Reincarnated with the Country System

The Celestial Galleons, enormous flying ships trimmed with golden hulls and radiant sails, hovered silently in the sky over Athens.

The meeting was held on the deck of the aircraft carrier Midway, anchored a short distance from the city's harbor.

Soldiers in crisp Bernard uniforms lined the sides, their hands resting near their rifles, wary and stiff.

Across from them stood Raihan and his delegation — armored warriors with cloaks of white and crimson.

The two groups faced one another.

Introductions were swift and formal.

"I am Raihan, Champion of the Holy Empire, chosen by the gods," Raihan said, voice deep, measured.

"I am Alberto Bernard, Emperor of the Bernard Empire," Alberto replied.

For a brief moment, the two leaders simply stared at each other — two unyielding forces weighing the measure of the other.

Raihan frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly. "I have never heard of your country before."

Alberto shrugged casually. "And I have never heard of yours."

The casualness was deliberate, calculated to provoke. It worked — the faintest flicker of irritation crossed Raihan's otherwise unreadable face.

"Our nation has existed for thousands of years," Raihan said. "As a holy warrior, I know our history well, and nowhere in it have I found mention of your empire."

"Perhaps because we come from another continent," Alberto countered smoothly. "Far from your Holy Empire's reach. For your information, we have already occupied a large part of the Ostra Continent."

He paused, letting the words settle before asking, "Now, may I ask why you are here?"

Raihan did not flinch. He stood as if he bore the weight of destiny on his shoulders.

"We detected a source of dark energy emanating from this region," he answered.

Alberto's expression didn't change. "Are you referring to IN'THERAK?"

At the mention of the name, the temperature on the deck seemed to drop a few degrees. Raihan's piercing gaze narrowed.

"Yes. How do you know of it?"

Alberto folded his arms across his chest, his voice turning slightly sardonic. "He attacked my nation and wrought devastation on my capital. We have dealt with him. In my judgment, there is no further need for your intervention."

Before Raihan could reply, a woman in shining silver armor and flowing blue robes stepped forward. She was radiant — clearly a Saint, one of the blessed warriors of the Holy Empire. Her eyes glowed faintly as she lifted her hand, fingers spread wide.

"I can still sense the evil energy," she said, her voice ringing clear.

All heads turned to follow her gesture.

"You believe the Dungeon is the source?" Alberto asked, keeping his tone neutral.

Raihan gripped the hilt of his sword, and the atmosphere grew tense.

"This is no ordinary Dungeon," he said, voice low and grim. "It is a gateway. Multiple floors descending into the earth — and at its deepest, a rift connecting our world to another. Through it, the imprisoned gods of old stir and seep their malignance into our reality. We must act quickly."

Another damned disaster, Alberto thought bitterly.

"But the evil gods are still sealed," Alberto argued. "Besides, I hold three of the four keys to the Chest of Eternal — IN'THERAK's prison."

Raihan's lips pressed into a thin line. He shook his head once, like a professor correcting a careless student.

"For now, yes. But the bindings weaken. Energy feeds them — and that energy is leaking unchecked from the rift. Already, one of the Guardian Creatures who safeguard the barriers has fallen."

"Guardian Creatures?" Alberto asked, frowning.

"Yes," Raihan confirmed. "The Ancient Dragon, the Mother of Whales, and the Great Ancient Titan. When the gods were imprisoned, these beings were tasked with guarding the seals between worlds. The death of even one of them spells catastrophe."

He let the statement hang in the air for a moment before adding, "The Mother of Whales has perished. That is why the Dungeon has awakened."

Alberto cursed silently. He turned, signaling for Defense Minister Thomas to step closer.

"I heard that our ships killed a giant whale a few days ago — about three kilometers long," Alberto muttered under his breath.

Thomas paled. "Y-Your Majesty, yes... it attacked one of our ships. We had no choice but to defend ourselves."

Alberto shot him a glare that could have frozen magma.

"Idiot," he hissed. "Keep your mouth shut. If they find out we caused this, it'll bring the whole damned sky down on us."

Straightening, he turned back to Raihan, wearing a mask of diplomatic calm.

"You need not worry," he said smoothly. "Our forces have already entered the Dungeon. They are currently advancing through the third floor."

Raihan's sharp blue eyes gleamed.

"We also intend to enter the Dungeon," he declared.

Immediately, Thomas stepped forward, flustered and waving his hands. "We cannot allow that! This is an internal affair—"

Raihan's hand dropped to his sword. His soldiers immediately mirrored him, their movements sharp, trained — and deadly.

"As soldiers of the Holy Empire," Raihan said, his voice cold as winter steel, "we are bound to eliminate evil wherever it rises. Permission is not needed."

The Bernard soldiers raised their rifles in response. Alarms aboard the Midway began to wail softly, and the gun turrets of nearby destroyers swiveled toward the hovering galleons.

In the midst of the brewing storm, Alberto raised a hand, commanding silence.

"Enough," he said sharply. "We will allow you to enter the Dungeon."

Thomas opened his mouth in protest, but Alberto cut him off with a glare.

"But," Alberto continued, voice hard, "your forces will be accompanied by ours. You will not act independently. Any action must first be authorized by my commanders."

Raihan studied Alberto for a long, silent moment. Then he nodded, slow and deliberate.

"Agreed," he said. "But know this — we are not here to conquer. We are here to fight for the survival of all."

Alberto leaned in close to Thomas, speaking under his breath. "If they want to clean out the Dungeon themselves, let them. It'll save our forces from unnecessary casualties. Also, prepare additional troops. If they try anything against our permission... we'll eliminate them there."

Thomas nodded grimly. "Understood, Your Majesty."