History of A Country (2)

"Now we will move on to the next topic. The beginning of the history of the formation of the Eshya United Nation."

Kylia and Willie adjusted their seating positions. They were both excited to hear Del's explanation. Even Willie, who usually dozes off in class, was attentive, not wanting to blink and miss Del's explanation.

"Does anyone know in which year the EUN was formed?" Del asked his two students, who eagerly raised their hands.

Del played favorites and chose Kylia to answer. He didn't even pay attention to Willie's disappointed face.

"In 2085!" Kylia answered enthusiastically.

"That's correct but also wrong," Del smiled.

"Huh?"

"Hahaha... I didn't say your answer was wrong, Kylia. The inauguration of the formation of the EUN did indeed take place in 2085, but the unification of Southeast Asian countries actually occurred in 2070. Five years after the third world war began in 2065.

"Perhaps the unification of Southeast Asia was done long before 2070, but I don't have enough evidence to support that claim. Ah... does anyone know the reason behind the unification of Southeast Asian countries?"

Once again, Kylia and Willie raised their hands, and once again, Del only chose Kylia to answer.

"Umm... for economic reasons?" Kylia answered hesitantly.

"Wrong. Willie?" Del gave Willie a chance because he looked like he was about to cry.

"Because of cultural and political closeness," Willie answered confidently.

"Wrong! Anyone?" Although he only had two students, Del acted like he had a class full of them.

"The ASEAN agreement!" Willie answered again.

"Also wrong."

"Diplomacy!"

"Wrong again."

"Skin color!"

"Hmm... why do you think so? Wrong!"

"Race!"

"Now you just say something ridiculous, wrong!"

"Sexy woman!"

"The hell? Fuck, stop saying whatever comes to your mind! Wrong!"

"Sexy Ma—"

"Enough! I'll tell you the answer. The reason for the unification of Southeast Asian countries is fear!" Del ran out of patience listening to Willie's absurd answers.

"Huh?" Willie was confused.

"Ah!" Kylia realized.

"That's right! Fear! The fear brought by the deadliest war in history forced them to choose a different path. What do you think was the condition of Southeast Asian countries before the start of World War III?"

"Hmm... developing countries?" Kylia answered.

"The term 'developing countries is only used to soften the actual term. Third-world countries! A term used to describe countries that are not aligned with the Western or Eastern bloc. This term is used to classify countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were developing at that time and had not reached the level of advancement like the countries in the Western and Eastern blocs.

"Perhaps we can pat ourselves on the back and say that our country is not backward but in the developing stage. However, believe me, strong countries will always view us as a third-rate country. Weak countries that will collapse with just one economic sanction from them."

If Del brought this discussion to political and economic experts, there would be a fierce debate. Even so, he preferred to accept reality and face it. After all, EUN is currently one of the world's superpowers.

"When World War III started, the powerful countries that fought for their own interests began to force third-rate countries to choose sides. Although they had no benefit from the war and the possibility of being cannon fodder was still great, they had no other choice but to submit.

"Refusing means fighting. There is no true neutrality in this world, the strong do not want to be stabbed in the back and taken advantage of while fighting an equal enemy. They would rather destroy the small ones than take the risk.

"International politics is just like the law of the jungle, the strong devour the weak, while the weak must depend on the strong." Del finished his prologue narration.

Del paused for a few seconds to give his students a chance to understand his perspective. Then he continued by adding a little of his understanding and theory into recorded history.

"But our founding fathers had a different idea. They realized that they were not that weak. They were in the center of the world, in the middle of the planet they had been living on. When the world froze in the ancient ice age, they could still sunbathe comfortably on the mountains with lush trees."

"They shouldn't be licking the butts of those who were once frozen dead people's descendants. Our founding fathers finally decided to meet for the first time."

Del doesn't know where and when the first meeting took place. There are no books or historical documents that record the first meeting, and only describe when the idea of unification occurred.

"However, uniting the country is not that easy. Countries that used to be hostile to each other have not been able to forget old wounds. The complicated international politics makes some of these countries have strong alliances with superpowers.

"Nevertheless, fear makes them try to find a way out of these problems. No one wants to be a servant of rulers forever, so it is appropriate that they try to find a way to truly be free."

Up to this point, Del glanced towards Willie, seeing his innocent face still focused on Del's explanation.

"Until finally, the third world war broke out. The time given to them was up, and it was time to choose a new master. Talks of unification became further from reality. They were all busy with the problem of how their respective nations could survive in a chaotic world.

"The casualties continued to mount, especially in third-world countries. They were the first to feel the negative effects of the war. Economies collapsed and bombs fell on their roofs. Fathers went to war, mothers cried, and children were neglected.

"The world was in chaos, and the same thing happened in Southeast Asia. Until on March 23, 2070, our founding fathers held another meeting. The meeting lasted for a month, and in it, all the hatred and problems were voiced out. They gathered their thoughts together to find a solution, trying to forget the old wounds that still hadn't healed and replacing them with a new future that is no longer filled with fear."

"Until finally on April 28th, 2070, a written agreement for unification was reached. The world didn't know that a big thing was happening in the corner of the world. It was kept secret, known only by a few people that could be counted on one hand.

"The agreement essentially contained the unification of information, economy, and resources. They promised to do anything to establish a new country, either during or after the war. However, they needed something to complete their plan.

"Something very important and arguably the core of the Southeast Asia unification plan. A scapegoat.

"Someone who could be blamed for all the suffering that would happen. Someone who could bear the burden of being vilified throughout history. Someone who would become a giant corpse on the foundation of a new country.

"And that person is Tan." Del smiled.

Del paused to take a breath, which wasn't really necessary. However, the class fell silent and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of someone's racing breath before that person could no longer hold back what was in his heart.

"TAN!? Tan the Butcher!!!" Willie screamed hysterically, his face full of fear.

"Yes, Tan, Tan The Butcher, or more appropriately known as Tan the Hero, hehehe."

"Ah? Who is Tan, Del?" Kylia was confused.

"Kylia, you don't know Tan? TAN THE BUTCHER!!! IS TAN THE BUTCHER KYLIA!!! TAN THE BUTCHER!!!" Willie became more hysterical.

"I don't know someone I don't know, even though you've mentioned his name repeatedly, Willie. And stop screaming from behind my ear!" Kylia snorted, and Willie fell silent, although he was still gasping for breath.

Del just chuckled at Willie's expression. Willie's response was very normal considering that Tan's name was very bad in EUN and often used to scare naughty children. Although Willie couldn't be said to be a naughty child, his innocent face invited people to bully him.

"Tan is not his real name and even that name consists of only three letters without a last name. I myself cannot find out his true identity, but in EUN and even in the world, Tan is known as the greatest war criminal in history.

"The crimes and loss of life attributed to him almost surpass the number of people killed during the massive Mongol invasion. He is known to eat newborn babies for breakfast, rape pregnant women until miscarriage, and commit many other horrific crimes," Del explained to Kylia based on what was written in the history book.

Willie covered his ears and curled up in fear. Kylia's face also turned pale hearing the horror inflicted by Tan. However, she did not comment because she saw the smirk on Del's face.

"Hehehe... but the reality is not like that. Tan is actually an anti-war activist who refused to participate in Southeast Asia's involvement in World War III. He is known for his kindness and even sacrificed all his wealth to help war victims in several countries."

Of course, this is not recorded in the history book, but Del is not naive enough to believe what is written by a war winner. He has lived too long and has too much experience not to be able to see what is implied from what is written.

When Del read the history of Tan, he found that this man was not a psychopath as described. The damage he caused occurred in places and times that were too precise to be considered coincidental. He looked more like someone who deliberately gave reasons to those who suffered to hate him.

There is a possibility that Del himself cannot accept. This possibility is that Tan was not used by EUN's founding fathers but willingly cooperated with them to become a villain needed for the unity of Southeast Asia.

"With Tan's help, the entire Southeast Asian community can forget their hatred for each other and focus it on just one person. When a group of people experiences the same suffering, a relationship is formed among fellow victims.

"With this foundation, the founding fathers can finally create a very large new country. A country called Eshya United Nation."

Del closed the history book in front of him.