People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Exposed to wind and sun, frost and rain, life on a construction site is indeed tough for a college student.

Ernst had friends who studied civil engineering in his previous life, and those students really did change a lot every three years and a lot every five. In Ernst's memory, at the last class reunion he attended before his transmigration, he could hardly recognize his former deskmate.

Perhaps for the Terrans, civil engineering isn't so terrifying. With the aid of Originium Arts and Terra's absurd materials science, they can often accomplish some unique ideas and bring some fantastic buildings from imagination to reality.

But that doesn't mean they don't work hard.

Even Nasti, a banshee, would have dark circles under her eyes from being so busy; Lola would be even more so.

Ernst had been trying to give her a break so she could rest, but this first college student from Sherag had a stubborn drive, and on this particular matter, she wouldn't listen to Ernst.

Just like now, hearing Ernst's words and feeling the large hand on her head, Lola nodded shyly, but her tone was anything but weak:

"Don't worry about it, leave it to me. I'll definitely get it done!"

Ernst smiled and nodded slightly.

He certainly believed Lola would handle it. He had doubted many people, but Lola was always on his list of the people he trusted most.

For no particular reason, Ernst is a native of Sherag, so he can rest assured.

However, what he didn't tell Lola was that he also had some ulterior motives in inviting her to Letania.

The concert hall is indeed a huge project, but at least it's just one project, unlike the one in Sherag, which required Lola to oversee dozens of projects at the same time.

Furthermore, Leitania has regulations that strictly limit normal daily construction hours. This is because construction generates noise, and Triinttelme is the place with the strongest musical atmosphere in all of Leitania.

Music cannot tolerate noise.

So, even if Lola wanted to work overtime, there was nothing she could do.

Here, Lola can finally get some rest.

Of course, in order not to delay the construction schedule, Herlinmat and World Summit also spared no expense in another aspect.

Engineering equipment, construction assistants, and all necessary materials were readily available, with more to be purchased as needed. Furthermore, the Yan Kingdom even promised to send two civil engineering masters from the Celestial Master's Mansion!

This is the benefit of the UN Security Council summit. The five permanent members may hinder each other due to their national interests, causing some things to stagnate and some issues to become endless disputes. But once they really join hands and want to accomplish something, there is no force on this land that can stop them!

Because of Ernst's little scheme, Lola is still unaware of all this. Seeing the girl's eager expression, Ernst also played the role of a riddle-maker and did not reveal the news.

Consider it a little "surprise" he left for Lola.

Hmm, I suddenly understand how those people feel about giving me "surprises" every now and then.

Ernst chatted with Lola for a while longer until Kelsey came in and reminded him that it was time to leave. Only then did Ernst finally say goodbye to Lola.

Just before leaving, Lola called out to Ernst again:

"Young Master Ernst."

"Ok?"

"Be careful. See you in Sherag!"

Ernst smiled and nodded:

"You too, be careful on construction. The beautiful land of Shelag is waiting for you to come back and rebuild! See you in Shelag!"

Outside the door, Kal'tsit, Helemat, Werner, Gertrude, and Viviana had been waiting for a long time.

They all tacitly refrained from disturbing Ernst and Lola's private meeting. They weren't fools; from Ernst's various arrangements for Lola, they could tell that Ernst valued this young Minister of Engineering highly.

This kind of high regard is much more serious than the kind of errand-running attitude that Kal'tsit has!

Helena didn't speak until Ernst closed the door:

“Ivignad wrote to me. Just as you expected, she expressed her support for the Concert of the World.”

"She couldn't possibly not support it."

Ernst shrugged.

Many complex problems simply stem from a failure to grasp the crux of the matter. The Queen of Letania couldn't possibly oppose Letania itself—that's the key. Moreover, there's Helemat, someone of equal rank to Ivignad, supporting her. No matter how much Ivignad objected to the International Concert, she'd have to grit her teeth and accept it.

"Didn't she say anything else?"

Ernst asked.

Herlinmat shook her head.

Ernst sighed softly, and Helena continued:

"After you leave, I will also return to Triinttelme. This time, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble when I go back."

This was precisely why Ernst sighed.

He was a bit petty, and he did want revenge for the times Ivignad and the three other queens of Letania had humiliated him at the World Summit. But there's a limit to revenge; inciting infighting among the queens of Letania was going too far.

After all, Letania is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Its internal problems are actually more detrimental than beneficial to the World Summit.

If possible, he would prefer Ivignad to back down. After all, the International Concert was actually a good thing for everyone except the remnants of the Witch King, and Ivignad had no reason to put herself in such an awkward position.

So he specifically asked Helenat if Ivignad had any other reaction.

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Regardless of whether Ivignad has truly devised a solution to counter this open scheme, or whether she is simply using an adult skill to "endure," her current reaction indicates that she intends to fight Helinmat to the very end.

Did Ernst instigate conflict? Actually, no. From beginning to end, he merely incidentally helped Werner and Viviana. The Concert of Nations was primarily aimed at the remnants of the Witch King's faction. Helena was even just an indirect beneficiary of this scheme.

If it were Ivignad who came, Ernst would have also proposed this plan, and in that case, Ivignad would have been the one to benefit.

This is enough to prove that Ernst did not set up this scheme for any one of the twin queens.

The conflict between the Gemini Queens has reached a point where everyone is on edge and sees danger everywhere, to the point that even the slightest spark could ignite this powder keg!

At this point, Ernst really had no other options.

He was not a Leitanian, and Sherag was not a great nation like Leitania. All schemes, whether overt or covert, are essentially about leveraging power. Overt schemes leverage the prevailing trends, righteousness, and the power of the masses; covert schemes leverage wind, fire, water, earth—the opportune moment, the favorable location, and the support of the people. It's all the same.

But what power could he possibly use to stop someone who was determined to fight, and who was not under his control?

Even a summit of 18,000 nations wouldn't work, because a summit of 16,000 nations governs "nations," not the four rulers of those nations.

This brings us to that age-old topic—the rulers of a country and the country itself are two different concepts. The former has their own joys and sorrows and can influence the country's decisions to some extent, depending on the degree of centralization of power. The country, however, is a collection of countless citizens, officials, and abstract cultural, historical, and social elements; it is an emotionless, purely rational collective consciousness!

Most of the time, if you want to intervene in a country, interfering directly with its rulers is undoubtedly the simplest and most effective method. However, the effectiveness of doing so is greatly influenced by the characteristics of the rulers themselves. Ideally, you should directly interfere with the will of the state.

But this is very difficult, extremely difficult. The so-called "peaceful evolution" is exactly what this operation entails.

Now that things have come to this, we can only wait and see.

Ernst nodded to Herlinma, knowing it was best for him not to get too involved, and could only offer the following advice:

"Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about anything else. Just make sure the International Music Concert goes smoothly."

As long as the plan proceeds smoothly, sooner or later someone will get restless and jump out.

Ernst then looked at Gertrude.

Even when Gertrude met Ernst's gaze, she couldn't help but humbly lower her head in front of this benefactor who had changed her destiny.

Ernst was somewhat helpless at the sight, but he did not force Gertrude to change her attitude.

She is already quite old, and reshaping her values ​​is not an easy task. Ernst doesn't have the time for that. It would be best if Gertrude could realize in the future that the attitude Ernst truly appreciates is "humility without being servile." If she doesn't realize it, that's fine too.

At least, they are very obedient.

Without saying much, Ernst simply gazed at Gertrude for a moment before offering a reminder:

"You serve the World Summit, but your opportunity lies in Her Majesty the Queen's hands."

The International Concert was merely an opportunity; whether Gertrude could seize it and truly change her destiny depended on her performance after watching the concert.

After all, the World Summit wouldn't always be held in Letania, and Gertrude was Count Viseheim, a Letanian.

She is ultimately under the Queen's jurisdiction. Gaining the Queen's favor through this opportunity is her true way out. She can't expect Ernst to ask her to be in charge of the next concert.

Gertrude lowered her head even further.

Unexpectedly, she walked forward with her head down, took out a sheet of music from her bosom, and handed it to Ernst.

"What is this?" Ernst asked.

“This is a new work by Mr. Czerny, the composer of ‘Dawn and Dusk.’ It is currently untitled, and I dedicate it to you in the hope that you will bestow upon it a name,” Gertrude replied.

Ernst raised an eyebrow.

He knew nothing about music, not even what "Dawn and Dusk" was, let alone how to name a new piece. Gertrude's actions were a case of trying too hard to flatter someone.

But after glancing at Gertrude, Ernst hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the piece.

He knew that Gertrude, by specifically mentioning Czerny's name on this occasion, was probably trying to secure a future for the composer.

This is dangerous; it could easily alienate him and the Queen. But it also shows that this person holds a high position in Gertrude's heart.

If I refuse now, this person might be blacklisted immediately, right?

Is such a risk worth it?

"I'll accept it. As for the name, I'll have the messenger tell you after I return to Shelag and hear it from him."

Just because he lacks appreciation skills doesn't mean others don't. At worst, we can invite Master Lamaren to come and listen.

Gertrude breathed a sigh of relief, bowed gratefully, and retreated.

Herlinmat withdrew her gaze from her and silently memorized the name Czerny. She didn't recall the title "Dawn and Dusk," but it must have been a popular, though not entirely mainstream, masterpiece.

Life is unpredictable. Music is said to be the standard for "recommending the virtuous and filial" in Letania, a shortcut to upward social mobility, but that still depends on whether someone can hear your music.

To make more people aware of this, it becomes an outright competition of "money" and "power".

In this process, countless people were eliminated. Their songs may have gone through one or two rounds, but ultimately failed to reach the highest level of public attention. In other words, they were "popular, but not truly popular."

Because only the Queen can define which songs can remain popular for a long time.

If Liu is truly a hidden gem, she wouldn't mind being a talent scout.

For Ernst's sake.

Ernst finally looked at Viviana and Werner.

Warner spoke up first:

"It's truly beyond my expectations that you would accept Viviana as your apprentice. After all, you personally told me that this child is not suitable to be chosen as an emperor."

Viviana, somewhat annoyed, tugged at Werner's clothes:

"Father!"

Ernst smiled, shook his head slightly, and then nodded to Viviana:

"Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it."

Talent is important, but hard work is also essential. Viviana may not be destined to reach the level of the Duke of Kester with his countless methods, but if she works hard enough, Ernst is confident that he can make her a qualified lord.

She may not be able to change Letania, but she can at least change the situation of the Shitong region for the next hundred years, which can be considered a good deed by Ernst.

"I wrote down some things I hadn't had time to teach yet, and left them on my desk in my room. Miss Viviana, please keep them safe and don't tell anyone."

Ernst said earnestly, without trying to hide it from the people present.

After all, while it contains a lot of useful information, it's mostly basic stuff. It's useful for beginners like Viviana, but it's still too superficial for seasoned veterans like Herlinmat, Gertrude, and Warner who have been in the political arena for over a decade.

Things must be done slowly; haste makes waste. Elector Viviana, let's take it one step at a time.

“I will arrange for Viviana to become the lord of one of the counts under the territory of Shitong. If she meets my standards, I will pass the position to her in the future.”

"Wolner said earnestly. He didn't say what would happen if it didn't work out, but everyone understood."

If not, that will be Viviana's retirement home.

Warner did manage to make up for his daughter's lack of food and clothing for the rest of her life.

Ernst nodded; he had no objection to this arrangement.

Gaining experience at the grassroots level is an essential process for becoming an outstanding politician.

"Then let's just say goodbye."

Having made all the arrangements, Ernst said goodbye.

See you at the International Music Festival!

Chapter 702 I vote for Ernst; he is the one everyone wants!

Lateran, Papal Palace, Second Office of Ivangelist XI. Three [Zero]