I cant help but draw modern parallels when I read something like this. Gross.
lol Echoes of suicidally xenophilic pseudo-altruism, perhaps?
The Speed Clan refused to join their brothers from the Shadowblade clan when they exiled in the Country at the end of the world. Their leader was unaware of their destruction before Touka's arrival.
Even if so, that still doesn't change the fact that their country is not hermetically sealed off in permanence from the outside world: Belzegia and his companions got in and--while this is in the realm of speculation--spies of their nation can surely leave, consequently.
The country faces problems Erika is unaware of : foods shortage. They need to open up to the outside world.
Eating will be among their last concerns if they open up to the same world that chased them ruthlessly into that corner of it. That said, that does not change Erika's standing with them as a benefactor, as the story explains; her recommendation is at least some proof that Belzegia's word isn't just hot air--to say nothing of the threat she's implying
Belzegia is
instead of what he's trying to warn them about.
Btw, having a Prime Minister naive of her ability to negociate is not something unheard of. We're biased with this story because we know what is happening and she doesn't, but how many real life Prime Ministers, Kings, President did we have in our long history ? It's naivety who caused the Second World War 2.
You're right, dramatic irony does exist here--we know what's happening and she doesn't. She should nevertheless know
why her people are in that situation in the first place--especially when there are people, like Zect himself, who were there to witness the cause. The characteristics of real-world heads of state, whatever their shortcomings, has no bearing on that.
Onik has no legs to stand on here--she has no business being so naïve, in her position. What she has within is either a mix of that perilous naïveté I spoke of and a fat helping of arrogance mixed in or a treacherous mind.