Naval Ambitions (Please Vote with Monthly Tickets!)

Oka Ichinosuke and Yashiro Rokuro's attitudes virtually represented those of the Island Nation's military. With both of them in agreement, Oura Kanetake had no choice but to shut his mouth. He knew he could not keep talking. Otherwise, who knew what those vicious, ferocious men might do? In the Island Nation, once the Army and Navy jointly decided on something, no one could oppose it—not even the Emperor!

Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu glanced at the other Cabinet Ministers. Every one of them had their mouths tightly shut, not saying a word. He knew there was no need for further discussion.

"Since no one has any objections, then it is settled! Kato, reply to the Americans. We accept their terms. Also, we hope to pursue even deeper cooperation with them!" Okuma Shigenobu said.

"Yes, Prime Minister." Kato Takaaki replied.

Yashiro Rokuro and Oka Ichinosuke wore broad smiles. They already seemed to be planning how to secure an even larger share of the two-hundred-million-dollar loan.

Once the meeting ended, Yashiro Rokuro immediately returned to the Naval Ministry. After having his secretary notify Admiral Shimamura Hayao, Chief of the Naval General Staff, he took a car to a secluded area on the outskirts of Tokyo. This was the residence of Yamamoto Gonnohyōe, the father of the Island Nation Navy. It could be said that Yamamoto Gonnohyōe had played an enormous role in the Island Nation Navy's growth from weakness to strength, and later in its defeat of the Qing Chinese Navy and the Russian Navy. Thus, he had become the foremost elder of the Island Nation Navy.

Itō Yūkō, who had commanded the Island Nation Navy in defeating the Beiyang Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War, and Tōgō Heihachirō, who had commanded the Island Nation Navy in defeating the Russian Navy in the