Tyranny of Steel

Months had passed since the day Berengar had turned Ava away and currently, two children were on a train heading towards Kufstein. One of these two kids was the Emperor of the Anangpur Empire, who had spent the last few months travelling on a treacherous journey towards the German Empire. By his side was his younger sister Priya, who gazed out the window of the strange vehicle known as a "train" with an astonished expression on her face.

Compared to the condition she was in when she first set out on this journey, she was much better. The girl was no longer on the brink of death, having not consumed the poison her uncle had prepared for her in months. Her complexion, while pale, was showing signs of her normal hue. She was still frail, but could now walk on her own, at least a certain distance. 

Unlike the normal guests to the Royal Palace of Kufstein, these two children were in a standard coach seat. They were travelling incognito, and could not very well afford to buy a first-class cabin. By their side was the merchant who their cousin Ishwar had paid to bring them to their destination. Until now, they believed they had gone unnoticed. In reality, Linde's agents had long since marked them as persons of interest, and had even staved off a few assassination attempts from their uncle in secret. 

There was a reason they were so easily able to get through German customs. Even the merchant found it strange. Normally, foreign traders had to go to great lengths to get into the Reich. If it were not the central trade hub of Europe, they would not bother doing it. However, the moment the man presented his identification papers to the Trade and immigration officials at the Hungarian border, his cargo was only briefly searched for contraband before being approved. 

The guards only took a short glimpse of the identification papers that had been prepared for the two children. Unless one was a routine traveler to the lands of the Reich, they would be interrogated at extensive length about what they were carrying, the identities of everyone who accompanied them, and the reason for their visit. 

With the recent expansions in Border security, there were only a few ways to safely enter the Reich, and the pathways were covered with refugees and merchants alike. Even now, the merchant was a bit unsettled by how easy it was for him to sneak the kids into the Empire. Dharya and Priya were blissfully unaware of these uncertainties, and instead, Priya gazed out the window with a radiant smile, asking her brother questions about all the wonders she had witnessed. 

"Brother, what is that? Can you see it? It's moving! All on its own! Where are the horses pulling it?"

What the young girl was referring to was a steam powered tractor which had long since replaced animal driven machines as agricultural tools in the fields of Austria. The farmer was pulling a seeder plow through his fields via his tractor with a cheerful smile on his face. Agriculture was a continual focus of Berengar's interests. Believing that no family should ever go hungry, he tried his best to make food plentiful, affordable, and healthy. 

Compared to the Anangpur Empire, where much of the agriculture was done by hand, this was truly a marvelous sight, especially for the little girl who had been confined to the Palace for most of her life. The truth of the matter was, Dharya knew very little about the mysterious German Empire, only what he had heard from his cousin Ishwar.

Hell, he was unaware that Austria had created an Empire until the moment he set foot on his journey. How could possibly know what that tractor was? Unfortunately, due to the story he frequently told Priya while she was alone and sick, the girl believed he was an expert on the subject. Thus, he could only grimace as he admitted his ignorance to the wide eyed little girl. 

"I'm sorry Priya, I don't know the answer to that..."

The girl's expression saddened as she realized she would not get an answer, despite being truly interested in the magnificent device. As if taking pity on the girl, after spending months looking after her, the old merchant broke his silence. 

"That device there is called a tractor. I don't have the damndest clue about how it operates, but it is a major tool of German agriculture. It is capable of doing the work of dozens of beasts and hundreds of men. The device attached to its back is known as the seeder plow and is used to both plow and seed the fields.

Only one man is required to ensure the devices are loaded. After that, he simply sits back and drives the tractor across his plot of land that he wishes to sow. This device is a large reason why Austria is currently known as the breadbasket of the Reich. During my last visit, these things were rare as the technology had just been developed. It would appear that now such tools are commonplace."

Dharya had a mind for politics and immediately understood what this meant. His curiosity got the better of him, and he quickly asked the man the most pertinent question on his mind.

"If so, few hands are needed in the fields, then where did all the peasants go?"

The merchant smiled before informing the exiled Emperor of Anangpur and his little sister of how far advanced Germany was compared to their homeland.

"The reich has no peasants, sure there are farmers, but as you can see, they are fewer than anywhere else I have visited. Instead, the former peasant class is free to work in whatever field they desire. So long as one is capable enough in the reich, they can rise to a lofty position without ever being born in the nobility. It is the reason you see so many people at the borders trying their best to get in.

Of course, the Germans are a proud folk. They take only a few foreigners into their lands. Mostly young women, capable of being wives and mothers, and they insist these women marry German men, and their offsprings marry Germans. Which they are more than willing to do if it means escaping the lives that await them in their homelands. 

It has been a while since I last visited this part of the world, but it appears the Germans are preparing for a major war against their neighbors. The last time I was here, these extensive border defenses did not exist. Heck, it was still known as the Kingdom of Austria back then."

Priya was instantly curious about how rapidly this land had transitioned and the cause for it. The merchant appeared to be a reliable source of information, and thus she quickly asked for more information.

"How did the Kingdom of Austria become the German Empire, and why is the name not the Austrian Empire?"

The old man sighed, before shaking his head, sadly he had to admit that his knowledge was limited.

"Unfortunately, I am not the best man to ask that question. I only know the things I know due to the contacts I have in the Byzantine Empire. They are a major trading partner, an ally of the Reich."

The girl began to pout once more, and upon seeing this, the man felt his heart break. So he decided to speak about what little he knew.

"I will tell you the rumors I have heard, but I cannot guarantee their accuracy. This Empire is ruled by a man known as Berengar von Kufstein. Supposedly seven years ago, he was nothing more than a minor nobleman's firstborn son. 

Apparently, he developed some strange technology that allowed him to mass produce steel. He became exceptionally wealthy very quickly. Berengar tried to stay out of matters of politics, but it would appear his neighbors had other plans. He quickly got into a few small-scale wars and climbed the ranks of the noble hierarchy by defeating his enemies. 

After a series of victories, he found himself the King of an Independent Austria. Where he was universally despised by his neighbors. Despite this, his realm continued to flourish, and his military might expand. Through diplomacy, he brought some of his neighbors to his side to untie with him. The rest he conquered. In the end, he unified the majority of the German world. With a few small areas still in the hands of his neighbors. 

Apparently, the Kaiser had grand ideals about unifying his people into a powerful empire, and hence he named it the German Empire, rather than the Austrian Empire. Even if the Kingdom of Austria is the one responsible for uniting the Empire.

The story of Berengar von Kufstein is interesting. Depending on who you ask, he is either a Saint or a Devil. To the German people, he is a benevolent monarch, leading them into a new and prosperous era. To the neighboring people, he is a blood-thirsty tyrant, and a heretic, who seeks to establish his rule over all. 

I'm just an old merchant from the east, and all I know about Germany is that trading with the Empire is safe and stable. The Germans are the wealthiest people in the world and are willing it import luxuries from across the world to satiate their expensive tastes. Aside from the difficulties of actually getting into the country, I have no complaints. 

The German military and Police forces go to great lengths to secure the realm's borders. You will not find highwaymen, or bandits in the Empire, nor will you find street gangs. Violent crimes are heavily punished, and criminal enterprises that prey on the people are eradicated.

The German people live in a state of peace and prosperity, unlike anywhere else in the world. Even if the old nobility wanted to rise against their new monarch, they would find no volunteers to do so. Your cousin chose wisely to send you to Kufstein. You will be safe from your uncle here."

After hearing this speech, the two siblings were much more confident in their odds of surviving here in Germany. Who knows, perhaps they could even convince the Kaiser to take up their cause, and restore Dharya to power on his throne.