People in Terra, governing a weird little country

He paused for a moment, calculated the distance between Columbia and Kjerag, and the time it would take to transport the goods, and replied:

"It will probably be at least a month before they arrive at Kjerag again."

By then, he should have returned from the Dukedom of Kaster. He could personally escort Enshia to Rhodes Island and take a tour of the landship.

Chapter 162: Kjerag climate warming incident!

Victoria, Duchy of Caster.

Of the grand dukes who now de facto rule Victoria, the Duke of Castor's domain is not the largest, but it is the most prosperous.

Relying on external exchanges, contacts with nobles, business alliances, support for factions, placement of spies, assassination of opponents and other means, the Duke of Caister achieved peace and prosperity throughout the territory.

You can question her character and her intentions, but you cannot question her ability. She is such a leader, a noble who has reached the pinnacle of her field, a warrior who stood at the intersection of the times, chose the path she was best at, and walked to the end.

Even Ernst had to admit many times that if he were a traditional Victorian aristocrat, occupying the most fertile land in Terra called the Inner Circle, he might not be able to do better than the Duke of Caister.

The journey from Kjerag to the Duchy of Kast was long. Ernst and Enthiotis had to first leave the Kjerag border by train from the Tukarim train station, then transfer to an off-road vehicle at the border station, and then cross the wilderness to reach the Duchy of Kast.

Generally speaking, in order to ensure the safety of the journey in the wilderness, travelers will organize a large caravan, including several accompanying translators, a travel manager, a scourge messenger, an ordinary envoy group, and most importantly, an armed guard team.

"There are many types of armed guards. The most common ones are the mercenary groups in the major mobile cities. They are managed by major mercenary companies, such as Black Steel International. Although the price is relatively expensive, the quality is guaranteed and they are safe most of the time. Of course, some wealthy nobles will also form a guard team of their own. At the very least, you can choose to hire some Sarkaz mercenaries."

In the car, Enchiodis talked freely with an attitude of "I know a lot".

I don't know why, but the black knight who was driving had a tense expression on his face as reflected in the rearview mirror.

Ernst was a little surprised:

"Sarkaz, are they reliable?"

"If you pay them enough, the Sarkaz are not that unsafe. For example, the group of Sarkaz who rebelled and occupied Londinium are only a minority among the Sarkaz mercenaries. Most of the Sarkaz who can receive wilderness escort orders still have a certain degree of credit and reputation. They are efficient, taciturn, and rarely ask about their employers. Apart from obeying orders, they don't even have much communication with their employers. The most important thing is that they are cheap. Even if you pay them enough, Sarkaz are still very cheap compared to the mercenaries of Black Steel International."

Ernst nodded. He finally understood that Sarkaz was the black car driver.

As long as you pay, he will deliver you anywhere. But safety is basically all about luck. If you are not in a hurry or really lack the funds, Ernst does not recommend taking a black car.

"Then the question is, why can't we even afford to hire Sarkaz?"

Ernst looked at Enchiodis's profile. Enchiodis, who had just been boasting, suddenly fell silent and replied with a little embarrassment:

“Because we have no money.”

Ernst looked unconvinced. "Kalan Trade has such a huge annual revenue, and has opened up sales channels to the Duchy of Windermere and the Duchy of Wellington. How come it has no money? Where is the money?"

Enthiotis glanced at Ernst and replied insincerely, "Taxes have been paid."

Okay, okay, it’s still my fault in this relationship, right?

Seeing Ernst's expression that said "Just wait for me, don't let me go back to Kjerag", Enthiotis explained:

"Just kidding. Actually, it's because we don't have enough time. It takes time to hire a qualified escort team. Especially for the journey from Kjerag to the capital of the Dukedom of Kast, even large mercenary companies have never been involved in it. So, I consulted Black Steel International, and the answer I got was: it will take at least a week to officially set off."

Ernst nodded. This was a fairly human answer.

Different from what most people imagine about Terra messengers, messengers, or people who are the same as messengers and need to travel back and forth on the earth, do not really run around aimlessly on the wild land.

If that were the case, the casualty rate among the couriers might even exceed that of the soldiers, reaching the same level as the mortality rate among the infected who were 100% used as cannon fodder.

In fact, although the wilderness seems endless and the scenery remains unchanged, just like Ernst's previous life, the pioneers of the Age of Exploration were able to use compasses, stars, ocean currents and other methods to carve out safe routes on the vast ocean, and messengers and mercenaries also had their own "routes". Most of the latecomers also continued to walk and explore on the path of the pioneers until they had set foot in every corner of Terra.

“Besides Kjerag?” Ernst asked.

“Including Kjerag.” Enthiotis shook his head in denial. “The train station in Tukarim, the road leading to the outside world, the road least affected by the surrounding snow, was once a camel trade route for Kjerag. And it is still a road of life today, but it has changed its way of existence.”

At this moment, Jian, who was sitting in the front row, couldn't help himself anymore. He turned his head slightly and exposed the atmosphere created by Enchiodis:

"Of course, the most important thing is that if you hire a mercenary team to embark on an unknown road, you will need to pay more."

The result is still stingy!

Ernst stared at Enchiodis with disdain, and Enchiodis immediately explained:

"I just think that the mace is powerful enough."

Mace chuckled, agreeing with what Enchiodis said.

Ernst did not torture Ensioudis any more. After all, he was not really stingy. The reasons he gave were all true. Money was just a trivial factor. Moreover, in order to make up for the lack of security forces, he also brought several people from Kalan Trade. Matterhorn, Weiss, and almost half of Kalan Trade's security forces were dispatched, except for Gnosis who could not fight at all.

This level of combat capability is enough to ensure that they can escape unscathed even if they really encounter bandits or Rusty Hammer on the road.

Not to mention, Ernst was not unprepared.

Reaching out and touching the Yelagund sacred stone in his inner bag, feeling the warmth coming from the rough surface of the stone, Ernst felt extremely at ease.

Is there anything that can make you feel more secure than being protected by a secret?

Thinking of this, Ernst noticed Yaer's slightly puzzled look:

"what happened?"

Yaer looked at Ernst, hesitated for a moment, and asked curiously: "Son, what were you touching just now?"

Ernst nodded in understanding.

Yaer is the head maid of Manzhuyuan and a devout believer who has served Yelagund all her life. She would follow him to fulfill her duty of "protecting the Son of God", so it is reasonable for her to be curious about the Yelagund sacred stone in her arms.

Ernst had no intention of hiding anything. In front of Yaer, Enchiodis and Mace, he took out the magic stone from his arms, handed it to Yaer, and introduced it:

"This is the Yelagund sacred stone. As long as you make a wish to it sincerely, Yelagund will receive your wish."

Well, I received the wish. Ernst didn't dare to say too much. What if Yaer really made some impossible wishes in it? It would hurt Ernst's face and make the great god Yelagund embarrassed.

It's OK if you receive it, it's OK if you read it but don't reply. Anyway, you receive it.

However, unexpectedly, Yaer, who took the magic stone from Ernst, had a complicated expression on her face.

She looked at the Yelagund stone in her hand, which glowed brighter, then looked at Ernst and bit her lip.

"Why not just forget it? This is a gift from the great god Yelagund... I won't use it to pray."

"It's okay, it's okay." Ernst waved his hands, very enthusiastically, "Look, it has become brighter after it came into your hands! It means that the great god Yelagund is in a good mood now and likes you very much. Even if you don't have any wishes, it's okay to say hello to the great god Yelagund."

"I..." Yaer opened her mouth and was speechless for a moment.

Let me, in your presence, pray to the great god Yelagunde with those……embarrassing words of praise? …

Oh, isn't this a bit too embarrassing? It's like a shameless boast!

Moreover, shame is secondary. Yaer often acts in Manzhuyuan and prays to the statue of Yelagund, but the statue is just a handicraft carved out of stone and wood, which is fundamentally different from the sacred stone!

It is known that Yelagund's sacred stone is connected to Yelagund's body, or is a part of Yelagund's body. Therefore, if Ya'er prays to Yelagund's sacred stone (a part of its body), it will make Yelagund happy. Isn't that equivalent to using a part of yourself to make yourself feel comfortable? In short, self-generation?

After looking at Ernst with difficulty, Yaer finally couldn't make up her mind and let her son down.

She took a deep breath, with goose bumps all over her body, and opened her mouth:

"Great and Great God Yelagund, hello......"

"Please wish Ernst a safe journey."

"Please keep Shelagh safe and secure."

"Thank you."

As if throwing away a hot potato, Yaer hurriedly stuffed the divine stone back into Ernst's hands, reached out and patted Enchiodis in the front row, begging:

"Shall we switch places?"

She had to change it. After all this, her face, hands, and even her whole body were really hot.

A few hundred miles away, in Kjerag, Perlochi territory, Actor, who was inspecting the great rivers of Kjerag accompanied by his good secretary Jeston, suddenly felt a little sweaty.

"Jaston, why do I feel like the weather has suddenly gotten a little hot?"

Jeston replied with experience:

"Minister Actor, you have been thinking about Kjerag all the time, so you have no time to notice your physical fatigue. You have already toured such a vast territory. Please forgive my presumption. I sincerely suggest that you return to your office (hometown) for a while and let your body rest for a while so as to realize the grand blueprints you have conceived in your mind."

Upon hearing this, Actor laughed out loud and patted Jeston's shoulders heavily several times, but how could such a steel body that could withstand three serious punches from Saria be shaken by just three punches from Ursus?

Jeston remained motionless, his face firm and calm, which was more in line with Actor's wishes. He nodded happily:

"Okay then, let's listen to Jeston. Elbow, let's go back. I want to prepare a big meal! Hahahahaha!"

Chapter 163: Viscount Walton

Victoria, Duchy of Cattery, House of Cattery.

The luxury car arrived slowly. When the door was opened, Viscount Walton, whose beard was already somewhat gray, leaned his head out of the car, and a helping hand was extended to him.

"Thank you."

Viscount Walton stood firm and looked at the owner of those hands. A flash of surprise flashed across his face, and then he bowed respectfully and performed a standard aristocratic etiquette:

"It is my great honor to be greeted by the Duke of Caister himself."

"Lord Walton, you are too kind. I have seen that you have been very effective in governing Seck County. Victoria has always respected every pillar who is loyal to it, and naturally will not be stingy in rewarding it."

With her elegant makeup and gentle conversation, the Duke of Caster looked more like a writer or a female teacher than a grand duke. However, Viscount Walton knew the deep meaning of her words.

Victoria respects every pillar and will not be stingy with its rewards.

Victoria is a country and a grand will. Victoria will not do these things personally, so Victoria needs an agent to respect, reward and practice Victoria's true intentions.

In the past, this position undoubtedly belonged to the owner of the Iron Palace throne in Londinium, but now the Duke of Castor has openly called himself Victoria.

And this is an overt conspiracy of the same type as Ernst's "humanitarian speech".

Even if someone realised that the Duke of Castor was attaching his name to Victoria, they could not argue against it. Are you arguing against a duke who follows Victoria's values ​​and virtues? Or are you arguing against Victoria having those same virtues?

You can't do it because it's the "right" thing to do. If a person is doing the "right" thing, then he is morally impeccable.

Perhaps some people realized that, yes, when Ernst used this weapon, he was already very clear about what the pinnacle of this "moral weapon" was.

That is "correctly defined".

Specific situations dictate what is moral. If you have the ability to define situations, ethics are just clay in your hands, and you can manipulate them as you like.

This statement may sound a bit one-sided and presumptuous, but it is not without reason. In his previous life, Ernst had personally witnessed countless actual cases where people had achieved the pinnacle of morality by "defining situations".

The most famous one is the United States. We all know that there are only two biological genders, but this does not prevent the United States from defining the scenario of "human gender is also free" in order to divide the lower-class groups and shift class contradictions, thus creating a group of inexplicable genders and even allowing people to transform into armed helicopters.

However, due to the limitations of its strength and propaganda capabilities, many Western countries have to accept this imposed ideology, to the point that many people now cannot speak without stacking a BUFF.

This is to define "political correctness", occupy the moral high ground, and thus achieve an impeccable and condescending attitude.

Viscount Walton naturally understood the subtle influence of the Duke of Caster. He particularly admired this brilliant strategy. Compared with the fighting and killing and human relations in the territory, this method of making the enemy fall into the trap unknowingly and even unable to resist is indeed the most ruthless political means.

"For Victoria, of course."

After lightly kissing the back of Duke Caister's hand, Viscount Walton was willing to transform himself into a guard and escort Duke Caister into the Duke's mansion.

Viscount Walton was not the first noble to arrive at the Duke of Castor's Palace. At this time, there were already many minor nobles resting in the Duke of Castor's Palace. They came from all corners of the country, and some of them were not even nobles from the Duke of Castor's territory, but from Godottin, Farley, Normandy, and even the territories of the Duke of Wellington and Windermere.

But they all have one thing in common - they are all relatives of the Duke of Caister.

It was common for nobles to be related to each other, but it was rare for a family like the Caister family to have such a wide network of relatives all over Terra. This was another intelligence network that Duke Caister was proud of, in addition to the grey hat, the noble network.

Even the Duke of Wellington, who was as strong as he was, and the Duke of Windermere, who was as ruthless as he was, never managed the cities outside the circle of nobles. They might be able to purge their own staff, and they might be able to prevent the grey hats from infiltrating their territory, but they couldn't kill all the nobles in their territory.

They don't even dare to conduct a top-down security investigation, because if something is found, it may not bring long-term stability but severe turmoil.

Therefore, as long as the Duke of Caster needs it, she can use this relationship, pay enough benefits, open her eyes in any area of ​​Victoria, and know the seemingly confidential information.

However, Viscount Walton also has one special feature.

He was specially invited by the Duke of Caister, just like Ernst and Enthiotis.

He walked into the single room of the lounge, closed the door, and blocked out the noisy sounds of the nobles outside who were drinking tea, chatting, playing cards, and playing with feather beasts. When Duke Caister sat down on the chair, his expression had changed to a serious one:

"You should know why I asked you to come, Walton."

"Of course, Your Excellency." Viscount Walton nodded humbly, "You want to get more information about Enchiodis and Ernst from me."

"But to be honest, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I can still talk about my understanding of Enthiotis, but I know nothing about Ernst Shivaash, please forgive me."

Viscount Walton said frankly.

The Duke of Caister was not surprised by this answer.

Ernst Shivaash's rise to fame was like a living legend. If he didn't make a name for himself, he would have been a sensation. Even the information that Gray Hat had collected about him was extremely limited, let alone Viscount Walton.

But Viscount Walton's opinion is equally worthy of reference.