People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

There are only two possibilities for Ernst to break the rhythm of the conversation, or even take the initiative.

Either Ernst had prepared in advance, having thoroughly considered his personality, communication style, and the topics he might discuss, which enabled him to execute flawless defenses and counterattacks against each of his attacks.

Either Ernst is a more experienced expert than him.

Considering his age, the second scenario is almost... no, absolutely impossible! Even if he started studying "speaking" from the womb, he couldn't possibly surpass himself!

Unless there are truly chosen ones in this world who are born with knowledge.

In that instant, a thought flashed through Viscount Walton's mind.

Did Ernst really have a title, "Son of Kalan"?

By Jeragund, surely such a thing can't be true?

"No, no, no, wake up! You don't believe in God, Walton!"

Closing his eyes and quickly clearing his mind of extraneous thoughts, Walton's smile was already somewhat forced.

If it's the first scenario, then Ernst must have already obtained most of his information from Ensiodes, and he is almost completely transparent to him. Even the Grey Hat couldn't figure out his background. It can be said that both his personality and methods remain a mystery.

There is a huge generational gap in intelligence, so the only way to gain the initiative is through surprise attacks!

His mind raced, and Viscount Walton's extensive experience immediately revealed the best way to break the current stalemate. He shook his head at Ernst, unexpectedly rejecting his answer:

“You’re mistaken, Prime Minister Ernst. Your speech was indeed brilliant, but I became your fan long before that.”

Ernst frowned for the first time: "Oh? Did I do something else that made Viscount Walton notice me amidst his busy schedule?"

“You are too modest, Prime Minister,” Walton said. “You are unaware that our esteemed Duke of Cactus is particularly fond of your work. Whenever he has a spare moment, he takes the opportunity to peruse your books. He even enthusiastically recommended them to us, his subjects, at afternoon tea, saying, ‘I am eagerly anticipating his sequel,’ such praise indeed!”

Ernst had already figured out what Viscount Walton meant by "work." And Viscount Walton had already preemptively revealed:

"Thanks to Your Grace, I have also read 'The Chronicles of Erzreel.' Your research and conjectures on the divine people and the ancient times are truly admirable. Forgive my rudeness, but before meeting you in person, I always doubted that someone born in such a remote place as Kjerag could write such a magnificent work."

"But as the saying goes, seeing is believing. Prime Minister Ernst's talent has truly amazed me. The reason I've come here to bother you is simply out of a fan's curiosity and admiration for the author. I just want to ask you some questions about a few issues in the book."

This angle was quite tricky, exceeding Ernst's initial preparations.

He was aware that "Ers" had indeed sold well after its official release. After all, the Lungmen Dollars that Linquan Publishing House regularly sent every quarter didn't lie. And Wei Yanwu did indeed complete the translation and proofreading in the second month after "Ers" was released, and distributed versions in other languages ​​to Linquan Publishing House branches and partner booksellers in Victoria, Columbia, and other places.

The royalties did increase, but the increase was not significant. Ernst was not particularly surprised by this.

After all, the era in which he wrote was still in the mythological age of Ers' history, and it mainly focused on the myths of the four ancient civilizations, without much involvement of the British Empire based on the Victorian prototype, or the United States based on the Columbian prototype.

It's not that these two places don't have mythology. Celtic mythology and Native American mythology actually have their own mythological systems, it's just that Ernst wasn't really familiar with them and didn't focus on them.

Now, Viscount Walton's sudden mention of "Ers" has indeed caught Ernst off guard.

So, a portion of my royalties came from contributions by you and the Duke of Caesar?

Ah this...

With the attitude that those who pay are like fathers, those who support the original are like mothers, and readers are my bread and butter, Ernst found himself in a somewhat awkward position.

He couldn't possibly disregard national interests for the sake of royalties from a few books. But if Viscount Walton really wanted to ask him questions indirectly through the pages of "Ers," he wouldn't be able to refuse.

However, Ernst wasn't too worried.

Ers was, after all, written by himself. Besides him, only a doctor who was suspected of being human might know about Earth's history. And the doctor is probably lying in some corner of the world right now. At least when Ernst last contacted Rhodes Island, Kal'tsit and Amiya didn't mention the doctor.

No one knows the truth, and besides, he wrote the book himself. So the final interpretation right is in his hands. Viscount Walton's approach with "Ers" can only temporarily seize control of the topic; it poses no threat to him and can be taken back at any time.

Having cleared his mind, Ernst regained his composure and nodded slightly:

“I see. Thank you for reading Ers. If you have any questions, I would be happy to discuss them with you.”

When will Ers be updated?

Ernst's eyelids twitched.

Damn it, you're already pressuring me for the manuscript right off the bat. I think you're getting a little ungrateful! We've got nothing to talk about!

“Just kidding,” Viscount Walton chuckled. “What I wanted to ask was that Prime Minister Ernst’s description of the country in ‘Ers’ clearly referenced the nations of Terra. So I’m curious how you would describe Victoria?”

"How to describe the Red Dragon's rule, how to describe Aslan's conquest, how to describe the battle of the Four Emperors, how to describe the process of Victoria rising from an ordinary country to the current Terran hegemony?"

How would you rate Victoria?

Chapter 166 Ensiodis, why aren't you smiling?

Rather than saying Viscount Walton was curious about the book's sequel, it would be more accurate to say he was alluding to something. His true purpose was obvious even to a three-year-old.

How would I evaluate Victoria in Ers?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a divider in Europe and a troublemaker in the world, has been responsible for the turbulent world order since the 18th century. Even now, as the world's second-largest economy and the shame of losing two permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States, as its father and son, has successfully taken over the reins and become the new generation of global tension generator.

If we were to make fun of its decline, the greatest irony would be to praise it for contributing the most Independence Day holidays to countries around the world.

But just like a coin has two sides, the British Empire also had its glorious era.

The largest empire in human history, with territories spanning five continents and four oceans, and an influence extending from the South American rainforest to the Sahara Desert and the distant Siberian snowfields, was indeed a force to be reckoned with, causing trouble and setting traps everywhere. But no one can deny that the British Empire was the only superpower of its time, and it was for this reason that it had the right to command an era that lasted for nearly a century in its name, an influence that continues to this day—the Victorian era.

This is indeed a difficult question. To state its advantages would mean ignoring the heartbreaking suffering it causes. But to only point out its flaws would be unrealistic.

Finally, Ernst chose to answer Walton's question with a clever one:

"Who has the right to define Victoria?"

Viscount Walton paused for a moment, then gave a look of resignation.

Ernst's answer was certainly not satisfactory to him, but it was enough to leave him speechless.

Yes, who has the right to judge Victoria?

Is it the tens of millions of subjects of Victoria, the King of Victoria, or the Duke of Caster to whom he serves?

Victoria still exists today. It is not Gaul, which has perished, where people can dance on its already ashes. Nor can it be definitively concluded.

Victoria can only be shaped, not judged. After all, in the eyes of these Victorians, the word "great" seems too narrow to describe her. And in the eyes of those whom Victoria trampled underfoot and crushed into the ground, the word "evil" seems too mild to describe her.

"Of course, if you really want to ask me about Victoria in the book, I can pass on the narrator's words to you in advance."

Ernst's sudden words jolted Viscount Walton back into focus.

"Back then, British generals whistled on the decks of their warships, believing that the empire, like the sun in the sky, would shine upon this land forever."

"With the dismantling of the colonial system and the formation of the Cold War, the people who once dominated Britain finally realized..."

"All good things must come to an end."

"The sunrise may be magnificent, but the sunset will eventually come."

.............

Is this his answer to you?

Taking a sip of red wine, the Duke of Caesar glanced sideways at the well-worn copy of "The History of Erzley" on the table, remaining silent for a long time, as if lost in thought.

The British Empire was undoubtedly the name Ernst gave to Victoria in his book. And indeed, the decks of the warships reflected the presence of "high-speed warships" on the land of Ers.

This further confirms that *Eris* is a science fiction novel. The difference between fantasy and magic lies in the fact that science fiction is based on theoretical facts, while magic is based entirely on imagination.

Thinking of this, Kester couldn't help but smile.

For Ernst, there was probably little difference between fantasy and reality. After all, high-speed warships, a strategic weapon, were something Ernst both desired and unattainable in reality, and something he could only dream of but could never achieve; essentially, they were not different.

However, the saying "The sunrise may be magnificent, but the sunset will eventually come" serves as a good reminder.

As it stands today, without its leader, Victoria is nothing but a disorganized mess. Only a true mind can emerge to lead Victoria back to its former glory.

Ernst did not comment on the fact that Viscount Walton had a hold on Victoria as she had anticipated, but she did point out Victoria's most realistic situation at the time. Was this not also a kind of advice?

At least, he was much more sober than those Victorian "pillars" who were indulging in decadent revelry.

This was exactly the type that the Duke of Caesar favored.

After a long while, she raised her head and looked at Viscount Walton standing in front of her.

She didn't ask Viscount Walton what he thought of Ernst's words, nor did she comment on the "recorder's" assessment. She simply let out a long breath, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

"good."

“I’m really looking forward to his sequel. Please pass this on to Ernst Siwaish; I want to take over the publication of the sequel to Ers. I can handle his contract issues with Lungmen Publishing.”

"This is not a political maneuver; it's just a book lover wanting to do their part for this book."

She had barely finished speaking, and before Viscount Walton could take his leave, she suddenly changed her mind.

"No, never mind. Go out and announce the start of tonight's ball. I'll tell him this myself."

...........

"How's it going, bro? How many customers did you get?"

As soon as Ensiodes entered, Ernst couldn't wait to ask.

Ensiodes was about to boast about his achievements when he realized the ambiguity in Ernst's words and immediately glared at his brother, who was good at talking:

"I didn't go out to pimp."

"This time the harvest has been quite fruitful. Several nobles from Racktonshire, Wessex, and Cornwall have expressed their intention to cooperate formally. After one or two more rounds of negotiations, I am very confident that I can win them over."

Enciodes's lips curled into a smug smile.

“These three counties are all trading hubs within the Duchy of Caesar. If we can get involved in the Carlan trade, our scale will definitely expand further!”

"Then, won't we have the money to build railways in other places?"

“Yes, we can do it elsewhere…” Ensiodis’s voice trailed off, then he clicked his tongue. “Ernst, not every place in Sherag is suitable for building a railway. You have to consider geological conditions, avalanche problems, and engineering costs. If the maintenance costs of building a railway are even higher than the reduced transportation costs, then it’s better not to build it at all.”

"However, apart from building the railway, the residents of Shelag are scattered. Apart from a few large settlements that have formed towns, the rest of the Shelag people are almost all scattered in the snowfields. After the railway connecting the three families' territories is completed, the subsequent railway planning still needs to be carefully considered."

Enciodes's considerations were very insightful, and Ernst had no choice but to nod in agreement.

But what Enciodes said next made him less happy:

"Moreover, Ernst, by the time that time comes, Prime Minister Scherrag might already be replaced."

Enshiodes crossed his arms, looking confident of victory.

“As fellow members of the Shivaish family, as long as the outside world views us as close brothers rather than rivals, your reputation will also have an effect on me.”

"At that time, as your brother, the one who actually funded the construction of the railway in Shelag, and the president of Kalan Trading with ample financial support, do you really think you can compare to me?"

Ernst's lips twitched.

Mr. Yin, you've got a lot on your mind.

Although Ernst had to admit that what he said was indeed true, the prestige that Enciodes had built up over the years was gradually starting to take effect after this period of calm. Although Ernst, with his reputation as the Holy Son and the first Prime Minister, could still firmly suppress Silver Man, the ordinary people of Shelag did not have a clear understanding of the difference between Ernst and Enciodes.

In their eyes, Ernst was the Holy Son, and Ensiodis was the Grand Master of Shivaesh, the Holy Son's brother. Ernst had been quite busy lately, contacting the Grand Master and Grand Madam of Victoria, and setting about rebuilding Tukarim. However, the Kalan Trade had also taken back the dried pack animal meat that everyone had left over, and pointed out a clear path to wealth—making all sorts of handicrafts and specialty snacks.

Moreover, Ernst has one advantage over Ensiodes: Ensiodes actually regularly sends feathered beast eggs to the Sherag people.

【Shelag Strengthening Plan】 is a plan proposed by Kalan Trade. Anyone who participates in Kalan Trade's work, from working in a factory to making handicrafts and drying pack animal meat at home, or even if you do nothing but rent out your home-raised snow mountain pack animals to Kalan Trade, you and your family can enjoy an extra reward of three feathered beast eggs every week in addition to the basic salary.

Don't be fooled by the small reward; it's free!

The ordinary people of Sherag weren't particularly interested in national affairs. They had no idea how Ernst had danced on the backs of the Dukes of Windermere, Wellington, and Castle—three eggs in one—and nowhere to find out. They much preferred Ensioudis's straightforward act of handing over all three dukes' foolish eggs to them to cook and eat.

This created a very strange phenomenon: Ernst Shivaesh's humanitarian speech spread throughout Terra and won unanimous praise from leaders of various countries (who knows if it was genuine or not), but Ernst Shivaesh's hometown of Sherag was basically unaware of it.

Ernst couldn't possibly go and brag to every single person in the Sherag community, could he? They wouldn't understand anyway.

If this continues, unless Yeragand appears every year to boost Ernst's reputation, it's really uncertain whether Ensiodis will be able to be made a living saint and rival Ernst four years later for "leading his fellow villagers to a better life."

I never imagined I would one day see capitalists taking the mass line.

Ernst had a strange feeling. How to put it? He couldn't doubt that Ensiodis was indeed doing what was best for the Sherag people, and that he was doing a good job; otherwise, he would have stopped him long ago.

Could this be the "red entrepreneur" that Ernst often heard about in his previous life?

Seeing Ernst speechless, Ensiodes finally felt a surge of exhilaration! Even its tail stood up like a flagpole!

Ah, how long has it been? How long has it been since I, the older brother, have won!

The era of being dominated by Ernst is officially over today! From this day forward, I will win, win, win! I will keep winning! Until the winner takes all!

"Dong dong."

The knock on the door sounded rather untimely, interrupting Enciodes's good mood, which was comparable to wearing new underwear for the New Year. He turned around and walked towards the door:

"Which one?"