The Third Republic of Vern, the capital of Verntingen, the Presidential Palace.

The climate and temperature of the Third Republic of Vern, located south of Ankenryin and north of the Aronte Empire, are also between the two. It does not begin to recover early like Aronte, nor does it stay in the shadow of winter like Ankenryin. The city seems to be half awake, waiting for the arrival of spring in a hazy dimness.

The acting president of the Republic, Conservative Chairman Aziva Land, stood in an activity room on the east side of the second floor of the Presidential Palace, looking at a running steam engine in front of him, the long cigar in his hand shaking gently. His grandson, Daniel Land, general manager of Rand Dynamics, stood beside him, holding a folder in his hand, and was silent. The two people's eyes moved forward from different positions, intersecting on a delicate and complex machine, concentrating.

It was an export commodity from Elena, a small steam engine in Chaoyang. This machine, which Daniel Rand paid a high price from Ankenrien's Pengpai Power Company, was sent to Fendingen at the fastest speed. Here, it will withstand the most rigorous testing and experiments to prove Elena's technical strength and competitive threats.

The steam engine was running, and the high-speed rotating shaft opened and closed regularly with the frequent and regular air discharge valve, making rhythmic thuds. More than a dozen engineers from Rand Machinery and Dynamics surrounded the machine, recording, analyzing, and discussing. Because of the experiments conducted in the Presidential Palace, their voices were not loud. However, from his serious expression, it can be seen how huge pressure the machine brought to them.

"It looks... very..." Perhaps because of observation for a while, Aziva commented, hesitating, "very... exquisite."

"Yes, grandpa, it's exquisite," Daniel frowned. He knew that his Rand company was not the most powerful steam power company in the world, but he never thought that the most stressed competitor he faced was not the Slot Power Equipment Company of the Republic of Negro, not the Qianma Power Company of his domestic competitor, nor the Dragon Ridge Steam Power Company of the Arund Empire, but a small base for a small serf. The uncultural slave and a group of uneducated rustic bulls, plus a few college students with half a bottle of water, and a Richardson who had heard of the name, could actually make such amazing things.

"Although I don't understand it very much, I think this little machine will put a lot of pressure on you... The Hongqi car sold for a sky-high price of 650,000 ram. It is said that many people who have seen, used that car, are looking for ways to buy a second one. Although our Rand Medal has a good market response, it is not so popular, right?"

"Um."

Daniel nodded and glanced at the information in his hand. "The mass-power ratio of this equipment has far exceeded our understanding, and the water-efficiency ratio and energy-efficiency ratio are also greatly exceeded. It has not started to disassemble it yet. Just from the basic power data, it can defeat all steam engines of the same mass and volume in this world. Or, in other words, as far as I know, it is unique in this world that can make small steam engines like this."

"Look, this is Elena."

Aziva sighed softly and sat around the side of the room. Although the noise of Chaoyang type is much smaller than that of an ordinary steam engine, it is still difficult to speak when standing next to it. The old man sat down on the sofa, picked up his water-patterned star tea, took a sip, and looked at his grandson sitting beside him.

"Why, when you encounter such an opponent, you're venting your energy?"

"No, grandpa, just..."

Daniel looked far away, looking for the right words, "I just didn't seem to expect that they were the ones who made this thing first..."

"The world is so big, there are always things that we don't know, understand, and cannot predict. Gastens's forbidden spell magic and Elena's steam engine are all of them. We cannot stop them from appearing, but it does not mean we can do nothing to them. Rand Company has come here for so many years, and it was not smooth at the beginning. We have encountered setbacks and enemies, and have almost collapsed many times, but we have finally come. Now, I am the president of this country, you are the manager of the largest steam power company in this country, and most people cannot imagine the resources and strength we have. If you can't even raise your fighting spirit, then don't say that you are the child of our Rand family!"

"grandfather."

Daniel nodded, as if he was inspired, "From a good point, the production of things like Elena is not enough. They now only provide a limited number of equipment for Pengpai Power. Although they have signed the Moon Treaty with us, it should not impact our market in a short period of time. We still have some time to study and imitate this equipment. Moreover, they only export this small steam engine, medium and large steam engine, and they do not export it. This part is our main source of profit, so overall, although the impact of this equipment on our market needs to be paid attention to, its impact is limited."

"Is that true?"

Aziva Land asked softly, not knowing whether he was talking to himself or asking questions. Daniel hesitated for a moment and continued.

"Grandpa, I know that if you can make such a small steam equipment company, you will definitely be able to make better medium-sized and large steam power equipment. However, they are forces on the path of communism and are very wary of us. Large and medium-sized equipment will probably not be exported. With this, we will have time to fight back."

"The truth is indeed this," Aziva Land turned his head and looked at the garden outside the window. The garden in early spring was still a solemn scene, and there were not many views. "I have decided to recruit the rebels of the Federation of Trade Unions near Rywadren, allow trade unions in various factories, but prohibit the establishment of national trade unions, prohibit the establishment of communist parties, and prohibit the dissemination of communist books. In addition, I also intend to advocate improving workers' treatment, increasing workers' holidays and social security, and improving workers' welfare levels."

"grandfather?!"

Hearing this answer, Daniel's tone was obviously surprised, "Don't you hate communism the most? Before, because of Gastenth's forbidden spell magic, you had already opened aside the remnants of communism, otherwise those rebels would not have the chance to farm in Revadren. Why, do you think this kind of compromise and concession is not enough?"

Aziva did not directly answer his grandson's question. He put down the glass of water-patterned star tea, walked to the map beside the wall, looked at Ankenrien on the map, and after a long time, he said softly.

"Do you pay attention to Ankenryin's escape slave storm? Because of Elena's communist system and serf equality theory, Ankenryin's serf fled to Elena like crazy, forcing His Majesty Paul Gibson to use military force, but was pressed back by Elena's mysterious weapon. One bullet, just one bullet was shot from nowhere, and what bullets were shot, made all Paul Gibson's backhands be held in his pocket. Now, Ankenryin is discussing a bill to improve the status of serfs, and even radicals demand the abolition of serfdom and directly adopt the capitalist system. Elena forces Ankenryin to the brink of self-reform without taking a shot. Do you think I attach too much importance to Elena?"

“…”

Daniel was silent. He spent most of his time on the company and did not pay much attention to the international political situation. Now when he heard from his grandfather, he realized that Elena had such a huge influence.

"But if the restrictions on communism are really relaxed, will the communist forces in the country again..."

Daniel wanted to speak but stopped. Before, when the Federation of Trade Unions was calling for the wind and rain in Fendingen, he was also there. At that time, the workers in the factory seemed to feel that they had a backbone, were disobedient, and knew that they were causing trouble. Is it a big trouble? As a capitalist, he didn't want to go back to that time.

"An enemy that can be controlled is better than an uncontrollable enemy."

Aziva obviously had a clear idea, "With Gastenth's Elena can no longer be eliminated by force, and no one will support one regime to launch a war against another regime that may have a great magician. Therefore, in order to adapt to and accept the existence of Elena, we must reduce the points that we can be attacked. The remnants of the Federation of Trade Unions Party are an instability factor. Once they contact Elena, we will be very passive. Instead of letting them engage in underground politics outside of control, it is better to move them all to the top, just like the previous Federation of Trade Unions Party, where we can see it. In this way, we are better prepared."

"I understand, grandpa."

"I tell you all this, don't be upset. Although Rand Company is important, my position is even more important. I am already seventy-three years old. It is not easy to sit in the position of acting president. I will be elected sooner or later. You are my grandson and the best child in our Rand family. I hope you can participate in the election."

Daniel, who had a relaxed look, was stunned when he heard his grandfather's words. He thought for a few seconds, got up and bowed.

"Grandpa, I understand."

"In addition, I have begun to arrange personnel to re-convene the original staff of the Scepter Mage Tower, especially the researchers. We need an answer to whether Gastenth can release magic and how it releases magic. Just know this, don't promote it everywhere."

"I know, grandpa."

"Also, the recruitment of the rebels of the Federation of Workers' Union Party is the most critical step for us to change our communist policy. If we can successfully recruit, we will have the strongest political capital. I want you to go, but your mother disagrees and says it is too dangerous. I will tell you now whether to go or not, you will decide for yourself."

Go to recruit the remnants of the Federation of Workers' Unions? Go to a place that may be killed at any time? yourself?

"I'll go!"

Daniel did not hesitate for too long. If he had a career, his background and family background were almost perfect, but most of them were foreign objects given by others. As an excellent and self-esteem man, he himself also needed a merit to prove himself.

"I'll go, grandpa, you arrange it, I will definitely complete the task!"

———————————————

The Third Republic of Vern, east of Lin.

Cassie Lonagan sat on a flat stone at the entrance of a cave, holding a cigarette in his hand, dazed. In front of him, three gray rabbits were strung into strings and threw them on the ground. The gray rabbits were still alive, with their short limbs occasionally struggling and throwing small pits on the ground.

It has been more than two months since Elena returned. The thing he was most worried about did not happen. His team still existed, and even lived a better life than when he left. The soldiers gradually became familiar with the rules of the jungle and were able to find enough food to fill their stomachs. The military pressure outside also decreased, and the team's activity space was much larger. His two comrades, Yaro Lynch, Tara and Hansen, seemed to have no conflicts. The excitement of seeing him was not like a fake.

"We thought you were dead on the road."

"The tombstones have been carved for you, but you have actually come back. Isn't this a waste?"

Recalling the first sentence of the two meeting, Cassie Lonagan was a little helpless. For some reason, these two people had been in the woods for a long time and their personalities became a little strange.

"Cassi", from afar, Yaro Lynch walked over, followed by a middle-aged man in gray. Cassi Lonagan knew that person, Twerp Lindy, an underground party member responsible for contacting the outside world.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

He stood up and shook hands with Yaro Lynch, hugged Twerp Lindy, and the three of them sat down again next to the string of gray rabbits.

"That's right, Chairman Lonagan." Twerp Lindy is a member of the underground party that the Federation of Trade Unions is building and one of the main internal and external liaisons. Before Cassi Lonagan went to Elena, his team arranged some spies around the activity mountain area, but did not form a system. After Elena returned, Cassi Lonagan attached more importance to intelligence work, so he gradually established this underground organization to maintain contact with the outside world and better determine the direction of the team's progress.

"Some people have come from Fendingen recently, have been to Rewadren and have also appeared nearby. Their leaders are Daniel Rand, Rand Machinery Company--"

"The general manager of Rand Machinery, Aziva Lander's favorite grandson, is known as the best person in the younger generation of Rand family. I know this person, he used to be the boss of my boss."

When Cassie Lonagan said this, he had a smile on his face. Standing at the present moment, he could not imagine how he lived numbly in that noisy, hot and dangerous factory in the dark situation of the future.

"Yes, he spread news everywhere, saying that he wanted to find us, to find you, and wanted to have an interview with you. But he didn't say anything about the interview."

"Interview with me?"

Cassie Lonagan was a little surprised. What is there to talk about with his elite class of society, capitalists, and representatives of inherent strength in society?

"Yes, and he didn't bring too many people, only a dozen soldiers with him, which didn't look like a trap. And from the news of Fendingen, Aziva seemed to be interested in restoring the union of the Golgo factory, but the time has not yet been decided."

Hearing this, Cassie Lonagan suddenly remembered Gastenth's analysis of his base. The man closest to the great magician told him that because of Elena, Fendingen's attitude towards communism would definitely be relaxed and eased, and his base would be able to recover. As for how long it would take, it depends on when those people realized that Gastenth could not release magic.

Thinking of this, Cassie Lonagan no longer hesitated about the consequences of the matter. He stood up, clapped his hands, glanced at the gray rabbit who was no longer struggling on the ground, and gave his own answer.
Chapter completed!