12:00 PM, January 16, 2021/4018, Fourth Era.

  Papaldia Empire, Capital Estaurant, Velsai Palace.

  After receiving the latest reports and personally inspecting the damage to the fleet, Emperor Phillip was furious at what he saw. He immediately summoned a large meeting with the generals and relevant parties. The emperor stood at the podium, glancing at each of the important figures present in the government.

  He spoke with a harsh tone, directly addressing the one responsible for this failure. "Admiral Armandus! Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

  Armandus nervously lowered his head. In the stifling atmosphere, he explained, "Your Majesty, this defeat was unforeseen. My preparations were thorough... it's just that..."

  "What is it!?" Phillip shouted, barely able to contain his rage. His youthful face was twisted by anger, and nothing could stop it. His gaze fell on Armandus, who was bowing his head, unwilling to waste his breath on a failure; now he needed to find a way to wash away this humiliation.

  Phillip took a deep breath, regaining some composure, and asked those below him, "Anyone... if you have the capability, propose a plan to deal with the Russians."

  General Morou, commander of the 1st Corps—the strongest force of the empire, equipped with the best gear and the most elite soldiers—was observing the rest of those present. No one could provide a quick answer; they were all trying to formulate theories while avoiding the harsh reality.

  So he was here, not allowing these incompetent individuals to tarnish the empire's honor. He raised his hand and stepped forward, confidence radiating from his face. "Your Majesty, I—Morou—have a plan to counter the enemy. Based on Admiral Armandus's detailed reports, I can propose a long-term strategy to defeat these barbarians."

  "Wait, don't you find anything strange?" Minister of Defense Louis interjected, extremely worried after reading the reports. They did not resemble a meaningless report about aircraft being far from their location.

  "What is it, Montfort?" Morou raised an eyebrow, displeased at being interrupted, but still made an effort to listen to the minister's forthcoming words.

  "Don't you wonder why Admiral Armandus's report mentions aircraft?" Louis was extremely dissatisfied with Morou's attitude, believing he was dismissing the details mentioned in the report. Even a madman wouldn't be foolish enough to disregard his own life for meaningless words.

  "Aircraft are a powerful weapon of Mu, and do you really think a barbaric nation could possess them?" Morou emphasized each word, showing the others that he knew how to think logically.

  "Why not?" Louis countered. "In recent years, Mu has been expanding trade relations with many countries, not only in the civilized region but also in the uncivilized areas," he frowned, extremely serious in his words, "this change alone shows Mu's openness to those barbaric nations, and you're not suggesting they wouldn't sell them, are you?"

  "Why not?" Morou laughed, looking at the minister with disdain. "Mu has always maintained a position as the holder of incredibly powerful technology and has never had rivals in conflicts. Even Milishial, known for its friendliness, has never exported any aircraft; those nations always want to keep their weapons exclusive, so there's no way they would do what you suggest."

  Morou paused for a moment before continuing. "And even if that were the case, so what?" he said with a mocking tone. "Those barbarians surely have the capability to possess Mu's exclusive fire services? Nonsense." Morou suddenly raised his voice. "There's no reasonable evidence to suggest they can possess aircraft. You're just being overly cautious, Monfort. Am I right, Feldor?"

  Feldor had not spoken a word until now, but that didn't mean he wasn't calculating. This unexpected defeat had dealt a heavy blow to the empire's image of authority with its colonies; if a solution wasn't found, it would negatively impact the internal situation of the empire later on.

  But after hearing both sides argue, Feldor could also make a decision and propose the best solution for the empire. He stepped forward and declared in front of the emperor, "Your Majesty, I, Feldor, completely agree with General Morou's arguments. Based on that, I can propose the following plan to make those barbarians accept all our demands."

  Phillip felt intrigued by Feldor's words, his eyes filled with anticipation from someone who had accompanied the late emperor. Feldor took a deep breath and said, "First, I will demand the leader of those barbarians to meet us under the pretense of a peace negotiation. Then, I will have him captured, which will cause internal chaos among them and prevent them from reacting in time to anything."

  He added, "In the meantime, we will launch a surprise attack and advance straight to the capital, achieving a decisive victory."

  The entire room held its breath, unable to believe their ears at such a bold plan. But Phillip thought differently. "Excellent!" he shouted. "This is exactly what we need. Alright, Morou, prepare the forces while Feldor executes the rest."

  Feldor bowed his head, filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty, I will do everything. Now I will..."

  But before he could finish, someone burst in with a pale face. He quickly knelt before the emperor, trembling as he spoke, "There is a letter for Your Majesty..."

  "A letter? From whom and what does it say?" Phillip asked, intrigued.

  "From Russia, and... it is their declaration of war..." His face turned pale, fearing for his life. But Phillip did not react violently; he simply requested it be read aloud, and he quickly recounted the contents as follows:

  Russian Federation

  Moscow, January 12, 2021

  To Emperor Phillip Antoine Valois D'Alembert,

  Papaldia Empire,

  With this letter, the Russian Federation officially declares war on the Papaldia Empire.

  In recent times, the Papaldia Empire has engaged in acts of aggression, undermining peace and threatening the national security of Russia and our allies. We have repeatedly warned you to cease these actions, but all our calls have fallen on deaf ears. Russia can no longer tolerate your aggression and provocation.

  Russia is a sovereign nation and is prepared to defend that sovereignty at all costs. Your military actions have crossed the permissible limits, and now there is no room for negotiations. We are compelled to resort to military measures to protect our territory, our people, and our national interests.

  From this moment on, the Russian Federation declares war on the Papaldia Empire. We will mobilize all our military strength to eliminate any threats posed by you. Any military action against Russia will be met with our decisiveness and superior strength.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Understand clearly that you have led yourselves down this path of destruction. All responsibility for the war lies with the Papaldia Empire, and you will bear the full consequences. Russia will not stop until the safety of our nation and allies is assured, and the threat from you is completely eradicated.

  Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

  President of the Russian Federation

  The meeting room of Velsai Palace fell into silence, as if the air itself had stopped breathing under the weight of the tension. The generals and high-ranking officials of the Papaldia Empire, familiar with disputes and wars, now appeared like ghosts, their eyes vacant and heavy, not daring to utter a word. All gazes were fixed on the figure standing at the high podium, Emperor Phillip, who was gripping the letter tightly, his fingers clenching so hard that the joints cracked, as if he wanted to break everything that could quell his anger.

  Phillip did not move immediately. He stood still, his gaze lost in the letter that had just been read, the content not only an insult but an unforgivable challenge. His fingers seemed to be choking the air in the room, creating a stifling atmosphere that made it hard for everyone around to breathe. Finally, he spoke, each word coming out with intense fury.

  "Those barbarians... dare to challenge us?" His voice turned cold, like a knife cutting through the silence. "Do they think they can escape the wrath of this great Papaldia Empire?"

  Each word from Phillip struck like a hammer against the wall of silence, leaving no one daring to refute, only able to silently feel the terror of his voice. He turned around, his sharp and furious gaze sweeping across every face in the room. Each person bowed their heads, avoiding the emperor's gaze, except for Louis, who stood still, cautiously observing, his eyes seemingly trying to read every thought racing through Phillip's mind.

  Morou and Feldor, the two brave men who had just defended the plan, now only dared to lower their heads, not looking directly at Phillip. They had heard and understood very well what the emperor had just said, but now they felt that no justification would be strong enough to face the raging fury within Phillip.

  Phillip took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger boiling in his chest, but when he opened his mouth again, the fury was unmistakable. "Russia... They want war, do they?" His voice resonated, powerful enough to shake the room. He looked around, his eyes bloodshot, filled with boundless hatred. "Good... They will get it!"

  A twisted, brutal smile flickered across his face. "I swear, we will crush them, turning that barbaric nation into the 19th layer of hell!" His voice thundered through the space, echoing in the room, making the stone walls seem as if they wanted to crack.

  The room was so silent that one could hear the heartbeat, each person inside feeling the gravity of those declarations of war. Facing the emperor, no one dared to speak. Only Louis, who maintained a calm demeanor, gently furrowed his brow but did not argue. He knew that this war would not be as easy as Phillip imagined. But he also understood that in Phillip's heart, there was no room for doubt or hesitation.

  Phillip exhaled, his eyes still fixed on those standing around him. He raised his hand, a cold and resolute decision was made. "Prepare everything!" His voice was as hard as steel, without a hint of reluctance. "I want all legions ready. We will not only confront but will crush that barbaric nation at all costs!"

  Louis said nothing more. He looked at Phillip, the gaze of a seasoned soldier, understanding that this war would be a confrontation not just of weapons, but a battle of wills, of determination. What lay ahead was beyond anyone's prediction.

  ...

  A few days earlier.

  Russian Federation, Capital Moscow.

  Before officially sending the declaration of war, the political landscape in Russia had undergone significant upheaval among its factions. Various parties—where opinions from all opposing sides were heard—gathered in the State Duma.

  In the main hall of the State Duma, the murmurs began to subside as the Chairman of the Duma stepped up to the podium. An emergency session was convened amid escalating international tensions. Representatives from Russia's political parties were present: the United Russia Party, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Just Russia Party. They were here for one purpose: to discuss and vote on whether Russia should proceed with the war prepared to eliminate Papaldia.

  Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin opened the session with a calm yet weighty tone:

  "Comrades and representatives of the people, we stand at a historical crossroads. The question at hand is: Should we go to war to protect Russia's interests? I ask each representative to express their views before we reach a decision."

  Volodin stepped back, yielding the floor to Andrey Turchak, representative of the United Russia Party (ER)—the ruling party of President Putin. He stepped forward with a confident demeanor, his gaze fixed on the other representatives.

  "We cannot stand idly by in the face of provocation from foreign powers," Turchak began, his voice heavy with authority. "The actions threatening our sovereignty and security have crossed the line. If we do not act now, we will not only lose regional influence but also expose our weakness to the world."

  Some representatives applauded in agreement, but on the other side of the hall, there were skeptical glances.

  Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of Russia (KPRF), immediately stood up. He was known for frequently criticizing the government, and today was no exception.

  "I understand the security concerns," Zyuganov said, his voice hoarse yet strong. "However, comrades, we must ask ourselves: Who will suffer in this war? It will be the working people, the laborers, the farmers, those who have dedicated their strength to the country. They will bear the greatest sacrifices! The Communist Party does not oppose defending the homeland, but we oppose dragging the people into an unnecessary war if diplomatic solutions exist!"

  Zyuganov paused, looking around the room. His supporters nodded in agreement, but the United Russia Party members showed clear signs of discontent.

  Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), quickly stood up to respond. He was famous for his shocking statements and strong nationalist stance.

  "War is not just an option," Zhirinovsky said loudly, his tone charged with emotion. "War is the only path to assert Russia's strength! We have been disrespected for too long; we must strike back! The adversary needs to understand that Russia is not afraid and will never back down from any enemy! We cannot allow anyone to challenge our status as a great power without punishment!"

  Zhirinovsky paused, receiving enthusiastic support from many members of the Liberal Democratic Party. Some representatives from the United Russia Party also seemed to agree with his hardline stance.

  Sergey Mironov, leader of the Just Russia Party (SR), stood up with a contemplative expression. He did not speak immediately but looked around the hall as if to emphasize the importance of what he was about to say.

  "Comrades," Mironov began slowly, "I do not oppose defending the country. But I want to remind us all that every decision we make here will affect millions of lives. Military campaigns will consume not only financial resources but also lead to serious social consequences. I urge caution. If we can achieve our goals through diplomacy, we must do everything possible to avoid war."

  Mironov's words eased the tension in the hall a bit. He was more of a moderate, and his statements often reminded everyone of the social consequences of political actions.

  Volodin sat down, looking around the hall and sensing the division in the atmosphere. Each party had its own stance, but it was clear that the pressure from the international situation was forcing everyone to move toward a decisive decision.

  Finally, President Putin—who was also attending the session—stood up from the front row. He did not need an introduction, and the entire hall immediately fell into complete silence as he approached the podium to speak.

  "Comrades, representatives of the Russian people," Putin began, his voice calm yet filled with authority. "We are facing unprecedented threats. Diplomatic measures have been tried. We have made every effort to resolve the conflict through dialogue. But now, we must face the reality: they no longer wish to negotiate with us. Our security is under threat, and we cannot wait any longer."

  He looked around the room, making eye contact with each representative, each party leader. "This is not a war for economic interests or power. This is a war to protect Russia's existence. And I believe that all of us, despite our political differences, agree that the safety of our nation is the top priority."

  Putin paused for a moment, then spoke with a resolute tone: "I do not ask for support for a war; I ask for support to defend the Motherland. The final decision is yours, and I trust that the State Duma will make the right choice."

  The hall fell silent after Putin's speech. Everyone understood that the moment of history had arrived. The previous debates seemed like mere echoes in the vast space of the Duma.

  Chairman Volodin stood up, striking the gavel to conclude the discussion. Now, the decision would be made by ballot, but everyone knew that the outcome was almost predetermined. A war was approaching.