In the early winter of Sea Circle Calendar 1517, the bitter wind blew against Chang'an City's towering flagpoles, and Hua Country's flags, bearing the Dark Bird emblem, snapped in the wind. More than half a month had passed since Aokiji's departure. On the surface, Chang'an City had returned to its former order, but the atmosphere inside Zichen Hall was graver than ever. Chen Yu and his inner circle knew that Aokiji's "visit" had been no ending, but the beginning of closer scrutiny by the World Government. The true storm was brewing atop the distant Red Line.
"My lord, the formal invitation from Mary Geoise has arrived."
Holding a gold-embossed letter bearing the World Government's emblem, Guo Jia walked steadily into the hall and presented it to Chen Yu. Its language was official and restrained. In the name of the fifty-nation covenant of the World Government Member States, with Hua Country taking the former Flower Country's place, it formally invited representatives of "Hua Country" to attend the upcoming Reverie at Mary Geoise and jointly discuss "major issues concerning global stability and development."
The hall was brightly lit, its principal ministers gathered together. Liu Bei frowned slightly. "The Reverie... this is the highest-level deliberative assembly of the World Government Member States. Our Hua Country is newly founded. Though we effectively control the former Flower Country's territory, the World Government has yet to grant us formal diplomatic recognition. Is this invitation an acknowledgment, or a trap?"
"I fear it is more likely the latter." Guo Jia gently waved his feather fan, Uxie's Power flowing through his eyes as he saw through appearances to the undercurrents beneath. "In name, they invite us to an assembly. In truth, they wish to place us within their framework of rules, making it easier to observe us at