I agree. Usual advice is raid until you can get to c10 for most alliances. The cost I'm calculating with the city purchase calculator [ City Purchase Calculator (politicsandwar.com) for reference] is around $71,575,000 to go from c3-c10. But as always, I'd check with your econ though for clarity about the programs in Aequitas International (for you, talk to Greater britain (politicsandwar.com) for an in game message or Marky#5662 to talk through discord.) Best of luck out there.