Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

"You have only completed less than 30% of the iron ore supply agreement that our chamber of commerce signed with you this month."

"This has made many of my clients very dissatisfied."

"As you know, in Victoria, reputation is life."

Large beads of sweat appeared on Viscount Stalenf's forehead. He forced a smile and said, "President, please rest assured, it's just a minor issue. I'll resolve it quickly..."

"No, no, no, this is no small matter." The fat president wiped his greasy mouth with a napkin, his smile still kind.

“A stable supply chain is the foundation of business cooperation. If Finkshire’s productivity cannot be guaranteed, then in order to protect the interests of our Chamber of Commerce, we may have no choice but to consider supporting a more efficient lord.”

Before he could finish speaking, Viscount Stalenf's face had turned ashen, like that of a dead man.

He understood the unspoken meaning behind the fat chairman's words.

If he cannot resume production soon, this powerful chamber of commerce will not hesitate to abandon him and instead support one of his competitors, or even find a more obedient puppet from a branch of his family to replace him.

It was only at this moment that Viscount Stalenf finally realized what a terrible trap he had fallen into.

Take the fire out of the cauldron!

That bastard Lacey, he almost destroyed the very foundation of his rule without lifting a finger!

With that seemingly foolish agreement, he didn't just buy five hundred workers, but the hearts and minds of the entire Finkshire!

"Lassie—!" Viscount Stalenf roared like a beast, sweeping everything off the table.

In a fit of rage, he issued one decree after another, strictly forbidding anyone from discussing Viseheim and forbidding his subjects from fleeing without permission, with the penalty being the execution of their entire family.

The border guards have been tripled, and they are guarding their people as if they were thieves.

However, it was too late.

When the seeds of hope have sprouted, no wall, however high, can confine the hearts of those who yearn for the light.

Every day, people risk their lives trying to cross the border to seek refuge in Viseheim.

Finkshire became a crumbling prison.

Finally, after the Chamber of Commerce representative's second "friendly" visit, Viscount Stalenf, utterly desperate, wilted like a defeated rooster.

He had no choice but to reluctantly send envoys to Viseheim again.

……

Viseheim, the Earl's study.

The atmosphere this time was completely different from the last time.

Lacey sat in the main seat, with Gertrude and Serafina on either side.

The Finkshire envoy stood in the center of the room, sweating profusely, his posture extremely humble.

“Lassie… Your Excellency,” the envoy began with difficulty.

“Our Viscount… he admits that his previous actions were somewhat reckless.”

"He hopes... he hopes to abolish the previous labor importation agreement, and we are willing to compensate you double for all your losses!"

Upon hearing this, Lacey did not reply, but simply tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

The room was silent except for the echoing sound of knocking.

The envoy was nearly driven mad by the oppressive atmosphere. He knelt down with a thud: "Please, Your Excellency Lacey! Finkshire is about to collapse! We'll agree to any condition as long as you agree to annul the agreement!"

"Oh? You'll agree to anything?" The knocking stopped, and Lacey raised her eyelids to look at the humble messenger on the ground.

“I can agree to anything!” The envoy nodded helplessly in confirmation. He had been repeatedly told this by Viscount Stalenf before he came.

Compensation is no object; he'd sell his backside if it meant restoring Finkshire's industry.

“The agreement can be nullified,” Lacey said calmly, looking at the terrified messenger.

The envoy was overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking that the matter was resolved.

“But!” Lacey changed the subject. “I have a new condition.”

He presented the messenger with a document that he had already prepared.

The messenger opened the package with trembling hands, and after just one glance, he was struck dumb.

It was an agreement called the "Friendly Alliance between Viseheim and Finkshire".

The agreement is brief.

I. Finkshire and Viseheim form a permanent alliance, agreeing to non-aggression and mutual development.

Second, Finkshire must fully open its market to Viseheim, and all Viseheim goods shall enjoy tax-free treatment within Finkshire.

Third, Finkshire must recognize the Leitania Workers' Party as a legitimate organization and guarantee the personal safety and legal rights of the "Labour Rights Representative Office" established by the Workers' Party in Finkshire, as well as the members' rights and interests, and allow it to freely recruit members and promote its ideology.

Four……

……

"This...this..." The envoy's lips trembled, unable to utter a word.

This agreement, though called an alliance, is in reality a humiliating surrender.

This means that the Workers' Party's ideology and organization will legally, legitimately, and without any hindrance penetrate every corner of Finkshire.

If this is signed, will Finkshire belong to Viscount Stalenf or to Lacey?

“You can go back and tell him, or he can refuse,” Lacey said calmly.

“In that case, the labor agreement will remain in effect, and I would be happy to continue leasing all of Finkshire’s workforce at a price of fifty gold coins per year until he becomes a lone commander.”

The messenger was utterly desperate.

He knew that the Viscount had no choice but to accept the offer.

……

Viscount Stalenf, the once arrogant lord, locked himself in his room for an entire day after receiving the agreement.

The following day, an agreement bearing the Starenf family's wax seal was sent back to Viseheim.

He signed it.

The Workers' Party successfully infiltrated neighboring territories without firing a single shot or shedding a drop of blood.

When the news reached Viseheim, the whole city rejoiced.

Gertrude looked at the covenant bearing the seal of the Stalenf family, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Looking at the calm young man beside her, she realized for the first time that the power possessed by her ally was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Lacey explained to those around him, "We've simply given the people of Finkshire a choice."

"Facts have proven that popular support is the most powerful weapon."

"This is our method of expansion."

……

Holy Lytanian Empire: Chapter Thirty-Two: The Twin Empresses' Resolve

Triinttelme, the heart of Letania.

The twin towers soar into the clouds, overlooking the city.

In the throne room at the top of the tower, Helemat Hildegard, the Black Queen known as the "Ruthless Authority," slammed a secret report from the Queen's Voice onto the table.

"A decisive blow, a bloodless victory! Liselotte, I think he's about to forge a crown for himself!"

The table was piled high with reports, each detailing the incredible changes in Viseheim and how Viscount Starenf, Lord of Finkshire, was utterly defeated in a war without gunfire.

"Without using a single soldier, he nearly paralyzed the territory of a hereditary nobleman, ultimately forcing them to sign that kind of treaty!"

“Lizelot, this power has escaped our control and is spreading in a way we cannot comprehend! If we don’t send troops to crush it soon, it will be too late once this plague spreads throughout Letania!”

Hearing these words, Liselotte Ivignad remained calmly seated, her slender fingers gently brushing across the pages of another report.

“Herlinmat, anger will only cloud your judgment.”

"Do you want us to send troops to punish a hero who helps the people improve their lives, wipes out the remnants of the Witch King's faction, and has the open support of several nobles?"

“If we do this, it will be tantamount to declaring to the whole country that the monarchy of Letania will not allow anyone to live a good life.”

"This will only make the silent majority stand completely against us. More importantly, it will give those guys a perfect excuse to unite and accuse us of being a new tyrant."

"They were able to overthrow the Witch King, so they can overthrow us too. Do you understand, Helemat?"

Liselotte raised her eyes, her clear gaze meeting Helinmat's directly.

"Haven't you figured it out yet? Lacey's target from the beginning has always been old nobles like Viscount Stalenf, an extension of the Electors' power."

"The harder he strikes, the more the foundations of the electors will be shaken. He is not digging up our land; he is loosening the soil for us."

“Loosening the soil? He was planting explosives!” Herlinmat retorted.

"So what?" Liselotte smiled slightly. "As long as the fuse is in our hands, that's enough."

"Leytania's foundation is not Leysie, nor is it us, it's those guys."

"As long as they don't fall, Letania will remain as solid as a rock, and the ceiling above our heads will never be breached."

"Lassie's current achievements seem amazing, but in the grand scheme of things, they occupy only an insignificant corner."

“He needs time to grow, and we are just the right people to give him that time and a suitable identity.”

Herlinmat frowned: "What do you mean?"

“Instead of trying to put out this fire, let’s add fuel to the fire and let it burn even brighter, burning where we want it to burn.” Liselotte stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling capital city.

"In my name, in the name of 'Eternal Grace' Lizeroth Ivignad, I hereby issue a royal decree."

"We commend Lacey for his achievements in wiping out the remnants of the Witch King and pacifying the people in Viseheim."

"Since the Countess of the Strolo family has already approved of him, why don't we give him another push?"

"He was made a viscount and a small town was selected from the vicinity of Viseheim and formally granted to him as his fief."

Herlinmat stood up in shock: "Are you crazy? You want to make him a nobleman?"

“Yes.” Liselotte turned around and said with a smile, but there was no smile in her eyes.

"When he grasps this handle, his hand is also grasped by us."

"He will go from being a rebel outside the system to a member of the system. He will gain legitimacy, but he will also have to abide by the rules of the aristocracy."

"He will become the Queen's blade."

"As for whether this sharp blade will turn against us in the future..."

Liselotte paused.

"Then it depends on whether our skills are good enough."

Helena gazed at her sister for a long time, and finally, she slumped back onto her throne, her clenched fists slowly loosening.

She remained doubtful, but she couldn't refute Liselotte's logic.

This game of chess has exceeded her capabilities.

“Then we’ll do it your way, but the Queen’s Voice’s surveillance of him must be raised to the highest level.”

Liselotte smiled and agreed, "Of course."

……

Meanwhile, construction in Viseheim was in full swing.

Next to the city's central square, the foundation of a new Workers' Party headquarters building is being laid.

Dust billowed, and shouts and the sound of hammers echoed throughout the air.

Arturo sat on a newly erected wooden frame, holding her ever-present cello in her arms.

She had no intention of playing a piece; she simply watched quietly as the busy figures came and went in her dark eyes.

Serafina, carrying a roll of blueprints, walked briskly past her. Seeing her leisurely demeanor, she paused, her eyebrows furrowing involuntarily.

“Miss Arturo, this is a construction site, it’s very dangerous.”

"Besides, the spot where you're sitting is exactly where the beams are supposed to be installed this afternoon." Serafina tried to keep her tone polite, but anyone could hear the impatience in it.