Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

Gertrude's agents were able to move freely through the muddy waters.

In her latest communication with Abrahina, Serafina inadvertently mentioned the internal strife in Lentinium and expressed concern that it could affect subsequent aid efforts.

These words completely ignited Abrahina's ambition.

She decided to stop waiting and deliver the fatal blow to Victoria as it waned.

……

Holy Letanian Empire: Chapter 125: The Tower of Babel Cannot Save the Sarkaz!

In the Tara region, Abrahana's ambition has been completely ignited.

She adopted the advice of Letanian military advisors, upgrading her piecemeal guerrilla tactics into small-scale campaigns, targeting strategic areas along the Victorian border.

The morale of the Deeppool team has reached an unprecedented peak; each victory has strengthened their confidence in their ability to succeed.

However, amidst the euphoria of victory, Lavshini sensed something amiss.

She clashed again with Mandela and other officials, questioning whether they had forgotten Tara's original intentions for independence, but her voice was easily drowned out by the deafening cheers.

Meanwhile, in Trinityl, you formally announced the launch of the "Five-Year Plan" at a meeting.

[You clearly pointed out that, under the influence of the Intelligence Department and the External Relations Department, Victoria's internal strife will continue for several years, presenting Letania with a once-in-a-lifetime strategic window of opportunity.]

Research institutes must accelerate the development of new weapons, while the industrial sector must push production capacity to its limit.

The resources and manpower of Syracuse and South Qazimir will be fully integrated into the Empire's war machine, building up strength for future all-out wars.

On the chessboard of Terra, the winds of change are ever-shifting.

[At the Colombian Presidential Palace, advisor Hawke analyzed for President Mark Max that Letania's rapid development had given it the momentum to surpass established Terran powers like Ursus and Victoria. If Colombia continued with its previous strategic policies, it might be difficult to contain Letania in the future.]

Therefore, they decided to split their forces into two groups, secretly contacting the conservative Duke of Victoria and Ursus, hinting at their willingness to provide military and technical assistance, in an attempt to establish a check on Letania before it became too powerful.

[At the Ursus Palace, the young Emperor Fyodor also received reports of the Victorian civil war.]

He and his staff discussed all night whether they should take this opportunity to send reinforcements to the Victoria border, tearing another piece of flesh from this weakened lion.

[Victoria, the Duke of Normandy's Palace.]

He dispatched Earl March to travel around, trying to ascertain the true intentions of the other dukes, but with little success. Each duke kept their doors tightly shut, secretly mobilizing their troops while keeping a watchful eye on their neighbors.

[Count March has sent back intelligence: Victoria is just one straw away from breaking out into civil war.]

The Duke of Normandy ultimately gave the order: observe the situation, conserve resources, and refrain from placing bets until the game is fully clear.

……

Kazdel, headquarters of the Military Council.

Therese was sitting at his desk, which was piled high with military reports and maps from Letania.

He carefully studied each document.

The door was gently pushed open, and Theresa walked in.

She was wearing a long white dress, and her long, pinkish-white hair was casually draped down her back.

“Theresis,” Theresa’s voice was soft.

"You came."

Therese didn't look up, but simply gestured for her to sit down in the chair opposite her.

“I’ve heard about Letania’s orders,” Theresa said, her gaze fixed on the military reports, her eyes filled with worry.

"Five years. He wants us to be the vanguard in attacking Victoria in five years."

Therese finally raised her head and looked at her sister.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with exhaustion.

“This is our only option, Theresa,” he said in a deep voice.

"Kazdel can't wait any longer."

"We must find a place for the Sarkaz to settle down, a home where they can continue their future."

“He just wants to use us, to pave the way for Letania’s great cause at the cost of our lives.” Theresa’s voice rose slightly.

"So what?" Therese retorted.

"If we can exchange our blood for the future of the Sarkaz, I will gladly do it; if our sacrifice can make the nations of Terra remember the wrath of the Sarkaz, I will never back down!"

Theresa stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the barren land.

“Theresis, look at the city beneath our feet. It is riddled with holes, and our fellow citizens are still struggling to survive.”

"What we need is not more war, but peace, reconstruction, and the ability for our children to grow up in a world without war!"

"Peace?"

Hearing this, Therese felt inexplicably tired.

"Theresia, you're so naive."

"Peace is never begged for; it is won with sword and blood."

"Do you think those high and mighty Terran nobles will lay down their swords against the Sarkaz because of your mercy?"

“But we can prove that the Sarkaz can be civilized, and they can be kind!” Theresa turned around, tears glistening in her eyes.

"The ideal of the Tower of Babel is to break down this prejudice! We cannot become what we once hated most!"

“The ideals of the Tower of Babel are grand, Theresa.” Theresa’s voice softened slightly.

"But it cannot save all the Sarkaz."

"I cannot stand by and watch our compatriots die of hunger and disease, nor can I watch our children grow up in hatred."

"I must find a way out for them, even if that way is stained with blood."

“You’re just repeating the same mistakes!” Theresa said with great distress.

"You think you can conquer everything with force, but true victory is winning hearts and minds, and enabling all races to live in peace!"

"Human hearts?" Theresis let out a low laugh.

"Theresia, you're living in your own dream world."

"The law of Terra has always been the survival of the fittest; only the strong have the right to talk about peace and ideals."

At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door.

Blood Lord Ducarle and Carrion King Niezire entered.

They came to report to Therese on the reorganization of Wang Tingjun.

As soon as Ducarre entered, he saw Theresa, and a hint of amusement flashed in his scarlet eyes.

Theresa ignored Ducarre; she simply looked at Theresis, her eyes filled with disappointment and sadness.

She knew she couldn't convince her brother.

He had made up his mind to use war to secure a future for the Sarkaz.

"Lord Ducarle, Chief Neezley," Theresa said firmly.

"I want you to remember that the future of the Sarkaz should not be built on hatred and bloodshed."

"True strength comes from inner power, not from killing."

After saying that, she looked at Theresis one last time, then turned and left the office.

Ducarre watched Theresa's retreating figure and said, "What a troublesome Demon Lord."

Niezire's cloudy eyes remained fixed on Therese.

Therese didn't speak; he simply watched quietly in the direction his sister had gone until her figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Then he turned around and looked at Ducarre and Niezile.

"Your Excellencies, how is the reorganization of the Royal Court Legion progressing?" he asked in a deep voice.

Niezirena's hoarse voice rang out: "The Carrion Legion is ready."

"Our warriors crave war, crave to devour the flesh and blood of the enemy to nourish our people."

"Five years from now, we will be the sharpest spearhead, paving a bloody path for the Sarkaz."

Ducarre also said, "The Blood Demon King's Court is ready to enjoy a blood feast."

Theresis listened to the reports from the two royal rulers and nodded.

"very good."

He instructed Manfred outside the door: "Order all Royal Legions to intensify their training."

"We need this war."

"Five years from now, Victoria will be the birthplace of the Sarkaz."

He looked out the window again at the scorched earth shrouded in Originium crystal clusters.

"The future of Sarkaz will be written by ourselves."

…Umbrella Master~Zero Enterprise Feeding Dam aE Temple"}…

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter 126: Five Years of Development, Swarm Drones and Anti-Ship Missiles

　 [The highest-level summons has been issued by Theresis.]

The news spread to every corner of Terra.

From the icy frozen plains of Ursus to the bustling cities of Colombia, and then to the idyllic countryside of Victoria.

Those Sarkaz mercenaries who usually fight for money, for survival, or even just for a sip of strong liquor—whether they were veterans with missing arms or fierce-looking rookies—all received a call from the depths of their blood.

They laid down their tasks, bid farewell to their temporary employers, and like a school of fish migrating upstream, resolutely converged in the same direction—Kazdel.

To conceal this undercurrent powerful enough to shake the continent's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing overall situation and overall dynamics), Theresis publicly declared that a large-scale rebellion had broken out within Kazdel, and the Military Council needed to mobilize all its forces for "internal suppression."

This news caused a minor stir on the continent of Terra.

Intelligence agencies around the world were skeptical, but most powers chose to remain neutral, or even gloat.

The Dukes of Victoria, however, presented a completely different picture.

They are busy suppressing the escalating Deep Pool Rebellion in the Tara region, and more importantly, engaging in infighting in parliament to advance their own families' interests.

In their eyes, the Sarkaz were nothing more than a bunch of barbarians constantly fighting amongst themselves; their chaos was the norm, and they weren't worth paying much attention to.

They missed their last chance to be vigilant.

Five years have quietly slipped by.

Five years is enough for a child to grow up, and enough for an empire to be transformed.

You stand atop the highest point of the Trinity Palace, overlooking your city.

The once classical and somewhat outdated capital city now boasts a skyline redefined by towering chimneys and factories, with a steel skeleton spreading throughout the city.

Your five-year plan is complete.

Military technology is experiencing explosive growth.

The "Red Flag" anti-ship missile, specifically designed for hunting warships, has been successfully deployed, forming a complete and three-dimensional saturation strike system against warships, from mobile launchers to shore-based positions and new bombers.

The Army's Tiger I tank underwent three iterations and upgrades, evolving into the Tiger II, which featured thicker composite armor and a more powerful main gun.

Its advanced fire control system allows it to accurately hit targets several kilometers away while on the move, making it the undisputed king of land warfare. Even Victoria's fleet would have to avoid its onslaught under the dense barrage of thousands of tanks.

On the other hand, drone swarm technology has matured, and thousands of "swarm" suicide drones can easily dominate urban warfare.

The new generation of Stuka B dive bombers and Messerschmitt fighters allows your military to firmly maintain air superiority.

At this point, you are certain that Victoria is no longer a match for Letania.

A large-scale joint military exercise has begun on the border of Letania.

General Taylor stood atop the command tower, exuding confidence and triumph.

He commanded a massive army comprised of forces from Letan, Syracuse, and South Qazimir.

The exercise simulated an assault on a city or fortress.

[The Messerschmitt fighter squadron was the first to tear through the air defense network, followed closely by the Stuka Bs, their shrill cries like the horn of death, erasing the simulated turrets one by one from the map.]