Saturday arrives as the Security Council reconvenes. Due to yesterdays shenanigans, extra guards have been stationed inside along the hallways to reprehend discourse among the delegates. Of course, it wouldn't seem to happen since Erza is staying behind with French Prime Minister Fujioka, while President Tamaki with the French Cabinet advisor Kyoya would attend in her place. Beside that, all of the delegates are present. From the concerned Russian advisor Fanny Fulbright, to the incompetent American Secretary of State P.C. Patterson. All the nations of the Security Council were present and accounted for... with the exception of the German delegation.
Everyone wants to know where the delegates were. Is it not important that they show up to one of the most decisive meetings of the new century? They were expecting Prince Alphonse to help resolve this current debate on war, knowing that besides the French, Germany laid close to Roman borders. The delegates take their seats discussing the disappearance of the German delegation. As more people were filling in the spectator seats to receive news to bring back, Prince Loud calls the council to order. The council sat down quiet.
"Leaders of the world" Loud says in somber voice. The world leaders took note of the somber tone as a sign of worry. "I must inform the people who have gathered here today that the German delegation will not be joining us in discussion today. We have been informed by the German embassy that Kaiser Hohenheim has passed away last night. I call for the council later on at eleven o'clock for 2 minutes of silence to honor the memory of the German Kaiser".
The council was shocked to hear this passing. At one of the most pivotal moments of the new century, Kaiser Hohenheim, which many of them thought was immortal with him being on the throne since the 1940s, suddenly passes. But they have to keep going on with their meeting, the world's future might be at stake.
"For now, we will go ahead with a backup operation we had planned since the end of the third International Catastrophe. That is Operation Blackhole". In Prince Loud's hands were the documents for such an operation. The delegates discuss the precautions of this operation.
"Sir Bunny, if you would kindly explain the operation?"
"Certainly your royal highness" Defense minister Buster Bunny says getting up to lay down the plans. "Ladies and Gentlemen, several years ago I proposed to the Ministry of Defense a way to help in the escape of the German Crown Prince. We have proposed in cooperation with the French and German governments to send in spies disguised as a trope of Cyprus Romani. Then once inside the empire, we will have to communicate where Crown Prince Edward is being held. There, the trope would camp out near or around the area, hopefully there will be a way to stay out of the radar. We will then use whatever tools these spies would be able to bring over the border and use that to help in his escape. With the right people and tools, we will secure Prince Edward and put him on the German throne". The delegates were intrigued with plan to get the Crown Prince of Germany out of his imprisonment, except for the Russian delegation who know the truth about the Crown Prince.
"Excuse me" a voice rings out, which was French Advisor Kyoya Ootori. "I wish to ask the British defense minister a question about this plan".
"Mister Ootori, you have the floor" Loud responds.
"Sir Bunny, I have some concerns about this plan, most specifically the disguise plan. We have received reports that local authorities were attacking, arresting, and harassing Cyprus Romani, especially those of the Fairy Tail religion".
"Mr. Ootri, we have taken that to account, and are fully well aware of the issue. That is why we give our spies books on the Three Cardinal Heroes, and make sure that they memorize the words, that way when asked they won't be figured out. It's so precise, I think it just might work". Almost all of the delegates were ecstatic for this plan. It was a sure fire way to show Rome their power over them. However, Marquess Fanny has to tell the council the truth.
"Excuse me your royal highness. But I must disagree with this move".
"Marquess Fulbright, I hope there is a good explanation for this".
"It is most regrettable that we haven't mentioned it sooner, but we do bring grave news about the crown prince. To simply put it, he is no longer the crown prince". P.C. Patterson jumps in jubilation.
"I knew it! The bastard prince is being taught a lesson by the-", Prince Loud gives out a loud throat clearing sound angrily glaring at him along with the rest of the delegates. P.C. steps down.
"Yes, he is correct" Fanny continued, "He was taught a lesson, which sadly ended his life. I got a telegram from our ambassador to Rome that Prince Edward was executed yesterday under Empress Malty's commands". The council was in complete shock at this point. Not only was Kaiser Hohenheim dead, but now Malty has gone a-wall and executed Prince Edward.
The bells toll could not have come at a more appropriate time. As soon as the bells ring out eleven times, the council goes into 3 minutes of silence in honor of both the former German Kaiser and the dead German prince. As soon as those three minutes were up. The council resumes the noise.
"This is exactly what I've been talking about!" Naofumi shouts to the council angrily, "we let that bitch do whatever she wanted and look what happens! India is invading the Zulu, the lost Egyptian heir is dead, and Prince Edward died by her hands. She has let her ideology take hold of free nations, and I will bet that she has plans both militarily and culturally to take over the rest of the world. This is why I must ask the council to hold a emergency meeting of the International Senate for the resolution of war!". The council of course were not ready to compromise relative peace for war, and there was one person that was becoming more aggressive at Naofumi's words.
"OH HELL NO!" Shouts P.C. Patterson. "Are we going to let this Greek build a world that denies people's cultures, the rights for leaders to choose their right to rule over their peoples. We are not going to implement our policies on a free sovereign".
"But that free sovereign is oppressing others. That bitch has been oppressing the people for years". This once agin upset P.C. Patterson, who violently exploded in front of him.
"CALL THE EMPRESS A BITCH ONE MORE TIME! I DARE YOU! I DARE YOU, YOU MYSOGINIST IMPERIAL CAPITALIST!".
"Okay I will," Naofumi retorted. "She is a conning. Slave-driving. Radical. Tyrannical. Downright. Good-for-nothing. BITCH!". Angry, P.C. Patterson grabs Naofumi by the collar of his shirt, ready to punch the guy. The American and Greek delegations try to de-escalate the fight while Prince Loud tried to gather the council to order. All of a sudden, someone pounds the table hard, garnering the attention of a few.
"OKAY! EVERYONE SHUT UP!" The voice rings out that garners the attention of everyone, it was the Japanese foreign secretary Kusuo Saiki, a gentleman that is usually reserved and silent, speaks out loudly on this issue.
"Ugh. This is a pain" Saiki starts off. "We all know what's at stake here. We are talking about the sovereignty, freedom, and rights of our peoples and nations. I wanted to stay silent. I wanted to keep to myself, I just did not want to get involved nor deal with any of you. But I can't, I can't, I just can not in good consciousness stay silent". He puts his attention over to P.C. Patterson and a few other people in the council.
"Patterson, will you please just shut up for one damn second. I can not think straight with Your American liberal, hippie, anti-government ass just belching this SJW-ism you supposedly call it. President Flanders, for God's sake, PLEASE control you cabinet. President Suoh, Your Imperial Majesty, stop being pushovers in the face of crisis. Sir Iwatani... I completely agree with you on war. But I must say that it won't go far if there is no one else to back it up. Therefore, and I know His Imperial Majesty the Emperor would agree that we support, back, and vote for the opening of an emergency meeting of the International Senate on the Resolution of War". Having said those words, the Japanese prime minister Tsukasa adds to that.
"Yes, I am sure that the Japanese delegation will back this support, on behalf oh His Imperial Majesty of course". Emperor Conan nods in agreement. A figure in the audience chamber speaks up as well.
"I have some words to say" said the pink rabbit addressing Prince Loud.
"Patriarch Richard Watterson, permission granted".
"Anyone following the Cartoonite religion would know the teachings of Saint Rebecca. In times of peace and prosperity, one must view thy neighbors with the same affection as our allies. But if thy neighbors become greedy, self-centered, and sinful. It is the duty of the more pious to fight for what is right, whether through sticks and stones, to words". Tsarista Rachel thinks this over, being a devout Cartoonite and all. She hates the idea of all our war, but there is of course threats to her religious devotion and the lands of her people.
"I want to resolve things diplomatically, but that seems to take us no where. The Russian delegation votes for the proposal of an emergency meeting".
"On behalf of the French government, we too vote to call upon an emergency meeting. And we are sure that Germany votes this way too" Tamaki states.
"Well, I think I know how the president is going to vote. There is no way he would get involved in a imperialist...", before P.C. Patterson could finish, President Flanders stands up.
"I usually consider the people's opinion on a matter like this, but I must act myself for the good of the people. The American delegation votes for the emergency meeting". With P.C. Patterson getting triggered silently, the votes to call for the emergency meeting tally up.
"Prime Minister Warner, what says the British delegation? Her majesty and I both know what needs to be done".
"Your royal highness, I believe that parliament will back up the proposal of the emergency meeting, and we too vote yay as well".
"The majority votes for the resolution of war, the International Senate will convene Monday for an emergency meeting; and will call for a resolution of war. We will send emails and telegrams to all leaders that a call of action is being made, and that the International Senate will convene in an emergency session. Of course we will also wait and see if Rome and India can defend themselves of these accusations, however if not, the International Senate will vote for war. We pray to God above that it should not come to that. But we must prepare for the worst to come. The Security Council is adjourned for the month". With those words, Prince Loud hits the gavel and adjourns the Security Council. This is where the chapter should end, where the leaders of the world go home until Monday when the Senate reconvenes. Instead, we look at Rome again.
Inside the Roman palace, all the way in the dungeon, Empress Malty is using this time to torture one of her prisoners, unaware that the council found out of Prince Edward's execution. Right now, she is using one of her favorite instruments of torture on the one of the recent prisoners. Her favorite instrument is of course the rack. Banned by the Congress of Hamburg before the Second International Catastrophe as a form of punishment (which has continued to be. acknowledge by the different international institutions) is still used to torture prisoners and slaves in Rome. She turns the wheel of the ropes that pull on her victim's limb. Her victim being the Romani man Zeref, previously arrested for being a follower of Fairy Tail, and so called perversion. Zeref tries his hardest not to squirm while being tortured on the rack.
"Stupid gypsy. Thinking you can worship the devil of the shield AND be a pervert in front of me. How pathetic".
"I told you, I-I worship no dev-", before he could finish, Malty turns the ropes stretching his arms and legs further.
"Shut up! I'll see to it that you don't live to see any heaven at all. I'll send you to hell where you and the rest of your kind belong". Just as she was going to grab a hard mallet to break his legs, Sir Motoyasu rushes in not to interrupt her from the fun she is having, but to be the bearer of bad news, along with Renge.
"Your Graciousness. I must bring you terrible news".
"Can't it wait, can't you see I am torturing a bastard" Malty replies angrily.
"But Your Graciousness" Renge butts in, "They know".
"What?"
"Haven't you heard Your Graciousness?" Motoyasu says. "The International Senate knows that you executed the German prince. And this follows after the death of Kaiser Hohenheim".
"But how? I told you that we were suppose to keep this a secret".
"Our spies at the International Senate told us about this. And not only that, they said that the heir to our territories in Egypt turned out to be that blue haired boy. They know you are murdering leaders". Malty was finally fed up with the all of this international meddling, clenching in hate and anger.
"I am SICK and TIRED of the abuses of these international loonies and their constant want for democratization. I will show them! I'LL SHOW THEM ALL! NO MORE WILL ROME BE UNDER THE SANCTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER! THIS. MEANS. WAR!". Malty then leaves the dungeon angrily. She has a good idea of who told the world of the execution. She has two things to take care of. One was that little traitor, and next, the German empire and coincidentally, the International Senate.
-End of Chapter Eighteen-