I know that you like for the official meetings to immediately get to the point, so lets go with that today, Birch said as they took a seat in one of the many rooms in the palace. The room was well-prepared, with amenities such as water and a few snacks already set on the table.

Aron, Rina, Ayaka, and Lee sat on one side, while Rayyan, Birch, Oak, Crabapple, Mangrove, and Cypress sat on the other, facing each other.

I would like that too, Aron said calmly, answering with confidence. He didn't appear at all like someone attending his first official meeting with peers who could be considered equals in terms of leadership. If Rayyan's government were counted as a separate empire, it would rival his own, at least in terms of population count, which exceeded that of Arons empire.

In the past, I have acted as the representative for both the Proximians and my fellow tree folk. Today, everyone here will speak and represent themselves before we decide on the best course of action for our children.

Rayyan is here to represent our childrens interests and ask questions pertinent to them. Her input will be crucial in our decision-making process. The rest of us will consider her input when we reach the decision-making stage. Thats our course of action. If you have one for your side, we would like to hear it before we begin our conversation, Birch said and started waiting for Aron's response.

From our side, my wife and I will be the official representatives. Ayaka and Lee are here as advisors throughout the meeting. Thats all, Aron responded. If there is nothing more to add from your side, we can start the conversation.

With that, Aron left the floor open for the other side to ask the first questions since they were here to discuss them.

Should we join the empire as citizens, what will our treatment be, and what leadership structure will be implemented upon us? Rayyan asked, taking the initiative to pose the opening question of the meeting.

If you were to join the empire as citizens, you would receive the same treatment as any other citizen of the empire. This includes all the rights and privileges that come with citizenship.

Even if you choose to remain allies rather than becoming full citizens, you will still be treated with respect and fairness, though there would be some restrictions, such as requiring visas to enter imperial territories and more.

I can provide records to confirm this, and we have already amended our constitution to include your group. The formal ratification of this amendment will be completed after this meeting.

Regarding governance, there will be no changes to the current system. During your training, you were introduced to the same governance model that the empire employs. Rayyan, you would be responsible for representing the Proxima star system under imperial rule, following the same governance style that will apply to other regions acquired by the empire in the future.

The solar system, being the empire's capital, is directly controlled by the imperial family, which is why it does not have a representative like other star systems.

Aron paused for a moment after addressing the initial queries related to Rayyan's question before continuing.

"I would also like to add that within our governance structure, all leadership positions, regardless of their level, have defined limits on their power.

The Emperor holds the highest authority within the empire, but even this role is bound by the rule of law. The Emperor can remove individuals from power, but only if there is substantial evidence and a valid reason for doing so.

Similarly, just as a thousand of our empires citizens have the power to challenge and dethrone me should I act inappropriately, a randomly selected thousand of your people will have the same power to hold their leaders accountable, including me."

Aron spoke plainly, ensuring that all aspects of the governance were clear. He wanted to avoid any misleading impressions and prevent future misunderstandings that could lead to conflicts or discontent.

Rayyan remained silent throughout Aron's detailed responses, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment. Although she was familiar with most of the information from previous readings, hearing it directly from the leader of the empire provided a different level of clarity and assurance. At that moment, she was satisfied with the answers she had received.

What is the goal of the empire? Cypress, the creator of the fae or fairies and the only winged species among them, asked.

At the start, the creation of the empire was an unintended consequence of a world war between myself and the rest of the world, which I won overwhelmingly. The cause of that conflict was our discovery of a potential visitor, whom we initially and are still considering to be hostile until proven otherwise.

We recommended the formation of a unified force to confront this potential threat, and that remains our primary focus, including your possible role as allies or citizens.

Our investments are centered on preparing for this threat, but if we manage to overcome it, our goals will shift based on the situation at that time, Aron explained calmly, summarizing the foundation and current objectives of the empire.

Mmm, Cypress nodded, indicating her satisfaction with the answer she received.

For me, Im curious about your so-called magic and the way you harness what you call mana. From the information Ive gathered through your peoples conversations, it seems that you only discovered it a few months after the formation of the empire. How have you reached such an advanced understanding of it so quickly, and how did you discover the different methods to harness and materialize its effects in the real world? Crabapple, the creator of the dwarves, asked, his voice carrying a hint of the dwarves' natural inclination toward creativity and invention.

That is because we, or rather I, knew about mana long before people began experiencing what we call the awakening or blessing, Aron answered calmly.

His response, however, sparked a contrasting reaction from everyone on the opposite side of the table, including Ayaka and Lee, whose expressions shifted to one of surprise and intrigue.