The Iron Curtain Has Fallen

In response to Klein the Fool's question, Hobart the Emperor answered, "The Iron Curtain has fallen."

The other members all thought the Emperor was describing the current international situation, saying that it had become a foregone conclusion, as though an Iron Curtain had descended.

Only Klein understood Hobart's true meaning: once this ideological struggle began, it would be a fight to the death, with no room whatsoever for reconciliation.

It reminded him of the history of the pre-cataclysm civilization, and he sighed inwardly at how startlingly similar the course of events always was.

That once immensely powerful Red Giant, with its tide of steel, had likewise been established near the end of World War I.

The difference was that Hobart knew the course of history. He had first used the war to seize an enormous amount of wealth, then obtained vast war reparations as a victorious nation.

Finally, there was Hobart's use of Extraordinary forces. In theory, given the current situation, countries like Loen should have frozen all of Atlantis Kingdom's assets in the Northern Continent long ago.

Yet, based on what Klein had learned while in industrial cities like Constun, half the real estate in the industrial zone along the southern coast of the Sonia Sea belonged to Atlantis Kingdom, and none of it had been confiscated.

Previously, it had been because they were still allies. Now, it was because the Loen Kingdom no longer possessed the strength to confront Atlantis Kingdom head-on, so they did not dare take things too far.

In terms of Extraordinary Power, Atlantis Kingdom was already far stronger than Loen. As for the Orthodox God Churches, the Earth Mother Church would certainly support Atlantis Kingdom.

If they were forced to choose sides, the Goddess of the Night Church would most likely support Atlantis Kingdom