People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

If that's the case, and if he manages to get it done...

That would be a total war.

Fremont had a suspicion in his mind, and as a lich, he was determined to verify it.

We need to send someone to check. If Theresis really is that kind of intention, then we need to find a way to stop him.

If not, then we must find a way to bring back the Soul Furnace or the dead souls inside, just in case.

It wasn't that he betrayed her; Fremont was very clear-headed. Once he had chosen a side, there was no turning back.

He was the modern-day "transcriber," the ruler of the Four Kings' Court, and a lich who risked everything to propose opening the Temple of Knowledge. Many old-timers, however, secretly called him a "traitor."

Anyone can surrender, betray, or join Theresis in a full-scale war. Even Ramalen, if she were to join Theresis now, he would gladly accept her. But not him now. After all, he has already made his mark on the Terran nations.

Moreover, Ernst has already achieved results, so he has no choice but to go all the way.

Having made up his mind, Fremont began:

“Emanggard, make a trip to Kazdel.”

He didn't have many people around him, and even fewer he could trust. The person he sent to Kazdel had to be someone he could trust and who he could put his mind at ease with.

Perfect, this apprentice counts.

"Ah I?"

Emengard's face immediately fell.

She had no desire to go to Kazdel. She was living a wonderful life in Sherag, spending her days eating and sleeping, and chatting with the old Balrog to hear stories of the past. Where else could she find such a good life?

But Fremont was adamant.

Ernst liked to use college students, and so did Fremont.

Easy to use, I love using it, and it's durable!

I can continue using it after I get into graduate school, and even after that, I can still use it as a doctoral student. I can learn as long as I live, and I can also use Emengard as long as I live!

"Stop with the 'I don't care' stuff, let's get going now. Do this job well, and I'll consider approving your graduation certificate."

Emengard's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded.

"You said it, you can't go back on your word!"

"Hmm," Fremont hummed softly.

He smiled as he watched Emengard joyfully vanish into the void.

He said, "Let me think about it."

Of course, he was a genuine person and wouldn't mistreat his good apprentice.

In another two or three hundred years, or even four or five hundred years, perhaps he will get tired, and she can take on the role of "copying"?

Chapter 596 Saving Private Horhyah

Hinterlaya has been feeling down lately.

As the face of the Shelag government (in every sense of the word), she's been incredibly busy lately.

Every day, just putting on a smile to greet the visiting VIPs would make her facial muscles twitch, and she would have to ask Lola to massage them for her.

There was something else going on: secretly and carefully slipping her a note.

At first, she thought she had finally reached this point, that someone was trying to recruit her to secretly provide internal intelligence about Kjerag. After all, her position, though seemingly small, wielded considerable influence. She knew exactly who the Prime Minister had met that day, who he had invited, and who had visited him. It's said that the extent of power depends on your distance from the center of power, and by that logic, she was one of the closest people in Kjerag to Ernst!

She guessed correctly, but not entirely.

Indeed, some people tried to recruit her, but none of them intended for her to become a spy; instead, they planned for her to switch jobs.

"Poaching"

Especially Kazimierz. The other party didn't specify which part of Kazimierz he represented; he just gave her a blank check and told her to write whatever she wanted on it.

No, is it a tradition for Casimir to write blank checks?

The other party was indeed very sincere. When Hintraya refused, they persisted, asking directly, "How much salary does Prime Minister Ernst offer you?"

Hinterlea casually quoted a very high number. The envoy immediately promised, "We'll give double."

Hinterlea laughed. She hadn't been with Ernst for nothing; anyone could make a promise like that. She could just tell the envoy that she would steal the key to the Kjerag airship for him tomorrow, since she wasn't really going to do it anyway.

Then the messenger asked Ernst how much room for promotion she could have.

Hinterlea hadn't really considered this. After thinking about it carefully, Yi Lin realized that there really wasn't much room for advancement on her path. What could she do up there? Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court? That position was only available in Yan Kingdom, right?

Seeing that Hinterea remained silent, the envoy then declared that as long as Hinterea joined, they could recommend her for the third-in-command position! If we were to use the internal positions of Sherag as an analogy, it would be the same position as Lafsini.

Hinterlea couldn't hold back again. Although no one said it outright, everyone knew that Lavshini's position as secretary was essentially a sinecure, she did practically nothing, you could easily mistake her for a small, un-industrialized stove in the Prime Minister's office.

However, although Hintelia was still uninterested, she still asked one more question: "Who is the second-in-command?"

The other party replied that it was Joyce, who was serving as the finance minister.

Hinterlea paused for a moment, then nodded.

The answer was perfectly reasonable; she had expected the other person to mention Holhaya or Vina. But upon reflection, it was true that money was the foundation of government operations. Joyce might not have sought power, but that didn't mean she wasn't important. Moreover, she was very mysterious. Hinterlea had witnessed Joyce secretly recording something in a corner several times, but when asked, Joyce always said she was recording Ernst's words and actions. Hinterlea didn't believe her at first, until one day Joyce actually brought her a copy of "Ernst's Sayings."

Hinterlea flipped through it and found that the records were so detailed that they even specified the time, place, circumstances, and what was said.

Good heavens, a historian!

From then on, Hintleya never dared to underestimate this Colombian college student again.

It's no exaggeration to say that when the Sherag government held a dinner, no one dared to touch their chopsticks if Joyce didn't come.

Then, the messenger wanted to say something more, but Hintraya had completely lost interest and simply asked:

Can I make my own requests?

The other party was taken aback for a moment, then nodded happily: "Please rest assured, we can fulfill your request!"

"Can you give me an Ernst?"

She asked,

"No need for double, one is fine."

The other party remained silent. Hinterlea then left.

She reported the incident afterwards, and Ernst didn't say anything, of course, because she hadn't reported the last three questions. There was no way around it; those things were somewhat embarrassing.

But being busy at work was clearly not the most direct reason for her feeling depressed.

What she found truly strange was the recent atmosphere within the Sherag government; something was very wrong!

To this end, she specifically sought out Vina, the staff officer she knew earliest and who was also among the first batch of employees, and who had spent the most time with Ernst during this period.

"How should I put it, something feels really off!"

Hintra asked with a half-smile,

"Don't you feel that way, Vina?"

Vina's forehead was instantly covered in sweat. Looking at the meaningful expression on Hinterlea's face, even with her current experience and insight, she couldn't figure out what Hinterlea was trying to say.

Why are you making that face? Why are you looking at me like that? Your fake smile is giving me the creeps!

Did you figure it out? Or were you just testing me? Or do you already know everything and are giving me a chance to confess?

Actually, Cintraya just kept smiling a little too often, and she hadn't quite recovered from the fatigue after get off work.

Vina remained silent, hesitating between being completely honest and continuing to put on a brave face.

Actually, I don't think I did anything too outrageous, did I?

In other words, every time he was alone with Ernst, he would ask for a hug. Occasionally, on a whim, he would secretly force his boss to kiss him a couple of times. He would pounce on him to seek excitement when he closed the door and left. He was afraid that Ernst would suddenly open the door again, but he also felt that Ernst's panicked grip on his arm was very sexy and delicious.

Well, it's not exactly a heinous crime, is it?

Or should we just tell him?

Vina's face flushed slightly. She swallowed, took a deep breath, and opened her mouth to speak, but then saw Hintraya suddenly stop smiling and sigh softly.

"So you don't know either?"

"You don't know?" Vina was taken aback.

What? Was Hinterlea referring to her when she said the "strange atmosphere" was strange? Has anything else happened in the Sherag government?

Could it be that Ernst did those things with other people?

A sudden surge of anger welled up within her. Vina's eyebrows furrowed, and she braced herself on the table with both hands, saying earnestly:

"what happens?"

"It's Holhaya. Haven't you noticed that the boss has been paying extra attention to her lately?"

Hinterlea said slowly,

“I’ve seen her several times in the last two days. Just when Holhaya was about to handle something, the boss stopped her and told her to rest. Holhaya used to do those things before, and there were no problems.”

The word "balance" almost instinctively popped into Vina's mind.

The way of an emperor lies in checks and balances. What did Holhaia do to anger Ernst, so the boss wanted to reduce her power?

But the moment that idea arose, she ruthlessly extinguished it.

She gave a wry smile, shook her head, and explained to Hintraya:

"No, you're overthinking it. It's because of Horhaya's health issues."

"It seems that for some reason, she could only live to be 42 years old. Ernst only learned of this in the last two days and has been looking for a solution."

She knew about this because Ernst asked her to casually mention it during diplomatic activities, inquiring whether other countries had similar cases and whether there were any cures.

Terra is vast and full of wonders; Ernst clearly didn't intend to put all his eggs in one basket with Columbia and the Tin People. What if he didn't know either?

Holhaia appeared nonchalant, even going so far as to say, "If the BOSS needs it, I wouldn't mind having a bloodline with you now, and using these few years to train your next secretary from scratch." However, she was scolded by Ernst.

That was the first time Ernst had ever been angry about "the affair between a son and a daughter".

The matter ended with Ernst's promise, "I have no intention of changing secretaries; I will find a way to cure you." After that, Ernst asked Vina for help.

Vina knew the seriousness of the situation and she was indeed trying her best to help inquire, but so far there had been no progress.

After listening, Hinterlea fell silent.

She felt she might not be able to sleep tonight.

Although Horhaya often teased them, taking advantage of her more experience and more open-minded ideas, her cultivation and help for them were genuine.

If Ernst lit the way for them, pointed out the direction, and corrected them at all times, then Horhaia taught them how to walk this path.

Even without Horhaya, they might still grow gradually through actual combat, but it will still take a long time before they can truly stand on their own and share Ernst's burdens.

And he himself thought that Horhaya was "running away"!

Despite having such a serious illness, she didn't show it at all, not wanting herself or her colleagues to worry.

Hinterlea lowered her head, pursed her lips, and felt her heart clench.

"I deserve to die! How could I doubt Horhaia!"

The person who had actually "sneaked away" pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, then extended his hand and said earnestly:

"It's alright. Holhaya has helped us so much; it's time for us to help her too. I'll keep inquiring, and you can continue looking around."

"I will."

Hinterlea nodded seriously.

She already had some ideas.

Ernst inquired for Holhaya, primarily focusing on the upper echelons—the grand dukes, emperors, presidents, and leaders of various factions. Vina's inquiries were more about filling in the gaps in Ernst's knowledge; after all, her boss was usually very busy and couldn't possibly have the time or energy to meet with every representative and discuss the matter. Vina, being a diplomat, could do the work, going to every embassy and temporary residence to inquire, mainly targeting the upper-middle class.

And she, Hinterlea, can target the lower and middle classes, or even the lowest classes.

Don't assume that there are no solutions to problems in the middle and lower classes or even the bottom. In "Ernst's Quotations"—edited by Joyce—it is written that Ernst has emphasized more than once that the vast majority of ordinary people are the true foundation of Sherag's development. Whether you want to modernize, develop education, or develop politics, military, culture, or anything else, you cannot do without the people.

They are the foundation of everything.

Hinterlea may not fully understand the meaning and wisdom behind these words, but she understands one thing: the upper class has private doctors and top-notch medical care, the middle class has large hospitals and expert consultations, and the lower class also has clinics and community service stations.

Even people living in slums might have some kind of folk remedy or something.

Never underestimate anyone. As a Terran, without the corresponding socio-cultural and political foundation, she couldn't fully understand Ernst intellectually, but she could fully execute his ideas in practice.