18th of November, Space Era Year 105.
The decree of Capitalism Annihilation, issued only the day before by Lord Aelyzabeth Thors, sent violent shockwaves through the entire nation—through the government, through the economic sphere, and through the hundreds of millions of Centorian citizens whose livelihoods trembled beneath its weight.
Many factions agreed on one point:her edict had struck the economy like a meteor.Only the Special Economic Star Tiraxinosys remained stable, untouched by the tariff upheaval that devastated all others.
The purge of over ninety financial clans and corporate powers, though it crushed a conspiracy to overthrow the state, brought chaos to the trade routes along every border.The sudden reversion to a gold-backed currency, though welcomed by the people as "stability," could not dismantle the interstellar fiat system on which the galaxy still depended.In truth, it was nothing more than a return to the world before the Nixon Shock of 1971.
The Parliament Confrontation.
On the following day, inside the Parliament of Centory,Walter von Yigzorch—Supreme Minister and Director of the Office of Imperial Propaganda—spoke boldly before the Lord herself.
"My Lord, you have been wise all your life.But you cannot shatter the nation's economy with a single decree."
A hush swallowed the chamber.
Lord Aelyzabeth Thors sat in silence for a long moment.Then, in a rare retreat, she relented.
She announced the reduction of import tariffs from 50% to 35%,while maintaining full state control over markets and price regulation.
The government then openly admitted:
"We are not as skilled in economics as the Five Guilds."
Thus, the Five Guilds were summoned to take direct command of the national economic system,while the government reserved absolute authority over the minimum wage, social welfare, and all matters of public livelihood—regardless of whether the Guilds or the private sector approved.
The Economic Profile of Centory.
GDP : 96 billion Centory PoundsEquivalent to 480 billion Earth Dollars
Over 90% of GDP derived from internal production and domestic consumption.
The law forbade all outbound capital movement.
The government could not "print additional money,"for the currency was bound to gold.
Household debt stood at 40% of GDP—lower than many nations, whose debts reached 60–200%,yet to Lord Aelyzabeth Thors, even 40% was unacceptable.
Despite foreign nations praising Centory's financial discipline,the high-ranking officials knew the truth:
They were not skilled because they wished to be.They were skilled because a single mistake could annihilate the nation.
20th of November : The Unsettling Change.
On the 20th of November,Lord Aelyzabeth Thors issued an order to elevate the quality of healthcare throughout the nation—without a single explanation.
Her emotional shifts in those days unnerved many.
At times she sat motionless,silent and empty,as though her spirit had been drained from her body.
Yet moments later,she would erupt in sudden fury without warning or restraint.
The psychological instability of the supreme ruler quickly became a matter of grave concern among officials,and soon the entire society whispered of it.Though Centory was an authoritarian state,Aelyzabeth allowed her people to speak freely.
She had once declared:
"I am tired of silencing the people.They will criticize me no matter what.Let them speak as they wish."
Thus arose the great question:
If Lord Aelyzabeth Thors were to relinquish power—
who would lead Centory?
Would it be Sir Aerys Vilozyver, thirteen years of age,who once served as the acting Lord during his mother's blindness?
Would it be President Rudolf von Escheinsen,the second-most powerful figure in the realm?
Or would the nation transform into a democracy—and if so, what form?
A monarchy under which Dynasty?Thors? Vilozyver? Escheinsen?
Or a republic?Under the right-wing Lord Aelyzabeth Thors's National Party,the centrist Liberal Party of Centory,or the left-wing National Socialist Party?
The public debate grew fierce—a wildfire consuming every forum and assembly.
30th of November: The Historic Proclamation.
On the final day of November,Prime Minister Walter von Yigzorch appeared before the Parliament,bearing a proclamation from Lord Aelyzabeth Thors,who lay bedridden with severe illness.
At his first words,the entire chamber fell silent.
He read aloud:
**"I, Aelyzabeth von Thors,twenty-seven years upon this earth,born not into wealth,afflicted with weakness of the lungs since birth,and never once begging others for my survival—desire only to see the nation I lovestand tall once moreand never again be humiliatedby the disgraceful Treaty of Paris.
I built my power for fifteen years,since the age of twelve,not to surrender it to anyone.
No matter how many timesthey attempt to assassinate me,I shall not relinquish the authorityearned through hardship.
I shall hold ituntil I pass it on to Aerys, my son,when he reaches the age of sixteenthree years hence."**
The declaration was brutal in its honesty,yet even her critics bowed to its stark truth.
When Walter finished reading,he raised his hand and thundered:
"Long live Lord Aelyzabeth Thors!Heil Aelyzabeth Thors!"
At that moment,over five hundred million citizens across the nationechoed the cry like a storm tearing through the heavens.
Then Walter proclaimed:
"Long live Sir Aerys Vilozyver!Gloria Sir Aerys Vilozyver!"
Another roar shook the capital.
And finally—
"Long live our nation of Centory!Gloria Centory!"
The three invocations thundered across the realm,reverberating through the steel towers of the imperial capitallike waves crashing endlessly upon the shore.
Amidst the deafening cries,Aerys Vilozyver merely stood and clapped softly.He spoke no words.
For he alone understood a truthknown to none of the other wielders of power:
Among all who stood beside his mother,none were as loyal to Lord Aelyzabeth Thorsas Walter von Yigzorch.
Thus ends Chapter C-XXVIII.