Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

He stood up, walked to the map, and picked up a baton.

"Economically, we abolished all the exorbitant taxes and levies of the Otto era, returned the land to the farmers, and provided the government with seeds and farming tools, and made unified purchases."

"This year's grain production is expected to be three times that of last year. In addition to meeting the needs of the territory, a large amount of this grain can also be exported."

"In terms of industry, we revitalized the Blackstone mine and built three steel mills and two cement plants."

"The public is very enthusiastic. We have implemented a piece-rate wage system and a bonus system for exceeding targets. Workers' income has generally increased by more than 50%, and production efficiency has also far exceeded that of the past."

Lacey moved his baton across the map, pointing to the border with Kepranya.

"This is a railway project we are working on in cooperation with His Excellency Mecklen."

"Once completed, cheap industrial goods from Vaser and consumer goods from Keprania can circulate rapidly."

"His Excellency Mecklen expects that this railway alone will double his current trade volume, and he has already invested an astronomical sum of money in it."

Walner listened, stunned.

With each word Lacey spoke, his heart sank a little deeper.

He began to understand what Lacey meant.

He was telling Werner, in an undeniable way, how powerful he was.

He could increase the land's productivity, win the people's support, and make the wealthiest elector of Letania willingly become his partner.

And what about yourself?

Werner felt like a naked child standing before a fully armed giant.

The opponent didn't even need to lift a finger; the shadow cast by its massive body alone was enough to suffocate him.

“We started a literacy night school so that every worker would have the opportunity to read and write.”

Is he implying that he can easily find out anything he wants to know?

“We have established a special people’s court to try those tyrants who used to bully and oppress the local people.”

Was he warning that he could reveal his secrets at any time and face the judgment of the people?

"We are building a brand new army, with soldiers who are all liberated workers and farmers who are fighting to defend the fruits of their labor and are in high spirits."

Was he showing off his strength, implying that any resistance was futile?

Sweat had soaked through Walner's vest, and he felt the air in the throne room growing thinner and thinner.

This unspoken pressure is far more terrifying than a direct threat.

Finally, Lacey's introduction came to an end.

He put down his baton, turned around, and calmly looked at Werner, whose face had turned deathly pale.

He slowly walked back to his seat, picked up his water glass, and blew on it to cool it down.

Then he asked a question.

"Lord Volner, do you think this kind of Letania is worth looking forward to?"

Lacey's question instantly opened the floodgates of fear in Walner's heart.

The flood, carrying despair, instantly overwhelmed all his reason.

What kind of Letania does he expect?

He only hoped that his daughter could grow up safely and that his family could be preserved amidst the turmoil.

"Your Excellency Lacey..."

Warner finally mustered the courage to confront the situation, even if it meant begging for mercy on his knees.

"About that letter..."

"letter?"

Lacey interrupted him, looking puzzled, as if she really didn't know what he was talking about.

Then, as if he had just remembered something, he smiled as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Oh, you mean the letter Gertrude sent out?"

"That's just one of the ways our Workers' Party makes friends. It's a bit direct, and I hope it didn't scare you."

He brushed it off lightly.

This nonchalant attitude left Werner feeling powerless.

He realized that from the very beginning, he had fallen into the opponent's rhythm.

Lacey had no intention of using this secret to humiliate him, blackmail him, or threaten him.

He wants far more than that.

Lacey leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees, and her gaze sharpened.

"Mr. Werner, let's speak frankly."

"The Leitania is a dilapidated ship that has reached the point where it must be repaired."

"The Twin Queens sat at the bow of the ship, watching the group of old nobles fight tooth and nail over a few pieces of rotten flesh in the cabin, turning a blind eye to the hole in the bottom of the ship."

"The era of the Witch King has ended, but none of the problems he left behind have been solved. (II) Ball Two | Emu Mountain Cage! Chun"

"Class stratification, aristocratic antagonism, and the surrounding threat of powerful external enemies..."

"How much longer do you think this ship can stay afloat?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing.

"A major transformation is coming, and if it's not me, someone else will drive it."

“In this transformation, those who are stubborn as Otto Gladstone will be crushed.”

“Those who are as clever as the Earl of Austin will be thrown off the tower.”

"And those who harbor the secrets of the old era..."

Lacey's gaze fell on Walner's hand, which was tightly gripping the silver box, and she changed the subject: "...Their secret is merely a catalyst that accelerates this process."

"Whether you have this secret or not, you don't actually have many choices."

"Or, you can take your poems and art books and be swallowed up by the tide of the new era along with the Hochberg family."

"Either..."

He paused for a moment, leaving Werner with plenty of room for imagination.

Werner's breathing almost stopped.

He waited for Lacey to reveal the conditions that followed.

He was prepared to cede territory, pay reparations, and squander his entire fortune.

However, what Lacey said next completely exceeded his expectations.

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Sixty-Nine: Your Excellency Leisi, You Are the Future of Leitania

“Or, become our friends.” Lacey’s tone softened.

“Lord Volner, we are not interested in your title and territory, at least not now.”

“What we, the Workers’ Party, want is not to destroy everything, but to build a fairer, stronger, and completely new Letania.”

He leaned back in his chair and calmly extended an olive branch.

"That's a problem regarding your daughter."

“If it’s a problem, it can be solved.”

"We can help you completely erase all traces of Miss Viviana in Letania and fabricate a clean background for her."

“We could even send someone to Kazimir to secretly bring her back to Vaser territory, or send her to a safer place.”

“Here, she can live openly and honestly, receive the best education, and have everything a normal girl should have.”

"No one will know her past, and she will be protected by all of us as an honorary citizen of the Vase territory."

These words pierced through the gloom in Werner's heart.

Protect?

How can Viviana live a normal life?

This was the ending he had always dreamed of, yet dared not hope for.

He had thought that Viviana's identity would be a curse for her entire life, but he never expected that it could be resolved so easily by Lacey.

His defenses were completely shattered at that moment.

"What...what do you want?"

Walner's voice trembled; he knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

“I need an ally,” Lacey said frankly.

“A voice in the Electors’ Council that stands with the Workers’ Party.”

"A channel to convey our goodwill to other undecided centrists."

He held up his fingers and began to list his prices one by one.

"First, I need your vote in the future parliament."

"Whether it's about institutional reform or... electing a new emperor."

"Secondly, I need to open the market in Shitong territory and allow goods from Waser territory to enter without hindrance."

"At the same time, allow the Workers' Party to establish labor rights representative offices in your territory to protect workers' basic rights."

"Of course, this can also stimulate your territory's economy, making it a win-win situation."

"Third, I need you to use your connections and good reputation among the old nobility to pass on some things for us... things that we are not comfortable saying directly."

"You need to be a bridge between us and the old world."

The conditions are clear and explicit, and all revolve around political and economic interests.

Werner was completely stunned.

He imagined Lacey would be like a greedy, hungry wolf, devouring him whole, leaving not even bones behind.

But to his surprise, the other party handed him a cooperation agreement, inviting him to hunt bigger prey together.

He suddenly realized how ridiculous and shallow his previous understanding of those madmen and butchers in Lacey was.

The young man before me possesses political wisdom and skill far beyond his years.

He knew how to use fear, and even more so, how to bestow hope. He didn't drive his enemies to the brink, but rather skillfully transformed them into allies and threats into bargaining chips.

This is a true tyrant!

An existence that sees further and has a broader vision than the Twin Queens, or even the Witch King of yesteryear!

Werner was going through an internal struggle.

On one side lies the family's legacy and the identity of the old aristocracy; on the other side is the daughter's bright future and the powerful and new imperial blueprint that Lacey depicts.

He realized that this was not just a choice to protect himself and his daughter, but a gamble on the future of the entire Hochberg family.

To rebel against Lacey is to be an enemy of the rising new era, and the only outcome is death.

While obeying Lacey meant betraying one's own class, it allowed one to board the ark of a new era and secure a place for the family in the coming turbulent times.

He yearned for freedom, but as the leader of his family, he bore a heavy responsibility.

Perhaps true freedom is not about escaping reality in pastoral poetry, but about making the bravest choice after recognizing reality.

"Your Excellency Lacey..."

Werner took a deep breath. He knew he had no way out and didn't want to retreat any further.

He raised his head.

“I need some time to think about it… no.”

He interrupted himself and gave a wry smile.