15th of April, 2025
Naples, Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, HRE
At their return to Rome, Giulio and Anya found a country in turmoil. The leader of the Pan-Eurasian Syndicalist Movement, Diego Negrin Lopez, ahead of the Pan-Eurasian Congress of the Syndicalist Movement, to be held within two weeks, had called for a general strike, as a demonstration of force. While the Syndicalist Movement was not majoritarian within the Holy Roman Empire, it had the support of a large share of the society, that the new monarchical and reactionary system had placed on the losing side. Under his leadership, the syndicalists were pushing forwards a radical agenda, calling for the abolition of the Roman Cult, of the Monarchy and for the establishment of a Syndicalist and Internationalist Republic.
Since the situation in Rome was growing tense due to the converging in the city of all the syndicalist groups and movements, Giulio and his wife decided to move temporarely to Villa Rosebery, their residence in Napoli, monarchist bulwark. While there, Giulio had decided to summon both Lucrezia and Oldrin, to find with them, as heads of the IIA and of the IBI, a way to put an end to this syndicalist uprising.
"As you can imagine, to be almost taking shelter in the city where I usually come to order my suits, enjoy the Sun and the sea and go to the Yacht Club is quite an annoyance." Said Giulio while meeting them in his office, facing the amazing Gulf of Naples."So I hope you have something to bring to me to solve the issue."
"Well, my agency has already been able to track all the transactions made by the Syndicalist Internationale to fund our local Syndies, so we are cracking down on them, while already this afternoon we will deliver a nice scandal to Mr. Negrin Lopez, as his network of illegal funding and money loundering will be on every single newspaper of the HRE, including their official newspaper, the Marianne."
"You're a bloody evil genius!" Exclaimed Giulio laughing. Anubis, lying next to Giulio's desk yawned, almost as if to manifest his little interest for the matter.
"And here I enter in scene." Said Oldrin. "As you know, on the 1st of May the Eurasian Congress of the Syndicalist Movement will be called and Negrin will go there extremely discredited. So, I have been tracking down his main rivals and possible ways to exploit them."
"So please, tell us what the IBI has found."
"There are two main names that will dispute with him: Guy Valois and Nina Berija. The Secretary General of the Syndicalist Movement for Northern and Southern France and the Secretary General for Georgia."
"I've read some articles of Valois." Intervened Anya. "He believes in the Roman Empire, the Roman Cult and the Historical Mission and is aligned with our foreign policy."
"This sounds great!" Exclaimed Giulio.
"If it wasn't that he is republican. He firmly believes that the Roman Empire must become a Roman Republic, in order to succeed." Replied Oldrin.
"This is why we should bet on Nina." Said Lucrezia. "She is a Democratic Syndicalist, so she is more moderate and less dangerous."
"Democratic socialist, eh?" Asked Giulio. "Sounds like a person with no ideas and principles, ready to sell herself."
It was Oldrin that replied to him:"Yet she is the most reasonable among them, as she is the one more favourable to compromise with the monarchy and the nobility and..."
"As I said! She bears no ideal, she is just too mediocre to believe in something! She can only think of economic reforms! I respect much more the other two leaders, as at least they envision a model of society different from mine and they fight to reach it!"
"Yes Giulio, but you need to understand that here we need someone with whom is possible to reach an agreement, not to have a nice philosophical debate." Intervened Anya.
"And you think that a mediocre woman with no ideals is the best person for an agreement? How can I trust someone that has no values beyond the economic prosperity?"
"She has good chances to become leader of the Syndicalist movement, though." Observed Oldrin. "Because she is the only one that has managed to obtain reforms, in the Kingdom of Georgia, where she is active."
"She has been important to ensure that the Georgians would remain loyal to the local monarchy." Observed Lucrezia.
"I don't deny this." Replied Giulio. "But I cannot stand the idea of giving power to someone that holds no ideals. She may be a good negotiator, but she is also going to be a good mercenary. I know that I cannot trust Negrin, because his values do not contemplate national loyalty, as he is an internationalist, but at least I can respect his belief in a world proletarian revolution, as much as I find it an absurdity. I can also respect Valois, because he believes in a Roman Republic and puts the interest of the nation above anything else. Maybe we can even reach an agreement with him, which in my view will be more solid than anything I can get with this Berija girl."
"Valois can even accept a compromise with you, but will never be loyal to you." Replied Oldrin. "He will side with you when the war will begin, but will turn against you right after its end. Nina Berija instead has demonstrated that although she would prefer a republic like the EUR used to be, she can live with a monarchy like ours. Plus she will inhibit all the revolutionary impulse of the Syndicalist Movement, turning it into an institutional political association..."
"In a moment in which we need to mobilise every sector of the society for a total war, we don't need institutional people, we need ardent nationalists, Oldrin." cut short Giulio.
"We can turn her into this kind of leader." Observed Lucrezia. "She is beautiful, young and charismatic. Just give her the right rhetorics and ideas in exchange of the meaningless economic reforms."
"I am almost going myself to meet with Guy Valois to find a deal with him." Replied Giulio.
"If you do, I will ask the divorce!" Threatened Anya.
"That's backstabbing!" Protested the young Emperor.
"I won't let you screw the whole country on the eve of a world war just because you want a revolutionary friend to discuss politics and philosophy while having your stupid whisky!" Insisted his wife.
"Oh... fine, you won! You know what? Let's call that stupid girl and take her here so I can talk to her and see if there is some use that can be given to her."
All them looked relieved.
"Now if you will excuse me." Resumed Giulio standing up. "I will go for a walk with my dog."
At those words, Anubis immediately stood up and barkled with excitement, while Giulio took its leash.
16th of April, 2025
Rome, Imperial Duchy of Latium, HRE
Nina Berija was returning from the rally ad Piazza San Giovanni to her place in Garbatella, a working class district in Southern Rome, where she could find a room in the house of a family of workers and Syndicalist comrades. Walking back to the appartment in which she was staying, she looked around herself. There was an intensive ongoing work in the district, as the Emperor had decided to tear down all the working class houses built from the 1950s onwards and replace them with new buildings. Also the streets were being restructured, the asphalt was replaced with cobblestones and trees were being planted.
'In his nostalgia for a bucholic past, in the end the Emperor is actually trying to make the life of his subjects better.' She thought, thinking of the criticism that was moved against the monarchy at the rally.
She was opening the front door of the building when she heard a car stopping right behind her.
"It's her... Go!" She heard someone whispering and before she could even think of anything someone put a bag on her head.
"Help! Help!" She shouted, trying to escape, but the kidnappers were stronger and managed to immobilise and handcuff her.
"Aiuto! Aiuto!"* She shouted in Italian, hoping that someone would understand. Yet in return, she was hit in her stomach. Soon after she was put in the luggage van and carried away.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, in terror.
Nobody answered.
"Please, don't hurt me, I don't have anything..."
"Shut up! Or you will regret!" Shouted a male voice.
Gaeta, Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, HRE
Nina had estimated to have remained inside the car for around two hours, before it stopped and she was dragged through several corridors and stairs. She was terrified to the point of not finding even the energy to talk.
'Who must be they? Maybe the Imperial Intelligence? Why? What did I do wrong?' She kept wondering while finally the kidnappers had forced her to seat and tied her hands and feet. At this point the fear of being tortured became more and more feasible.
"Let me go, please! Whoever you are!" She begged once again. Nobody replied.
She remained there, tied and with her head covered for a long time, which she could not quantify, until she could hear the noise of some people coming in her direction and speaking in Italian.
"Ma che problemi hai?"** Asked a male voice with a slight French accent. "Was there any need to do something like this?"
"I am sorry, Giulio, I wanted to do like in the movies." Replied a female voice. "Plus it's always good to scare this kind of people a bit."
"You are sick." Replied the other person again.
The conversation seemed incredibly absurd to Nina. All this just "to look like in the movies?". She nonetheless recognised the male voice, as she had heard it often on TV and radio: it was the Emperor, Julius I.
As soon as the group was around her, the bag was removed from her head and after the initial impact of the intense lights pointed at her, she could recognise the persons gathered around her. Four of them were probably security agents of the IIA, tall, with dark suits and marble-like expressions, she imagined that there was likely also one behind her. Right in front of her was the Emperor, dressed in a grey tweed, while using a red tie. Seeing him in person, left her even more impressed. Now, without makeup or special effects, she could notice the real effect of the scars and burns he had on his face. Next to him, she recognised Princess Lucrezia, with her green eyes, long dark hairs, pale skin and sinister smile, somehow between the angelical and the diabolical.
The Emperor spoke first.
"Ms. Berija, I would like to thank you for coming to our meeting and I am pleased to meet you."
For a moment, Nina remained speechless. Thanking for coming to the meeting? Was it a joke?
"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty." Replied Nina. "I would also like to thank for making available to me the transportation until the place of the meeting."
"I apologise for the inconvenience, yet I needed to make sure you would attend our meeting."
"Ah, of course, now I understand. I assume this is how in Britannia you invite a girl to a date, right."
"You better talk with more respect to my brother!" Shouted Lucrezia punching her face.
"Lucrezia! What are you doing?" Yelled Giulio.
"Sorry, brother..."
"Out of here!"
She left without saying a word.
"You too, out of here!" Ordered Giulio at the agents, who immediately left. "And close the door!"
"Now you have to forgive my sister and... well, the IIA and its political police, they are used to deal with enemies of the State, so you can imagine."
"Of course, of course..." Said Nina, this time much more politely. She had lost all the courage she had created when she first saw her interlocutors. "May I have some water and some ice? I haven't been drinking for hours and now I think I am loosing blood from my mouth."
"Yes, of course." Replied Giulio, bringing close a tray with a bottle of water and glasses, together with some ice and bandages. Nina looked at him, who looked back at her, apparently without understanding.
"Ehm... Your Majesty..."
"Ah, of course!" Replied the Emperor untying her arms.
"Thank you." She replied while taking the water and then pushing the ice on her lips.
"Your sister knows how to defend herself!"
"Well, she is the head of the Intelligence, she has to." Replied Giulio. "Now, I think we should get to the reason for you to be here."
"Of course, Your Majesty. I assume you want from me some sort of information."
"Oh, I don't need any kind of information, I need a candidate at the Eurasian Congress of the Syndicalist Movement."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I want you to be my candidate at the Congess."
Nina was now confused, she was not expecting something like that in any way.
"Sir... I mean, Your Majesty, how can I be the candidate of His Majesty at the congress of the most anti-monarchist organisation of the country?"
"Of course, not openly. You will work closely with the IIA, which will ensure you win the election. Upon your victory, you will make sure that the movement falls into a more institutional line and does not cooperate with the Internationale, is it clear?"
"Well, I am not yet sure of how this will work but as long as Lucrezia doesn't punch me again, we may talk about it."
"She won't, if you will do what she says."
"But allow me a question, Your Majesty: why me?"
Giulio hesitated for a moment.
"Depending on me I would have sent the cavalry on you and all the others, my sister and the head of the IBI decided that to infiltrate the movement and corrupt it from within would be better. Initially I was against their choice of looking for you, as I think that you are a charming, yet empty box that only thinks of economics, but then they... Well, they won the argument, so here you are. Work for us and we will make you leader of the Syndicalist Movement, other than grant you a position in the government."
"Oh... So you want to grant me a government position in exchange for making of the Syndicalist Movement a controlled opposition? Have I understood correctly?"
"Exactly."
"Sorry." Replied Nina. "But I prefer to be killed here than to become a traitor. I know you don't think so, but I also have my values and principles to uphold and becoming the puppet of the powerful ruler of the moment would go against all of them."
Giulio was taken aback by the response, as he expected an easy acceptance from her part.
"If you refuse I will let you walk away this morning, but it won't take long before the Syndicalist Movement is outlawed and the IBI will take some serious measures against it. Are you aware of that?"
"Not of the part that you would let me walk away, but I guessed all the rest. Still I think is better that way, than to be turned into a controlled opposition that will mislead its supporters."
"On the other hand, if you accept, you will be made Minister of Labour, a position that will be created ad hoc for your case." Continued Giulio. "In that position, you will be able to bring before me all of your concerns concerning the working classes, their needs and proposals for improving their life conditions. Is it such a detestable deal?"
"Will I be allowed to speak freely on the flaws I see and on the solutions I think should be implemented."
"Like any other minister. As you know, I tend to leave a quite large margin for people to speak up, as long as they do not begin to challenge the legitimacy of the system."
Nina took some more water.
"As you know, as far as the system is concerned, I do not have revolutionary dreams like some of my comrades, still, I do believe that in principle a democratic federal republic would be better than an authoritarian monarchy."
"You do also realise that if tomorrow a republic was to be established, this country would fall apart?"
"I do fully, that's why I say in principle."
"This means that I can count on you as my Minister of Labour?"
Nina nodded.
"Amazing, I am sure it will be a productive collaboration." Replied Giulio with a smile. Looking at him now, after that conversation, paying attention at the way he dressed, spoke and moved, Nina could even recognise a certain charm, in spite of his mutilated face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She replied making a slight bow with her head.
17th of April, 2025
Nanking, Empire of China
The Enthronement Ceremony of General Yuan Xiquan was being followed by the press of the whole world. Despite more sober than the one choosen by Giulio, with its mixture of Medieval and Ancient Roman lithurgies and that used by Nunnally, which followed instead the traditional Anglican formula, even the Chinese ceremony, based on those used for centuries by the Chinese monarchs, had its own pomp and circumstance.
The ceremony began in the afternoon at the Nanking Fuzimiao Temple, on the Qinhuai River, with the offering of prayers to the Heaven, source of legitimacy for the Emperor. After that, the Xiquan paraded until the Forbidden City, inside which he was enthroned on the Imperial Dragon Throne. Following his enthronement, the Edict was read from Tiananmen Gate. In the first row, together with China's highest authorities, were following the ceremony the relatives of Yuan Xiquan, including his wife and children and NN. In the row behind were all of China's allies, with only the seats reserved to the Japanese delegation left empty, due to their change of position. There was still another member of the Guardians of Hel that only Giulio and few more people in the world could recognise: Nina Einstein.
The Edict was read. Yuan Xiquan was proclaimed Emperor of China. The Dragon was awakened and ready to reconquer its place in the world. The red flags of the new Empire were now being raised all over the Middle Kingdom, while in the occupied zones, the population was beginning to rebel against the Roman invaders. The East was Red.
Translation
* "Help! Help!"
** "What's wrong with you?"
Author's Note
Replying to an observation made in my previous chapter, I would like to clarify that I do not use the Britannian Calendar, like in Code Geass, but the Gregorian Calendar. Moreover, I haven't recalculated, adapting to the CG timeline, but I have decided to set the whole story in the 21st Century. This was just because otherwise I would have been forced to make several adaptations also to the history behind the story, which could have caused considerable confusion.
