Reincarnated with the Country System-Chapter 179: Beginning of a New Era

Lata, Capital of Latvia—Occupied Territory

Hans leaned against the cold stone wall, tearing off a chunk of bread with his teeth. The city of Lata, once the proud capital of the Kingdom of Latvia, was now under their complete control.

The streets were eerily silent, save for the occasional distant shouts of soldiers securing the last remnants of resistance. Smoke from scattered fires still lingered in the air, a grim reminder of the battle that had taken place only hours ago.

As he chewed, the rhythmic sound of boots approached. An officer came to a sharp halt before him and snapped a salute.

"Sir, we have disarmed all enemy guards, captains, and knights within the city. Total prisoner count—17,500."

Hans swallowed the last bite of his bread and wiped his hands on his coat before responding.

"Good work. Have we secured the entire city?"

"Yes, sir. Our forces have full control. The four main gates are locked down, each with heavily fortified checkpoints. No one enters or leaves without our clearance. Additionally, we have arrested approximately 3,000 government officials. As for the city's prisons, we've released about 25,000 inmates—most of them detained for political reasons. We're currently in the process of verifying their identities."

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

Hans gave a slight nod, his sharp eyes scanning the darkened streets. Everything was falling into place.

"Good. Ensure the prisoners are treated according to protocol. We're not here to slaughter civilians or abuse captives. This is an occupation, not a massacre."

The officer hesitated for a moment, shifting slightly before speaking again.

"Sir, if I may ask… I need clarification on something."

Hans turned his full attention to him. "Go ahead."

"Prince Eric has gathered people at the city center. He's preparing to give a speech. Did you authorize this, sir?"

Hans' expression hardened. His jaw tensed slightly.

"I wasn't informed of this."

For a moment, there was silence between the two men.

Then, Hans pushed himself off the wall, adjusting his belt with deliberate precision.

"Get me a detail of men. We're going to the city center. Now."

The officer saluted immediately. "Yes, sir!"

Hans' eyes narrowed as he marched forward, his mind already calculating the possibilities.

Why was Prince Eric making a speech without approval?

And more importantly—who was he trying to reach?

★★★

Prince Eric of Latvia stood on the grand balcony of the royal palace, gazing down at the sea of people gathered in Lata's central square. The city—his city—was finally back under his rule. For two long years, he had been a prince without a throne, forced into exile by his own brother, King Caspian. Now, after years of struggle and war, the people of Latvia were free from Caspian's oppressive rule.

The sunlight bathed the city in golden hues as the banners of Latvia fluttered in the wind. The streets were packed with people—men, women, and even children, all cheering, all waiting to hear their prince speak. Many waved the Latvian flag, while others simply raised their fists in triumph. There was an energy in the air, a deep relief that the war had ended, that their suffering was over.

Eric took a deep breath. He had dreamed of this moment for so long. Now, he had to make sure his words mattered.

The crowd fell silent as he stepped forward.

"My people, my brothers and sisters of Latvia! Today, we reclaim our home! Today, we are free!"

A thunderous roar of approval erupted from the crowd.

Eric raised his hand, and the people quieted once more.

"For two years, we suffered under the rule of my brother, Caspian. He turned against his own people. He betrayed our values, our traditions, and our honor. He bled this country dry, taxed the poor to fill his treasuries, and silenced those who dared to stand against him. But today—" Eric paused, his eyes scanning the faces below him. "Today, we say NO MORE!"

Another wave of cheers shook the city.

Eric's voice grew stronger, filled with both emotion and conviction.

"I was forced to flee this city. I was hunted, branded a traitor, and driven from my own homeland. But I never stopped fighting for you. I never stopped believing that Latvia deserved better. And neither did you! You—the people of this great nation—you never gave up! You resisted! You fought back! And now, together, we have WON!"

People embraced each other, tears in their eyes. Others shouted his name in celebration.

"Prince Eric! Prince Eric! Prince Eric!"

Eric let them chant for a moment before continuing.

"But this victory is not mine alone. It belongs to every man and woman who took up arms to fight for their homeland. It belongs to those who suffered under tyranny and never lost hope. It belongs to the brave soldiers who gave their lives so that we could stand here today, free!"

The energy in the crowd shifted—some people lowered their heads in remembrance, while others clenched their fists in quiet determination.

Eric nodded. They needed to remember.

"But this is only the beginning," he continued, his voice steady. "Freedom is not enough. We must rebuild. We must heal. We must become stronger than ever before!"

He took a step closer to the edge of the balcony.

"I swear to you, my people, as your rightful ruler—I will not rest until Latvia prospers! We will rebuild our homes! We will restore our economy! We will ensure that no child goes hungry and no family lives in fear! We will make Latvia great again!"

The crowd erupted once more, their voices filled with hope.

Then, Eric paused, his expression turning serious.

"But we did not achieve this victory alone."

The crowd quieted, listening intently.

"In our darkest hour, when all seemed lost, we had an ally who stood by our side. An ally who believed in our cause, who helped us in secret while the world turned its back on us. And today, I stand before you to declare—

The Bernard Empire is Latvia's greatest ally!"

A mix of gasps and cheers rippled through the crowd. Although many people don't know anything about Bernard Empire. But they understand that prince talk about those strange army.

Eric continued, his eyes burning with determination.

"Without their support, we might not be standing here today. They believed in our cause, and they helped us fight for our freedom. And from this day forward, Latvia and the Bernard Empire shall stand together as brothers-in-arms!"

A powerful cheer erupted from the people, shaking the very foundations of the city.

Eric let the excitement settle before delivering his final words.

"Now, let us move forward. Let us rebuild. Let us take our rightful place in this world! Latvia will rise again, stronger than ever before!"

The entire city erupted in celebration.

People hugged each other, waved flags, and sang songs of freedom. For the first time in years, Lata was filled with joy instead of fear, hope instead of despair.

Prince Eric stood tall, watching his people with pride.

Latvia was free.

And this was only the beginning.

However, amidst the celebration, a group of soldiers advanced through the crowd. Hans was leading them.

His expression was unchanging.

He entered directly and approached Eric.

Eric, still basking in the aftermath of his speech, turned his gaze toward Hans

"General, you're just in time."

Hans said nothing. He looked at the crowd, then back at the prince.

"Prince Eric, I want to ask... who authorized this speech of yours?"

Eric raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Does a prince need permission to address his own people?"

Hans did not waver. "In a city that has just fallen, one under military control, every action must be coordinated. A speech of this scale, in front of thousands, without prior notice… it's risky."

Eric's expression hardened slightly. "Are you questioning me, Hans?"

There was a brief pause.

"I'm ensuring stability. I'm in charge here! So everything that happens here must be under my command. Also, our forces have just secured Lata. The enemy has surrendered, but there may still be some groups loyal to Caspian who might try to do something reckless. A large public gathering creates an opportunity for them. So I hope you don't do this kind of activity again."

Eric watched him.

He understand Hans was right. The war was not over just because the capital had fallen. There would still be remnants of Caspian's forces, nobles who had profited under his rule, spies who lurked in the shadows.

♦♦♦

Strom is riding ahead with a few of his trusted men. He secretly left their camp at night. Because he has lost his main trump card.

His prisoners.

Strom's army consisted of over thirty thousand nobles soldiers, and if they knew about the events at Fort George, they would have captured or killed Strom. So he fled that night with his loyal men.

This was his downfall.

Everything was going so well, why is this happening!? That Bernard Empire, those Mother Fuckers! It's all their fault. I've lost everything again!