Cheer

If there were no supernatural powers in this world, Hodgson would have been proud of his country's cutting-edge technology, the finest on Blue Star. But supernatural powers did exist.

Some countries in Asia and Europe had developed technology and supernatural powers side by side, yet each had guarded its supernatural powers more closely than the last. If Blue Star's recent turmoil had not forced supernatural beings and gods to step in and quell disasters, America might never have realized those countries had been leading it around by the nose.

But what was done was done. They had to find a way to make up for it.

"Minister Bowen, how are things progressing at the State Department?" Hodgson asked, calling on him.

"Not well." Under the president's expectant gaze, Secretary of State Bowen gave him the answer he did not want to hear. "The Five Nordic Countries have closed ranks. They've taken a hard line with us and refuse to negotiate over sharing supernatural powers."

Hodgson's brows drew together. "What about the Papal State?"

In the past, if those five little Nordic countries had dared take such a hard line, he would have made sure they learned what it meant to cross the most powerful country on Blue Star.

But the supernatural being who commanded the Sun Chariot made him wary of acting rashly.

"The Papal State hasn't responded to our request for a diplomatic visit. According to our intelligence, Bear Nation has grown very close to them, so they don't seem interested in dealing with us," Bowen replied.

"So Bear Nation, which calls itself the Third Rome and insists Eastern Orthodoxy is the true faith, has started kissing Saint John XII's boots too. I wonder what their own Patriarch would think if he knew what their president was doing." Hodgson