C24 Pleading Poverty

The Minister of Armaments suddenly interjected, flipping to a different schematic, his face twisted in pure confusion.

"Imperator, what the f*ck is this?"

I glanced over at the blueprint he was holding.

Oh. That one. I smirked.

"Ah, that,"

I said, taking another drag of my cigar before flicking the glowing ashes onto the marble floor.

"That, gentlemen, is a rocket propelled grenade launcher aka the Infantrys best friend against enemy panzers"

The Minister of Armaments gave me a look as if I had just told him that horses could fly.

"A what?"

I sighed.

"Think of it as a portable cannon."

The minister of war squinted at the schematic, his expression unreadable.

"It looks… too small to be a cannon."

"That's the beauty of it,"

I said.

"A single soldier can carry it, fire it, and reload in seconds."

The minister of Industry, still skeptical, frowned.

"How does it work?"

I exhaled through my nose.

"Alright, let me break it down."

I stood up, walking around the long mahogany table, stopping beside the Minister of War.

"This,"

I tapped the blueprint,

"Is a launcher. A tube, essentially. The soldier places the grenade inside, shoulders the weapon, and fires."

The Minister of Armaments raised an eyebrow.

"Fires it… how?"

I grinned.

"By launching a high explosive, armor penetrating rocket at speeds of over 300 meters per second."

Silence. Then, the Minister of Industry coughed violently, nearly choking.

"Wait, wait, wait,"

He gasped, waving his hand.

"You're saying this thing fires explosive projectiles faster than any crossbow bolt or cannon shot we've ever seen?"

I nodded.

"Not only that, but it's designed to punch straight through enemy armor. One hit, and a tank's turret could be completely disabled."

The ministers of war eyes widened slightly.

"A panzer killer… that a single soldier can carry?"

I grinned, nodding. The Minister of War leaned forward, his mind already spinning with calculations, his face flushed, his breathing heavy he looked like he was about to jump onto me as If I was a defensless girl and ravage me on the spot.

F*CK DUDE I DONT SWING THAT WAY.

I thought my face full of dark lines.

"This would make infantry far more dangerous than ever before,"

He muttered.

"They wouldn't have to rely on slow, cumbersome artillery support to deal with enemy armor… they could take out tanks by themselves."

I smirked.

"And that's exactly why we'll be arming our entire infantry with them."

I took a final drag from my cigar, exhaling slowly as I looked at the excited, almost delirious, expressions on the faces of my ministers.

They were too engrossed in the designs, flipping through schematics like children discovering a long lost treasure.

The Minister of War was practically panting over the assault rifle blueprint, while the Minister of Armaments clutched the RPG schematics as if it were his newborn child.

Even the Minister of Industry, the most cautious of the bunch, was muttering under his breath about mass production possibilities, his quill scratching furiously over his notes.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"Alright, that's enough,"

I said, waving my hand dismissively.

"Take the f*cking blueprints, make the necessary preparations, and get out."

The Ministers blinked. The Minister of Industry, hesitated.

"Imperator, surely there are other matters to discuss..."

I cut him off with a sharp glare.

"Did I stutter?"

They immediately shot up from their seats, clutching their precious blueprints as if they were afraid I'd change my mind and snatch them back.

One by one, they filed out of the study, still murmuring to themselves in excitement.

I heard snippets of conversation as they passed through the doors, their voices buzzing like a nest of hyperactive hornets.

"…If we implement these reforms, our production output will triple..."

"...Did you see that sniper rifle?! A weapon that can punch through walls?!"

"...Our infantry tactics need to be restructured entirely… these weapons change everything!"

Their enthusiasm was palpable.

And for a moment, as the heavy wooden doors shut behind them, silence once again settled in the study.

I sighed heavily, sinking back into my chair. For all their excitement, I had a more important task ahead. I didn't have to wait long.

Within minutes, the death squad paratroopers stationed outside my study door announced the arrival of the Gunderian Empire's ambassador.

I sat up straight, rolling my shoulders, forcing my entire demeanor to shift. This wasn't about dominance. This wasn't about power. No. This was about playing the fool.

I smoothed my service uniform, plastered a submissive and humble look on my face, and prepared to grovel like no man had groveled before.

The heavy doors swung open, and in walked the ambassador.

A tall, broad shouldered man with slicked back blond hair, dressed in the immaculate steel gray uniform of the Gunderian Empire.

His eyes were sharp, filled with the cold arrogance of a man who represented a nation that considered itself superior to all others.

As he took his first step into the room, I rose to my feet instantly, my face plastered with a wide, nervous smile.

"Ah, esteemed Ambassador Wilhelm von Stauffenberg!"

I gushed, bowing slightly just enough to show submission, but not too much to make it obvious.

The ambassador barely concealed his sneer, his blue eyes filled with barely veiled contempt as he examined me from head to toe, as if appraising a particularly pathetic beggar, seemed like just as I had written he didnt bellive what his spies and Informants had told him about how the coup de tat went down, thank the g*ds.

"Imperator,"

He drawled, his voice dripping with condescension.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to my forehead as if the weight of the world was crashing down on me.

"Ah, Ambassador, if only you knew the desperate state my beloved ducatum is in!"

I lamented, shaking my head in mock despair. The ambassador arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"I see."

I nodded vigorously, stepping closer, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Our coffers are empty, Ambassador. Empty! The ducatum is struggling just to keep its people fed, let alone maintain a standing army."

I took a step forward, my expression one of absolute wretchedness.

"Your Excellency, if I don't secure aid soon, my enemies will tear my nation apart!"

I clasped my hands together like a desperate peasant begging for scraps. Wilhelm tilted his head, his expression unreadable, but I could see the disdain in his eyes.

"You expect aid… from us?"

He asked dryly. I nodded rapidly.

"Yes! Yes, exactly! I am merely a humble ruler trying to hold my country together. We have no resources, no weapons, and worst of all..."

I lowered my voice dramatically.

"We have no panzers."

The ambassador's lips twitched. A flicker of amusement passed through his cold eyes. I had him.

"Ah,"

He mused, rubbing his chin.

"You seek… support."

I nodded frantically.

"Precisely, Your Excellency! But I understand, of course, that nothing comes for free…"

Wilhelm smirked, stepping closer.

"Go on."

I exhaled, shaking my head as if the words pained me to say.

"As a token of goodwill, I am prepared to return the dockyard province that my predecessors… regretfully acquired from the Gunderian Empire centuries ago."

The room fell silent. Wilhelm stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing.

The dockyard province was a thorn in their side, one of the biggest humiliations in their history. It was a key naval asset, and its return would greatly benefit their gearing for war machine after all their goal was to wipe the floor with black suns empires navy.

I could see the temptation in his expression. But I wasn't done. I had one more card to play. I leaned forward, lowering my voice even further.

"And, in addition to that… I am willing to aid your great Empire against the Polarian threat."

Wilhelm's eyes widened slightly, just for a fraction of a second. Then. He smiled. A slow, victorious smile.

"You would… align yourself with us against the Polarians?"

His voice was soft, as if he couldn't believe his own ears. I nodded, pretending to hesitate.

"Of course, only in an advisory role for now,"

I murmured.

"But should an official alliance be necessary… well… let's just say I am not opposed to the idea."

The ambassador's smirk widened. He thought he had won. He thought I was a weak, desperate ruler, selling my own lands and honor for mere scraps. Perfect. Well I kinda was. Wilhelm straightened, adjusting his cuffs.

"Very well, Imperator. The Gunderian Empire shall extend limited military assistance to the Spartanum Ducatum."

I inwardly grinned.

"And what would that assistance entail?"

I asked cautiously.

Wilhelm sighed dramatically, as if this deal was such a burden for him.

"I believe we can provide… 360 Panzer II tanks."

I forced my eyes to widen in faux shock.

"Truly, Your Excellency?! I am humbled! Overwhelmed!"

Wilhelm smirked, clearly reveling in my pathetic display.