Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

The Oath Breaker has already swept away all those unwilling to kneel and submit to him—only we remain! When the Oath Breaker's armies recover from their losses in conquering the Northern Territory, we will be next!"

The hall fell into dead silence.

Richard Mayerhaus steadied his breath, paused for a moment, and prepared his final remarks for his first public address.

"A house divided cannot stand; a fractured Alliance will never survive the Empire's sword," he spoke in a chilling tone, resolute and unwavering:

"The Alliance cannot persist forever as a hollow shell. I refuse to witness the great Alliance's rupture; I refuse to watch the house collapse. But I will never allow the Alliance to perish under my leadership! I will never allow the Founding Fathers' legacy to be stolen! I will never—kneel to the Oath Breaker!"

"On a ship destined to sink, any means that prevents its fate is justified! The Alliance and the Empire are bound to clash! This war is inevitable! And if it means securing the Alliance's ultimate victory, the United Provinces Republic will use any necessary measures without fear of bearing any sin to achieve it!"

He delivered his conclusion with gravity: "Gentlemen, freedom isn't free—freedom comes at a cost, and peace does as well!"

"If war is destined to come, then the sooner it arrives, the better!"

"Long live the Alliance! Glory everlasting!"

With that, Richard Mayerhaus cast one final sweeping glance around the hall. He neither lingered at the podium to receive accolades nor acknowledged the varied expressions of those within the hall. He strode resolutely out of the center of the venue.

The representatives of the Various Republics had originally assumed that the newly seated Speaker of the Federated Provinces wouldn't make any bold moves, at most offering a token stance on the Paratu situation—or perhaps merely delivering some perfunctory remarks.

No one ever imagined they would hear a speech that could be called a "declaration of war" against the Empire.

After a moment of silence, scattered applause arose.

One clap, two claps, three... and then a roar like waves crashing. On the first floor, the representatives seated in the Provincial section all rose to their feet, loudly cheering and applauding.

Many of the representatives from other Republics also stood and clapped, and even some representatives from Vineta offered polite gestures of applause.

Captain Fritz glanced at Mrs. Mayerhaus, whose face was lit with proud delight as she clapped with measured restraint.

...

Second-floor viewing gallery.

Prince Richard stood up with a smile, lightly clapping his hands.

Earl Varez, who stood awkwardly beside the Prince, seemed unsure whether to follow suit with applause or quietly retreat from the hall.

...

First-floor Vinea Republic seating section.

Governor De Bella stared at Richard Mayerhaus's departing figure and remarked, "It seems the newly minted Speaker is not merely a puppet of the army; he's an ambitious man seeking to carve out his own legacy."

"Is that not a good thing, Your Excellency?" his attendant asked perplexedly. "How could the Provincial Army possibly allow him to assert independence? Let them tear each other apart—if their infighting worsens, it'll benefit us all the more."

De Bella sighed deeply, "I only fear that we've now encountered someone even more troublesome than Lionel."

...

As thunderous applause and cheers echoed through the vaulted heights of the Agrippa Grand Hall, rising all the way to the heavens above—

Three travelers had just left Champagne, riding westward along the main road.

A tall, sword-bearing man with golden hair, a gaunt figure with an odd hat, and... a nun.