As Lacey's voice rang out through the broadcast, tens of thousands of citizens gathered in the square of Trullinczentyr.
"Citizens of Leithanien, my compatriots!"
His voice was transmitted clearly into everyone's ears, carrying a peculiar penetrating quality, as if resonating directly within the depths of their souls. This was not Originium Arts, but the resonance of a more primordial power.
"You may ask, why must we cast the peace we built with our own hands back into the fires of war? Why must hands that have just picked up musical instruments pick up swords once more?"
"Because there are debts that must be paid in blood! There are honors that must be defended with the sword!"
"Do you remember Elector Otto Gladstone? The Elector who expanded the frontiers for Leithanien, only to die miserably under a Victorian conspiracy!"
"The Kaest Duke of Victoria, with despicable treachery, launched a sneak attack on him and defiled the dignity of Leithanien!"
A commotion began to ripple through the crowd.
The incident of Elector Otto being backstabbed by the Victorian Duke had gradually been forgotten by the people, as it had occurred not long before Lacey's own seizure of the throne. Now, mentioned so solemnly by the Emperor, the anger and humiliation of the past were reignited.
"They thought we had forgotten; they thought the passage of time would wash everything away. They were wrong!"
Lacey's pitch suddenly rose.
"We have not forgotten! Leithanien never forgets humiliation, and never forgets its enemies!"
"The Kaest Duke's treachery is not her crime alone, but a microcosm of the entire corrupt and arrogant Victorian noble class! They mock our arts, despise our industry, and mistake our forbearance for weakness!"
"The Thracian region could not endure Victoria's exploitation and bullying; they have now risen in revolt. What does this prove?"
"The nobles of Victoria are like tumors entrenched in the body of the Terra continent, constantly sucking the blood and sweat of the common people, spreading war and chaos!"
"I once thought the tolerance of the Twin Empresses could be exchanged for their introspection, but what we received instead was their intensified probing and contempt! They fund rebels, incite internal strife, and vainly attempt to make us repeat the mistakes of the past, returning to that era when we were slaughtered at will!"
Lacey extended his hand, pointing into the distance in the direction of Victoria.
"Enough! Leithanien's patience has run out!"
"Today, I, Lacey, in the name of the Emperor of the Third Holy Leithanien Empire! Hereby! Declare war! Upon Victoria! Upon those corrupt Dukes!"
"This is not a war of aggression; this is a war of vengeance! It is to comfort Elector Otto's spirit in heaven! It is to wash away the shame our nation has suffered! It is to tell all of Terra that the honor of Leithanien will not be defiled!"
"I will personally lead you to trample their castles and overthrow their tyranny! I will distribute the wealth of Victoria to the Thracians who have been oppressed by them for centuries, and to all the people who give of themselves for this war!"
"I promise that when the war ends, every Leithanien family will welcome a true, eternal peace defended by our own hands!"
In the square, people raised their arms one after another.
"Fight for His Imperial Majesty!"
It was unknown who shouted first, but immediately after, a tsunami of cheers rose to the sky.
"Vengeance for Leithanien!"
"Trample Londinium!"
Countless citizens held their arms high, their faces overflowing with fanatical passion. Their trust in the Emperor, their love for the country, and the flames of vengeance that had been incited converged at this moment into a majestic torrent of spirit.
Lacey stood on the balcony, feeling that invisible power surging into his body. His thinking became clearer than ever before, as if he could perceive every detail of all things in the world. The power of [United We Stand] reached an unprecedented peak at this moment.
Inside the council hall, General Taylor was trembling with excitement. He slammed the table violently: "Well said! His Majesty spoke too well! Now let's see how those Victorian parasites can sleep!"
Minister Meklen, meanwhile, had already taken out his abacus, his fingers flicking across it rapidly as he muttered to himself: "Victoria National Bank reserves, the private vaults of the major Dukes, the tariffs of Londinium... Heavens!"
...
At the same time, Leithanien's declaration of war shattered the hypocritical calm of the Terra continent.
Victoria, Duke of Gododdin's Territory.
Originally, the Duke of Gododdin had invited a group of Grand Dukes to discuss matters. But when the attendant officer finished reading Leithanien's declaration of war with a trembling voice, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
"Madman! That madman!" The Duke of Gododdin was the first to jump up. "On what grounds? Just because of an Elector who's been dead for years? He dares to declare war on all of Victoria!"
"The question isn't on what grounds, but that he has already done it!" The Duke of Wellington's voice was cold.
His sharp gaze swept toward the Duke of Kaest, who sat to one side of the head seat, her face dark as water.
"Kaest, this declaration of war mentioned you by name. Shouldn't you explain yourself?"
The Duke of Kaest slowly raised her head. No panic could be seen on her face, only the astonishment of a hunter bitten back by their prey.
"Explain? Wellington, are you questioning me? Don't forget who funded Deep Pool and gave the Leithaniens the excuse to intervene in Victorian affairs!"
"You spit blood!" Wellington slammed the table.
"Enough!"
The Duke of Normandy knocked on the table, stopping the quarrel that was about to erupt.
"Now is not the time to assign blame. The Leithaniens have already declared war; their army has likely already crossed the border. We must come up with a countermeasure immediately!"
"A countermeasure? Let Kaest deal with it herself! This is trouble she provoked!"
"Nonsense! This is an invasion of all of Victoria!"
The Dukes fell into fierce quarreling once again. They accused each other and shirked responsibility, as if the enemy were not outside the borders, but among themselves. Everyone wanted to preserve their own territory and army, leaving others to deplete their strength.
The Duke of Kaest watched all this with cold eyes, a chill rising in her heart.
That young Emperor didn't even need to use a conspiracy; just a single open declaration of war was enough to completely tear open the cracks that had long existed within the Victorian ducal class.
...
Meanwhile, on the distant border of Kazdel.
Inside the Military Commission Council Hall.
Theresis stood behind the window, with Manfred and Nietzhere standing quietly behind him.
"He has made his move."
Theresis's voice was calm, but anyone who knew him could hear the suppressed excitement within it.
"The Royal Court Legions have finished assembling." Nietzhere's corpse-like body leaned forward slightly.
"My descendants can't wait to taste the blood of Victorians."
A bewitching and magnificent voice came from the shadows. The Sanguinarch, Duqare, had appeared there at some point, licking his scarlet lips, his eyes full of cruel mirth.
Theresis turned slowly. His gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Manfred.
"Manfred, transmit my order."
"The Sarkaz will reclaim a land for themselves to breathe. All forces attack! Tear apart Victoria's southern defense line!"
"Let the Terra continent remember once more the fear of being dominated by the Sarkaz!"
"For Kazdel!" Manfred knelt on one knee, his voice sonorous and powerful.
The dark clouds of war, at this moment, turned into a pouring rain of blood.
________________________________________
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