Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

"These lyrics are so realistic! I love them!"

He was singing enthusiastically when an intelligence officer hurried in and handed him a document.

When Mecklen opened it, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

"Are there a few reckless brats in the Golden Law Guard plotting a rebellion?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Trying to assassinate Taylor?"

"Ha, these kids, haven't they ever been beaten down by society?"

He casually tossed the documents onto the table and put on his shrewd businessman's face again.

"Go, prepare a car for me. I'm going to see our King Lacey."

He straightened his mismatched uniform and muttered to himself.

"It's time...to talk about postwar reconstruction contracts."

……

As dusk fell, Lacey stood alone on the top-floor balcony of the Twin Towers.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire city in a magnificent golden hue.

Serafina quietly came to his side and draped a coat over him.

"Some key facilities have been brought under control, and the reorganization of the army has been initially completed."

“Thirteen officers refused to take their oath and have been taken into custody by Taylor’s men,” she reported softly.

"Public sentiment is stable, or even... high."

"Our policies are very popular."

"The high spirits came quickly, and they went quickly too," Lacey said softly, looking down at the masses below.

“This support can only become truly solid when they genuinely feel that their lives are getting better.”

What should be done with those officers who refused to take the oath?

“Strip them of their ranks and honors, and send them to a special court.” Lacey’s answer was simple.

……

Holy Lytania Empire: Chapter 86: Surrounded by Wolves, Reactions from All Sides

As Lacey unleashed a colossal storm in Trilintelme, the aftershocks of that storm were rapidly spreading throughout the continent of Terra via telegrams and messengers.

……

Victoria, a duchy.

Inside an office adorned with a huge lion flag, a typewriter hummed rapidly.

An old duke with gray hair and sharp eyes took the still-warm telegram from the machine.

"A soldier of commoner origin, through inciting mobs and political intrigue, became the emperor of Letania..."

He placed the telegram on the table, his tone somewhat complicated.

Several nobles were also sitting in the room.

"Have the Letanians gone mad?" a young marquis scoffed.

"They actually put a commoner on the throne."

"I bet that country will fall apart due to internal strife within three months."

"We must not let our guard down." The old duke shook his head, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"This Lacey is no ordinary person."

"In a very short time, he integrated the seven Electoral Districts of Letania, took Trilintelme without bloodshed, and on his first day on the throne, he dared to dissolve the Electoral Council and reorganize the national army."

"This is not something an ordinary nouveau riche could do."

He stood up, walked to the map of Terra, and his gaze fell on the border line between Victoria and Letania.

"This flame of people's revolution is highly contagious."

“We must reinforce the dikes to prevent them from spreading onto Victoria’s land, such as… Tara.”

A general in a crisp military uniform standing nearby said, "I propose that two more corps be sent to the border immediately."

"At the same time, activate all our intelligence networks in Letania."

"Could we... fund those forces that remain loyal to the Twin Queens?" the young marquis suggested.

“Of course,” the old duke sneered.

"A good Leitania is one that is in chaos and internal strife."

"The External Relations Department was instructed to send a delegation to Triinttelmere, ostensibly to congratulate the new emperor on his ascension to the throne, but in reality to assess the stability of his rule."

"At the same time, some rumors were spread in the border regions of Letania, such as that the new emperor was preparing to purge all the old nobles and confiscate all private property."

“I don’t care if it’s true or not, I need Letania to be in chaos.”

……

……

Kazimir, the Grand Knights' Territory, headquarters of the Commercial Federation.

Unlike the Victorian aristocracy's anxieties, the directors of the Casimir Business Association gathered around the conference table, sensing the allure of money.

The president of the business federation, Charné, waved the report in his hand: "Gentlemen, this is our opportunity!"

“Mechren Neham, Elector of the Keprania region, is now the Finance Minister of Letania.”

“He is a pure businessman. We have dealt with him many times, and he understands our language.”

"That emperor's new regime desperately needed funds to implement his reforms and appease the lower classes," he continued.

"While the economic sanctions imposed by the Gemini Queens failed, they did sever Letania's ties with many of its traditional trading partners."

"We can fill this vacuum."

"You mean, we should volunteer to be his blood transfusion line?" one of the directors frowned.

“This is risky. If he loses his footing, our entire investment will be lost.”

“The higher the risk, the greater the reward!” Chanel tapped the table.

“We can provide them with low-interest loans, but on the condition that their mineral, agricultural and emerging industrial markets must be opened up.”

“We can fund their construction projects, but the projects must be contracted out to our company.”

"Will they agree?" someone asked.

“They will,” Chanel smiled.

"Because Lacey needs political achievements, he needs to let the people who support him see improvements in their lives as soon as possible."

“And we can provide him with all of this.”

"As for the cost... that's something he, as emperor, needs to consider."

"Our task is to cut off the fattest piece of meat from this feast of power."

“Tell our representatives not to be afraid to spend money. In Qazimir, there is no door that money can’t open!”

……

……

Ursus Empire, a military fortress near the border of Letania.

A Ursus general with a full beard was staring blankly at the sand table.

On the sand table, the map of Letania is marked with many small flags, representing the newly integrated forces of Letania.

"He brought the armies of nine regions together."

"And they are still expanding their military."

"The intelligence said that long lines had formed outside his recruitment station."

“The young people in their country believe they are fighting for their country.”

“An army filled with faith is far more terrifying than a bunch of mercenaries who fight for money,” his adjutant said.

"So, what does His Majesty mean?"

"Wait." The general pressed his finger heavily on the location of Vaseer territory.

"This newborn bear cub looks strong, but we don't know how long he will live."

“Inside him, there was the resentment of the old aristocracy; outside him, there was Victoria’s covetousness and Casimir’s greed.”

"We Ursus don't need to rush into action."

He looked up at the frozen wasteland outside the window.

"Keep border troops on high alert and closely monitor all developments in Letania."

“If he can survive this winter and successfully integrate the whole of Letania, then we will have to reassess our relationship with him.”

"If he falls, or if Letania descends into civil war..."

The general's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Then let the iron hooves of the empire 'help' them restore order."

……

Syracuse, Montelupe.

As the de facto ruler of Syracuse, Madame Sicily listened to her subordinates' report of the news from Letania and let out a meaningful laugh.

"An interesting kid."

"They climbed to the top without relying on family or bloodline, but by inciting people's hearts and using violence."

She said to a young man beside her, "You need to learn this; this is real 'business'."

"He turned the entire country into his family business, which is much more ambitious than those of us who are just playing around in city-states."

"Then... Madam, should we send someone to Trinity to deliver a congratulatory gift?"

“Of course I’ll go.” Madame Sicily squinted her eyes.

“Tell our people to bring the best gifts and the most humble attitude.”

“Go tell the new emperor that the wolves of Syracuse will always respect their powerful kind.”

……

Letania, Triinttelmere, Twin Towers.

Gertrude placed an intelligence briefing summarizing the reactions from various countries on Lacey's desk.

“The Victorians saw us as a plague, the Casimirs saw us as easy prey, and the Ursus people were just waiting for us to rot away,” she summarized succinctly.

Lacey quickly glanced through the documents, showing no surprise on her face.

All this was within his expectations.

"A bunch of arrogant nobles, a bunch of greedy merchants," he remarked.

"Their reaction is precisely proof of the weakness and decay of the old world."

“But they will all be a problem for us,” Gertrude cautioned.

“Especially Victoria and Ursus, they are very likely to be secretly supporting the rebellion.”

“Then let them support us.” A cold glint flashed in Lacey’s eyes.

"We can use their help to pull out all the hidden nails, one by one."

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter 87: Provisional Charter of the Third Holy Leitanian Empire

[During your first week on the throne, all of Letania was going through a painful period.]

[You named it "Purification Week," but of course, it's not the kind of purification the Purification Committee used to do.]