Tri-Border Ocean
Two days after the destruction of the Moth Pole prison, the planned trilateral meeting between Murica, Dwargonia, and Ravendawn takes place at the border where their territorial waters meet.
A Ravendawn fleet—four 124-gun ships and six 62-gun ships—anchors in neat formation at the center of the ocean. To their starboard, three Murican destroyers idle silently, their hulls towering above the wooden warships. To port, the Dwargonian fleet looms: four battleships, a swarm of destroyers, and five massive military airships hovering ominously overhead.
It resembles a naval parade… except no one here feels festive. The Dwargonians, especially, radiate barely contained fury.
Moored squarely between the three fleets floats a massive Murican cruise ship—an unmistakable copy of an Earth Disney cruise liner, except this one proudly bears the logo of disgruntled demon rats and labeled as Dismay Cruise Ship.
Admiral Lorenzo and King Luxius, accompanied by several Ravendawn knights, disembark from their man-o'-war and approach the cruise ship aboard a small wooden boat fitted with a Murican-made motor.
"Seeing a Murican cruise ship in person is… different," Luxius mutters, eyes wide. "I still can't believe how gigantic it is…"
"Agreed." Lorenzo scratches his head. "I still don't understand why they spend so much money so their citizens can go on these… holidays."
He wasn't exaggerating. The cruise ship's multi-deck waterslides gleamed even at this distance.
After his capture by the Muricans a year ago, Lorenzo received an offer to serve in the newly revived Ravendawn Navy. Two reasons were given:
1. He was a credible, respected admiral with loyal Vandorian sailors.
2. Ravendawn's navy had been defunct for the past twenty years.
He initially refused—his loyalty to Vandoria was absolute.
But Murica then revealed the truth: his king planned to shift blame for the "unsanctioned invasion" onto Duke Pierre, Archmage Durac, and Lorenzo… and execute their families as a spectacle.
That broke him.
Murica promised to rescue his family in exchange for his service.
Lorenzo accepted.
"Though," Luxius murmurs, glancing uneasily at the Dwargonian fleet, "it's not the Murican ship we should be worrying about right now. Admiral… do you think the fleet we bring now could stand a chance against theirs?"
"…Unfortunately, no, Your Majesty." Lorenzo sighs. "If this is an open battle now, it would be a miracle if we can inflict any damages to them… "
"Then I pray no war happens with Dwargonia," Luxius whispers.
---
Later on, inside the Dismay Cruise Ship
Delegates from the three nations gather in a pristine conference hall:
· Rondo Stoneale, Dwargonian Diplomat
· Hannya, Acting Foreign Minister of Murica
· King Luxius, Ravendawn
· Admiral Lorenzo, Ravendawn
"We regret the altercation between our patrol ship and one of your merchant vessels," said Lorenzo. "We are still investigating why our ship went rogue."
"Hmph! Convenient of you to call it 'rogue'," Rondo snaps. "Perhaps this is how you provoke a war—so you can invade us and plunder our resources!"
"We have no intention of invading Dwargonia," Hannya replies calmly. "If anything, Murica prefers friendly relations and mutually beneficial trade."
"And our investigation suggests an unknown faction orchestrated all these incidents to sow discord between Dwargonia and the Murica–Ravendawn alliance," Luxius adds.
"Investigations done by 'you two'," Rondo retorts. "Our findings show otherwise."
"Then enlighten us," Hannya says. "What did Dwargonia discover?"
"Fine! What we found," Rondo declares dramatically, "is that Murica 'engineered' the 'accident' with the Atlas ship so Leviathan could infiltrate our capital!"
"And what would we gain from that?" Hannya asks.
"OBVIOUSLY—so Leviathan could wipe out our Grand Council!" Rondo barks. "Decapitate our command! Make us ripe for invasion!"
"…And yet Hearthguard Cairn still stands. Your Grand Council is still breathing," Hannya sighs.
"Hmph! Only because our military thwarted your plot before it happened!"
---
Langley, BICH Headquarters
Inside a meeting room at BICH HQ, Janet, Mo, and several agents watch the conference live-feed.
"Who the hell is this clown?" Janet growls.
"Rondo Stoneale," an analyst replies. "Leader of a minor Oakenbrew sub-clan. Nothing noteworthy in his record."
"Then why send someone like him as lead diplomat?" Janet clenches a fist. "He's accelerating a war, not preventing one."
Mo said nothing. His expression was drawn, thoughtful. Something about the dwarves' choices wasn't random.
Someone else's hand was pushing pieces on the board.
---
Tri-Border Ocean
The debate escalates.
"Enough of this!" Rondo slams his fist. "A few days ago, our Moth Pole prison was destroyed!"
"We know," Hannya answered, "and we tried to warn yo—"
"It was destroyed," Rondo shouted over her, "because your minister and ambassador attempted to kill our Grand Marshall, Dwordoug Axebreaker!"
"What?" Hannya's eyebrow twitches.
Rondo continued with gleeful martyrdom. "But our Grand Marshall is a valiant dwarf! He sacrificed himself by ordering bombardment upon the prison—burying the demons and himself beneath mountains of rubble!"
"I doubt our minister or ambassador would do such a thing," Hannya says. "We even sent aircraft to help you—and we have recording of unknown black airships bombarding the prison."
"Of course we turned your aircraft away!" Rondo snaps. "They might have been aiding Leviathan! And how do we know your recording isn't fake? We know you're capable of something called 'video editing'!"
Even with her cold demeanor, Hannya's irritation becomes visible.
Luxius steps in.
"If Murica and Ravendawn wanted war with Dwargonia, we'd be at war already." Luxius said "We are still looking for why and who behind all of this, including the Moth Pole destruction"
"The 'why' doesn't matter anymore," Rondo says coldly. "Too many dwarven lives extinguished by your hands."
He pauses, stares at them.
"I will ask only once: does Murica admit responsibility for the death of dwarves?"
"Nay," Hannya answers immediately. "We won't claim responsibility for something we didn't do."
"Then from this moment—Dwargonia declares war on the United Demon Kingdom of Murica… and its ally, the Ravendawn Kingdom!"
Luxius and Lorenzo paled.
Meanwhile Hannya is processing, the past Murica would be delighted if they went to war, but this time she was supposed to prevent it, and this is her first important meeting as acting Foreign Minister
"…Sniff… sniff… how can you declare war so easily…?" she murmurs flatly. "War is never good… countless lives… wasted…for no reason…"
It failed.
Spectacularly.
"Ehm… miss," Lorenzo whispers, "your face and your words… don't really match…"
"Tch." Hannya clicks her tongue—annoyed that her old boss could do theatrics flawlessly. Even her bratty adopted sister Ivy could fake emotions better.
"Whatever. THAT WILL BE ALL!" Rondo roars. "THE NEXT TIME WE MEET WILL BE WHEN YOU SURRENDER!"
He storms out dramatically.
The others stare after him with disappointment.
"…Maybe I should take an acting class," Hannya mutters, still expressionless.
---
Bashington DC, The Black House
"I am terribly sorry, sir. I failed to prevent the war with Dwargonia."
Hannya bows before Solo and Lilith. Stan, Monny, and Mo stand nearby.
"Don't worry, it wasn't your fault," Solo says.
"We watched the footage," Lilith adds. "They clearly wanted war from the start."
"Tch. Another war," Monny groans. "Not only did we fail to get dwarven minerals, now I have to prepare extra military budget!?"
"Well, blame the dwarves this time," Stan says cheerfully, happy to be needed again.
"Just coordinate with Ravendawn forces, to make neccesary preparations, Stan" Solo orders. "Mo—anything that could stop this war?"
"Not yet," Mo sighs. "We're following leads in Vandoria."
"But I'm surprised they used the Moth Pole as an excuse," Lilith says.
"Yes… seems our mastermind infiltrated Dwargonia deeply," Mo replies.
"…Do you think Levi survive Moth Pole?" Solo asks.
The room falls silent.
Then:
"Uh huh," Lilith answers.
"Yep," Stan replies.
"Of course, sir," Mo nods.
"Definitely," Monny shrugs.
"He's like a annoying cockroach that survives even a nuclear blast," Hannya adds with venom.
The room collectively stared at her but chooses not to comment.
By the end of the day, the world learns: Dwargonia has declared war on Murica and Ravendawn.
Some nations worried.
Others smile.
---
Meridinia Alliance, Carravin
The Meridinian Alliance—Talvaris's version of the Soviet Union—was a federation ruled not by ideology but by profit. Merchants controlled politics, and their leader, King Cassemir, controlled both kingdom and the guild.
Situated at the center of Talvaris, every major shipping route passes through their waters. For centuries, their coastlines brimmed with bustling ports, each one profiting from mandatory resupply.
But now Murica and Ravendawn's new Canal threatens all of it.
King Cassemir grinned from his throne as he received two members of the Church's Seven Virtues.
"Kukuku… After a year of dirty works, it's finally done," Cassemir chuckles. "Murica is at war with Dwargonia."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," the priests say, bowing.
"Those Muricans… selling goods everywhere without even joining the merchat guild and paying guild dues..." The king face is irritated. "And opening a new shipping route? The losses we suffered this year are unforgivable."
"Worry not," says Sachiel, an elderly priest with a monocle. "War will force merchants to avoid their Canal."
"And when both sides are weakened," says Camael, a handsome young priest, "Meridinia Alliance—supported by the Church and Celeste Empire—will help Dwargonia crush Murica.""
"My forces will be ready soon," Cassemir says. "But are you sure the dwarves will request our aid? They are infamously prideful."
"One of our own in Dwargonia will ensure it," Camael replies. "Even if they don't, as a goddess worship nation, you don't need any reason to fight the demons. The Church and Celeste Empire will support you and pressure other nation to follow your lead."
"Good. No more smuggling explosion scrolls or blackmailing ship-mages to death. Just pure war. My armies and the dwarven mercenaries ache for battle!"
"And your guild likely ache to control the Canal," Camael says with a grin.
"HAHAHAHA! Of course!" Cassemir roars. "Once the Canal is under the guild, Meridinia practically own all the shipping route in Talvaris and prosper beyond imagination! But don't pretend you aren't benefitting too."
The priests smile knowingly.
"Of course, the Church benefits as well with this war," Sachiel says, "the Church can purge demon influence while guiding the dwarves onto the path of Celes."
"Then let us toast to mutual profit," Cassemir declared, snapping his fingers.
Wine glasses appeared. Glasses are filled.
"Salute."
"Salute."
Storm clouds brewed beneath their toast.
---
Several Kilometers from Moth Pole Prison
At the base of the mountains far beneath the ruined Moth Pole prison, metallic clanking echoes.
Clank! Clank! Clank! CLANK!
CRASH!
A massive section of stone collapses, revealing a tunnel. One by one, seven dwarves in green prison uniforms emerge.
Then an enormous dwarf steps out—Cinderclaws.
"Kukuku… finally." His eyes gleam. "Hippy, Dic, Grump, Dope, Bish, Slippy, Sneeze."
He nods at each miner.
"Congratulations. Each of you will have half your sentence reduced."
"Hmph… that doesn't matter, Warden," Dic grumbles.
"Oh? And why is that?"
Dic raises his pickaxe—Shawshank, the diabolical pickaxe-and slam it to the ground.
"WHAT MATTERS IS WE'RE FINALLY FREE OF THIS CURSED PICKAXE!"
"YEAH!" the other dwarves cheer.
"Kee?" the pickaxe chirps, confused.
Then all seven dwarves stomp on the cursed pickaxe repeatedly.
Physics, as always, wins.
All the dwarves immediately hop on one foot, clutching the other in pain.
"KEEEE-KE-KE-KE-KEEE!" Shawshank cackles gleefully.
"Fufufu… those seven truly were the best miners of Moth Pole," says Dwordoug, emerging from the tunnel with surviving guards and prisoners.
"Indeed," Cinderclaws agrees. "Though the pickaxe itself is a miracle. Even mithril tools would've shattered many kilometers ago."
"As much as I hate to admit it… you're right," Dwordoug exhaled. "But we also owe the demons for our survival."
They glance back as Ambassador Mara emerges, carried by two dwarves.
Moments later, Levi appears on a stretcher fashioned from sheets of metal—his body covered in severe wounds and bruises.