Count Leinia, the newly appointed Minister of Economy, clapped his hands in admiration. "Brilliant! This way, we seize the moral high ground. Our wavering allies will feel secure."
"Exactly." Lacey nodded. "Therefore, our response to this so-called summons must also be strategic."
He looked at Gertrude. "Is the reply drafted?"
"It is." Gertrude handed over a document.
"As you instructed, we are responding in the name of the Wasser Fief Council."
"First, we express our profound concern for The Twin Empresses's safety and strongly condemn the treacherous court officials who hold her captive."
"Second, we state that due to the frequent military movements in the Heidenshweir and Oschdenheim Grand Regions, the border situation is tense. To defend Leithanien's territory from invasion, you, as the Elector of Wasser Fief, cannot leave your domain."
Upon hearing "defend Leithanien's territory," everyone couldn't help but laugh.
This was tantamount to pointing at Abraham Rossetti and Hoffmann Herbert's noses and cursing them out.
"Finally." Gertrude's smile grew even more playful.
"We will state that, in the interest of proactive communication and eliminating misunderstandings, we will dispatch a delegation led by the vice-chairman of the 'Wasser Fief Coachmen and Transport Industry Union' to Trullinczentyr."
"They will report in detail to The Twin Empresses on the development of transportation in Wasser Fief and request that Her Majesty clarify the truth of her being deceived by treacherous officials."
This time, even the usually stern Taylor burst out laughing.
Sending the vice-chairman of a coachmen's union to a central conference that would decide the fate of the empire—this was no longer a provocation; it was a humiliation.
One could only imagine how ugly the expressions of those court nobles would be when this delegation arrived in Trullinczentyr.
"Very good. Send it out just like this." Lacey nodded in satisfaction.
"Let them communicate with our coachmen representatives indefinitely."
Having dealt with the external propaganda war and political games, Lacey's gaze turned inward.
"Gertrude, how is the other matter progressing?"
Gertrude's expression immediately turned serious as she pulled another list from her folder.
"Just as you predicted, our backyard isn't as clean as we'd like."
"As soon as the royal 'Decree of Divestment' arrived, some rats couldn't stay hidden."
"Based on reports from the intelligence department and various localities, we have identified thirty-seven individuals engaged in suspicious activities."
She began to read out the names: "Jeremy Richter, former president of the Weissfurt Chamber of Commerce. After the decree was issued, he immediately contacted his old connections in the capital and attempted to rally several merchants who had paid the special contribution fee to jointly boycott our new tax laws."
"And over in Ruperkan, several distant relatives of the former Elector Erak are spreading rumors in the countryside, claiming the Workers' Party intends to confiscate everyone's land. They are also trying to organize people to sabotage the highway we are building."
"The most dangerous situation is in Eisenwald. We've discovered a dormant old noble salon that has acquired a batch of military-grade crossbows. It seems they are plotting an assassination targeting you or other core members."
Taylor slammed his fist on the table, letting out a dull thud.
"These treacherous bastards! My lord, give me a team, and I guarantee I'll have them all rounded up and hanged in the square within three days!"
"No!" Serafina immediately objected.
"The situation is sensitive right now. Large-scale arrests and executions will only create panic, playing right into the enemy's hands."
"They would love nothing more than for us to descend into internal chaos."
"Then what do we do? Just let these vipers bite us from behind?" Taylor's face flushed with anger.
All eyes focused on Lacey.
Lacey was silent for a moment.
He did not issue an immediate order but weighed the pros and cons.
He needed to turn this crisis into an opportunity to strengthen his rule and unite the people.
"The vipers must be eliminated, but we cannot resort to a simple and brutal purge."
He stood up and walked into the center of the group.
"Therefore, we will use the people's methods to solve the people's enemies."
He looked at Gertrude. "Compile all the evidence into a dossier and announce it to the world."
"We want all the people of Wasser Fief and Ruperkan to see clearly who is stabbing them in the back while they work to build their new home, who wants to drag them back to the oppressive days of the past."
Then he turned to Taylor. "The Combat Division will coordinate with the Guard Corps and move immediately to arrest all the ringleaders on the list."
"But remember, not secret arrests. Public arrests."
Finally, he said: "Establish a special tribunal and conduct public trials. Let everyone listen, let everyone see how these remnants of the old era have betrayed the people."
"As for their crimes," Lacey's tone turned icy.
"Anyone involved in conspiracy and rebellion, attempting to subvert the people's regime, will be designated an enemy of the people."
"Anyone who plotted assassinations or endangered public safety will be severely punished without exception."
He paused, then added, "But the trial procedures must be complete, and the evidence must be solid. We must convince everyone, leaving no room for doubt."
"We are not thugs. We represent a new order and justice."
A vigorous campaign to "cleanse the remnants of the old powers" began with the force of a thunderbolt under Lacey's direction.
Newspapers and broadcasts controlled by the Workers' Party ran lengthy reports on the crimes of these enemies of the people, sparking immense public outrage.
The public arrests were more like street theater.
When Jeremy Richter was dragged from his luxurious mansion, the crowd of onlookers erupted in thunderous cheers.
When the old nobles in Ruperkan who were attempting sabotage were discovered in their cellars, the local farmers spontaneously gave eggs and bread to the members of the Guard Corps.
The fire The Empresses had tried to ignite from within not only failed to burn Lacey but was instead co-opted by him to incinerate all the trash and poisonous weeds hiding in the corners.
Those centrists who had previously harbored doubts about the Workers' Party, after witnessing the despicable methods of the old powers, now sided completely with Lacey.
Within a short week, the interiors of Wasser Fief and Ruperkan were thoroughly purged. Lacey's control was not weakened; on the contrary, it was strengthened to an unprecedented degree by this suppression of rebellion.
In the Throne Hall, Gertrude reported the final results to Lacey.
"...Jeremy Richter and two other main culprits were sentenced to lifetime labor reform after a public trial by the special tribunal. All their illegal gains have been confiscated."
"...The remaining accomplices have been sentenced to various terms of labor reform according to the severity of their crimes."
"Everything went smoothly."
Lacey nodded, his gaze once again turning to the window.
"Gertrude," he began, "notify Meklen, Wolner, and also Ziegler and his two counterparts."
"Tell them I am preparing to convene the first special summit of the 'Leithanien Economic Community' in Eisenwald."
"It is time for our allies to make a real choice."
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