At the Valorian Capital, Emily could see the huge dome of the Volkshalle towering above the city as the helicopter approached. The grandeur of the structure never failed to impress her, even after so many visits.
Moments later, the helicopter touched down smoothly on the helipad at the north façade of the Volkshalle. The rotors slowed to a halt as Emily quickly disembarked, her thoughts still focused on the earlier encounter with Chief Mosi. The audacity of that man was infuriating, but she had a duty to report back to Alexander and discuss the next steps.
She was met by a pair of uniformed guards who escorted her through the grand entrance and into the main corridor.
Emily walked briskly, her heels clicking against the polished floor, until ran into a familiar figure.
"Emily..." Julieanne called out, her voice tinged with surprise. "You're here early. I thought you were going to meet the diplomatic envoy."
Emily paused, turning to face her colleague.
"I was," Emily replied, her tone clipped. "But the meeting didn't go as planned. Chief Mosi was... less than cooperative."
Julieanne's brow furrowed. "What happened?"
Emily sighed, frustration evident in her posture as she recounted the events. "He refused to acknowledge my authority because I'm a woman. Insisted on speaking with a man instead. I've left them on the ship until we decide how to proceed."
Julieanne's eyes widened in disbelief. "He really said that? How archaic."
"Exactly," Emily nodded, her voice laced with irritation. "But we can't let this slide. His Excellency needs to know what happened, and we have to decide how to handle this situation. We can't afford to show any weakness."
Julieanne nodded in agreement, her expression serious. "I'll come with you. We should both report this to him."
The two women continued down the corridor, their pace quickening as they made their way to Alexander's office.
When they reached the large, ornate doors leading to the office, Emily took a deep breath before nodding to the guards, who opened the doors for them.
Chief Mosi stood on the deck of the Valorian Navy's flagship, his eyes wide with amazement as he took in the vast expanse of the Port of Norfolk. The scene before him was unlike anything he had ever seen. Massive steel cranes towered above the docks, their arms moving as they hoisted enormous container boxes from the ships and placed them onto waiting trains and trucks.
As Mosi took in the sight, he couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and apprehension. The power and sophistication on display here were far beyond anything he had encountered before. The Kingdom of Zambesi, with its traditional ways and simpler technology, seemed almost primitive by comparison. For the first time, Mosi began to question the wisdom of his earlier stance.
Perhaps he had underestimated the Valorians, and perhaps his rigid adherence to tradition was blinding him to the realities of the modern world.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the sound of approaching rotors drew his attention upward. A machine called "helicopter" was descending toward the ship.
Mosi watched as the helicopter landed on the deck with a soft thud, the rotors gradually slowing to a stop.
The door of the helicopter opened, and Emily Harris stepped out with a letter clutched in her hands. She unfurled it and read it out loud.
"Chief Mosi," Emily began. "This letter is from His Excellency, Alexander, the leader of Valoria. It contains our official response to your actions and the continuation of our diplomatic discussions. To Chief Mosi of the Kingdom of Zambesi. Valoria values mutual respect and equality in all diplomatic engagements.
We are committed to establishing diplomatic ties with your nation, but this commitment is built on the foundation of mutual respect. We cannot and will not tolerate any actions that undermine the principles we hold dear."
As the translator conveyed the message, Chief Mosi's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. The tone of the letter was unmistakable—Valoria would not bow to outdated customs that disrespected their leadership, regardless of cultural differences.
"Furthermore," Emily continued, "we expect that all further discussions will be conducted with the understanding that Valoria's representatives, regardless of gender, are to be treated with the same respect and dignity that we extend to your delegation. Failure to adhere to this will result in the termination of these discussions and a reassessment of our diplomatic relations."
The translator finished, and silence hung in the air as Chief Mosi absorbed the words. The weight of Valoria's stance was clear, and Mosi realized that any further insistence on his previous position could jeopardize the potential alliance with Valoria—a nation whose power and sophistication he had just witnessed firsthand.
Emily folded the letter and handed it to the translator, who passed it to Chief Mosi. She waited, her gaze unwavering, for his response.
Chief Mosi took the letter, his expression thoughtful. He could sense the strength behind Valoria's words, and he knew he was at a crossroads. The alliance with Valoria was crucial, but it would require him to adapt, to consider a perspective that was foreign to him.
After a long pause, Chief Mosi nodded slowly. "I will consider the words of your leader carefully," he said through the translator. "I see now that Valoria is a nation of great strength and principles. We will continue our discussions, with respect as the foundation."
Emily inclined her head in acknowledgment. "We look forward to continuing our discussions on those terms, Chief Mosi. Let us work together for the benefit of both our nations."