"Our observers on the Paris front line, although unable to prevent the fall of the city, collected a large amount of data on the Saxons' new high-power weapons and the Gauls' use of 'Mage Towers' for defensive operations."
A rare fanatical light flashed in the eyes of the usually calm Graham: "The most important thing is that the Gauls' way of using the Mage Tower gave us great inspiration. They inadvertently helped us complete some key experiments... This proves that through specific magitech arrays, it is indeed possible to leverage energy far beyond the level of the spellcaster themselves."
Victoria: "What do you want to say?"
"These data helped us verify a theoretical model that has troubled the Mage Corps for many years."
Graham took a deep breath and looked up towards the throne: "Your Majesty, after emergency discussions within the Mage Corps over the past few days, we believe that the long-shelved 'Antarctica Project'... can now be launched."
Hearing the keyword "Antarctica Project," the faces of all ministers present changed.
Even Churchill and Kitchener, who had been excitedly calling for a counterattack, shut their mouths, wondering what they were thinking.
The "Antarctica Project" was a top-secret plan known only to a few high-ranking officials in the Empire, a grand project marked as "Wonder" level.
And Queen Victoria's expression finally changed noticeably, her gaze deepening.
"Graham, do you know what you are saying?"
The Queen's voice became unusually serious: "The resources required for that project are astronomical, requiring the power of the entire nation... In this wartime state, every ton of steel, every Magic Crystal is crucial! Is the Highland Mage Corps sure about launching it at a time like this?"
"Very sure, Your Majesty."
Graham straightened his back: "The observation results of the Eiffel Tower proved the feasibility of that theory! As long as we build that unprecedented Mage Tower at that 'point' in Antarctica... once the project is completed, the power it releases will no longer be limited to the battlefield."
"By then, whether it's the Saxon army or that so-called 'Mage Killer,' they will be as insignificant as ants before absolute power."
"That will be a victory once and for all."
Master Graham opened his arms as if he were a different person, as if he had already seen that scene.
"The rule of the Empire will achieve true 'eternity' under your reign."
Victoria fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop in the hall. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the Queen's decision.
This was not only a military decision but also a gamble concerning the fate of the Empire.
After a long time, Victoria closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again.
"I need to see evidence." She said coldly, "Empty words cannot convince me to empty the treasury. Let the Mage Corps produce a sufficiently detailed feasibility report and preliminary experimental data."
"As long as it can be proven feasible..."
Victoria stood up, her black skirt spreading out in front of the throne.
"I will approve this plan..."
Graham bowed deeply, a satisfied smile appearing on his face: "Yes, Your Majesty... You will see it."
Victoria ignored his salute and turned to look at Kitchener, Churchill, and the others.
"As for you..." Her voice returned to its previous sternness, "Execute according to the plan you just mentioned—win over allies, land in the Balkans, counterattack on the Western Front... use all means available."
"I don't care how difficult the process is, nor how many people have to be sacrificed."
Victoria paused: "I hope to see this damn war end in the first half of 1915, understood?"
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
The ministers of various departments responded in unison, their voices loud, but everyone's heart was heavy.
Ending a war that has involved half the world in half a year?
This was simply an impossible mission...
But facing this Queen who was obviously on the verge of rage, no one dared to say half a word of "no."
"Withdraw." Victoria waved her hand, "Master Graham and the people from the Directorate of Military Intelligence stay."
The ministers felt as if they had been granted amnesty, bowing one after another and exiting the Audience Chamber.
The heavy door slowly closed, cutting the space inside the hall into a closed private place again.
Only Graham and two middle-aged officers in black uniforms were left—the Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the Chief of Section 6, which had just been established under him specifically responsible for foreign espionage operations.
The dull sound of the door closing tightened the hearts of the three remaining people.
Victoria spoke again, but this time she lowered her voice, her tone revealing a disturbing coldness.
"Major Cavendish, found him?"
As soon as this question came out, a layer of fine sweat instantly seeped out on the forehead of the Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence.
"Your Majesty..."
He swallowed with difficulty and then replied: "Very regrettable, according to the information we obtained... the liaison team Major Cavendish belonged to lost contact on the day the Liège Fortress fell."
"Current signs indicate that he should have been captured by the Saxons."
"Captured?" Victoria's gaze instantly became as sharp as a knife, "You should be very clear about his identity, and even clearer about what's in his brain!"
Major Cavendish, on the surface, was just a senior liaison officer of Britannia, but in fact, he was also a secret intelligence agent of the Directorate of Military Intelligence.
At the same time, he also came from the Cavendish family, whose leader had another more widely known title—Duke of Devonshire.
But these were not the most important things.
The most important thing was that he was one of the field supervisors of the "Prometheus Project."
If this intelligence fell into the hands of the Saxons... the consequences would be unimaginable.
And the disappearance of Major Cavendish was also the biggest failure of the military intelligence department since the start of the war.
They originally thought the Liège Fortress was indestructible; who would have thought that the Saxons would use such unbelievable tactics to knock open the door within a few days.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we are very clear."
The Director hurriedly lowered his head, daring not to look directly into the Queen's eyes.
"Based on the risk that the 'Prometheus Project' may have been leaked, I suggest... immediate action must be taken."
"Action?" Victoria sneered, "The person has been lost for over a month, and you only remember to take action now?"
She turned her gaze to the Chief of Section 6 standing behind the Director.
"Tell me, where are your people?"
The Chief of Section 6 was a seemingly ordinary middle-aged man, the type who couldn't be found if thrown into a crowd.
At this moment, his face also looked somewhat ugly.
"Your Majesty, our special operations team... actually arrived in the territory of the Gallic Republic with the Expeditionary Force half a month ago." The Chief answered cautiously, "But..."
"But what?"
"But due to the previous collapse of the Expeditionary Force, in order to preserve their strength, most of the Highland Mages accompanying the army withdrew to the main island or retreated to the rear safety zone."
The Chief glanced at Master Graham beside him, with a hint of subtle complaint in his tone.
"Without the assistance of Highland Mages, it is difficult for our people to secretly approach the operation area."
This sentence was very euphemistic, but everyone present understood the meaning.
This was complaining that the Highland Mage Corps was uncooperative.
Victoria's gaze also shifted to Master Graham.
"Your Majesty, the Highland Mage Corps will of course fully support the Empire's actions."
Master Graham replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: "But I hope the Military Intelligence can formulate a complete and secure plan... We cannot let the Empire's precious mages be lost needlessly in a reckless action with insufficient preparation."
"Enough."
The Queen's cold voice interrupted the subtle confrontation between the two.
"I don't want to hear you shifting blame here. I only want results! The 'Prometheus Project' was proposed by you before. At that time, each of you emphasized how important this plan was, but what about the result?"
Victoria took a deep breath and then gave an ultimatum to the three.
"Within a week, I need both sides to jointly formulate an operation plan and then execute it at an opportune time, understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Alright, withdraw..."
After the three saluted, they hurriedly exited the hall.
When only Victoria was left in the hall, she leaned wearily on the throne and rubbed her temples.
The rain outside the window was still falling, beating against the glass pane, making a disturbing sound.
"Friedrich Morin..."
She murmured this name in a low voice, her gaze cast towards the gloomy sky in the east.
Although they had never met, the intuition of a ruler told her that this young Saxon officer might become the biggest variable in this war.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the channel.
In the camp of the Instruction Unit on the outskirts of Koblenz, Morin, who was burying his head in handling official documents, suddenly sneezed without warning.
"Achoo—!"
This sound was incredibly loud, startling Manstein who had just walked into the office to report on work.
"Sir, did you catch a cold?" Manstein asked with concern, "The weather is getting cooler recently, you should take care of your health."
"I'm fine..." Morin rubbed his nose, feeling somewhat baffled, "Probably some bastard is cursing me behind my back."
He shook his head, shaking that sudden feeling of chill out of his mind, and then took the document from Manstein's hand.
"Is this the training plan for new recruits?"
"Yes, sir."
Manstein immediately entered work mode: "In these few days, replenishment soldiers and officers will arrive one after another. According to your request, we will break the original organizational structure, mix them with veterans, and directly start tactical integration training."
"Very good, speed up the progress... I will also participate in the training personally."