The North Continent.
The Loen Kingdom.
The young Winton II sat on the throne, looking slightly ill at ease, but still maintaining his composure and the dignity of a sovereign.
After George III had perished in his failed attempt to advance to Black Emperor.
Winton, his eldest son, had succeeded him as King of Loen. With the assistance of ministers such as Aguesid and Pallas Negan, he had kept the postwar kingdom functioning.
For now, the kingdom's policies focused on maintaining stability.
Thus.
When a country called the "Crimson Empire" on the Southern Continent announced its founding and dispatched envoys to the North Continent, seeking an in-depth, comprehensive discussion with the Loen Royal Family about Loen's colonies.
Winton had never heard of such an empire on the Southern Continent.
But according to reports from their spies there.
This empire had only suddenly announced its establishment in recent days. Its capital was Abidos, a city in the Star Highlands.
Its territory encompassed the Star Highlands and vast stretches of land to the south.
Furthermore, the Crimson Empire hoped to bring the entire Southern Continent within its borders. But given that most coastal cities on the Southern Continent were Loen colonies.
It had arranged this friendly visit.
The other side hoped to resolve certain "international disputes" through peaceful means.
This matter had caused quite a stir within the Loen Royal Family. Many of its members believed they should teach this presumptuous Crimson Empire a lesson.
But several senior ministers, including Aguesid, were more prudent. They believed they should first determine the Crimson Empire's intentions before making a decision.
A major reason for this was that the Loen Kingdom had already endured a war.
Every aspect of the nation now needed to recover as quickly as possible. And if the battlefield was on