While they were murmuring to each other, they heard the stepping sounds of shoes going towards the Hall, making them anticipate.
Abel arrived in front of everyone, and stood at the podium, with microphones and recorders from different news channels all over the Philippines, and some from overseas.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you aren't disturbed by our summons." Abel greeted everyone.
"No, we aren't disturbed, Spokesperson Montemayor." The correspondents waved their hands, "We are happy that you have invited us here."
Abel smiled and nodded, "Then, I shan't delay you all any longer, let us start." He said and assumed a serious face and straight back."
"Good afternoon, fellow Filipinos. We, the King's Council, have gathered all of you here today concerning the matter regarding the prior declaration of war by Sultan Anasaldin of Mindanao. We regard this as a serious threat to the peace and order that the former presidents have established between the two countries."
"As a result, King Andras VI will step up to address the people of his country." Abel announced.
Within even letting the media digest what he said, Abel stepped down the podium and moved to the back. Suddenly, to their shock, Andre appeared striding with majesty towards the Hall with royal guards wearing blue military uniforms walking at his side behind him. He, on the other hand, was wearing his ceremonial suit; a white royal suit with golden embroidery, knots, and brooch on the chest. A white cape that is fastened to his shoulders by a golden shoulder board cascaded down to his calf.
A badge was pinned on his suit; a shield surrounded with a laurel wreath with an eagle on it. Surrounding the eagle was a European crown with four stars in the middle, symbolising the Royal King of The Philippine Monarchy.
Although his face is that of a sixty-year old man, his magnificent bearing and handsome looks from his early days could still be seen.
Another person was behind him. It was a twenty-five years old young adult with similar looks to that of Andre. He had an incredibly handsome face and long wavy black hair that ran down the side and covered his ears. He had sharp eyes and his way of walking was gallant with the bearing of a true royal. Although he was paler than other Filipinos, his complexion and looks were still close to his nationality, although it has some foreign parts to it.
He donned a denim blue suit with a white inner garment and a ribbon that has similar color with that of the suit. He also has similar ornaments to Andre, except his badge was without the laurel wreath and the four stars. Instead, the shield had two crossed kampilans behind the shield and the crown had three stars on it, symbolising the Crown Prince.
He similarly had a cape, a blue cape that was over his shoulders and draped down to his ankles. It has a gold shoulder mark that acts as the clip of the cape to attach to the shoulder of the suit.
Seeing them together, everyone thought that they were lucky as this was rare. As the "current king" Andras Maharlika VI only appeared in front of everyone only when the president was being awarded and when the first and second world war started and ended, while in regards to the Crown Prince, he wasn't even known to anyone until now, so this is also the first time that the Prince would be involved in an assembly!
Everyone had their mouths gaped as they looked at the arriving royals. Waking up from their stupor, all of the people inside stood up to welcome them. Inside, they were proud that they were one of the people that would film the first appearance of the Crown Prince.
"We greet Your Excellency!" Abel hailed before bowing towards him.
"We greet Your Excellency!" The people also bowed to them after Abel.
The two nodded in response. Andre stepped forward to the podium while the Crown Prince walked to the back and sat on a chair behind the right side of the podium.
Andre stood erect in front of everyone and cleared his throat. "I am pleased that everyone can come here for our press release. I wanted to greet everyone formally, but with the serious matter that is at hand, I shall not dilly-dally any further." He said.
"As of now, the naval forces of the Sultanate sails towards our south to conquer the Region of Visayas. I, as the monarch of the Philippines and the de facto sovereign of Luzon and Visayas, will not agree to this aggressive behaviour of our neighbor."
"It was in the year of 1752 when King Ignacio and my family butted heads to gain independence for Luzon, and it was in 1808 when the Visayan Islands and Mindanao were surrendered by the Spanish Rule to the state. Then, in 1888, under constant pleading, Mindanao was given sovereign independence over their lands under the rule of President Anastasia Corazon. They were given enough face to co-exist peacefully with the state, but in just a little more than 200 years of independence, they have already breached the peace that was established by the late presidents multiple times, and that is unacceptable."
"We have given them enough face. Under my rule, and in the name of the future monarch's rule, we will never tolerate such indecency!"
"The King's Council, as the representative of the state, fearlessly responds to the disrespectful attitude of the Sultanate and shall answer to them; If war is what they seek, then war is what we will give!"
As the press release was live, everyone felt their blood boil with patriotism. As soon as Andre finished his sentence, the Royal Fleet that was formed personally by him, that was moving towards the south even before the conference, arrived at the South of Sulu. Hundreds of warships launched long range missiles consecutively, destroying assault and patrol ships en masse.
Another fleet from Palawan started to assault the Mindanao Mainland and deployed land forces in their territory. The Philippine Air Force also started bombing the military bases in Iligan, Cagayan, Cotabato, Koronadal, General Santos, and Butuan; Chaos has started throughout the Sultanate.
Even Before the Sultanate declared war, Andre had already prepared the army to retrieve Mindanao from the Sultanate by force. With the money and authority that he has, he easily bought military ships and jets from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other allied states that has superior technology.
Three days later, the war was still going at full swing. The west coast of Mindanao has already been fully taken over by the Philippine Army while multiple army regiments have already entered several western cities. The Sultanate's army from their southern territories couldn't even go past the barricade that had been made by the Philippine Navy.
Later that day, The United States' Secretary of Defense, Henry Douglas, also released news from the White House. "With the current events that have recently been going on in the Pacific, The Office of The President states its full support with the Philippine Islands' unification under one government. We shall send military, financial, and logistical support for the Philippine King's undertakings of unifying the old country." The white burly man wearing a military uniform announced in front of the press.
As soon as it was released, everyone was shocked by the US' conviction with its stance in the Republic-Sultanate War.
The Lesser Ottoman Empire also stated on its side that they will send military and logistical support for the Sultanate.
Although the Ottoman Empire has been defeated by the joint forces of the Western forces and the late Russian Empire, with their reaches still scoping the oil-rich territories, resulting in a powerful economy, the Empire still had its position in the world as a country that was at least at the top 15 of the world's powers.
The Soviet Union also released its stance in the war by its spokesperson in foreign affairs, Alexei Abramov, in his press conference. "As one of the world's great powers, it is imperative for us to not let any of our equal exert its dominance over the weak countries. As such, we extend our support with the Pacific Sultanate and we would not let the Americans extend their reaches to Asia."
China, as one of the Soviets' stout allies from its founding until now, also expressed their support to the Sultanate. The Qing Dynasty, presiding on the east of China, as a country that hated its western counterpart to the core because of their betrayal from the Imperial Authority, countered them and expressed their support over the Philippine Republic.
Then, it all came consecutively, like a domino. Japan, Korea, Australia, Malaysia, The European Union, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, The African Countries, India, Southern Vietnam, and Brazil voiced their support for the Republic. Indonesia, Iraq, Northern Vietnam, Laos, and the Istan countries, on the other hand, extended their support for the Sultanate.
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