world Treaty

The atmosphere grew heavy. A strong wind howled through the trees, its presence undeniable. To an ordinary person, it might seem like just another windy day, but for the two standing here, it was anything but ordinary. Today, no matter how bright the sun shone, they were caught in a storm of truth—one that would change everything.

Baldwin exhaled slowly. "Fine, Mom," he said, pausing for a moment as hesitation flickered in his red eyes.

He could continue the act, keep spinning lies, but what was the point? She had spoken her truth, laid bare her past and her pain. As a fellow king, he owed her the same honesty. It was a fair exchange.

"Remember, Mom, this is what you wanted," he muttered.

His pupils deepened into a burning crimson, and from his right hand, liquid shadow began to form, dripping like water onto the ground. His voice lowered, gaining an eerie depth.

"As you can see, I am from the other side—the fastest hero in human history, Velisara Nath."

Baldwin paused, his gaze locked onto her. Velisara stood completely still. No shift in stance. No sudden defensive reaction. She was simply listening.

"Does she think I'm some lower lapdog?" Baldwin thought, narrowing his eyes. "Is she so sure she can take me down? Or… maybe she just doesn't care."

Then, her voice cut through the silence.

"So… what are you? The Demon King?" Velisara asked, her tone eerily casual.

Baldwin blinked. That response—so nonchalant, so effortless—threw him off.

"Yes, as you can see, I am the Demon King—Katz Baldwin VI. You may—"

Before he could finish, Velisara interrupted.

"So why are you talking like that? Trying to sound old and wise?" she scoffed. "So, you're the new Demon King. Hmm… I see. But I bet even your own people don't know your name yet."

Baldwin frowned. "Hero, aren't you going to fight me?"

Velisara's expression didn't change. Instead, she crossed her arms.

"Huh? What? Hey, did you forget I'm your mom?" she huffed. "Stop acting like some old geezer!"

With that, she stepped forward, knelt down, and—before Baldwin could react—wrapped her arms around him.

Baldwin stiffened. A hug?

"I told you, even if you were the Demon King, it wouldn't change anything," Velisara murmured, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "And I told you… your behavior reminds me of my son."

Her grip tightened. "Yes, it's selfish, but I want to love my new adopted son."

Baldwin's fingers curled slightly.

"Thank you, Mom," he whispered. "My mother died the day she gave birth to me. So… 'mother' was never something I understood. As far as my older sister told me, my father never liked me because of it. I don't feel anything remembering those days, but you… you make your son feel warm. So… thank you, Mom, for accepting me."

Velisara slowly pulled away, her face serious now.

"Now, Baldwin," she said firmly. "We need to talk about your powers."

"My powers?" Baldwin asked, tilting his head.

"Yes," Velisara said. "You wield the power of shadow, and that's not something humans typically possess. Even among those who can manipulate shadows, your abilities are different. They're… too refined, too perfect."

She crossed her arms. "The way you use it—it's more demonic than anything I've ever seen. Not even vampires can wield shadows like you do."

Baldwin remained silent, listening.

"You have two choices," Velisara continued. "One, you can suppress your power and use a weaker, more common version. Humans can manipulate faint, airy shadows, and vampires can form thin shadow walls. But your control is far beyond that—too perfect for either human or vampire society."

She met his eyes. "The second choice is to stop using your shadow power entirely. But honestly, I'd recommend the first option."

Baldwin smirked. "Hmm, like this?"

He raised his hand, and as Velisara had described, a shadow wall materialized. But it was weak—fragile, almost see-through.

Velisara nodded. "That'll do."

Baldwin grinned. "Oh, and I can use lightning too."

Velisara sighed. "Just remember to keep a low profile. If the Ranch Republic finds out, they'll send you straight into war."

She turned away. "Now, let's go farming."

Baldwin watched her walk ahead, then narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you going to ask why I'm here in disguise? What my purpose is?"

Velisara didn't even look back. "Nah, you must be here for something important. But since you brought it up… what is it?"

Baldwin smirked. "I'm here for the pandemic. It's man-made."

Velisara paused for a split second—then shrugged. "Oh, you're here for the pandemic? Fine. I don't care. Let's go farming!"

Baldwin blinked. "Wow, what a selfish woman," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Velisara asked, glancing over her shoulder.

"Nothing! I'm coming!" Baldwin called, hurrying after her. "Wait, why are you walking so fast?"

Velisara chuckled. "Heh, don't know! Or maybe you've just gotten slow!"

And just like that, their storm of truth passed.

While Baldwin was enjoying his time outside, a significant shift was occurring in the world's geopolitics.

In Hake, the capital city of the Ranch Republic, a towering government building loomed over the cityscape. It wasn't just tall—it was massive in size, rivaling the grandeur of a royal castle. However, it bore none of the elegance of a palace. There were no domes, no soaring towers—just cold, imposing architecture. The most striking feature was the colossal cannon muzzle mounted on the building's exterior, a silent threat to anyone who dared challenge the Republic's power. Beside it, a small metallic device spun continuously, its purpose unclear but undoubtedly significant.

Inside this monolithic structure, a heavily fortified chamber held the seat of power. A plaque on the door marked it as the office of the nation's head. Within, a man sat in command—a towering figure with a muscular build and a deep, jagged scar running across his face. His navy-blue uniform bore numerous insignias, reminiscent of royalty, though it was anything but. Each medal on his chest spoke of military achievements rather than noble lineage.

The man pressed a red button on a sleek device, and a large screen flickered to life. Nine faces appeared in separate frames, their gazes locking onto him.

"It seems our President-General, Theodore Cleisthenes, has arrived," one of the figures on the screen announced. "Now, we can begin our discussion on the peace treaty."

"It is an honor to meet you all, especially Emperor Alexander Palijack, the 104th Emperor of the Ausha Empire," Theodore Cleisthenes said, his voice calm yet firm.

Across the screen, Alexander scoffed. "Oh? Nice to meet you again, Theodore. Who would have thought a traitor would give birth to a new nation? The former War Minister of the Ausha Empire, Theodore Cleisthenes."

"Now, now," a voice interjected before tensions could escalate. "This is not the time for infighting. The entire world is suffering from the aftermath of the war. Instead of hostility, we should focus on the peace treaty discussion."

"I agree with Xander Blade from the Xing Fu Empire," Rowan Sun, the representative of the United People's State (UPS), added. "In this critical moment, as the epidemic spreads, peace is our only viable path forward."

"Let's start with the Crusade War," Cyril Park, the King of Normscall, suggested. "It has been raging for eight years now, without any real purpose. We've been locked in battle with the Ranch Republic, and it's time we put an end to it."

Theodore leaned back, a smirk playing at his lips. "Sure, we can stop the war—if you're willing to give up Patrika Province. The monarchists have been sending their armies against us relentlessly. We have no desire to fight the entire human race, yet here we are, practically at war with all of you."

"Why should we be the ones to stop first?" Edmund White, the King of Tasia, countered. "You're the ones who started this conflict."

Rowan Sun interjected, his tone measured. "I see no issue with the Ranch Republic reclaiming Pulsi. It was originally part of the Hero Nation, and the Republic took it through a peace treaty. It's only logical."

"Peace treaty?" Elrand Silvertongue, the Elf King, scoffed. "Does the Hero Nation even exist anymore? The Ranch Republic didn't just take a province; they forced the Hero Nation to surrender and then dismantled their entire kingdom!"

"That's a false assumption," Theodore shot back. "The Hero Nation was the one to propose the peace treaty in the first place. We promised to protect the people and bring stability to the 36 states. But instead, we were attacked by our neighbors, reducing us to just 22 states. Naturally, we are reclaiming what was ours."

"That's where you're wrong," Cyril Park said. "Patrika was taken before the Ranch Republic even came into existence."

The bickering continued until an exasperated sigh echoed through the chamber.

"Why are you all arguing like this?" Bryce Norton, the Emperor of the Xing Fu Empire and the Vampire King, interjected. "Humans truly are an aggressive species."

The room fell silent as a new voice cut through the tension.

"Enough!" Abyzou, the First Demon Lord of the Red Moon Empire, declared. "Do not waste my time. The Red Moon Empire has no interest in this so-called peace treaty, but I will make a final proposal—stop the war immediately and establish a neutral zone for all nations."

The air grew heavy. No one dared to challenge Abyzou. The Red Moon Empire was a force no one could afford to antagonize. They had crushed entire nations and played their own game of war while indulging in the conflicts of the lesser nations. And now, with their newly crowned emperor achieving impossible feats—the fall of the Hero Nation, dominion over the seas, and the near-total cornering of human empires—their words carried weight beyond measure.

Breaking the silence, Bryce Norton spoke again. "As the one who first proposed this peace treaty, I suggest the neutral zone be established on the border between the Ranch Republic and the UPS. A new city should be built there, or perhaps an academy, where trade can flow freely—without taxation."

Theodore narrowed his eyes. "And why, King Bryce, would you want to make our border a neutral zone?"

Abyzou's voice remained cold and unwavering. "Shouldn't you be grateful, Theodore Cleisthenes? You question our alliance terms?"

Rowan Sun frowned. "Still, why our border?"

Marmaduke Blackstar, the Emperor of the Blackstone Empire, answered with a smirk. "Isn't it obvious? Your territory is at the crossroads of humanity's most crucial turning points. Strategically, it makes the most sense."

Bryce Norton leaned forward. "Please, consider it carefully."

Alexander Palijack folded his arms. "Why should we go to enemy territory?"

Cyril Park nodded. "Exactly. We don't see a reason to agree."

Abyzou chuckled darkly. "Ausha Empire, Normscall, Tasia Kingdom… do you three wish for more war? Shall we set the neutral zone in the Red Moon Empire instead? Or is that too much for you? If you refuse, we can always continue this conflict. If that's the case, we may as well turn all our forces against your three nations right now."

Silence once again blanketed the chamber.

Theodore exhaled and leaned back. "Fine. Let's make this dream a reality."

"For the sake of the epidemic, we will agree to a world peace treaty," Rowan Sun added.

With that, the final agreement was drafted. Two rules were established:

1. If any nation dares to break the treaty, all others, regardless of past alliances, will unite against them.

2. No taxes will be imposed on goods entering the neutral zone. It will have its own independent government system.

With the foundation of the treaty laid, Xander Blade, the Lord of Five Regions, took the floor. "This concludes our meeting. Soon, all participating nations will receive the official documents to sign."

And with that, the world-shaking conference came to an end.