Malam looked over at her team of cretinous little Goddesses just before they entered the Raptor jets for transport. The fact that two of them were taller than her didn’t make them any less little. Fer stood proudly in a black uniform, although Malam gave the woman not even a full day before she accidentally tore a hole through it. Anassa and Elassa both hovered in the air, Helenna readjusted the cap on the top of her head.

Each woman was a dagger that should be plunged deep into the hearts of Epa. Malam took a sigh and started assigning orders. “Fer, you are going to be dropped off close to Iliyal. The National Goddesses are your affair.”

“Aye Aye boss.” If it was anyone else, Malam would have assumed she was getting mocked. But Fer usually spoke in that immature tone.

“Elassa. You’re on Arcadia. You have a week there or until I call you. Empty the college and bring it back to Epa.” Elassa sighed and nodded. “Anassa, you’re with her.” The two quickly flashed a content smile between each other. “Helenna, you’re with me.” And Helenna flashed a very open smile that Malam was sure everyone noticed.

Fer’s hur-hur-hur of a chuckle confirmed that of Beasthood at least did.

Arascus dropped out of the plane and fell towards the ground. He changed the fall to a float halfway through, and started to drop out as the huge bomber above him started to make a turn south towards the Ausan airports. The land beneath him was what became known as the Arikan Ashlands, at least temporarily. Definitely temporarily, already small shoots of grass and bushes were starting to clamber their way out of the land’s fertile ash. They had the odd flower here and there too, the land was still largely an ugly shade of white, black and grey of ash, but now it was interspersed with dashes of green.

And far below him, was a series of large off-road cars and helicopters that had transported all the important players in Arika to this little meeting. Arascus checked his watch as he approached them, two minutes early. Almost on the dot. Perfect timing frankly. In the centre of the circle of cars, a section of ash had been scraped away to reveal Arika’s rich red soil, a round table had been positioned there and from the looks of it, everyone was already in attendance. Arascus looked over all the people as he settled down. Representing Ausa were Premier-General Abakwa along with General Domkat, both men muscular and both men looking reinvigorated, their eyes dashing around the landscape. No doubt it was still difficult for them to believe that the Jungle which had threatened to push the twelve cities of Ausa into the ocean was now the ash around them.

The eleven mayors of the other cities were here too. Mayors, but officially they held the title of City-Premier. Arascus knew their names, he had made to sure to study everyone here. The only ones that truly mattered though were City-Premiers Aidbullah and Stainnis. They led the final two cities in the chain of towns that was Ausa. Ozoria and Manoka.

President Hendali was here too, with two assistants and a pin bearing Kassandora’s symbol on his chest, a sword piercing a skull. His two assistants stood by his side, both with suitcases although Arascus didn’t even know why the man had come. Of course he was trying to worm his way into Arascus’ good graces through that pin, but it didn’t work. His nation already had a hard eastern border set, which was the Poison Line. If the man had wanted land in this meeting, then he should have gone ahead and started plotting before the meeting started.

Two representatives came from Giers, Alasia, Ibiya and Khmet each. All of them technically owned the Sassara, thus all of them had technically bordered the Jungle. But the Sassara was a huge stretch of sand and frankly, these nations were more affected by Epan affairs than what happened south of the grand desert. If push came to shove, then they could be appeased with a useless stretch of sand, but Arascus had already decided that they would not get enough of the habitable, fertile soil to fill up even a single glass.

And then came the representatives from the countries that lay south of the Jungle: Karoon, Amzia, Kashasa and Muwanda. These were the power players, they had suffered under the Jungle too, and they made a single alliance bloc with a very obvious antagonist to their own interests: Kirinyaa herself. At least, that is what Arascus would do in their situation. They might not see it that way, or maybe they felt generous, but he did not rely on his opponent’s stupidity or generosity to score victories. The four representatives from them: Karoon’s aging President Iya and his assistants, Amzia’s Prime Minister Bahainde along with Kashasa’s Tsishekedi of the same title and another president, Muwanda’s Evaristeh.

Arascus approached and sat in his own seat, larger than all the others, although he himself stood over twice the height of a normal man. Even sat down, these people were reaching up to his chest. He was opposite Abakwa, as it should be. Sitting too close could hint at allegiance and in-between Evaristeh and Iya. Both men were in clean black suits and white undershirts and red ties. “Apologies for making you wait.” Arascus made a show at looking at the silver watch on his wrist. “But I arrived on the dot.”

“It is no issue.” Bahainde said from the side. Him and Tsishekedi were next to each other, and then next to Abakwa and Domkat. “It is us that came early.”

Hendali from the other side spoke up earnestly. “We’re not in any position to make Gods wait.” Arascus gave the man the tiniest bow of thanks for that simply to maintain decorum.

“Not at all.” City-Premier Stainnis said. “Especially not the man responsible for the Reclamation War.”

Arascus took back control of the conversation before it got out of hand. “Some of you have met me before. You know I skip the gossip and get straight to business.” And now seemed like the time to calm these people’s nerves. “I’m sure all of you know the situation I’m in regarding the White Pantheon. I was actually hoping some of you had drafted up plans to make this meeting and smooth and satisfying for everyone as possible.” That, along with the lateness, was both done purposefully, to give the illusion that Arascus didn’t have time for this meeting and that there wasn’t a plan. He was sure that they would give him something, but the goal was to take as much as possible without making it seem like he was scheming for it.

In reality, Arascus had given Abakwa the plans for splitting Arika. The Premier General pulled out a map of modern Arika, complete with Elassa’s Sea and the crack that split the Ausan city chain. “I’ve prepared a plain map. I have my own too, but if anyone has any suggestions, you are welcome to speak.” Abakwa said as Domkat crossed his arms by the man’s side and leaned back. Arascus scanned the others for any reaction, although apart from fiddling with their papers, no one was giving any obvious signs of greed. “How should we go?” Abakwa asked. “Any initial ideas?”

The representative from Khmet spoke up. “I understand the Neutral Ocean Plan is out?” She said lightly and Arascus looked around at the men. Of course Khmet would suggest that, because Khmet had absolutely nothing to gain here. Even the other Sassaran nations could potentially, on some miniscule off-chance, score some valuable clay. Khmet could only hope for a sliver of sand that they already owned, just unofficially.

Everyone shared a look and Arascus spoke up. “I think no one wants the Neutral Ocean Plan.” It would have created an entirely new nation surrounding the Sea left behind by the Cracking, and all the other nations would have been given a sliver of land here and there. Arascus was surprised that President Hendali of Sehal wasn’t pushing for it. That was the best thing to do in that position.

“The Jungle took too much.” Abakwa spoke up and the other eleven mayors nodded. “Ausa and Kirinyaa both lost vast swathes of ancestral territory to the Jungle. I don’t think that land is under negotiation either.”

“In regards to that.” Evaristeh spoke up. “Kirinyaa is in a unique position because of the tribesmen within it. Can Kirinyaa really lay claim to the land just because that is where the majority of the refugees went?” Arascus knew this would come, it was the tribesmen like Arusei that now inhabited the Kirinyaan Badlands in the nation’s west. They weren’t native to the land, they had merely taken refuge in Kirinyaa because the north was the impassable Sassara and the west was the Poison Line.

“Kassandora made a promise to the men you are referencing.” Arascus said. “That they would walk in the lands of their forefathers. I have already given them the land.”

“Then is Kirinyaa going to stretch from sea to sea?” Evaristeh asked. “You must understand that we do not want a continental hegemon in Arika.”

Arascus maintained his pleasant demeanour, no matter how utterly farcical the statement that the man just said was. Kirinyaa would be a continental hegemon no matter if it shrunk or grew. Kirinyaa was the only nation that had access to himself, to Kassandora, to Fer, and through Fer, to the great Guardian Beasts of the Jungle. “I plan to establish a hard border for the Imperial Province of Kirinyaa here.” Arascus pulled out a pen and drew a line along an ancient river that the Jungle had drained dry. The audience all nodded at that.

“And further on?”

“The Imperial Province of Central Arika.” Arascus replied flatly as he stared Evaristeh down.

The man shifted, arms crossed, and looked to his allies in the southern bloc. Bahainde spoke up. “There is no practical difference what it’s called on the map. It’s still Imperial land.” Arascus shook his head and raised his hand to stall the man from talking anymore.

“I suggest a straight border along the fifteenth latitude in the Sassara. That would be Kirinyaa’s northern border, how the Sassara is distributed is not for me to decide beyond that.” The representatives from Giers and Ibiya shared a curious look. The God had just given them more than three quarters of the entire Sassara, their nations would suddenly more than triple in height on a map.

“Wait wait.” Now Hendali spoke up. “That much of the Sassara is being given away?”

“I actually agree.” The representative from Alasia, the poorest of the northern nations spoke up. “This was far more than we expected.” The others nodded. Arascus made sure not to show any reaction of surprise, but he was stunned. They had wanted less?

He knew that he spent a millennium locked away in a box, but he had been free for quite a while now, and he… What had the world come to when leaders would be pushing land away. Arascus looked back down at the map and then realised that was actually an issue. To think he would have to actually convince people to take land! “Kirinyaa is in open war with the Pantheon.” Arascus said, and as he spoke, he realised that this may not even be a problem. It simply turned out better than he expected. “If we took it, then the land is unmanageable and would be raided to oblivion.”

“The land is unmanageable for us too.” Alasia’s man said.

“I actually don’t think so.” The man from Giers quickly added and Ibiya’s man nodded.

“I would actually suggest that the Arikan Jungle Crisis Relief Fund can be used for this.” Arascus said. “It still remains one of the largest employers this side of the continent, I don’t actually want it to close its doors.”

“I don’t understand.” Alasia’s representative said.

“We can use them rebuilding and managing the lands that the governments can’t take. I would suggest arming the AJCRF to stop banditry too, as we’ve just opened up a continent’s worth of lawless land. Kirinyaa is ready to donate arms.”

“Are we going to rename it to the Imperial AJCRF too?” Iya asked coldly.

Arascus smiled, raised waved his hand gently and shook his head. “I have no want to take over a charity. Back in my era, this changeover period is when land became the most lawless. I would rather arm the AJCRF, give them authority to arrest and hand over to the local police for judgement, and then take it from there rather than have underground labs begin construction along with local hot-heads becoming warlords.” The men all looked at that and the table started to nod. This, Arascus did not even lie about. He had no use for the AJCRF, Kirinyaa already had a professional military, but the AJCRF was a major employer in Kirinyaa and he didn’t want some thirty to forty thousand men suddenly be out of work. That is how banditry began after all.

Arascus returned to the topic at hand. “Giers, Alasia, Ibiya and Khmet are not under sanctions like Kirinyaa, nor are you in open war. You will be able to exploit the desert better than us. As you know, I have come in contact with Elassa. Arcadia would be happy to provide mages to support resource extraction in the Sassara.” He had just thought of the idea, since he thought that he would have to argue with these nations to push them back into the Sassara, but if they were friendly, then he may as well stay friendly with them. Elassa’s magicians would be able to work under the banner of neutral nations, and Kirinyaa would be more than happy to buy the resources. Frankly, Arascus was sure that he would be able to negotiate lower prices in exchange for the magical support.

“I still am against the militarization of the Fund.” Iya said, although less forcefully this time.

Arascus made his tone polite yet forceful. He wasn’t speaking to convince Iya here, he was speaking to convince the northern bloc. “If we disband the Fund just because the Jungle has been killed, what are we going to do with the billions in assets the Fund possesses? Send it back to Epa?” The table chuckled, Arascus gave them a moment to calm down before continuing. “This is a zero sum game, true, but we are all on the same side. The more the Fund is cannibalized, the more Arika as a whole wins.”

“I actually see the point.” Now Kashasa’s Tsishekedi came in. A tall man, dark skinned and with his head shaved entirely clean of all hair save for his eyebrows. “But I think in that way, we should establish an authority over the Fund to make sure that the cannibalization is equal.”

Arascus smiled and nodded. “I was going to suggest establishing a council over the Fund which can be headed by Sehal.”

“Why Sehal?”

“Because Sehal seeks to benefit least from this since they have a hard border already.” And because Sehal was on the other side of the sea to Kirinyaa, so Arascus hoped that it made him seem like he was sharing the wealth. President Hendali nodded at that, Abakwa and Domkat did too, but they had orders to be supportive.

“Actually, we were going to raise issue on the Poison Line. Now that the Jungle is cleared, we would like to eliminate it.” Arascus looked at the man’s pin and realised why the man wore it. He wanted to be friendly, because he had an issue he couldn’t fix himself.

“The AJCRF can help with that.” Arascus said. “And in the Sassara with managing for your nations. When it comes to the Fund, Kirinyaa needs only the most minimal support.” That was a clean and polite denial to Hendali’s request for help too, although Arascus made sure to leave his door open and not pre-emptively close off any connections. “Currently, all the Divines under my authority are busy. Again, I can ask for mage support to assist, but I would suggest the establishment of an independent Arikan Authority to deal with the Poison Line. That too, under Sehal’s command.”

And Hendali smiled at that too, he leaned back and took a heavy sigh. “Honestly, I thought you would have tried to force the old Sehal lands back into our hands which would have been more of an issue for us with the Line. This, under my authority as President of the Democratic Republic of Sehal, I agree to.” He stopped and blinked. “And we would like the Glass Desert too.”

“It was already yours.” Abakwa said in a joking tone and the table laughed.

“Just formally, on a map.” Hendali said as he leaned into the middle of the table and drew his own line, enclosing the entire Glass Desert.

“My advice would be to turn it into a national park.” Arascus said. “It was a world-wonder, now it’s safe for people to enter.”

Hendali laughed and pointed to the God. “That was our plan exactly. If I’m going to be frank, we already are establishment a company for managing it. Everyone here is invited for the grand opening, whenever that is.”

“I can’t promise I’ll make the opening, but I’ll attend.” Arascus kept his tone light and good-natured, the rest of the men around the table all made their own promises of attendance too. The northern nations especially, since they were all smiles from their sudden good fortune in being given so much land. This meeting was turning out far better than he had hoped. The northern bloc was happy, Sehal was happy, now it was just a matter of the most troublesome individuals.

The southern bloc. Those four nations of Karoon, Amzia, Kashasa and Muwanda, they no doubt would not want a lot, but Arascus had already sat down and talked through the issue with Helenna and Malam. Ausa was the real danger, especially City-Premiers Aidbullah and Stainnis who led Ozoria and Manoka especially. Ausa had only remained under one single flag for so long because the twelve cities knew they wielded more influence on the world stage together than alone. When they had to negotiate for fuel to keep their Firewalls burning to safeguard themselves from the Jungle, when they had to negotiate for food or for water, it was simply better to do it as a whole.

But now, there was no more Jungle and without that need, why should Ozoria listen to the orders of Igos? In the whole Ausan chain of twelve, none of the cities were dependant on each other for logistic chains and whilst they all had Ausan as an official language, only Igos, Cabalar and Dala actually spoke Ausan day-to-day. It was practically half-a-dozen different nations.

Arascus and Abakwa knew the situation at hand. The southern bloc would support Ozoria and Manoka, then Ozoria and Manoka would take a good slice of Ausan land, declare independence and form join the collective of nations to the south.

And that would be troublesome indeed.

Arascus looked to Premier-General Abakwa, now was the time for him to shine. They had not rehearsed this part, Arascus did not believe in rehearsals at this level, there was ultimately nothing at the end of the day that could prepare you mentally for sitting on a table surrounded by world leaders. And Abakwa spoke loudly and clearly. “In truth, everyone knows that Ausa is currently heading into a time of renewal and change. In regards to that, we will deal with it ourselves.” He made his voice definite at the end, to leave no room for doubt that outsiders weren’t welcome.

Arascus inspected the reactions on the table, the northern bloc obviously did not care about Ausan domestic politics, and they were still happy from being given the Sassara. Sehal nodded in agreement, the southern bloc likewise made faces of agreement as Arascus tried to seem disappointed. If he made it seem like he didn’t want this, then the southern bloc would most likely be more in favour for it. Arascus phone buzzed inside his black coat as Abakwa continued. “In this case, this meeting may be the final time that Ausa argues for itself as a nation of twelve cities. I would rather our final meeting be one in which we leave a legacy respect and honour, rather than being a set of squabbling children.”

The eleven over City-Premiers shared looks and nodded to each other as Arascus took out his phone. If it was a message from anyone else, he would have ignored it. But it was from Damian Sokolowski. Officially, the General of the First Imperial Army should have gone through Kassandora, but things under Arascus’ command always got more informal the higher they went up the ladder. Hierarchy, at the end of the day, was for the masses. “I agree with that.” Ozoria’s Aidbullah said, skinny and tall and dark, with a wrap around his head to protect himself from the sun. Ozoria sat dead centre on the equator.

Arascus read Sokolowski’s text: Reorganisation finished. Ekkerson is leading the coastal defence. Zalewski has army group north in position, I have army group south. Awaiting green light. Arascus put the phone back into his pocket. Zalewski’s north group would push over and around Elassa’s Sea that had been left behind by the crack, Sokolowski would take a larger group straight west then south, to secure Ausa’s border against the southern bloc and prevent any sort of independence movement from having the confidence to succeed. Arascus and Abakwa exchanged a quick, confirmative glance, and the man continued. “In that case, Ausa will argue like this, under one flag, we will claim the land we wish to take from the Jungle, and then we will deal with the internal borders between the cities ourselves. All those in favour of this approach, raise a hand.”

All eleven mayors raised their hands. Abakwa followed as number twelve.

It was done.

Arascus had won.

He saw the southern bloc leaders look at him. They smiled in their vain success. Abakwa cleared his throat and brought forth a map with a massive chunk of land carved out for Ausa. Running all the way north, along the Poison Line, stretching west and overlapping into where Arascus proposed the Imperial Province of Central Arika. Arascus did not want to seem too eager for this situation, else that would give the game away.

“In regards to that.” Arascus tried to make it seem like the issue he had was the IPCA. “It is because of Kirinyaa’s efforts that we are even having this conversation.”

“We could compromise then.” Abakwa said. “The IPCA will take north of Elassa’s Sea.” Arascus sighed and looked heavily at the map as if there was anything to contemplate. The deal had already been struck before, the IPCA would exist in the manner that Arascus had drawn, but it was to be established on this meeting so that the other countries would officially recognize it as a real state rather than just a puppet government of Arascus.

Arascus leaned back and crossed his arms. Another round of defence would be better. “Kassandora led the war. As I said at the start, I have struck a promise that the people taking refuge in Kirinyaa would be able to walk to their homelands. I intend to stick to it.” Arascus raised an eyebrow at the men at the table, this would be a total false flag to simply lead them off the scent. “Unless we plan to officially acknowledge them as stateless and give them free travel throughout Arika as a whole.”

Of course no one took him up on that. The tribesmen like Arusei had sworn themselves to Kassandora once Olephia killed the Caretaker, that was the moment they had finally been given a taste of victory, and they had grown loyal thanks to it. Everyone made some vain excuse that marred the real reason: no one would trust men who could venture into the Jungle in their own lands. Allowing them entry was akin to allowing the best of the best of Arascus’ soldiers to enter.

“In that case actually.” Iya said. “The IPCA for the natives of Central Arika should be created. We have a fair few too.” The northern bloc nodded too and Giers’ representative added his own thoughts.

“We know they’re active in the Sassara too.”

“Khmet has a good amount too in the south.” The lady from that nation added. “This is why we wanted to the Neutral Ocean Plan, because…” Her cheeks went red. “Everyone deserves a home, they should receive theirs.” Arascus smiled at her, that was a wonderfully diplomatic way of saying that Khmet did not want them.

Arascus made a serious expression and a nod as he looked over at the map, he made sure to furrow his eyebrows. He clicked his tongue. “I see.” This part, Abakwa knew how to play.

“But it is true though.” Abakwa said. “We can stretch the border of the IPCA further south.” And he turned to the leaders of Amzia and Muwanda, Bahainde and Evaristeh respectively. The man could not really feign emotion, Arascus saw through that pleading look immediately. Or maybe he could and Arascus was simply working with all the ability a deity possessed whilst these men were still stuck at the level of humanity. Whatever the case, both Bahainde and Evaristeh seemed to catch that they would have to make some sort of conciliatory concession.

“That is true.” Bahainde spoke up first. “Whilst we don’t want a hegemon on the continent, I still think we should appreciate the good will and restraint shown by Kirinyaa.” The man looked at the map, then at the northern bloc on the other side of the table. “Especially when it comes to the Sassara.” He added in a way that said he obviously did not want to give anything up.

But Arascus did not stop him. At the end of the day, Kirinyaa was not a hegemon on the continent, it was a great power across the whole world by the sheer of the Divines aligned with it. Nations like Amzia and Muwanda did not get to dictate things for Kirinyaa. Bahainde sighed and drew a line on the map. “Amzia will take up to this line and Kirinyaa can have the north.”

Arascus nodded as Evaristeh came forwards. “I was going to suggest making the centre of the rock formations here the border.” Arascus raised an eyebrow, it was actually just slightly more than Bahainde had given them. Arascus must have thrown them off well if they had come in obviously so against him and now were giving appeasements.

“I can agree to that.” Arascus said. “That’s a good compromise in fact. It will be hard to get trucks through those rocks.” Evaristeh nodded.

“I had thought of that.” He sighed and looked up at the God. “Honestly, you are not as bad to negotiate with as I expected.” The rest of the table agreed with that. Abakwa especially.

“Then I would like the formal recognition of the Imperial Province of Central Arika by tomorrow at the latest.” Arascus said. “And just for open-ness, an army led by General Zalewski will be moving into the area. General Sokolowski is also stationed in the west, but both are there out of my own paranoia.”

“Paranoia?” Iya asked.

“I don’t believe it will happen, but I’ve lived long enough to be proven wrong every now and then.” Arascus lied straight through his teeth, but he just needed any reason that made sense and this, well… “So just in case, I have positioned troops in the west in case the Jungle starts to resurface.” And who could argue with that?

The men all shared nervous glances, and then looked at the ground around them. “You think so?” Hendali asked.

“No.” Arascus said. “I do not believe it will return, I am simply paranoid. The troops will stay there for a while and then move back.”

“Well…” The lady from Khmet said. “I appreciate the openness about that.” The rest of the table nodded. “Khmet can recognize the IPCA the moment we see a flag or anything to recognize.”

“For ease of creation.” Arascus said. “It will be established as a constitutional monarchy before the transitioning to a republic.” The first part was truth, the second was wrong entirely. The constitution was only there to safeguard Arusei as the man was going to be tested. If he flaked out, Arascus would bring in someone else to do the job of ruling that area.

“How you manage your country is your own pejorative.” Abakwa gave the scripted reply before anyone could raise objection. And with those words, no one raised any objection. Abakwa could say it of course, because Abakwa expected the same treatment from the others. The logic was simple, an attack on that principal would be an attack on Ausa, and that would force Ausa into Arascus’ hands. It was good logic Arascus thought, but it only worked if Ausa was an independent actor. Arascus smiled and returned a polite inclination of his head. It was indeed silent long enough for the representative of Alasia to speak up.

“We too will recognize the IPCA.” And so, they fell one-by-one.

And with that, it was done. Once the IPCA was a real state, it would be impossible to take back what was said. The legitimacy would be given, and the only thing that an immediate removal of the recognition would do is damage the other party’s prestige. The White Pantheon would obviously not recognise it either, Epa most likely would. And once a nation existed, it was difficult to make it un-exist.

Instead, Arascus turned to look at the map. He looked up at the Premier-General. “Then I will sign.” Abakwa said as Arascus actually scanned the map again. The vast swathes of the Sassara had been given up… but… Apart from a tiny slither to the southern bloc… And the Glass Desert to Sehal. He was honestly impressed with how much he got. Abakwa signed the map, then passed the pen.

It went around in a circle, until it reached Arascus. The God of Pride took the pen and signed: Arascus. Of Pride. And he stared at that map some more. Kirinyaa and Ausa combined had secured more than eighty percent of the fertile land.

Now that’s how you carved up a continent.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep