Chapter 48: Readjusting Goals
Washington DC, United States
The American delegation, coupled with Alice and Samson, had returned to the Oval Office after a delicious ice cream break. Both the knight and valkyrie were pleasantly surprised by the treat, helping calm tempers.
But as the meeting progressed, the president had been pulled aside by an aide. Said aide went on to whisper into the president's ear for several minutes before excusing himself from the Oval Office. The president had dawned a concerned and serious expression as he sat back down at his desk. Samson and Alice had by this point noticed and were looking towards the president in anticipation.
"I've got some, interesting, news," he began. "It seems that representatives of the Royal Makai are in Paris as we speak. They have established contact with the French government and they wish to do the same with us."
The room was so silent that a pin-drop would have been deafening. Fury and surprise flashed over Alice's face as she and Samson stood up to face the president.
"If they are here then we must act quickly," Alice began. "We must destroy them, here and now! Lest we show weakness and give them the advantage!"
"Now now representative Alice, let's not be too hasty, if they're here to negotiate then we should try to negotiate with them. We all want peace don't we?"
Fury once again warped her expression as she marched over to the president, his secret service guards tensing up but the president waved them down.
"YOU, CAN'T, NEGOTIATE WITH THESE ANIMALS! By trying to do so you'll just only be giving them what they want, an opening! Countless kingdoms and nations have tried to 'negotiate' with them, only to fall from the inside because of it. Why do you think the Order hasn't tried to negotiate? It's because we know we'll be doublecrossed even before the ink dries!"
The silence had returned as Alice finished her rant, she looked around to the other faces as she stepped back from the president. However, the reactions she got weren't what she wanted, as her rage seemed to bubble up once more.
"WHY ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?!" She turned to Samson. "You know I speak the truth! Just how many settlements have been lost because they opted for 'cooperation' and left themselves completely vulnerable to the monsters? Far too many! I won't let that happen here! Not today, NOT EVER!"
"Alice! Please, let's just think about this. We need to keep cool heads lest we do something rash," Samson began as he tried to grab her arm. But the valkyrie pulled herself from his grip as she faced him.
"I won't compromise my ideals in favor of getting chummy with these new nations! Especially if they're just going to get themselves corrupted anyways! If you won't help me then I'll have to deal with the monster menace here on my own. Perhaps one day you'll see the truth again, but until then, goodbye Samson!"
With that Alice marched over to the Oval Office's exit and took off down the hallway. The shock Samson felt, coupled with the surprise of the rest of the party, made it so that almost nobody was willing to stop her. It didn't take long for Alice to find her way out of the White House. And as Samson looked outside the window at her taking off into the sky, he realized that things were going to get worse before they got better.
Paris, France
Things were going better than expected for Arthur. His efforts at reaching out to this new world had borne fruit, the first rounds of negotiation had gone well and now the new stage was being set. And as Arthur's delegation was being shown around Paris in a grand tour, he thought back on those negotiations. While the results weren't anything official, the results that had been reached were reasonable enough that they could easily be translated over to the United Nations without too much tweaking. At least that was the hope.
First was the process of how mamono were accepted into human society on Earth. One of the few things Apollya and Arthur were able to agree on was the fact all these mamono were forced into either going to these classes and facilities or face imprisonment, this was unacceptable for them. So instead an agreement was reached that allowed for mamono to be educated and shown the dos and don'ts on Earth from within the Royal Makai. The nation would pay for and open these facilities in the future in the event of more mamono immigrants coming to Earth.
In the reverse human nations back on Earth would create classes in order to help humans get educated on mamono and the many kinds out there. These classes would mostly be college courses.
Next up was the status of CRISPR. While Arthur would have preferred for his wife to solve mamonokind's greatest issue over humans, he knew that the implementation of CRISPR back in the Royal Makai would be a massive priority. The Royal Makai, with the help of the UN, would set up clinics so that expecting mamono could receive the procedure without having to travel to Earth.
Of course, while these human inventions and lessons were to be paid for by the Makai, they also wanted something else in return, specifically trade. Like all great nations, the Royal Makai wanted to expand its prosperity. And Earth's modern items, from lightbulbs to sliced bread, were very much desired within the Makai; and magical items and lessons were increasingly becoming more and more prized on Earth. Magic was here to stay for good or ill, and the market for all things magic was to be very lucrative. So basic trade between France and the Royal Makai was mapped out, with greater trade deals with the EU and United States potentially in the future.
But magical items and lessons needed instructors, and those lightbulbs needed power plants to run them, electricians and engineers to build them and all the rest that is needed to modernize a state. While this part of the agreement is barely in it's beginning stages, future agreements could help make this possible. This was all received well by the delegation with little disagreement, even Apollya was enthusiastic about this. Human men and women, immune to Demonic Energy, could come and work in the Royal Makai while magical instructors could come to Earth. Apollya also pushed for mamono being trained in these industrial jobs in the future, as to allow for the spread of technology to go by faster. This won her some more support within the delegation, and Arthur agreed with her on this as well. It wouldn't be smart to be completely reliant on Earth going forward.
Then there was the status of religion. The fact that these many deities within the realm of the Chief Goddess raised concerns and curiosity. Concerns that these immortal, powerful beings would try to spread their influence in ways that would be considered hostile. Curiosity that if these goddesses and gods were real, then what of the modern religions? As a result most of the religions that came along with the mamono were cautiously allowed to set themselves up on Earth. The Fallen Faith, to Ares Worship, even the Chief Goddess even began to have influence on Earth.
But one of the religions that was sharply being cracked down upon was the Sabbath. Even outside of the hardliner religious states like the Papacy and Saudi Arabia, the Sabbath was looked down upon harshly. First as what many deemed "a promoter of pedophilia" and then as a full blown insult to Christian and Jewish faith. Both of which celebrated their own forms of sabbath by going to church or resting. Despite the efforts of the several Sabbath delegates, they couldn't get the French negotiators to budge on the matter. They argued, "If we were to consider the Sabbath to be a religion, then the cults of Reason and the Supreme Being would have to be considered religions too. We're sorry, but we cannot in good conscience allow for the Sabbath to be established in France." This was a huge defeat for the Sabbath and one of the few topics where the negotiations broke down.
When the negotiations finished the French president offered to take the delegation on a tour of Paris, to which they agreed. They started with the Louvre, the wide variety of art impressed even those who weren't that interested in art in the first place. And of course the famous Mona Lisa had some new visitors that day too.
The Arc de Triomphe, while not the most impressive structure in the world, was a significant cultural site for France. As the group gazed up at it and were silent, as to honor the men and women who had died for France since 1789.
Finally the group ended up at Paris's most famous monument, the Eiffel Tower. Now this was an impressive structure! On par with Castle Makai, the metal tower stretched into the heavens, gazing down upon the rest of Paris. The group ended their tour at Le Jules Verne, the restaurant at the top of the tower.
The group enjoyed a fine spread of food, and as Arthur looked down upon Paris, he knew things were slowly getting better. It was just a matter of ensuring that Earth and mamono would continue to work together despite all those who wouldn't want that to happen. One of the biggest challenges that was not discussed was the "alliance" between the Earth group known as NATO, to which France was a part of, and the Order. The last thing Arthur needed was Earth deciding to side with their cousins in the Order. So he needed to do everything in his power to keep that alliance from forming.
Lucky for him he wouldn't have to do much to keep the Order and Earth from joining together. As back in Washington DC things were falling apart.
Washington DC, United States
Alice landed in a dark alley in downtown DC.
After fleeing the White House the valkyrie spent most of the rest of the day evading Samson and the police. Alice didn't really know what to do now, without Samson or any other Order allies on Earth she was all alone. So she did the only thing she thought was logical, she prayed.
After using some of her magic to clean a small area she knelt down, clasped her hands together and began to whisper praises to the Chief Goddess. Asking for what she should do; Alice asked who should, or could, she trust. She asked for guidance on how to bring Samson back to the side of righteousness.
To her joy, she received a response.'
A heavenly voice filled her ears, she knew at once it was her divine savior, Ilias!
My child, I have heard your cries for guidance even from another world! And I am here to answer them!
It is obvious now that if Earth does not shift itself onto the path of divine righteousness, it may be forever lost, with humanity along with it. YOU must be the guiding light for humanity on Earth. For this purpose, I grant you more power! Take it and listen to what I have to say!
Within her Alice felt a surge of power! At first painful, but the pain soon vanished and with it her weakness. Her magical reserves never felt stronger, she physically felt and looked stronger. As she stood up she noticed she was also taller, now a little taller than even Samson! Her awe was quickly replaced by her determination as she quickly fell to her knees once more.
While many have turned to face the darkness of the Demon Lord, there are those on Earth who have not. Nations, individuals and organizations who have pitted themselves against the tide of corruption. They are plentiful but are also divided, you must unite them in order to have any chance of keeping Earth pure. And as for your hero Samson, I will try to guide him along the right path and you must do so as well. But if he's already too far gone, then you must prevent him from getting corrupted. You must end him.
This caused Alice's closed eyes to snap open, a gasp escaping from her lips. She spent years with Samson, fighting off and slaying monsters side by side. To kill him? No! I WILL save him, I can't let him go! I care too much for him to allow this!
Then you must hurry! Ilias shouted. I grant you luck and continuous guidance on your quest. Saint Alice, only you can save humanity on Earth!
With her promotion to sainthood, Ilias' voice disappeared. Alice stood up, her new path clear. She looked to the night sky and took off! Her newly improved wings easily blast her off into the sky as she sets out on her new mission to save Earth from the grip of the Demon Lord.
The Fairfax Hotel, Washington DC, United States
Across town as Samson turned in for the night, having spent most of his day after the botched meeting trying to find Alice. He wanted to explain his reasoning for going along with all of this, but she was stubborn, often too much for her own good.
In truth Samson was a loyal Orderite and believer in ilias' teachings. However, after years of constant warfare with only inevitable defeat for humanity, Samson was tired. He was tired of killing and fighting and taking the diplomatic approach with Earth felt like the right thing to do.
He sighed as he laid down in his bed. He just needed to find Alice, and soon.