By the late nineteenth century, Russia had been extending its influence across the Asian continent using railways, ports, and “temporary” military protection. Russian troops moved into Northeast China under the pretense of stabilizing the region and seized control over a weakened Chinese government.
Then, Russia began exerting influence in Korea through political pressure, bullying advisors, and economic leverage.
Japan sat back and watched all of it.
Korea and Northeast China were not distant interests to Japan; they were strategic lifelines. A hostile power like Russia established there would place Japan within striking distance of invasion.
For generations, European empires had dismissed Asian resistance, and Russia saw no reason to treat Japan differently.
That assumption proved fatal.
In 1904, Japan launched a preemptive strike against Russian naval forces, beginning the Russo-Japanese War. What followed was not a brief skirmish but a modern, industrial death match.
Japan outmaneuvered Russian forces on land.
Destroyed its Pacific fleet.
And later annihilated Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
By 1905, Russia was defeated.
The loss humiliated them and forced the world to acknowledge Japan as a global military power. More importantly, it left behind resentment that never fully faded.
And the relationship never reset.
And the Russians never fully recovered from the insult.
Four decades later, during World War II, the fucking Soviets invaded Japanese-held territory as Japan was already collapsing. It was strategically sound, yet politically unforgivable.
The war ended, but peace never truly followed.
Russia seized the Kuril Islands, which Japan still claims. Even now, decades later, no formal peace treaty has ever been signed between them.
That kind of history leaves scars, and that was why. . .Kazimir and I could never be true allies.
Yet, never true enemies either. Just rivals who understood that war between us would be costly, prolonged, and unpredictable.
Kazimir knew all of this.
Which meant his presence here was deliberate. Russians did not cross oceans lightly. They did not stand beside another man’s execution fire for symbolism alone. And they did not recite shared history unless they were laying groundwork.
If the Lion had come to threaten me, he would have brought an army. If he had come to test me, he would have done it from a distance.
Instead, he came in person. Which meant this was not about dominance. It was about leverage.
I didn’t grab the folder as he held it in front of me. “What will this information cost me?"
Kazimir's smile widened, and at least he finally got straight to it. "The price will be a seat at your Asian Coalition table."
You son of a bitch.
The fire crackled.
More ash fell.
Next to me, Reo shifted his weight—a barely perceptible movement, but I caught it anyway.
He was watching.
