of the Congo, Marquis Ohgi Kaname, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan, President Kallen Kozuki, of Indonesia and several other leaders.

The past days had been of intense negotiations, as not only they sought to make peace, but Lord Mercia also pushed to find an entente between the different States. Now, after four intense days of negotiations, the objective was reached and an agreement was found. When the Regent entered, announced by the Master of Ceremony, everybody stood up to greet him with an applause. The room was crowded not only by the diplomats of the delegations, but also by several journalists, analysts and scholars who wanted to follow the event. Across the world, there war awareness of the historical significance of that event: Rome was for the first time completely excluded from the negotiations and even more: this treaty was being made in spite of an explicit condemnation by the Roman Emperor. For many, this marked the end of Rome's world supremacy.

Sitting on a corner of the room, was also Milly Ashford, who after publishing her book on the Great Global War, collecting memories of many (leaders, veterans and civilians) who participated in it, Giulio himself included, had now become a world renown journalist. Now she was there, reporting another historical moment.

After the usual formalities, the Duke of Mercia, for the occasion in his uniform of the Britannian Imperial Army, read aloud the terms of the treaty:

"(...) The signing parties to the treaty do hereby agree and declare that:

1_ All hostile activity against China and its former tributaries is to cease with immediate effect from the entrance into force of the present document.

2_ China's national integrity is to be fully restored. All foreign troops in Chinese territory must withdraw from it within three months from the entrance into force of the present codument.

(a) Only exception is made for the Japanese Administration of Manchuria, which is to end by the 12th of November, 2025.

3_ The Philippines are to be recognised by all parties to the treaty as a Crown Colony of the Holy Empire of Britannia.

4_ All of China's former Tributary States are to be granted full sovereignty.

5_ The People's Federation of Indonesia is to be recognised by all the parties to the Treaty as an independent and sovereign State.

6_ All the signatories to this treaty recognise each other an inherent right to exist.

7_ The Emperor of Rome is to be held responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes due to:

(a) The destruction of a major Chinese cultural and religious site, through the destruction of the Luoyang Forbidden City.

(b) The illegal, slavery-based exploitation of the Free State of the Congo, through the Societé Internationale du Congo. For this crime, all the company's shareholders are to be held accountable as well.

(c) The deliberate acts of plundering, massacre of civilians and theft of artworks that he has committed while an officer of the Armée D'Italie of the European United Republic during the Euro-Chinese War of 2014-15.

(d) The usage of the Tsar Bomb over Boston, during the Great Global War.

8_ None of those crimes must be by any means associated with the Roman people, as the responsibility is only individual.

In addition to what has been said, all the parties signatories of the treaty committ to:

1_ Facilitate through any possible mean the execution of all the clauses of this treaty.

2_ Enhance political, economic and military cooperation between themselves.

3_ Collaborate between themselves and with any other State interested in doing so,for the establishment of an international organisation that will ensure that the principles of sovereignty, independence and equality established by this treaty are not violated or threatened by any external actor."

Everybody stood silent, as the Duke of Mercia finished reading all those clauses. Milly Ashford, sitting in her corner, felt a sense of terror taking control of herself, as she started thinking that Rome would have never accepted a similar document. 'By God! These men are declaring a world war and are doing it as if it was nothing!' She thought, while finishing her notes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first step of a new order based on justice and equality, an applause to all of us!" Called Kallen, while all the presents responded with an enthusiastic applause. Her voice however was distant and cold, as she herself did not seemed convinced at all of what she was saying.

After the end of the conference, as Milly was already leaving the Kensington Palace in the direction of Hyde Park, she felt someone from behind pushing her arm.

"Kallen..." She said surprised.

"Congratulations for your first book, Milly, I never had the opportunity to congratulate with you in person."

"Oh... Thank you." Replied Milly confused by Kallen's sudden arrival.

"I am sure that the second one will be an equal success. After today, I have no doubts you will have the chance to write it."

Milly nodded, even more disoriented by her former schoolmate.

"One last thing." Said Kallen. "Get on a plane and go back to the Continent as fast as you can. London is not safe for you."

With those words, Kallen disappeared in the middle of the crowd once again.


Imperial Villa of Castelporziano, Duchy of Latium, HRE

"And so begins the Second Global War. May the Gods be with us." Said Giulio solemly, while following at the TV the news concerning the newly signed Treaty of London.

He wanted to retreat for some time from the city, going to the Imperial Villa located in the countryside of Latium, where he would often go for hunting during the weekend. On that day, were with him his loyal Reichkanzler, Wilhelm von Metternich, the Chief of Staff, Scipione Valerio Borghese, the head of the Praetorian Guard and Minister of the Imperial Household, Marquis José Antonio Primo de Rivera, Giulio's sister, Crown Princess Lucrezia, Duchess of Constantinople (Giulio had modified the salic law to allow female succession in case of not having male heirs), the Empress Consort, Anya and the Duke and the Duchess of Parma, Amedeo and Ayano.

"It's not yet said." Said Metternich. "They are clearly trying to put us under pressure, so we should not give them what they want, but find ways to balance, so to force them to accept negotiating. After all, we are the status quo power, they are the ones trying to revise the system."

"If I may suggest, Your Majesty, we should put in place the Operation Sakura." Intervened Borghese.

"Your Majesty, this would equate to a declaration of war!" Exclaimed Metternich alarmed.

"Operation Sakura? What would this be?" Asked Ayano.

"The Operation Sakura, Lady Farnese." Started Borghese. "Has been conceived in 2021, when the Treaty of Vladivostok settled permanently the status of Sakhalin/Karafuto and the Kuril Islands."

"To make it short." Interrupted Lucrezia. "Upon command by the Emperor, two airborne divisions departing from the Cita Air Base would land in those islands, to be immediately followed by the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and the Krasnodar-Harbin Naval Infantry Brigade. The operation would take place at night and would seek not only to seize the islands, but also to capture as many Japanese soldiers and ships will be possible."

"And the legality of the operation is grounded in the status of Shared Sovereignty of the islands, which makes them a Roman/Japanese territory administered by the Empire of Japan." Added Primo de Rivera.

"It remains nonetheless a dangerous operation, which will certainly lead to escalation." Stated Metternich.

"Yet, at the current moment, the Japanese could easily strike at our coasts from Sakhalin, if they want." Observed Anya.

"And a similar action, if successful, would destabilise Ohgi and his government, giving a chance to the Kodoha." Added Lucrezia.

"Well, it's about time that some people out there learns what's their position in the World. Borghese, you will kindly inform the Ober Ost that the Sakura are flourishing in the mountains." Concluded Giulio while pettying Anubis.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Replied the Admiral.


World News

From the Tokyo Herald, 14th of February, 2025

Karafuto and the Kurils Invaded!

Yesterday evening, a large expedition from the Holy Roman Empire landed on the islands. Taken by surprise, the troops under command of General Hayashi could oppose little resistance against the invading force. According to estimates by the Ministry of Defence, the Roman Forces must have captured around 6,000 soldiers, 140 pilots and approximately 3,000 sailors. The Imperial Navy reports that 10 destroyers and 4 frigates have been captured by the Romans etc.


15th of February, 2025

Tokyo, Empire of Japan

Kaname Ohgi was perfectly aware that the wrong response to the crisis could have costed him his political career and perhaps even his life. Indeed, his entente with Britannia and China had met the hostility of the nobility and of the Emperor himself, while the recognition of the independence of Indonesia had costed him his popularity among the Armed Forces. The re-establishment of the Black Knights was instead a smart move, although it was still not enough to balance the coalition that was being formed against him.

Now the Operation Sakura had meant an unbearable humiliation for Japan's Armed Forces. Without almost any resistance, thousands of Japanese soldiers and officers were surprised by the Romans and forced to surrender. Two Japanese provinces were now under Roman occupation and 14 warships were being brought by the Romans to their naval base in Vladivostok.

"The chauffeur is waiting, darling." Said Villetta, seeing that Ohgi was being very slow with his breakfast.

"I know... And the Emperor is too."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Oh, you're right, I should go." He said standing up and going to take his coat.

"It will be fine, you will see." Said Villetta.

"You think so? I think today I am going to be eaten alive, first by the Emperor, then by the Parliament."

"Then they will show themselves for what they are. All you did, you did to defend the country."

"Yes... Yet looks like the country doesn't want to be defended. It looks like they prefer being Rome's slaves."

He then gave a kiss to his son, Naoto, who was having about to leave to go to school.

"Villetta, promise me that if I tell you to do so, you take Naoto and leave immediately for my parents' house in Nagasaki. Promise!"

"I will, Kaname, now go, or you will be late."

Kaname Ohgi left with this mood his house, to go to comply with his institutional duties.