At Balt-Rhein, Louis, Emperor Goldbalt IX, and their advisers prepare to take over the Centro city-states, despite the protests from Adviser Duke Eisenstein and General Corentin Pineau. At the Centro, Venedik notice that their rival nation, Republic of L’isonlani, was seen violating the secret pact between the eleven Centro nations by aiding the empire’s navy ships from pirate attacks.