The New Malacañang Palace in New Clark City boasted numerous offices and rooms, complete with a vast greenhouse dedicated to indoor gardens. This verdant oasis extended along corridors leading to respective departments, with one main corridor guiding visitors directly to the central main hall.
Xylma couldn't help but sigh ruefully at the grandeur of the palace upon her first visit. Its elegance concealed a boundless otherworldly charm, lending it a lavish aura that everyone referred to as 'modern style.'
Navigating through the main corridor, Xylma arrived at the Main Hall, bustling with individuals coming and going. She occasionally glanced at a few undercover PhilSecta agents among them. This hall, the largest presidential chamber within the bounds of the Malacañang Palace, functioned as a sort of throne room for the president.
Comparable to the general assembly room of the United Nations, this vast space featured multiple large monitors displaying current trends in the country's vital sectors through live graphs and data. Sub-monitors presented reports of main concern.
People were engrossed in various tasks, multitasking effortlessly with their laptops, gadget headwear, and virtual keyboards. Some crafted 3D models or events on holographic devices before typing conclusions, while others engaged in hushed discussions, nodding in agreement as if making critical decisions. Financial advisors tracked the country's sole stock market, conversing in terms beyond Xylma's comprehension.
Amidst it all was the well-known AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), Kiki, managing several conversations simultaneously through secondary monitors and holographic screens.
Each section of the spacious hall was dedicated to a specific aspect and sector of the country, leaving Xylma wide-eyed as she tried to process the overwhelming environment, despite her months in the Federal State of the Philippines.
Feeling a sense of awe and inspiration amidst the professionals bustling around her, Xylma couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. The silent pressure in the air elevated the hall to a noble monument of beauty, igniting a desire within her to become a leader like those around her.
"Maybe I can save Razenia Kingdom," she mused inwardly, her thoughts drifting to her parents and the abandoned annexed kingdom. "No, the northern empires conquered the kingdom my parents built, and asking to reclaim Razenia from Miss President is disrespectful given my current position."
Despite the pull of her heart to claim Razenia's leadership, Xylma felt conflicted. Memories of her upbringing in an orphanage and farmland, barely remembering the heroes who raised her, contrasted with the desire to fulfill an unexplained calling.
As she contemplated her uncertain future, Xylma concluded internally that Razenia was beyond saving, knowing firsthand that its royals had abandoned its people.
In truth, Xylma wasn't ranked high enough to enter even this grand hall, but she could do so alongside Homer, who pretended she was his direct assistant.
It was her first time in the hall, and she walked beside Homer as he led the group of informants and members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) down the main red carpet. Unaccustomed to such formalities, Xylma felt a bit nervous, occasionally adjusting her tie.
Homer chuckled at her nervous demeanor, leaning closer to whisper through his mask, "Is the female suit too tight for you, Xylma? Do you miss the comfort of your usual attire?"
Xylma blushed at his words, feeling embarrassed by the attention their banter drew from others.
"Of course not, Sir Homer," she replied, her cheeks still flushed.
Despite her initial nerves, Xylma found her anxiety dissipating after the exchange. She realized Homer's teasing was intentional, a way to ease her nerves.
Entering the inner section of the hall, Xylma was struck by its enormity. It felt like stepping into a whole new world.
"So large, isn't it? Larger than the general assembly room of the United Nations," Homer remarked.
The central hall appeared darker than its exterior counterpart, with white walls and lines of blue light accentuating its grandeur. It felt almost heavenly to Xylma.
Though not qualified to sit beside Homer, the current Secretary of the President, Xylma followed an official and a PSG member to a seat in the back row, reserved for lower-ranked attendees.
Assigned to PhilSecta but still portrayed as a foreign affairs agent in the public eye, Xylma found herself among her PhilSecta and PSG colleagues.
The elevated platform in the central hall held three seats akin to those in the Batasang Pambansa Complex, each with bottles of water adding to their grandeur.
Homer stood at the forefront of the presidential officials, with the House Speaker and Presidential Spokesperson seated closely behind him.
On the right side sat the AFP chief, Jose Raulio Batombato, along with triad seven-star generals and other military officials. Most army commanders were not qualified to attend, leaving seats beside Batombato filled with his trusted high-ranked professionals.
Hundreds of non-elected appointed officials filled the venue, representing the upper echelon of politics, economy, and public affairs. These individuals, appointed by the President herself for their merits and loyalty, held immense power and influence.
Xylma couldn't help but feel nervous, knowing these individuals could easily overpower even elected senators. Their close relationship with PhilSecta only added to her unease, though it paled in comparison to encountering a member of the Legion of Four.
Reflecting on her journey from a simple mage girl in a port town to her current position in less than a year, Xylma sighed ruefully. She hadn't sought authority, yet it found her in her unexpected journey from Heather to the Philippines.
Homer and President Luna Lo Csia convened a general assembly, but one notable absence was Lily Sagrada, the Secretary of the Department of National Defense.
Noticing Sagrada's absence among the assembled stakeholders, Homer's voice took on a harsh tone as he inquired, "Why isn't our DND Chief present today?"
A high-ranking PhilSecta agent, disguised among the attendees, respectfully bowed before responding, "Miss Lily Sagrada is currently engaged in confidential-level endeavors, Sir."
Expressing his disappointment, Homer lamented, "I was hoping to seek her advice regarding the current emergency we are facing, but it seems she is unavailable."
Turning his attention to President Luna, Homer suggested, "Shall we proceed with today's session, Your Excellency?"
Luna, seated at the highest position, nodded absently. "Let us begin. Homer, as my Secretary, you have my authorization to address the assembly as you see fit."
Her words carried the weight of authority, commanding the attention of all present.
Interrupting the proceedings, a military official stand before Homer, delivering an urgent report. "A powerful demon known as 'Le Molech,' along with its army of monsters, has launched an attack on Consula Island, a key territory of the Ilylic Confederation. Governor Abrahaim El Consula has pleaded for assistance from both President Icya's government and ours."
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present.
Homer, his expression grim, added, "The annual food production from Consula Dukedom accounts for over seventy percent of President Icya's government revenue. Despite their treasury's strained state, they are actively engaged in combating the threat and evacuating civilians."
As Homer shared data on a large holographic screen, depicting the dire situation, discussions among the stakeholders grew more intense.
After all, these weren't humans we were talking about; rather, demons capable of wielding magic, a power that defied common sense. And then there was the spatial magic user criminal who seemed to evade capture. Anna had already assembled a group of informants and snipers, hoping to eliminate this nuisance with my permission. Meanwhile, I was still in the process of repairing my body. How irritating.
Luna felt disappointed as she observed the anxious reactions of the attendees. Internally, she sighed, keeping her emotions hidden as she closed her eyes.
"Silence!" boomed the Secretary of the President, his deep voice cutting through the hall. He leaned forward, fixing a sharp gaze on the officials. "Let's maintain an informal tone for discussion. Do any of you have a solution?"
"Sir Homer!" Hamilton, the sole representative from the Icya Republic, stepped forward. "Le Molech has seized control of Mount Uhe in Consula Dukedom and is now opposing our advances as the Demon Lord of Uhe! He's attacking our trucks, destroying settlements, and killing our people! We Icyans are indebted to you Filipinos for saving our country from decades of demon rule, but we can no longer tolerate these new demons on our homeland. We need your help once again. We must dispatch armies from both nations to subjugate him and his demons immediately!"
Homer smiled slightly, though there was a twitch in his lips as he listened to the Icyan Ambassador's plea. "Demons have crossed the line by seizing a large portion of the annual taxes of our green-haired friend, Ex-Princess Icya. How does everyone feel about eliminating this powerful demon?"
Homer looked up, smiling, as he reviewed the details of the demon displayed on the holographic screen.
"I'm against it, Sir Homer!" Manny Pakyut, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, stepped forward. "Our nation has been transported here, and we've lost contact with Earth, which has diminished our human resources. We've lost a significant portion of our population! We cannot act rashly when our personnel are dwindling. Based on the geographical data we've obtained, Mount Uhe on Consula Island, which Le Molech has occupied, is strategically located and difficult to attack due to its complex and steep topography. Dispatching battalions to eliminate him and his monsters would result in unnecessary losses. While my police force can maintain public order, they are not equipped to handle demon attacks. Furthermore, dragons have claimed our mountains as their domains, adding to our vulnerabilities."
"What do you propose then? Shall we sit idly by while this demon snatches a large portion of my country's annual taxes? Since when has the leader of the national police become so cowardly?" thundered the ambassador, while the others present maintained their composure, contemplating possible solutions.
Manny Pakyut remained stoic, disregarding the ambassador's unprofessionalism.
"Our priority is the safety of the Philippines above all else. We cannot afford to leave our country unguarded while dispatching our military to subjugate demons once again. We've witnessed the power of demons and dragons in these times, and it's evident that our people, especially women and children, are vulnerable. We'll be defenseless against potential threats if a significant portion of our army is absent."
"I agree with Sir Manny, Sir Homer. We must address our internal issues before turning our attention outward. We can't embark on a military expedition against demons until we've eliminated internal threats and ensured the safety of our people. It's only a matter of time before demons set foot on our islands, which is a concerning thought. While we are powerful, we have yet to secure every inch of our country. Take, for example, the hidden base of the NPA-ONE, a vast underground cave network. Fortunately, we've already mapped it out," added another military official from the Special Forces, echoing the PNP Chief's sentiments.
The ambassador appeared on the verge of tears, his eyes teary as he looked at President Luna, whose eyes remained closed.
It was evident that he had little influence in this assembly, as most present prioritized rationality and loyalty to their country. Despite his emotional display, Hamilton remained steadfast, trusted by Icya to fulfill his duties despite his shortcomings in foreign relations.
Hamilton's desperation was palpable.
Xylma furrowed her brows as she listened to the opinions of some individuals.
"Demon's have never harmed anyone in this country or arrived," she thought to herself. "I know there are violent dragons that were killed recently, but why are they so insistent on preparing for demons when there's no reason to do so? At least not yet, but the urgency is right in front of our noses. The Icya Republic needs urgent help. Some, or maybe even most, here have doubts about these certain individuals. So sketchy. I could tell from my fellow agents here; their stance slightly changed the moment the PNP Chief spoke. Just exactly what is happening behind the scenes?"
"PhilSecta members have no sense of pity, rather a sense of duty," she continued to ponder. "The ambassador is pitiful to look at. Nevertheless, you already know that they will put their country first, right?"
Homer glanced from left to right across the viewing platform after hearing the opinions of the officials and asked, "So, there are only two options: remain our forces here to solidify our defenses further or eliminate the demon?"
"Remain!" "Remain!"
"Eliminate the demon!" shouted the ambassador, attempting to make his voice louder.
The few noisy individuals began debating once again.
"Silence!" Homer turned towards the AFP Chief and asked, "You're the regent of the entire military forces, Sir Jose Raulio. What do you believe is the right decision to make?"
The black-dressed Jose, who stood out among the attendees, pondered for a moment before giving his opinion. "Consola Dukedom is an important agricultural territory of the Icya Republic, accounting for two-thirds of the country's total agricultural output, Sir Homer. It's the lifeline of the Icyan populace. They will suffer food crises, severe famine, and malnutrition, which could lead to the country's collapse."
"However, it's also true that the areas surrounding Mount Uhe have a complex topography, making it hard for us to defend ourselves in its spiraling range of hills and forests with high humidity. This leaves us with no choice but to go on the offensive, utilizing our artillery-related arsenal. However, it will be costly, and there's no guarantee that it will weaken them. Nuclear missiles and ICBMs are not options either; they defeat the purpose. We must strike a blow with a select few talented personnel armed to the brim and weaken his influence by eliminating those monsters around him, even if we can't eliminate him."
"All the taxes, as well as the trade from the two main islands and the central island, will fall into the demon's hands if we do nothing about it. The Icya Republic might even face an invasion from the said demon in a few years when he has amassed enough strength with the wealth he has stolen. Monsters will multiply under his reign, targeting us upon learning of our existence. We'll have severe casualties against him if he ever sets foot on our lands."
"Regardless, subjectively speaking, the people of Icya have great opinions of us and believe in us. We know that our President has plans for the country of our friend, former princess Icya and now a head of state of a sovereign. Leaving the demon alone as it grows is not an option we can take. The potential threat is immense," Jose stated firmly.
Xylma nodded from the back, agreeing with Jose Raulio's clear and logical conclusion. Although she believed that military interventions came with a high cost, she understood that the military's primary role was to defend its people, not necessarily to conquer nations. However, they couldn't waste resources on transporting enormous amounts of food and other goods required for war, not to mention weapons that may not be practical or factors that had not been accounted for.
"Sir Jose!" The PNP Chief questioned him, "I wonder if you've heard what we just said. We'll be left helpless to defend against potential demons and the existing dragons if they decide to attack us after moving military forces to eliminate the demon. It may well be the intention of the demon to attack the Philippines."
"Uh, well..." The ambassador felt that this argument made sense as well and turned speechless for a moment.
"You keep talking about potential demons attacking the Philippines, but it's just pure speculation now! Le Molech demon has attacked the country of your supposed 'friend' and taken her country's annual taxes, so why are you still so insistent on defending from non-existing demons?"
A woman's dainty voice echoed through the main hall, leaving the attendees puzzled for a moment. Luna opened her eyes as if awakened in the morning, stretching her limbs and feeling satisfied.
Homer raised his eyebrow upon seeing Luna and then redirected his focus to his assistant.
They looked towards the source of the voice and discovered that the statement came from a pretty woman with dark purple hair sitting in the back seats.
"Why is this foreigner here?" The PNP Chief pointed at Xylma, his finger accusingly aimed at her.