Chapter 143: Nero Claudius

Europe, as the host of this United Nations conference, was a subject of considerable contention even within its own borders. The five factions of the Vatican, Habsburg, Germany, Frankia, and Athens all vied fiercely for the honor of hosting the event. Yet, by a stroke of luck, the Habsburgs emerged victorious this time. The conference would be held within the ancient Habsburg Castle, the ancestral seat of the Habsburg dynasty.

However, the control of the conference did not fall to any of those five great factions. Instead, it was seized by Rome, long locked in rivalry with the Vatican over dominion of the Apennine Peninsula. Among the peninsula’s venerable families, the Medici and the Claudius clans were the most ancient. While the Medici held sway over religious affairs, granting them certain advantages, Rome claimed the upper hand politically.

The Habsburgs had also sought to seize control, but the other four factions, wary of allowing any one house too much power, forbade them from dominating the conference anew. Seizing this opportunity, Rome stepped in and secured the rights to host. This would not only be a chance for Rome to reclaim its standing but also serve as a provocation against the Vatican.

“Lord Nero Claudius, the list of the United Kingdom’s representatives has been finalized. Please review it,” said a staff member in the logistics office of the Habsburg Castle. Dressed in a crimson gown, Nero Claudius, representing Rome, was in charge of all logistics and resource allocation here. As one of the leading figures of the younger generation, her words carried great weight.

“Oh, the United Kingdom’s delegation? Honestly, I’m not very interested. They’re just the usual lot,” Nero said, embodying the temperament typical of many Europeans. Even she showed little curiosity about the list. Yet out of habit and professional duty, she still glanced over it. The United Kingdom’s delegation was small—only ten members—but each one was renowned. From top to bottom, Nero could name every individual and their rank.

The Crown Prince of the United Kingdom was a given, and though the princess was less famous, she was still recognizable. The names of the three marshals were all too familiar—they were the most illustrious heroes of the United Kingdom’s War of Independence against Europe. Further down the list, the first name was less familiar: Roger Durandal. She knew the Durandal family well, as they were among Frankia’s most distinguished houses. But this Roger was a mystery; no records on him existed.

Two others on the list she recognized immediately—they were the sons of two of the three marshals, one being Cromwell and the other the son of Marshal Nelson, known as Young General Nelson. But the ninth name baffled her: the Stukat family was not unknown, yet this particular name was completely obscure. It was clearly a woman’s name, but she appeared nowhere in any official United Kingdom archives. According to the official account, she was a maid assigned to care for the group. By this point, Nero was growing weary—already down to a maid, who else could be left?

Yet the tenth name startled her profoundly. It bore no surname, only a single English signature: Cole.

Cole was not an uncommon name, but to list only the first name without a surname—and have it command such recognition—there was only one person in this era who fit that description: the legendary scientist, a figure of boundless capability and mythic renown.

“Hey, come back here!” Nero called out abruptly as the staff member responsible for the lists was about to leave. She seized him by the arm. “Are you sure this list is accurate?”

The startled employee hesitated, then replied, “Absolutely, Lord Nero Claudius. This came directly from the United Kingdom’s embassy. The diplomat even asked me to tell you that the Crown Prince arranged this personally. Though honestly, I didn’t think that was very important, so I almost didn’t mention it.”

“The Crown Prince arranged it himself?” Nero’s curiosity deepened.

“When I chatted with the ambassador, he mentioned that the last person on the list was someone the Crown Prince met during his studies abroad,” the staff member explained. “The ambassador said you might not know the name, but if anyone would, it’d be you.”

“I do know the name, but it’s not particularly relevant. You may go now. I’m about to assign rooms,” Nero replied coolly. Seeing her calm demeanor, the employee relaxed and left.

But the moment the door closed, Nero’s expression shifted drastically.

“Is it truly you, brother? I never expected you’d come to Europe. This time, I’ll make sure to take good care of you. Don’t disappoint your sister,” she murmured, a faint, surprised smile touching her lips.