South suburbs of Trullinczentyr, Imperial First Heavy Equipment Manufacturing Plant.
Deafening roars filled the entire workshop. A massive gantry crane moved slowly through the air, hoisting a freshly welded "Tiger II" tank turret and lowering it onto the chassis below.
Thousands of workers, dressed in uniform overalls, busied themselves at their respective stations. Although their faces showed fatigue, their eyes were incredibly focused.
Lacey walked along the factory's inspection gangway in a simple uniform, with Meklen and Leinia following at his side.
The Minister of Industry and the factory's directors trailed behind Lacey, their expressions serious, ready to answer any of his questions at a moment's notice.
But Lacey did not ask about production capacity or data.
Lacey stepped down from the gangway and approached an old technician who was installing sighting equipment on a tank turret.
His hands were covered in grease, and his expression was so focused that he didn't even notice Lacey's arrival.
"Master Franz, thank you for your hard work," Lacey began with a smile. "Your craftsmanship is as steady as ever."
The old technician, Franz, shook all over. He jerked his head up, and seeing it was Lacey, he was immediately flustered. He wanted to salute but didn't know where to put the wrench in his hand.
"Your... Your Majesty!"
"I'm not... it's not hard work!"
"It is my honor to build tanks for you, for the Empire!"
"My son is in the 1st Armored Division; he drives the very tanks we build! He says that sitting inside one makes him feel safe!"
Lacey nodded, then patted him on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous. I just came to take a look."
Lacey picked up a clean rag from nearby and naturally helped him wipe the grease from his hands.
"I remember five years ago, when I first came here, you were still worrying about the transmission problems of the 'Tiger I' tank. Now, you are the soul of the entire final assembly line."
Franz's eyes instantly turned red.
He had not expected that the Emperor, who attended to a myriad of state affairs every day, would remember the name of an ordinary mechanic from five years ago and the technical difficulties encountered back then.
"Thanks to your blessing, Your Majesty!" His voice cracked with emotion.
"Our 'Tiger II' is now the best tank in the world!"
"Driving it, our lads won't have to fear those foreigners ever again!"
"Tell your son to train hard," Lacey smiled. His gaze then moved past Franz to look at several young tankers who were performing final debugging nearby.
Seeing Lacey, they immediately straightened their backs, their faces unable to conceal their adoration and excitement.
Lacey walked over to them.
"How does it feel, lads?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty! It feels fantastic!"
The young man in the lead, who still had a few freckles on his face, answered loudly, his cheeks flushed red with excitement.
"This thing is a steel beast! Sitting inside, I feel like I could poke a hole in the sky!"
His companions behind him let out a burst of good-natured laughter.
Lacey looked at this young soldier. His eyes were burning, filled with a desire for victory and a longing for the future.
"What is your name?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty! Private, Marco!"
"Marco." Lacey nodded.
"Remember, the power of this beast you command is meant to guard the land beneath our feet, to guard family members like Master Franz in the factory, and to guard every compatriot in Trullinczentyr who loves music and life."
Lacey reached out and patted heavily on his breastplate.
"I am placing the glory of Leithanien into your hands."
Marco's breath hitched. Looking into Lacey's eyes, he felt a warm current surge from his chest throughout his entire body. He roared with all his might:
"For His Imperial Majesty! For Leithanien!"
"For Leithanien!"
The surrounding soldiers and workers spontaneously gathered around, raising their arms and shouting high.
At this moment, Lacey closed his eyes, feeling the power brought by [United We Stand].
...
On the way leaving the factory, Leinia finally found an opportunity to speak.
She handed over a document, her brows furrowed tightly. "Your Majesty, this is the financial report for this quarter."
"Expenditures on military production have already taken up sixty percent of the total budget. To maintain the Five-Year Plan, we have nearly drained every gold coin from the national treasury."
"Moreover, the three-shift system in the factories places a huge burden on the workers' bodies. In the long run, I am worried..."
"Minister Leinia, you need to take a longer view," Meklen, standing to the side, immediately retorted.
"This is our investment in the future. When the war is over, these inputs will be recouped a hundred, a thousand times over.
"As for the workers' issues, haven't we already tripled their salaries and benefits? Look at them, they are full of drive!"
"And there is even less need to worry about fiscal expenditures. Don't we still have Siracusa and Kazimierz? Just let them suffer a bit, and it will be fine," Meklen said as if it were a matter of course.
Leinia did not refute his last point but insisted: "We overthrew the old system to let the people live better lives, not to make them jump from the frying pan into the fire."
Having once been a noble, her way of thinking had long since transformed.
Watching his two trusted ministers argue, Lacey stated his position: "After this war ends, all of the Empire's resources will be used to improve people's livelihood."
"I will ensure that everyone who has shed sweat for the Empire enjoys the fruits of victory."
"But before that, we must endure."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Leinia.
"Peace is not taken for granted; it must be defended with force."
"Every tank we produce today is made so that the future Leithanien will no longer need to produce tanks."
With that, Lacey said no more and strode away.
Meklen and Leinia followed behind, arguing no further.
...
...
Twin Towers, Strategic Command Room.
Gertrude stood before the sand table. Displayed on the sand table was the entire territory of Victoria, precise down to every city, every river, and every military fortress.
"Your Majesty, this is the result of our work over the past five years."
She pointed to the sand table, where dozens of chess pieces were placed, scattered throughout Victoria's heartland.
"We have successfully turned the Duke of Normandy's chief financial advisor. He has provided us with the locations of all the Duke of Normandy's secret vaults and the flow of his funds."
"We bought off the lover of a corps commander under the Wellington Duke. She stole the most detailed troop deployment maps of the Wellington defense zone for us."
"The Duke of Gododdin's most trusted messenger is now our man. We read every secret letter he delivers before it reaches its destination."
"And the Kaest Duke's Grey Top Hat—they think they are secretive, but we have already planted three nails within their ranks."
Gertrude's tone was flat, but the content was enough to make the leader of any nation shudder.
"The inside of Victoria has been hollowed out."
"Those Dukes are still crushing each other for a scrap of power. They even spend heavy sums hiring our people to investigate each other's dirt," she said, the corner of her mouth curling into a mocking sneer.
"Their greatest enemy has never been us, but themselves."
"Their internal friction is even more serious than we anticipated." Lacey looked at the sand table and nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"They are like a pack of mad dogs locked in a cage. They will never notice the hunter outside the cage until they are done tearing at each other."
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