People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

But he quickly rallied, displaying a Victorian optimism, and thought to himself:

Luckily, I reacted quickly. That's why they say Victorians are elegant—it's the art of conversation!

PS: I saw the concept art images released by YJ. Although they didn't elaborate on everything, the content they released is still very promising.

The only downside is that this setting book seems to be primarily told from the perspective of "a Terran," meaning that both the perspective and the setting may have limitations.

The most crucial settings—the Originium setting, the survival of civilization, the Demon Lord's setting, and so on—will likely remain hidden, because the professor's perspective and knowledge are clearly insufficient to understand these. There might not even be much information about Agor.

This isn't bad, though. After all, it's their first text-based art book, so hopefully YJ won't turn out a terrible first art book after all this hype. I'll definitely pre-order a copy as soon as it's released!

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Ernst Has Paid the Price

Shelag, Tukarim, is considered the magnificent headquarters of the Kalan Trade Center in Shelag.

Enshiodis has been very irritable lately.

He discovered that no matter how stubborn he was, he seemed to have lost more often than he had won in his recent competition with Ernst!

The Duke of Windermere's representative, who was invited, encountered an accident halfway through the journey. After being rescued by Ernst, he completely ignored him and spent almost the entire trip around the Sherag government. He didn't even bother to visit the Kalan Trade Office.

The Three Races Conference also suffered a loss in its tax system formulation because it accepted Ernst's betrayal due to its low moral standards, paid taxes to the government according to the normal tax procedures, and in return, Karan Trade continued to enjoy the right and convenience of being the "only state-owned enterprise".

Even his meticulously prepared infrastructure plan, along with the urban development direction of Tukarim, was thoroughly criticized by the designer Ernst brought from Colombia. Ironically, upon hearing the criticism, he found it quite accurate and had no way to refute it.

This is really going to be a disaster.

If I had to describe Silver's current mental state, it would be like Marna has diarrhea—he's been having diarrhea again and again!

It's impossible for Enciodes to admit that he was somewhat inconsiderate in putting his younger brother in the prime minister's position. After all, even if he loses, in the long run, Sherag's future is simply a transfer from one Shivaesh to another.

But it's impossible for him to admit defeat!

Rather, what he really wanted to do right now was slam his fist on the table and shout:

"Damn it, this can't be right. How did Kalan Trade end up like this?"

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

A deep, concerned voice pulled Ensiodis back to his senses. The snow leopard looked up at the horn at the doorway, composed itself, and replied:

"Nothing, nothing. Is there anything you need me for?"

Cliffheart glanced at SilverAsh with some concern. His boss's mental state had been a bit off lately. Should he consider bringing Nosis back ahead of schedule?

It's not that Nohis studied psychology, but when he was around, at least the boss had someone to vent to, instead of having to bottle things up himself.

Go back and discuss it with Weiss.

Horn Peak thought, let's get back to the main topic:

"Boss, there's a problem with that batch of goods from Longmen."

Ensiodis frowned, looking puzzled: "Longmen? Haven't we traveled that trade route to Longmen many times? We should have taken care of most of the arrangements, so why is there a problem this time?"

He sat up straight and asked seriously:

"Tell me more specifically?"

Horn Peak said, "This matter is quite strange. Our caravan was doing well as usual until we entered the Dragon Gate. Everything went smoothly. But on the second day after entering the Dragon Gate, things started to go wrong."

"The caravan had just finished inventorying its goods and was preparing to sell them at the commercial street, and there was no news from the Rat King. But as soon as our people left the warehouse, they discovered that the Guard Bureau was watching them from all around."

"The Guard Bureau?" Ensiodis looked puzzled.

Although in theory, the Lungmen Guard Bureau, as Lungmen's official law enforcement agency, does have the right to govern all kinds of merchants in Lungmen, according to Enciodes's understanding, the number of times they have actually taken action against merchants is actually very small.

One major reason for the prosperity of Lungmen's commerce is that most merchants enjoy Lungmen's special status in the Great Yan and even the Terra region without being subject to excessive legal constraints. What truly governs Lungmen merchants are, most often, one or more sets of underground rules.

This set of rules belongs to the Rat King, the Swire Group, and the Lungmen Merchant Guild. But it will never belong to the Guard Bureau.

Ensiodis thought it over carefully. The Kallan Trade didn't seem to have done anything outrageous, did they? They just sold some ores, furs, and handicrafts in Khalag, and incidentally purchased some small stoves, new tools, and radios with better signal. It didn't seem like it should have alarmed the Royal Guard.

Where did I offend Wei Yanwu?

Ensiodis was completely baffled, but what he didn't expect was that this was not the end of the story.

Horn Peak continued, "The second day was just surveillance. Although our men were suspicious, they assumed it was because the year-end was approaching and Lungmen was strengthening its defenses. But what we didn't expect was the third day!"

"On the third day, the Guard Bureau directly led people to raid our warehouse!"

Ensiodis abruptly stood up, looking at the horn in disbelief:

"They raided our warehouse? What was the reason?"

“Security check,” Cliffheart replied. “Officer Hoshiguma, who was in charge, opened and checked all our goods one by one. After confirming that there were no dangerous items, she left. Apart from wasting our morning, it didn’t cause any losses, but it really scared the caravan members quite a bit.”

"What does this mean?" Ensiodis was even more puzzled.

The Royal Guard led a team to raid the warehouse of Karan Trading Company, which clearly indicated that someone in the upper echelons of Lungmen wanted to target Enshiodis. However, after raiding the warehouse, the other side did not take or touch anything. They simply checked the warehouse and then left openly.

What do you mean? Did you, Wei Lao Er, forget to bring toilet paper this morning and come here specifically to fart and disgust me?

Damn it, do they think I, Kalan Trade, am easy to bully?

Believe it or not... I... I will never do business with you again, so that the people of Lungmen will never be able to buy high-quality, low-priced snow country goods and Yeragand blessed amulets (fake) again?

"In short, it's good that no one or goods were lost."

Ensiodis had just breathed a sigh of relief when Horn Peak continued:

"Don't worry, boss, they're back on the fourth day!"

"There are more experts?" Ensiodis was taken aback.

Horn Peak shrugged helplessly: "We don't understand either. The Guard raided the warehouse again and checked the goods. This time, Officer Swire led the team, but they still didn't find anything and just left."

"Huh?" Ensiodis said, "And on the fifth day? They came again?"

Perhaps to cheer SilverAsh up, Cliffheart nodded, affirming and praising, "Boss, you're incredibly insightful, you guessed right! On the fifth day, the Guard Bureau sent people again, this time it was the leader of the Special Inspectorate, Inspector Chen himself leading the team."

"And then? Nothing was found, nothing was lost, and you just went home again?"

Horn Peak shook his head: "There was a slight mishap this time. The small stove that Miss Vina asked Karan Trading to purchase was damaged during the inspection. However, Inspector Chen did provide double compensation in accordance with the regulations."

The man with the plump hooves shrugged and said...

So, rounding it up, we actually made a small profit!

"Is Wei Yanwu making fun of me?" Ensioudis was both amused and exasperated.

What kind of amazing trick is this? Does a law enforcement agency like the Guard Bureau have such abundant police resources? My small-scale trading business in Kalan was raided three times in three days, with different people leading the raids, and they even lost money because they couldn't find anything.

For a moment, he couldn't even tell whether Wei Yanwu was giving him a hard time.

He asked, "Didn't you file a complaint with the Guard Bureau?"

Horn Peak replied, "We appealed, and the Guard Bureau responded that they received a report and were forced to dispatch officers. They promised to investigate who filed the false report and then compensate Karan Trade for their losses over the past few days according to procedure. But..."

“But we can’t wait for the money to come through, right?” Ensiodis replied.

The Karan trade caravan was a short-distance caravan. The caravan members would stay in Longmen for a maximum of one week before setting off back to Shelag to participate in the upcoming New Year ceremony.

As is well known, the fastest processing time for civil servants is at least 7 working days. When it comes to issues involving "compensation," the maximum penalty is always applied. Given the Lungmen Guard Bureau's 6-day work week and 1-day rest schedule, if you appeal now and want to get this money, the earliest you could get it is the week after next.

By then, it'll be too late! Everyone'll be in Shelag! There won't even be a radio; if they wanted to notify people to collect their money, they wouldn't have the means!

As for leaving someone here to wait and collect the money, that's even more impossible.

The local people of Shelag have a strong sense of community, no less than those of the Great Yan. With such cohesion, it is a tradition for them to go home for the New Year, whether they are rich or poor. Can Enshiodis force them to stay voluntarily?

Besides, if we leave him here, when will we pick him up? Are we just going to let him go back on his own? Aren't we afraid he'll run into bandits and rusty hammers in the wilderness and lose his life?

If they waited until the festival ended, the next caravan to Longmen would be at least two months away. During those two months, the food, lodging, and entertainment expenses would all have to be reimbursed by the public funds, which would add up to more than the compensation. How could Enshiodis do such a losing business?

After careful consideration, the money can only be donated to the Longmen Charity Foundation as a donation. This is a small token of Bo Weiyanwu's good fortune.

"Tsk." Ensiodis clicked his tongue, recalling the recent string of misfortunes plaguing the Karan Trade Company, and could only slam his fist on the table in frustration. "Don't let me find out who's behind this!"

"Otherwise, I, Ensiodis, will make him pay the price!"

PS: But Ernst has already paid the price—referring to the small stove.

PS2: A friend's book, by Beng Tie.

Having transmigrated to the perilous world of Bengtie, Lu Feng, as an ordinary person, must find a powerful patron to cling to in order to survive!

Those who recognize a thief as their father and repeatedly change allegiance are traitors. But as long as I have enough powerful patrons, I am the strategist who can make the stars tremble with anger and extinguish the universe in peace!

He personally heard the teachings of [Abundance] under the wandering star Rahu—

"The words of the Medicine King were like the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and they enlightened me completely!"

Even before the [hunting], one must bow down—

"Having spent half my life wandering, I only regret that I have not met a wise ruler. If you do not abandon me, I am willing to become your godfather!"

He led a vast army, bringing destruction and devastation to countless worlds.

"All the heroes of the universe are nothing but weeds in my eyes. I am willing to lead a fierce army to cut off their heads and throw them into the furnace of war!"

Until he encountered the nameless travelers who inherited the spirit of pioneering—

"I have been ruined by alcohol and women, and I have become so haggard... From this day forward, I will abstain from alcohol!"

On the final battlefield—

Nanuk: "My son Lü Feng, why do you do this?"

"Shut up! A true man dwells between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?"

"You old scoundrel Nanuk, I will never let you get away with this! Take this!"

Nanook: ???

Chapter Seventy: This Land at the End of 1093

Ernst received the letter from Vina and found it unbelievable:

"Really? Could she really be a genius?"

Is Wei Lao Er really that easy to talk to? Although Ernst hasn't seen the storyline about Lungmen, no matter how you look at it, the leader of a mobile city, who is related to the Emperor of Great Yan, would definitely be a boss character with a health bar if he wasn't a friend in a game. How could he be so easy to deal with?

Or does Vina possess some Originium Arts that can manipulate people's minds, allowing her to easily control Wei Yanwu?

Ernst didn't quite believe Vina's explanation in the letter that she had learned a lot in Sherag, and that putting it into practice immediately yielded remarkable results. "Are you kidding me? I can't even do that myself, and you learned it from me?"

The idea that "the student surpasses the teacher" doesn't mean victory in this way.

“Oh, it seems Miss Vina is still hiding many things from us.” Holhaia, who was leaning close to Ernst’s head, also finished reading the letter, a meaningful smile appearing on her slightly upturned lips. “However, it seems she’s going to accomplish her mission beyond expectations, which is a good thing, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.” Ernst nodded, muttering, “I hope she doesn’t forget what she promised.”

"Speaking of which, it's been eerily quiet in Shelag lately," Holhaya said with a touch of melancholy, looking out the window at the thick snow and several Shelag children having a snowball fight.

“Terrible? This kind of life is more like the norm in Sherag,” Ernst replied. “Not every place on this land is like Columbia, where things can change in just three days.”

"In fact, the changes that have taken place in Shelag in recent decades have surpassed those of the past few thousand years."

A great transformation unseen in a century, no, a great transformation unseen in a millennium!

Although the impact of this major upheaval is not as widespread as imagined, it is still a rare opportunity for Sherag.

Gazing out the window at what might be the last snowfall of 1093, Ernst accepted the teacup offered by Horhae, tacitly approving of her using his large tail as a warm blanket over her lap to begin reading. Taking a sip of the hot tea, he silently offered a prayer in the steam, following the tradition of Sherag:

"I hope everything goes well next year."

Many things happened in Terra in 1093.

Kazdel's general Theresis officially ended the civil war, gathered the remaining forces of his younger sister Theresia, and nominally unified the Sarkaz tribes as the chairman of the military council and regent.

In reality, neither the Babel remnants who had fled Kazdel and reorganized into Rhodes Island, nor the Banshee Royal Court and a small number of Sarkaz mercenaries who were loyal to Theresia, submitted to Theresis's leadership.

The anger and radicalism within Kazdel did not subside with the end of the war; instead, the loss of their enemy led them to turn their anger towards each other.

Therese has realized this.

He awakened the beast, and through it built Kazdel into what it is today, shattering his sister's dreams. But now, the beast has begun to break free, running rampant beyond anyone's control.

He had to lead the beast in another direction before it completely broke free of his restraints, so that it wouldn't harm the Sarkaz, or even use it to achieve the Sarkaz's goals.