People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

While reflecting on this, Kent also noticed that the swordsman had taken off the rather heavy baggage on his back.

"What are you carrying on your backs?" he couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Medicine," the swordsman replied.

"Miss Defiance's information was very vague. She only told His Majesty the Duke to be careful of Duke Castle. In order to prevent any accidents, His Majesty the Duke arranged for us to carry medicine with us when we set off."

Kent nodded as if he understood.

After receiving the intelligence, Amphilis chose to send someone to pick me up.

The Sword Guards are the sharpest edge of Windermere's sword; once they are arrayed and assembled, even the Golden Law Guards of Letania can only stand in their way. This is physical protection.

As for the medicine, was Amphelise worried about being poisoned?

That makes sense; his insomnia and physical decline happened too quickly, and a typical heart ailment wouldn't cause such a severe attack.

He's not surnamed Zhou, nor is he from Yan State, so how could he be angered to death?

But how did Amphilis know what kind of poison she had been given?

The medicine in the sword guard's bag answered Kent's question.

"His Excellency the Duke ordered the doctors to bring all the antidotes to the poisons stored at headquarters, as well as all the medical equipment that could be carried. And of course, a medical sorcerer."

Kent looked at the swordsman whose back was smoking after he took off his baggage and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This really is... very much in the style of Amphilis Windermere in solving problems.

The highlight is the powerful brick flying!

Chapter Ninety-Two: Holhaya: I Won't Take Your Salary for Nothing

Shelag, Tukarim, Shelag Government Office Building.

Ernst had barely sat down when Holhaya leaned in and gossiped with great interest:

"Have you heard? Ensiodes conducted a massive layoff after returning to Karan Trading yesterday. I heard they laid off several hundred employees at once!"

Ernst glanced at Holhaya, and unusually refrained from kicking her while she was down. Instead, he defended himself, saying:

"This is not a layoff; it's about sending outstanding talent into society."

“BOSS, you do know something.” Holhaya smiled slightly. “Never mind, if you don’t intend to say more, I won’t ask any more questions.”

Ernst, of course, couldn't say much, because this was a choice he had forced Enciodes to make.

Although it's unclear why Ensiodis ultimately didn't choose to act during the Holy Hunt ritual, rendering Ernst's preparations futile, he wasn't entirely without gain.

The result was that the team consisting of Hinterlea, Holhaya, Joyce, and others did indeed discover the special forces of the Kalan Trade at the foot of the mountain.

The Shivaish family possesses a certain amount of armed force, which isn't really a big deal. Although the Perroch family is nominally the protector of Sherag, what large family doesn't have its own retainers and guards? Does the village expect to travel all the way to the Perroch family to call for reinforcements when one or two fanged beasts attack it?

But the actions of this unit are inexplicable.

According to Sherag tradition, specifically the rules established by the Manju Academy, no Sherag citizen may move freely within the sacred mountain area during the Holy Hunt ceremony. Not even the heads of the three major families are permitted to do so.

You can bring a guard, like Actos Perroche, whose Holy Hunting team is a huge, swarming legion. But according to the rules, apart from a few selected warriors who can accompany you into the hunting grounds, the rest of the team must wait in the Holy Stone Square.

If you don't bring a guard, that's fine too. Just stay quietly in your territory, and no one will care about you.

But what's the meaning of your Ensiodes troops?

Instead of going up the mountain or staying in your own territory, you piled them all up on the mountain path. What are you up to?

According to tradition, anyone who violates the teachings of the Manjushri Monastery and causes trouble during the most solemn ceremony in Kjerag, the Sacred Hunt, should be hung on the summit of the Matterhorn and have their heart and liver pecked out by winged beasts!

Considering that the Matterhorn would be leased to Rhine Lab as a research facility in the future, Ernst offered Enchiodis two options.

Alternatively, you, Enciodes, could be more self-aware and disband this force, send all the locals of Sherag to work in factories, and for the talented foreigners like the Victorians who are willing to stay, Ernst could help arrange jobs for them, while the rest should be deported.

Alternatively, I can talk to Enya and lower the level of punishment for you. Let's be civilized, promote new customs, and uphold humanitarianism. Instead of hanging you on the mountaintop, we can change it to beheading. I guarantee that you, the Mountain Snow Ghosts, will get a quick death.

Don't think Ernst couldn't do it. Nobody in politics is a saint. You've openly sent troops down the mountain to ambush me, preparing for a coup. If I don't punish you at all, if I don't make an example of you, wouldn't I be a saint?

However, Ernst is a kind-hearted man and won't do the dirty work himself, but Actos would probably be happy to help.

As for punishing some of the coup troops, will it provoke resentment among the Sherag people?

Don't forget, although the Grand Elder is dead, the Manju Academy Elder Council has not really disbanded. The elders whose faces are etched with wrinkles and menstrual blood are still here.

If he really wanted to ask, these current "Sons of the Holy Land" would naturally vie to be his pawns.

Given their persuasive abilities, the Sherag people wouldn't be upset about executing a group of "disruptive hunters"; they might even feel they were killed too easily. If one hill isn't enough, then every hill should have one. They should fully utilize Sherag's natural resources, innovate execution methods, and achieve a fusion of tradition and modernity, breaking through the Victorian gallows' limitations on advanced execution technology. This would allow them to achieve a highly efficient, streamlined trial and sentencing system unique to Sherag!

Don't believe me? You can ask Valerie's father for his opinion.

I never imagined that such a devout Jeragund believer, who held a high position, could be labeled an "unfilial person" by the Grand Elder with just a few words and poisoned to death, and not a single member of the Perroch family felt anything was wrong.

If Ernst really does that, he might be able to plead for those people, boost his reputation and public image, and maximize his benefits from their deaths.

Well, it's even possible that they could go further and drag Enciodes down with them.

But Ernst certainly didn't want to go that far unless absolutely necessary. The most important quality of a wise politician is knowing when to cut ties completely and when to let someone off the hook.

Although somewhat backward, in Sherag, where nationalism, class consciousness, and cultural identity have not yet been formed, the strongest bonds that hold people together are blood ties and religion.

Would Ernst really benefit so much from annihilating Enciodes?

Obviously not. Perhaps he could have absolute control over Kerrig from then on, but without Enciodis, Kerrigan Trade would inevitably collapse completely. Ernst would not have the means, energy, or enough talent to take over the channels, resources, and legacy left behind by the collapse of this major modern enterprise in Kerrig.

Moreover, if he, as Prime Minister, fails to protect his brother, who is the clan chief, it would be tantamount to severing the bond of secular blood ties. At that point, Ernst would only have religion left to rely on.

As is well known, among countless sources of power, religion is invariably the most backward.

Trying to change Sherag through religion is too risky; even if successful, it would be riddled with problems.

Just as Ensioudis said, Ernst needed the cooperation of the Kalan Trade.

As expected, Enciodes chose the first option.

Well, strictly speaking, he didn't really have a choice.

The counterattack turned out like this; in fact, Ernst did relatively lightly. At least he gave those who followed him a way out, and he also gave himself a way out.

“This may not be a compliment to you, but brother, you are a good person. You live for yourself and for others. In this respect, I am not as good as you.”

Ernst still remembered what Ensiodes had said to him when he agreed to disband the Snow Demons.

He was somewhat skeptical, because similar words had been used to evaluate another person in Ernst's previous life.

"Unfortunately, I don't have 10 billion to go around subsidizing things."

Regardless, Ernst still won this round, and not just a small win, not just a medium win, but a big win!

The Mountain Snow Demon Unit is a professional army that has undergone modern training, and it is well known that soldiers' education level is higher than that of civilians in most cases.

Not to mention that these civilians are from Shelag.

A huge lead, a huge lead indeed!

While it's not feasible to send these soldiers, who haven't yet undergone ideological indoctrination, to teach at the Spark Night School, assigning them to positions requiring literacy, calculation, and practical skills would be an excellent option.

This one move resolved many of Ernst's anxieties.

For example, if he can't get another Originium miniature furnace, he'll plan to buy a production line and build his own in Kjerag to solve the lack of skilled workers.

After observing the boss for a long time without being able to discern what grand plans for the future of Kjerag and Terra were conceived in his mind, Horhyah could only abandon her own thoughts and report a piece of news that had just arrived that day:

"Boss, we've received a message from the Duchy of Windermere, saying they appreciate your reminder. In two weeks, Duke Windermere will personally come to Shelag to express his gratitude."

Ernst snapped out of his daze and it took him a while to realize what he had reminded Duke Windermere of.

But the more he remembered, the more confused he became: "Huh? I only said one sentence, it shouldn't be that serious, right?"

"As far as I know, that's true. The letter says that if it weren't for your help, Mr. Kent would have been killed by the Duke of Cactus."

"..." Ernst paused for a moment, then nodded shamelessly and said, "Reply to Mr. Kent for me, and I am honored that Duke Windermere values ​​my information so highly. We are cooperating, and as the one who facilitated this cooperation, it is my duty to keep an eye on Mr. Kent's safety. No need for thanks."

Although I don't know what's going on, since it benefits me and is a freebie, I'll definitely accept it first.

Moreover, Ernst's words contained a hidden meaning.

He didn't say he was concerned about Mr. Kent's safety, but rather about "what time Kent's safety was being monitored."

In case things change later and someone investigates, Ernst can say: What, as my collaborator, can't I even care? What reminder you're talking about has nothing to do with me. That was a letter written by Defene!

Holhaya clearly understood Ernst's tactics. She gave him an OK sign, turned, and walked out the door.

He went to the mailroom, where, when Vina, the Foreign Minister who also managed the messengers, was not around, Hinterlaya would temporarily take over the job, and Ernst would honestly give her two salaries.

Vina's money was withheld; it was her fault for not completing the task. The funds for the small stove were spent, and the item wasn't returned. She'll have to starve on the streets of Lungmen with that compensation money!

Vina, who was having hot pot with Wei Yanwu and the Rat King at the Longmen Grand Restaurant, said: "Ah, right, right, right."

Getting back to the main point, it's currently the harvest festival holiday, so Cintraya is not there either.

Holhaa sat at the most modern tool in the entire Sherrag government, apart from the offline computer in Joyce's office, and typed the first reply as instructed by Ernst.

But she did not leave immediately; instead, she wrote a second letter.

A letter of condemnation.

She was well aware of Ernst's current predicament. No matter how brilliant and moving her grand plans were, ultimately, the Sherrag government was short of money.

You can't get anything done without money. So making money is the key.

Ernst, however, was too embarrassed to directly ask the Duke of Windermere for "financial compensation" for this "reminder." Holhaa understood his predicament, so she decided to use her experience to help Ernst.

He wrote a letter of condemnation; it didn't matter who it was addressed to, since it wouldn't actually be sent. Considering the Duke of Windermere's adversary was the Duke of Cayster, Horhae wrote the address of the Duchy of Cayster on the envelope.

The letter of condemnation was quite simple—it condemned the Duke of Castells for his consistent neglect and indifference towards friendly nations, and for failing to actively contribute to the development of Shelag and the peace of Terra. He accused her of constantly stirring up trouble, stirring up trouble in Victoria and throughout Terra, a veritable troublemaker in Terra, and wished she would die soon in an eco-fertilizer explosion, so she could provide some amusement for the people of Terra.

The language must be vulgar, the grammar must be chaotic, the content must be abstract, but there is only one purpose that must be clear: the motivation.

To contribute to the development of Shelag and the peace of Terra.

The second half of the sentence is a cliché; any normal politician would be baffled by those words. So the first half is the key point.

After writing it, Horhaia kept the letter safe, waiting until the day Duke Windermere arrived before taking it out to report to Ernst.

"Boss, I've prepared the letter condemning the Duke of Caesar that you requested. Please verify it, and I'll send it out."

When the time comes, she will read it aloud, and as long as Windermere isn't an idiot, he will naturally understand what it means.

"Don't say I didn't help you. I wouldn't accept your salary for nothing."

Holhaya licked her lips and muttered to herself.

Chapter Ninety-Three Ers has been released, referring to the art book.

Dayan, Longmen.

After a long period of preparation and meticulous review, the highly anticipated Chronicles of Erzley is finally about to be officially released!

When Vina received this news, she was incredibly excited.

She had messed up her promise to buy Ernst a small stove, but in any case, it wasn't her official task, just a verbal promise. When she received the compensation and returned to Sherag, she could still bring back a small stove herself.

But the publication of *The Chronicles of Erzley* was a different matter. It was Ernst's most important task, personally entrusted to her before his departure. If she messed it up, she might really have to consider carrying a thorny branch on her back when she returned.

The story of "carrying thorns to apologize" is a classic idiom she learned during her time at Longmen.

"Governor Wei, has the publisher said how long it will take for the goods to arrive?"

Sitting in Wei Yanwu's living room, Vina couldn't wait to ask.

Wei Yanwu swallowed hard, trying to keep his face calm, but the teacup in his hand trembled slightly, forcing him to pretend to pick it up and take a sip of the still-scalding tea.

"Hmm, don't worry, Miss Vina, it will be soon, very soon."

He gestured for Vina to calm down.

"I have arranged for someone to go to the bookstore. As soon as the bookstore receives the books, I will bring them back immediately."

Vina was also venturing into the publishing industry for the first time, so she was naturally unaware that, generally speaking, before a book is officially published, the publisher should send the author a few sample copies for collection and as gifts.

She didn't ask, and Wei Yanwu pretended to know nothing about it and didn't mention it.

Not only did he not mention it, but no one in the entire Governor's Mansion was allowed to mention it either.