February 10, 2021/4018, Fourth Era.

  Civilization Area No. 1, Holy Milishial Empire, Capital Aeternus.

  On the inner road of the capital of the Holy Empire of Milishial—an emblem of perfection; a shining gem atop the sacred plateau, the ultimate symbol of divine power and a direct connection to the divine. Built with dedication and timeless wisdom, Aeternus is not merely a city but a place where heaven and earth converge, an undisputed center of theocracy.

  Thousands of its residents pass by, forming long lines alongside various vehicles originating from Milishial rolling down the streets. The road system is tightly interconnected, each leading to different areas, from bustling markets to temples scattered throughout the capital. All structures in the city, whether residential or commercial, adhere to harmonious architecture, adorned with religious symbols to remind everyone that they live under the watchful eyes of the divine.

  The atmosphere in Aeternus is steeped in solemnity. The bells chime three times a day, reminding residents to participate in communal prayer rituals. The chanting of hymns by priests resonates everywhere, blending with the sounds of the city, creating a symphony that is both majestic and sacred.

  Yet, beyond the sanctity it radiates, there are places that do not reflect this—ports, where hundreds of ships of all sizes from various nations gather. This showcases Milishial's premier development as the strongest superpower; with its robust economy, no one dares to provoke such a formidable beast.

  Inside a rest station—where hundreds are taking a break. This is a place where merchants, adventurers, and various social classes can come without serious issues. The atmosphere inside is always lively, with services available for relaxation; and the most beloved item here is the TV—the most popular device in the Empire, yet extremely limited in Mu, and nonexistent in Civilization Area No. 3.

  Everyone pays great attention to the programs from Milishial. Many of these serve as propaganda tools, while the rest are entertainment services for ordinary users from different places.

  The most famous is the National Broadcasting Station Sancta Vox—beloved by those present. And today, those inside are focused on the upcoming broadcast. Because a war is currently raging in Papaldia.

  "Which foolish nation dares to attack Papaldia?"

  A nearby merchant immediately answers the young man.

  "It's a nation called Russia, or the Russian Federation," he says. "I only know very little about that country."

  "Must be some nameless barbaric nation," the other replies. "How could there be a powerful force there?"

  The merchant grimaces in rebuttal. "It's quite well-known in the North."

  "A vast nation that has been establishing diplomatic relations with many countries for the past four months," the merchant continues. "I was initially in the Kingdom of Rowlia—or now called the Republic of Rowlia, trading jewelry there; everything was going smoothly, and I made a lot of money. Until Rowlia declared war on its neighbor Mamluk; Russia intervened as an ally for Mamluk."

  "Okay, so what does that have to do with the war?"

  "You wouldn't understand, no one does!" he angrily retorts. "That country is like a plague. The war unfolded swiftly with the victory leaning towards Russia, and then... I moved to another country out of fear of Russia, but..."

  He pauses, causing the young man beside him to feel awkward along with some others who overheard. The merchant remains silent for a moment before continuing.

  "Since that war, Russia's strong presence is everywhere. It manifests in many forms, but the most noticeable is in banking," he cradles his face, expressing his helplessness at that time. "You see Russia everywhere, and until they declared war on Papaldia, it led to the current events."

  "So what?" another person interjects. "It's just a rising nation wanting to show its strength, right?"

  "True, but the main issue is that there's no country named Russia there at all!" he exclaims angrily. "There's nothing there! How could a land suddenly appear like that?!"

  The man continues to explain to the person next to him, but is interrupted by someone else nearby. "Shut up, old man, the program is starting."

  The people in the room fall silent to watch the latest news of the day. After a brief introduction, the TV displays a man dressed in traditional attire with a long purple cloak and a red star on the right. The man's deep voice gently resonates.

  "I am Maximnus—the host of the prominent war segment. Today is a special day because after so long, we finally have the first concrete images of the ongoing war in Papaldia—where we will learn about a completely new faction, the Russian Federation—a rising nation in the North that has been making waves for months. Next, we will have a perspective from Altania."

  ...

  Harachirst Base.

  In the bleak landscape where the Russian army is stationed, transforming the area to meet the standards of a combat base, Lieutenant General Roman Nikolayevich Perezovski sits on a rock, facing a young girl and a young man beside her with what he can identify as a recording device—seemingly broadcasting live.

  "Hello to all viewers, I am Altania, currently at the Harachirst base in Papaldia, and the person in front of me is the representative of the Russian army," she pauses and turns to Perezovski. "Sir; could you introduce yourself?"

  Perezovski takes a deep breath and replies, "I am Roman Nikolayevich Perezovski—Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. You may call me General Perezovski, Miss Altania."

  Altania greets him and maintains a respectful demeanor. "General Perezovski, I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet you and document the stories from the Russian front. The sudden appearance and 'expansion' of Russia have established your current position. It seems to have touched the interests of Papaldia, but also attracted the attention of the Holy Empire of Milishial. I hope to gain further insight into what is happening here."

  Perezovski nods, his voice deep yet firm. "We are not here out of ambition for territorial expansion or military might. This is a quest for vengeance, nothing more, but the objectives may change based on the situation of the war or other unforeseen factors, and that will be when we no longer need to hold back."

  "So, General, what gives you or Russia such confidence in your victory?" she inquires. "Because from what I see, it would be quite difficult for you to defeat a power with such vast resources as Papaldia."

  "We always assess our opponents objectively—Papaldia is no exception. But to put it bluntly, Papaldia is not highly regarded by our military analysts, nor is it considered a professional military force," Perezovski responds. "We have the strength to strike Papaldia without needing to deploy too many troops here; in other words, if we wanted, Papaldia could become a dead land immediately. But I will not do that."

  "Why not? If you have such power and do not showcase it to everyone, isn't that a waste?" she continues, "Anyone looking at a nation with such strength would surely submit unconditionally, wouldn't you intend to use it?"

  "The situation is more complex than that," he states. "The use of such power is typically reserved for dire circumstances or particularly severe situations. Like when the survival of the nation is threatened."

  "What kind of power could only be used in such situations?" she presses further. "Because as far as I know, there is no type of power that is used for such purposes. If it is as powerful as you say, why do you seem tense when mentioning it?"

  A sinister smile from Altania sends a chill down Perezovski's spine. He is unsure of her intent but knows she is trying to extract more information from him, which is impossible in this case.

  "Revealing military secrets at a strategic level is highly taboo, especially when the power I refer to is a weapon—a weapon created by mankind to protect itself and defeat its enemies."

  "So it means it's technology? It must be some form of quite powerful magical technology, right?" Altania's eyes sparkle with excitement. "Then your nation would be classified among the powerful nations. But that's just my impression; is there any evidence to support that?"

  "There are many ways. But we do not pursue expansionist policies or hegemony. All we do is ensure the prosperity of the nation through peaceful means," Perezovski pauses for a moment, then continues. "All nations are partners to us, so if any nation has sufficient potential or need, the Russian Federation is always ready to cooperate with them."

  "So Russia pursues a peaceful ideology?" Altania smiles, though with a hint of confusion. "That seems quite incompatible with Civilization Area No. 3 or some areas in Civilization Area No. 1, where many nations are not very friendly towards those they consider barbaric. But we—Milishial—always have a more positive outlook than they do—like being ready to support less developed nations."

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  "So a nation with extensive investment policies," Perezovski continues, "similar to us, indicates that both sides would be suitable partners aligned with each other's direction."

  "Ah, it seems we have strayed from my earlier question," she offers a friendly smile, reiterating her question to Perezovski. "If Russia has powerful magical technology, then please help me understand how Russia could achieve such technologies?"

  "No," Roman interrupts before Altania can finish her question. His voice is firm, his gaze resolute, causing the young woman to hesitate. "Do not be mistaken, Miss Altania. We do not rely on magic. Russia is a nation built on the foundations of modern science and technology. Everything you see here, from military equipment to infrastructure, is based on the principles of physics and chemistry that we have perfected over many generations."

  "A second Mu?" she exclaims in surprise. "So does Mu have any connection to this war?"

  "Not at all," he asserts, explaining to Altania. "We come from a different world—one where magic, magical beasts, or any other races do not exist. Only humans, but that does not mean it is more peaceful. Throughout our world's history, war has been continuous and widespread, with very few periods of true peace lasting long enough."

  "Therefore, it can be said that conflict has formed the foundation for our current technological achievements. However, conflict also brings negativity; we have experienced that negativity, but we have overcome that phase. However..." he pauses, reluctantly but necessarily, "when transported to this world, our economy—the foundation of our military strength—is being shaken, and we are taking measures to rectify that. Russia is a nation with abundant resources and is always prepared for any situation, even trading in what other nations consider valuable."

  Altania nods, generally understanding Russia's intentions, but she cannot simply conclude here; she must delve deeper. A nation transported to a world filled with novelties is intriguing, especially as it will always be a massive source of news for her to exploit. But what should her next topic be to maximize interest?

  That question was answered right from the start. Military would be the appropriate topic for the man in front of her. With that thought, she poses a question to Perezovski.

  "Then, General, may I ask about the strength of the Russian army present here and how it differs from everything the world has ever seen?"

  Perezovski leans back slightly, creating just enough distance to assert his authority without revealing any instability. "What you will see will surpass anything any military strategist in this world could comprehend; even though we are in a weakened state, it does not mean we are vulnerable. But that does not mean we are complacent. Weapons and technology, no matter how powerful, are merely tools. The user of them is the deciding factor. Russia does not rely solely on weapon strength but also on strategic thinking, unity, and patriotism."

  Altania squints, as if she has just found a noteworthy point. "So, General, do you believe this war will change the balance of power in the world? Papaldia, as one of the three superpowers of Civilization Area No. 3, if it fails, could this trigger a chain of events leading to the collapse of the old system?"

  Perezovski does not respond immediately. He gazes toward the horizon, where the weak sunlight of the afternoon is gradually fading. A fleeting look of seriousness crosses his face. "This world, Miss Altania, has become too accustomed to a false sense of stability. But Russia is not here to maintain those outdated orders. We are here to clarify one thing: true power does not lie in oppression but in the ability to protect and create peace. If Papaldia collapses, it will merely be the beginning of a new world—a world where every nation, big or small, must contemplate its place."

  Altania smiles, clearly satisfied with his sharp yet philosophical response. "Thank you, General Perezovski. I believe our audience will be very interested in what you just shared. But I still have one final question. Russia, a nation that, as you said, 'does not belong to this world,' does it have long-term intentions here? Or is this merely a short-term adventure?"

  Perezovski looks directly into the camera above, his eyes shining with determination. "Russia is not here to be a passerby. Our presence will not be temporary. We do not seek dominance, but we will not retreat when faced with any challenges. If this world needs change, Russia will be the driving force behind that change. And we will stay, for a better future."

  Altania looks up following Perezovski's gaze—seeing a plane swiftly flying overhead. A sound tearing through the air slowly makes her shiver as she hears it. The shape resembles the aircraft Milishial possesses, but much larger than those she saw during last year's parade, and she might not see anything like it again until May this year. Yet here, she witnesses something even more magnificent.

  From her knowledge, with such size, it must be a bomber. It has a single-wing design but still uses turbine engines like those of Mu. This means its efficiency is significantly reduced compared to those of Milishial.

  She tries to inquire about its origin: "General, that aircraft, when was it created? It looks like a combination of designs from both Mu and Milishial. Because Mu only has propeller planes, but Milishial has those they call jet planes—that's their greatest achievement in a hundred years to establish their superpower status."

  Upon hearing this, Perezovski also feels a bit puzzled. "So, according to you, Milishial already has jet planes. May I ask about their shape and size?"

  "I don't think that's a good idea, General," she advises, but Perezovski's curiosity overcomes her caution.

  "To me, knowing their shape, whether or not it matters, is irrelevant. As I said, we have many ways to strike without needing to move out of our country, so what do you think we could do with that information?" he asserts firmly, his gaze unwavering.

  Altania can only smile wryly; she doesn't fully grasp military matters, but the older man before her seems overly confident compared to her expectations. It doesn't resemble the attitude of a nation outside the civilization but rather that of a superpower. Although uncertain, she still answers his question.

  "If we consider their shape, both Mu and Milishial are quite similar, only differing in that Mu has biplanes with a sturdy shell, while Milishial has two things they call jet engines on either side of the aircraft's wings, and the materials are also more durable than those of Mu," she takes a deep breath and continues. "However, both sides have differences in quantity; if I remember correctly, Mu has a very large number, around over 30,000 aircraft, while Milishial has about 5,000, due to the complexity in producing those jet planes."

  "Do they have names?" Perezovski inquires.

  "Mu has 'swezcher' while Milishial has 'Anternes,' both named after their respective designers," she continues. "Although the timelines of these two are entirely different, about 15 years apart, with Milishial being developed first. But that is what makes their unique characteristics stand out."

  Perezovski squints, finding this information quite intriguing. 'So there is no development process, but rather entirely original models?'

  He contemplates this—it's incredibly valuable information to assess the potential of superpowers, and indeed it surpasses his expectations. The nations in this world have a relatively high degree of independent development compared to the old world, but the deeply entrenched hierarchical system among nations has led to a very low level of technology diffusion, causing the potential of nations to be wasted unnecessarily.

  But that will change at this moment. This war will only be the beginning, and the path to changing this world for the Russian Federation is still long, so everything must be planned meticulously and executed carefully against the special threats from these places.

  Altania notices Perezovski's silence and is about to ask more, but something else catches her attention—a Russian troop convoy with many armored vehicles that she can hardly believe exist, as she has not seen them before, especially the high-level infantry of Milishial, which makes her very curious about what they are.

  Perezovski perceives her curiosity and explains, "If you are wondering, I would like to introduce each type among them..."

  He clears his throat and speaks with authority. "First, the BTR-80—our armored personnel carrier, equipped with a coaxial machine gun to support infantry when approaching targets. Next is the MBT—main battle tank—T-72B2, an upgraded version of the original T-72 to utilize newer technologies and reduce maintenance costs. Following that is the BMP-2D—infantry fighting vehicle; like the BTR-80, it transports troops and has combat capabilities, but the BMP-2D is more versatile for complex terrains. Next, the BMPT 'Terminator'—a tank support combat vehicle, based on the T-72 chassis, so it looks similar, but its armament includes heavy machine guns used in complex environments like forests and urban areas. There are also other armored vehicles, but they only serve to transport troops and supplies with some combat capability, so they are not particularly noteworthy."

  "That's a lot of information," Altania is extremely surprised by this, unable to believe that Russia has the capability to create such weapons. But she still has more questions when another thing approaches—a creature resembling a dragonfly buzzing by, creating a "tang tang" sound that annoys her but also piques her curiosity. "What is that?" she asks.

  "That is the Mi-28 and Mi-24, attack helicopters known respectively as 'Night Hunter' and 'Crocodile'; the Mi-24 is also referred to in the old world as 'flying tank' due to its armor and firepower being as strong as a tank. While the Mi-28 is also very powerful, it is not as durable as the Mi-24. This creates a difference in many battlefield situations, ensuring tactical flexibility."

  Altania is thoroughly impressed by Russia; she finds herself at a loss for words, still overwhelmed by the sight of the Russian army marching with the powerful war machines they have created, even the cameraman cannot hide his admiration. She feels she has achieved her goal and stands up to conclude.

  "Thank you, General Sokolov," she extends her hand to shake his. "Thank you for this interview, and I hope you continue to serve your nation well."

  Perezovski shakes her hand, a kind smile on his face as he concludes, "The Russian Federation always values peace and will pursue it unless there is a serious threat to it. Unfortunately, Papaldia has failed to achieve that."

  ...

  Back at the rest station in Milishial. Inside, there is complete chaos over the information they have just witnessed. This is shocking news that is unimaginable. The people here, from merchants to adventurers, are fervently discussing what they have just seen. They are not only captivated by Russia's military strength but also by the confident declarations of General Perezovski.

  "I can't believe it! A nation with no reputation dares to challenge Papaldia!" an elderly man exclaims, his eyes filled with concern.

  "But if they are that strong, how can we stop them?" a young girl asks, her voice revealing clear anxiety.

  "We must inform the authorities immediately!" another merchant suggests, "They need to know that a great threat is approaching."

  Meanwhile, a group of people standing near the TV are still engrossed in the images from the battlefield. They cannot take their eyes off the armored vehicles, planes, and the Russian soldiers marching confidently. One person in the group speaks up: "If Russia is truly that strong, perhaps we should reconsider how we treat them. Maybe they are not the enemy we think."

  "Exactly," another agrees. "This could be an opportunity for us to collaborate with them instead of confronting them. If they have advanced technology, we could learn from them."

  Debates rage on, each person holding their perspective. Some are worried about Russia's expansion, while others see an opportunity in a relationship with a newly rising power.

  In a corner of the room, a man dressed in a black cloak, with a mysterious demeanor, listens to every conversation. He does not participate in the discussions, but his eyes glimmer with calculation. "If Russia is indeed who they claim to be... everything can still be salvaged," he thinks to himself.