"Falling Star Shousuke, I have come to inform you this time that Her Royal Highness will summon you in the evening to discuss matters related to the throne......" Agatha regrouped and walked out of the office, and said with appreciation as she passed by Xuelai and Pisco, "You guys have fought very well in the north. Especially Xuelai, it seems that you are really not suitable for the work of the secret intelligence bureau, but fortunately, Shousuke has discovered your talents. ”

Xue Lai still had some eyesight than Pisco, she stepped back and saluted, "Thank you, Your Highness the Eldest Princess, for saving me from prison, and thank you, Governor...... Thank you, Lord Shousuke, for trusting me and putting the Angry Waves Armored Assault Division under my command. ”

"Shousuke has transferred you back from the North because he has another important task entrusted to you. Good job...... The Empire will not fail anyone who contributes to the Empire. You talk, I'm leaving......"

Agatha leaves, and Xuelai immediately takes out the papers she has with her and reports to Luke.

The Angry Waves Panzer Division, stationed at Songta Harbor, played a crucial role in ending the Empire's winter offensive in a timely manner. Especially in the later stage of the offensive, the armored assault division of Angry Waves City, under the leadership of Xue Lai, decisively broke through inland, and it was really invincible all the way. In the face of the defense line laid by Artshire United against Songta Port, they played an average of more than 30 kilometers a day, and had the momentum to cut off the back road of Artshire United in one fell swoop.

Eventually, the Artshire Union was forced to retreat from the northern borders of the empire, leaving countless supplies behind.

The northern borders of the empire were regained, and Empress Christina's prestige reached new heights.

Now the Snow Regiment is rebuilding the border defenses, and some of the most decorated units will be transferred back to the city of St. Lun to prepare for the coronation parade of the new emperor.

The Angry Waves Armoured Assault Division has handed over the defense of Songta Harbor to the Snow Legion, and one group will return to Angry Waves by sea and one by land, waiting for a new reorganization.

Luke looked at the war records and attrition results reports that Xue Lai had handed in, and asked questions about the war.

Xue came to answer them one by one in detail.

The Winter War in the north perfectly brought into play Xuelai's bias in war command. She was born for the battlefield and has a very sensitive sense of smell for fighters. Once she seizes the opportunity, the action is as decisive as her shooting, as swift and deadly as a poisonous snake.

After the debriefing, Luke said to Snow: "After returning to the Angry Waves City garrison, the Armored Assault Division of Angry Waves will be reorganized by magic and reorganized into a mobile fortress with automatic production and automatic replenishment capabilities, accumulating technology and strategy and tactics for more advanced wars in the future.

As the commander of this army, you'll need to strengthen your strength to deal with high-power battles. ”

Hearing the war, Xue Lai asked excitedly, "Lord Shousuke, are we going to go to war with the Shuojin people?" ”

"As a soldier, just obey orders, don't ask what you don't need to know," Luke said. You take a break and report to Miss ClearSky's museum, and Miss Sunny Sky will develop a body modification and enhancement plan based on your physical condition.

Pisco, you go find sandpaper! ”

Pisco has an instinctive fear of sandpaper as a mechanical remodeler, and when he heard Shousuke let him go to find sandpaper, Pisco couldn't help but shudder: "My lord, what are you asking me to find sandpaper for?" ”

Seeing Pisco's appearance, Luke couldn't help but smile and said, "The Alchemist Association of Raging Waves City and the Magic Wizard Laboratory have jointly developed a magician-driven exoskeleton for the training of Magician Titan drivers. I asked the engineer to make one for you as a reward for your performance in the war in the North, and the exoskeleton is in the sandpaper for her to install for you. ”

"Okay, okay!"

"There's nothing else to do, you go out and do your thing."

"Yes, Shousuke-sama."

Snowfall and Pisco leave, and Luke returns to work that seems to never finish.

At this time, in the manor of the second prince Alec, Alec was playing with the musket that had just been sent from the Imperial Gun Research Institute.

An attendant unleashes a gray rabbit from a position of 200 meters, and Alec aims his gun at the rabbit who does not know what is going to happen. The freed rabbit jumped two steps and was attracted by the nearby vanilla and began to nibble quickly.

A gunshot rang out, and a cloud of dirt splashed near the rabbit.

The frightened rabbit ran away, and the three jumped into a bush, and the attendant immediately ran to find the rabbit.

Alec didn't show any emotion because of the miss, but double-checked the gun's sights.

At this time, the guards ran over: "Your Highness, the former Prime Minister Lord Gabril has come to visit, and he is accompanied by more than a dozen retired officials and well-known businessmen. ”

Alec adjusted the ruler and pulled the bolt to press a new bullet into the chamber.

The attendant caught the rabbit and threw it into the open field.

The rabbit that landed on the ground ran like a puff of gray smoke that flew close to the ground.

Another gunshot rang out, and the running rabbit flipped a few times on the ground, and then died of twitching limbs.

Alec was very satisfied with his marksmanship, and asked his cronies, "I wonder if this thing can penetrate the golden armor of the shimmering golden people?" ”

The guard replied, "Guns are still effective against defenseless lightly armored units from a long distance, but they are not ideal in the face of magic protection and heavy armor. Hand-to-hand combat is not as good as a sharp knife; Ranged inferior to Enchanted Arrows, Magic Projectiles, and Cannons.

I heard from a friend who works at the Firearms Research Institute that the Wizard Lab in Raging Waves is using microwithering technology to burn a magic circle inside a bullet. If successful, the gun that fires magic bullets can be given to the mage, which can increase the mage's combat skills. ”

Alec threw the musket to the guards and said with emotion, "I don't know if I will be able to get one of these guns when I leave the Empire." ”

The faithful guard said sadly, "Your Highness, do you really want to leave?" ”

Alec said stupidly, "If I don't leave, I won't get peace for a moment." Those people always want to push me to the front and fight for their own interests. But can the current situation of the empire be changed by me and their forces?

If I could win, I wouldn't have come back from the Crescent Oasis.

By the way, who did you just say is coming to visit? ”

The guard repeated, "It's Lord Gabriel, the former chief assistant, and some retired officials and well-known businessmen. ”

"Gabriel!" When Alec heard the name, he became interested: "Can't even this old fox sit still?" Since Lord Gabriel is visiting, why don't you meet him and hear what he wants to do?

Take them to the council chamber. ”

"Yes, Your Highness."

In the council chamber, Gabriel and those who had come with him sat in the seats on either side. The fire in the fireplace burned very brightly, dispelling the chill that was still left in the early spring.

The second prince Alec had not yet arrived, and there was silence in the council hall, and everyone looked at the former head of Gabriel, who was close to the main throne from time to time.

Resentment and worry made the atmosphere in the council hall very gloomy.

After a while, Alec, who had changed his clothes, walked in.

Gabriel led everyone to stand up and salute Alec: "Good day, Your Highness Alec! ”

"Sit down! Don't be too restrained, all I have left now is the name of the prince. ”

Everyone is seated.

Gabler said to Alec, "Your Highness, have you heard such a rumor these days: 'The great emperor, our esteemed Augustine the Great, has died in the coup d'état launched by Phania a year ago? ’”

Alec pretended to be a lake and said, "I heard this rumor very early on. I remember when I was still in the Crescent Oasis, telling me that my father was no longer there...... It looks like you sent it, my lord. ”

"Ahem...... Ahem" Alec's merciless revelation made Gabril cough twice to hide his embarrassment: "The people who came here today are all trustworthy people, so I won't make up stories." Your Highness Alec, such rumors could not have spread in the city of St. Lun before, but now even the lowest citizens are talking about it.

The rumors spread with the tacit approval of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Intelligence Bureau. ”

Alec knew that he was advisoring, "Lord Gabriel, what do you mean?" ”

Gabliel looked at the people who had come with him, and then said to Alec, "During the Meteorite's visit to the Golden Valley, there were many rumors about the Queen's lineage and the succession to the throne in the city of St. Lun.

Now there is news of His Majesty's death......

I think it will soon be time for the Empress to rebel and usurp power, taking away the throne that belonged to the House of Augustine. ”

Alec laughed and said, "So what? Do you still think I can stop it? Look at you, you were all important ministers of the empire a year ago, and now you are not all like me, and you were easily twisted by the falling star.

What do you want to do, don't pull me, I know I'm no match for Meteorite, and I want to live a few more years. ”

Gablel said, "Your Highness, it's not the same as before. Meteorite was arrogant, and he dared to openly oppose the Glittering Gold Man. Now the World Bank is withdrawing from the empire on a large scale, and leading the whole world to sanction and block the empire, and the empire has not yet found a significant ally.

According to the latest information we have received, many big businessmen in the Innovation Society have been on the World Bank's sanctions list, and some people's accounts have been frozen directly, and the loss of wealth is unimaginable.

The Glitter and the World Bank are simply not something that the empire can contend with. Now that the Innovation Society is already very unstable, some officials from the Raging Waves system have also questioned the decision of the Meteorite. ”

Alec said in a surging voice, "You came to me to make me stand up against the meteorite?" ”

A big businessman stood up impatiently and said, "Your Highness, the arrogant meteorite is completely insane, and he is leading the empire to a path of destruction. It won't be long before the empire's economic system collapses in the blockade of the World Bank, bankrupts rush into the streets and loot, armies rebel, and empires plunge into total chaos.

And Artecounty Union is receiving full funding from the World Bank.

The victory in the North is only temporary, and we will be powerless to stop it when the Atlantshire invade again.

Your Highness, only you can save the Empire. ”

Alec glanced at the merchant who was speaking excitedly, and then asked Gabriel, "What do you think I should do?" ”

Gablel said meaningfully, "Your Highness, this may be your last chance to save the Empire. As the World Bank's sanctions intensify, more and more people with severely damaged interests will oppose the Meteorite, including the Reformers, the Crossers, and the old aristocracy.

If you are willing to lead us, we can organize a large rally and procession in the city of Saint-Lun. People throughout the Empire who are dissatisfied with the Falling Star will come to our aid, and more and more people will realize that the Falling Star is destroying the Empire.

When the entire empire is against the falling star, he can only resign and step down! ”

Alec asked, "Will there be so many people supporting us?" ”

Gabriel replied categorically: "Yes!" ”

"Why are you so sure?"

Gabriel hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Your Highness, our coming together this time means that we are ready, just waiting for your decision!" ”

Alec looked at the people who had come with Gabriel, and after thinking for a long time, said, "What you told me was too sudden and too important for me to give you an answer right now.

Let me think about it, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. ”

Gabriel knew that the shadow in Alec's mind was too big, and he couldn't make a decision against the meteorite right now.

"Okay, we'll wait for your reply, Your Highness. Please don't think too long, we must stop the queen from usurping the throne first. ”

"I know, you guys should go back first."

Gabliel led the men away, leaving only Alec and his close guards in the great chamber.

Seeing Alec sitting there for a long time, the guard whispered, "Your Highness...... I, I think...... This is an opportunity. ”

"Yes, it's an opportunity. Gabriel: They came to me confidently, and they must have the support of the World Bank behind them. If I promise them, I will have a chance to become Emperor. But...... If my father were in my situation, what would he do? ”

The guard replied, "Your Highness, I dare not speculate on Your Majesty's far-sighted wisdom. ”

"Yes, my father is wiser than me, and he sees farther than me." Alec said to himself, "He has long seen that neither Fania nor I are qualified monarchs, and the facts have proved that he sees us very accurately. If my father were in my current situation, he would definitely do better than me, but no matter how he fights, he will never betray the interests of the empire.

Gabreil told me that he was behind the World Bank, and it must have been because he had promised the Glitter a lot of conditions. I know that these new nobles are far inferior to the old nobles, and they can sell anything as long as the interests are sufficient. ”

The guard said with a sense of enlightenment: "It turns out that this is the reason why you didn't agree to them, Your Highness, you are so smart." ”

Alec couldn't help laughing at himself: "Since those people who are attached to me have left, the house has become a lot quieter, and I am willing to use my own brain."

Gabriel's side is dragging like this, even without me, they will still complete the task given to them by the World Bank, and I want to see how the meteorite will respond. ”

"I know how to do it. I'll stop you for future visitors. ”

"Hmmm! Any news on the Nightingale? ”

"Yes, Miss Nightingale is ...... right now"