— Three Days Later - Sector Alpha City —
With the UN Assembly fast approaching, Daniel had to finalize his lobbying efforts as planned. Although he wished to prepare further, the looming deadline wouldn't allow it.
Currently, Daniel was enjoying a leisurely lunch with his wives at the dining table, cherishing quality time with his family. This was the last day he could spend with them before departing for Stockholm with his entourage the following day.
(**Author's Note: I know that the UN Assembly is typically held in New York, but in this story, New York belongs to the Confederacy, so the assembly will be held in Stockholm instead.**)
Today, Daniel took a well-deserved break, having done everything possible to prepare for the UN Assembly, from lobbying to contingency planning.
He dedicated this day to his family, completely stepping away from work, even from sketching new artifact prototypes on paper. Instead, he focused on entertaining his loved ones by playing with them, watching movies, engaging in games, or simply enjoying lighthearted banter.
— Morning —
The next morning, Daniel traveled to the Sector Alpha City airport, where a large Atlantean Carryall, modified for luxurious transportation befitting a leader, awaited him. Daniel had personally customized this Carryall using the Clockmaster's power, enabling vertical takeoff and landing like his VTOL.
His wives and little Sylvana saw him off at the airport, standing before the stairs leading to the Carryall's passenger door.
"How long until you come back, Papa?" asked little Sylvana, nestled in Daniel's arms, her face filled with worry.
Seeing his adorable daughter like that, Daniel chuckled. "A few weeks at most, sweetie, and I'll be back," he said, handing little Sylvana to Koyuki, who came to take her.
"You do know that the conference will last for months, right?" Envy said with a tired sigh.
"I know," he replied. "But if it takes longer than a few weeks, I'll let Guajia take over, and I'll return first. Besides, I'm only going because I want them to recognize our territory as a recognized country."
"Safe travels, love," Koyuki said, offering her blessings and a light kiss to Daniel.
"You can rest assured, I'll take care of your territory for you. You don't need to worry," Envy said, giving Daniel a kiss.
Daniel then turned toward Penthesilea. "Take care of yourself, Penthy, I'll be back soon," he said, giving a light peck on Penthesilea's lips, knowing she wouldn't dare take the initiative.
Penthesilea nodded with a blush, "You too... Danny... take care..." she said softly, as if whispering through her embarrassment.
"Let's go," Daniel said, leading his entourage into the Carryall.
On this trip, Daniel was accompanied by Michaela, Greed, and Guajia. Michaela served as his bodyguard, while Guajia was his strategist and political analyst.
The Atlantean Carryall, its sleek metallic body forged with Atlantean steel gleaming in the morning light, hummed with a gentle energy as Daniel settled into the plush interior.
With a soft whoosh, the Carryall lifted gracefully from the tarmac, its anti-gravity technology powered by mana and clockwork engine smoothly transitioning it into a vertical ascent. The cityscape of Sector Alpha City shrunk rapidly below, transforming into a miniature model as the Carryall soared higher.
Inside, Daniel and his companions relaxed in the luxurious cabin, enjoying the panoramic views through the expansive windows. The Carryall's advanced systems ensured a comfortable and quiet journey, allowing for conversation and contemplation.
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, the Carryall reached its cruising altitude. It glided effortlessly through the air, powered by the near-limitless energy of the Chromatic Philosopher's Stone, making the vast distance to Stockholm seem trivial.
Hours passed in a blur of shifting clouds and changing landscapes. The Carryall's sophisticated navigation system guided it unerringly toward its destination, adjusting its course to account for weather patterns and air traffic.
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, the Carryall descended towards Stockholm, revealing iconic landmarks bathed in the soft light. With a gentle landing at a private airfield, Daniel and his entourage disembarked, refreshed and ready.
It was 4 AM, and the city was just waking up. As Daniel stepped onto the tarmac, Anna Johansson, the UN Liaison Officer, greeted him with a warm smile. While there was no honor guard or fanfare, this suited Daniel, who cared little for formalities.
"Your plane is very impressive," Anna remarked. "At this size, it can even land vertically, and its engine is quieter than a car! I'm impressed! As expected from the most advanced tech company on Earth."
"Oh! Sorry, where are my manners? Hello, Mr. Emberweave, I'm Anna Johansson, your UN Liaison Officer. Welcome to Stockholm," Anna extended her hand to Daniel.
"Would you prefer to go to the hotel to rest first, or would you rather enjoy some activities we've prepared for you?"
"Thank you for your kind words, Ms. Johansson," Daniel said, shaking her hand and responding to her flattery with a smile.
"Let's go to the hotel first. My entourage needs to rest and organize their luggage. As you know, we're new here, so there's much to prepare for the upcoming conference." He gestured towards his companions.
"Certainly, sir. I'll arrange for someone to help with your luggage," Anna offered with a smile.
"That's wonderful. We'll be in your care then," Daniel replied with a polite smile, and Anna nodded.
Within minutes, airport staff arrived to assist Daniel, carrying their luggage to the waiting limousine provided by the host.
Daniel and his Entourage take the Limo and arrive at the hotel with Anna guiding and speaking with him introducing him to various places in Stockholm and many landmarks that they are passing along the way.
Daniel couldn't shake the feeling that he'd arrived with a tour guide, eliciting a wry smile. Meanwhile, Guajia meticulously took notes on Anna's remarks while occasionally marveling at the scenic Swedish landscapes.
Michaela, focused solely on her role as Daniel's bodyguard, remained vigilant and reserved, only offering brief replies when spoken to.
Greed, on the other hand, seemed indifferent to both the scenery and the conversation. Having visited Sweden numerous times in the past and planning to visit the Beaumont family in Switzerland after the conference, she was unfazed by the experience.
The Convoy then finally arrived at the Hotel, 'The Stora Kronan' Hotel or the 'Great Crown' hotel. This is the hotel that the host had prepared for the guest.
Daniel gets off the limo and under Anna Guidance, she brings Daniel and his entourage to the prepared suit that they had prepared for him.
Anna, the liaison officer, excused herself to attend to other tasks, but not before providing Daniel with the schedule and communicating with Michaela, his bodyguard, regarding security protocols.
While the host country typically handles guest security, if guests bring their own security personnel, they must cooperate with the host's security protocols. This led to a lengthy discussion between Anna and Michaela.
Usually, the security personnel would share responsibilities due to the numerous protocols. However, Daniel's security detail consisted solely of Michaela, and although Anna offered additional personnel, Daniel declined, leaving Anna to communicate solely with Michaela regarding security protocols.
After half an hour, Daniel's entourage finished organizing their luggage and prepared their temporary office for use during the upcoming conference.
"Greed, do you know when our turn will be?" Daniel asked.
"You mean, when will the session for formally recognizing the country take place?" Greed clarified.
"Yes," Daniel nodded.
"Well... the session to recognize a new country, or more accurately, to admit a new member state, can be considered at any time during a UN General Assembly session. There isn't a specific time slot allocated for it within the general debate. But..." Greed paused and let out a sigh.
"I'm sure those fools are likely to play games with you and make you wait for this session. They want you to recognize your status as unimportant in their eyes. When your stance softens, they'll be more likely to bring up this topic for discussion," Greed said with a wry smile.
"Yes, that would be their course of action. If I were them, I would do the same, my lord," Guajia agreed with Greed's analysis.
Daniel turned to Guajia.
"So... they want me to know my place?" Daniel asked with a mocking smile. "I mean, they are all country leaders. They should know about the existence of the Curtained World, right? And I think I've lobbied many mage families behind those leaders. They shouldn't make things too difficult for me."
"Danny..." Greed began, "Even before the Hightower unleashed the memory alteration spell, not every country leader knew about the Curtained World. And after the incident, I bet the number of leaders aware of its existence is even smaller."
She continued, "So, in their eyes, you're just a nobody. According to their mindset, they'll likely use this to take your technology. They'll leverage this point to get what they want from you... so be prepared."
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