The most shameless alchemist in history

"This... you must have misread it. As the Foreign Minister, I always stand firm at my post, no matter what. Even if the sky falls and the earth cracks, my determination and loyalty to the country will not change. On the contrary, I heard that when you learned of the trouble in Winter City, you were so frightened that you scrambled out of Frost City without even changing your clothes." Zanpu's expression was stiff, but he would not let Pop look down on him so easily. He calmly retorted.

"Hahaha, Your Majesty the Zanpu is always wise, you certainly wouldn't believe such a ridiculous rumor, would you?" Pop was embarrassed by Zanpu's exposure of his weakness, and at the same time, he was furious at who spread such a thing. However, even though he was being criticized to his face, he still asked in return without changing his expression.

"Of course, I know your character very well, Lord Pop." Zamp raised his glass to Pop on the surface, but in his heart he had already cursed Pop to the core.

He originally intended to take advantage of the opportunity to welcome Princess Wenli's triumphant return to claim credit and, incidentally, to file a complaint against Pope, accusing him of dereliction of duty and being unfit to serve as the Minister of Finance. He even hoped to have Pope arrested. However, who could have imagined that Pope, who had already fled, would return? This thwarted Zanpu's plan to replace Pope as the Minister of Finance.

"To know me so well, you truly are a classmate from back then. This friendship hasn't faded after all these years, it really touches me... Oh, over there... has there been any news from Princess Winry?" Popp replied with a forced smile.

Just then, a military officer hurriedly walked in from outside the door. He whispered something in the ear of Army Minister Kaf, which attracted the attention of many people. Under the gaze of ministers Pope and Zanpu, Kaf's face gradually changed from joy to seriousness, and finally, his face turned icy and looked very ugly.

"Lord Kaf, what happened?" Zanpu couldn't help but ask as he saw Kaf's pale face.

It should be noted that this Minister of the Army is usually the most composed person. Even when Winter City was facing the most dangerous situation, he remained calm and composed, firmly believing that the troops on the front line could hold out until the end. However, this war is over, which should have been a good thing.

But Minister Kraft's unpleasant expression made all the ministers present swallow hard, and they all looked at him with puzzled eyes, waiting for his response.

"Gentlemen, this is a letter I just received." Minister Kraft took out the letter that had just been delivered by the messenger. It was obvious that the reason for his expression was the letter.

"A letter? What letter?" The ministers present looked at each other in bewilderment. A letter that could elicit such an expression from Minister Kaf must be of great importance. For a moment, both the emperor and the king were secretly speculating, trying to figure out what had happened.

"It's a letter from Her Highness Winry's messenger," Minister Kraft explained, his expression unusually cold and serious, which startled the ministers present. They had never seen Kraft show such an expression before, and the situation must have become extremely serious.

()

816 Dissolve the Cabinet

"A messenger from Princess Winry? But isn't Princess Winry on her way back from her triumphant return? She'll be at the Winter Palace soon. What's the point of sending a messenger at this time?" Pope was puzzled, because in his opinion, it was completely unnecessary.

"Princess Winry made several requests regarding the future of the Snow Kingdom in her letter." Minister Kaf spoke as calmly as possible, even though his hands were trembling violently. Even someone as weathered as him thought nothing could move him anymore, but when he saw this letter, his hands still trembled involuntarily, because he knew very well what this letter meant.

"As for the demands made by our Snow Kingdom for the future? Princess Winry is truly a hardworking person. She has just won a brilliant war and hasn't even had a proper rest yet, but she is already busy working for the future of the Snow Kingdom. She is truly a role model for us to learn from," said Finance Minister Pope in admiration.

"No, that's not how it is, Lord Pope. Things may be a little different from what you imagine." Kaff shook his head, confirming Pope's version of events. This made Lord Pope, who had been beaming with pride, suddenly feel somewhat embarrassed, because he couldn't figure out where he had gone wrong.

"Is it different from what I imagined? Then what exactly did Princess Winry mean in the letter..." Popp was completely confused by what Kaff said, and he became more and more puzzled.

"Princess Winry has demanded the establishment of a parliament to comprehensively reform the Snow Kingdom's system!" Minister Kaf said with a grim face.

He has served as the Minister of the Army of the Snow Country for more than ten years. If we start counting from the day he joined the army, he has served his country for more than forty years. For more than forty years, he has given everything for the Snow Country and has done everything he can to maintain the status quo.

Even during the protracted civil war, he did not hesitate to personally go to the battlefield in order to defend the interests of the country. Now that they have finally won the war, they should be able to return to peace. However, Princess Wenli, who represents their interests, suddenly put forward the demand for reform. How could they not be shocked?

Minister Kaf's words immediately caused a huge uproar. The Zanpu and Pope, who had just been smug, were stunned, because this was no small matter. They all knew the weight of his words.

The Snow Country has maintained its current system for hundreds of years. It can be said that in the Snow Country's cabinet, almost all the powerful ministers are from the noble families of the north. Moreover, this is almost a hereditary system. The previous finance minister will train his sons and nephews, and after he steps down, his sons and nephews will take over. This has become a customary rule in the Snow Country.

Everyone thought this was a matter of course, even a matter of course. As for the Southerners who had previously clamored for their rights, these ministers considered it a joke. If they were to give up their rights to those Southerners...

Wouldn't most of the power they've held for centuries be taken away? The power structure of the Snow Kingdom is like a cake, and the cake is only so big. Everyone has been happily eating this cake for hundreds of years, and suddenly a group of people come out and want to take it away. No wonder the ministers are so unhappy.

"Reform the system of the Snow Kingdom? Lord Kraft, you must be joking with us. I would believe it if someone else had said it, but I don't believe it if Princess Winry had. Everyone knows that Princess Winry is the heir to the throne. In a few years, she will become the new queen, and we will all be loyal to her. She will be at the top of the power pyramid. She has no need to propose reforms. Wouldn't that be handing over her own cake to someone else?" Popp felt confused.

He only said half of what he meant. The other half was that the royal family, to which Winry belonged, occupied the largest piece of the pie in the Snow Kingdom for hundreds of years, and that her actions did not benefit the royal family at all.

“I don’t want to believe it either, but it’s Her Highness Winry’s signature on it. She’s demanding the dissolution of the cabinet and the formation of a parliament.” Minister Kraft said in a deep voice. He had been through thick and thin for decades. What kind of storms hadn’t he seen?

He not only weathered countless storms but also persevered to become the one in power. However, this storm is unlike anything he has ever experienced before. It comes from within and has a far more profound and terrifying impact than the protracted war brought about by the Southern Front. It possesses unparalleled destructive power!

"Dissolve the cabinet? Wouldn't that mean we'd all be out of a job? Wait, weren't these proposals put forward by the Southern Front? Princess Winry has already defeated the Southern Front, so why is she acting as their spokesperson? What's going on?" Popper found it all incomprehensible.

He had come to the Winter Palace today specifically to celebrate the victory of this protracted war as a victor, to rejoice in their newfound status, and to reaffirm their position so that they could still sit at the table and share the cake. However, the person who was supposed to hand him the knife—Princess Winry, who had led the war and brought them to victory—had transformed into a robber, trying to steal the cake. This was something he found hard to accept.

"Gentlemen, that is indeed the case. Princess Winry has already entered the city and will arrive here in an hour. So, let's come up with a plan for what to do." Minister Kraft's gaze swept around, seeking the ministers' response.

"Isn't Princess Wenli taking away our livelihood? I can't allow this. We absolutely cannot dissolve the cabinet. This is the tradition of our Snow Kingdom. We cannot betray our tradition!" Among the ministers, someone immediately spoke indignantly.

“I’m not protecting my own interests, I’m protecting the traditions of our Snow Country, protecting our country. If something that has been upheld for hundreds of years is suddenly abolished, how far are we from destruction?” someone said righteously.

Everyone was denouncing it. They were angry and they roared because, in their eyes, it was unfair to them. They should enjoy the victory and celebrate with drinks, instead of having everything they had taken away from them!

()

817 Cold City

"So, it seems everyone is in agreement and opposes dissolving the cabinet, right?" Minister Kraft's gaze swept around, and the ministers' impassioned reaction was exactly what he had expected.

"Of course! We certainly disagree with and resolutely oppose any attempt to destroy our traditions, no matter who proposes it!"

"That's right, that's right. Even if it was Princess Wenli who suggested it, it won't work. She's too young and has definitely been misled by those southerners. This won't do. We must correct her wrong behavior!"

“Even Princess Winry must respect her predecessors and history. She absolutely cannot act recklessly. As long as we are alive, we will not allow the dissolution of the cabinet to happen!”

The ministers spoke with force and conviction, each one brimming with pride and a willingness to sacrifice everything for the country. They seemed to have completely forgotten that when Winter City was embroiled in a fierce battle and the situation was extremely unfavorable for the Northern Kingdom, they all packed their belongings and fled.

How many people back then possessed such fearless integrity?

"But Princess Wenli has an army. Do you have an army?" Kaf asked, scanning his surroundings and addressing the agitated ministers. As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers were stunned. They looked at each other, speechless.

"An army? Of course we don't have an army, but Lord Kraft, you are the Minister of the Army, you can command an army, right?"

“That’s right, that’s right. Although Princess Winry commands the army, the guards are all from the north, and many high-ranking officers, including General Restia, are loyal to Her Majesty the Queen, right?”

The ministers were discussing amongst themselves, but their voices were much weaker than before, because they realized that the situation was more complicated than they had imagined. Some even began to regret that they should not have returned so early.

Now that Princess Winry and Her Majesty the Queen are on opposing sides, who should they support?

This really troubled them!

While the ministers in the Winter Palace were all unable to make up their minds, at the highest point of the cold palace, someone was leaning against the railing, gazing into the distance.

This location offers an excellent view, allowing you to take in the entirety of Frost City. From here, you'll see a world covered in silver and white.

It's the season when snowflakes are falling, and it's no exaggeration to say that this is the most beautiful place in the Snow Country. Very few people are qualified to come here to see the scenery, and in the vast Snow Country, you can count them on one hand.

At this moment, a middle-aged noblewoman stood here gazing into the distance. Her face was calm, and her demeanor was icy. For many years, she had maintained this cold expression and rarely spoke to anyone. In people's minds, she was almost synonymous with the word "frost," which is why she earned the title of "Frost Queen."

Actually, she wasn't always like this. Once upon a time, she was a girl who loved to laugh and joke. Back then, she was innocent and carefree. She resisted everything that her surname brought her and didn't want to get involved in unnecessary struggles. She just wanted to live happily.

She has good friends and many companions with whom she spent her student days.

When she could no longer escape, the most taciturn of them stepped forward and led her away from the place that had exhausted her.

They started a completely new life under assumed names!

Those days were arguably the most beautiful time in her memory. Although it only lasted a few years, it was unforgettable.

Until the people searching for her reappeared, she had to return to this cold city for the sake of her child.

She initially thought she was unfamiliar with all of this, but when she actually completed the succession and began to become the supreme ruler of this cold land in the name of "Queen," she found herself surprisingly adept at ruling this place, as if she were born for it.

Under her rule, the Snow Kingdom's national strength flourished. If it weren't for the large-scale rebellion eight years ago, her reign as queen would have been perfect.

However, the rebellion still broke out, and it was so devastating that it nearly buried the Land of Snow completely.

As for the reasons for the rebellion, she could actually understand them; in fact, one could say she had foreseen them long ago.

The Snow Country's growing strength is built on the booming development of its industry. Not only is the Snow Country getting stronger, but other countries around it are also getting stronger, and the south is the industrial center of the Snow Country.

She forcibly plundered a large amount of wealth from the south through a series of measures, purchased military equipment, and expanded the strength of the army. This is the truth behind the increase in the power of the Snow Kingdom. This aroused the dissatisfaction of the southerners, and it is entirely reasonable that it eventually evolved into a large-scale conflict.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty? What's wrong?" Someone called softly from behind the noblewoman. She had been standing here in this position for quite some time since she received the letter from Princess Wenli.

It's snowing right now, and her health is deteriorating. It's not good, but for the sake of national stability, especially since it was a critical period recently, she didn't announce it to the public.

But she remained motionless, and no one knew what she was thinking.

"Where is Wenli now?" she asked softly after she came to her senses.

"Princess Wenli has arrived at 'Cold Wind Square.' She has stopped there and is choosing to observe rather than advance further," the steward behind her said cautiously.

He has been serving her for over thirty years, since she was a little girl.

It could be said that he was the person who understood her best in this country. No matter what choice she made, he always silently supported her from behind.

"Cold Wind Square? She should have the army firmly under her control by now, right?" She nodded slightly and then asked.

"Yes, due to the victory in Winter Valley, Princess Winry's prestige in the army is very high. Many generals, including General Restia of the Griffin Legion and General Serena of the Silver Frost Legion, have declared their allegiance to Princess Winry. Only General Tyron of the Snow Wolf Legion raised objections and condemned Princess Winry for leading her army into Frost City," the steward replied softly.

()

818 Frost Queen

Although this steward never left the Winter Palace, he possessed all the country's confidential intelligence.

Any sound, however slight, within the Land of Snow would quickly reach his ears.

There was once a story that a minister secretly insulted Her Majesty the Queen, and he was arrested the next day. Someone at the scene reconstructed what he said and did at the time, word for word, which shows how deep the Grand Eunuch's influence was in the Snow Kingdom, to the point that he was almost omnipresent.

"It's not surprising that Restia and Serena chose to follow Winry. When they were little, Winry used to chase after them all. Besides, Restia is that man's disciple... But Tyrone is a kind man." The middle-aged noblewoman knew her subordinates very well, and she knew exactly who was on which side.

"General Tyrone has requested permission to send troops to quell the rebellion and suggested that if anything unexpected happens in Frost City, Your Majesty, you should move to Snow Wolf Fortress. He will lead the Snow Wolf Legion to support you. This is his letter, which has just arrived." The steward respectfully handed over a letter.

"No need to read it, I can probably guess what the letter says. Snow Wolf Fortress is a vital place and cannot be lost. Moreover, the current situation of Frost City, the situation of Snow Kingdom... the civil war has been going on for long enough. Do we have to continue fighting endlessly?" She gently shook her head.

"So Your Majesty means that General Tyrone should remain at his post and not leave without permission?" he asked for her opinion.

“You make him stay obediently in Snow Wolf Fortress, and not only that, you make him swear allegiance to Wenley,” she added.

"Your Majesty, have you made a decision?" He knew the meaning behind her words.

Even though the ministers outside were arguing fiercely, there was ultimately only one person who could make the decision.

Her decision seemed to have been predetermined from the very beginning.

"What's there to decide? Do you think I'm going to start a war with Winry?" she retorted.

"With the current defensive capabilities of Frost City and Your Majesty's influence, it is still possible to hold out for several years," he suggested.

"A few years? Don't you know how many more years I have?" She gave a bitter smile.

"This..." He fell silent.

Others might be confused by her words and not understand what she meant, but he did.

“What Wenli wants to do is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but couldn’t. Times are changing, and the fates of nations have reached a crossroads. The once mighty Azure Thunder Empire was suddenly disintegrated and destroyed in the cracks of time. No one in this world can live forever, and no nation can stand forever. To survive in this world, one must adapt to the laws of nature, and for a nation to prolong its life, it must adapt to the changes of the times. The current state of the Snow Kingdom… is destined to be unable to adapt to this era and will be eliminated.” She gently shook her head. No one knew her country better than her. Long ago, she knew that the Snow Kingdom was terminally ill.

"In terms of the general environment, this is indeed the case across the continent. However, many countries have chosen to implement reforms in a more moderate way, and these reforms have yielded initial results. Your Highness could certainly follow suit in this regard." The steward offered his suggestion, which was not only his duty and responsibility but also his wish.

“If I had enough time, maybe I would choose this method, but you know, what I lack most is time.” She shook her head and smiled bitterly.

“One day I will hand over the Snow Kingdom to Winry. I have no choice but for her to take over. Whether she wants to or not, it is something she cannot escape. This is the choice of the times, because no one but her can shoulder this responsibility,” she said softly.