The Third Republic of Ferndingen, the capital of Ferndingen, the presidential palace.

The climate and temperature of the Third Republic of Fern, south of Ankenrein and north of the Alonte Empire, are somewhere in between, and it is not like Aronte who has begun to recover early, nor is it still in the shadow of winter, as Ankenrein is. The city seems to be half-awake, in a hazy haze, waiting for the arrival of spring.

Acting President of the Republic, President of the Conservative Party, Aziva Rand, stood in an activity room on the east side of the second floor of the Presidential Palace, looking at a running steam engine in front of him, the long cigar in his hand shaking slightly. And his grandson, Daniel Rand, general manager of RAND Dynamics, stood beside him, holding a folder in his hand, equally silent. The gazes of the two men converged and focused from different positions, on a delicate and complex machine.

It was an export from Elena, a small steam engine of the Chaoyang type. The machine, which Daniel Rand had brought over from Anken Reyne's Surging Power Company at a high price, was delivered to Verndingen as quickly as possible. Here, it will be subjected to the most rigorous tests and experiments to demonstrate Elena's technical prowess and competitive threat.

The steam engine was running, and the high-speed rotating shaft made a rhythmic thud as the vent valve opened and closed frequently and regularly. More than a dozen engineers from RAND Machinery Power gathered around the machine, recording, analyzing, and discussing. Because the experiment was conducted at the presidential palace, they were not very loud. However, from his serious expression, you can see how much pressure this machine has put on them.

"It looks ...... It's ......", perhaps after observing it for a while, Aziva opened his mouth to comment, a little hesitant, "It's ...... Exquisite. ”

"Yes, grandpa, it's exquisite", Daniel frowned, he knew that his RAND Corporation was not the most powerful steam power company in the world, but he never thought that the most stressful competitor he faced was not Slote Power Equipment Company in the Neglo Republic, not his domestic competitor Qianma Power Company, not the Dragonspine Steam Power Company of the Alonte Empire, but a small base of a small serf. That uneducated slave and a bunch of uneducated turtles, plus a couple of college students with half a bottle of water, and a Richardson whose name he had heard, could make such an amazing thing.

"Although I don't know much about it, I think this little machine puts a lot of pressure on you...... The Hongqi car was sold for a sky-high price of 650,000 rams. It is said that many people who have seen, ridden, and used that car are looking for a way to buy a second one. Our Rand Medal, although the market response is very good, but it is not so popular, right? ”

"Hmm."

Daniel nodded and glanced at the information in his hand, "The mass-to-power ratio of this equipment is far beyond our understanding, and the water efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio are also greatly exceeded. It has not yet begun to be disassembled, but from the basic power data, it can beat all the steam engines of the same mass and volume in the world. Or, in other words, as far as I know, there is no one else in the world who can make a small steam engine look like this, except Elena. ”

"You see, this is Elena."

Aziva sighed softly and walked around to the side of the room and sat down. Although the noise of the Chaoyang 1 is much smaller than that of ordinary steam engines, it is still a little difficult to speak when standing next to it. The old man sat down on the sofa, picked up his water pattern star tea, took a sip, and looked at his grandson, who was sitting next to him.

"Why, when you meet such an opponent, you lose your energy?"

"No, grandpa, it's just ......"

Daniel looked away, looking for the right wording, "I just didn't seem to expect that they were the ones who made this kind of thing first......"

"The world is so big, there are always things that we don't know, don't understand, and can't predict. Gastens ' forbidden spells, Elena's steam engine, it's all this kind of thing. Just because we can't stop them doesn't mean we can't do anything about them. The RAND Corporation has come through so many years, and it was not all smooth sailing at the beginning, we have encountered setbacks and enemies, and we have almost collapsed many times, but we have come over after all. Now I am the president of this country, you are the manager of the largest steam power company in this country, and we have in our hands resources and power that the vast majority of people cannot imagine. If there are such conditions, but you can't even raise the fighting spirit, then don't say that you are the child of our Rand family! ”

"Grandpa."

Daniel nodded, as if he had some spirits, "On the good side, the production of things like Elena is not enough, they only provide a limited amount of equipment for the surging power now, although they have signed a Moon treaty with us, it should not affect our market in the short term." We still have some time to research and imitate this kind of equipment. Moreover, they only export such small steam engines, medium and large ones, they do not export. This is our main source of profits, so on the whole, although the impact of this equipment on our market needs to be paid attention to, the impact is limited. ”

"Really?"

Aziva Rand asked softly, not knowing whether he was talking to himself or asking questions. Daniel hesitated for a moment and continued.

"Grandpa, I know that if you can make this kind of small steam equipment enterprise, you will definitely be able to make more excellent medium and large steam power equipment. However, after all, they are forces that take the communist road, and they are very wary of us, and it is estimated that large and medium-sized equipment will not be exported. With this, we have time to fight back. ”

"Truth, indeed this truth", Aziva Rand turned his head sideways, looking out the window at the garden. "I have decided to recruit the rebels of the Union of Trade Unions near Evaderen and allow the establishment of trade unions in the factories, but the establishment of national trade unions, the establishment of communist political parties, and the dissemination of communist books. In addition to this, I intend to advocate for better treatment of workers, increased workers' leave and social security, and higher welfare levels for workers. ”

"Grandpa?!"

Hearing this answer, Daniel's tone was marked with obvious surprise, "Don't you hate communism the most?" Before, because of the forbidden spell of Gastens, you had opened up to the remnants of communism, or the rebels wouldn't have had a chance to farm in Revaderen. Why, do you think that such compromises and concessions are not enough? ”

Aziva didn't answer his grandson's question directly, he put down the cup of water streak star tea, walked to the map by the wall, looked at Anken Rein on the map, and said softly for a long time.

"Are you concerned about Anken Rein's fugitive trouble? Because of Elena's communist system and the theory of the equality of serfs, Anken Rein's serfs fled to Elena like crazy, forcing His Majesty Paul Gibson to use military force, but was pressed back by Elena's mysterious weapon. A bullet, just a bullet that came out of nowhere and with what, made all of Paul Gibson's back hands hold in his pocket. Now, Anken Rein is discussing a bill to improve the status of serfs, and there are even radicals calling for the abolition of serfdom and the direct adoption of the capitalist system. Elena didn't need a single shot, and forced Ankenrein to the brink of self-reform, do you think, I attach too much importance to Elena? ”

“……”

Daniel was silent, spending most of his time with the company and not paying much attention to the international political situation. Now listening to his grandfather, he realizes that Elena has such a huge influence.

"However, if the restrictions on communism are really relaxed, will the communist forces in China ...... again?"

Daniel wanted to speak and stopped, he was also there when the trade union party was calling for wind and rain in Verdingen, and at that time the workers in the factory seemed to feel that they had a backbone, and they were not obedient, and they also knew that there was trouble, so it was not troublesome. As a capitalist, he didn't want to go back to that kind of time.

"An enemy that can be controlled is better than an enemy that cannot be controlled."

Aziva apparently had a clear idea, "Elena with Gastens is no longer able to be eliminated by force, and no one will support one regime in waging war against another that may have an archmage." Therefore, in order to adapt and accept the era of Elena's existence, we must reduce the points where we can be attacked. The remnants of the Labour Union rebels are a destabilizing factor, and once they get in touch with Elena, we will be very passive. Rather than allowing them to engage in underground politics outside of their control, the workers' forces in the country should all be brought to the table and operate in places where we can see, as the trade unions before them. In this way, we can also be prepared. ”

"I see, grandpa."

"I'm telling you this, don't be annoyed, although the RAND Corporation is important, my position is even more important. I am 73 years old, and it is not easy for me to sit in the position of acting president all the time, and sooner or later I will be elected. You are my grandson, the finest child of our Rand family. I hope you can participate in the election. ”

Daniel, who was still a little relaxed, was immediately stunned when he heard his grandfather's words. He thought for a few seconds, then stood up and saluted.

"Grandpa, I see."

"In addition, I have begun to arrange for the reconvening of the original staff of the Scepter Mage's Tower, especially the researchers. We need an answer as to whether or not that Gastens can unleash magic, and how exactly he does it. You just know about it, don't spread it around. ”

"I know, Grandpa."

"In addition, the recruitment of the rebels of the Union of Workers and Workers is the most crucial step for us to change our policy towards communism, and if we can recruit An, we will be able to have the strongest political capital. I wanted you to go, but your mother disagreed, saying it was too dangerous. This matter, I tell you now, whether you want to go or not, you decide for yourself. ”

To recruit the remnants of the Union of Workers and Workers? Go to a place where you can be killed at any moment? Myself?

"I'll go!"

Daniel didn't hesitate for too long, if he had a career, his background and family background were close to perfect, but most of them were foreign things given by others. As a good and self-respecting man, he also needs a merit himself to prove himself.

"I'll go, grandpa, you arrange it, I will definitely complete the task!"

————————————————

Fern Third Republic, east from Lin.

Cassie Lonergan sat on a flat stone at the entrance of a cave, a cigarette in his hand, in a daze. In front of him, three gray rabbits were strung together and thrown to the ground. The grey rabbits were still alive, their short limbs occasionally struggling, throwing small holes in the ground.

It's been more than two months since Elena returned, and his worst fears haven't happened, his team is still there, and even better off than when he left. The warriors gradually became familiar with the rules of the jungle, were able to find enough food to satisfy their stomachs, and the military pressure from the outside world became less, and the team had a lot more room to move. His two comrades, Yarrow Lynch and Tara and Hansen, did not seem to be at odds with each other, and the excitement of seeing him was not fake.

"We thought you were dead on the road."

"The tombstones have been carved for you, and you have come back, isn't it a waste?"

Recalling the first words of the two meeting, Cassie Lonergan was a little helpless, these two people for some reason, after being in the forest for a long time, their personalities have become a little strange.

"Cassie", in the distance, Yarrow Lynch walked over, followed by a middle-aged man in gray. Cassie Lonergan knew that man, it was the underground party member in charge of communicating with the outside world, Twep Lindy.

"What's wrong, what's going on out there?"

Got up, shook hands with Yarrow Lynch, hugged Twerp Lindy, and the three sat down again beside the bunny bunny.

"Yes, Chairman Lonergan", Twerp Lindy is part of the underground party that the trade union party is building and one of the main internal and external liaisons. Before Cassie Lonergan left for Elena, his team had placed a number of spies around the Mountains, but they were not systematic. After returning from Elena, Cassie Lonergan paid more attention to intelligence work, and gradually established this underground organization to maintain contact with the outside world and better determine the direction of the team.

"Recently there have been a number of people from Verdingen, who have been to Evadelen and who have also been in the vicinity. Their leader is Daniel Rand, and the RAND Machinery Company—"

"The general manager of the Rand Machinery Company, the favorite grandson of Aziva Rand, is known as the best person of the younger generation of the Rand family, I know this man, he used to be the boss of my boss."

Cassie Lonergan said this with a smile on her face. Standing at the present point in time and recalling the beginning, he himself could not imagine how he would have lived numbly in that noisy, hot and dangerous factory in a dark situation in the future.

"Yes, he spread the word everywhere that he wanted to find us, that he wanted to find you, that he wanted to interview you. But what the interview, he didn't say. ”

"Meet me?"

Cassie Lonergan was a little surprised, what did he, an elite of society, a capitalist, and a representative of inherent strength, have to talk about with himself as a rebel?

"Yes, and he didn't bring too many people, only a dozen soldiers with him, and it didn't look like a trap. Moreover, according to the news from Ferndingen, Aziva seems to be interested in reinstating the unions in the various factories, but the time has not yet been determined. ”

Hearing this, Cassie Lonergan suddenly remembered Gastens' analysis of his base. The man closest to the Grand Magister told him that because of Elena, Ferndingen's attitude towards communism would be loosened and eased, and his base would be given some time to recuperate. As for how long this time will take, it depends on when those people recognize the fact that Gastens is indeed unable to release magic.

Thinking of this, Cassie Lonergan no longer hesitated about the traction consequences of things. He stood up, clapped his hands, glanced at the gray rabbit on the ground, who was no longer struggling, and gave his own answer.

"Reach out to them, don't they want to talk, then talk."