People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

"I understand, thank you. I'll listen to it when I get back."

"Why are you being so polite with me?" Typhon waved his hand and smiled.

She liked Ernst's cautious nature; he was much easier to please than those unruly Colombians!

Chapter 329 Kazimir, Amazing!

Shelag, Tukarim, Shelag government office building, press conference venue.

During this period, Sherag has attracted a large number of media attention.

Many people, including the media, didn't initially take the World's Fair seriously. Apart from a few newspapers in Victoria and the science weekly in Trimont, Colombia, which kept track of Kjerag's movements, most of Terra's major media outlets did not arrive in Kjerag immediately.

Although several media outlets with inside information quickly dispatched reporters to cover the event after learning of the large number of dignitaries gathered at Sherag, the time difference caused them to miss the initial major news from the airship and the subsequent news about Princess Victoria.

This was undoubtedly a huge mistake by TerraMedia.

But one mistake like that is enough. As journalism experts with noses more sensitive than bloodhounds, they naturally wouldn't miss such a grand event as the Star-Picking Project.

After Ernst revealed the surprise of the closing ceremony in advance, the media rushing to Kjerag every day made it almost impossible to get tickets for the special snow-covered train that was running overtime.

This has even fueled the rampant growth of another sector—scalping.

This exploits a loophole in Sherag's current management, but frankly, it's not entirely Sherag's fault. The countries of Terra aren't interconnected, so ticket checks rely almost entirely on visual inspection. With every train on the Snowfield Special Line fully booked, expecting train attendants with only basic training to meticulously check every passenger's identity against their ticket information without a single mistake is indeed asking the impossible.

These young men and women have done a remarkable job of ensuring that everyone has a ticket and that no one evades paying for a ride.

Ernst has suggested to Lola that security checks and turnstiles be installed inside the station once the intercity network connection is completed. Funding has already been approved by Joyce, and it can be implemented after this wave of infections. The situation is expected to be much better by the time the next international summit is held.

Of course, what the large influx of tourists and media most hope to see is the result of the "Star-Picking Project".

Success or failure? Were the results plentiful or meager? What is the "universe" beyond the isolation layer really like? Is the sky truly, as the poet described, a curtain covering the entire earth, or as the scientists said, a swaddling cloth wrapped around Terra? Are the countless stars truly ever-burning lamps, manipulated by a supreme being, shut off by day and opened by night?

Too many questions and too much curiosity naturally give rise to a great deal of interest.

When microphones and cameras were set up in front of her, aimed at Ms. Holhaya, who also served as the spokesperson for the Sherag government, even she felt a little uneasy and nervous.

She had seen similar scenes before, but in those times, the gazes directed at her were mostly filled with contempt, disgust, hatred, or resentment.

After all, she used to be an intelligence agent, and one of the best in the field.

Those who trusted her will only realize in the end that Horhaia is the only person who never disappoints, except when it comes to disappointing others.

That's what they say, but I'm only receiving one salary now.

The only time she nearly got Ernst into trouble was when she lured him to Colombia. But the outcome was completely different this time. Ernst was unharmed, while she lost her job, her reputation, and her status, and was dragged back to Sherag by a snow leopard.

That's alright, at least on her Sherag ID card, her race can be filled in as "Feathered Serpent" instead of "Liboli".

Holhaia herself didn't know when it started, but she no longer wanted to see Ernst's disappointed expression. Enjoying this feeling of being trusted seemed quite nice too.

It showed her some new things she had never experienced before.

For example, like now, being stared at by a large group of people, with hopeful eyes.

Holhaya took a deep breath. Of course she knew why Ernst had sent her to oversee this press conference. In the entire Sherag, there was no one who knew how to deal with the media better than her.

"The 'Star-Picking Project' has been a complete success. The specific results will be announced a week later after processing."

She spoke slowly and deliberately. Immediately, a burst of camera flashes and clicking sounds erupted from the audience.

Holhaya paused slightly, then pointed to a reporter in the audience who had raised his hand: "Friend, is there a question?"

"Spokesperson, what exactly does 'Project Star-Picking' mean as a complete success?"

When someone presses you for details about your answer, explain the meaning of the words you used.

Huo Erhai, with a calm expression, replied:

"Complete success means that the plan achieved its objectives under controllable risks. Through the unremitting efforts and perseverance of the researchers at the Dome Research Station and the Kjerag astronauts, we achieved the feat of breaking through the isolation layer and successfully completed the subsequent return operation. The overall situation was stable, the risks were controllable, there were no casualties, and the equipment damage was within the acceptable range of the plan. Therefore, it was a complete success."

The reporter paused, feeling as if he understood something, yet also as if he understood nothing at all.

His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to continue speaking, but Holhaia had already pointed to the next reporter:

"One question for everyone. Next, my friend, it's you."

A petite reporter from Liboli stood up, bowed to Horhaiya, and introduced herself:

"Speaker, hello. I'm a reporter from the Colombian Daily Mail. We're curious about what Scherrager gained from his experiments outside the isolation layer, and why it took a week to process them?"

When someone asks you a pointed question, use a broader concept to shut them up.

“This is a state secret belonging to Shelag,” Horhyah said calmly.

For some reason, when she mentioned state secrets, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, as if she couldn't help but chuckle.

She would never have made such a mistake before; she should reflect on it.

He must have caught it from spending too much time with Ernst. He's got this disease of laughing at things that he says don't exist in a serious tone.

It was just like the expression on Ernst's face when he said "the Sarkaz were kind to each other," "the Victorians were full of morality," and "the Gauls were prosperous."

Holhaya's mind was filled with the snow leopard's innocent smile, but the reporter's questions didn't stop:

"Could I assume this is a tacit acceptance of the issue? Has Scherrag truly made significant progress in his research on isolation layers?"

The images in her mind were disrupted, and Holhaya frowned slightly.

When someone is single-mindedly focused on creating a big news story, using rhetorical questions appropriately can be helpful.

"My friend, even if you are a reporter for the Daily Mail, please abide by the rules of the press conference? Each reporter is only allowed to ask one question. Do Colombians disregard the rules?"

"It's not that I can't answer your question, but the press conference won't be extended because of your violation. If I answer your question now, I'll have to answer one less question for someone else later. Is that okay with you?"

Of course, Holhaya wasn't asking whether the reporter, Li Boli, was willing or not.

She was asking the hundreds of people present—her competitors—from various countries across Terra, affiliated with different magazines, weekly publications, newspapers, and television networks, whether they would be willing to sacrifice their questioning time and opportunity to give the Daily Messenger reporter an exclusive front-page story.

Is there even a question? Rivals are common among competitors, and this is especially true in the news industry!

Before the reporter, Naliboli, could speak, her companion grabbed her tail feathers and pulled her down to sit.

It was only then that she realized that the reporters around her, who had just been eager to make a big splash, were now looking at her with unusually unfamiliar eyes.

The meaning is clear: your question is valuable, but if you ask it, it becomes worthless to us.

Sit down quietly, let's ask this question.

Reporter Li Boli opened his mouth, but then lowered his head.

Holhaya glanced around the room with satisfaction, then called on the next reporter:

"This friend, you'll do."

A Kuranta man in a suit stood up. He also bowed slightly to Horhaiya and introduced himself:

"Hello, spokesperson. I am a reporter from the Casimir Wine News."

"I don't know if you've heard of us, but Casimir Wine News is a newspaper full of humanistic spirit. Compared to profound and difficult-to-understand scientific knowledge, we focus more on entertainment news that is more humanistic, closer to people's lives, and more popular. We are committed to providing people from all countries with some mental relaxation after their busy work. Our goal is to make everyone smile."

Are you going to ask or not?

Holhaya's lips twitched. If she didn't know what the Wine Journal was, she might have been fooled by the reporter's rhetoric.

She couldn't help but urge him on, also to prevent him from being dragged down and beaten by the other reporters who were already glaring angrily.

The reporter from Red Wine News clearly noticed the atmosphere gradually escalating around them, gave an awkward laugh, and quickly said:

"Our question mainly concerns Prime Minister Ernst's marital status."

“The Prime Minister is not engaged yet,” Holhaia rolled her eyes and replied, wanting nothing more than for him to sit down.

Unexpectedly, although this person was a rule-abiding individual, his penmanship was clearly not so rule-abiding.

A few days later, Ernst saw the newspapers on the table. The most eye-catching one was the wine newspaper, with its brightly colored and large print.

[Tradition and Future Clash in Kjerag! What Choice Will the Youngest Prime Minister Make?]

The main title looks pretty normal, even a bit provocative! I bet it's about Elder Ping, the Three Races Conference, Brother Snow Leopard, and leading Sherag towards modernization, right?

The heart-pounding battle between Terra's renowned female scientist and the last princess of the empire remains unresolved!

Ernst found it difficult to describe the shock she felt when she later saw the subtitle.

Amazing, you Kazimierz. In this cesspool of Terra, where everyone is swimming on their backs and displaying their unique talents, there are warlords vying for supremacy, feudal autocracy, colonial struggles, and even endless tatat-like battles. Only you are single-mindedly pursuing capitalism, consumerism, and entertainment to the death, using the purest power to play the highest level of games.

amazing!

Ernst: "......."

You're trying to get me killed!

Chapter 330: The Most Useful Chapter of the Law

While Holhaya was holding a press conference, Ernst was staring blankly at his communicator.

"Beep beep—(incomprehensible language)"

Turning on the communicator wasn't difficult, nor was playing the recording. Ernst wasn't a tech idiot, and besides, Christensen had given him the instruction manual and such.

The problem is that even after it was turned on and played, Ernst couldn't understand what it was saying.

He wasn't a language genius either. Human language can only be understood and used in specific contexts, and what was being said through the microphone was clearly not Ernst's usual Chinese, English, or the little bit of Japanese he had learned from watching certain things.

It was clearly not the Seraphim language Ernst was currently learning, nor the Old Victorian language that was somewhat similar to English, or the official language of Yan State.

This language is indeed an unknown language.

Ernst suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. This scene was just like the scene when he first encountered alien civilizations while playing Stellaris.

First, scientists are dispatched to establish contact, translate each other's languages, and then determine whether the other party has malicious intent, choosing between continuing to maintain friendly relations or closing the border and taking a defensive diplomatic stance.

Finally, as an event popped up, people either cheered or looked at the sky with fear, confirming that the first batch of extraterrestrial creatures did indeed exist.

[It turns out we are not alone in the universe.]

Are there extraterrestrial life forms in Terra's outer space? And they're so close that their communication signals can be continuously transmitted to the outer layer of a planet that hasn't yet developed space technology?

Ernst had to accept this conclusion; perhaps it was true. If it weren't for the isolation layer, Terra might already be filled with signals from outer space.

But Levy offered a different perspective:

"Ernst, actually, I've been thinking about a question: what do you think is the purpose of the isolation layer?"

Ernst frowned slightly, while Christensen decisively gave the answer:

"That was a shackle."

"Because of its existence, for thousands of years, humans' gazing at the sky has been considered meaningless."

"This directly cuts off one possibility for Terra. When we praise the sky through the barrier, it's like praising a maiden's beauty through a veil!"

"That's fake. Praising something you've never seen is just ulterior motive and flattery."

She glanced at Ernst and said solemnly:

"I believe Ernst's description of the magnificent scenery in space is true, and that's why I want to see it for myself!"

"Tearing apart that false starry sky is my lifelong wish."

This was the first time she had spoken so frankly and without reservation about her thoughts. Because she knew very well that there were no outsiders among those present.

Ernst was someone who knew only a tiny fraction of the magnificent and awe-inspiring landscape beyond the heavens. But how could he, who had remained in Kjerag, possibly know such things?

Information acquisition inevitably has a source. Even the Sarkaz, who are supposedly born with innate knowledge, derive their information from their long-standing bloodline. But Ernst is merely a filament; where does his information come from?

The answer to this question is not hard to find – Levy.

Only Levi has this possibility. His origins are unknown, but his abilities are outstanding. Kristen noticed his special qualities early on, and after joining Rhine Lab, Kristen noticed some of Levi's peculiar and even eccentric traits.

Christensen had seen him put Originium in his mouth and chew it to test its properties and how it affected life.

Afterwards, he also had his blood Originium concentration tested, and the result was 0, meaning there was no Originium content.

Even a normal person would contract Oripathy from inhaling some dust in a high-concentration Originium environment. Even Christensen had never seen anyone who could directly ingest Originium and remain unharmed.

If Christensen hadn't intervened to block the test report, Levi's special abilities would probably have been revealed long ago.

It can be said that Levy's current safety is largely due to the fact that he encountered Christensen.