"That's a good choice."
Kristen nodded, but curiosity appeared on her face. "Why have an Engineering Department and a Distance Education Department been added under Rhine Metal? Education and metal? Are they related?"
"Oh, that. I recruited a student from the mechanical school. Her name is Mel, and she's quite capable with her hands. I plan to take her back to Kazdel. As for education..."
Theresica smiled helplessly. "Kazdel is too backward, and we can't even send exchange students out. I thought I'd use this method to bring some advanced knowledge there."
"You care about your homeland that much?"
Ferdinand was slightly surprised. "I heard that its king had ruled for hundreds of years, and only recently changed. Is that true? I read it in Laterano's World Messenger. I never expected those two countries, which had always been rumored to be at odds, to begin establishing ties."
"That's true."
Theresica nodded. "The civil war in Kazdel lasted for years and has only just ended. Aside from the Sarkaz, no foreigners are willing to stay there, so information is naturally scarce."
"No wonder its leader was replaced, yet no one found out until months later. Doesn't that place have an embassy?"
"It doesn't. Kazdel hasn't formally established diplomatic relations with anyone yet. But it should soon. Kazdel and Laterano have signed a peace treaty, so through the World Messenger, it can begin normal exchanges with other countries."
"That's good. It looks like things there are slowly getting better."
Kristen smiled. "Congratulations."
"I hope it can get better."
Theresica's expression was complicated. There was still a lot to deal with.
P.S.: Terra OL System Notification: Congratulations to Kazdel for unlocking the diplomatic interface! 4 P.S.2: Just a random idea. Please give me some votes!!!8
Chapter 31: Ursus's Diplomatic Letter
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and Ferdinand hurriedly stood up.
"He's here. Let me introduce you to someone. This is someone my teacher recommended."
"Hello, young people. My name is Arentz Palvis."
An elderly Caprini walked in. Looking at him, Theresica couldn't help asking,
"Are you from Leithanien?"
"I was, but I'm a Columbian now."
Parvis bowed slightly. "You must be Theresica. I happened to hear your name today. My student Herme was hired by you. Thank you very much."
"It's nothing. Getting an outstanding employee is my good fortune as well."
The normal expression returned to Theresica's face, as if the discomfort from earlier had never existed. But Kristen had seen it clearly. She moved closer and asked in a low voice,
"What is it? Is there some conflict between the Sarkaz and the Leithanien?"
They didn't hire me!12
"Nothing. Just some friction from history. It's not important."
Brushing aside those trivial matters, Theresica didn't tell the truth. In fact, it had been far more than friction.
Long before her cousin and sister's time, Kazdel and Leithanien had once united over the absurd reason that both peoples had horns on their heads, weathering a crisis together. But after the danger had passed, Leithanien failed to honor its promise. Instead, it betrayed the Sarkaz and slaughtered them, beginning the migration of the entire Sarkaz race into the uninhabited wilderness.1
With Parvis joining them, the pharmaceutical research finally had someone to lead it. Afterward, the company was gradually completed through Ferdinand and Kristen's efforts and coordination.
Beside Trimount Polytechnic, Theresica rented an office building for them and prepared to return to Kazdel. Kazdel currently conducted most external trade through barter with Originium, while its only real funds came from a portion obtained from the Dukes of Victoria. There wasn't much that could be spent in Columbia.4
He said goodbye to Saria and the others. After picking up Mel and Ptilopsis with Shining, he boarded an international passenger landship. He planned to pass through northern Victoria, Leithanien, and Siracusa before returning to Kazdel.
During the journey, whenever they reached a supply station, Theresica bought large quantities of local newspapers and browsed through all kinds of news.
He noticed that news about Kazdel had begun spreading throughout Terra alongside Laterano's World Messenger. Before July, it had been impossible to find the words "Kazdel" in any newspaper.
Was this good or bad? The Sarkaz had once again returned to the attention of Terra's nations, and he felt somewhat worried.
Bang.
Uh... Ptilopsis had fallen asleep with her head on the table. The sudden noise interrupted Theresica's thoughts, and he hurriedly asked Shining to find something for her to use as a pillow.
Can she really work?
He now somewhat understood why no company had been willing to take Ptilopsis in. Still, in Kazdel, having a skilled doctor work for even an hour would be worthwhile.
Mel, sitting beside her, was working quite diligently. She kept scribbling and drawing on a sheet of graph paper. This was the task he had given her: designing a simple drone.
He had seen it on Columbian television. Ursus, which was currently fighting Kazimierz, used small drones for reconnaissance and combat support, achieving fairly good results.
However, like the semiautomatic infantry crossbow, this merely strengthened the Sarkaz army's combat power. It didn't revolutionize their methods of warfare. They were still stuck in the state of a century ago, while Ursus had already begun using Originium shells!5
How was Kazdel's future military development supposed to proceed?8
After spending quite some time on the journey, Theresica finally returned to Kazdel. He handed Mel over to Zeppelin, then gave Ptilopsis and the first batch of medical video lessons to Warfarin. Only then did he truly feel exhausted. But just as he was preparing to rest for a while, Mudrock suddenly came looking for him, with Mostima following behind her.
"What's wrong, Sister Mudrock? Is something the matter?"
Theresica forced himself to smile and asked.
"Big Bob wrote back. He said he's doing very well in Columbia, and that you fulfilled his wish. Thank you."
Mudrock pointed at Mostima. "She delivered the letter. She said she had something else to give you."
"Oh, the Pope ordered me to serve as the World Messenger for the Kazdel region. I suppose that makes me a diplomat stationed here."
Mostima explained her new position, then took out a letter.
"This is a diplomatic letter from Ursus. Please confirm that it isn't damaged. If there's a problem, return it directly. Attention! If you wish to open it, do so only after I have left."3
The envelope was thin in his hand, but a faint Ursus National Emblem was stamped on its cover.
After repeatedly confirming that there was nothing wrong with the envelope, Theresica immediately ordered Shining to summon all the clan leaders, as well as the Military Committee!
Ursus could be called the nation most enthusiastic about war in all of Terra at present. Upon hearing about Ursus's diplomatic letter, the clan leaders and members of the Military Committee quickly arrived at the council hall.
Theresica opened the envelope in front of everyone.
The contents were simple. There was a brief greeting at the beginning, followed by a blunt request.
Ursus wanted to import high-purity Originium from Kazdel. As for what the Sarkaz wanted, they could first decide on a date for negotiations and inform Ursus. At that time, Ursus would send diplomats to visit Kazdel, and the two sides would sign a cooperation treaty under Laterano's witness.9
A letter from a warlike and extremely powerful nation made the entire royal court cautious. Ursus was different from Laterano. It was a vast empire, something even the Bloodfiend Grand Duke had to acknowledge.
Kazdel couldn't afford to clash with such a nation at present. Regardless of how the war turned out, their artillery would blast the cities that had only just begun rebuilding back into wasteland.
Theresica asked, "Does Ursus lack Originium?"
"They don't. They have mines no worse than Leithanien's."
The Shapeshifter said, "They also have abundant manpower, allowing them to refine Originium through crude and reckless methods."1
"Then shouldn't they have many Infected?"
"Not many."
The Confessor's answer left Theresica confused. "Why? Are their medical conditions that good?"
"No. They gather the moderate and severe Infected and send them to work in the mines together. Then, when the time is right, they perform a mass Black Ticket drawing ceremony and bury everyone who is chosen in the exhausted mines, turning them into new ore deposits."18
The Shapeshifter's words shocked Theresica.
*Am I the Fiend, or are they? How can they treat their own people like this?*1
"If they don't lack Originium, why import it? Has fighting Kazimierz caused such huge consumption?"
"It should not be due to consumption. The war in Ursus is progressing very smoothly, with no serious war of attrition."
The Shapeshifter thought for a while. "There should be a problem with the supply. Ursus's method of refining Originium is extremely crude, with considerable side effects and very low efficiency. Or perhaps there's some other reason..."
"Shapeshifter."
"Present."
"Can you get me some newspapers from Ursus? The sooner, the better!"6
P.S.: Please give me some votes, lots more!!!!
Chapter 32: A Win-Win Situation
With the king's order, the Shapeshifter quickly obtained a large number of recent newspapers from a mobile city on the Ursus border. They also transformed into Kazimierz knights and captured several managers from mines directly controlled by the Ursus military.
After researching everything, a strange problem appeared before Theresica.
Like Victoria, Ursus was divided among various dukes, who managed everything within their territories. Ursus was now facing internal problems as well, but it differed from Victoria.
The various factions in Ursus still remained loyal to the Ursus Emperor. Whatever the Emperor ordered, the Grand Dukes carried out without the slightest discount. Yet these Grand Dukes were consciously targeting one person: the Ursus Emperor's only son, the Crown Prince of Ursus—Feodor Vladimirovich.
What are these dukes thinking? Offending the future Emperor?
Theresica couldn't understand.
In the current war between Ursus and Kazimierz, the old Emperor had ordered that the various dukes bear 70% of all Originium consumption for the war, while the Crown Prince had to raise the remaining 30%. Coincidentally, at that exact time, rebellions by the Infected broke out in all of Ursus's mines, causing many of them to cease operations.
The garrisons had all gone to the front lines, leaving no soldiers in the dukes' territories. However, unlike Victoria, the Ursus security forces fought with all their might and kept the Infected miners outside the cities. But that had already pushed them to their limits. They had no strength left to retake the mines.
The matter became deadlocked. The front-line troops couldn't be recalled, and the Crown Prince couldn't obtain the ore, so they could only turn their eyes abroad.
But looking around Ursus, the only country that had never clashed with Ursus and possessed Originium was Kazdel. Under these circumstances, a diplomatic letter was delivered to the Sarkaz royal court through the hands of a Sankta.6
"Is everything accurate?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Confessor bowed and said, "We extracted the souls of the mine managers. Although the spellcasting wasn't perfect and caused considerable loss of information, the conditions in the mines were still verified."
This was an opportunity!
Theresica took a deep breath. Ursus had plenty of good things! Even their obsolete equipment would have considerable value!
"What do you think the Sarkaz should use to wage war? What should we fight with?"
"Originium Arts. Our affinity with Originium is unmatched anywhere in Terra."
The Bloodfiend Grand Duke wore a hint of pride, but the Banshee countered, "Then how many Infected do you want Kazdel to have? Win or lose, after one war, the Sarkaz will be finished."3
"Your Majesty, I think that regardless of how we fight, we still need to establish a front line."
Manfred spoke at this moment. "The Sarkaz haven't conducted large-scale troop deployments or fought a large-scale battle in a long time. Relying only on small-unit raids can harm the enemy, but it cannot protect Kazdel."
Theresica glanced at him. His cousin's disciple was quite capable.
"Industrial products. Ursus and Victoria both became powerful by using these things, didn't they?"
The Shapeshifter said, "Their races aren't as capable at fighting as ours, yet they occupied such vast territories."1
"We definitely need to use industrial products. Victoria and Ursus have both proven that this is the right path. But we can't discard our own advantages either."
Theresica thought for a while. "We have plenty of experience with small-unit warfare. We can continue strengthening small units and send them behind enemy lines to strike at weak points. Use the sharpest blade to cut the softest, most painful flesh. At the same time, we should establish large formations like Ursus's, to hold the front line or deliver powerful blows to the enemy."
The royal court's reply was sent by Mostima. The Ursus Crown Prince's side also took it extremely seriously and immediately dispatched his chief secretary, Vitt, along with a diplomatic delegation, to visit Kazdel.
To show sufficient respect, and because it truly had no diplomatic personnel, Kazdel had Theresica receive them personally.
"Mr. Vitt, welcome to Kazdel."
"Oh, Your Respected Majesty, thank you for welcoming me. I hope our discussions can conclude successfully."
After some simple pleasantries, Vitt bluntly expressed the same request contained in the earlier letter: Ursus wanted to purchase all of Kazdel's military-grade Originium. Whatever stock the Sarkaz currently had, Ursus wanted it all. Whatever quantity could be exported each month afterward, it wanted that too, until the war between Ursus and Kazimierz ended.
Hearing this, Theresica tactfully explained that Kazdel had only just ended its civil war, with too few people and insufficient labor. Its Originium output was limited, so...
"One heavy infantry regiment's stockpile of three-year-old obsolete equipment for fifty tons of military-grade Originium. New equipment for an active heavy infantry battalion for thirty-five tons of military-grade Originium. You have a powerful nation like Yan next door, so the pressure on you must be considerable as well."3
"Uh... yes."
Hearing that, Theresica changed his tune. Although Kazdel had not established diplomatic relations with Yan, that did not prevent this beautiful misunderstanding from arising.
"Mr. Vitt, your offer is very tempting, but the price is too high."
He frowned and waved his hand, while Vitt also made a concession. "An entire regiment's stockpile of obsolete equipment for forty-five tons of military-grade Originium. New equipment for an active heavy infantry battalion for thirty tons of military-grade Originium. I can't go any lower."1
"Uh... This is too important for me to decide alone. I need to discuss it with the others. Mr. Vitt, have something to eat first. I specially prepared some Sarkaz dishes, as well as the Water of Life that Ursus people like most."
Before you continue