Ursus Empire, Saint Petersburg.
The young Emperor Fyodor, flushed with pride, slapped a document containing a boundary survey map of the Northern Victorian territories onto the table.
A crystal goblet imported from Columbia was filled to the brim with top-tier vintage wine from Siracusa.
"Bogdanov, do you see? This is what we have obtained!" A flush of excitement rose on Fyodor's face. "Rich mineral deposits! Vast forests! Ursus has never been this strong!"
Chief Advisor Count Bogdanov, however, was far from optimistic.
He pushed up his monocle, picked up another document, and handed it to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this is a top-secret report sent back by our diplomatic mission in Londinium."
Fyodor took the document, and the smile on his face gradually solidified.
The report detailed the content of Lacey's wedding speech and the nearly fanatical reaction of the Londinium populace. What alarmed him even more was the attached assessment regarding the astonishing efficiency and discipline displayed by the Leithanien army after taking over the city.
"A liar! A demagogue!" Fyodor slammed the document viciously onto the floor. "He took us for fools to pry open the gates of Victoria for him! And now he wants to be a saint?"
"Your Majesty, anger solves nothing." Bogdanov calmly bent down and picked up the document. "Emperor Lacey's methods have indeed exceeded our expectations. He does not just want to conquer the land of Victoria; he wants to conquer the hearts of its people.
"Once he succeeds, Victoria's entire industry, resources, and population will become fuel for his war machine. And who will be his next target?"
No one had a definite answer to this question, yet everyone had an answer in their hearts.
Fyodor paced irritably around the room. "Then what do we do? Just watch him become stronger than us? Our agreement with him didn't include him swallowing the whole of Victoria!"
"Agreements are waste paper drafted by the strong for the weak, Your Majesty." Bogdanov hit the nail on the head. "As we are now, we are in no position to negotiate terms with him.
"Our heavy armored units are incredibly fragile before his Tiger I tanks and Stuka bombers. That was the lesson we learned in the border conflict with Kazimierz."
Fyodor's breathing grew heavy; the crushing defeat of that small-scale conflict was a thorn in his heart that could not be removed.
"So, we are to be like dogs, wagging our tails and begging for his mercy?"
"No, Your Majesty." A sharp glint flashed through Bogdanov's eyes. "Lacey is now a target for all. Columbia will not sit idly by while he digests Victoria, and Yan has already raised its vigilance.
"He is like a python that has eaten too much; now is his weakest moment. Our task is to close our doors and digest the northern territories we obtained with maximum speed.
"We will use the minerals there to reverse-engineer Leithanien weapons! No, we can go further and develop even more advanced ones! The Columbians will be more than happy to provide us with their technical blueprints, as long as it creates obstacles for Lacey.
"We must accelerate the training of our soldiers and learn Leithanien tactics. When Lacey gets bogged down in the quagmire of integrating Victoria, or when conflict erupts with Columbia, that will be the moment Ursus truly becomes the master of Terra!"
Fyodor stopped pacing, the rage in his eyes gradually replaced by ambition. "You are right, Bogdanov. Endurance is for the sake of a more lethal strike."
He picked up his wine glass again and drained it in one gulp. "Pass my order: have the troops stationed in North Victoria transport every usable machine and every scrap of technical data back to the homeland!"
...
Southern Victoria, the Cornwall territory newly assigned to Kazdel.
This place was no longer a hell on earth.
The scent of blood had been replaced by the fragrance of soil. The Sarkaz warriors had laid down their weapons and picked up tools. They clumsily learned to farm and build, but their faces were overflowing with joy. They finally had a home of their own.
Theresis, Chairman of the Military Commission, stood on a small hill, overlooking this land vibrant with life. Behind him stood his sister, the leader of Babel, Theresia.
"Do you see, Theresia? This is the hope I have brought to our people," Theresis said, a rare warmth in his voice.
Theresia looked at the laboring Sarkaz, but there was no joy in her eyes, only deep compassion. "Theresis, every inch of land beneath our feet is soaked in the blood of Victorians. The foundation upon which we build our home is the piled bones of another race."
"This is war! Theresia!" Theresis's voice turned cold. "On this continent where the weak are meat for the strong, sympathy and pity are the highest luxuries! We Sarkaz cannot afford them!
"It was I who used the lives of countless warriors and the bones of enemies to buy the qualification for our race's survival! Not those empty fantasies about understanding and peace floating in the sky!"
"But we are becoming what we once hated most!" Theresia raised her voice in rebuttal. "We are inflicting pain upon others! Is such a rebirth really what we want?"
"It is what I want!"
"It is what all Sarkaz want!" Theresis turned abruptly, looking straight into her eyes. "I do not care about the means; I only want the result!
"Now, we have land, we have resources. Next, I will establish our own industry, agriculture, and our own Academy of Sciences! I will ensure the Sarkaz sword is paired with the sturdiest armor!
"I will make it so that when all races on this continent mention the name 'Sarkaz,' they no longer feel contempt and pity, but fear!"
He paused, his tone softening slightly. "Theresia, I need your help. Your wisdom, your ability to unite hearts—these are necessary for rebuilding Kazdel. I will handle the sword, you handle the plow. We can argue, but we must cooperate."
Speaking to this point, he added one final sentence: "For our people."
Theresia looked at her brother's face, full of paranoia and obsession, and finally sighed helplessly. She could not change him. Perhaps, in the face of this cruel reality, his path was the only correct choice.
"I... will do my best," she whispered.
Londinium.
Lacey was convening his first Imperial Core Meeting after entering Victoria.
Finance Minister Leinia, Economy Minister Meklen, Military Minister Taylor, Intelligence Minister Gertrude, and Outreach Minister Serafina—those not present in person were all "present" via long-distance communications.
"Gentlemen, the first phase of the war is over, but our challenge has just begun," Lacey said, getting straight to the point.
Finance Minister Leinia spoke up with a poor complexion. "Your Majesty, I must remind you again that to support this war, the Empire's fiscal deficit has reached an astronomical figure. We have printed too much currency, and signs of inflation have already appeared domestically.
"If all the welfare policies you promised at the wedding are implemented immediately, the Imperial financial system will collapse completely within three months."
Economy Minister Meklen immediately retorted, "Minister Leinia, we now possess the entirety of Victoria! Here lies a mature industrial system, a massive market, and tens of millions of high-quality laborers! This is not debt at all; this is the most successful investment we have ever made!
"I suggest immediately establishing a 'Victoria State-owned Asset Management Committee' to fully take over the industries, banks, and factories of all Victorian Dukes! Use their wealth to transfuse blood into the Empire's next stage of development!" Meklen's eyes shimmered with greedy light.
"That will incite a mutiny!" Leinia shouted. "We have only just soothed the Victorians; you will drive them to rebellion!"
"Then let General Taylor's tanks roll over them again!"
"You!"
"Enough." Lacey knocked on the table, and the conference room instantly fell silent.
"Meklen's line of thought is correct, but the method is too crude. Leinia's concerns are also necessary," Lacey said slowly. "We cannot simply loot with brute force. Victoria is not Siracusa; its economic system is more complex.
He looked at Meklen. "Your 'State-owned Asset Management Committee' can be established, but we must first issue Imperial Marks. Using the Empire's gold and Originium reserves as collateral, we will force the exchange of old Victorian currency at a set ratio. In this process, we will complete control over their financial system."
He then looked at Leinia. "After this, I will immediately implement 'work-relief' programs. All workers unemployed due to the war, and bankrupt farmers, can join the 'New Victoria Construction Plan' led by the Empire.
"Building factories, reclaiming farmland—we will use future tax revenue to pay their current salaries. This will solve unemployment, stimulate the economy, and firmly place Victoria's infrastructure in our hands."
"This is a massive plan, Your Majesty." Leinia calculated for a moment, still feeling her scalp tingle.
"That is why I need you all." Lacey's gaze swept over everyone. "Meklen, go to Victoria's industrial cities, such as Manchester. Tell those factory owners: either accept the Empire's capital injection and technical renovation to become a part of us, or go bankrupt under the Empire's tariff barriers and new monetary policy. I believe they will make the wise choice.
"Leinia, within one year, I want to see Victoria's tax revenue feeding back into the Empire's finances.
"Taylor, your army will rest temporarily, but you cannot slack off. I need you to screen reliable young men from the surrendered Victorian troops to form the Victoria Legion, commanded by our officers.
"Gertrude, your intelligence network must penetrate every corner of Victoria. I want to know of any spark that might threaten Imperial rule."
Finally, his gaze fell upon Serafina. "Serafina, our plan should proceed to the final step."
Serafina curtsied slightly. "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
"Very good." The corners of Lacey's mouth curled up. "Go tell our Thracian friends that it is time for them to taste the fruits of 'freedom'."
________________________________________
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