With the formal signing of the "Treaty of the Three Nations of Columbia, Ursus, and Yan" by the three respective powers, the balance of the Terra continent was thoroughly shattered.
Almost simultaneously, in the Leithanien Empire's capital of Trullinczentyr, Serafina, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stood before the podium in the Imperial Council Hall. Facing envoys from Siracusa, Kazimierz, Victoria, and Kazdel, as well as media from across the Empire, she spoke with solemn gravity:
"We have noted that certain nations, driven by fear of the great rejuvenation of the Leithanien people and a nostalgia for old systems of exploitation, have formed a hostile military bloc."
"They call it defense, yet their weapons are aimed at our homes; they shout for peace, yet secretly transport supplies for war."
She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across the entire venue.
"Facing threats, we never retreat."
"Today, by the order of His Imperial Majesty, I hereby announce: The Third Holy Leithanien Empire, the newborn Kingdom of Victoria, the Thracian Kingdom, the Siracusa Provisional Government, the South Kazimierz Autonomous Government, and Kazdel will jointly form the Axis Treaty."
"Our goal is to ensure that our people can build their own future on their chosen path without interference."
"Any attack on a member state will be considered a declaration of war against all members."
Following Serafina's public address, the Terra continent was formally fractured into two great camps.
The Allied Powers, led by Columbia, Ursus, and Yan, and the Axis Powers, with Leithanien, Victoria, Kazimierz, Siracusa, and Kazdel at the core, began a new round of confrontation along the lengthy border lines.
Terra entered an era of bipolar hegemony.
The following three years were a period known as the "Peace under Shadow."
There was no large-scale war, but the gears of the arms race turned madly.
Inside the Allied Nations, Columbia's cutting-edge technology, Ursus's massive industrial system, and Yan's unparalleled agricultural productivity began to integrate with unprecedented efficiency.
At the same time, the Third Leithanien Empire, led by you, did not slacken.
Although the integration of Victoria was still ongoing, its massive industrial base and working class injected new blood into the Empire.
The families of Siracusa, under the iron fist of the Black Empress, had thoroughly become economic vassals of the Empire, continuously funneling funds.
And South Kazimierz, under the governance of Maenner Templight, had become the Empire's model province.
The Empire's technology, industry, and agriculture developed rapidly under the circulation of the internal market, and a technological revolution sweeping through the entire Empire was quietly taking place.
Three years passed.
Ursus Emperor Fyodor Vladimirovich finally lost what little patience he had.
Relying on technical aid from Columbia, Ursus's new anti-armor weapons and air defense artillery systems had been equipped to the troops on a large scale.
More importantly, Columbian scientists had developed a special Originium interference device, allegedly capable of effectively suppressing the Arts of the Leithanien Tower Nobles legions.
Fyodor believed the time was ripe.
Thus, in the middle section of the long border line between Ursus and Leithanien, on that land of Kazimierz which had been split in two, the sparks of turmoil were ignited.
***
Trullinczentyr.
This capital of art, after sixteen years of Imperial rule, had long since shed its glitz and extravagance, presenting a different face entirely.
On the wide streets, public trains moved smoothly. Pedestrians were neatly dressed and walked with haste, their faces radiating a sense of pride belonging to Imperial citizens.
Inside the Imperial Council Hall.
Lacey sat at the head seat, his temperament increasingly calm, deep as the sea.
Before him was a map of Terra. On the north-south dividing line of Kazimierz, a series of chess pieces were placed.
"The Ursus people still couldn't hold back," Minister of War Taylor said, pointing to the map. "According to reports from the South Kazimierz Security Force and our border outposts, in the past month, infiltration activities from North Kazimierz to the south have increased by three hundred percent."
"Organized armed personnel, disguised as refugees or resistance groups."
Minister of Intelligence Gertrude handed over a document. "Our people intercepted encrypted communications between the Ursus Northern Military District and these resistance groups."
"The content is simple—create chaos, test the bottom line, and create conditions for larger-scale operations."
Economic Minister Meklen also spoke up at this time. "Once the situation in Kazimierz spins out of control, our investments in the south and the newly established industrial chains will suffer a severe impact."
"Although that old fellow Czarny is dead, his disciples and grand-disciples are all hiding in the north, waiting for a comeback."
"The expectation of war will directly hit market confidence. The Imperial five-year construction bonds we just issued might be affected."
Lacey listened to his subordinates' reports without saying a word.
He thought of a person's name.
Maenner Templight.
For seven years, that man had borne the insults of all the old nobility and the disdain of the knights under the name of a traitor. Yet, with a pragmatic attitude, he had pulled a region on the verge of collapse back onto the right track.
He cooperated with all the Empire's decrees, eliminated old forces, implemented land reform, and organized the Security Force, building South Kazimierz into the Empire's most solid bridgehead.
He did it too well—so well that even Lacey was somewhat surprised.
This man hid all his sharpness beneath that corporate drone exterior, simply to protect the things he deemed worth protecting.
Now, someone wanted to flip the table. Maenner presumably wouldn't be too happy about that.
"What the Ursus people want is not Kazimierz," Lacey finally spoke.
He stood up, walked to the map, and gently traced his finger across the vast northern frozen soil from Ursus to Victoria.
"What Fyodor wants is to prove he is stronger than me."
"He got new toys from Columbia, so he can't wait to find a place to test them out, and conveniently... wash away the shame of watching from the sidelines outside Londinium seven years ago."
"He chose Kazimierz because it is the most sensitive point. He wants to use a proxy war to force us to enter the field."
"If we overreact and commit heavy troops, we will play right into Columbia's hands, falling into an endless security war that drags down our economy."
"If we react slowly, the stability of South Kazimierz will be broken. This would be an extremely negative signal for our rule over Victoria."
Lacey turned around, looking at his confidants. "Therefore, we can neither overreact nor react slowly."
"We must use a... Kazimierz way to solve the problem of Kazimierz."
Gertrude's eyes lit up; she seemed to understand something.
"Pass on my order," Lacey's voice returned to calm. "Summon Margarete Templight to see me."
Half an hour later, Margarete Templight, dressed in a crisp Leithanien Imperial uniform, walked into the Council Hall.
Seven years had washed away the immaturity from her face.
Her long golden hair was meticulously coiled behind her head.
After graduating from the Imperial Military Academy with top honors, she had entered service in the Empire's most elite armored unit as a military advisor, rising from Second Lieutenant all the way to Brigadier General.
Of course, perhaps there was some influence from her uncle, the Chief Administrator, but her own ability was undeniable.
Over these years, she had personally participated in the suppression of remnant rebel forces in Victoria and had commanded troops to deter the restless family forces on the Siracusa border.
She was no longer the girl who fought only for the glory of knights. She understood politics, she understood logistics, and she understood how to exchange the smallest price for the greatest victory.
"Your Majesty." She performed an Imperial military salute.
Lacey nodded, signaling her to relax. "Margarete, your hometown has not been very peaceful lately."
Margarete's heart skipped a beat.
Of course she knew; she read the Intelligence Department's daily briefings.
But hearing it personally from the Emperor carried a completely different weight.
"The Ursus people want to light a fire there," Lacey said straightforwardly.
"I need someone to go and extinguish this fire. This person must understand Kazimierz, understand knights, and also understand the Empire."
"Most importantly, they must be able to make Chief Administrator Maenner Templight... listen."
Margarete's breathing hitched slightly.
Uncle.
This title had been sealed away in her heart for too long.
Seven years ago, in that living room, that resounding slap, and her uncle's eyes filled with pain yet leaving no room for doubt, were the final memories of her girlhood.
She and her sister Maria were sent to Leithanien, like orphans abandoned by their family.
At first, she hated him. Hated his betrayal, hated his weakness.
But as she grew older, especially after she herself began to handle thorny military and political affairs, she gradually... began to understand.
She understood the weight behind that slap, understood the humiliation and responsibility her uncle carried.
"Your Majesty, do you mean..."
"I am appointing you as the Chief Advisor of the Imperial Military Advisory Group stationed in South Kazimierz, fully responsible for coordinating the handling of this border conflict," Lacey looked at her.
"You have three missions. First, assist Maenner. He is the anchor of South Kazimierz; he absolutely cannot fall."
"Second, figure out the Ursus people's hand. See what good things Columbia gave them."
"Third..."
Lacey walked up to her, gazing at her. "...Show all the people of Kazimierz, including your uncle, the power and will of the Empire."
"Tell them, the times have changed."
"The glory of the Templight family no longer needs to be proved through a fake knight competition, but realized by guarding the Empire's territory and the peace of the people."
Margarete straightened her back and responded loudly, "Yes, Your Majesty! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"
She turned and left the Council Hall, her steps firm.
She was going back.
Back to that land that was both familiar and strange.
This time, she was no longer the niece who needed protection, but a General holding the authority of the Empire.
She was very curious—after so many years, what had her uncle, and her hometown, become?
***
The sound of the train entering the station pulled Margarete back to reality from her chaotic thoughts.
Outside the window, the station sign of the Grand Knight Territory Central Station was printed in parallel Leithanien and Kazimierz scripts.
Here, one could no longer see a trace of the chaotic, dilapidated station from seven years ago.
Seven years was enough time for a land to be reborn.
Margarete put down the thick stack of reports in her hand, which detailed the earth-shaking changes in South Kazimierz.
Economic corridors running north to south, industrial parks built around minerals, three hundred thousand peasants, infected, and descendants of bankrupt knights transformed into industrial workers, thoroughly completed land reform, and those hundreds of standardized public schools promoting nine-year compulsory education.
Her sister Maria was now at the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Trullinczentyr. Her letters were always filled with enthusiastic descriptions of the core structure of new engines; between the lines, one could no longer find a trace of sorrow for their hometown, only infinite longing for the future.
Could this be a bad thing?
Margarete remembered seven years ago, when her uncle Maenner grabbed her by the collar, shouting in her face.
At that time, she couldn't understand; she only felt it was betrayal.
Now, looking at the children laughing in front of the new-style farms in the report's appendix, and looking at the factory chimneys towering into the clouds in the distance, it seemed... she understood somewhat.
Her uncle had used his own reputation to trade for the lasting peace and sustenance of countless ordinary people on this land.
And His Majesty Lacey had used the power of the Empire to turn this peace and sustenance into a sustainable, visible future.
The carriage doors opened, and fresh air poured into the cabin.
Margarete stepped onto the platform, and immediately two officers wearing South Kazimierz Security Force uniforms came up to greet her.
Their uniforms featured the tough tailoring of the Leithanien style, but their armbands bore the insignia of the former Silver Lance Pegasus Knights.
"General Margarete, welcome back to the Grand Knight Territory. Administrator Maenner is waiting for you."
The leading officer was about thirty years old, a local of Kazimierz.
His eyes were bright, his back stood straight, and he spoke standard Leithanien language without any regional accent—obviously a product of the new education system.
"Thank you for your trouble," Margarete nodded in acknowledgment.
She carried no luggage, only a briefcase she kept on her person.
The officer led her through the bustling station hall. Rather than a station, it was more like a small urban complex.
Various trains transferred efficiently here; shops, restaurants, and rest areas were all available, everything organized in perfect order.
On the huge screens on the walls, what scrolled was no longer the odds for knight competitions, but the latest industrial product quotes, agricultural purchase prices, and Imperial news.
A black "Volkswagen" brand land-vehicle bearing the emblem of the South Kazimierz government was already waiting at the exit.
This vehicle model, developed by the Imperial Academy of Sciences, had become standard equipment for the Imperial military and political departments due to its stability and adaptability to complex terrain.
The vehicle drove smoothly onto the wide streets.
The changes in the urban area of the Grand Knight Territory were so great that Margarete almost couldn't recognize it.
The bizarre, flashy commercial neon billboards of the past were gone, replaced by uniform streetlamps and simple shop signs.
On both sides of the road, the exaggerated sculptures that once symbolized various corporate powers had been removed, and neat rows of street trees were planted.
What made Margarete feel most unfamiliar were those once incomparably glorious arenas.
The largest one, originally called the "Cradle of Champions," now had a sign hanging on its outer wall: "Grand Knight Territory First Public Sports Center." A group of students in school uniforms were conducting sports training in the clearing outside the venue.
Another slightly smaller arena had been converted into an open-air concert hall, with posters posted at the entrance announcing the upcoming tour of the Leithanien Royal Symphony Orchestra.
Knight competitions hadn't completely disappeared, but their scale was strictly limited. They had transformed from commercial gambling activities into official Knight Championships, similar to sports competitions, held once a year as a preserved cultural tradition.
But it was no longer the city's only signature.
The vehicle passed a newly built residential area; buildings with red roofs and white walls were arranged in a well-planned, orderly fashion.
Margarete remembered that this used to be a notorious shantytown, a shadow under the halo of knight competitions, breeding poverty and crime.
Now, sunlight spilled over every building.
"That is Phase One of the 'Housing Project'," the young officer driving glanced at her through the rearview mirror, carrying a trace of imperceptible pride.
"My parents were allocated an apartment there, with a separate washroom and kitchen."
Margarete nodded in silence, her gaze moving slowly from those bright and clean apartment buildings to the distance.
In the center of the city, the building that once belonged to the Commercial Federation now flew the red flag of Leithanien, becoming the administrative center of South Kazimierz.
In these seven years, she had grown from a lost knight into an officer of the Imperial army.
She thought she knew enough about this Empire, about that Emperor's methods.
But not until this moment, returning to the land that gave birth to and raised her, did she truly and concretely feel what that thing called "Lacey's Magic" actually was.
It replaced chaos with order, vanity with production, and covered a hollow past with a concrete future.
The land-vehicle finally stopped in front of the Administration Center building.
The guards at the gate performed a standard Imperial military salute.
Margarete stepped out of the car, looking up at this familiar building.
She had fantasized more than once about leading the knights of the Templight family to charge in here and hang those gluttonous merchants from their own flagpoles.
And now, dressed in an Imperial uniform, she walked in calmly as an officer.
The corridors were paved with brand-new carpets, and the walls hung with works from the Imperial Landscape Photography Exhibition.
She was led directly to the administrative office on the top floor.
The door was not closed.
Margarete stood at the door, seeing a figure that was both familiar and strange standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire city.
His spine was as straight as ever. He wore a simple administrative official's uniform; he was no longer the clerk bowing and scraping at a construction material company, nor the Maenner who suffered silently at home.
He turned around, his gaze falling upon Margarete.
"You've gained weight." Maenner Templight spoke; this was the first sentence he said to his niece.
"..." Margarete nearly choked on the words.
Seven years unseen, countless words and emotions clogged her chest, but in the end, they only turned into a response between tears and laughter: "Uncle, the food standards in the Imperial Army are very high."
"It seems they have fed you well." Maenner nodded, walked behind the desk and sat down, signaling for her to sit as well.
"I thought you would come back wearing glittering golden armor, with two little followers behind you, shouting 'The glory of the Templight family has returned.'"
His words were the same as always, but Margarete could already hear what lay beneath that disguise.
She wasn't provoked; she simply calmly unbuttoned the top button of her uniform to sit more comfortably.
"If I did that, I'm afraid the one receiving me now wouldn't be you, but the Military Police of the Governor's Office," she answered.
The corner of Maenner's mouth seemed to twitch, but it was too fast to catch.
"It seems you've learned more outside than just how to eat." He picked up a document from the desk and pushed it in front of Margarete.
"Take a look. Don't think you were called back this time for a family visit or a vacation."
The document was a secret report from the Intelligence Department, titled "Comprehensive Report on Abnormal Activities of Ursus in the North Kazimierz Region."
Margarete opened the report, her expression gradually becoming grave.
The report detailed in depth the infiltration operations Ursus had conducted towards South Kazimierz through various channels over the past half-year.
They utilized the remnant old knight class dissatisfied with the Empire and the dregs of the Commercial Federation to spread rumors and incite antagonistic sentiments.
They portrayed South Kazimierz's economic development as "Leithanien's economic plunder," distorted land reform as "trampling on private property," and slandered Maenner himself as the "number one traitor who sold out Kazimierz."
More seriously, the report indicated that Ursus had begun providing weapons and funds to these underground organizations on a small scale.
On the border line, the provocative acts of Ursus patrols increased day by day, and there had even been several small-scale exchanges of fire.
"What do they want to do? A proxy war?" Margarete put down the document.
"They want Kazimierz to bleed again." Maenner's voice was cold.
"Fyodor, that greedy bear of the Northlands, has never forgotten the wealth of the Grand Knight Territory."
He stood up and walked to the window again.
"I spent seven years teaching the people on this land how to feed themselves with hoes and wrenches instead of swords and lances."
"I made them believe that a stable life is more important than illusory glory. Now, someone wants to drag them back to that crazy era."
Margarete looked at her uncle's profile, feeling for the first time so clearly the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
That wasn't for the family, but for the millions of people on this land.
"His Majesty sent me here to deal with this matter." Margarete stood up, stood at attention, her voice firm.
"Please give your orders, Sir."
Maenner looked back at her, and finally, there was a change in his eyes.
"Your first mission: go to Zalak Town," he said slowly.
"That is where the conflict is most intense, and it is also one of our most important supply transit stations."
"A group of old knights bewitched by the Ursus people, led by a former champion knight named Grod, are causing trouble there, obstructing our material transport."
He paused, then added, "Let them see what the knights of the Templight family fight for in the new era."
________________________________________
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