In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 95: A Year's Achievements, Further Strategies
A year passed quickly amidst the increasingly tense situation in Shelag.

[Throughout this year, despite your deliberate low profile, the Manju Academy and the two major families, who were misled by you, have become increasingly brazen in their attempts to harm you.]

As you predicted, after Chen Huijie drove away the two major families, Manzhuyuan unsurprisingly chose to take her own life.

Although you tried your best to stall for time, the elders of Manju Academy were quickly and thoroughly enraged by what Chen Huijie had done.

[Chen Huijie, posing as a guest, visited many homes of the Sherag people, gathering information from these native villagers about the crimes committed by the Manju Academy.]

The Manju Institute ruled Sherag for centuries. During this time, due to political disagreements, conflicts of interest, and a series of other reasons, the Manju Institute employed numerous methods to maintain its rule.

Although Manjuin had already used her extremely high reputation to cover up all her crimes.

However, within Shelag, there remain those who experienced it firsthand, those who doubt it, and even those who know the truth.

From the villagers of Shelag, Chen Huijie pinpointed several individuals whose actions raised suspicions and who appeared to have been victims of the Manju Academy's malpractice.

[Among them were even members of the other two major families who held high positions.]

Chen Huijie's actions quickly aroused the high alert of the two major families and the Manzhu Academy.

Soon, following a joint protest from the two families, the Manju Academy, on charges of "espionage" and "sowing discord," sought to expel Chen Huijie from Shelag.

[Your continued protection of Chen Huijie has given Manzhu Academy an opportunity to exploit the situation.]

Ultimately, through your mediation, the Shiva'ish family ceded one-third of their territory to temporarily quell the conflict.

However, the lost territory means absolutely nothing to you.

Because most of those were uncultivated wastelands.

Although Fiona brought a lot of barley and potato seeds, sparking a farming boom in Sherag, a region lacking crops, [they did bring a significant amount of seeds].

However, due to technological limitations, large areas of land in Shelag remain abandoned to this day due to the high difficulty of reclamation.

As long as you can preserve the already cultivated agricultural areas and the mining areas that the Shivaish family relies on most, the foundation of your family will remain unshaken.

As for the wasteland that was given to the two major families...

If they go to great lengths to cultivate wasteland in order to consolidate their newly occupied territories, then you should actually thank them.

After all, in the future, once you have truly completed your path to governing the country, all these cultivated lands will fall under your control.

The fact that both families are willing to brave hardship and bitter cold to cultivate the wasteland for the sake of Sherag is the best possible outcome for you.

After a year of operation, the steady stream of ore orders from Kalan Trading in Victoria has allowed you to accumulate a substantial fortune!

Most of this money was used by you to build more railways and to import better mining equipment and industrial technology from Victoria.

With more and more new mining machines entering your mining area, the mining efficiency has been significantly improved, allowing you to take on more and more profitable ore orders.

The influx of more land clearing and harvesting machines has also improved the efficiency of your agricultural zones.

Of course, the second most profitable foreign trade business in Kalan is also thriving.

Now, every household in your territory has access to electricity, and all sorts of everyday appliances are beginning to flood into Shelag.

Even the inhabitants of Sherag in other territories are beginning to be influenced by the inhabitants of your territory and are starting to recognize the benefits of electricity.

More and more people in Shelag are beginning to need electric lights, heaters... these are everyday appliances they've never seen before, but are affordable and useful.

They can only acquire these things by purchasing them from your Karan trade.

Although your territory is shrinking, the resources and benefits you extract from it are increasing.

The blank market, the idle wasteland, and the mineral resources that have been difficult to deplete for almost a hundred years are all waiting for you to develop.

Of course, you also used some of the money to secretly purchase military weapons produced by Victoria.

[My neighbor hoards food, I hoard guns; my neighbor is my granary.]

You are acutely aware of just how crucial advanced equipment is to enhancing combat effectiveness.

Some of these weapons were secretly transported to Shelag by you, just in case.

The other part, however, was all handed over to Ensiodis, who then equipped his trained assassins with it.

[Enciodes lived up to expectations, increasing the number of assassins from 150 to 300 in just one year.]

[And if these 300 unarmed assassins were to be fully armed and successfully infiltrated the Sherag...]

[Then, the strength of these 300 people is enough for you to go all out.]

However, looking at your progress bar, which shows you've only completed one-third of Task Two, you're not satisfied.

You've given Ensiodis an ultimatum.

The number of assassins must be at least one thousand.

At least a thousand fully armed suicide soldiers are needed to ensure your military strength is sufficient to overthrow Sherag's rule.

[While you were meticulously planning your scheme, what were the two powerful families and the Manju Academy doing?]

[Unlike you, who only cares about profit and doesn't care about honor or disgrace.]

Both families view your concession as a huge victory.

The power dynamics among the three major Sherag families have remained unchanged for decades, with constant infighting and power struggles as each family strives to consolidate its own influence.

However, your concession has only reinforced the two families' belief that you are weak and easily bullied.

And they firmly believe that what they have achieved so far is by no means the limit!

Therefore, after Actos and Latatos, both having confirmed with the Grand Elder the objective of expelling your family from Seraphim.

In the future, their attacks on your family will likely become increasingly fierce.

"...System, I want to check my progress in planning my country."

[Okay, bringing up your progress for the host.]

Inside Chen Qi's office, the system's voice echoed in his mind, and the familiar progress bar reappeared in front of him.

[Task 1: Eliminate the vigilance of other families and the Manju Academy (In Progress)]

[The Perroch family's level of vigilance towards you: 10%]

[The Blangau family's level of vigilance towards you: 20%]

[The Grand Elder's level of vigilance towards you: 50%]

[Task 2: Cultivating Forces for a Coup (In Progress), Progress: 33%]

[Task 3: Seize Religious Support (Not Yet Started), Progress: 0%]

The success rate of turning political maneuvering into political success is currently 47%.

"...Not even halfway done?"

Faced with a success rate that other politicians might have already decided to take a gamble on, Chen Qi was still not satisfied.

He was a cautious man, and he would never act rashly until he was absolutely certain of a kill.

This crime, which is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family, must not be allowed to fail due to any unforeseen circumstances.

Chen Qi would never joke about his own life or that of his family.

"It's good to have made this kind of progress after a year."

"But the further we went, the more wary the two families and the Manju Academy became of me."

"Especially the First Elder, his wariness towards me has remained at 50%, and a year has passed without any change..."

"It seems he really does see me as a threat."

Inside the office, Chen Qi pondered for a long time, but couldn't think of a way to further reduce his perceived threat to other forces.

After all, in the eyes of many forces in Shelag, he is now seen as weak, easily bullied, cowardly, and incompetent. What room is there for him to fall further?
"Da da da."

As Chen Qi was deep in thought, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Qi? Are you inside? May I come in?"

"Father?"

The slightly weak but still refined voice of his adoptive father coming from outside the door immediately eased Chen Qi's furrowed brows.

The next second, as the door opened, Olafell, whose legs had been amputated and who was sitting in a wheelchair, stood alone in front of Chen Qi.

"Father, why did you come alone?"

Upon seeing his adoptive father arrive alone, Chen Qi quickly stood up, pushed his respected adoptive father in front of his desk, and said:

“You were just discharged from the hospital this year. The doctor told you to rest and recuperate. You could have had your servants push you to see me.”

"Hehe, Qi, don't underestimate your father. Although I've lost both my legs, I'm not so helpless that I have to rely on outsiders for everything."

"Besides... my dear child, you've been looking so worried lately, how could I, as your father, not come and check on you?"

Olaf looked at his proud adopted son before him, a smile appearing on his pale face, and calmly asked:
"Then, Qi, tell me about it."

"What are those weapons that you recently delivered to your home warehouse for?"

"..."

That short sentence made the originally relaxed atmosphere in the office become a bit more serious.

After a brief moment of surprise, Chen Qi's heart softened uncontrollably as he met his adoptive father's gentle gaze.

In the end, Chen Qi, who had never shown a single flaw in front of countless high-ranking and powerful people, was unable to withstand even the slightest test of this sincere family affection.

He truthfully told his adoptive father everything.

"...I want to save my family, I want to save Sherag."

"So, son wants to do something that father might not allow me to do."

"...Have you made up your mind?"

If Olafur still doesn't understand what his adopted son is planning to do after all this, then he's not a father at all.

However, precisely because he knew how serious the consequences of this matter would be, he wanted to dissuade his son one last time at this final moment.

“Once we embark on this path, our family may be doomed.”

“Child, even you will be despised by the people.”

"...Father, you know that what I least want to see is anyone in our family being hurt again."

However, faced with his adoptive father's emotional persuasion, Chen Qi's heart trembled, and his eyes became a little moist.

He quietly knelt down beside his adoptive father, his gentle expression conveying his unwavering determination.

"I have already made up my mind."

"Whether my plan succeeds or not, I will not implicate my family, nor will I implicate you."

“And to achieve this, Father, I need your help.”

Upon meeting his adoptive father, Chen Qi finally envisioned a perfect plan.

A plan that would make other families and the Manju Academy lower their guard against him, and even the entire Shivaesh, to the lowest possible level!
In order to ensure the success of his coup, Chen Qi had to create a sense of crisis that the Shivaish family was on the verge of collapse.

Only in this way could he make Manju Academy and the other two major families feel that victory was within his grasp.

Only in this way can we focus all their thoughts on how to divide the Shiva's family's inheritance, and only in this way can we lull them into a false sense of security and expose their fatal flaws.

Even... just thinking about this plan makes Chen Qi feel breathless.

Faced with his adoptive father's silent expression, as if he had realized something, Chen Qi took a deep breath and, in a calm tone, uttered the painful plan.

“I hope, Father, that you can sever ties with me on behalf of the Shivaish family.”

"child……"

"--Father."

However, before Olafel could utter a word in his trembling voice, Chen Qi, fearing he would regret it out of heartache, preemptively continued to his adoptive father:

"Of course, if we do this now, it will leave too many flaws. Both other families and the Manju Academy will find out. This is our plan."

"Therefore, I hope that you, Father, can cooperate with me and let us create some conflicts between each other in the next two years."

“Until the other families and the Manju Academy know about our internal discord... Father, then you can sever ties with me on behalf of the family.”

As he spoke, Chen Qi couldn't help but take a deep breath, barely calming himself down and forcing himself to continue speaking calmly.

"That way, they will believe in the conflict between us and become complacent, thinking that they can expel our family from Shelag at any time."

"Only in this way will all the Sherag people believe that I did all of this after I launched the coup."

"Only in this way can I bear all the infamy and consequences alone."

“…Child, it’s not worth it.”

Looking at Chen Qi kneeling before him, Olafur found his eyes already brimming with tears.

The father gently stroked his adopted son's hair, and after a long while, he choked up and said:

“Even if we leave Shelag, we can still survive in other countries.”

"You don't need to bear the infamy of a usurper for our sake..."

"...Father, you don't need to comfort me."

However, Chen Qi just shook his head with a wry smile in response to his adoptive father's words, not taking them seriously.

He knew his adoptive father all too well.

A student who returned from studying in Victoria, despite the displeasure and resistance from Manju Academy and other families, was determined to make his hometown prosper.

Even now, despite facing political machinations and losing his beloved wife, he still refuses to hate the land of Shelag.

Chen Qi believed that even if all the other Sherag people gave up their hometown, his adoptive father would not give up on such a person.

He deeply loves this land and everyone in his hometown.

He would rather perish with Sherag than leave her.

This is true not only for his adoptive father, but also for his younger siblings and his deceased adoptive mother.

Therefore, Chen Qi wanted to do everything in his power to protect Xie Lag.

Protecting Sherag is protecting everyone he loves.

“I was just a discarded child of Victoria. It was you who treated me like your own child, gave me a complete family, and helped me find the meaning and value of my life in this world.”

"For the first time in my life, I felt that so many people loved me, cared for me, and trusted me."

"And now, these petty villains want to kill every single one of our family members!"

"As the eldest son and elder brother in the family, I should stand up and shoulder this heavy responsibility."

"It's better to remove the fuel from under the pot than to try to stop the boiling water by adding more hot water."

"As long as I can protect this family, I'm willing to bear the infamy for all eternity."

"I, too, have no regrets."

(End of this chapter)