Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

……

The atmosphere of the meeting was unexpectedly harmonious.

There was no confrontation, no heated debate.

Countess Lenia demonstrated the tact of a seasoned politician, praising Lacey's outstanding contributions to improving the environment in the slums and offering to donate supplies to the Workers' Party's schools and clinics in her name.

Lacey reciprocated, thanking the Earl for his generosity and stating that the Workers' Party was willing to assist the city guards in maintaining order in Salem, especially in restraining the poor who were driven to desperation by poverty.

The two went back and forth like old friends who had worked together for many years, arranging all the affairs in Salem clearly and meticulously.

Only at the very end did Countess Lenia reveal her true intentions.

“Mr. Lacey, your talents shouldn’t be confined to the slums.” She gracefully picked up her teacup.

"The position of deputy tax officer that I proposed earlier remains in effect."

"As long as you nod your head, you can take office tomorrow."

"This will be your first step into Salem, and even into the power center of Letania."

Upon hearing this, Lacey smiled inwardly, but her face revealed a perfectly timed expression of embarrassment.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency."

“But you know, I represent the entire Workers’ Party, and tens of thousands of people from the lower classes. A position as deputy tax commissioner is probably not enough to meet their expectations.”

"Oh? What are their expectations?" Lenia asked with interest.

Lacey was silent for a moment, then raised her head, looking intently at her, and said, word by word:

“What we want is not a specific position, but a sufficiently influential seat that can represent our voice in the national parliament, such as… an Elector.”

“Puff—cough cough!”

Even though Countess Lenia was used to all sorts of things, she was still quite taken aback by Lacey's words.

She coughed violently, completely losing her composure.

"You...what did you say?" She couldn't believe her ears. "You want to become the Elector? Are you crazy?"

"Do you know what that is? It's the cornerstone of power in Letania! It's the glory passed down for nearly a thousand years by the nine oldest families! And you, a commoner..."

"Why not?" Lacey calmly retorted. "If a Witch King can be overthrown and an Empress can be re-crowned, why can't an Elector who only knows how to oppress the common people be replaced by someone who can bring new life to the country?"

He leaned forward slightly, his voice filled with seductive allure:

"Your Excellency, are you truly content to spend your entire life relegated to Salem, watching those people lord it over you?"

"You are ambitious and capable. What you lack is just an opportunity, a fulcrum to break the existing pattern."

"And I, and my Workers' Party, are that fulcrum."

“Support me and help me become the Elector, and then I will be more than just your ally.”

In Lacey's eyes burned a flame that made even Lenia's heart tremble.

"I will be the most lethal weapon in your hands."

The entire reception room fell into a deathly silence.

Countess Lenia stared intently at Lacey, as if trying to see right through him.

She saw the ambition in his eyes, an ambition that was purer, larger, and even frightening than her own.

This man didn't want to be an official, nor did he want to be a nobleman.

What he wanted was to turn this world upside down.

After a long while, a captivating smile slowly bloomed on Countess Lenia's face.

“Madman,” she said softly, but her tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Elector... Do you know how many people have had this thought since the coronation of the Twin Empresses, and how many have lost their families because of it?"

“They are them, and I am me,” Lacey stated calmly.

"What they want is to sit in that seat and enjoy that power. What I want is to overturn that table and rewrite the rules."

Lenia's smile faded, and she sat back down on the sofa, scrutinizing the man before her.

He was too calm, eerily calm.

That certainty, as if she had foreseen the future, made even a seasoned veteran of the political arena feel a chill run down her spine.

“I am very interested in your proposal.” After a long silence, Lenia parted her lips slightly.

“But the Elector… that’s too far away.”

"We need some more practical cooperation as a starting point for our friendship."

“Of course.” Lacey nodded.

"The development of the Workers' Party cannot be separated from your support."

“A stable and prosperous Salem is also in your interest, and I believe that on this point, we are the best allies.”

“Very good.” Lenia nodded in satisfaction. She stood up and extended her hand to Lacey. “Then, Mr. Lacey, I wish us a pleasant cooperation. The future of Salem is in our hands.”

The two hands were clasped together.

……

……

Holy Letanian Empire: Chapter Twenty: Arturo Giallo

Leaving the Earl's mansion and walking down the street, Lacey's mood was not as relaxed as it had been after the successful negotiations.

To ally with Lenia is tantamount to seeking a tiger's skin.

He could see the ambition and scheming in the woman's eyes clearly.

They are allies now, only because they share a common enemy and temporary interests.

Once the external pressure disappears, this tiger could turn on itself at any time.

But he had no choice.

The Workers' Party is like a newly sprouted seedling, seemingly full of vitality, but actually extremely fragile.

He needed Leonia as a shelter from the storm, even if that tree was covered in thorns.

He walked slowly, his mind racing as he reviewed the conversation and considered various possibilities for the future.

Salem's game is temporarily stable. The next step is the olive branch extended by Miss Gertrude—Vescherheim.

Assassinating a noble heir is undoubtedly a risky move, but the rewards are equally enormous.

An earldom controlled by the Workers' Party, a secure rear base... He couldn't resist this temptation.

Just as he was deep in thought, a melodious yet strangely evocative piano melody drifted from a small square on the street corner.

The music was beautiful and technically superb, but the emotions it conveyed made Lacey frown.

It was a very strange emotion, not just a single feeling, but a deeper kind of power that seemed to draw out the most hidden emotions in a person's heart.

Some passersby stopped to listen, their faces showing fascination, while others hurried by, as if they were avoiding some kind of plague.

Lacey looked in the direction of the sound and saw a black-haired girl wearing a white uniform short-sleeved shirt and a black lace skirt sitting on a bench in the center of the square.

She held an old-fashioned cello in her arms, closed her eyes, and immersed herself in her performance.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled yet ethereal beauty on her fair cheeks.

Is it her? Arturo?

Lacey's pupils contracted slightly.

Fragments of memories flashed through his mind—impressions left from playing that game before he transmigrated.

A Sarkaz from Lateran, an artist who touches people's hearts with music, a... madman?

He remembered her codename was "Sculpting Heart," but players preferred to call her "TuTu" or "Crazy Beauty."

He couldn't remember the specific plot details, but he knew that this woman had a twisted, obsessive pursuit of reality.

He never expected to meet this important figure at this time and place.

Just as he was pondering, the music stopped abruptly.

Arturo opened her eyes, not looking at the audience around her who were captivated by her music, but looking straight at Lacey.

“Your heart is completely undisturbed,” she said.

"My music cannot disturb you."

Lacey felt a chill run down her spine.

Is this... her Originium Arts?

Through musical resonance, can we perceive and even stir the hearts of others?

It seems somewhat similar to Serafina's Originium Arts.

He walked over quietly and stopped a few steps away from her.

"Your piano playing is beautiful, but it would be a shame if it were just for showing off your skills."

“I’m not showing off.” Arturo stood up, picked up her cello, which was almost as tall as her, and slowly walked toward Lacey.

"I am looking for 'truth'."

“I can hear the voices in their hearts, the most genuine emotions that are wrapped up in lies, cowardice, and desire.”

"My music can help them break free from their shackles and face themselves."

She paused, tilted her head, and looked at Lacey curiously: "But you're different."

"Your heart is like a fortress forged of steel, and my music cannot penetrate it."

“I was in the crowd when you were on trial. I heard your cries and the emotions that you ignited in those people.”

"But you alone, in the most passionate moments, are very calm deep inside."

"What exactly are you?"

Lacey couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

calm?

No, he wasn't calm at the time; he was also affected by his speech and felt very excited.

But the girl in front of him seemed unable to see through his heart?

Is it because of the spirit of "uniting as one"?

Lacey shrugged and said, "Perhaps what you call peace is my truest state."

"Every word I say and every action I take stems from my own will."

"I don't need to find truth through your music, because I am truth itself."

“No.” Arturo shook his head stubbornly. “Everyone wears a mask, and you are no exception.”

"You've just welded a mask onto your face and you're even believing it yourself. I'll show you what you truly desire deep down."

As Lacey listened to her nonsensical theories, she couldn't help but mentally complain.

Goodness, do you also want to create a world without lies, where everyone understands each other?

You also want to create an Infinite Tsukuyomi?

Shouldn't the next step be to collect the Tailed Beasts?

“Humans are inherently complex and contradictory.” He decided to have a little debate with this philosopher.

"There is a bright side, and there is also a dark side; there are firm ideals, and there are also wavering selfish desires."

“Forcibly tearing away all the falsehoods and exposing everything to the sunlight is not the truth they need.”

"If a person pretends to be virtuous their whole life, does that mean they can't be considered a good person?"

"A world with only absolute truth would be far more chaotic and cruel than the world we live in now, which is full of lies."

“That’s because you weren’t ready.” Arturo’s eyes shone with a saintly fervor.

“I will guide them to learn to embrace reality and create a pure world.”