The Freedom Federation…
Comprising nine middle kingdoms and thirty-six city-states, it was the largest and most technologically advanced alliance in Pangea.
If Vaan remembered correctly, the Black Witch Society's headquarters was hidden within the Principality of Dainsleif, which was a part of the Freedom Federation.
As the Supreme Leader of the Red Dragon Clan, it was only natural that Narvim wouldn't keep such important information from him.
As such, unless the Black Witch Society moved their headquarters, Vaan knew their exact location on the map of Pangea. Furthermore, he could reach it anytime with a dragon lord's help.
Since they were in an alliance to combat the threat of Gehenna, they had not cut off contact since their last face-to-face meeting with Ophelia. On the contrary, they had maintained communication with each other.
Vaan had made a secret arrangement with the Black Witch Society as part of his Plan B.
In the event that the neighboring countries couldn't contain their greed and risk the start of a continental war over the Holy Knight Empire and Black Rose Kingdom's matters, the Black Witch Society agreed to assist them by secretly striking the enemies' rear and targeting their supplies.
It might seem simple for a backup plan, but its effect shouldn't be doubted.
After all, greedy countries wouldn't be able to send out troops to join the continental war if their homes were on fire.
The continental war would also be avoided since the neighboring countries failed to muster enough military force to invade.
Nevertheless, Vaan was confident they wouldn't have to worry about the southern countries.
After all, a copy of the footage revealing the truth behind the Holy Knight Empire's scheme had already arrived in the Freedom Federation before news from the neighboring countries' spies even left the Holy Knight Empire's borders.
Since the Freedom Federation occupied the supercontinent's central region, information from it would spread quickly to the rest of Pangea.
And considering many countries depended on the Freedom Federation's advanced technology and magic knowledge to prosper, information would spread even quicker.
There was a reason why the Freedom Federation was the leader in magic engineering, leading Pangea with its advanced knowledge and technology.
Unlike most countries, the Freedom Federation did not engage in slavery. Anyone caught engaging in or associated with slavery activities was strictly punished by the law.
Furthermore, the people of the Freedom Federation all had access to education regardless of gender and class.
That said, even the Freedom Federation wasn't free of discrimination.
The Freedom Federation was divided into three main factions: the witch faction that looked down on men, the male-dominant faction that believed in male supremacy, and the neutral faction that fought for gender equality and prosperous co-existence.
However, thanks to the Freedom Fedeation's strict policy and regulated system, these three factions didn't engage in bloody battles despite butting heads. Rather, they competed in technological achievements and contributions for more authority in the alliance.
'Educated people fight with their heads, not their fists. Given these favorable conditions in the Freedom Federation, it would indeed be strange if it didn't become the most developed power in Pangea,' Vaan mused with interest.
Although Vaan wanted to reform the Black Rose Kingdom and Holy Knight Empire and implement changes like the Freedom Federation, it would still take years before producing the same results.
'For now, the southern countries shouldn't be a threat. The Great Ratholos Empire isn't interested in territorial expansion, so I can also rule them out; I only need to watch out for the last empire in the west,' Vaan thought.
Actually, it wasn't that the Great Ratholos Empire wasn't interested in territorial expansion; it's just that their focus lay in the eastern sea and not the western land.
The hidden treasures and resources buried in the eastern sea made it far more alluring than any land.
After Vaan finished perusing information on the southern countries, he set his sight on the last of the three empires in Pangea, the Divine Serpent Empire.
The Divine Serpent Empire was the most mysterious country in Pangea. Even the Holy Knight Empire's imperial library didn't have much information on it.
This superpower, which occupied a large part of Pangea's western coastline, was surprisingly unknown to the rest of the world.
Whether it was the Divine Serpent Empire's military power, technological development, or culture, barely anything was known about it.
If not for the Divine Serpent Empire's emperor revealing his strength and prohibiting all foreign travelers from crossing their borders, people wouldn't have even known this third empire existed.
People would have just thought the Divine Serpent Empire was just a large wilderness, foggy land that hadn't been conquered and developed.
Getting into the Divine Serpent Empire was difficult, but getting out was even more so.
The Holy Knight Empire had sent many envoys to the Divine Serpent Empire over the years, hoping to establish an amicable relationship with their unknown neighbor.
However, none of the envoys had ever returned upon crossing the border.
A powerfully-recognized country wasn't feared as long as its intentions were clear. On the other hand, even a small, unknown country with unclear intentions could be frightening.
Although the Divine Serpent Empire had never invaded another country, Vaan was more wary of it than any other neighboring country.
After all, no one knew anything about the Divine Serpent Empire or what it wanted; it was unpredictable.
'Divine Serpent Empire… A land of fog… Situated next to the Treacherous Sea…' Vaan deliberated with a frown.
Recalling the fog in the Thousand Fog Mountains, Vaan couldn't help but suspect the Divine Serpent Empire was hiding a huge secret.
After all, who could have known there was a mighty dragon clan living in the depths of the Thousand Fog Mountains?
Nevertheless, Vaan could only look further into the Divine Serpent Empire at a later time.
Besides putting it on his to-visit list and strengthening the Holy Knight Empire's defense at the western borders, there was not much he could do regarding the Divine Serpent Empire for the time being.
He had many other things to do.
Suddenly, Vaan received information from Zodreg via telepathy.
'Supreme Leader, a minor issue arose in the Black Rose Kingdom. Lady Linetta urgently requested your assistance at the Delarosa Marquisdom.'
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