Days after Phoiníkē's fall, the Türkiye Stratocracy and its vassals states (Mızrak, Balta, Biçki, and Kiliç) gather at the Divan to vote to make war preparations against Balt-Rhein. However, all the sultans of the four stratocracies voted against the collaboration, much to Zağanos's frustration, who wants to get rid of the sultans. Another Pasha, Tesisat-Kapı Saruça, believes that the Sultanates are showing defiance because they are unsatisfied with their unequal rights. In the Mızrak stratocracy, Mahmut and company are in Liman city and visit the water shrine to figure out what is going in Mızrak after seeing a weapons dealer around the town.

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.