Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"Is this why you came here?" Phaethon asked from a few seats away, "I thought you came here for treatment because you wanted to see Shangluo."

"Phaethon, there is an old saying in China, 'He who bears the disgrace of the country is called the master of the country; he who bears the misfortune of the country is called the king of the world.' For me, public affairs and private affairs have never been separated."

"So, what's your opinion?" Shangluo asked her.

"Are you asking me?" Victoria shook her head. "My answer has been made from the beginning. You told me you were willing to take over the crumbling empire and hand it over to Aura—and that time is now. Of course, others might say, 'Whether you accept or not is up to you, it's your freedom.' That's essentially shifting the blame. If you fail to accomplish this and want to withdraw, someone will use the argument that 'it was your choice' to prevent you from leaving. Ultimately, using current information to challenge the future is inherently unfair."

"What's your opinion?"

"I think you should take over this position directly, whether you want to or not - because no matter what you do, all the infamy and all the karma can be borne by me. That's why I just said 'the one who bears the disgrace of the country is the master of the country'. This is also the case in Rome. And more importantly: there must be someone who holds the eagle stick and becomes the dictator. If possible, "

Sitting in the most humble position, she was the one who carried the heaviest shackles among the crowd. She looked around, and her eyes finally fell on Shangluo's eyes again——

"So, if there must be a dictator, then I hope that person is you. Because I don't want to bear this huge karma for anyone other than you."

Shangluo sighed: "So, this is your problem?"

"Yes. The position of Roman emperor is a cage that bears a curse. In a sense, there is no difference between me and Karin. Karin stepped into the forest and became a puppet of the woodland. I am no different. Many people think that being an emperor is a pleasure, but in my opinion, it is the most miserable thing in the world. I just asked Phaethon if she was willing, and she obviously didn't want to."

"If you ask me again, my answer will be the same," Phaethon replied. "Although as a Roman senator, I also have the right to become emperor, but I have no interest in it. It is a position that will physically gather karma, and sitting there is like being roasted on a fire. To be honest, if someone had not to take up this position, I would have taken Victoria away long ago. All I can do is try to eliminate some problems to reduce the possibility of Victoria being eroded. But now it seems that our efforts have ultimately failed."

Shangluo shook his head: "In that case, let me take over."

"Really?" Victoria asked happily, "Are you really willing?"

"What you said just now is very true. I think so too - if you must bear the karma, I don't want you to bear the karma of others. Because I am your attending physician, and the obligation to solve the problem lies with me. I won't let others touch you."

"Ah!! Thank you! Thank you! You...you are really willing to agree to me!" Victoria hugged Shangluo's hand.

[Oh, I knew you really agreed.]

"Wait a minute." Shangluo suddenly thought, "What exactly is this dictator going to do?"

[Oh, I knew you didn't even know what this position entailed, but you agreed.]

"The surgical plan also needs an in-depth examination to be confirmed."

[I think you may have underestimated the power of the dictator. What you may bring is an unprecedented ominous situation.]

Chapter 1007 Treatment

In the kitchen, the “expert consultation” takes place.

The heads of each kitchen, including the executive chef, are also here.

"As you all know, it is Miss Yanqiu who is giving us the task again. She wants us to make Fujian Mapo Tofu."

"So, Master Chef, she is really trying to challenge us! She is from Fujian, and maybe she is trying to help Guoxing challenge us. The Nanyang Association has been trying to take down our signboard for a long time."

"How can you use such an idea to speculate about the guests? They are long-term guests of Jinling Hotel. It is our duty to meet their needs. Moreover," he lowered his voice, "someone saw that the princess was also inside, and there were many other people, including the 'Heavenly Monarch'."

"Are you the one who recruited the Four Heavenly Kings? How did you know this? You are not Qigong practitioners."

"Huh? So you're a Qigong practitioner?" The "Master Chef" looked at him. "No wonder you always make stir-fried beef noodles exactly like what's in the textbook. In a few years, the Cantonese food stall will probably be handed over to you."

"Then Master Chef! Leave it to me this time! Isn't it just Fujian Mapo Tofu? It's OK to be a Fujianese, let alone Fujian Mapo Tofu."

The "Master Chef" shook his head and said, "Let the Sichuan kitchen make the Mapo Tofu. Lao Yang, you come."

"Got it." Chef Yang said little, "Let me think about how to make it. You, so-and-so, you're a Qigong practitioner, right? Bring your fish sauce over here. We don't have fish sauce for Fujian cuisine. But Master Chef, let me make it clear that I've never made this before."

"Just do it." The chef waved his hand. "I know this job is difficult, so just keep busy. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong. If the sign is really taken down, I'll be responsible for hanging it up again."

"I feel relieved with your words. Anyway, let's make a bowl of sauce first."

"So, what is this unprecedented ominous thing?"

Shangluo was shocked by what Apollonia said just now - not because of fear, but as if he was doing a normal appendectomy surgery, but after cutting it open, he found out that it was intussusception and peritonitis.

He originally thought that he only needed to give Victoria a new heart this time. But now it seems that replacing the heart is only a temporary solution. To cure the root cause, the Roman Empire must die in the right way.

【It means that what a group of people do often cannot form a clear resentment. For example, the Senate is doing evil, so who is the Senate? The Senate is an abstract, indescribable entity. No one can represent the Senate. Once you take office as a dictator, your existence will become the target of public criticism. Your clear face will be revealed in front of everyone. And Victoria, who is responsible for this, will accurately bear the consequences of all the karma you have caused. It's like a sharp scalpel, cutting wherever it cuts. The smaller the area of ​​the blade, the greater the pressure it can cause, and the sharper it is. To a certain extent, it is indeed necessary to appoint a dictator to successfully complete this task. 】

"Okay. Anyway, I've already promised you that I would help you with this." Shang Luo looked at Victoria, "Leave it to me. Just lie down after the anesthesia, and leave everything else to me."

"Yes." Victoria nodded vigorously, "I knew you could do it."

"Rather, I should thank you for trusting me. After all, even if I don't do well, I won't be held responsible, right?"

[Really? I don't believe it. If anything really happened to Victoria, you would definitely be sad.]

"Wow~~" Yanqiu's eyes lit up, "I'm so touched. I knew Shangluo was a good person."

"How come you can see that too? Aren't we chatting privately?"

[Have you forgotten that she's actually a very powerful Xuan cultivator? But this time it wasn't because she was casting a spell, it was me who added her to the group.]

"I'm here too." Zhu Ling also crossed her arms. "Shangluo, I'm so proud of you. You're such a brave child."

"I'm not your panda! Why do you act like I jumped through a ring of fire?"

"Oh sorry sorry, animal shows are against the rules of our park. I was just too excited."

"I already said it's not an animal show." Shang Luo held his forehead, "Okay, okay, but speaking of Zhu Ling, there is something I need to tell you."

He looked at Victoria. "I know you have high expectations of me, but I am a local after all. I must prioritize domestic affairs. Moreover, I promised my senior brother that I would temporarily serve as regent. To be honest, this makes me a little uneasy. Neither side requires me to bear the responsibility, but both sides have entrusted me with important tasks. If I can't take care of both at the same time, Victoria, I must prioritize my own side."

"Yes, yes, I understand." Victoria nodded, "As long as you agree. Time... Time is not a problem, we have plenty of time. But my father said that if you are willing to accept it, please take the time to go to Constantinople."

[Should I let him get that? ]

"Yes. He has to go there in person to receive it."

"what?"

【The axeman.】

"what is that?"

[Roman law stipulated that the dictator needed to be equipped with 24 swordsmen. They held fascines and performed ceremonial functions as well as the actual siege work.]

"If that's the case, why not just let them come?"

[Not really. Because if I remember correctly, the current swordsman has been replaced by.]

"Angels." Victoria added, "We have replaced them with angel-class war puppets to serve as guards. Together with your exclusive submarine that will arrive soon, you have basically assembled a full set of the Roman Emperor's guards."

[Let me introduce them to you.] Apollonia continued, [Although you are already very strong, these guards given to you can play a role in another field - these guards are specialized in fighting in the spiritual world. Monks have the power to move mountains and seas in the mortal world, but in the spiritual world, they often need special treatment. At this time, you can completely trust these professionals.]

"Are they useful to automata?"

[Of course it works. Even an automaton like the chef has a projection in the spirit world - so you don't have to worry about Victoria's responsibility for the time being. I think her current condition is quite stable.]

"You call this stability?" Shangluo blinked.

【Ah, what I mean is that she is very stable except in front of you. Because Miss Agatha will let her show an "average" to the outside world, and she is the complete Victoria in front of you. So, just do your thing with confidence. If there is any infamy, Victoria will help you bear it! Although she looks sick, her health is unexpectedly thick. 】

Chapter 1008 Mapo Tofu

"Wait, what are you doing with your hands?" Chef Yang, the chef at the Sichuan stall, had just blanched the tofu and put the pot and the tofu aside. He changed to a new pot and was about to stir-fry the black bean paste when he suddenly saw the chef from the Cantonese stall next to him grabbing a handful of an unidentified yellow object and trying to put it in.

“I put ginger in it.”

"How can you put ginger in mapo tofu?! I just saw you chopping there, I thought you were chopping bean paste, but it turns out you were chopping ginger?! How can you put ginger in mapo tofu?"

“Shouldn’t mapo tofu have ginger in it?”

"Who told you? Where did you learn that?" As he spoke, he had already picked up the wok.

"In the Sichuan Guild Hall, what's wrong?!" He straightened his back, "Old Yang, I learned the real Mapo Tofu, right?"

"What kind of mapo tofu are you learning? You must be learning the Cantonese mapo tofu!"

"Hey hey hey hey!" Seeing that both sides picked up big spoons, the people beside them hurried to stop the fight.

However, before the two of them really started to fight, the people nearby rushed over, snatched the spatula away and threw it aside, knocking over the vinegar jar on the table.

"Don't fight!" The chef who had been out for less than three minutes came back again, "If you want to fight, go to the freezer! Don't come out if you lose!"

"We... We didn't fight." The two looked at each other, "But Master Chef, please give us your opinion! Should we put ginger in Mapo Tofu?"

"Why do I feel some movement down there?" Shang Luo blinked, "I feel like there's a surge of resentment, as if it's surrounding us. Do you feel it?"

"A little bit." Yanqiu nodded. But the other two showed no reaction.

"Forget it, it shouldn't be our business. Maybe someone is quarreling downstairs." Shangluo took a sip of water. "By the way, Victoria, if you ask me to do something, do you have a time limit?"

"Actually, the pace of our work depends on you," Victoria replied, "because you are the one who is bringing about great changes in the world situation now."

"Why do I?"

"Originally, I didn't have to come so hastily this time. But some time ago, an electromagnetic explosion swept across the entire atmosphere and swept across Europe. Along with it, there were auroras all over the sky that could be seen in the Mediterranean. Mr. Shangluo, do you have any clues?"

"Ah? That..." Needless to say, this was caused by the explosion in Shangluo. "Did it have any impact on Europe?"

"That electromagnetic explosion shattered the holy lies of several technological barbarians, even Gaul within the Great Wall. Now Gaul is undercurrent, and is about to become independent as the Gallic Empire. That is the territory of Rome. Rome is planning to withdraw to Italy and prepare to gather legions to conquer Gaul again."

"Is it such a big deal?"

"Yes, Shangluo." Victoria shook her head. "In one month, you destroyed two Roman Empires that were one-sixth of the size of the Roman Empire. You destroyed New Antioch and Rome. You blew up a Columbia and a Gaul."

[Huh? ? ?] Even Apollonia was surprised, [Is his destructive power so great? ]

"That's right. I didn't expect that at first. Before he even became dictator, he had already destroyed two-sixths—one-third—of the Roman Empire. So, the Senate is truly afraid that you'll destroy another third in the coming months. By then, the Roman Empire itself won't be dead, but your butterfly effect will have killed it. That's definitely not the right way to die. So, the Senate invited you over. Essentially, they want you to communicate with them before taking action. They're willing to cooperate, and they only ask that you show mercy."

"Ah, this." Shangluo was speechless for a moment, "This, you won't ask me to pay for it, right?"

"Pfft." Victoria laughed. "Why should I ask you to pay? We were the ones who invited you to come here in the first place. You can't be held responsible no matter how we settle the score. And you see, they are about to make you dictator, almost on an equal footing with me. They are just afraid of you, not looking for you to hold them accountable."

[To put it bluntly, I don’t dare to hold you accountable, for fear that you will repeat it again. So love is the Monkey King.]

"Compared to the Monkey King, he is more like Tathagata Buddha." Phaethon shook his head.

"Wow~~" Yanqiu's eyes sparkled, "So handsome."

"That's great~" Zhu Ling gave him another small applause.

"Well, everyone," Shangluo felt a little embarrassed, "I really, really didn't mean it."

"It's okay." Victoria waved her hand. "Let me ask you first, if you were given the choice again, would you launch that doomsday weapon?"

“It’s definitely going to be launched.”

"It's over." Victoria spread her hands. "It's meaningless to be sad about the inevitable. It has already happened, and what we need to do next is to prevent it from happening again. Facts have proved that Rome has failed, because a casual attack from Aurora can shock the whole world and make Rome unable to remain immune. In this case, it highlights the correctness of my previous decision. If we cooperate with Aurora now, it would be a bit like surrender. We know Aurora's habits."

"Habit? What habit?"

Zhu Ling said, "Our habits are different from Rome's. Rome never negotiates with the barbarians. Our temper is much better - we will provide the barbarians with a surrender plan. The plan proposed at the beginning is always the most generous plan and the best way to solve the problem. If you don't accept the conditions sent by the angels, you will just be trampled on by the heavenly soldiers when they come - this should be the habit she mentioned."

"Yes." Victoria nodded. "Although we are friends, we also know the habits of Aurora. We must negotiate with Aurora as early as possible. Thanks to Shangluo, my reputation has soared this time, because I established an inseparable connection with Aurora before any of them, and also got in touch with Shangluo."

"Wow~~" Yanqiu's eyes lit up twice as brightly, "Is this nepotism?! So exciting!"

"Hey hey." Zhu Ling couldn't help it this time, "I say, Miss Yanqiu, although you are very cute, can you restrain yourself and stop drooling? He is a member of the imperial court."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm a little excited. It's just that the thought of knowing the inside story of an idol suddenly makes me excited."

"Ah," Shangluo said with difficulty, "I suddenly found out that I could have such a big impact. It really makes me excited."

【???】Apollonia asked in surprise, 【Why is there something wrong with you?】

"No, it's just that. In many works, the comparison of combat effectiveness is all about the comparison of pits. The pit I made was really big. I smashed two one-sixths of Rome with one punch. I feel a little excited just thinking about it."

Chapter 1009: Aftermath of the Explosion

[Hey, hey, hey, the pit you dug was filled with mud and sand right after it was dug. Rome is counting on you to clear the hole.]

"It's okay. If I can smash it once, I can smash it again. Victoria, you guys think the same, right?"

Victoria nodded. "There is an old saying in China that the person who tied the bell must be the one who can untie it. The Senate thought that since you have the ability to blow up Rome, you should also be able to blow it up correctly. You just need to adjust the rhythm. The matter of New Antioch is also very simple for you. At worst, you can blow it up again."

"This." Shang Luo said, "Let's not talk about Gaul for now. In New Antioch, I actually have something to tell you - the Automaton Country seems to be able to communicate."

"???" Victoria was stunned for a moment, "How is it possible? They are all under the Atlantic Ocean and have killed several waves of enemy ships. Now the entire territory of Columbia Automaton Country is surrounded by a large number of automatons, and they have also brought out the remaining submarines. Although they are only using the weapons we left behind, it is only a matter of time before they start to build equipment on their own. Didn't you open all the quadrupeds? I thought you were going to exterminate them."

"Let me ask first." Shangluo asked, "If you are finally sure that the other party can communicate, what will you choose?"