Chapter 140 Before the Avalanche Comes…

Graham’s slightly sarcastic counter-question left everyone speechless.

The facts were undeniable.

No matter how difficult the motive was to understand, the appearance of [Silence] pointed the finger of suspicion in a direction no one had anticipated.

Finally, the Chief Archmage slowly spoke, ending the discussion.

“Regardless of who did it, pursuing that now is futile.”

“Vienna’s fury has reached its peak. The clouds of war are darkening the whole of Europa.”

“Our task now is not to solve this mystery but to prepare Her Majesty the Queen for the storm that is about to break.”

His words silenced all the Archmages present.

Yes, when the avalanche named ‘World War’ was about to engulf all the nations of the European continent, it was meaningless to dwell on which snowflake started it.

And in the days that followed, every single snowflake in Europa began its own journey.

June 29th, the day after Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination.

Before the Austro-Hungarian government released its statement assigning the blame, an emergency Imperial meeting was convened at the Hofburg Palace.

Everyone in the conference room wore grim faces. No one spoke.

Only Field Marshal Conrad, the Chief of the Army General Staff, paced back and forth in the room, the sound of his boots clicking on the marble floor jarring everyone’s nerves.

This time, there was no one left to check the power of the Imperial hawks led by him.

The death of Archduke Ferdinand had removed the last central figure of the peace faction.

Even the politicians who were normally the strongest advocates for peace could not find any justification for resolving the matter through diplomatic channels now.

The Empire’s Crown Prince had been blown to smithereens by a fireball spell in broad daylight, on the Empire’s own soil…

If the Empire failed to respond with the strongest possible action, the outside world would only perceive that this ancient, massive Empire had become a lamb ready for slaughter.

“War!”

Conrad finally stopped pacing. He slammed his palm violently onto the conference table.

“Our only choice is war!”

His voice echoed through the empty conference room, carrying an undeniable sense of grim resolve.

Over the next two hours, Conrad alone dictated the direction of the entire meeting.

According to later counts, Conrad used the word ‘war’ one hundred and twenty-seven times during the emergency meeting that decided the fate of the Empire.

By the end, the consensus of all attendees was unanimous.

Declare war on the Kingdom of Serbia.

They had to use an undeniable military victory to wash away the humiliation the Empire had suffered and completely resolve the long-standing existential threat lurking in the Balkans.

Afternoon of June 30th, Schönbrunn Palace.

Leopold von Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, presented the final outcome of the meeting to Emperor Franz Joseph I.

The elderly Emperor listened quietly to Berchtold’s report, his wrinkled face betraying no emotion.

He knew clearly that this war had become unavoidable.

But having sat atop the ‘powder keg’ that was the Balkan Peninsula for so many years.

He understood one principle better than anyone present: there was never an isolated war in Europa.

“We can go to war.”

The old Emperor finally spoke.

“But we must first secure the pledge of our ally.”

“Berchtold, you must personally travel to Dresden. I require the guarantee of Emperor Albert II of the Saxon Empire.”

“I need to know that when our troops set foot on Serbian soil, a loyal and powerful ally stands behind us.”

July 5th, Sanssouci Palace, Dresden.

A black automobile, guided by the Royal Guard, slowly drove into the magnificent palace.

The door opened, and Leopold von Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, stepped out. He straightened his collar and looked up at this center of Saxon Imperial power.

Inside Emperor Albert II’s study, Berchtold personally handed the letter from Vienna into the hands of the Saxon Emperor.

The envelope was unadorned, sealed only with a simple wax seal bearing the Habsburg family crest.

Albert II broke the seal and quickly read the letter.

The letter was personally written by Franz Joseph I. The words were filled with the old Emperor’s grief and anger, but the core request was singular.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was about to take military action against the Kingdom of Serbia. Would the Saxon Empire honor the Austro-Saxon Alliance Treaty and stand in complete political and military solidarity with the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

After finishing the letter, Albert II was silent for a moment.

He gently placed the letter on the desk and said to Berchtold:

“I will give His Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph I a clear answer this afternoon.”

Berchtold bowed slightly and left the study.

He knew he had done everything he could.

Now… it was up to the Saxons’ decision.

Soon, Imperial Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg, Chief of Army General Staff Moltke the Younger, and a host of other high-ranking Imperial officials were urgently summoned to Sanssouci Palace.

During the subsequent highest-level Imperial Cabinet meeting, Albert II circulated the Kaiser’s handwritten letter to everyone present.

When the letter reached Chief of General Staff Moltke the Younger, the supreme military commander of the Empire barely hesitated.

“Your Majesty, we must support the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

His tone was resolute.

“The Russian Empire has collapsed, and Serbia has lost its greatest patron. Even if the Gauls or the Britannians want to interfere, their support will be extremely limited.”

“The Austro-Hungarian Empire is fully capable of resolving the Serbian problem definitively through a swift, decisive local war!”

“We can even help the Austro-Hungarian Empire make the annexation of Serbia a fait accompli before the Gauls and the Britannians can launch any substantive reaction.”

Moltke the Younger’s words were affirmed by most of the military generals present.

In their view, this was indeed a golden opportunity.

“Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire resolves the trouble in the Balkans, we can completely consolidate our Eastern Front.”

War Minister Falkenhayn added:

“At that point, even if the Gauls attempt a military adventure, we can concentrate all our forces on the Western Front, and even seize the opportunity to solve their problem once and for all!”

The atmosphere in the conference room gradually intensified. The voices advocating for war held the absolute upper hand.

The last to offer an opinion was Imperial Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg.

The Chancellor, known for his prudence, had a serious expression.

“I also agree to support the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s war against Serbia.”

He spoke slowly, first affirming the military’s proposal.

“However,” he shifted his tone, “we must emphasize one point to Vienna: the war must be swift!”

“The scale of this war must be strictly contained within the Balkan Peninsula.”

“We cannot allow this local conflict to escalate into a continent-sweeping great war! That would not benefit the Empire.”

Albert II nodded. He agreed with the Chancellor’s perspective.

A controllable local war, which both helped an ally and intimidated potential enemies, was in the Saxon Empire’s best interest.

That same afternoon, Albert II met with Berchtold again.

“Minister, please relay this to His Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph I.”

The Emperor’s face held a confident smile.

“The Saxon Empire will act as the most loyal and reliable ally of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, fully supporting any necessary action taken against the Kingdom of Serbia.”

“No matter what happens, even if it leads to Gallic intervention, Dresden’s position will remain completely aligned with Vienna’s.”

“But the prerequisite is that your action must be swift.”

This firm and decisive guarantee utterly relieved Berchtold.

He knew he had secured the one thing the Empire needed most.

This ‘blank check’ from the Saxon Empire would be the final cornerstone for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to launch the war.

As Berchtold left Dresden satisfied, returning to Vienna to report.

The diplomatic stage of the entire European continent presented a bizarre spectacle.

The Holy Britannian Empire, which usually welcomed a chaotic Europe, uncharacteristically and rarely advocated for peace in various international forums.

They called for restraint between Vienna and Belgrade, urging them to resolve the dispute through negotiation to prevent the situation from escalating.

This sudden ‘pacifist’ stance baffled politicians in many countries.

Only a few discerned an unusual underlying motive in Britannia’s abnormal actions.

July 10th, Élysée Palace, Paris.

Night fell. An unmarked carriage quietly stopped at the palace’s side entrance.

Sir Edward Grey, the Holy Britannian Foreign Secretary, quickly walked into the center of power of the Gallic Republic, discreetly guided by a Gallic official.

His purpose for the visit was singular—to hold a top-secret meeting with Raymond Poincaré, President of the Gallic Republic.

Inside the President’s study, there were no attendants, no secretaries. Only Poincaré was waiting for him.

“Sir Grey, I am pleased to see you in Paris.”

Poincaré rose to shake his hand, then led him to the sitting area.

“Although there are always minor frictions between our two nations…”

“I believe our position should be identical when facing the threat from the East.”

The ‘threat from the East’ Poincaré referred to was naturally the increasingly powerful Saxon Empire.

Edward Grey nodded and spoke:

“Mr. President, I believe we both know the consequences of allowing the Austro-Hungarian Empire to swallow Serbia.”

“A Saxon Empire with no threats to its rear will become the most powerful land power on the entire European continent.”

“At that point, whether it is your nation’s Alsace-Lorraine or our joint efforts to transition to the brilliant crystal industry, both will come to nothing.”

Poincaré nodded. He had to admit that Grey’s words resonated deeply with him.

Gaul and Britannia, the two historical rivals with a ‘century of animosity’… shared a surprisingly identical common interest in containing the Saxon Empire.

“So, Vienna’s accusation that you orchestrated the assassination is completely without merit?”

Poincaré quickly shifted the topic, asking the question that concerned him most.

“I swear on my personal honor, and the national credibility of the Holy Britannian Empire.”

Grey’s expression became utterly solemn.

“This time, we absolutely had no involvement in any form.”

“Then this must be a Saxon conspiracy!” Poincaré exclaimed, almost without thinking.

“I agree.”

Grey immediately concurred.

(End of this Chapter)

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