Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Amid continuing topics that could be passed over lightly like children, childhood memories, state affairs.

"Nicky, something about this event deeply impressed me."

"What's that?"

"That this country's imperial citizens love their Tsar."
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Billy continued self-deprecatingly, as if somewhat envious.

"I suddenly wondered if our citizens are the same."

"How would you be different? German citizens must love you too."

"No, they love the words I speak and the future I present."

His self-deprecating tone was now filled with certainty.

"Nicky, the words Bismarck told me until his death 15 years ago still ring in my ears."

"What did he say?"

"That there's no better friend than Russia."

"..."

Something I once imagined too.

What if Billy hadn't let go of Russia's hand?

'Wouldn't the two countries have spread not just to the Balkans but Western Asia and North Africa?'

German Pan-Nationalism, or Pan-Germanism.

Russian Pan-Slavism.

If the two countries had stayed together until the end, wouldn't we have torn apart the Ottoman corpse and French and British colonies in the 20th century?

"You seem to have something to say."

"The alliance with France lasts until January next year. How about taking my hand again?"

"...Reject the reinsurance?"

"I'll make sure you don't feel the absence of those frog bastards. What do you think?"

Middle East expansion (3B Policy).

New Route Policy.

Naval Law.

Does he spout such words knowing how tyrannical his path has been?

I looked at him briefly wondering if he was serious, but there seemed to be no jest mixed in Billy's attitude. It didn't seem like he was just testing the waters.

However, I soon had to shake my head.

"Billy, how much can you give up to draw in Russia?"

"Give up?"

"Can you yell at the Dual Monarchy to spit out Bosnia and Herzegovina? Or can you hand over naval construction technology?"

Throwing aside kindness disguised as friendship, I said to Billy.

"...Well. I'll have to discuss with the Chancellor."

"Right, you can't give a definite answer here. You haven't even thought about what to give up."

"But don't you know? At this rate we... might have to point swords at each other. Can you really allow that? Do you want to give such a dark future to this beautiful empire?"

"Billy."

His concerns, I've had them too.

However.

"Just don't point them. Just don't point them."

That was the extent of our conversation.

Too many were waiting for me, and Billy didn't lack enough pride to persist further.

Why would Billy specifically come to bring up such talk?

'...Tch. Obviously.'

Pretending to take a brief rest, I hurriedly called the Prime Minister.

"You called?"

"Prime Minister Kokovtsov, Germany seems to have noticed our military armament."

This must be it. While the Russian military's armament level is rising rapidly, Germany is facing domestic opposition to military spending.

The third revision of the Naval Law was blocked just recently, and they can no longer put unlimited money into the navy.

Conversely, we're increasing military power incomparably more than during the Russo-Japanese War.

With the contrasting situations between the two countries, I think Billy has somewhat faced reality now. The stark differences in military capabilities, economic strength, and international support between them would have made this quite clear. The extensive military aid one side has received compared to the relative isolation of the other likely contributed to this realization.

Or perhaps he just wanted to test Russia's aggressiveness - to probe their willingness to escalate and gauge their actual military response capabilities in a real-world scenario. This kind of testing strategy, while risky, could provide valuable intelligence about their true combat readiness and tactical decision-making processes.

Whatever his true intentions.

"How much has been revealed?"

"I don't know exactly either, but what's important is we no longer need to hide. If Germany noticed, we must assume other countries know too."

"We should have been more careful... I apologize. I'll investigate where it leaked from first."

"That's not it."

We hid it well for three years.

They probably know the current Russian military's changes aren't simply at the level of normal spending increases.

"Prime Minister, from now on, let's increase openly."

Still, I learned quite a bit from the conversation with Billy.

He probably thought there was room to join hands again since Russia, having completely broken from isolationism, would now be more enthusiastic about expansion.

But Billy has a misunderstanding.

Current Russia isn't strengthening military power to increase colonies like Germany.

'My friend, I don't want colonies - I want to eat you.'

And while we're at it, make my ally France and Britain behind them completely collapse too.

In that sense, Billy.

No, all countries currently absorbed in imperialism.

"They don't seem to realize they're on the dining table."

They look truly careless to me.

==

Meanwhile, the banquet guests watching the historic meeting of two emperors were busy guessing what the two were discussing.

And amusingly, Britain came closest to the truth in their guesses.

"Wh-why did that German Emperor suddenly!"

"Oh no, surely not!"

Seeing the two emperors sit down and converse amicably, British Special Envoy George Buchanan and Ambassador Nicolson couldn't let this pass quietly.

"Just what are they talking about?"

"Wilhelm must be persuading the Tsar! He's surely offering to stop the Balkan War and save the Ottoman Empire in exchange for transferring their recently acquired Bosphorus usage rights!"

"We absolutely can't leave this be!"

The islanders' unique ability to instinctively suspect circumstances and make their own assumptions was displayed to the maximum.

Though their personal friendship was widely known in international society, to their eyes it already looked like Russia and Germany had formed an alliance and made complete plans to invade France.

No, that wasn't enough - it wouldn't be strange if a treaty dividing the Mediterranean and Balkans was completed right away.

The longer the two conversed, the more the legs of the two Britons watching from afar trembled.

'Alliance? Treaty? Agreement? Just what is it!'

'What's the topic? Balkans? Mediterranean? Asia? Africa?'

Normal humans would think based on common sense 'Ah, they're celebrating the tercentenary,' but they were British.

This was normal for them.