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

Chapter 96 The Manju Academy's Ruthless Extermination? Chen Qi Forced into a Deadly Situation?
"Crack!"

In the vast mansion of the Shivaesh family, a crisp sound of porcelain shattering echoed clearly and without warning throughout the hall.

In an instant, all the servants in the Shivaish mansion, who were already trembling with fear, turned pale and froze in their tracks because of this shout.

But it wasn't because a servant broke a precious piece of porcelain, and he was afraid of being punished.

Because all of Shiva's servants knew that both the former and current heads of the household were kind and benevolent people.

Even towards servants, he was very gentle and rarely punished them for their mistakes.

But the reason these servants were so terrified was because they knew very well.

The rich history and heritage of this mansion may be gone forever.

"Boy, I entrusted this family to you, not so you could just sit idly by and watch the Shivaesh family decline!"

Inside the office, came the furious roar of their former patriarch, Olafell, accompanied by heavy slamming of the table.

Among those present were old servants who had served two or even three generations of the family head.

This was perhaps the first time in their memory that the polite old man had ever shown such anger.

Moreover, the target of his roar was their current patriarch, the adopted son he once valued most.

"Three years? In just three years, you've squandered the centuries-old legacy of the Shivaish family like this?!"

“Look at this! How much land does Shivaish have left in Khelag? How many of their people still trust us?”

"Do you know what our people are saying about you right now?!"

"I'm saying you're spineless, emotionless, and completely unfit to be the head of the family!"

...The former patriarch's words were a bit excessive.

After exchanging bewildered glances, many servants could only silently refute this in their hearts.

Although the Shivaish family's land did indeed decrease day by day after the eldest son became the head of the family.

However, apart from feeling somewhat aggrieved, the people of Shiva'esh did not feel that their lives had been affected in any way.

With the help of the new equipment brought by the patriarch, the family's farmland has grown larger and larger.

In addition, the method of "nurturing the land" taught to them by the little girl named Fiona from Victoria made their grain harvest more abundant year after year.

Although the Shivaesh family cannot compare with the Perroch family in terms of territory.

However, in terms of grain production alone, the Shivaish family is no less impressive than the Peroch family, which controls more than 50% of the population and land of Shelag!
Moreover, Shivaish also has a complete monopoly on mining, foreign trade, transportation, and other industries in Shelag...

These businesses have given the Shivaish family unimaginable wealth in Shelag compared to other families.

One could say that if Shelag were a piece of land that could be traded.

Therefore, their head of the family could have bought this barren snow mountain with money.

Even if Seragh could not be bought, the wealth would be enough for their patriarch to take them away from Seragh and live in other countries.

He was not a Sherag, and the Grand Elder himself said he had the appearance of a heartless and ruthless wolf, an ominous son.

Since he possesses such wealth and can live a more affluent life abroad, Chen Qi should be someone who doesn't care about the land of Shiva'ash at all.

Combined with Chen Qi's series of actions of ceding territory and seeking peace over the previous three years, almost everyone in Shiva'ish, and even in Sherag, believed that this was Chen Qi's intention.

But all this peace was shattered two years ago when their former patriarch returned.

"Father, I hope you can stop making a fuss."

"We are being ostracized by both major families and the Manju Academy. The only conclusion I can draw is to lead my people to migrate to other countries."

“I know you’re unwilling to accept this, Father. I can leave the mansion in Shelag to you so you can live out your retirement and spend the rest of your life there.”

Inside the office, after two years of arguments, even someone as mild-tempered as Chen Qi seemed to have lost patience with his respected adoptive father.

Therefore, in his capacity as head of the family, he issued an ultimatum to his adoptive father.

"But we also need to keep the family from leaving Shelag, and at the same time preserve the family's status and assets in Shelag."

"Well, I'll say it again, there's nothing I can do."

“...Unless, Father, you agree to my second plan.”

"That is to make Enya the saintess of Sherag."

"You bastard! Do you want your sister to die?!"

Inside the office, Olafel's furious voice rang out once more.

But the next second, the response was Chen Qi's voice, who could no longer tolerate his adoptive father's unreasonable behavior and roared.

"Then what am I supposed to do?!"

Another violent slam on the table, followed by the sound of debris being overturned and smashed on the floor, terrified the already trembling servants outside the door, who dared not utter a sound.

Fortunately, their savior finally arrived.

"It's happening again?"

"Ms. Chen."

When the servants saw Chen Huijie, with a long sword strapped to his waist and a dashing figure, step into the living room, they all showed expressions of being so moved that they were almost in tears.

"Miss Chen, please go and try to persuade the master and the old master."

“This argument was even more intense than any before. The old man’s health isn’t very good to begin with, and we’re really worried something might happen to him.”

"Yes, and the master and the old master are arguing more and more fiercely, and we don't dare to intervene. Please ask Miss Chen to help them!"

"……I see."

Having become quite familiar with this scene over the past two years, Chen Huijie, after a moment of silence, could not resist the pleading gazes of her servants and reluctantly agreed:
"This is none of your business. Hurry up and leave. I'll handle things here."

"Thank you, Ms. Chen!"

Soon, a group of terrified servants rushed out of the mansion like frightened birds.

However, unseen by Chen Huijie, not all of these servants who left the mansion went to their respective homes in the territory of Shivaish.

After confirming that no one was following them or noticing them, several of the figures walked off in other directions.

Some people rushed straight to the Perroche family.

Some people cautiously made their way towards the territory of the Brantao family.

Some people, under the guise of prayer, openly headed towards the summit of the holy mountain, towards Manjushri Monastery.

But can all of this really be kept from Chen Huijie?
Don't forget, Chan Fai-kit is a police superintendent in Lungmen. If she hadn't come to Sherag to help her friend, she would have been promoted to senior superintendent long ago.

Even with the help of her uncle Wei Yanwu behind the scenes, Chen Huijie's rapid promotion, which is convincing to the public, proves that she has extremely strong case-solving abilities.

Chen Huijie was already well aware of Sherag's amateurish level of espionage.

"—Alright, stop acting, everyone's already left."

After the servants had all left, Chen Huijie let out a long sigh and called out to the two people in the office who had stopped arguing, her voice tinged with annoyance and helplessness.

Sure enough, as soon as Chen Huijie finished speaking, the office door slowly opened.

Inside the house, the father and son, who were arguing just a moment ago, now seemed to have shaken hands and made peace.

Chen Qi gently pushed his father, who was sitting in a wheelchair, out of the way. Facing Chen Huijie, who was already tired of this charade, he smiled apologetically and said:
"We always trouble you to cooperate with us, Chen."

“…I said, although I understand that your argument is deliberately meant for the spies to hear, and also to lull the patriarchs and the people of Manju Academy into a false sense of security.”

"But when will this end? Do you really intend to keep putting on this act forever?"

Knowing that Shiva Ash is now surrounded by spies, Chen Huijie understood that the father and son's act was essential.

However, with her straightforward personality, she found it hard to tolerate this kind of life where she was constantly being watched.

If Chen Qi hadn't told her more than once, "We will fight back after Enya returns home and becomes a saint,"

Chen Huijie had long wished she could pull out the Chixiao sword from her waist, storm the Holy Mountain alone, and drag out those old men from Manzhu Academy to confess their crimes and be executed.

After all, over the past three years, through covert investigations and communications, Chen Huijie has amassed a wealth of witness testimonies and physical evidence that prove the numerous crimes committed by the Manzhu Academy.

She firmly believed that, with the evidence she had already prepared, Chen Qi's sister Enya could become a saint.

Then, once the Holy Maiden makes her judgment, the crimes of these elders of the Manju Academy will be thoroughly proven.

With the evidence and witnesses they have collected, the Sherag people, who have been deceived by the Manju Institute for so long, will finally see through the true nature of the Manju Institute!
At that time, with the support of the righteous cause and the saintess, Chen Qi's Shivaish family will be able to get out of the crisis and no longer be targeted by the other two major families!
—The above is Chen Huijie's entire plan to overthrow Manzhu Academy.

Yes, after three years of visits, and through her own friends, she learned how she struggled against the relentless pressure from the Manju Academy.

Chen Huijie now fully understands that what she needs to overthrow is a corrupt and ignorant religious institution.

If the Manju Institute is not overthrown, they will only create more innocent cases and political murders, and the people of Shelag will never get "justice".

Chen Qi was, of course, aware of Chen Huijie's thoughts.

To be honest, Chen Qi, as the uncle, was quite gratified by the change in his niece's thinking.

Not only did they figure out who they should resist, but they also developed their own solutions and learned how to lie low and endure in order to achieve their goals.

From this perspective, Chan Fai Kit has already grown into a sufficiently outstanding senior superintendent.

However, to Chen Qiwei's regret, his niece had not considered what would happen to Sherag after the Manju Academy was overthrown.
If a religious country loses its religious institutions, then to whom should the power of this country belong?

With the highest power position vacant, and the three major families already eyeing each other covetously, who would relinquish that coveted position to someone else?

It could be said that if Chen Huijie's handling of the case had been carried out, Manzhu Court might have received the trial it deserved.

But what awaits the Sherag people after that is an even greater bloodshed known as "internal strife".

Chen Qi would never accept this.

However, he was still worried that Chen Huijie would resist his idea of ​​a coup, so he still did not tell Chen Huijie his whole plan.

And now, that day has finally arrived.

"Qi, you know that."

“In a few days, your younger siblings will take the train back to Shelag.”

"But you haven't even written a single letter. Don't you really intend to tell your younger siblings about what's going on at home, and your plan to overthrow Manju Academy?"

"...I would like to, but I can't do it in order for the plan to proceed smoothly."

Chen Qi shook his head, stared into Chen Huijie's eyes, and replied with a wry smile:
“Enciodes is easy to deal with, but Enya and Encia…” “Encia has never been good at lying since she was a child. I can’t let Encia reveal such an important matter to anyone else.”

“And Enya… what if I told her in the letter that I wanted her to come back to be a saint?”

“I’m a little worried that she won’t want to come back to Shelag.”

"But I won't hide it from them. I'll tell them everything during the family dinner after they get home."

"...I'm sorry, Qi, I know it's difficult for you."

However, seeing the sadness and difficulty in Chen Qi's eyes, and knowing that her friend had no other options, Chen Huijie nodded sullenly after a moment of silence.

However, Chen Huijie was unaware that the reason Chen Qi had not written to his younger siblings in recent years was not solely because he was afraid of revealing news of his coup attempt.

He believed that his younger siblings knew he had to launch this coup to protect his family, and that they would ultimately choose to stand firmly by his side.

But if that were the case, Enya and Enshia, who are not good at acting, would inevitably slip up in the Shivaesh mansion, which is full of spies.

Therefore, he still needs his family members to put on one last act before taking action.

A play that makes Manjusin and the other two major families completely let down their guard.

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

[The Perroch family's level of vigilance towards you: 1%]

[The Blangau family's level of vigilance towards you: 1%]

[The Grand Elder's level of vigilance towards you: 40%]

[Task 2: Cultivating Forces for a Coup (In Progress), Progress: 100%]

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

[The success rate of turning political strategies into political maneuvering is currently 80%, a high success rate.]

Hearing the voice from the system in his mind, Chen Qi's slightly long hair, which was hanging down, concealed the cold smile that appeared on his face.

...Just wait, the two great families, and the Manju Academy.

Cherish your final victory and the last moments you can bask in joy.

The death knell is about to toll. Prepare for your destruction, your doom!

The "wolf" you're talking about is going to eat people.

……

"Heh, it seems this ominous child has truly been driven to the brink by us, actually wanting his sister to become a saintess?"

Late at night, in the Manju Academy, the Grand Elder looked at the intelligence report delivered by his spies in his hand. After a sinister sneer, he turned his gaze to the two family heads in front of him.

"Then, patriarchs, I'll trouble you both to join me in this effort."

“As long as we reject the Shivaish family’s application, the Shivaish family will have no reason to remain on the land of Shelag.”

"This is the final blow. I hope that the two family heads will not refuse."

"……Do not."

However, to the Elder's utter surprise, the Perroch family head, Actos, who had been resting with his eyes closed from the beginning, uttered a sullen answer that he had not expected.

"what?"

To his utter surprise, the most conservative and loyal member of the Perroch family would contradict him, and the elder momentarily lost control of his expression.

But soon, the elder, having regained control of his emotions, also turned somber, yet still asked in a cold voice:

"Actorus, tell me, why do you refuse?"

"...Elder, while I do want to expel the Shiva'ish family from Jeragand, it's entirely because the Shiva'ish people have no faith in Jeragand."

Aktos opened his eyes. This simple-minded man, who usually only followed the orders of the Manju Academy in political struggles, replied in a porcelain-like voice:
"The people of Shivaish believe in science and industry, and without Jeragand's permission, they presumptuously carry out industrial reforms on this holy land."

"They relentlessly mine the minerals of Shelag, destroy the forests, and endlessly transform their homeland of Yelagand, so I don't like them."

"But if the Shivaish family is truly willing to repent and choose a girl to become the saintess of Sherag, so that the teachings of Jeragand may better illuminate Sherag."

“Such a devout act of faith, my Perroch family has no reason to object.”

"Actorus, you—"

"—Also, Elder."

However, before the enraged elder could speak, Actos glared at him and suddenly said again:

"Although Manjusaka is an institution dedicated to Jeragand, you do not have the right to refuse a devout girl from participating in the selection of a saintess, do you?"

“Anyone who is a devout person recognized by Jeragand, regardless of her family or birth, can become a saint.”

"This is clearly written in the laws promulgated by the Manju Institute."

"Elder, do you intend to amend the laws?"

"...The laws were created when Jeragand was in the world, and I have no right to modify them."

Looking at Aktos, who had always been a good beast but whose attitude had suddenly become tough, the Grand Elder, though resentful, could not refute him.

In fact, what the Grand Elder did not know was that Aktos's tough stance was not solely due to his defense of Jeragund and the law.

A large part of the reason was that this rough-looking man felt that the Manju Academy's suppression of Shivaesh was a bit too much.

Last year, in particular, the fact that Manjuin had his family send spies to spy on the Shivaesh family made Aktos even more disgusted.

In addition, he frequently heard from his informants that the old patriarch of the Shivaish family and Qi were arguing incessantly about the fate of the family, almost severing their relationship, which made him feel even more uneasy.

As the head of the family, Actos would indeed do everything in his power to fight for more benefits for the family.

However, from a basic moral standpoint, Actos never wanted to bring about the destruction of the Shivaesh family.

The murder that resulted from the betrayal of the Edwis family had already caused suffering to the Shiva'ish clan; if he were to go and exterminate them as well...

Jeragand will likely not let him off the hook.

In fact, Actos had made plans in his mind before he came today.

If he cannot refute the Grand Elder, and the Shivaesh family is truly removed from the list of the three great families...

He would, as the head of the Perroch family, accept all Shivaish people who wished to remain in Shelag, and even retain their surnames.

Of course, businesses such as mining and trading will have to stop.

"The Blantau family also supports what the head of the Perroch family just said."

"what?!"

However, if Actos's rebuttal did not affect the Grand Elder.

The words of Latatos, the head of the Brantau family, who was always skilled in strategy and had the fewest land and population, shocked him even more.

“Actus is right, Elder.”

Meeting the surprised gazes of the Grand Elder and Actos, Latatos simply smiled, slightly crossing her long legs clad in black stockings, and said softly:
“The Manju Academy has no right to interfere with the selection of the saintess, and the Bronta family can no longer support your decision on this matter.”

"If the Grand Elder has no other important matters, then I shall take my leave."

"My younger sister and her new husband are waiting for me to come home for a late-night snack."

Having said that, Latatos was unwilling to say anything more and chose to leave Manjusin on her own.

However, was Latathos really just a devout follower of Jeragund, like Actos?

of course not.

Unlike the simple-minded Actos, who even had a moral compass as the head of the family, Latathos was a rare strategist in Sherag.

She knew that once the Shivaish family was driven out of Sherag, only Perroch and her own Blantau family would remain to contend with the Manju Academy.

However, the Perroche family not only controlled the military, but also possessed vast territories and a large population.

In the future power struggles, the Blanto family will certainly not be a match for the Perrochi family, which has a large population, vast territory, and the support of the Manju Institute.

If this continues, the Blantau family could very well become the next family to be driven out of Sherag.

However, if the Blantaw family had provided timely assistance to Shivaesh during its most critical time, helping them complete the selection of the saintess.

With the personal support of the Saintess, the ultimate decision-maker, the Blantau family can continue to join forces with Shivaesh and continue to fight against the Perroch family.

The Brantau family will also successfully gain a share of the profits in Shiva's mining and foreign trade businesses during this game.

Three birds with one stone!
"We need to get back quickly and have the family make a warm and windproof garment out of animal hides so that the future Holy Maiden will suffer less on her journey to selection."

With this in mind, Latatos confidently walked down the mountain.

She firmly believed that with her strategic skills, she could secure the biggest piece of the pie for her family in this political game!

"Hmph, as expected, not one of the heads of the three major families is truly loyal to Sherag!"

"Shiva'ish and that ominous son, just when they were about to be kicked out of this holy land of Kherag, they actually dared to cause me trouble?"

However, after both family heads left, the Grand Elder finally stopped hiding his disgust.

Feeling that his own power, and even the power of the Manju Academy, was being challenged by the three major families, the Grand Elder decided to show his strength!
In Sherag, only Manjushri can represent Yeragand, to save all beings and deliver all people from suffering.

What saintess, what three great families... none of them can shake the status and mission of the Manju Academy!
"Does the Shiva'ish clan want to stay in Sherag through the Holy Maiden?"

"Fine, I'll extinguish their last hope for survival and see if they'll leave or submit!"

"—Someone come here!"

At the elder's stern shout, the council chamber doors were pushed open by a servant.

"Elder, what are your orders?"

"—Write an oracle." The Grand Elder, with his back to his servants, uttered his final plan to force Shiva'ash to leave, word by word.

"By Jeragand, we hear the divine oracle: the industrial machinery of the Shiva'ish people has polluted the Holy Land, causing fear among the people. Jeragand is enraged and has issued this oracle to us."

"From this day forward, if the Shivaish people cease all industry and return all their wealth to Jeragand, Jeragand, being merciful and loving to its people, will forgive your past sins."

"If they do not comply, in the name of Jeragand, the Shiva'ish people will be expelled from Sherag!"

(End of this chapter)