People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Keep your men in line, put away your schemes, and stay home obediently, or I'll use my daughter's ice axe to blast a hole in your empty skull!

The Duchess of Windermere, Liencarden—Amphilis Windermere.

The man in the grey top hat closed the letter, not daring to look up at his boss.

A silence, like smoke, lingered in the living room, ten times the size of Prime Minister Scherrag's office, for a long while before finally ending with another sigh from the Duke of Custer, just like before.

“It’s barbaric.”

The man in the grey top hat thought his duke would disregard the letter, so he dared to raise his head, only to see the Duke of Caesar standing by the window with his back to him.

The veins on her hand, which was gripping the windowsill, bulged, and her voice drifted over slowly:

"Reply to my letter."

"I rebuked her for her impolite language, expressed my sincere greetings to her, and reminded her to attend the Duke's secret meeting at the end of the year."

She emphasized through gritted teeth,

"Be polite, understand?"

"learn."

The man in the grey top hat nodded immediately, turned around and left the conference room without stopping, unwilling to stay in the room that felt like it had been heated by an oven for even a moment longer.

Back in his office, he took out some stationery, picked up a pen, pondered for a moment, and then wrote:

To the Duke of Windermere of Liincarden:

May your soul not rot in your body, for your words and deeds have revealed an uncontrollable stench of bloodshed.

Your impolite wording has convinced me that the Duchy of Windermere has become a decadent duchy, having abandoned the nobility and self-awareness of its nobles.

I cannot agree with any of your accusations, nor accept any of your suggestions, but I still need to remind you that the Duke's secret meeting at the end of the year requires your attendance.

If you're not satisfied, why don't you have a go at me then?

After signing his name, the man in the grey top hat read through the message and nodded.

The wording was elegant, the writing refined, the stance clear, and the expression distinct. It not only fulfilled the task assigned by the Duke but also fully expressed anticipation for the upcoming secret meeting with him.

Yes, very good. It's a textbook example of a reply!

With this, wouldn't my future promotion be like riding a promotion machine, taking off from Wuhu?

Let the Duke stamp it!

Chapter Sixty-One: Vina's Visit to Lungmen, Chronicles of Ersley

"We've heard so much about Victoria's story, but let's not forget Sherag."

Ernst reminded Vina.

Because of Daphne's tireless efforts to increase Vina's favorability, the two Victorians have now become good friends.

Strangely enough, Vina, despite being a Victorian herself, even a Victorian from Londinium, had an unusual interest in the Victorians that Defiance spoke of. She listened with rapt attention to the fortresses and swordsmen of the Duchy of Windermere, the lakes and forests along the route, and the peculiar insects fluttering in late spring and early summer.

Especially when Daphne talked about her parents' funny stories, her trips with her father, and the postcards she collected, Vina listened intently, as if mesmerized.

Ernst could understand your interest in the outside world, but he found it very puzzling that you would show envy even when Daphne boasted about the bedtime stories her parents told her and the furnishings of the Duke of Windermere's mansion.

What, don't you have parents?

What, don't you have a home?

What, don't you have any other relatives? Why do you look like an orphan?

Ernst meant that it was unnecessary. Although the Duke of Windermere did have some power, there was no need to fawn over him like that.

They didn't pay you extra, and you're doing this for me. It saves me the trouble and makes things easier, but I still feel a bit embarrassed.

Ernst didn't mean to break up the two best friends; he just wanted to remind Vina that while chatting and slacking off is fun, she was still getting paid, so she should remember to work!

"Hmm? Are more foreign guests coming?" Vina asked curiously. It was clear that she had become more cheerful after making her best friend.

Although this soul-searching question still managed to confuse Ernst.

“No.” Ernst pursed his lips. “But you could take the initiative! For example, you could ask me to let you visit a certain country or something. Try to get some diplomatic results for us.”

Ideally, we should find two more people to receive subsidies of 10 billion yuan each.

Vina pondered for a moment, carefully considering the difference between a business trip abroad and a publicly funded vacation, given Sherag's situation, and then nodded:

"Can I go to Lungmen?"

Victoria is where she has always lived. Although she has never left Lentinium since childhood and is very interested in other cities in Victoria, given her current situation, it would be best not to go back easily.

After being accepted by Ernst, she also hitched a ride to visit Casimir and Columbia.

Vina wasn't particularly interested in Letania's elegant art and mysterious magic. After considering everything, apart from Sargon, the only window to the outside world for Yan Kingdom, "Longmen," was the best choice.

"Dragon Gate..."

Ernst's mind flashed images of Taobao's "Pilong" (a type of snack) and the apple pie that was forever zero and could never become one.

These two are also well-known and popular characters in Arknights. When the game was first released, besides the Kal'tsit "old woman" meme and the Amiya "donkey" meme, the memes from Lungmen were the most popular.

Well... to some extent, this is also because YJ's actions back then, which were contrary to reality, indirectly helped the city of Lungmen and its people gain wider recognition.

Although he knew it was a joke, Ernst, who was then a government official, was still amazed by the company's ability to align itself with the central axis several times.

Putting all that aside, Longmen is indeed a pretty good city. As the game's counterpart to the Celestial Empire, the Great Yan Dynasty is relatively peaceful and prosperous. Moreover, Longmen is a legitimate commercial metropolis, and its governor, Mr. Wei Yanwu, is incredibly wealthy!

Although it's a bit far from Shelag, and the chances of convincing him to invest are slim, it's better to let Vina try than to let her stay in Shelag and collect a salary without working.

Having made up his mind, Ernst nodded:

“Longmen is a good place, you can go and have a look. I'll ask the Karan Trading Company when there are any caravans going to Longmen recently, and you can go with them.”

"Huh? Do we still have to wait for the caravan?" Vina asked, somewhat surprised. "Isn't this supposed to be a publicly funded trip... cough cough, a diplomatic visit? Isn't there a chauffeur or something?"

"Can you drive?" Ernst's spirit asked.

Vina shook her head. Back in Londinium, when she went out, she was either escorted by a group of knights in the royal carriage, or she was carried by her father, the old lion. The only time she traveled alone was when Gawain carried her on his back, swaying all the way to the Duke of Cumberland's mansion, startling her father.

She was just a child then, and she had even less chance to learn as she grew up, so how could she possibly drive?

It's impossible to be born with knowledge, right? Did you learn it while in the womb, using the placenta as a steering wheel?

Ernst then asked:

Do I hire drivers?

Vina shook her head again. She had come with Ernst to conduct the entire recruitment process. To be honest, that Jesston Williams looked somewhat like a driver, but unfortunately, he applied for a secretary position and wasn't hired.

"Does the Sherag government have off-road official vehicles?" Ernst asked as a final question.

Vina shook her head again. The office building's decoration was still based on the plans drawn by that succubus, Miss Nasty; the prime minister's fireplace was still nowhere to be found, let alone the kind of vehicle that could traverse the wasteland.

Those kinds of vehicles are usually incredibly expensive and require custom-made orders from manufacturers; Kjerag simply doesn't have the technology to produce them in-house. And making a special trip to customize one is a significant undertaking in terms of both time and money.

Ernst shrugged: "Oh right, no car, no driver, and you can't drive. You're not going to walk with anyone?"

Having said that, considering Vina's feelings and also the face of his own government, Ernst comforted her:

"Besides, Longmen is not close, and there is such a large wasteland in between. If you go alone, your safety will be a problem. With the caravan of the Karan Trade accompanying you, at least you don't have to worry about encountering desert bandits or those crazy 'Rust Hammer' gang on the way."

Vina thought Ernst made a lot of sense and nodded. She then changed the subject:

"Should I apply for the funding from Miss Joyce?"

“Hiss—” Ernst took a breath. “We can discuss the funding issue again.”

Vina was taken aback: "I can't go to Lungmen without any money, can I? At least for accommodation and meals, what if the Lungmen governor doesn't take responsibility? And if we're going to discuss cooperation, even if it's just stones, we'll have to give some of it out."

Ernst pursed his lips and let out a long sigh.

Even someone as thrifty as him couldn't find anything to refute Vina's reasonable request.

Indeed, if someone goes on a visit abroad without making any preparations or even receiving funding, then he is not being frugal; he is being personified.

The snow leopard flicked its large tail impatiently, then gritted its teeth and said:

“Okay, go ask Joyce for help. Besides your basic needs for food, clothing, and lodging, I will also grant you a special allowance. However, you have to do one thing for me in Lungmen!”

"What is it?" Vina asked.

Ernst mysteriously pulled a stack of manuscripts from his pocket and handed them to Vina, saying:

"Help me find a publishing house in Longmen to compile these manuscripts into a book and publish them!"

"A book?" Vina took the manuscript in surprise and began to read it, her eyes immediately drawn to the opening introduction.

This was the best of times, this was the worst of times.

This is a world without Oripathy, and we praise its beauty. But beautiful things are often alike, while misfortunes are each unique.

[Years later, when your fingertips trace the last page of this book, you will surely remember the moment you first opened it, and utter the same sigh as I, this humble chronicler.]

Everything in the story, to varying degrees, has happened or is happening now.

She took a deep breath, ignoring the overwhelming heaviness, and looked at Ernst's serious face, unable to help but ask:

What is the name of this book?

Ernst puffed out his chest and solemnly uttered the name that could spawn countless series and sequels, a name destined to shake the entire Terra:

"The Chronicles of Erzley".

PS: The introduction is adapted from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five.

Chapter Sixty-Two: This is Longmen, as Wei Yanwu tells you.

"Citizens, good afternoon! Welcome to our monthly program, 'This is Longmen, Let Governor Wei Speak!' I am your old friend, Yao Shouyin!"

The host, brimming with energy, finished his opening remarks and then stretched out his hand towards the studio entrance, calling out loudly:

"Then, let us welcome our old friend, Governor of Lungmen, Mr. Wei Yanwu! Welcome!"

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Wei Yanwu, dressed in a modified version of a traditional Chinese jacket and a modern suit, strode to the center of the stage, nodded slightly to the cameras and the audience, and sat down on the sofa opposite the host.

The host also walked up to Wei Yanwu with equal enthusiasm, shook hands with him, and then sat down opposite him. He secretly reached behind his back and made an "OK" gesture to indicate that the program was officially starting.

He began with a flattering remark: "Under Governor Wei's wise leadership, Longmen has enjoyed another peaceful yet prosperous year. But recently, I've been receiving a lot of questions from our viewers: Governor Wei, Longmen is developing so rapidly and its economy is so prosperous, so why is the unemployment problem getting worse? They really want to know. What are Governor Wei's thoughts on Longmen's growing unemployment problem?"

Wei Yanwu's dragon head grinned, laughed loudly, and nodded, saying:

"It seems our citizens are also concerned about Lungmen's future. However, I must remind this citizen here. Using such a broad media term as 'unemployment' to encompass a wide variety of socioeconomic phenomena, from a political perspective, the most obvious manifestation is precisely..."

The host awkwardly raised his hand, interrupting Wei Yanwu: "Excuse me, Governor Wei, could you perhaps describe it in more detail...?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Yao, since you've asked me this question, please allow me to finish answering it," Wei Yanwu said calmly.

The host immediately shut his mouth.

“Thank you.” Wei Yanwu smiled and continued, “Actually, the Longmen Unemployment Registry receives a summary of registered unemployed every week as required. People may think that it is already higher than the historically acceptable level. However, if we want to understand the various reasons involved, let alone assign blame to any one of them, it is very subtle in a statistical sense. It cannot be fully explained within the scope of a popular TV program.”

After he finished speaking, the host remained silent for a long time before finally abandoning his slightly confused look and persistently asking:

"Uh, I understand what Governor Wei means (but actually not at all), but putting aside the theoretical aspects, can you give me two practical examples?"

Wei Yanwu's expression darkened for a moment. But in the blink of an eye, he smiled kindly again and nodded, saying:

"Of course. I can give you an example. Do you adhere to the principle that talent doesn't depend on its origins?"

"Of course." The host nodded.

"If there were someone who didn't come from a good background but was truly talented, would you be willing to give him a chance, hire him, and let him replace someone who was just sitting in his position without doing anything?"

"Of course!" The host nodded generously. "A person's achievements should not be determined by their background, but by their talent. If someone is talented enough, I would certainly be willing to replace someone who is just coasting in their position—because that would bring me greater benefits!"

As he spoke, he seemed to suddenly understand, and said with a sense of enlightenment:

"Oh, I see! You mean that those who complain about being unemployed should first reflect on themselves: over the years, have they worked hard, created greater value for the company, and improved themselves?"

The host nodded repeatedly:

"Governor Wei is indeed amazing. Our Lungmen is developing so well, and the purchasing power of the Lungmen currency has reached a new high. Naturally, the competition will be even more intense. If those who were employed before cannot keep up with the times, it is only natural that they will lose their jobs. Therefore, the more Lungmen develops and prospers, the more common it will be for people who do not strive to improve themselves and only want to enjoy the fruits of development to lose their jobs!"

"Therefore, the unemployment problem will not only not affect the development of Longmen, but it also means that Longmen is thriving!"

His face was flushed, and he concluded as if he had suddenly realized something: "Don't complain about being unemployed, it's just that you didn't work hard enough!"