Soul Devourer Chapter 6 — Russia | | Episode 1 — Ogawa’s Recommendation
The next day.
As promised, Ogawa received a call from the Russia's Head Guildmaster.
While the request they had made; “permission to conquer Russian dungeons”, had been accepted, the other side presented two conditions.
Ogawa paused for a moment before carefully speaking.
“What conditions would those be?”
The answer that came back was concise:
① Conclusion of a non-aggression pact
② Formation of a Japan-Russia alliance
Only two conditions.
As far as their contents went, there was nothing unreasonable about them. Realizing that, Ogawa quietly let out a breath of relief.
As for the non-aggression pact, the very idea of Japan invading another country and seeking territorial expansion was absurd to begin with.
And by concluding such a treaty, at the very least, the possibility of Russia launching military aggression against Japan during its effective period would disappear.
It was a proposal that could prevent the worst-case scenario of war before it ever happened. There was no reason for the government to reject it. If anything, they would gladly accept.
The real issue was the second condition, the formation of a Japan-Russia alliance.
The intention behind it was obvious.
A deterrent against America.
If an alliance were formed, Hunter Matsubara and Russia’s〘Regalia〙would become cooperative forces.
A clear balance of power against America, which possessed two〘Regalia〙.
But at the same time, no one could predict what kind of decision such an announcement might force America into.
They might judge the balance of power to be even and choose to wait and observe.
But in the worst case, they could regard both Japan and Russia as hostile powers and launch a preemptive strike.
If that happened, each nation’s top priority would become defending itself, and any room to support an ally would vanish.
Russia, being a major Hunter nation, might still endure.
But for a weaker nation like Japan, the damage would be immeasurable.
“…This one, I really can’t predict.”
Even so, there was one thing he could say with certainty.
The reason Russia had offered Japan “equal terms.”
Without question, it was because of Hunter Matsubara’s existence. If not for him, Japan would never have even been allowed onto the negotiating table.
After ending the call, Ogawa immediately left the room.
To fulfill Hunter Matsubara’s request, and to secure Japan’s future, he hurried toward the National Diet Building.
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Several days had passed since Ogawa visited the National Diet carrying Russia’s draft proposal regarding the non-aggression pact and alliance.
In that time, an emergency parliamentary session had been convened, and deliberations were held regarding the non-aggression treaty and the Japan-Russia alliance.
Russia’s intentions were clear.
By forming an alliance, they wanted to be able to officially summon Hunter Matsubara as a military asset during wartime.
In exchange, should Japan fall into a wartime situation, Russia’s〘Regalia〙would be dispatched in support; that was what the draft stated.
However, among the lawmakers, there were those who grew greedy.
Some proposed adding conditions demanding the deployment of Russia’s top forces, the〈Semi-Tsar〉and S-Rank Hunters too.
Others began calling for the import and export of industrial goods and production materials.
Priority access to magic stones and monster materials.
Voices demanding “additional compensation” not present anywhere in the original draft rose one after another.
But Russia wanted none of that.
The only thing they valued was Hunter Matsubara as an individual. Everything else was something they had no need to rely on a weaker nation like Japan for.
So Ogawa spoke clearly to the Prime Minister.
“If we get greedy, this proposal itself will be withdrawn. Building relations with Russia will become hopeless, and in the worst case… Hunter Matsubara may even abandon Japan.”
At the center of the world now were no longer nations.
Dungeons. Monsters. And Hunters.
If Japan neglected those who stood at the pinnacle of that hierarchy, it had no future.
In the end, Russia’s draft passed parliament almost exactly as originally proposed. The Japan-Russia alliance would officially be announced to the world.
With relief came a genuine sense of accomplishment.
And then, to deliver the good news, Ogawa dialed Hunter Matsubara’s mobile number.
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E/N:
New Volume and my hate for politicians has only grown 😂!
Given Yuito's personality, he actually would abandon Japan and take his parents to settle in some peaceful country if he was grandly inconvenienced.
Stay tuned!
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Check out my other translation -
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