Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

His tone was condescending and bossy, as if Lacey were a nobody who needed to kneel down and receive a title.

Taylor stared at him expressionlessly, neither making way nor informing anyone, standing there like a wall.

This silent neglect only infuriated Bitt more than any violent reaction he had anticipated.

"You...you're defying the Queen's orders?" the envoy shouted, his voice trembling with fear.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming tense, Lacey's calm voice came from behind the crowd.

"Let him come over."

The crowd parted, and Lacey walked out slowly.

He looked at the arrogant envoy, his face expressionless.

Yue@Yi*First~Special Envoy straightened his collar, trying to regain his composure.

He unfurled the golden scroll in his hand, cleared his throat, and read aloud:

"In the name of the Twin Empresses Helemat Hildergard and Liselot Ivignad! Promote Workers' Party Leader Lacey to Elector of the Vasseur Territory of the Empire..."

"...From the date this decree takes effect, Lord Raisi will be seated in the nine electoral seats of the Empire, with the right to participate in the Imperial Central Council. His will will concern the future of the Empire, and his vote will determine the succession to the throne..."

"...All military, political, judicial, and tax powers in the Vase territory are under its control, and all that is required is loyalty to the Twin Crowns..."

"...Anyone who questions or defies this decree shall be deemed to be disrespecting the authority of the Twin Empresses, and the Imperial Law shall punish them severely!"

The imperial edict was read for more than ten minutes.

After a brief moment of astonishment, the crowd erupted in jubilation.

Her Majesty the Queen has also acknowledged Lady Lacey!

"Lassie! Lassie!"

In the crowd, miner Marcus raised his arms and shouted.

"Elector! Elector!"

Claude followed closely behind.

The next second, the entire square erupted in cheers!

Cheers, whistles, and cries mingled together, creating a soaring wave of sound.

Their leader has officially been granted the title of one of the most prestigious officials in all of Letania, which gives them more peace of mind than any decree!

Amidst deafening cheers, Lacey received the edict from the envoy, whose expression was complex.

He turned to face all the people of the Vase territory, then suddenly raised his hand high.

"Long live victory!"

The entire crowd followed the adult's actions, raising their arms in unison.

Then they shouted in unison:

"Long live victory!"

"Long live victory!!"

The revelry in the square reached its peak.

People threw hats and headscarves into the air, chanting Lacey's name with voices filled with boundless reverence and trust.

The royal envoy stood aside, watching the frenzied scene before him, his face turning pale and then red.

He thought he was there to give alms, but found himself looking like a clown.

He had no choice but to slink away, not daring to utter another word.

……

That evening, the news spread throughout Letania again through newspapers and among merchants.

This time, the shockwaves were even greater than those caused by Otto's death.

Her Majesty the Empress actually acknowledged the status of this peasant?

This Lexi was officially crowned Elector!

This news made it impossible for the other eight electors of Letania to remain seated in peace.

……

Letania, Haydenshwell Region.

Elector Hayden Schweil, a burly man with a full beard, was sharpening his enormous battle axe with a whetstone.

Sparks flew, reflecting off his somber face.

“A guy who rose to power by talking and inciting mobs, does he deserve to be on equal footing with us?” he said gruffly to his advisor.

"Those two are really getting worse as they get older. They've forgotten who bled the most blood in the Four Emperors' War!"

"My lord, that Lacey is not to be underestimated," the strategist said, bowing.

"He is no ordinary person who could defeat Lord Otto so quickly."

“I’ve read his book too, and the ambition hidden in it is greater than all of ours combined.”

The burly man stopped what he was doing and slammed his battle axe heavily onto the ground.

"In the face of absolute force, any ambition is a joke!"

"Pass down the order to strengthen border patrols! I want to see if his incitement tactics will work on my territory!"

……

In the east, in the most commercially vibrant region of Kepranya.

Elector Mechren Neham, a fat man who looked more like a wealthy merchant than a nobleman, was leisurely savoring fragrant tea from the Great Yan Kingdom.

"Interesting, very interesting." He put down his teacup and said to the butler with a smile.

"Without spending a penny on military expenses or shedding a drop of blood, we managed to take down that tough nut of Otto."

"This Lacey is a real talent!"

“Master, is there anything we should do? He has broken the rules after all,” the butler asked.

“Rules? Rules are meant to be broken.” Mecklen Neham waved his hand dismissively.

"Let's wait and see. Send someone to Viseheim and Wasserland to make contact with the Workers' Party and see if there's any business opportunity."

"Remember, we are businessmen. As long as there is money to be made, it doesn't matter who we cooperate with."

"As for politics... let those simple-minded guys worry about it."

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter 46: Invitation to the Imperial Central Conference

As the cheers subsided, the reconstruction of Wasserling proceeded smoothly under the efficient organization of the Workers' Party.

Lacey was not blinded by the title of Elector; he knew better than anyone what the Twin Queens truly wanted.

While granting him legal status, they also placed him in opposition to the old aristocratic class and put him under the surveillance of imperial power.

A few days later, another carriage from the capital arrived at the tower.

Unlike the flamboyant envoy last time, this time the carriage was very low-key.

A stern-faced middle-aged official stepped out of the car. He introduced himself as the adjutant to the Minister of Palace Affairs and, without any unnecessary words, directly requested an audience with Lacey.

Inside the council chamber of the tower, the lieutenant handed Lacey an invitation tied with a black ribbon and stamped with the wax seal of the Twin Queens.

“Your Excellency Lexi,” the adjutant said respectfully.

"Her Majesty the Empress will convene the Imperial Central Conference in Triinttelme in a month to discuss important issues such as Imperial tax reform and responses to the international situation."

"Her Majesty the Queen hopes that you will be there on time."

After seeing off the adjutant, Lacey returned to the conference room where the core members were, carrying the rather weighty invitation.

Serafina, Taylor, Gertrude, and Hedley and Ines from the Sarkaz mercenary group were all present.

W, meanwhile, leaned against the window with his arms crossed, seemingly uninterested in anything.

"The Hongmen Banquet."

Before Lacey could even speak, Taylor was the first to slam his fist on the table, staring at the exquisite invitation.

"Boss, this is definitely a trap! The capital, Triinttelme, is their territory; their troops and spies are everywhere!"

"Once you go there, it will be a den of dragons and tigers. They can do whatever they want to you!"

His words, though rough, were reasonable and represented the concerns of most people.

Although the members of the workers' pickets were in high spirits, none of them were arrogant enough to believe that they were now capable of challenging the imperial power in the capital.

Gertrude took the invitation and carefully examined the wax seal and coat of arms on it.

As a member of the old aristocracy, she understood the meaning behind the letter even better.

“Taylor’s concerns are valid, but I’m afraid I have no choice but to attend this meeting,” she said, looking up.

"Why?" Taylor asked, puzzled.

“Because Mr. Lacey is now an Elector,” Gertrude explained.

"The Imperial Central Conference is the highest-level political conference in Letania, and all Electors must attend."

"This is a tradition and obligation that has been passed down since the old system."

“If you refuse to attend, it is tantamount to openly declaring to the imperial authority and all the electors: I do not recognize your system, and I want to start anew.”

"This will give all your current enemies the perfect excuse to unite and attack you."

She paused, then added, "They've figured this out: if you go, it's dangerous; if you don't go, it's political suicide. It's a calculated move."

Hedley, who had been silently polishing his greatsword, spoke up: "If you decide to go, we can renew the contract and provide you with the highest level of security."

"Of course, with your abilities, you might not need it." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Moreover, our role in Triinttelme is very limited."

All eyes were on Lacey, waiting for his decision.

Serafina remained silent, simply watching Lacey intently.

She believed that no matter how complicated the situation was, it wouldn't be a challenge for him.

Lacey tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

The conference room was quiet, with only the sound of his tapping echoing in the background.

“Taylor,” he suddenly spoke, “if I were to lead the workers’ pickets and the army that the Vasseur territory could currently mobilize to fight the other electors head-on, what would be your chances of winning?”

Taylor paused for a moment, then answered honestly, "Almost none. Our brothers are brave, but their training and equipment are far inferior."

“Gertrude,” Lacey turned to another, “how long could we hold out if someone imposed an economic blockade on us, cutting off all our trade routes?”

Gertrude's face darkened: "In less than three months, the economy of the Vase Territory will collapse. Everything we have now is built on the fragile flow of goods."

Lacey nodded, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Look, this is our current situation."

"We look like we've won a glorious victory, but in reality, any big wave could break us apart."

"Why? Because our foundation is very weak. The Workers' Party has been established for less than a year."

"We need time to develop."

"Right now, we haven't truly integrated into the country's power structure; we are a thorn in the side of all the old forces."

“They can find an excuse at any time to strangle us in the cradle with military or economic power that we cannot resist.”

He picked up the invitation and waved it in front of everyone.

"And this is our opportunity."

"An opportunity to step onto the imperial political stage."

“But it’s too dangerous!” Taylor couldn’t help but say.

Lacey laughed: "From day one, what step haven't been dangerous?"