Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

"Don't be afraid of it, and don't deny it; that's where your true power lies."

After saying that, she ignored Serafina.

Serafina stood there for a long time, but in the end, she left the room silently without saying a word.

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Twenty-Two: You're a Madman, Mr. Lacey

Two days later, in East Salem, at the Rye Cafe.

This coffee shop is located in a somewhat remote area, with a small storefront and rather simple decor.

The tables and chairs were made of natural wood, and several inexpensive oil paintings depicting the pastoral scenery of Letania hung on the wall.

That's exactly why Lacey chose this location.

Low-key, unassuming, and absolutely loyal.

The café owner was a miner who was exploited in the mines until his family was ruined. It was the Workers' Party that gave him a new life and dignity.

Lacey sat alone in the corner by the window, a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold in front of her.

He didn't look at the street scene outside the window, but quietly tapped the table with his fingers, as if he was waiting or thinking.

Serafina and Taylor, disguised as ordinary guests, sat at two tables not far away, seemingly chatting casually, but actually observing their surroundings warily.

At exactly five o'clock in the afternoon, the wind chimes in the coffee shop rang out with a clear, crisp sound.

A figure pushed open the door and entered.

Lacey looked up, her gaze meeting the one who had just arrived.

She was an extremely striking woman.

She wore a well-tailored, custom-made suit in navy blue, with a sharp lapel and stand-up shoulders reminiscent of menswear, which perfectly accentuated her tall and slender figure.

She paired it with a high-slit black long skirt, and her fair and slender legs were faintly visible as she walked.

The pointed stilettos clicked on the wooden floor with a crisp, rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

Her long, dark gray hair reached her waist, with natural curls at the ends, giving her an aura of calmness, competence, and even a touch of aggression.

Gertrude Strolo.

She came alone, without any attendants.

The moment she saw Lacey, her sharp gaze softened slightly, and a formulaic, elegant smile appeared on her face.

“Mr. Lacey, it’s an honor to meet you.” She said as she sat down opposite Lacey.

"Your brilliance in the courtroom still resonates throughout Letania. It is my honor to meet such a heroic figure as you."

This is a standard aristocratic opening remark.

Lacey didn't even lift his eyelids. He extended his hand and made a "please" gesture, interrupting the other person's performance.

“Miss Stroll, I don’t think we’re sitting here today to flatter each other.”

"Time is precious, just like ours. Please tell me what trouble you've encountered and what you need me to do for you."

Gertrude's smile froze for a moment.

She clearly hadn't expected the other person to be so direct, not even bothering to maintain the most basic social etiquette.

But she quickly composed herself and re-examined the man in front of her.

He wore simple work clothes and had a calm expression, yet he exuded an aura of life and death power, something honed from the battlefield and countless battles, far more oppressive than the bloodlines and titles that nobles always talked about.

She realized that she was not facing a peasant she could manipulate at will, but a beast that also knew how to hunt.

“Well, Mr. Lacey, I appreciate your frankness.” Gertrude dropped her feigned elegance, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice to get to the point.

"I'm sure Heinrich has already explained part of my situation to you."

“My father, Count Strolo, died unexpectedly not long ago.” She gave a mocking laugh when she said the word “unexpected.”

"He was a follower of the Witch King, and during the Twin Queens' purge, he was silenced by his former comrades."

“Right now, the Earldom of the Strolo family is vacant, and the only ones qualified to inherit it are me and my… good-for-nothing brother, Cole Strolo.”

"He was cowardly, foolish, and greedy, and good for nothing except indulging in wine, women, and art collecting."

"But precisely because of this, both the Elector and the Twin Queens were happy to see him inherit the title, because a useless count would make it easier for them to control Viseheim's taxes and minerals."

“And me!” A fierce glint flashed in Gertrude’s eyes. “If I want what is rightfully mine, the only way is to make my good brother suffer an accident as well.”

"But this would lead to endless suspicion and trouble, and the higher-ups would never let me succeed so easily."

She paused for a moment, picked up the water the waiter brought her, and took a sip, seemingly to calm herself down.

Lacey remained expressionless, simply looking back at her calmly, signaling her to continue.

Gertrude took a deep breath and dropped a more crucial bombshell: “But that’s not the worst of it. My father may be dead, but the mess he left behind is still there.”

"That remnant of the Witch King, entrenched in western Letania, is like a leech, constantly trying to keep the Strolo family firmly under their control, using us as tools for their wealth accumulation and hiding place."

"Even if I manage to get rid of Cole and inherit the title, I won't be able to get rid of these mad dogs. They are even more difficult to deal with and less disciplined than the adults."

“Therefore, I need an ally.” Gertrude’s gaze was fixed intently on Lacey.

“A strong, decisive ally that has no ties to those powers.”

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity, and Lacey could tell from her subtle expressions and tone that what she said was true.

There may be some reservations, but the core dilemma should be real.

A noblewoman who craves power but is besieged on all sides—she is indeed an excellent partner.

Lacey put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly into Gertrude's eyes. "So the question is, Miss Strolo, what will our Workers' Party get?"

This is the core of the negotiation.

Gertrude seemed to have anticipated his question, and she calmly replied, "As long as I become the Count of Viseheim, I will provide full support to the Workers' Party."

"First, there's the funding. The Strolow family has enough money to renovate the entire Salem slum and still have some left over."

"Secondly, it's about connections. I will use my family's connections to open up links for you with chambers of commerce in surrounding cities, providing your factory with stable orders and raw material channels."

“I can even help you find some allies in the noble council of Letania that you can win over.”

“Finally, and most importantly, territory.” Gertrude put down her coffee cup, her eyes gleaming with determination.

“Viseheim will become the most secure rear base for your Workers’ Party. There, you can establish your own schools, train your own armed forces, and promote your ideas. I will not interfere and will even provide you with convenience.”

The conditions she offered were extremely tempting, and could be said to directly address the Workers' Party's most pressing needs.

Even Serafina, who was eavesdropping nearby, couldn't help but hold her breath.

If all of this can be achieved, the Workers' Party will grow by leaps and bounds.

However, there was no excitement on Lacey's face.

He simply watched Gertrude silently until her smile became somewhat stiff before he slowly spoke.

"Sounds good."

Gertrude's expression changed slightly.

"Mr. Lacey, what do you mean by this?"

“I mean, Miss Strolo, you seem to have misunderstood something.” Lacey’s lips curled up.

"Everything you've promised is based on your successful inheritance of the title, but what if you fail?"

"Or, after you succeed, will you turn your back on us and wipe out this group of 'thugs who helped you kill your brother' in exchange for the Elector's trust?"

"So what do you think (nine) Qiulu Temple Lubaer (eight)?" Gertrude's voice turned cold.

She never expected that this man from the bottom of society would be so perceptive.

“It’s very simple.” Lacey leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms on the table, and adopted a calm and composed posture.

"In addition, the city guards of Viseheim must undergo ideological and disciplinary reform under the guidance of instructors sent by the Workers' Party."

"And after you successfully inherit the title, you must, in the name of the Strolo family, publicly declare your support for the Workers' Party to become a legitimate political party in Letania."

"And support me in obtaining a seat in the future Council of Nobles."

"Are you insane! A commoner dares to dream of entering the Council of Nobles?!"

“Why not?” Lacey chuckled. “Times have changed, Miss Strolo.”

"The old order is collapsing, and new rules have not yet been established."

“The Witch King can be overthrown, the Queen can be sidelined, and of course we can also make our voices heard.”

He looked at the dumbfounded Gertrude and said, word by word, "We help you get what you want, and then you help us pry open the door to the center of power."

"This is what cooperation should be."

"Aren't you worried I'll change my mind?" After a long silence, Gertrude finally managed to squeeze out these words.

Lacey smiled and uttered two words: "Go ahead."

Gertrude's anger subsided.

For some reason, instead of feeling angry and repulsed, she felt an indescribable excitement deep inside.

“You’re a madman, Mr. Lacey.”

"maybe."

“But… I like working with madmen.” A genuine smile finally appeared on Gertrude’s lips.

"Because only madmen dare to do things that normal people wouldn't even think about."

She held out her hand.

"It's a pleasure working with you, my future... congressman."

Lacey reached out and shook her hand tightly.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Countess."

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Twenty-Three: You are important, very important

After their meeting with Gertrude ended, Lacey and the other two walked back to headquarters.

The night breeze in Salem carried a slight chill, rustling the shadows cast by the kerosene lamps along the street.

Taylor walked at the back, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings.

Serafina walked side by side with Lacey. She glanced at Lacey several times, only to see him calmly staring ahead, as if the high-stakes gamble that had determined the fate of a noble family was nothing more than a casual conversation after dinner.

She finally couldn't hold back and said, "You don't seem nervous at all."

"Why be nervous?" Lacey countered, her steps never faltering.

"The pieces are already on the board. All you have to do now is follow the planned moves step by step. Being nervous won't solve anything; it will only make you make mistakes."

“But that was an innocent life, and… we’re using Miss Gertrude’s ambition to achieve our own goals.” Seraphia seemed somewhat shaken. “This contradicts our original principles…”

“Yes, boss, we really have to work with a noblewoman…” Taylor the blacksmith chimed in, “and she’s a woman who wants to kill her own brother.”

Lacey stopped and turned to look at the two of them.

“Seraphina, Taylor, I understand what you’re thinking.”

"But what I want to say is that throughout history, there has never been a reform without bloodshed."

Serafina fell silent. She knew Lacey was right, and rationally she completely agreed, but the soft spot deep inside her that belonged to "Serafina Ivanovna Petrova" still stung.

Lacey changed the subject, asking, "What did you 'see' in that woman?"

Serafina frowned slightly as she recalled the emotions she had just sensed: "Ambition, hatred, anxiety."

"She was like a wolf driven to the edge of a cliff, willing to bite through anyone's throat to survive, including herself."

“She’s telling the truth; she really needs us.”

"That's good." Lacey nodded.

"As long as she has desires, there is nothing to fear; desire is the best rein."