Reincarnated with a Country Creation System

November 15th, 1939 – Volkshalle, Valoria.

The strategy chamber within Volkshalle buzzed with muted activity as aides hurriedly passed documents and whispered updates into each other's ears. Alexander sat at the head of the long, polished table, his ever-present mask reflecting the soft glow of the overhead light. Julieanne, seated to his right, scanned the latest reports from Ruthenia, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She adjusted her glasses before speaking.

"Your Excellency," she began, her tone steady, "the situation in Ruthenia is worsening by the hour. Reports indicate that revolutionary factions are uniting under a loose coalition. The Tsar's forces are stretched thin, and key cities are slipping out of his control."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, his gloved fingers steepled. "And how has the rest of Europe responded?"

Julieanne flipped to another page in her folder. "Predictably. Britannia and Francois have issued statements urging calm while offering no concrete assistance. Triesenberg, of course, is concerned about the potential spillover. They're bolstering their borders and preparing for a wave of refugees. Fredonia is maintaining its distance, as always."

A faint chuckle escaped Alexander's lips. "And what of Ruthenia's Tsar? Does he cling to his crumbling throne?"

"He does," Julieanne replied. "But his speeches have lost their power. The people no longer listen. Even some within his military are rumored to be defecting to the revolutionaries."

Alexander's masked face turned toward her. "Excellent."

Julieanne blinked, her composure faltering for a moment. "Excellent, Your Excellency? Forgive me, but I fail to see how chaos in Ruthenia benefits Valoria. Their instability could spill across borders, disrupting trade and creating unforeseen complications."

Alexander leaned forward, the edge of his tone sharpening. "You misunderstand, Julieanne. This is not mere chaos. This is an opportunity—one I have anticipated for years."

Julieanne tilted her head, curiosity replacing her confusion. "You've been waiting for this? Since when?"

Alexander's voice carried the weight of conviction. "Since the day I realized that Valoria's rise would not be cemented through strength alone but through the dismantling of the old world order. Europe is ruled by monarchs clinging to outdated ideals of divine right and inherited power. Ruthenia is merely the first domino."

Her brows furrowed. "And the revolution in Ruthenia is the angle you've been seeking?"

"Precisely," Alexander said. "The world believes in stability, in the status quo. But revolutions have a way of shattering those illusions. They destabilize governments, erode institutions, and, most importantly, inspire the masses. The oppressed in one nation see the oppressed in another rising up, and they begin to question their own rulers. That questioning is contagious."

Julieanne leaned back, digesting his words. "So, your plan is to assist the Ruthenian revolutionaries?"

Alexander nodded. "Help them, fund them, arm them. But not openly—such actions must remain clandestine. The world must not suspect Valoria's involvement."

Julieanne crossed her arms, skepticism flickering in her eyes. "But why? What does Valoria gain from a successful revolution in Ruthenia?" Discover hidden stories at empire

Alexander's voice turned colder, calculated. "Julieanne, revolutions do not stop at borders. If Ruthenia falls, the idea of revolution will spread. Triesenberg, Britannia, even Francois—they all have populations burdened by inequality, by archaic systems of governance. A spark in Ruthenia could set Europe ablaze. Monarchs would fall like chess pieces, one by one. In the aftermath, Valoria could emerge not as a kingdom but as a guiding power in a new order."

Julieanne's lips pressed into a thin line. "And Triesenberg?"

Alexander's tone shifted, carrying a hint of satisfaction. "Ah, Triesenberg. They've long prided themselves on being a bastion of imperial strength. But revolutions terrify monarchies. The fear of losing power makes them paranoid, reactive. Triesenberg will expend its resources trying to contain the spread of rebellion, weakening itself from within."

"And once they're weakened?" Julieanne asked.

"Valoria strikes," Alexander said simply. "Not with brute force but with precision. We offer stability where they offer fear. Their people, tired of imperial rule, will look to us for guidance. And when the time comes, Triesenberg will either submit or collapse entirely."

Julieanne exhaled, her mind racing through the implications. "It's bold, Your Excellency. But revolutions are unpredictable. Even if Ruthenia succeeds, how can you be certain the movement will spread?"

Alexander's gloved hand gestured toward the folder in front of her. "History, Julieanne. Every revolution begins with a crack in the system, a single event that exposes the vulnerability of power. Ruthenia's massacre was that crack. The people of Europe are watching. They see the Tsar faltering, his once-mighty empire crumbling under the weight of its own contradictions. They will ask themselves: If it can happen there, why not here?"

Julieanne tapped her pen against the table. "And the revolutionaries? How do we approach them?"

"Through intermediaries," Alexander replied. "Find discontented merchants, sympathetic intellectuals, even criminal networks. Supply them with funds, weapons, and information. Ensure they have the means to sustain their uprising."

"And what of the risks?" Julieanne pressed. "If this backfires, if the revolution fails, Valoria's fingerprints—however faint—could draw the ire of the old powers."

Alexander's voice was steady, unwavering. "Every great endeavor carries risk. But consider this: The old powers are already suspicious of us. They see Valoria's strength as a threat. Whether we act or not, they will seek to contain us. The difference is, by acting, we shape the outcome. By standing idle, we merely react."

Julieanne nodded slowly, her skepticism giving way to cautious agreement. "It's... audacious. But I see the logic."

Alexander leaned back, a faint note of satisfaction in his tone. "Audacity is what separates leaders from followers, Julieanne. Valoria was not built on timidity."

She closed her folder, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Very well, Your Excellency. I'll begin identifying intermediaries and drafting plans for covert assistance to the revolutionaries."

"Good," Alexander said. "But remember, timing is everything. We act too soon, and we expose ourselves. We act too late, and the opportunity slips away."

Julieanne stood, gathering her materials. "Understood, Your Excellency. I'll ensure the plans are ready for your review within the week."

As she turned to leave, Alexander spoke again, his voice softer yet no less commanding. "Julieanne."

She paused, glancing back.

"History is not written by those who wait. It is written by those who seize the moment. Let us ensure that Valoria is remembered not as a bystander, but as the architect of a new era."

Julieanne inclined her head. "Of course, Your Excellency."

As the door closed behind her, Alexander remained seated, his gaze fixed on the flickering light of the chamber's single lamp. The revolution in Ruthenia was only the beginning, a spark that could ignite a fire across Europe. And in that fire, he saw Valoria's future forged—stronger, bolder, and unchallenged.