After Fyodor returned to his country, the Ursus Emperor's thunderous methods shook the entire North.
Under the pretext of "maintaining border stability and preventing terrorist infiltration," he issued a secret order. Hundreds of thousands of Ursus troops silently gathered toward the Victoria border.
Military trains ran ceaselessly through the night, and a military exercise of unprecedented scale unfolded under the dark clouds of war.
The intelligence department of the Victorian Council of Dukes was not just for show; the abnormal mobilization of Ursus was quickly detected.
Protest letters, worded in the harshest terms, flew like snowflakes toward the Ursus Imperial Palace, questioning Fyodor's intentions. However, these letters sank like stones into the sea. The Ursus side dismissed them on the grounds that the exercise was an internal affair.
The Dukes felt an unprecedented anger and unease, yet their internal suspicion and infighting left them with strength but no unified will. The pressure from the North only intensified the accusations they hurled at one another.
In the Columbia Presidential Palace, Advisor Hawk's expression had never been so grave.
The meeting between Lacey and Fyodor in Trullinczentyr, combined with the subsequent strange movements on the Ursus border—these two events linked together made him shudder.
The encirclement net that Columbia had attempted to build against Leithanien was collapsing from the inside.
...
Trullinczentyr, Imperial Central Council Hall.
"Your Majesty, the Five-Year Plan has been overfulfilled." Economy Minister Meklen spoke first, his demeanor currently one of high excitement.
"Although our national treasury is nearly empty, every single gold coin has been transformed into tanks, airplanes, and artillery shells."
"The production lines in Siracusa and South Kazimierz are also running at full capacity; their 'contributions' have relieved us of any worries regarding our rear."
"Now, with Victoria in civil strife and Ursus massing troops in the North, this is a golden opportunity that comes once in a thousand years!"
"We should declare war immediately and seize Londinium in one fell swoop before they can react!"
Meklen's tone was resolute, as if the fruits of victory were already placed upon the dining table.
He even added somewhat playfully, "War is the best investment, Your Majesty. Only by smashing the old world can we build a new market."
"I agree with Minister Meklen's view." Military Minister Taylor, dressed in full uniform, stepped forward, his voice resonant.
"The brothers of the armored divisions can wait no longer!"
"Morale across the entire army is high. The new weapons have completed their deployment and break-in periods. We can tear open their defense lines at any moment!"
Intelligence Minister Gertrude was not as agitated as they were. She simply handed over a report.
"Your Majesty, Victoria's defense system is already unilaterally transparent to us."
"Their Dukes are still arguing fiercely over who should bear the military expenses for the northern defense line. The Duke of Wellington has even refused to allow his troops to enter the territories of other Dukes to assist in defense."
"They are like a pack of mad dogs locked in the same cage. They will never notice the hunter outside the cage until they have bitten each other to death."
"So, what are we waiting for?" Meklen spread his hands. "Waiting for them to determine a winner and then unite to deal with us?"
"I object."
A cold, clear voice rang out, breaking the fanatical atmosphere in the conference room.
Everyone's gaze turned toward Finance Minister Count Leinia.
She was wearing a well-tailored women's suit. Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, her blue eyes held only calmness and prudence.
"I object to launching a war immediately."
Facing everyone's looks of surprise or dissatisfaction, she looked straight at Lacey.
"Your Majesty, Ministers, we have all seen the strength of the Empire, but we cannot ignore the immense risks behind war."
She walked to the sand table, picked up the account report representing Leithanien's military expenditures, and gently placed it on the sand table.
"For this Five-Year Plan, we have nearly drained every drop of the Empire's blood."
"Factories are running three shifts, and workers are receiving triple pay, but their bodies are not made of steel."
"The fiscal deficit has already reached a dangerous critical point. Once the war falls into a stalemate, even for just a few months, our economic system could collapse."
Meklen grunted disapprovingly. "Minister Leinia, you are still calculating with that aristocratic ledger of yours."
"As long as we win, Victoria's national treasury and the private vaults of the major Dukes will be enough to fill all our deficits, and even allow every worker to be allocated a house with a garden!"
"War is not a dinner party, Minister Meklen," Leinia said, her tone growing heavier.
"Any tiny variable on the battlefield could lead to a global failure."
"A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Victoria's industrial foundation remains; their population is over forty million, several times ours."
"Once they realize the crisis of national subjugation and genocide, and thereby unite, what we will face is a war of attrition with no end in sight."
"Are we really prepared to let a whole generation of young people be buried in foreign soil?"
This countess, who once held profit above all else, had long since shifted her perspective away from cold numbers after truly participating in the construction of a nation.
She saw the vibrant lives behind the numbers.
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became heavy.
Taylor's brows furrowed tightly. Although he desired war, he knew that what Leinia said was the truth.
Gertrude crossed her arms, expressionless, seemingly re-evaluating the risks.
"Leinia's concerns are not unreasonable."
Lacey finally spoke, his voice easing the tense atmosphere slightly.
He first affirmed Leinia's viewpoint, then said:
"War is always the last choice."
"It means destruction, it means sacrifice, it means the shattering of countless families."
"I do not want the mothers of the Leithanien people to experience the pain my mother experienced."
His words silenced everyone present. Taylor's eyes reddened slightly as he remembered that quiet border town from years ago.
"But!"
Lacey's tone shifted, becoming incomparably firm. "Peace, likewise, is not something to be begged for. It must be defended with greater power."
He walked in front of Leinia, picked up that financial report, and then picked up Gertrude's intelligence.
"You say our economy has reached a critical point. Correct. But precisely because of this, we need this war even more."
"To use a brief victory to obtain everything we need for continued development."
"We cannot stop. Once we stop, this war machine we built with our own hands will collapse from running out of fuel."
"You say Victoria might unite. That is also correct. But that requires time."
"And I will not give them that time."
Lacey's gaze swept over everyone.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
"History has given us a window—a window unprecedented, and one that may never come again."
"Victoria is terminally ill, Ursus is allied with us, Columbia is beyond its reach, and Yan adheres to isolationism."
"The balance of power of the entire Terra continent, at this moment, tilts toward us."
"If we miss this window, what awaits us will be a Victoria that has come to its senses, an Ursus harboring ulterior motives, and an encirclement campaign against us led by Columbia."
"At that time, we would truly have to use the blood of a generation to fight a hopeless war of national defense."
He paused.
"The time is ripe."
"I have decided. Declare war on Victoria!"
"Minister Leinia, I need you to use every means possible to ensure fiscal stability during the war."
Lacey's order was decisive. No one raised any further objections.
Leinia took a deep breath and bowed slightly.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
________________________________________
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