People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Media publicity, if used well, can indeed make money effortlessly, but if the power of discourse is in the hands of others, then you will be subject to their control in everything you do.

Especially as a politician, if he doesn't pay attention to this aspect, perhaps in a few years, when others want to target him, even if he just lifts his left or right foot when he leaves the house in the morning, people can escalate it to his political stance.

It’s amazing!

"Then, Lord Elector, what should we do next?"

While Leopold was reading the newspaper, the servant wiped his face, changed his clothes, and returned to the room.

He poured the Elector a glass of milk again, handed it to him, and asked softly.

"Is this meant to warn those newspapers?"

Why do you think that? Who told you to do that? Don't get me into trouble!

Soliopol's tone suddenly became intense.

“Mr. Ernst, that’s the Secretary-General of the World Summit, a friend I’ve known for a long time, and a great man who has contributed to peace in Terra.”

"How can we suppress news about him?"

The servant blinked, somewhat bewildered.

So you were so surprised? So all that milk spraying on my face was for nothing?

He silently cursed in his heart, then bowed his head and apologized obediently.

"I'm so sorry, I underestimated your magnanimity."

My heart needs no evaluation from you.

Leopold snorted coldly.

“Tell the newspaper publisher to print more copies, and not only print more copies, but also spread these news stories throughout Trinityl.”

The Concert of Nations was indeed beneficial to the whole of Letania, but the biggest beneficiary, needless to say, was Empress Helenemat, who had reached a cooperation agreement with Ernst.

Now that something new has overshadowed the popularity of the International Music Festival, the one who should be most upset is not the Elector, but the Queen herself.

Leopold had no idea why Helenemart was able to cooperate with Ernst.

But now, Ernst has, in a way, "backstabbed" Helinmat in the back. One wonders what Her Majesty the Queen's feelings are now?

Let her worry about it!

If a rift develops between her and Ernst, all the better; the Elector would be happy to take over the responsibility of this collaboration without any problem.

"As for the situation in Iberia..."

Leopold pondered for a moment, then gave the order.

"Prepare some stationery for me; I want to write a letter to Ivignad."

"Whether it's the Stutifaira, the Preserver, or the new weapons, one person can't have all the good things."

"Let's propose a plan at the World Summit. Let's call it the Science and Technology Sharing Agreement!"

The Science and Technology Sharing Agreement, an agreement with far-reaching implications for Terra, was finally adopted by the World Summit and implemented to some extent after many years of debate, rejection, and resubmission following its initial proposal.

Perhaps many years from now, when students of Letania first learn about the full content of the Science and Technology Sharing Agreement in university, they will reflect on the great public spirit and selfless virtue of the first initiator of this agreement, Archduke Leopold of Letania, for proposing this agreement that will be remembered for generations and become an integral part of the international summit system.

They could not have imagined that Leopold's initial idea was simply to get a share of the spoils from Iberia and Colombia.

Leopold himself could not have imagined that, given the "convenience" and "benefits" of the World Summit system, his first reaction upon learning of these two technologies would not be to seize them directly, nor to have the Elector's Domain send people to pressure Iberia or negotiate with Colombia, but rather to choose a "World Summit-style" approach.

The most respectable thing to do is to write a letter to the Queen, whom he doesn't respect, and then send the Queen's representative to the World Summit to argue with the other representatives.

This is not some vague "fate." If Ernst were to evaluate it, he would use a rarely used description.

These are the tracks left by the silent wheels of history, a symbol of the progress of the times.

Subtly and gradually, order replaces chaos, civilization masquerades as barbarity, and rules are quietly being established.

Chapter 765 The Golden Age Has Returned!

This is the most lively, exciting, and joyous day in Iberia since the Great Silence!

People waiting on the shore gazed at the ocean, which, once dark and deep as if viewed through a hazy filter, was now incredibly bright. Beams of light shone from the coastline toward the sea, and the waves calmed and the tides subsided.

That was a miracle brought about by the Eye of Iberia.

In an era when many contemporary Iberians could only see it in books and stories told by elders, the Eye of Iberia stood tall along every coastline of Iberia, from ports to towns, from land to islands. It lit up the sea, making night as day and the unknown known. Thus, Iberia was able to claim that the sea was also Iberian land.

But that era is long gone.

All the Iberian eyes were extinguished long ago in the Great Silence. The Iberians no longer possessed the skill to restore them, and the Iberians no longer cast any gaze upon the sea other than hostility.

No one expected that, more than sixty years later, these buildings, which were neglected, unrepaired, and in many cases damaged, would be lit up again overnight.

The command post at the Granfalo courthouse was in an uproar. Dario had rushed over almost overnight from Perdoni, with little Elene still drowsy beside him. The first question he asked upon arriving at the command post was:

"Who opened those eyes?"

Yes, it doesn't matter who repaired the Eye of Iberia anymore. After all, they've already found a Jodi in Granfalo and restored a lighthouse. Who knows, maybe there won't be a second or third "Jodi" in other Iberian cities?

The real question is, who opened these "eyes"?

The Eye of Iberia is scattered along the old coastline of Iberia. It is called the old coastline because the original coastline of Iberia was completely changed by the rising tides during the Great Tranquility.

This not only caused the old capital and port city of Iberia to sink into the sea, but also turned most of the Eye of Iberia from a near-shore lighthouse into an isolated "ruin" that can only be seen but not reached overseas.

The Granfallow lighthouse was no exception; it's just that Granfallow suffered less damage during the Great Tranquility, and the lighthouse happened to be relatively close by. In reality, you still need to take a boat to get there.

But even under these circumstances, in the Tribunal, without the Punishers' knowledge, all the dormant Eyes of Iberia were awakened. So much so that it now appears almost like hell.

Because it seems brighter in the sea than on land.

Dario looked around, and all the judges present fell silent.

Clearly, it's not that they're not outgoing; they genuinely don't know.

If they had that ability, then "Goldenage" would have already returned long ago. They wouldn't need to depend on others for their position as the overlord of Terra.

What Victoria? War! What Gaul? War! What Ursus? War! They're all gone! Iberia has defeated them all! Iberia is invincible!

Seven Dario knew he wouldn't get anything out of him. But he was quick-witted. The Inquisition hadn't done anything, the Punishing Forces couldn't do much, and the counter-terrorism forces at the World Summit, apart from Ursus and Columbia, were mostly just there to accompany, slack off, and do odd jobs. So who else could have pulled this off?

To put it bluntly, Dario felt that this matter was inextricably linked to his teacher who had gone to sea, and Ernst and the others who had gone to sea with him.

"Let's go to the port."

Without any explanation, Dario issued the order directly.

The judges exchanged glances, had no objections, stood up, and followed Dario toward the port in the middle of the night.

That's what prestige is. That's why Ernst said that if Carmen really couldn't do it, then the most suitable person would be Dario.

He truly commands respect, and as long as he doesn't cause any trouble, he can maintain that respect for a considerable period of time.

On the contrary, Ernst sometimes understood Carmen's ideas, but he was also helpless against his stubbornness.

Parents' hearts are always full of worry, and every elder seems to be especially concerned about their younger generation. Carmen had already paved a very wide path for Dalio; compared to the political conditions when Ernst came to power, Dalio's situation was far better.

A dictator who wields power without the title, having designated and groomed his successor for so many years, even if Dalio were mediocre, he could easily have lived a long and successful life simply by relying on Carmen's prestige and following her established practices. Moreover, Dalio's abilities are no less than Carmen's, and in some aspects, he is even more up-to-date with the times.

But Carmen may never have a day when she can truly feel completely at ease.

Because nothing in this world is perfect.

As it turned out, Dalio's judgment was spot on. In fact, he was even a little too late.

When Dario arrived at the port with his court personnel, a crowd had already gathered.

These people are none other than residents of the small town of Granfalo. The establishment of the anti-terrorism base has indeed disrupted the tranquility of the town's former life, with its white-haired fishermen and woodcutters on the riverbank, but it has also brought new vitality to the town.

Many of them witnessed the town's transformation, from ruin to reconstruction, then to neglect, and finally to becoming a place name specifically marked on Iberian maps. Therefore, they naturally pay close attention to events at sea.

In particular, regarding the Tribunal's warship that set sail today.

The lighting of the Eye of Iberia was a bittersweet and perplexing event for the Inquisition, but for the residents, it was a truly wonderful thing!

Because even the most uncultured Iberians could understand from their words what these continental creatures at sea meant.

Many older people even say that when all the Eyes of Iberia along the coastline are lit up again, it will be the time when the "Golden Age" returns!

Dario's arrival went unnoticed. They surrounded the port, chanting a melody in unison.

The court soldiers stepped forward in discipline, shouting orders as they tried to disperse the crowd gathered at the port and set up a cordon around the area.

This is reasonable. After all, no one knows why the lighthouse lit up, so no one can judge whether it is a blessing or a curse. At the end of this lighthouse, guided back to Iberia by the light, is it their dream of a "golden age" or another "Great Tranquility"?

But Dario called out to the soldiers.

"No need, just let them spread out a bit so they don't cause a traffic jam. There's no need to disperse them."

The soldier was puzzled: "But sir, wouldn't this..."

"Will there be any danger?"

Dario looked at the soldier, smiled, and shook his head.

He did not reprimand the soldier for his dutiful conduct, but instead pointed to the judges following behind him and solemnly said,

"If there is any danger, then we are the walls of Iberia."

The number of judges here accounts for almost one-third of the total number of judges in the courtroom.

If what has returned is indeed calamity, then by gathering here, they can quickly keep it out of Iberia. In this way, if they can defeat it, the people will not need to flee. If they cannot defeat it, then the people will have no way to escape.

But what if what returns is not calamity, but rather Teacher Carmen and Ernst?

Dario's gaze darkened.

To be honest, he had been longing for that golden age for far too long.

Humans have dignity. He might sacrifice his pride for his country, doing things that Carmen would consider beneath Iberian dignity. But there was no other way. Iberia had to survive, and civilization had to endure. Losing a little face to gain more money, better equipment, and more comprehensive supplies, thereby reducing casualties and saving more lives, was a worthwhile trade for him.

But if given the chance, who wouldn't want to appear at the World Summit, head held high, and respected by the world?

Small countries face certain limitations; their size can sometimes restrict them. But poverty can strengthen their resolve, and they never lose sight of their lofty aspirations. Moreover, Iberia was once a great nation.

He was gambling too.

The return of the gamble brought a "golden age," allowing Iberia to, for the first time in over sixty years, make its deafening voice resound across the land!

Moreover, it's not about "please be kind and give me some money"!

With meticulous attention to detail, yet without being overwhelmed by confusion, Dario watched the soldiers who were carrying out orders to evacuate the crowd. After a moment's pause, he turned slightly to the side, lowered his head, and looked at Elene beside him.

"Elena".

Elena tilted her head back, her sleepiness vanishing, her youthful face filled with determination: "Teacher?"

"I'm giving you an order."

Dario didn't say anything sentimental, but went straight to the point:

"You should know the location of the military base. Go over there, the counter-terrorism forces are coming."

"Eh?"

Alini was slightly taken aback. She had just heard her teacher say that "the judges are the walls of Iberia against disaster," so how come she was suddenly being asked to call the anti-terrorist forces?

Dario didn't have time to explain further; he simply patted her on the shoulder and urged her on.

"Go ahead, and make sure you complete this task. Afterwards, I will speak with Ms. Carmen and get you promoted."

Elene's eyes lit up, and she immediately gave an Iberian military salute:

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

After saying that, she turned around, took the token Dario handed her, and ran away without looking back.

Dario watched her disappear into the night before turning back to look at the vast ocean.

This is the insurance Dalio provided, and also the path Dalio paved for Elena.

If what returns is calamity, then Elene's message could save her life and allow her to contact the World Summit's forces as quickly as possible. Perhaps, there would be a chance for the World Summit's forces to serve as reinforcements on this battlefield.

Although Dalio had no hope for the organization of the World Summit in the face of adversity.

But at least, he believed that if Ernst were still alive, he would surely understand his intention to protect Elene. At least during the retreat, he would definitely take Elene with him. This child, Elene, would certainly become Iberia's successor in the future.

Dario lived a solitary life with only this one apprentice, and he hoped she could live for Iberia for several more decades.

If what returns is the golden age.

Elena was also the first person to inform the World Summit about this matter.