A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 557 Bohemian Winter

Although a telegram has been sent to the entire empire, it does not mean that a dignified nation can instantly change its allegiance.

Many people dislike Pavel, believing that this young Crocker is using the Republic to cover up his misdeeds and that he will surely restore the monarchy once the situation stabilizes.

Even the loyal followers of the old Grand Duke Croc, jolted awake from their drunken stupor, opposed this traitor and the inexplicable "alliance for national salvation."

They hastily assembled, making a clear protest against Pavel's appalling act of rebellion, demanding that he immediately restore Archduke Croc's freedom and withdraw all orders and proclamations.

On the third day after the telegram was delivered, when the opponents had gathered and the wave of resistance was at its strongest, Bain, Bohemia's southern neighbor and the second to join the "National Salvation League," began to take action.

Under the cover of night, a batch of propaganda posters suddenly appeared on the street. The large posters, which were pasted crookedly, showed Pavel's face in a grotesque way, covered in blood. The words "father killer," "murderer," and "usurper" were painted on the red paint.

Although it was done by nobles who supported the empire and the Grand Duke, they were clearly also learning advanced methods, learning how the Valois mobilized the masses.

"They're talking nonsense! My uncle's family is perfectly fine. They're just being protected and their movements are restricted. What about the security team?" Pavel didn't know why things had turned out this way.

He firmly believed that he and the participants in his alliance were upholding ideals and justice, but somehow, he found his hands stained with blood.

Meanwhile, the devil who had been instigating him all along, that perverted, filthy former Valois nobleman and Rorschach's vicious dog, Valon, walked into the "Acting Consul's" office with a smile on his face: "The security forces? They did not obey you."

"The enemy is already stirring, and your forces have been completely scattered. To preserve the fruits of victory, you have only one choice."

At four o'clock in the morning, "Acting Governor" Pavel Krock "voluntarily" invited two new regiments of the Kingdom of Bain to enter the country for exercises in order to deter "threats from domestic and foreign resistance forces and cult groups".

At 4:15, the newly recruited troops, poised for action, crossed the border between the two countries.

At dawn, while it was still barely light outside, the first batch of airships arrived in Prag, the capital of Bohemia, from Bain. Their blaring horns darkened the sky and abruptly woke all the residents. These bulky aircraft skimmed low over the city, like whales swimming freely in their own ocean, emitting triumphant cries.

Then the hatch opened, and squads of armed air knights jumped out of the whale's belly. Propelled by the rapid propulsion of the maneuvering device, they flew over the streets. As soon as they discovered barricades or other strongholds or obstacles built by the rebels, they immediately marked and reported them, or simply pulled the trigger/activated the reel directly from the air.

Gunshots rang out throughout Prag, and flames erupted.

At 6:31, the construct troops arrived. They were fleshless beasts, their iron-gray metallic surfaces failing to reflect the fear on the faces of the people. Their long but powerful legs moved with incredible speed, and no conventional obstacle could stop them.

Even fire and bombs could not stop these monsters. After one was successfully destroyed, only sticky liquid flowed out of these steel bodies. There was no pilot inside, and the machine could not groan or beg for mercy.

The knights of Bomia charged toward the four-legged constructs on the main road of Prag, the widest Queen's Road. They fired their guns first, and after a series of ricochets, the monsters continued to advance. Their cannons were already aimed at these noble-blooded people, emitting a dangerous yet alluring arcane glow.

These knights, loyal to the empire and the Grand Duke, chose to raise their swords and banners, and then fall without any honor.

At 8 o'clock sharp, everything was over for Praggle.

When people were told they could go out into the streets and resume normal life, they found that every street and entrance was occupied by four-legged structures whose observation windows reflected the light of crystals and whose emission ports were constantly rotating.

The uniforms of the soldiers who pledged allegiance to Pavel remained unchanged, except that they had a blue cloth wrapped around their arms. All the flagpoles in sight were now adorned with the flag of the "National Salvation League," and airships and air knights often flew over the flags, streaking across the sky and casting shadows that were hard to ignore.

The "surgical operation" successfully removed the old aristocracy from the city hall and the three guard battalions responsible for the city's defense, helping the usurper Pavel Crocker to firmly establish himself and set up a provisional governorship, which will remain in place until the end of the war and the start of a new round of elections.

The neighboring country to the north was in turmoil, the sudden change astonishing its people and the entire empire. In contrast, the source of everything, the Bain District, was exceptionally calm. Large, fluffy snowflakes fell, absorbing the noise of the world and bringing down coldness and tranquility.

Those who were supposed to leave have left, and those who were supposed to stay are wholeheartedly devoted to the ambitious project. Luo Xia really wanted to give the second starship a powerful name, but he held back and for now, he'll use a numerical designation to refer to the entire project.

Andrei entered the workshop and saw Rorschach leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. He thought Rorschach's spirit had risen to the boundary again, but Rorschach's eyelashes twitched, and then he opened his eyes.

After a slight surprise, Andrei quickly regained his composure and placed the documents he had brought on the studio table: "Teacher, these are reports I've collected about Bohemia, and Mr. Varen's new report on 'Faust.' Would you like to see them?"

Pavel was given a strange code name by Rorschach. In this world, Faust is the ancient mage who invented the [Reverse Ray]. Only Rorschach himself knows the true meaning of the code name.

"No need. What will the Empire's reaction be?"

"Well, for now it's just verbal condemnation, no military mobilization. Their remaining troops are still on guard against the Valois. Oh, by the way, the capital has announced the detention of King Bain and his entourage."

"Thank you so much," Rorschach asked one last time. "What did Caroline say?"

Andrei looked troubled, as if he was carefully choosing his words: "The principal—" Andrei finally abandoned any embellishment and relayed directly: "She said that Varon is an ambitious man and a madman. You should lock him up in prison or exile him to the gaseous plane."

Andrei paused for a moment, recalling Caroline's full curse: "That guy should play house with the little blue man."

Rorschach actually laughed out loud: "That's right, he is. But everything he did was at my behest. I set the target of Operation Varen, and the forces he can mobilize were created and approved by me."

To Andrei, "Teacher, you are not..." was practically Rorschach admitting that he was the madman.

"But I must commend Varon for doing a good job, because we don't have much time left." Rorschach's expression was grim. As the threat from the Mother Goddess became more and more prominent, things that could previously be done slowly had to be accelerated.

When cars go fast, someone will inevitably get run over. In the past, you might have been able to change lanes or slow down and brake, but now the accelerator is practically welded shut.

Rorschach hesitated for a moment, but then decided to play the villain to the end: "Let all the minors in Prag undergo a magical talent test."

(End of this chapter)