Under the banner of the Gold Fleur-de-lis, the naval vice admiral and governor of Cuba stood on the bridge, watching the British army’s landing operation through binoculars.

"Disciplined and well-equipped, since when did the Brits’ pocket army become so formidable?"

Governor Enrique was not simply a braggart ascending through prominent birth or nepotism.

On the contrary, he was a typical civilian general, having fought against the Carlos Faction rebels supported by the British in the mountains, and had clashed with the British Army. He knew very well that these British war machines were not just for show.

The captain of the Saint Joan of Arc, a naval lieutenant colonel, cautioned, "With all due respect, Governor Enrique, the Cuban detachment has only one battleship, three cruisers, and some medium and small gunboats. We should avoid conflict with the British until the Richelieu and the mainland fleet arrive."

Enrique scoffed, "I’m not well-versed in naval affairs, but I can still count."

He paused slightly, then continued, "So should we just slink away? Lieutenant Colonel Guillaume, we’ve retreated too many times from those damned, goat-like, hell-bound, Satan-worshiping Brits!"

Enrique was a Spaniard, a new representative of the bourgeoisie, personally chosen by Queen Isabella II as a trusted general.

In this particular world line, Queen Isabella II’s marriage to the Bourbon Dynasty facilitated the birth of the "Franco-Spanish United Kingdom."

Since the last War of the Spanish Succession, when France helped Spain reclaim Gibraltar, lost for nearly two hundred years, Governor Enrique became a "staunch baguette."

In his view, only by clinging tightly to France could Spain, with its declining national power, restore its former glory.

Lieutenant Colonel Guillaume hesitated a bit, yet said, "I think you should decide once the message from the mainland arrives."

He did not worry that the Governor Enrique, who was even more passionate about France than usual and struck hard against rebels opposing French rule, might be a traitor with hidden intentions; but at times, it was precisely such individuals who could cause trouble.

"Then we’ll wait,"

Enrique snorted slightly, a bit impatient, but fortunately, the reply was quicker than he imagined.

The communications officer rushed over: "Governor, the mainland has sent a message instructing us to remain restrained and avoid engaging the British."

Enrique frowned, "So, we’re just supposed to watch?"

"His Majesty the King hopes we discern the reason for the British’s grand-scale action before making a decision."

The Republic of Texas was actually a tough nut, compared to indigenous peoples and small Latin American countries. Even excluding the Wolf Race, its strength ranked high, consistently overpowering regional power Mexico in multiple conflicts.

With the Brits’ despicable and pragmatic style, choosing this target couldn’t possibly be to demonstrate their military prowess, right?

"What does the intelligence department say?"

The communications officer provided the answer: "They suspect Texas might be hiding some mineral, either magic stone or white crystal, and that the reserves are incredibly rich. Perhaps they’ve finally decided to eradicate this severe threat to British North America’s security from the map."

Enrique snorted coldly: "If they were intent on removing a threat, they would have done so long ago. The theory of Texas hiding minerals seems more credible."

White crystal and magic stone ore were the keystones of this world’s Second Industrial Revolution. While other countries still used line firing tactics, the British Army was deploying land cruisers and armored airships, seemingly armies from different eras.

This cliff-like lead was built upon its near-monopoly of magic stone and white crystal ore.

Other industrial nations could only burn coal, even coal mines were extremely scarce, as in France’s mainland that lost the Alsace-Lorraine region.

Spain was also not rich in minerals, both countries’ industries depended on overseas colonies.

But if war breaks out between the two, and the sea routes are blocked, France’s war potential would be cut in half instantly.

Enrique clenched his fist: "If Texas indeed has white crystal or magic stone deposits, then we must not retreat! Issue my order, prepare for battle across the fleet."

Captain Guillaume was shocked: "Governor, the Empire and our allies are not ready for full-scale war with the French!"

The allies referred to here included the German Federation under Habsburg rule, also known as the Central European Empire. Though their relationship was quasi-allied, it was nearly a one-sided alliance. Old Franz was indeed talented in diplomacy; in the original world line, he had restrained Second Germany, and in this world line, he similarly restrained Great Britain.

If France and Russia jointly attack Germany, Britain must intervene; otherwise, the emergence of two continental hegemonies sharing dominance would exclude Britain from Europe completely. Those fence-sitting small nations in Europe would flock to the Continent Alliance.

Conversely, if France declares war on Britain, Emperor Franz would likely choose not to act unless the French Navy were to directly invade mainland Britain.

"I’m not insane. While the Empire is unprepared for battle, the British are equally unprepared to go to war with us. Only by adopting this stance can we possibly leverage smaller strengths to gain greater advantages!"

...

On the Sea Monarchy.

Admiral George furrowed his brow. He hadn’t expected the French to be so aggressive now. Just a colonial squadron dared to provoke the British Empire. He was certain that within an hour, he could send this enemy fleet to the bottom of the sea.

But he simply didn’t dare to do so.

If war broke out between France and Britain, Tsarist Russia, as France’s ally, would surely lend a hand. After all, the hungry bear has long coveted British Persia and British India.

Without a terrestrial foothold, the war would have to turn into a prolonged maritime blockade, a strategy of mutual destruction, where the Empire would find it difficult to achieve greater victories. Even forcing France to negotiate peace would yield little benefit.

After all, what’s unattainable on the battlefield can’t magically appear at the negotiation table.

One can’t possibly expect a small country like Belgium to stand up as an anti-French vanguard, right? They’d likely kneel after the first round.

"We can’t fight, at least not now, but we also can’t retreat. If we yield to a mere French squadron, then the world’s throne should change hands, shouldn’t it?"

Admiral George was filled with conflicted emotions: "Convey my orders, prepare for battle, but without my permission, no one is to fire the first shot at those damned Gauls!"

Both sides were wary of making the first move. On the pitch-black sea surface, the two steel fleets remained in quiet confrontation.

...

In New Naples, atop a tower.

A corner dweller expressed discontent: "Boss, what is the Clan Leader thinking? Are we just going to watch them land and occupy New Naples?"

"Just follow orders."

The Centurion glanced sideways at him, saying nothing.

That look sent shivers down the corner dweller’s spine, and he retreated, observing intently through the telescope on the lighthouse how the British were deploying in New Naples Port.

The more he watched, the more alarmed he became: "Boss, these Brits are much stronger than the colonial militia. Look at those Land Cruisers of theirs, even if we fired cannons at them, it might not penetrate their armor."

The Centurion was taken aback: "Land what Cruiser? How do you know that ironclad is called this?"

The corner dweller hesitated only for a moment before smoothly replying, "Boss, you forgot. Up north, the Brits used these iron things to massacre the Black uprising forces. The captured colonial military’s small-caliber cannons, when fired at them, only sparked."

Suddenly someone shouted: "The French are coming!"

The Fleur-de-lis flag was so prominent in the darkness, indicating that only the world’s two naval powers had arrived. Their navy, in both quantity and quality, was far ahead, like Mexico’s regional power navy. They can easily be sent to the depths with just one squadron.

Originally, this caliber of naval power had only the British.

In the era of sail warships, it could single-handedly send all other fleets of the great powers below to the sea.

It was the advent of the ironclad ship era that swept the prior sail warships into historical oblivion. Only then did France, inheriting Spain’s legacy, barely qualify to initiate a naval arms race against the Brits.

"Boss, this should be good news, right."

The Centurion sneered: "If the Brits are wolves, then the French are jaguars, and we are the meat they fight over with their mouths."

In colonial policies, sometimes the French’s cruelty exceeds that of the British.

After all, the Brits no longer lack industrial raw materials. Their global expansion aims to expand their market, dumping industrial goods for profit.

The French are different; their homeland lacks industrial raw materials and often brutally exploits the colonial natives, mining for industrial raw materials with forced labor.

Of course, as an industrial nation, France also values overseas market expansion, but with different emphasis.

The German lords, who recently hopped onto the colonial bandwagon, are different again. Germany does not lack industrial raw material production sites or markets, Galicia, Hungary, Illyria, all hide abundant mineral resources.

Even the Teutonic Order Country to its northeast belongs to its sphere of influence.

Their claimed "territory under the sun" and "expand German living space" is just replacing the old with the new, establishing so-called "New Germany" in the colonies.

The Centurion’s tone was icy: "Don’t rely on a French squadron daring to fight the Brits. They’re just here to watch the show and are another robber wanting a share."

The King of the Bourbon Family was not as generous as Louis XVI, who sold his head to aid America in historical records. In contrast, these generations of Bourbon Kings were exceptionally shrewd, stabilizing the faltering monarchy in France.