East Africa had established something akin to an economic colony within the Austro-Hungarian Empire because it was fundamentally concerned about the empire's future. As East Africa's channel into the Central and Eastern European market, the Austro-Hungarian Empire played an irreplaceable role in East Africa's external economic development.
If the Austro-Hungarian Empire were to disintegrate as it had in the previous life, leaving Austria and Hungary as two landlocked countries, East Africa's current political investments in the empire might all go down the drain.
Therefore, East Africa had to control a coastal location within the Austro-Hungarian Empire and ensure that the force there remained pro-East African. That way, even if the empire collapsed, East Africa could continue keeping the trade routes through the former Austro-Hungarian Empire open.
The Neretva River downstream valley region was precisely the place East Africa had sought. East Africa's investment in this region even exceeded that in Venice, second only to the regions of Croatia and Slovenia.
Mostar.
At night, Mostar International Winery.
"Kerlev, you're here!" Hagen, the owner of Mostar International Winery, warmly greeted his old friend.
"Hagen, why did you call all of us here today?" Kerlev asked.
Hagen draped an arm over Kerlev's shoulder and said, "Come to the conference room in the back first. I'll announce the Empire's instructions then. Go on in first—I still need to receive the others."
Kerlev nodded. "Then we'll wait for you in the conference room."
With that, Kerlev headed familiarly toward a building behind the winery. As a major winery that monopolized the production and sale of Mostar wine, it was quite large. This was merely one estate belonging to the Mostar winery.
Mostar City was one of the sunniest cities on the entire Balkan Peninsula, blessed with abundant heat. It was therefore also one of