I, transformed into a vampire girl, sparked the Industrial Revolution.

Chapter 119 Amidst the Changing Winds

"Your Highness, we interrogated the assassin multiple times, but she didn't say anything..."

As Alice entered the Secret Intelligence Bureau, Lavinia Olicarts told her that no matter what methods she used, Ella Silverblade wouldn't say a word, which greatly exceeded her expectations. The number of people loyal to Ekevich could be counted on one hand, and these women were probably among them in his harem.

“We know, she definitely won’t tell us. All of Ikevich’s women are like that.”

Alice nodded. The magical markings on Ella Silverblade's body could not be deciphered. These markings, which came at the cost of her life, meant that she could only become Ekevich's slave unless there was a more advanced magical technology that could break such magic.

But Alice wasn't here today to learn about Ella Silverblade. Instead of pinning her hopes on an impossible event, she should turn her attention to the situation at hand—the Secret Intelligence Service's Special Operations Strategic Force had brought a man from the Southern Control Zone, former Admiral Bynd Cliff, who brought them much-needed intelligence, which Alice quickly saw in copy.

"In that case, Ekevich may not be a fool; he is not unaware of our strategic deployment in Brittany."

With hundreds of thousands of troops deployed along the Brittany front and another million along the northern front, Ekevich knew his time was running out. He had transferred most of the southern garrison to the north, a wise move, since the Church's navy had been severely weakened after its annihilation and they wouldn't make any major strategic moves before rebuilding their navy.

"Is this intelligence accurate? Has it been verified?"

This intelligence aligns with Alice's strategic analysis, but she still asked one more question. Lavinia nodded: "This intelligence indicates that trenches have been deployed in the town of Alsi on the side of the Central Hu Qun, and a magic regiment composed entirely of mages has been allocated, numbered the 442nd Magic Infantry Division."

"Tell me about this magic army."

"You may have heard of the automatic magic projectiles, or rather, the magic automatic rifles, that we captured?"

Alice nodded. She had heard of that thing before; it was basically a product made from supplied materials. But it turned out to be surprisingly useful in actual combat. Ms. Le Belle, who researched magical weapons, even went to the Amelanxi Armory for a comprehensive study, and she heard that a finished product would be available soon.

"This magic legion is fully equipped with magic automatic rifles. According to intelligence, they are also equipped with magic projectile cannons. According to the Royal Capital Magic Association, these magic projectile cannons can project a level 5 fireball to a distance of 4 kilometers, with an explosive effect comparable to a 155mm howitzer."

Alice frowned and gestured for Lavinia to continue.

"But that's not all. By Yangde's intelligence only indicated that there was a magical infantry division in the direction of Arcee Town, but in reality—"

Lavinia said seriously, "Not only that, our intelligence indicates that Ekevich has more than one magical infantry division—the front-line troops of the Central Lake defense line are indeed ordinary regiments equipped with flintlock rifles, but after that, there are a total of thirty magical infantry divisions, and half of the legions in the Britannia region are magical infantry divisions."

A year has passed, and it's not just them whose strength is rapidly expanding; Ekwerk and Amelanc are also growing bigger and bigger, and the leakage of technology is becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

"Why? They didn't have the Industrial Revolution, did they?"

Lavinia took out a brown paper bag and handed its contents to Alice, who became increasingly surprised as she looked at it.

"Ekevich appointed a Minister of Industry, the legendary mage Silus Nia, the new president of the Imperial Capital Mage Association. The people of the Imperial Capital call her a genius mage who is one in a hundred years."

"I really envy him. He can make girls fall head over heels for him in just a moment."

Alice tossed the file on Sirus Nia aside; needless to say, she knew what had happened to Sirus Nia.

"But this isn't her achievement alone; a major case has recently come up."

Lavinia gestured for Alice to look at the next document. Alice glanced at it and gradually gritted her teeth—this was no simple technology leak!

"The case of Hilla Fool's Machine Factory reselling lathes was initially thought to be just a money smuggling operation, but during those maritime inspections, we traced the crew files of the smuggling ships—thanks to Byrd's intelligence, we learned that this was a premeditated operation by the Southern rebels to acquire our machine tool technology and mechanical manufacturing technology."

"These traitors!"

The case of the Hilla Fools Machine Factory reselling lathes was recently cracked, but their operation had already begun at the end of last year. A large number of lathes were packed and transported from the port of Hilla to cargo ships registered as "Brittania". These cargo ships did indeed head south, but they would stop at the coast of the southern controlled area before arriving in Brittany. Then these machine tools would be transported to the capital.

Early magical automatic rifles were also transported in this way, but in a more aboveboard manner, directly from Brittany into the southern controlled area. It was only after the border patrols in Brittany were strengthened that the method of direct docking was changed.

"But they can't possibly digest all that stuff so quickly, can they?"

Alice asked in confusion, and Lavinia gestured for her to look at the next document: "The Desert Empire? They're involved too?"

Lavinia nodded: "Our Watchers operations in Hilla and Trian have dismantled several Southern underground organizations and arrested hundreds of Southern spies. Among them was a gentleman who, despite claiming to have no dealings with the South, we found clues that he had contact with Southern spies."

"Moreover, our underground organization in the capital has also traced the routes of contact between the southern and desert empires, and not only them, but also the Balkan Empire."

Alice looked at Lavinia, who sighed.

"If the South wants to reach the Desert Empire, it must go through the Balkan Empire. If it doesn't allow it, it can only bypass the Church, but that would mean entering the Church's controlled waters, which is not safe."

Alice nodded. She had long expected the technology to spread, but she hadn't anticipated it would happen so quickly.

"Those magical automatic rifles in the south are the result of a joint production between the Desert Empire and the Balkan Empire. What did you use to trade with that bastard Ekevich?"

Alice flipped directly to the back of the document: in exchange for the sovereignty of the unified Crimson Empire of Provence, merchant ships from both countries were allowed tax exemption.

"Traitor!"

Alice said angrily, but then calmed down immediately: "Give the National Defense Council an overview of the South's military strength and ask them to assess it."

"Yes, Your Highness!"