Columbia, the youngest country on the Terra continent, is by no means weak despite its youth. Its strength rivals that of established powers such as Ursus, Victoria, and Yan. Over the past decade or so, it has been involved in frequent small-scale conflicts with its neighboring countries. You can see its presence in nations like Kazimierz, Minos, Sargon, Sami, and Bolívar.
Among the three major powers in Bolívar, one is a puppet government supported by Columbia.
Columbia was originally a colony under Victoria's rule. However, during the War of the Four Emperors, it seized an opportunity and declared independence. Since then, it has developed at an astonishing pace, and in just a few decades, its national power caught up with the likes of Victoria and Ursus.
This is especially true in terms of technological advancement. Columbia initially inherited Victoria's technology, but now it has surpassed it. It has even built a military force comparable to Victoria's steam-powered armor units.
All of this, of course, can be credited to the fact that several of Terra's most technologically advanced companies have their headquarters in Columbia: Rhine Lab, Raythean Industries, Blacksteel International, Wolvet Cochinzky, Beach Umbrella Corporation, and many others.
However, with time, Columbia's period of rapid development has come to an end. Internal conflicts are beginning to surface, and if things continue, it may well become another Victoria.
"Young man, do you know where this is? This is Columbia, not your Che City."
In the top-floor conference room of a magnificent building in Columbia's capital, a middle-aged Liberi sitting at the head of the table looked calmly at the man seated opposite him—Daniel Davis.
Naturally, the place he was currently in was the headquarters of Wolvet Cochinzky. Among the many companies in Columbia, Wolvet Cochinzky had the deepest cooperation with the military. Strictly speaking, this company was essentially a white-glove for the military.
Wolvet Cochinzky had stirred up numerous events in various places—for example, the previous Oripathy Dust operation, where they supported a noble in seizing a lordship. That was actually ordered by Columbia's military.
This kind of operation had been carried out many times by Wolvet Cochinzky. Some succeeded, some failed. Regardless, they had embedded many agents for Columbia across various countries. For example, if Rhodes Island hadn't intervened in the Oripathy Dust operation, they likely would have succeeded. Even without Rainbow Six and a certain transmigrated scientist's help, they might still have succeeded. After all, Wolvet Cochinzky had provided the enemy with ultrasonic attack equipment.
First, it was a chance to test their gear. Second, it was a way to plant sleeper agents. Even if the operation failed, the loss would only be monetary.
Of course, the military's actions weren't unopposed within Columbia. There were two other powerful internal agencies—the Alcohol and Tobacco Sorcery Unit and the Originium Product Administration Bureau.
These two institutions, along with the military, essentially controlled Columbia's political landscape. When Kelsey was still active on the Terra continent, she had stayed in Columbia and was very familiar with these two organizations.
In the "Dust in the Wind" operation, the military and the other two agencies had differing opinions about Sargon, and their respective mercenaries clashed within Sargon.
The reason for their disagreement was simple: conflicting interests. The military's actions had disrupted the operations of the Alcohol and Tobacco Sorcery Unit and the Originium Product Administration Bureau.
But there's another layer to this. The conflict represents a struggle between Columbia's emerging powers and its old factions. The military represents the interests of those Grand Dukes who broke away from Victoria. After all, it was through the betrayal of several Victorian Grand Dukes that Columbia was able to establish itself.
This is precisely why Victoria's current situation is so tense—it has learned from past mistakes.
"Columbia, huh? I'm soooo scared."
Daniel Davis put on an exaggerated expression of fear—but then, a gunshot rang out. A bullet grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody streak.
"If I were afraid of Columbia, would I even be here? And even if Columbia wanted revenge over a dead man, do you really think they could manage it?"
It was practically impossible for Columbia to deploy regular troops against Che City. At most, they could send mercenaries. The reason was simple: the two were too far apart. Columbia would have to cross at least two other countries to reach Che City.
These words finally caused a change in the middle-aged Liberi's calm expression. As a Columbian, he understood very well the nature of the military. If he were alive and still useful, the military might not abandon him. But if he died, they certainly wouldn't go to great lengths to avenge him—maybe just send a few assassins or hire some mercenaries.
"But don't worry. You won't be going alone. There'll be company to keep you from getting lonely."
"You haven't taken care of this side yet? I didn't think you had such a twisted sense of fun."
As the voice sounded, W pushed the door open and walked in. After surveying the conference room, she looked at Daniel Davis with some surprise.
"I was waiting for you. Might as well do something while I wait. And besides, just killing a scumbag like this too quickly would be letting him off easy, don't you think?"
As he spoke, Daniel glanced at W a few more times. She was currently dressed in a Columbia-style women's business suit, a stark contrast to her usual attire, giving off an indescribably alluring vibe.
"Relax. This is a rare spectacle."
As she spoke, a remote control appeared in W's hand. She pressed a button, and the fire alarm blared throughout the building.
"We can talk this out. I'll compensate you for your losses."
"No need. I'll collect the compensation myself."
With several gunshots, the Liberi collapsed into his luxurious executive chair. In his final moments, he reached out as if trying to grab something, but his hands found nothing.
"Everyone's out. We can begin."
Using Observation Haki to sense the building, Daniel Davis confirmed the last person had escaped, and the firefighters had arrived. He immediately opened a golden portal.
"Let the fireworks begin."
As W finished her sentence, a series of explosions erupted throughout the building. This was why she had worn business attire earlier—so she could plant Originium bombs undetected.
The old W would never have been able to carry so many explosives. But things were different now. She had been outfitted with multiple spatial storage devices provided by Daniel, packed to the brim with explosives. She was a walking armory.
On top of that, she now wore a fourth-generation nanotech Anti-God armor. With this, she could probably go toe-to-toe with Theresis. W's combat style suited this armor, which was essentially an enhanced version of Rita's Shadowsteel. It even came with a mechanical pet, though unlike Rita's, this one had a self-destruct mechanism instead of neurotoxins.
"Let's go. Time for the final target."
From the rooftop of another building, watching the tower blaze, Daniel Davis turned and opened another golden portal. Wolvet Cochinzky was merely a puppet. To end this thoroughly, the masterminds behind it had to be eliminated too—namely, Columbia's First Army Group, which secretly supported the Scar Market.
Boom, boom, boom.
Just like when he had bombarded the Scar Market's mobile town in Kazdel, Daniel now used the Herrscher of Reason's power to manifest a vast array of modern weapons and utterly obliterate the elite company of the First Army Group.
As a military group, the First Army had a large number of soldiers and was not concentrated in one area. Though destroying the entire army would be possible for Daniel, it would be too troublesome—and unnecessary. Taking out their elite forces and eliminating the Grand Duke behind them would be enough. After that, the Columbians themselves would dismantle the First Army.
"As expected, when faced with modern concentrated firepower, even replicas of Victoria's steam armor with power equivalent to Ursus' Internal Troops can't fight back at all."
The elite company of the First Army had been trained using Victoria's steam armor replicas. To counter Ursus' Internal Troops and Kazimierz's elite Silverlance Pegasi, Columbia employed a dual approach.
First, they built special units using steam armor replicas. Second, they mimicked Ursus' Internal Troops, using various experiments to create powerful soldiers.
Dragons like Durin and children like Rosemary were victims of such experiments.
The Loken Aquatic Lab—Rosemary had been created there. But now, the lab was in ruins, possibly due to Rhodes Island.
"You really stirred up a storm."
On the streets of Little Hill County in Victoria, the Doctor and Daniel Davis strolled along, discussing his recent actions. His deeds had shaken the entire Terra continent. All those who had once plotted against Che City quickly withdrew their people.
Because Daniel had demonstrated overwhelming power. It was estimated that during the Scar Market incident alone, three Grand Dukes, nearly ten Marquises and Counts, and numerous elite figures at all levels were all killed within just three days.
Especially in Columbia, the First Army Group's losses completely disrupted their military plans and destabilized their foreign deployments.
Kazimierz, Minos, Laterano, and even Bolívar were beginning to take action. Now, not only did Columbia likely have no intention of messing with Che City, even if it did, it had neither the capacity nor the energy to do so until these issues were resolved.
"Just a little lesson for them," Daniel said with a smile. "Alright, let's stop talking about them. Do you have any ideas for resolving the situation here?"
He immediately changed the topic. He had already shown his strength. If anyone still dared to reach for him, it wouldn't be so simple next time. Columbia, in particular, was the last place he feared. If they kept provoking him, he would teach them the same lesson Victoria once received—Columbia would be dismantled.
"It's difficult, unless you intervene and resolve one side completely." The Doctor sighed lightly.
After returning from Columbia, Daniel had come to the Doctor and explained the situation in Little Hill County. He didn't have a good solution himself, so he turned to her.
Thus, the two had come to Little Hill County so the Doctor could assess the situation firsthand.
"You don't have any solution either?"
"You've seen it yourself. Their hatred runs deep—this isn't like Kjerag."
"Yeah."
Daniel understood the meaning behind her words. That's why he couldn't help but sigh. The three major families of Kjerag had their differences, but they still shared a common goal: making Kjerag better. That was why the Doctor could work with the situation and guide it to a peaceful resolution.
But in Little Hill County, it was a completely different story. Moreover, the situation in Victoria was already precarious. Grand Dukes were beginning to march toward Londinium with their armies, and a major war might soon erupt.
As for the Doctor's suggestion that he intervene to completely eliminate one side—well, it was easier said than done. This was Victoria, after all.
"Let's go to the Rhodes Island office."
After a brief silence, the Doctor spoke again.
"There's no other choice."
"Doctor? You're here?"
At Rhodes Island's Little Hill County office, outcast was visibly surprised to see the Doctor. The other operators were equally excited upon learning she had arrived. Even though they were stationed far from HQ, they knew full well who she was.
"Outcast, sorry. Something has come up here. You all need to come in."
The Doctor dismissed the ordinary operators, leaving only herself, Daniel, and outcast in the room. She then explained the situation in Little Hill County.
"I see... This is very troublesome," outcast said, frowning after listening.
"I know. But now that Rhodes Island is aware, we must do our best. First things first—those Originium bombs must be destroyed. We cannot let them be used."
As the Doctor spoke, her gaze turned to Daniel Davis. Among everyone present, only he had the ability to locate and destroy those bombs.
"Got it."
Daniel nodded slightly. While the battle in Little Hill County might be unavoidable, Rhodes Island could never allow a dirty bomb to be used now that they were aware of it.
"Next, we need to speak with the Storm Assault Team's captain. Outcast, get the Rhodes Island operators here ready to evacuate at any time."
Little Hill County was about to become a battlefield. For the safety of Rhodes Island's operators, they had to evacuate. Rhodes Island was committed to saving lives—but not at the cost of its own personnel.
The conflict in Little Hill County ran far too deep. Even the Doctor couldn't stop the coming war. She was only human, not a god. And even gods couldn't resolve such entrenched ethnic conflict.
The tensions between the Tarans and Victorians had existed since the Tarans were conquered by Victoria. Years of discrimination had only made things worse.
In such circumstances, attempting to resolve the conflict through dialogue was impossible. Daniel and the Doctor's earlier walk through the streets had been to observe the relationship between the Victorians and the Tarans firsthand.
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