1st December, Space Era Year 100.
The pale winter light cascaded upon the domes of the Imperial Parliament of Centory.The capital, Berlyn, still throbbed with vitality in the aftermath of "The Great Debt Redemption of the Century."Yet this time, Lord Aelyzabeth von Thors stood before the nation to declare a new revolution—"The National Education Reform" —a program designed to forge a realm where every citizen would become an "intelligent laborer" under the doctrine of the New State.
The Education Reform of the Century.
Before the full assembly, Aelyzabeth's voice resonated through the marble chamber:
"Wealth shall never endure if the people remain ignorant of their own craft.Education must teach a citizen to work, not merely to read."
The new educational order was divided into a meticulously structured hierarchy:
Primary Education — Discipline, order, and devotion to the Nation.
Secondary Education — Practical sciences and applied history.
Vocational Institutes — Mechanical, metallurgical, electronic, and agri-industrial training.
General High Schools — Economics, academic theory, and advanced technology.
Universities — Innovation for the State, not for private ambition.
Every curriculum emphasized field apprenticeship over theory.At sixteen, every student was mandated to undertake practical training within one of the State Guilds.
Within less than a year, the impact was undeniable—The unemployment rate plummeted to 21%, the lowest since the age of New Hope.
Labor as Honor, Work as Glory.
The government introduced the national doctrine:"Labor is Honor; Dignity is Work."
Walter von Yigzorch, Head of the National Office of Propaganda, became the voice of the State.
Across every city, colossal digital screens displayed Aelyzabeth's decree:
"He who works is the hero of the nation;He who slumbers is the serpent of the land."
Through relentless propaganda, faith in Aelyzabeth's vision deepened.Though GDP momentarily declined, society remained remarkably stable—no riots, no uprisings, only silent discipline beneath the winter sky.
The Fiscal Report.
One quarter after 15th July, Space Era Year 100,the National Economic Committee reported a 37.66% fiscal deficit.
Projections for the second quarter (15th October–15th January, Year 101)estimated a further increase to 39.93%.
Yet the Three Great Guilds—Kiezseiner, Virmith, and Fryre—collectively generated 5.967 billion Earth Dollars in value,allowing Centory to make consistent repayments on its sovereign debt.
From the once-insurmountable 16 billion Earth Dollars,the debt had been reduced to 12.436 billion within five months.
Economists and journalists alike hailed the period as:
"The Winter Miracle of Aelyzabeth Thors."
The Birth of Two New Guilds.
Encouraged by the triumph of the first three guilds,Aelyzabeth expanded her state-industrial order, founding two new guilds—the final pillars of the Centoryan economy.
1. The Medinker SG–E Gen Guild
Responsible for electronic manufacturing, construction, and technological innovation.
Aelyzabeth Thors — 25%
Centory Government — 50%
The Guild — 25%Directed by Otto Schteil, a loyal merchant of electronics and longtime ally of Aelyzabeth.
2. The Zav Scheneinger Guild
Monopoly of the entire vehicular industry—military and civilian alike.It comprised three major subsidiaries:
Berlyn Porchler — Manufacturer of ground vehicles for the military.
Centory Austerlung — Producer of starships, carriers, and transport vessels.
Kunzler Zav — Maker of civilian spacecraft and interplanetary exploration crafts.
Shareholders:
Aelyzabeth Thors — 30%
Centory Government — 30%
The Guild — 40%Directed by Adolf Heinzler, former chief engineer of the Space Corps.
The Five Crown Diamonds of the Centory Kingdom Reich.
United, the five guilds formed the radiant heart of the empire:
Eins-Kiezseiner
Zwei-Virmith
Drei-Fryre
Vier-Medinker SG–E Gen
Fünf-Zav Scheneinger
The state media hailed them as:
"The Five Crown Diamonds of the Centoryan Empire."
Each guild operated under The Five Decrees of Aelyzabeth:
1-Absolute obedience to Lord Aelyzabeth von Thors.
2-No shares may be sold, save to the State or to Aelyzabeth herself.
3-Full compliance with national labor law.
4-All products must not merely be "good," but "superior to all other nations."
5-Prices must not exceed 15% above total cost, including tax and worker welfare.
Through this system, the State attained absolute economic controlwithout sacrificing industrial efficiency.
Voices from Across the Stars.
Right-wing commentators praised her as "the courageous industrialist",calling her order "a dictatorship of intellect."
"Aelyzabeth not only controls the economy—she commands the hearts of her people to believe in their nation!"
Left-wing scholars and sociologists questioned the cost of liberty:
"When every guild obeys a single person,what remains of labor freedom?""This is monarchy socialism, not a democracy of the working class."
Earth's economists analyzed with unease:
"Centory is building a model of authoritarian capitalism,draped in the banner of patriotism.""And what is most terrifying... is that it works."
Even liberal media on Earth headlined:
"Aelyzabeth Thors — The Woman Who Turned Debt into Power,and Schools into State Labor Forges."
Epilogue of the Winter.
That night, beneath the starlit skies of Berlyn,Aelyzabeth stood upon the balcony of the Führerpalast,watching the lights of the city glimmer like a thousand souls beneath her feet.
She spoke softly to Walter von Yigzorch, her trusted voice of the people:
"I am forging an empire that shall fear neither hunger nor ignorance...but only one thing—the betrayal of one's duty."
Walter bowed deeply, his voice solemn:
"My Lord, you are shaping a new ideal for the galaxy—that stability, too, comes at a sacred price."
Thus ends Chapter C-V.