Twenty-four hours later, Mishko Zski sat in that conference room again, but his demeanor was a far cry from yesterday.
His short brown hair looked somewhat messy, and his expensive suit was wrinkled.
A sleepless night, coupled with the shock of receiving that "parting gift" from Lacey, had completely shattered his psychological defenses.
Those three assessment team members who were deported were commercial spies he had planted, pawns he had guaranteed Chairman Czarny would be able to reveal Leithanien's trump cards.
But Lacey had not only rooted them out, but had returned this "gift" in a manner bordering on humiliation.
The message conveyed was clear: I know what you are doing, and all your little moves are under my watch.
"Your Imperial Majesty."
Mishko didn't even dare to look directly into the eyes of the young man in the main seat.
"The Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce... agrees in principle to the cooperation framework you proposed."
He no longer mentioned any thirty-year operating rights, nor did he dare to hope for intellectual property sharing.
He just wanted to complete this deal as soon as possible and leave this suffocating city.
Lacey nodded slightly, as if he was not surprised by this result at all.
He cast his gaze towards Meklen.
Meklen Neum understood immediately, instantly putting on a smile, standing up enthusiastically, walking to Mishko's side, and patting him heavily on the shoulder:
"A wise choice, my friend! Very wise!"
"I knew that a merchant with foresight like you would definitely be able to see the bright future of cooperation with the New Leithanien!"
As he spoke, he pushed a contract that had been drafted long ago in front of Mishko.
The corner of Mishko's eye twitched; looking at the brilliant smile on Meklen's face, he felt like prey falling into a trap.
He helplessly picked up the pen and signed his name on the contract.
"Happy cooperation!"
Meklen grasped Mishko's hand and shook it vigorously.
The negotiation ended, and Mishko left the Twin Towers almost as if fleeing.
Leinia watched his wretched retreating figure, smiled rarely, and looked at Meklen:
"I need to remind you, Minister Meklen, that according to the contract, every penny of this loan will enter the national special account and be jointly supervised by the Tax Department and the Audit Committee."
The smile on Meklen's face froze; he had just been calculating how to reasonably fight for some extra activity funds for his department from this huge sum.
"Leinia, my dear Minister." He switched to a heartbroken expression.
"You are questioning the character of a loyal subject of the Empire! Everything I do is for the prosperity of the Empire!"
"I only trust the ledger."
Leinia pushed up her glasses and turned to leave, leaving Meklen sighing on the spot.
Lacey watched this pair of comedians without saying a word.
...
The news of the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce's compromise did not stay hidden for long.
Soon, the Rothschild family of Victoria, the Vanguard Tech Consortium of Columbia, these capital giants with keen senses, also sent representatives.
They no longer held the mentality of looting a burning house, but sought true commercial cooperation with an attitude of equality.
The gates of Leithanien, under Lacey's control, opened selectively.
The influx of foreign capital injected into the economic cycle of this newborn empire.
...
...
Time, amidst such high-speed development, quietly slipped past three years.
Three years, for a country, is but a snap of the fingers.
But for the Third Holy Leithanien Empire, it was a transformation of rebirth.
The highways running through the major mobile cities were fully open to traffic, and trucks loaded with goods did not rest day or night.
Transport vehicles driving out of the Caplania Industrial Zone could deliver tons of steel and machinery to the Ursus border in just four days.
The muddy paths of the old era turned into broad, flat highways, closely connecting cities and villages.
Trullinczentyr, as the capital of the country, took on an entirely new look.
Towering chimneys puffed out industrial white mist, and neat new workers' villages replaced the former slums.
On the streets, workers and students in clean uniforms walked hurriedly.
Opera houses and art galleries that once belonged only to nobles were now open to all citizens for free.
Anton Muller was now a workshop director at the Trullinczentyr Locomotive Plant.
His daughter Anna, under the care of universal healthcare, had long since recovered and was in the fourth grade at the community primary school.
His son Peter, relying on excellent grades, was admitted to the Imperial First Technical Middle School, determined to become a scientist like Mr. Drummond.
This weekend, Anton took his family to the newly completed People's Park.
The park's predecessor was a private estate belonging to a certain marquis of the old era.
Now, the grass was green and the lake water clear, becoming a good place for citizens to relax and entertain themselves.
Anton bought a copy of the "Workers' Daily"; the front page headline was a report on the "New Leithanien Achievement Exhibition" to be held in the capital.
The newspaper published a photo: Emperor Lacey was inspecting a prototype of a new tractor, wearing a green stand-collar uniform, smiling and talking with the engineers beside him.
"Dad, look, look! It's His Majesty the Emperor!" Anna pointed at the newspaper and shouted excitedly.
Anton looked at the photo, his eyes filled with reverence.
Three years ago, he was still struggling in the mud of Cinder Alley, unable to see any hope.
And now, he had a decent job, a spacious house, healthy family members, and a future to look forward to.
All of this was brought to them by that young emperor.
The park's broadcast was playing a newly composed song; the singing was loud and full of power.
"We walk on a brand new avenue,
Behind us are the burnt-down old cells.
...
The hammer and sickle guide the direction,
The red flag flies over the Twin Towers!
We build factories for ourselves,
We build schools for our children.
Every drop of sweat has power,
Watering this glorious soil!"
The singing echoed over the park, and many people involuntarily hummed along.
Anton was no exception.
As he sang, his eyes felt a little hot.
What this song sang was their own story.
...
Meanwhile, the top floor of the Twin Towers.
Gertrude placed an encrypted document on Lacey's desk.
"Your Majesty, this is the Intelligence Department's latest assessment report."
"Victoria's MI6 and Kazimierz's Intelligence Bureau have increased their activity frequency in our border areas by three hundred percent recently."
"They have sent more reporters, businessmen, and tourists, trying to infiltrate our industrial zones and research institutes."
"Our counter-espionage network has captured seventeen small fry in the past month."
Lacey flipped through the report, which detailed the identity and mission of every captured spy.
"They are starting to feel uneasy," Lacey said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gertrude added: "Our economic growth rate, and the terrifying mobilization capability demonstrated by the infrastructure plan, have exceeded their scope of understanding."
"In their view, a regime established by 'muddy-legged peasants' can absolutely not possess such high efficiency."
"Then let them continue to be uneasy." Lacey closed the file.
"The Achievement Exhibition proceeds as scheduled; raise the security level to the highest."
"I not only want our friends to see our achievements, but I also want our enemies to see them clearly."
He walked to the window, overlooking this vibrant city.
"The more fearful they are, the more it shows that the path we walk is correct."
Gertrude looked at Lacey's back, a fanatical look flashing in her gray eyes.
This young emperor could always turn the enemy's fear into the driving force for his own advancement.
This was exactly the reason she chose to follow him.
________________________________________
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