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Imperial zulia wrote:

My eyes had not changed a single bit, they were still locked at Valerio's. He was right, I was not a fan of this cursed technology. The overall ambience was a silent one, his voice occupying all the space. His voice was fit for a King, a very dominant one. I wasn't into people like him, but it was slightly admirable. He was lucky to not face what I faced, and as such took the cursed technology for himself without hesitation. If it wasn't for my own prejudice, I would make full use of that technology, too. But alas, what happened ended up happening. I was confused as to why he assumed that "something happened to me" - did he know? And so, I raised my eyebrow, ready to question him.

As I raised my eyebrow, and he stopped talking, what was left of actual sound left the room, replaced with the most utter silence that penetrated around everything. The silence was so predominant it was deafening, despite being, well... silence.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to say that?"

Silence permeated through again before he motioned his hand and the soldiers retreated. The bright designs of the rifles, representing Colombia taking advantage of this technology. Due to my morals, I would rather stay away from it. After that, a Priestess gave the King some documents. What they were, I didn't know. But it just made me more nervous and doubtful in an already tense environment.

I was ready to be blunt with him. "I... really don't seek anything, apart from possible economic deals between our nations. Zulia has a lot of resources that could interest Colombia, and vice-versa. Otherwise, the globe grows more tense, and I would prefer it if we could work together to preserve the security of all of our peoples."

Vaitoria, The Heart of the Empire—Meeting with the Eastern Stranger

Valerio raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of this lovely mutant he looked at. Here she was, asking for nothing more than to bring about better connection between them. Colombia sat upon impossible Martian wealth, and Zulia had to be painfully aware of that too given the strides being taken daily in Colombia to advance technology. What a strange woman. To connect the economies could have benefits, with Colombia in isolation having grown wealthy among the elite at least. Much of the country was still ruins and at the mercy of government programs which provided them with everything. What cities were they beyond the reaches of the houses? None. Ruins which were being occupied by those who had returned to it after the war. Towns which were being built on old ones. Villages being made where war hadn't quite decimated. Perhaps helping to stimulate the economy with some foreign trade could indeed help his people move forward and return private industries to some level of existence.

"You're a rather peculiar woman to me Elena. You sit in the room of the mightiest nation in the world. Or at least the world that you and I know of. We have nowhere else to turn. There are no other voices to be heard. I haven't gone looking for any nations, but none have come looking for me either. I assume it's the same for you. Regardless, it's between us that you wish to rebuild the world? Our economies against the rubble of Earth." Valerio chuckled and nodded. "I find that romantic enough for my tastes. Colombia bathes in untold Martian wealth, but that wealth is little good to most my people. My nation is still recovering, even now, from the War between Earth and Mars. Perhaps some economic movement between us would help incentivize things and restore some much needed industry. However, there are restriction that would need to be in place. Such as the ban on the export of Martian technology to Zulia, as per the demands of the church and the Azarola family. Though I imagine there are a number of details we need to establish."

Valerio gestured for her to speak. "Make your thoughts known, Elena. Tell me more what you want, and we can organize more. I can let some imperial officials draft the cold details, as I doubt either of us are educated enough to break down the numbers to the smallest level. Leave it to the bureaucrats."

The king rolled a pomegranate across the table to her. "If you've nothing more for the moment, enjoy the hospitality of my home. Walk our halls, see what beauty I've captured here and saved, have whatever luxury you wish for away from home. Guards will accompany you of course."