Mage? Magic Engineer!

Rorschach deactivated his Arcane Vision and turned to Andre beside him. "How’s your casting?"

Andre started with the simplest little Trick and succeeded on his first try. "It feels a little strange and will take some getting used to, but there’s no problem."

Rorschach was pleased with the result and let out a long sigh of relief. "That settles it. Our safe zone is established."

Andre was happy as well. "This means the Steel Factory won’t be under any fatal threats!"

"Who says?" Rorschach’s expression turned serious. "What if I were to stuff a coal truck with high explosives? Or, simpler still, bribe someone in the factory to screw a valve shut on a boiler, or loosen the bolts holding a steel ladle in place..."

The most powerful hacks are always social engineering. Rorschach reminded Andre, "Remember to instruct the security staff not to let their guard down just because we have new protections. There are always unexpected methods and unforeseen accidents."

"I’ll pass that along." After making a note of it, Andre couldn’t help but ask again, "Are you really so pessimistic about the National Salvation Alliance?"

"Before I answer, could you first tell me why you’re so interested in this Mister Pavel and his Alliance?"

Andre considered the question seriously before answering. "Because... they come from the Nobility, yet they’re willing to go this far for the country and its people. They could just be enjoying the life they were born into, but instead, they’re willing to stick their necks out... I can’t help but wonder, if Valois had had a group of such enlightened Nobility back when it was a Kingdom, would my family’s fate have been different?"

He suddenly realized something. "Ah, that’s not to say anything bad about Bayern! Thank you..."

"I know. You’re just a bit nostalgic for your homeland." Rorschach waved a dismissive hand at his one and only true student. "First, don’t forget the cause and effect here. It was the immense changes in Valois that spurred this new consciousness in these young members of the Nobility."

"Furthermore, the reason I’m not optimistic about them is that they are neither secretive enough nor high-profile enough."

"Take Pavel, for instance. He came to me so rashly—a man he’d never even met. His judgment of me was based purely on hearsay and secondhand information. If this so-called Alliance is filled with people like him, then their operations might as well be a public parade."

"And I say they aren’t high-profile enough because they’re only active within small circles of the Nobility. Their platform isn’t known to enough of the common people, nor has it been widely recognized or accepted. The majority of people are still dreaming of climbing the ranks through military achievement, and the old guard of the Empire remains as powerful as ever."

"So they are bound to fail?"

"These people fancy themselves to have learned from the mistakes of the Empire Army officers who came before them, but they’re fundamentally no different. Their plans are completely ungrounded. Back in the day, the clubs in Valuva at least knew enough to publish magazines and pamphlets, help the poor with legal battles, and make contact with the soldiers..."

Rorschach recalled his days in the Tower of Stars. Andre was just now realizing that his homeland had been roiling with such undercurrents. Back then, he... well, he had only known how to study and help his parents with chores.

"If we just wait and see, I dare say the Alliance will most likely be snuffed out."

"The lesser nobility who earned their titles through military service, who are now being suppressed by William II, will certainly jump at this opportunity. That bunch is nursing a deep-seated resentment right now. Do you think they’ll help the Alliance reform the Empire and abolish their own estates, or will they use the heads of these scions of the Great Nobility to prove their loyalty to His Majesty?"

Andre thought his teacher looked particularly cunning at that moment, and his words had a sinister edge. But with it put that way, it wasn’t hard to see how the interests of the two most dynamic factions in the Empire were in direct opposition.

Finally, Rorschach put away his Magic Staff. For some reason, Andre instantly felt the volatile, sinister aura around the Great Mage dissipate. He watched as Rorschach gazed at the Steel Factory. "And that’s why they absolutely must have the support of a foreign power!"

On behalf of Bayern, the secret treaty he had signed with the Valois Republic was nearly ready to be enacted. The National Guard had certainly come through, satisfying two of the conditions. Now, with the National Salvation Alliance as a front, they could raise an even more appealing banner.

"Next, we have two important tasks."

"First, make final preparations and mobilize, ready to enter the war at a moment’s notice. Second, prepare for the construction of the second Starship."

The first task was for Bayern’s four fully re-equipped army corps to prepare to launch their offensive.

As for the second task, the launch of the prototype Starship had been a complete success. Combined with the warning from Hercules that Rorschach had relayed to the Elder Council, the construction of the next official model was fast-tracked. It was only logical that the project would be awarded to the Special Zone, which had the highest concentration of industry and, broadly speaking, the most Casters. Just like with the first Starship launched from the Tower of Stars, Mages from other regions would be sent to assist.

Andre’s head throbbed just hearing about these projects. His job was merely to coordinate the efforts, supervise implementation, track progress, and pull all-nighters. Rorschach, the one who just came up with ideas and gave orders, had far more to consider.

Foreseeing a future of relying on Energy Potions to get through 20-hour workdays, Andre’s voice trembled. "So you’re going to support the National Salvation Alliance after all?"

"Rationally, I’m not optimistic. But my intuition tells me a certain scion of a Great Noble family is definitely involved... In that case, even if their goal is impossible, I have to give them a push to make it happen."

Rorschach had never heard any intelligence about the National Salvation Alliance from anyone besides Pavel, but he was ninety-nine percent certain that good-hearted Richard would subscribe to its ideals and be a part of it.

...

Inside the Imperial Palace, no Magic kept the halls as warm as spring, unlike in years past, but William II was still quite satisfied. His aversion to Magic had reached a point of near paranoia.

In the Emperor’s eyes, Magic was useless. It had failed to save the previous Emperor’s life, and it had nearly taken his own.

Yes, the previous Emperor had already passed away. Because the Empire’s situation was somewhat precarious, the New Prime Minister had advised that the Empire silence the press. Although the upper echelons of society were all aware, and rumors were spreading among the common folk, one would find absolutely no mention of it in the newspapers.

The "lone monarch" was wrapped in a thick velvet robe, which concealed the asymmetry of his body and made the young Emperor appear all the more majestic and imposing. His right hand gripped his Scepter tightly, while his flawed left hand rested steadily on the armrest of the throne.

The day’s audiences were drawing to a close. He had already held a deep discussion with the Marshal about future strategic deployments and had sent away the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, who had come to cry poverty together. Now it was time for the second-to-last appointment.

The man who entered was in charge of intelligence. It was said that during the previous Emperor’s reign, there had been two departments to keep each other in check: one that included Casters, and one specifically designed to counter them. William II thought this was an excellent idea, a fine tradition he intended to continue.

The current head of intelligence presented a list. "Your Majesty, we’ve noticed a number of illicit groups operating within the country. One in particular..."

"Hm? What’s the matter?"

"This is a partial list. Please review it yourself, Your Majesty."

The Emperor took the list from an attendant, his eyes widening. He immediately locked onto the name of Major General Richard. It wasn’t just him; the scions of many other prominent families were on the list as well.

"And what is it you say this group intends to do?"

"Plo... plotting a rebellion."

"Rebellion, my ass! You imbecile!" The Emperor looked as if he wanted to smash the man’s head in with his Scepter.

"Can’t you see their family names? To put it bluntly, the Empire belongs to me and to them, jointly. Who plots a rebellion against themselves? Imbecile! Do you not know how to distinguish real intelligence from false? Or is it that now that I intend to promote them, someone is trying to stand in my way?"