November 30, 2020/4017, Fourth Era.

  Civilization Zone 3, Papaldia Empire, Capital Estaurant.

  In the chilly atmosphere of a winter morning, two diplomats, Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov and Volery Vararovich Nikita, arrived in Papaldia at the government's request. They came with hopes of signing a trade agreement, despite warnings from several other countries that Papaldia might impose unreasonable and stringent demands. Those warnings did not dampen their confidence, for in this world, resources always wield the power to dictate decisions. No nation would refuse the opportunity to exploit the rich resources that Russia possessed.

  As the carriage came to a stop in front of Papaldia's magnificent diplomatic building, Lavrov and Nikita could not help but marvel at the beauty of the architecture. The intricately carved walls, the gleaming marble-paved paths, and the neatly trimmed rows of trees created an atmosphere that was both solemn and captivating. They stepped out of the carriage, their hearts filled with hope and eagerness.

  At the entrance, a guard dressed in a uniform reminiscent of 19th-century soldiers stopped them. "Please declare your information if you wish to enter," he said in a cold tone.

  "We are two diplomats from the Russian Federation," Lavrov replied, trying to maintain his composure.

  The guard raised an eyebrow, but after verifying their information, he allowed them to enter. As they walked through the grounds, Nikita could not help but admire the opulence of the place. Everything was perfect down to the last detail, from the artistic sculptures to the vibrant flower beds. Yet, within them, a sense of unease began to rise. They knew that behind this lavish exterior could lie dark schemes waiting to unfold.

  When they reached the large door, a young woman stood waiting. "Are you the diplomats from the Russian Federation?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

  "Exactly," Lavrov replied, feeling a slight tension in his voice.

  The girl nodded and turned to lead the way. They followed her into an even more splendid space than outside. The warm golden light from the large chandeliers illuminated the room, creating an atmosphere that was luxurious yet filled with pressure. The girl glanced at them, secretly disdainful: "Truly a bunch of savages."

  As she led them to a large door, she knocked lightly, and a voice echoed from within. The door opened, and they stepped into a vast room where four middle-aged men sat around a long table. One of them, with a stern expression, spoke up: "Sit down; we do not like to waste time."

  "We?" Lavrov whispered, but complied with the request. They sat down, their hearts full of anxiety and anticipation. The room fell silent, only the sound of their light breathing mingling with the heavy atmosphere. One of the four men, seemingly the leader, looked at them with a piercing gaze.

  "You come from Russia? A newly emerging nation in the North? It is indeed surprising that there has been no information about a country like that. First, introduce yourselves and your country," he said, his tone laced with contempt.

  "I am Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation," Lavrov said, striving to keep his tone calm. He gestured towards Nikita. "And this is Volery Vararovich Nikita, another diplomat."

  The two bowed their heads slightly, but within them, the arrogance of these men made them feel uncomfortable. Lavrov sensed the mockery in the eyes of those across the table. They had prepared for this negotiation, but they did not expect Papaldia's arrogance to be so pronounced.

  "Ah, I forgot. I am the Senior Diplomat of the Papaldia Empire, just call me Feldor," the man said, his tone self-satisfied. "And these are other senior officials from departments relevant to the content of this negotiation."

  Lavrov felt a surge of anger rising within him. Feldor's and the others' arrogance made him think of what Papaldia had done to other nations. They had heard of invasions and wars that Papaldia had instigated, and now they stood before an empire that considered itself civilized, yet was in fact ambitious and brutal.

  "We are pleased to meet you," Nikita said, trying to create a friendly atmosphere. "Here is some basic information about Russia. We hope you will review it and assess the situation accurately, and we can discuss the trade agreement."

  Feldor took the document, his eyes scanning the numbers and information. He raised an eyebrow, unable to believe what he was reading. "A country with over 17 million km?! With a mixed economy focused on trade development? And... oh, the things they can export?"

  He looked at the information about energy, minerals, agricultural products, and consumer goods. Each line felt like an arrow shot straight into his greed. "This is wonderful," Feldor thought to himself, "my empire will not only control food supplies but also their entire industry."

  But as he read through the trade terms, the smile on his face gradually faded. "A country to be displaced? Never mind, as long as it is useful, they can embellish that story as long as they like," he told himself, but calculations were already forming in his mind.

  Feldor pulled out two sheets of paper and handed them to the two Russian diplomats. Lavrov and Nikita took them, their hearts filled with dread. As they read through, a heavy shock washed over them. The contents were not only unfair but also blatantly deceptive.

  Trade Agreement between the Papaldia Empire and the Russian Federation

  Article 1: Purpose

  Both parties agree to sign a trade agreement aimed at facilitating the exchange of goods and services between the Papaldia Empire and the Russian Federation.

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  Article 2: Trade Terms

  - Resource Provision: Russia will provide natural resources such as timber, minerals, and food at preferential prices for Papaldia, not exceeding 30% of market value.

  - Trade Control: Papaldia has the right to control all trade activities on Russian territory and determine the prices of Russian products.

  - Tax Authority: All taxes and fees related to trade will be determined and collected by Papaldia at the highest possible rates.

  Article 3: Protecting Interests

  Papaldia will protect its trade interests by any necessary means, including military action if required, to ensure Russia's compliance with the terms of this agreement.

  Article 4: Duration

  This agreement is effective indefinitely until one party notifies the other in writing with at least 30 days' notice of termination.

  This was truly absurd; this was not how a nation that considered itself more civilized should behave. Inside the Foreign Minister, anger boiled at this unequal treaty, yet he managed to maintain his composure despite his furrowed brow. Nikita beside him began to tremble; his furrowed brows expressed anger even more intense than Lavrov's. He handed Lavrov the other treaty, which was even worse than the previous piece of scrap paper.

  Treaty between the Papaldia Empire and the Russian Federation

  Article 1: Acceptance of Sovereignty

  The Russian Federation accepts that the Papaldia Empire has supreme control over all political, military, and economic spheres of Russia. Russia commits not to interfere in Papaldia's administrative activities on its territory.

  Article 2: Denial of Self-Determination

  All decisions regarding Russia's domestic and foreign policy will be made by the Papaldia Empire. Russia will not be allowed to establish any diplomatic relations with other countries without Papaldia's consent.

  Article 3: Property and Resources

  All public and private property of Russia will belong to Papaldia. Papaldia will have the right to exploit Russia's natural resources without any consent from the Russian government.

  Article 4: Duration

  This treaty takes effect immediately upon signing and will continue in effect until one party notifies the other in writing of its termination.

  After reading the two pieces of scrap paper, referred to as treaties, Foreign Minister Lavrov could no longer contain his emotions. He grimaced, his eyes revealing anger and disappointment. Beside him, Nikita, his assistant, also could not maintain his composure. They had spent considerable time preparing for this negotiation, but now, all they received was contempt and unacceptable terms.

  "Mr. Feldor," Lavrov spoke, his voice deep and tense. "What is written in these two treaties is an unacceptable insult. We cannot agree to the terms contained within." He felt as if he were standing before an impenetrable wall, unable to break through.

  Nikita, with eyes blazing with fury, could not sit still. "Indeed, sir. As a nation, this is simply unacceptable on any level." His words rang out like a cry in the dark, but only received disdainful glances from the other side.

  Feldor and the others laughed. Their laughter echoed like a mocking tune, making Lavrov and Nikita feel ridiculed. "You must understand that you are merely a bunch of savages," Feldor said, his tone full of arrogance. "Just because you have a vast territory, you think you can stand on equal footing with us?" He laughed heartily, as if enjoying a farce.

  Another member of the Papaldia group chimed in, "Hahaha, you must be very angry, huh? But, as Mr. Feldor said, this is also a mercy for you to exist and retain some sovereignty. Unlike some other countries." These words struck like a dagger to Lavrov's and Nikita's pride.

  Nikita could no longer endure. He stood up, his voice booming like thunder in the gloomy atmosphere. "I do not agree with these two treaties! This is absurd; why would a nation think it can decide the fate of another nation!?" His words were a desperate cry, but only met with ridicule from the other side.

  "Sit down, Nikita," Lavrov gently but firmly intervened, guiding his colleague back to his seat. He knew that in this situation, calmness was the most essential thing.

  But the atmosphere had become tenser than ever. One of the Papaldia officials shouted, "This savage dares to raise his voice at us, the high-ranking figures of the empire? Do you think a nation outside the civilized zone can stand on equal footing with us? You should abandon that ridiculous idea!" The shout felt like a slap in the face, leaving both Russian diplomats stunned.

  They had heard of Papaldia's arrogance, but now, that arrogance was clearer than ever. Lavrov felt as if he were standing before a monster, an incomprehensible entity. He tried to maintain a conciliatory atmosphere, "I understand. But we can assure you that equal bilateral cooperation will benefit Papaldia more than using such brutal methods."

  Feldor stared directly at Lavrov, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Perhaps you do not understand what is happening? Do it." His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

  "What?" Nikita questioned, but immediately realized the meaning of that statement. An officer-like figure approached, drawing a gun. Without hesitation, the gun fired like thunder in clear skies, and in that moment, time seemed to freeze. A bullet struck Nikita in the head, causing him to collapse to the floor, blood pouring from the wound, staining the cold ground red. Lavrov stood frozen, his eyes wide, unable to believe what had just happened. It felt like a tidal wave crashing down, sweeping away all his reason and emotions.

  He glared at the Papaldia representatives, but only received disdainful looks, devoid of any respect for him, a diplomat from a nation that came to cooperate. They had not only killed a colleague but also extinguished all hope for peaceful dialogue. Lavrov felt as if he were standing in the midst of a storm, where everything around him became chaotic and dark.

  Feldor, with a cold smile on his lips, looked into Lavrov's pale face. "Now you understand the consequences of opposing the Papaldia Empire," he said, his tone as if savoring a tragic play. "Now, take this and present it to your country's leader for a decision. I give you a week."

  Lavrov said nothing, only took the two treaty papers, his heart heavy. He knew he could do nothing more in this situation. He turned and walked out of the room, leaving his colleague lying motionless on the floor, blood still flowing like a red river. Each step felt like a knife cutting into his heart, but he knew he had to survive, to return and report to his leaders.

  As Lavrov exited the building, the Papaldia officials began to converse among themselves, their laughter ringing out like a mocking tune. "It's truly amusing; these savages are always quite entertaining," one person laughed joyfully, his eyes sparkling with delight.

  Another chimed in, "Indeed, just look at how they handle and react to us; it shows they have nothing to stand on equal footing with us." Those words struck like daggers into Lavrov's pride, but he could not stop. He had to leave, to find a way to protect his country.

  Feldor, not wanting to hear any more meaningless chatter, stood up and commanded in a calm yet authoritative tone, "Enough, continue your work, and clean up this trash too." He pointed at Nikita, as if indicating a discarded item, no longer of value.

  As Lavrov stepped out of the building, the outside air felt like a shock. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. Each step felt heavy, as if carrying the weight of an entire nation. He knew that Papaldia was not just an arrogant nation but a real threat to Russia's survival.

  "Rest in peace, my friend," Lavrov whispered in his heart, "what they have done will be repaid in full." He was determined, not only to avenge Nikita but also to protect his country from invasion and oppression. He would not let Papaldia escape punishment. This war had only just begun.