People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Wei Yanwu smiled throughout, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the host's remarks. He simply smiled faintly after the host finished speaking:

"I think this is a kind of self-confidence."

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

After the program ended, Wei Yanwu nodded to the host and left the studio.

Outside the building, Bai Xue, dressed in the night clothes of an Eastern ninja, had been waiting for a long time. When she saw Wei Yanwu appear, she immediately opened the car door for him.

Wei Yanwu entered the car and calmly gave the instructions:

"Notify the studio to fire this host tomorrow."

Bai Xue, who was driving, nodded silently, while Wen Yue, Wei Yanwu's wife, who was also in the car, turned her head with a puzzled look and asked curiously:

"What happened? Did something go wrong with the show?"

"He touched on a topic that shouldn't have been discussed."

Wei Yanwu said somewhat irritably,

"That's how these people in the media and the arts are. Wouldn't it be better to just be the mouthpiece of the government? They're always thinking about making a big news story."

"Kneeling on both knees before the government while simultaneously brandishing their fists."

He sighed and continued giving instructions:

"After today's program airs, there will probably be another wave of public opinion. I'll ask Lin Gerui (Rat King) to keep an eye on things and recommend a capable, and most importantly, obedient, kid from the slums to take over the host's position."

Since that host likes asking for specific examples so much, then he should go and provide one himself. That way, the next time someone asks this question, he can directly use "Mr. Yao Shouyin, the former host of Lungmen TV Station," as a negative example.

Wen Yue nodded. She did not question Wei Yanwu's decision.

This kind of tactic is common for politicians like them. If you point your finger at Wei Yanwu and berate him to his face, he might not even get angry. He might even let you off the hook by making you a jester, and might even ask you if you're having a hard time.

But if you ask questions that might disrupt order or destabilize the situation, then no matter what your purpose is, it will not be tolerated in the slightest.

"Alright, let's not talk about these troublesome things."

Wei Yanwu reached out and put his arm around Wen Yue, and asked,

Why did you come with Bai Xue today?

“Because something happened,” Wen Yue said. “While you were away, a messenger came, and I received him. It was from Sherag. He said that Sherag’s foreign minister wanted to visit Lungmen.”

"Shelagh?"

Wei Yanwu spent a while recalling where the country was, and then it took him some time to confirm that he had absolutely no recollection of Foreign Minister Sherag.

Rather, he didn't even know that Shelag had a government.

But he did know about Kalan Trading. The company had received investment from Victoria Capital and was indeed based in that snowy country. They wouldn't send a messenger just to amuse themselves.

After a moment's hesitation, Wei Yanwu asked:

Did they say what they were here for?

"They're supposedly here to discuss cooperation. They also hope to publish their prime minister's new book in Lungmen."

What kind of cooperation can Kjerag and Lungmen discuss? Tourism?

Wei Yanwu always felt that this so-called foreign minister was just using this as an excuse to go on a publicly funded trip.

But even if Sherag has some ulterior motives, he can only do so after getting past the three countries surrounding him; he can't possibly attack Lungmen.

"Then let her come." Wei Yanwu shrugged, then added, "What's that book about? Will it be published?"

“It’s supposedly a science fiction novel, but I didn’t ask for specifics,” Wen Yue replied. “But their introduction is quite good. So I read a bit of the synopsis.”

"People from that place can write science fiction?" Wei Yanwu chuckled, as if he'd heard that the Lateran Pope worshipped some kind of machine spirit instead of the Lateran Bible. A darkly humorous remark.

But Wen Yue frowned and said in a serious tone:

"You're right, but *The Chronicles of Erzley* is a science fiction novel set in an alternate world, written by Prime Minister Ernst of Scherrag. The story takes place in a fantasy world called 'Earth,' where there are no natural disasters or Originium, no Oripathy, the oceans can be explored, and the sky has no six-thousand-meter limit. You will play a mysterious role called the 'Narrator,' encountering numerous nations with diverse cultures during your long observations, experiencing their intrigues, rises and falls, and the cycles of history over thousands of years—while gradually uncovering the truth about 'humanity.'"

Chapter Sixty-Three: That Kazdel in the Sky Will Also Bear the Appearance of Sherag

Shelag, Tukarim, the temporary seat of the Shelag government.

Vina's first overseas trip was a significant event in Sherag. On the day of her departure, Ernst personally led his government team to see her off, which deeply moved her.

"You really don't need to look so sad with your heads down. I'm not going to run away."

Looking at Ernst and his entourage, who seemed to have passed away and were filled with endless sorrow, Vina, who was forcing a smile, felt a large bead of sweat drip down her forehead.

“I know,” Ernst nodded. After a moment of silence, he spoke again:

You must come back!

The outside world is so dazzling! If you run off to Longmen and never come back, I'll be at a huge loss.

Vina nodded awkwardly: "I'll definitely come back."

She looked at Ernst and the people around him—Hinterlea, Joyce, Holheimia, and others—and said firmly:

"I will definitely come back."

Although she hadn't been there long, and although Sherag was indeed somewhat remote and backward, and although her small office was rather shabby, cramped, dilapidated, drafty, and without a stove, she had already made it her home.

What is home? Home is the place you miss the most and want to go back to the farthest you go. It's a place where she can feel relaxed, at ease, and warm.

Ernst, Hinterlea, Holhayer, and Joyce, and even Miss Defiance Windermere, who was inexplicably warm towards her, all treated Vina with a long-lost sense of home.

Vina had another home before, but her dog-like father died in a rather undignified manner, leaving her so destitute that she had to buy a ticket to even return home. She cherishes her new home all the more now.

Although the house was indeed very shabby, cramped, dilapidated, with drafty walls and not even a small stove.

But Vina felt that even Lungmen couldn't compare to it.

"What if Lungmen is really that amazing?" Ernst asked curiously. As the designated landing point for many Arknights players and the only window to the outside world for the Great Yan, a country similar to the Celestial Empire, Ernst's evaluation of Lungmen was not low.

“Then I’ll move.” Vina answered decisively, then, observing Ernst’s suddenly ashen expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle, “Just kidding.”

Ernst pursed his lips, about to say something, when an employee in a Karan Trade uniform stepped forward and reminded him:

"The caravan is about to depart. Are you ready?"

Ernst could only swallow his words and say, "That's enough for now. Goodbye! Come back soon after you've had your fun! You must be back by the beginning of next year!"

Definite's family will come to take the kitten home early next year, and Vina, as the Foreign Secretary, will have to be there.

Vina nodded: "Okay. I'll bring you a small stove when I come back!"

Ernst felt a warmth in his heart, as if some empty space had been filled. The dissatisfaction he had just felt from Vina's teasing vanished instantly, and even his cheeks felt hot.

Wow, Victoria's cats are really something else.

One sentence is enough to make someone's heart itch.

I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Vina. Someone as insightful as you truly understands people!

.......

After seeing Vina off, Ernst's work didn't stop.

Because his infrastructure project is finally about to move from theory to practice.

Nasti officially submitted the project proposal to him yesterday, confirming the renovation plan for the old town of Tukarim (which is actually not that old).

Sheraco's current urban planning is characterized by a complete lack of planning. Residential areas, commercial areas, and a pitifully small number of light industrial factories are mixed together, as if a novice or an incompetent urban skyline player is playing a game, simply taking pictures of any available space or building that is lit up, without any regard for traffic planning or future development.

In Nasti's words, after she and her team conducted an on-site inspection, the first solution proposed by the team members was to directly flood the entire city and then rebuild it from the ruins.

The plan was rejected after careful deliberation, repeated debates, and consultation with local residents, taking into account local conditions.

The reason for the rejection is that there isn't a reservoir that big near Tukarim.

"So if that's the case, you really intend to flood the city?"

Ernst said in disbelief.

No, aren't you Sarkaz going a bit too far? What I want is urbanization, not de-urbanization, and even if it is de-urbanization, it shouldn't be this de-urbanized, right?

But Nasti's expression was firm: "The renovation of the old city is necessary, and considering that there is basically no need to preserve it under the current plan, direct destruction is the best solution."

After she finished speaking, seeing Ernst's hesitant look, she added:

“If you don’t agree, then I’m not doing it. One of us, Tukarim or I, is going to have our blood pressure explode. Let Christen worry about the rest.”

Look how angry my civil engineering sister is! I told her you Colombians are just uncultured. Look at Lola, the girl from our mountains, she didn't react this strongly.

"Speaking of which, where is Lola?"

Nasti replied, “She said she wanted to repent, so I sent her to your Manjushri Monastery, hoping that prayer would bring her peace of mind.”

Ernst: "......."

Why don't you refute that horrific plan to bomb the city? What's the point of going through the process of post-mortem repentance?

Ernst pursed his lips and asked in a low voice:

"So, if, and I mean if, this is just a possible scenario—I want you to make changes to the existing urban plan, how much do you think this project would cost?"

Nasty gave Ernst a deep look; the Banshee's expression, filled with gritted teeth, seemed to wish she could devour Ernst on the spot to prevent herself from thinking about that terrible project.

But in the end, her professionalism and the firmness of the bone pen she was holding allowed her to persevere and answer:

"At least 4 million gold vouchers. This is just the price for urban redevelopment, not including subsequent infrastructure construction."

4 billion!

Ernst took a deep breath, then another, and another! He desperately needed a ventilator to take one last big breath!

谢拉格现在账上的资金是6亿哥伦比亚金券和1000万维多利亚镑，还剩2000万的维多利亚镑会在温德米尔派人接回戴菲恩后打入账上。如果全部换算成哥伦比亚金券的话，账面资金一共有7亿5000万。

Aside from the 30 million yuan in subsidies that Wen Duoduo practically gave away for free—a huge amount of money—Ernst obtained the remaining 600 million yuan at great personal risk.

Despite Ernst's current unparalleled prominence after the Holy Stone Trial, even he wasn't absolutely certain that Jeragand was watching him before he stepped onto the trial platform.

Putting everything else aside, the Holy Stone Judgment started so early. What if His Majesty hadn't set his alarm clock properly and woke up late? He might have ended up being tied up on the mountaintop and served as a buffet for the winged beasts!

Ernst is heartbroken to have spent 400 million in one go!

The pain is so intense it could be molded into a mask of agony!

Clinging to a sliver of hope, he asked:

"What if we completely tear it down and start over?"

“6 million,” Nasti replied.

"How can there be even more?" Ernst asked incredulously. "Wasn't it better to start from scratch?"

“Good things are expensive,” Nasti said. “Tearing down and rebuilding, laying the first brick of a new high-rise, can prevent any future problems. But it is naturally more expensive than adding to an existing building.”

She looked at Ernst and said earnestly:

“Starting from scratch, clearing out the old and building the new, is the most difficult, the most time-consuming, but also the safest and most thorough method. Six hundred million, what you can buy is the future of Tukarim.” She said, then suddenly laughed, “Ha, at least Sherag can buy the future with money. Kazdel has never had that opportunity.”

Ernst rolled his eyes at her.

It's easy for you to talk when you're not in the situation. If you could come up with 6 million yuan for construction without batting an eye, I'd immediately lie down and show you what it means to be a rich woman. I'm hungry, I need food!

Besides, do you know that what you just said sounded just like something a real estate agent would say to trick me into buying a house?

I must say, you've been quite successful.

Ernst exhaled a long breath of hot air, which turned into white mist in the air.

He finally made up his mind and said, "Then let's make it six hundred million. Let's keep you, this genius city designer, so you don't actually quit."

Ernst extended his hand to Nastie, who paused slightly, then took off her gloves in front of Ernst and grasped his outstretched hand.

The banshee's hands were somewhat cold, and the heat unilaterally transferred from Ernst to Nastie.

She said, "There's a saying in Colombia: those who start from nothing are the richest."

Ernst waved his hand, smiled, turned around, and walked towards Joyce's office.