Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Alright, stop making excuses for your old scoundrel behavior."

"These are all minor matters." The emperor coughed twice and returned to the main topic. "Whether it's those fifty concubines or myself, in the end, we were all sacrificed for the country."

The new kingdom has a total of fifty tribes. In order to ensure that the emperor promises to treat all fifty tribes equally, each emperor of the new kingdom must marry the daughter of the chief of one of the fifty tribes. This is a rule that has been passed down in this country since ancient times.

“Now that you mention it, I’m even less inclined to inherit the throne,” Isaac said with dead fish eyes. “I’m afraid I’ll end up with kidney deficiency like you.”

"Don't talk nonsense, I don't have kidney deficiency!"

The emperor would never admit to this.

"Let's not talk about that, let's discuss cooperation first."

Isaac was no longer going to let the emperor continue his nonsense.

"Alright." The emperor had no choice but to deal with the important matter first.

'Anyway, there's a long road ahead, and this kid won't be president anytime soon.'

The emperor thought to himself that he now only hoped Olivia could stay in the presidency for a little longer.

Isaac spread his documents out on the table and said, “First, I hope that Amestris and the New Kingdom will establish trade relations. Our two countries are separated by a desert, so a railway needs to be built in the middle.”

"Hmm, this plan is acceptable." The emperor nodded, now serious and focused on his work.

"However, given the distance between the two countries, even by train it would take a very long time to reach the destination, so I plan to introduce this technology."

After Isaac finished speaking, he pointed to his blueprints.

The emperor leaned closer to take a look and read aloud what was written on the paper.

"Magnetic levitation technology?"

“That’s right.” Isaac rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. “Trains manufactured with this technology can reach speeds of 500 kilometers per hour, so it would only take a few hours to travel from Amestoris to the New Country.”

The emperor then remembered what his ministers had said to him earlier.

This is groundbreaking technology!

'We must keep him in the new country, even if it means resorting to trickery and deception!'

'Giving him the throne wouldn't bother me!'

"As expected, I knew you were so outstanding three years ago."

Isaac, oblivious to the emperor's mutterings, continued, "To ensure smooth traffic, I propose that both countries station troops in the desert region and incorporate this desert into their territories, dividing the land equally..."

"Yes, I agree." The emperor did not refute Isaac's words at all.

"Oh? You agree to that?"

"There's nothing to disagree with; this is not bad for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries."

“I haven’t finished yet. Amestris is the technology provider. So the funding will be provided by the new country,” Isaac said.

The emperor looked at the funds needed to build the transnational railway.

This sum of money is enormous; most small countries couldn't afford it even if they used all their national resources, but for the new nation...

"A small amount, I'll cover it." The emperor waved his hand, agreeing to provide the funding.

"You guys are really rich."

"If you are willing to inherit the throne, you will be just as wealthy."

"So you haven't given up yet!" Isaac was speechless at his father's words. "Of course, the maintenance costs thereafter will be split equally between the two countries."

"can."

An agreement had been reached, and Isaac put the documents away.

"There's one more thing, and this is something I personally want to ask for help with."

"Oh? Go ahead."

“I would like to use the port of the new country,” Isaac said.

"That's possible, but could you tell me why?" the emperor asked, puzzled.

As is well known, Amestress is a country surrounded by other nations. It has no sea, so naturally it cannot have a navy or port.

Of course, when Isaac went to another world, he heard about a country that had the same situation as them. That country had a navy even though it had no territorial waters, but its personnel numbered only seven.

“I hope to reopen the trade routes I’ve taken to the continent of Tersis before and sell some of my company’s products,” Isaac said.

"Oh? You also have a company."

“Of course, Isaac Future Technology Co., Ltd., would you like to know more?” Isaac handed a business card to the emperor.

Huang asked with interest, "Judging from the name, that company is yours?"

"Yes, but it's currently considered a state-owned enterprise, and the Armstrong family still owns 5% of the shares..."

"Huh!? How can I let others have a share of the profits from a company owned by my son?" the emperor roared. "I have decided that you may conduct business freely in the new country without paying any tariffs, but I want 10% of the shares."

"make a deal."

Although he didn't know what was wrong with his father, Isaac continued to talk about serious matters.

"Besides this, there is another important reason for borrowing the port."

"Oh?" The emperor showed an interested expression.

Isaac said in a deep voice, "I need to have a say in the countries surrounding me to the east, so I want to deploy troops there."

"What kind of troops do you want to deploy in the new country?"

“No, that’s not true.” Isaac shook his head.

Even though his father was the emperor of the new country, he was not arrogant enough to openly deploy troops in the new country.

Isaac placed a map on the table and pointed to an island on it.

Do you know where you are?

"I know, this is Japan, but we lost contact before I ascended the throne," the emperor said. "What happened to that island nation?"

Isaac's face broke into a terrifying grin:

"I need that country to become my colony."

Chapter 368: The Japanese Campaign

"You want to colonize this country?" The emperor looked at his son with some doubt. "They have been closed off from the world for decades, and they don't have many resources to begin with. They are an extremely poor country. Even if you colonize them, you won't gain much benefit."

“I don’t care how much benefit this country brings, but I need to have a certain deterrent effect on the surrounding countries, so I must station troops in Japan,” Isaac said. “Besides, it’s an island nation, and some of the naval weapons I have are going to be put to use.”

"Naval weapons?"

“That’s what I’m going to talk about next.” Isaac said, putting away the map on the table and placing several design drawings on top of it.

"This is……"

The emperor stared at the design drawings on the table for a long time, lost in thought. He noticed that these design drawings…

He doesn't understand.

“These are the most advanced blueprints for large battleships and aircraft carriers, and there will be submarines and the like later,” Isaac said in a deep voice. “To reach the other side, I need absolute naval power to intimidate that country and ensure they will submit.”

"Do you intend to take Hinomoto by force?"

“No, not at all.” Isaac shook his head and smiled. “A man named Mima Tennori came to Amestris before and purchased a large number of weapons from me to deal with a kind of viral organism called ‘Kabane’ in their country.”

"Is that so?"

The emperor, who knew nothing about that country, began to listen attentively to Isaac's explanation.

Isaac continued, "Those creatures have extremely tough skin. Although our current bullets can penetrate it, they cannot kill them. Only hitting their encased hearts can kill them completely."

"What I sold them were weapons that Amestoris had already phased out. To them, those were already highly technological treasures. But based on my research on those creatures, while the weapons I sold them could stop them, it was basically unrealistic to expect them to win the war."

"Is that so?" the emperor pondered.

The reason why Japan closed itself off from the world decades ago remains unknown to this day. As a country that relies on importing resources from other countries for everything, it offers no benefit whatsoever to the new nation, so it has basically ignored that place.

Now the emperor finally understands that the reason for the cessation of communication with the outside world is due to a virus outbreak.

"Could you tell me more about that thing called Kabane?"

"Simply put, it's a very terrifying virus that can be transmitted through bodily fluids," Isaac explained. "If a human is infected with this virus, they will quickly turn into a man-eating monster. When it bites others, the bitten people will also be infected and turn into monsters. These monsters have hard membranes, and only by breaking their hearts can they be killed."

This explanation is concise and clear.

"So that means..." the emperor's expression turned grave, "that their country has already been conquered by this monster?"

That's not wrong.

"Then what use is that country to you? A country defeated by a virus is of no value whatsoever!" the emperor shouted.

In his view, Japan was hopeless; they could only wait to be devoured by the virus known as 'Kabane.' For Isaac to attempt to conquer that place would be a thankless and arduous endeavor.

“I’m going there to deploy troops,” Isaac said. “I need a place where my troops can rest and resupply, and Japan, with its geographical location near several countries, is the most suitable place for my supply depot.”

"what do you mean?"

Isaac laughed and said, "We Amestris will use a large number of advanced weapons to massacre the Kabane in front of those in power in Japan, and finally station troops in Japan under the pretext of 'liberating Japan'."

“After witnessing our overwhelming military might, I believe no one would want to resist,” Isaac sneered. “Unless they’re an idiot.”

"This is actually... a fairly reliable solution."

The emperor had to admit that if he did as Isaac suggested, Japan would indeed become a colony of Amestris.

“Therefore, I need to use the ports of the new country to complete my plans,” Isaac said. “In exchange, I will provide you with a copy of the technology I use, including the production lines and technology for battleships and aircraft carriers.”

After a moment of contemplation, the emperor agreed to Isaac's proposal.

The country of Nihon is of little value to the new nation, and it wouldn't be a big problem for Amestoris to give it to them.

Besides, the person in front of him was his most outstanding son, and the emperor had no reason to refuse.

He devoted most of his energy to figuring out how to trick Isaac into inheriting his throne. He believed that if Isaac were to take his place, the new kingdom's strength would definitely rise to a new level.

"That's all I have to say." Isaac put away all the documents. "Dad, is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"Ah? Oh... that's all." The emperor said hastily.

"That's fine. I'll leave the data on the maglev train in New Zealand. Then, each country will send one hundred alchemists and elixirs to build the railway."