Chapter 113: Sidebar - Similar but Different. The World Republic's Triumvirate Leadership

The three leaders of the World Republic were all heavily invested in the principle of dismantling the power of Mariejois and obliterating the Red Line; removing the equatorial wall between the New World and Paradise seas. Moreover, with over a two hundred nations already aligned with ERA, and an overwhelming mandate to one day replace the old world order with their own reformist ideas of power, was a popular theme amongst member states, their designated ambassadors and the citizenry of each kingdom. Freedom from the celestial dragons, as well as true democracy were hugely important. Yet, what the member states of the Word Republic were not aware of was that each of the 'Three Heads', or officially the Triumvirate, had their own agenda they were forwarding. Each was beneficial towards global peace and freedom, but differing in ethicality.

A native Ishgaran, born in the Pergrande Kingdom, Prime Minister, Issiki Raiko; was a tall bespectacled grey haired man in purple robes, worked tirelessly in the old Magic Council as a scribe to Councillor Yajima before his retirement, and then being taken on by Councillor Belmont.

After the Civil War, upon hearing that Jude Heartfilia had seized control of ERA, and declared the Royal East Ishagr Trading Company as the heir to the Council, Raiko returned to his former work place and was quickly named by the Director-General as the Republic's first Prime Minister. Jude Heartfilia was the main orchestrator of mission to obtain the four magic stones, as a the plan to return the supreme Wizard Saint to Ishgar, and to his family. Yet, for the prime minister, the reason for such a venture was to use the stones unbelievable magic power in the resurrection process of the still comatose and lacrima-bound James Heartfilia, but once they had their supreme wizard saint back they could launch the all out attack on Mariejois.

'Operation Rally Cry', with the most powerful wizard, leading the other ten saints and their knights into the battle the sole global governance rights would belong to ERA. And the supremacy of magic, would be shown to the whole world, and reinforce ERA's dominance over the world. As long as the it was the World Republic, not the Revolutionary Army, that brought about the revolution that most of the world wanted the Issiki Raiko was happy.

There were more goals that the Director-General wanted to pursue but were on the back burner due to Jude Heartfilia's wish to get his son back. Jude Heartfilia spent most of his time at the East Ishgar Trading Company's headquarters; the heavily industrial, and economic powerhouse, city of Mercia on the coast of Cællum. Coincidentally, home to the former wizard guild; Mermaid Heel. But from what the Prime Minister could opine, the Company was still adamantly forging new trade routes into the Paradise Seas, weakening the World Governments standing.

As well as gaining more members and allies for the Republic. Yet, to Raiko there was one country in particular that the director-general seemed to want to ally with more than any other. And that was the Shogunate of Wano, which intrigued and infuriated the Prime Minister no end, as Wano was both independent and a closed off backwater country, ruled by a honour-less despot whom betrayed his former liege lord sided with by Emperor of the Sea; Beast King Kaido and slaughtered all of the Kozuki Family he could find. Before exiling their retainers and allied soldiers who refused to kneel. So to Raiko, an alliance with Wano made no logical sense. 'Legitimising Kaido... and Shogun Orochi', was "distasteful and dangerously self destructive" to the Republic. Which posed the question, 'why is Jude so for this alliance..?'

The final leader of the Republic was the Head of the Justice System, the Lord Justice Talia Kreia. Kreia was a middle aged blue haired female wizard wielder of lightning magic, and like the prime minster she wanted to replace Mariejois with ERA. Every single supporter, all employers and all employees of that oppressive regime would either boiled or burned alive. So when she had heard that one of the four admirals had defected from the Navy and laid siege to the Holy Land, the 'burning of the gods', she had ordered a dispatch of loyal agents to infiltrate the newest Emperor of the Sea's territory and act as sleeper agents till a time came when she wanted them to act. Born in the North Blue, she knew all too well the harsh, cruel and sadistic rules of Mariejois. And as soon as she was old enough to set sail she fled her home nation and made her way to Ishgar; hoping for a new life of freedom and peace.

Kreia had been a pragmatic former veteran member of the old Magic Council, and one who had worked alongside many wise and honourable, now deceased, colleagues. However, from witnessing the countless council failures, voting mostly against actions that went against the idea of 'peace in our time', the mantra of hope expressed by James Heartfilia. And after his 'death', taken up and upheld by the former members of his wizard guild; Fairy Tail. Yet, for Kreia the biggest council mistake was the creation of Face, a massive continental sized spell that could control the mind of the Supreme Wizard Saint; and out of fear and paranoia the council, barring herself, Master Org and Yajima, voted to control the supreme wizard saint, and all successive ones. Dooming Ishgar to the civil war that Tartarus began, and ended up being taken over by the remnants of the Shadow league.

ERA. Formerly, the independent city of the old Magic Council. Now, the Parliamentary home, political and economic heartland of the Republic. Delegates, dignitaries and ambassadors all gathered in the city for whatever was being discussed in Government House. Prime Minister Issiki Raiko, Director-General Jude Heartfilia and Lord Justice Talia Kreia; the Triumvirate, all had permanent seats within Government House and each named delegates from member states as ministers; who sat in the national parliament, as ministers within the current administration.

Each Triumvirate, administered a different part of the Republic dealing with various aspects of rule. Agriculture, industry, health, sustainable resources, the economy, immigration and migration, education, transport, trade etcetera. The leaders had stated that they would stand down and allow elections for their successors after they had succeeded in ending the reign of the celestial dragons, bring the rest of the world into the Republic fold, and most importantly, completely eradicated the influence and existence of Mariejois.

The sole exemption of the Republic that was left semi-independent from the Triumvirate, was the military. Which was left to the discretion and rule by the Wizard Saints, who led their own Magic Knight Squads. The different squads were predominantly based in the New World, inside Republic member states to act as a bolster to its own standing, and deter any outside invasions of any Republic territories. The squad of the highest ranked Wizard Saint, Draculus Hyberion, was based in Ishgar as a safeguard to any invasion. 'Having the most powerful wizards in the 'Capital Nation', was deemed by all member states as essential. Once the whole Republic Parliament had heard that they could vote for the right to hold a Knight squad in ow of their nations; the selection process became more important than ever. The bases needed to be in areas that were either vulnerable or vitally important. And the locations of each squad site were purposely published in Sorcerer's Weekly and The Republic Times.

King Beer VI, of the Roshwan Kingdom was selected to have the base of the Phoenix Fire squad, and the 7th ranked wizard saint, Shiba Flowers, built in his sovereign nation. From the Ballywood Kingdom, King Hamburger requests the personal presence of the Black Faction. 6th ranked saint - Gildarts Clive. The Tajine Kingdom's Queen Morollon wins the vote for hosting the Giants Ire squad. 4th ranked saint- Makarov Dreyer. Dead Kingdom, King Taco agrees to share the Silver Finns squad - 8th ranked saint, Florence Dansk - with the Kingdom of Maryam's Queen Amelia. Continent of Solana to hold the entire Wild Dogs squad, 2nd ranked saint - Wolfheim. Asked for by the constituent four kingdoms. Draculos Hyberion, Gold Squad. Capital Nation based. Ishgar. New World nation of Vinland, to house Dawn squad - Aisha Dawes, 10th ranked saint. By request of Vinland's council of elders. Paradise sea. Island of Little Garden base of operations of Hawk squad, 9th ranked saint - Claude Devent. Paradise sea. Kingdom of Alabaster, base of operations to the Green Ores. 3rd ranked saint, Warrod Sequen. New World. Island of Green Bit, base of The Iron Earth squad. 5th ranked saint, Jura Neekis.