RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 73: A fire has to start somewhere so…


    When Luvia is osted at her home by individuals wearing ck suits and tinted sses, the first thing she blurts out before them is.


    "Ohe the fuck on! I haven''t breached any state secret in thest three months, right!?"


    Instead of answering her, a pair of fine gentldies in ck put their hands on Luvia''s shoulders. The next thing Luvia knows, she arrives at a meeting room through twists and turns that leave herpletely baffled about her true location. Escorted into the room, Luvia sees many familiar faces in the reporter world being present, some of them are even her friends. Owing to her keen perception, Luvia immediately notices their host for the asion. The female host stands out for being the only one with a distinct aura, putting her way above the grassroots reporters and guards around. Picking an empty chair as her seat, Luvia looks on as the host is animatedly chatting with a female elf with pink hair. If one is to guess the elf as the famous <em>Miss Pink Elf</em>? then one is correct in their assumption. That said, if there exists ady that can chat with Miss Elysia as if they''re family or best of friends, then it can only be the Marshal or <em>Miss Pink Elf</em>?''s co-singer, the <em>Voice of Heaven</em>, Miss Eden. Judging from the height and the long velvet hair of the person, it''s highly likely that it''s Miss Eden herself. Luvia''s guess is proven to be correct when Miss Elysia bids goodbye, leaving their host free to turn around with a bright gentle smile on her face.


    Eden, in her trademarked night brown dress, directs her amber eyes to check the reporters in the room, nodding when she sees everyone is present.


    "Good evening, gentlemen anddies." Eden greets in her silky smooth and warm voice. "I hope the trip here has not been challenging for any of you?"


    At the question, Luvia finds herself automatically reassuring the idol that, indeed, everything was fine on her way here. The notion is supported by other news reporters like Luvia. They really are speaking the truth though, for the people in ck have been very considerate of their needs and questions, not to mention this is not the reporters'' first rodeo to an unknown site. Seeing their honesty, Eden smiles lightly. "I am d that we haven''t given any of you a scare. That said, I think by now you all must have an inkling as to what we will be requesting of you. Hence, I will be cutting to the chase, saving us precious few times to tackle our respective pursuits."


    The reporters and Luvia nod, finding themselves oddly at ease and intrigued. They have been in this situation a few times already, though each of those times involved a different host so they''re understandably curious about Miss Eden being here. The idol then exins.


    "You may know of me as Eden, no need for further introduction there. Yet, you may not know about my other duties other than my passion for being a singer. I am one of ONI''s Section Heads, a position that no doubt most of you have extrapted at some point. My task as the Section Head is quite simple, really, and not that far off from your day-to-day work. I have the honor of steering the Reich''s propaganda machine, something that I have managed to do so quite sessfully thus far."


    There are a few murmurs here and there, with even Luvia feeling surprised at the sudden and easy-going revtion that Miss Eden just delivered. Yet ultimately, none of the reporters voice any question, letting Miss Eden continue to say.


    "I tend to run my Section from behind the scenes and elsewhere, yet recent events have prompted me to tackle them with a more personal touch, at least for a short while. If you are a reporter worth your salt, then you may have noticed the mobilization of our military garrisons by the Pnian-Belkan borders. Tonight, I will first show you the reason why such a cause of action was decided upon by the Marshal herself."


    If before the announcement, Miss Eden had Luvia''s and the others'' curiosity, now she has their attention. Some guards help Miss Eden set up a video projector and hand out packets of documents for each reporter. As if they''ve shooked on an unvoiced deal, the reporters all opt to watch the prepared video first before reading up on what they are given. Miss Eden just watches on with a small smile, though it''s unknown when she has a goblet of wine in her hand.


    The video first starts with a recording, excerpted from the helmet cam footage of soldiers in Warsaw. What follows next is a series of subtly edited footage that censors out the ssified parts, yet still retains the full authenticity of the actions, it evenes with full subtitles! Starting from the point when first contact was made between the Belkan-Rusviet unit and the Warsaw military garrison, the video showcases nearly everything for the reporters. It even includes the painful and heart-achingbat march of civilians and allied soldiers to get to the point of extraction. In short, Luvia and her peers are treated with the truth of what happened on that day in Warsaw. They''re renowned reporters of their respective publishing houses, rarely fazed by anything. Yet tonight, they get an eye-opener in the form of aplex series of events, culminating in unannounced acts of aggression from multiple involved parties.


    The Belkan-Rusviet unitmitted justifiable acts of self-defense and upholding justice in the face of Pnian aggression. Still, the matter is also made convoluted by the way the Reich sent out unannounced aircraft to vite the Pnian airspace, seemingly with ease and with such a swift response time. While the air support did ensure the safety of the civilians, it doesn''t change the fact that Belka willingly trampled on the sovereignty of a country they hadn''t dered war on. Miss Eden, seeing the reporters start catching onto the crux of the matter, twirled the goblet in her hand.


    "It seems that you all have noticed the problem Belka may be facing shortly. On one hand, we may have attained the hearts of the people by our acts of heroism. On the other hand, we have showcased to the world our tant disregard for treatises and agreements, just by rescuing some poor souls. Thetter will no doubt be harped upon by the antagonists of the Reich. As such, Belka must take control of the narrative, steering the story in our favor and drowning out the naysayers. It''s why the state must now enlist your help once more. Like any other time, you will be credited handsomely, albeit with more bonus due to the nature of this request. You do it for the rewards, if not for loyalty. As long as you get the job done, the Reich will not forget your service."


    Subconsciously, Luvia and the reporters start salivating at the prospect of the promised bonus. While reporters are required to have a neat code of conduct, they will still be reporting cold hard facts, albeit with some flourishing as per normal, so it should be fine, right? It''s not like they are embellishing and pulling stuff out of their asses, right? They''re doing this for the state, right? They''re patriots, right? It''s fine if they do their job and get paid a premium to feed the mouths back home, right? Right?


    Eden giggles to herself when she sees the stoked spirits in the eyes of the reporters. "Then I believe we have a deal. Here''s to a pleasant cooperation." The idol raises a toast, prompting the reporters to do the same with their sses of wine. Don''t ask how they have them, the sses weren''t there moments ago.


    Sipping her delectable drink, Eden continues.


    "In your hands are additional information. Some are field reports, some are dirt we have on the politicians behind the things in Warsaw. Either way, the recording, and the data folders will help you all paint a clear picture of what to do. The Reich requires you topile two things. First, a narrative to present Belka and Rusviet as the heroes of the day. The second will be that the Pnian Revolutionary Command Council is corrupted to the core, with every member of the Council having a hand in a crime or many. Do your job well and sincerely like any other time, and you will wake up to the smell of Reichsmark in the morning."


    Eden stops before adding. "If there are doubts about what we have given you, they''re quite easily verified using your talents. Though seeing your expressions, I think that the headlines will be dominated in a couple of days by your report. You all are free to leave then, and I look forward to reading what you have to say. Meeting dismiss."


    Eden smiles at them before bidding her farewell, leaving Luvia and the other reporters to fall into a cacophony of discussion. It''s only when dawn has arrived that these men and women finally go home one by one.


    When Luvia is escorted back into the confines of her home, she can''t help but idly think.


    "This is kinda like us lighting a fight beneath the Pnians'' asses, ain''t it?"


    --------------------------------------------------------------


    "Now that public opinion is soon to be on our side, what will you do, my dear?" Mommy Hel asks me while I am cuddled up on herp. As per usual, her warm and stic bosom is something I can easily fall asleep on.


    I yawn beforezily responding to my Mom. "Well, when everything is fully in the light, I can start acting more and more brazenly on our side of the border. Ignoring the Pnian delegation and drumming the public in our favor is but step one. Step two will be to turn the Pnian citizens against their ruler and to lure the Pnian military into doing something they shouldn''t. The former is easy with how we can just disseminate whatever crimes the Revolutionary Command Council did to get to this point. As for thetter, both Belka and Rusviet can just regrly skim the Pnian borders with military exercises and troop maneuvers. There wille a point when the Pnian military pops a vein and fires the first shot, giving us another casus belli."


    Momys her chin on my hair, asking softly. "With how things have progressed, I thought you would have enough weight to just dere war on them already."


    I sigh, actually in contentment due to Mom enveloping me with her warmth. "I sure can do it now, but since Belka has already bombed Warsaw without any announcement, I refrain from doing so immediately. Instead, I push for both us and the Rusviets to take a step slower, making sure the Pnians will take the fall when the timees for shots to exchange. This way, we won''t give the other nations any more dirt to throw at us. I reckon that by the time everything kicks off with the Pnians, it will also be the time that the Months of Demons wille to an end."


    Mom moves her head, looking down at my eyes now that I have removed my eyepatch. "Then won''t we be fighting a war on multiple fronts? Isn''t that something we should avoid?"


    I gaze up into her purplish gray eyes, the same color as her long silky hair. "That''s true, but I have decided on a more proactive approach. Now that I have my temporal clones, I can lead both the Ustian and Pnian fronts at the same time. There''s also the fact that we won''t be grabbing most of thend in Pnia, only aiming to seize 1/3rd of it. The Rusviet Union will be doing most of the heavy lifting for us, Mom. This means the chance of us straining our supply line is abysmally small. Nevertheless, I won''t disregard any concerns you may have over the n, nor would I ease up on my guard when the timees."


    Mommy Hel smiles gently before leaning down to im my lips. She gives me a perfectly sweet kiss, not too short or too long.


    "That''s my girl." My mom praises me before lightly pinching my cheek. "Now let''s get some shuteye, no funny business this time as you may need the strength to do a public speech soon. The Pnians won''t be condemned in the eyes of the people if you don''t step up."


    I smile before leaning into her embrace. Together we both fall onto the bed. "Sleep cuddle only?"


    Mom giggles. "Sleep cuddle only."


    It''s just us two tonight, but it''s stillfortable enough for both of us. As the little spoon in our hug, I sigh contently in my mind.


    <em>''Gosh, I love the women in my life so much.''</em>