Ignited Firecrackers

The economic crisis erupted without warning, and the Franc could no longer hold its value. In just a few days, it had fallen by 28.7%, shocking the world.

France was one of the world's three giants, ranked fifth in total economic output, and stood second only to one in military strength.

If the Paris Government sneezed, the whole world would tremble three times. Yet this behemoth's financial system had proved so fragile that a single round of attacks had brought it to its knees.

After completing their harvest, the consortium capital began to withdraw, leaving the international hot money to bear the wrath of the French.

Just as the saying went: quietly I came, thunderously I departed; with a wave of my sleeve, I took not a single cloud away.

They had taken no clouds—only vast quantities of Divine Shield, Pound Sterling, and gold.

As though they had reached an understanding, the French consortiums arrived belatedly to join the resistance only after the international consortiums led by Britain and Austria had withdrawn.

Without the great capital predators, the remaining band of small speculative investors was naturally no match for the French consortiums.

Watching the French consortiums win fame in a single battle and seemingly become France's heroes overnight, Napoleon IV was furious enough to die. As outlets for his rage, many more vases in the Palace of Versailles had been replaced.

Capital's invasion of politics had shattered the absolute advantage established since Napoleon III's era.

At Vienna Palace, Franz felt a measure of sorrow at the fate of another, as though a rabbit had died and the fox mourned.

After the economic crisis, the French consortiums had greatly expanded their strength, further increasing their influence over the government. The future French Empire would become even livelier.

Having finished a