News of Leithanien's declaration of war spread rapidly across the entire Terra continent.
Columbia, Max Columbia Special District, Presidential Palace.
"Damn it! We all underestimated his determination and speed!"
Advisor Hawk slammed a stack of intelligence reports onto the table, his face ashen.
The meeting between Lacey and Fyodor, the border gathering of Ursus, and this sudden declaration of war—the three events linked together had caught Columbia somewhat off guard.
"Mr. President, Leithanien and Ursus have clearly reached some kind of secret pact; they intend to partition Victoria!" Hawk's voice shouted urgently.
"We must take action immediately!"
"Provide Victoria with our most advanced weapons, dispatch military advisory groups, or even... intervene militarily directly!"
Columbia's President, Mark Max, remained silent for a moment.
This president did not possess a human form, but rather the image of a large gray bird. The fact that he spoke human language and possessed extraordinary intellect indicated his exceptional status.
Mark Max tapped the table with his wing: "Hawk, calm down."
"Military intervention? With what are we to intervene?"
"If even Victoria's battleships cannot withstand Leithanien, then we certainly cannot either!"
"But we can't just sit by and watch!"
"Of course not." The President stood up.
"We will immediately issue a statement condemning Leithanien's aggressive actions in the harshest terms and announce the implementation of comprehensive economic sanctions against them."
"That is completely useless, Mr. President!" Hawk shouted, losing his composure slightly.
"Their economic system is already deeply bound with Siracusa and South Kazimierz. Our sanctions won't have any significant effect on them in the short term!"
"I know." The President's tone was very calm.
"But this is a political gesture. We must show the world our stance."
"At the same time, increase military aid to Victoria. Give them everything usable from our arsenals."
"Also, contact Fyodor of Ursus. Tell him that as long as he is willing to stab Leithanien in the back, Columbia is willing to provide assistance for Ursus's modernization that 'far exceeds Leithanien's promises'."
A shrewd, seasoned light flashed in the President's eyes: "That Lacey wants to be a chess player, but sometimes, the pieces on the board will overturn the board itself."
"I'd like to see if that greedy polar bear of Ursus is truly content to eat only the scraps Lacey throws to it, or if it wants to swallow the table along with them."
...
...
Ursus, Saint Petersburg.
Emperor Fyodor received the urgent letters from Columbia and Victoria. He merely smiled contemptuously before tossing them into the fireplace.
The flames rose, turning those strongly worded protests and temptation-filled promises into ashes together.
"Your Majesty, are we really going to attack Victoria alongside the Leithaniens?" Chief Advisor Count Bogdanov asked worriedly.
"This man, Lacey, has too much ambition. Cooperating with him is no different from scheming with a tiger for its skin."
"Count, look." Fyodor pointed out the window.
"The envoy from Leithanien just delivered the design blueprints for their latest 'Stuka B-type' dive bomber, along with three complete production lines."
"And the Columbians? They will only give us empty promises."
Fyodor turned around, his young face bearing a coldness inconsistent with his age: "In this era, whoever has the harder fist holds the truth."
"Lacey is right. We are both pioneers of a new era. The rules of the old world are destined to be broken by us."
"I am determined to obtain Victoria's northern territories!"
"As for Londinium... let Lacey's army gnaw on that hardest bone."
"Ursus only needs to seize the fruits of victory we deserve at the most appropriate time."
Count Bogdanov sighed and said no more.
He understood His Majesty's thinking—since war was destined to break out, Ursus had to participate and extract benefits from it, in preparation for a future decisive battle with Leithanien.
...
In the distant East, Yan.
The Grand Tutor walked into the Imperial Study holding a secret report.
Upon the dragon throne, from behind the hanging curtains, a majestic and serene voice rang out: "How is it?"
"Your Majesty, the West is in chaos," the Grand Tutor answered respectfully.
"Leithanien, with thunderous momentum and united with Ursus, has launched a total war against Victoria."
"The might of their military and the excellence of their weaponry far exceed our estimates."
"Especially their armaments and their tactical philosophy of air-ground integration; these are worthy of our high vigilance."
Silence reigned behind the curtain for a long time before the voice came again: "Watch the changes quietly."
"Pass down the order: strengthen the alert on the western border."
"Before the dust settles, Great Yan shall not step half a step into the quagmire of the West."
"Additionally, send someone to Trullinczentyr, in the name of... academic exchange."
"I wish to know how that young man named Lacey managed to turn an empire setting in the western hills into a ferocious beast devouring the continent in just a few short years."
"As you command."
...
While the entire Terra continent shook violently due to Leithanien's declaration of war, at the center of the storm, the quarreling within the Victoria Council of Dukes Hall was finally silenced temporarily by a loud bang.
The Duke of Kaest kicked over the solid gold candlestick in front of her, her eyes sweeping over every duke present.
"Have you argued enough?"
"While you are still here arguing over who will bear the military expenses, Leithanien's tanks have likely already crushed the bones of our border soldiers!"
"Then what do you want to do, Kaest?" the Duke of Wellington retorted coldly.
"Take your fleet to meet them? I dare bet you will be bombed until not even dregs remain by their aircraft!"
"Of course I will go to meet them!" Kaest roared.
"But not me alone! It is all of Victoria!"
"I demand the Council immediately pass the 'Wartime Unified Command Act' to temporarily unify the command rights of all dukes' armies, to be jointly held by me... and the Duke of Wellington and the Duke of Windermere!"
Her proposal plunged the hall into silence once again.
Everyone knew this was the only potentially effective method at the moment.
But handing over the armies upon which their lives and fortunes depended was something no duke could accept.
"I refuse."
The Duke of Wellington gave his answer with almost no thought.
His eyes were filled with suspicion: "Who knows if you want to use this opportunity to annex our armies and then coordinate from the inside with the Leithaniens?"
"You...!"
Kaest trembled with rage; she pointed at Wellington, unable to speak a single word.
Just then, an attendant officer rushed in, stumbling and crawling. His face was full of terror, his voice shrill and distorted:
"Emergency military report! The Leithanien 1st, 2nd, and 4th Armored Divisions, coordinating with the Siracusa Coalition Forces and South Kazimierz Campaign Knights, have already broken through the eastern border defense line three hours ago!"
"Our army... our army has collapsed across the entire line!"
"Boom!"
This news made everyone present unable to sit still.
Before they could react from the shock, another messenger rushed in, his armor still stained with blood and mud.
"Southern emergency report! Kazdel's Sarkaz army... they... they have launched a surprise attack on us!"
"They have already broken through our fortress defense line!"
"They... they kill everyone they see. Our army... simply cannot stop them!"
"Colonel Wade, who was guarding the southern border... has been killed in action!"
Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.
On the faces of the dukes, for the first time, a true, heartfelt fear appeared.
The Duke of Kaest sat back dejectedly in her chair. She looked at the mural on the dome of the Council Hall depicting the glorious history of Victoria, muttering to herself:
"It's over... everything is over..."
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