People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Theresa sat properly in the interviewee's seat and waved to Hadley and Ines:

"Long time no see, Hadley, Ines, I'm back."

"Ho-!"

Ines nearly kicked the chair away, but fortunately Hadley was somewhat prepared and quickly grabbed her, whispering:

"Don't be alarmed, Ines, it's just a hallucination."

"Hallucination?"

Ines didn't think she was that stupid, nor did she think she was hallucinating. She had seen Neve's shadow, and her statement that she didn't have the same shadow as when she used Mind Control didn't seem like she was lying.

But Hadley shook his head firmly:

"I'll prove it."

He helped Ines sit up straight, then looked at Theresa in front of him, took two deep breaths, and asked his first question:

"who are you?"

"Hmm?" Theresa was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what she meant.

This is what they call a "process," right?

Kal'tsit often emphasized this point. Back in the Tower of Babel, she frequently said that even the development of civilizations requires a necessary process. She criticized herself for moving too quickly, saying that nations relying on the legacy of previous civilizations were like living off loans, destined to repay a debt left by the Creator sooner or later. She described herself as a small creditor, trying to guide those nations back on track, preventing them from becoming overly dependent on their heritage and from venturing into forbidden territories they couldn't currently control, lest they invite even greater threats.

Theresa expressed her understanding and willingness to cooperate.

So she nodded slightly and said calmly, "Theresia."

"Race?"

"Sarkaz."

"Are you a member of the royal court?"

Theresa shook her head: "Not the royal court."

Hedley swallowed hard and asked the most crucial question: [The question is incomplete and requires further context.]

"Where are you from?"

“Hmm,” Theresa hesitated for a moment.

"Kazdel," but that was a lie. After a moment's thought, she decided to be honest.

“Victoria, Lentinium.”

Visibly, Hadley's breath caught in his throat, and Ines's eyes widened. An eerie silence filled the room. After a long pause, Hadley finally mustered his courage and, clinging to a sliver of hope, asked one last question:

What is the purpose of your visit?

"Your Highness Theresa, why have you come?"

"this one"

Theresa gave a wry smile.

"I actually just wanted to hide my identity, quietly take a look at Shelag, see the World Summit, and witness the birth of a new era of Kazdel. But who knew that the entry checks for Shelag would be so strict."

She glanced up subtly, making sure she hadn't attracted Jeragand's attention, before whispering,

"It's impossible to sneak in, so we have to go through the normal review process."

She paused, then changed the subject.

"However, I do have some matters entrusted to me by Theresis, and I wish to meet with Mr. Ernst Shivaish. I wonder if you, Hedley, could do so?"

Before she could finish speaking, Ines let out a somewhat flustered exclamation:

"You've smashed through Londinium?"

Theresa was slightly taken aback: "Huh?"

"what?"

At the same time, another person also voiced their doubts.

The white-haired, red-horned Sarkaz girl had just pushed open the door, still clutching an Originium bomb in her hand, when her smile of "coming to mock me the moment she arrived" froze on her face like a stop-motion animation.

Then things began to change.

From a mocking smile to a bewildered look of confusion, then from a clueless bewilderment to an incredible shock, and finally from unbelievable shock to an indescribable, distorted expression.

"Tetete"

The opening is so familiar, the voice is so familiar?

Theresa turned her head and looked in surprise at the Sarkaz girl's face in front of her, which was like a palette of colors, laughing, crying, surprised, fearful, twitching and stiff. She subconsciously called out that familiar name.

"W?"

Her response was the third time she'd heard it today:

"Ho-!"

Is this some kind of Sherag verbal tic?

Chapter 600 What does a snow leopard call? Hehehe!

Shelag, Tukarim, Shelag Government Office Building, Ernst's Office.

Lola is reporting to Ernst on the project progress of the second Star-Picking Project.

"In summary, the project is now complete, young master."

Lola hesitated for a moment, then spoke up to remind her.

"However, young master, Ms. Christensen...she...she seems..."

"When you're working, you call it position."

Ernst smiled and offered a reminder, then said seriously,

"What happened to Christensen?"

"She seems a little unhappy these past two days."

Lola explained,

"While Ms. Christensen has always been somewhat headstrong, lately she's been completely ignoring everyone's opinions and hasn't bothered to answer questions like she used to. Although this won't affect the project or experiments much."

She paused, looked at Ernst, and said with a hint of helplessness,

"But it's very worrying, isn't it?"

Christensen's actions certainly wouldn't affect the project. She wouldn't listen to others' suggestions for improvement, but that didn't mean she didn't care about the experiments. Instead, she would often offer a better, more impeccable solution, leaving everyone speechless.

As for why she doesn't help answer everyone's questions, there's really nothing that can be done about it. Christensen is a genius scientist, an all-rounder, and the most dazzling jewel in Columbia's scientific community. She has many identities, but she is not a teacher.

If she's willing to help answer questions, that's a mutual agreement. Now that she's unwilling, no one can really criticize her. After all, having such a genius by her side, who has led the team for so long without pay, it would be truly ungrateful to be resentful if she were to show kindness in return.

Lola's concern for Christensen wasn't out of any objection or resentment towards her current actions, but simply out of genuine worry.

I am worried about Christensen's interpersonal relationships.

She was a somewhat naive person, and seeing Christensen, who used to be quite amiable, suddenly begin to gradually distance herself from the group, from everyone, and even from society, she couldn't help but feel worried. She feared that Christensen might have encountered some setback, and that it might lead her to do something irrational.

This innocent child, a girl with one foot in the field of scientific research, was also attracted by Christensen's extraordinary personal charm and even regarded her as a good friend.

She had no idea how high the price would be for being Christensen's friend.

Ernst understood Lola's concerns and knew the reason for Christensen's change, but he could only shake his head slightly:

"No, it's nothing, she's fine."

Rather than saying Christensen has changed, it's more accurate to say she has returned to her original state.

Arrogant, lonely, and aloof, she single-mindedly pursues a distant and grand goal, willing to sacrifice and abandon everything for it.

She was never seen in Rhine Lab's headquarters office. All matters, big and small, were handled by Seria and the heads of various departments. All she had to do was sign documents and secure investment after investment, so that she could stuff them all into the bottomless financial hole and build a towering edifice that would reach the stars.

Ignoring the consequences of those experiments, not caring about the internal strife that might occur within Rhine Lab without my control, and not pondering what the abandoned would think once I actually took to the skies.

Seekers of the Way, solitary travelers, pioneers.

He is also a selfish person and a traitor.

This is the real Christensen.

Ernst had initially tethered this carefree cloud, which should have only existed in the sky, but now that the thread had loosened, she had returned to her original state.

Lola's worries were not entirely unfounded, but they were certainly unnecessary.

Seeing Ernst speak, Lola could only nod.

Although Ernst didn't say it, as the person in the entire Sherag who had the most contact with Christen due to work, she could actually sense that the reason for Christen's change was definitely related to Ernst.

But she also trusted Ernst; since Ernst said Christensen was alright, then she must be alright.

However, for some reason, she still sighed slightly, her feelings somewhat complicated.

"jingle."

The doorbell rang, and Hintlaya's voice came from outside the door:

"Boss, someone's looking for you. It's Hedley."

"Tell him to wait a moment."

Ernst replied, then looked at Lola, who was lost in thought.

Lola snapped out of her reverie, and Ernst nodded to her:

"Don't worry, if anything really happens to her, tell me and I'll handle it."

"And you should also think more about your physical condition. I heard from Nastya that you're running around to almost every construction site and every project. You'll take it all up."

Lola lowered her head, somewhat hesitant:

"but"

"What's wrong?" Ernst asked.

“However, I am the Minister of the Engineering Department, personally appointed by you, Young Master.”

“I don’t have Miss Vina’s talent, nor Miss Hinterlea’s eloquence, but you still gave me this opportunity to personally build our country and improve the lives of our people. My family and friends are now proud of me.”

“Those projects are all related to the national economy and people’s livelihood of Shelag, as well as your plans and blueprints, young master. I really can’t trust anyone else to do them if I don’t personally oversee them.”

Lola said seriously, raising her hand to show her muscles.

“The Ursus people are much better physically than the Felin people. I don’t get tired that easily. You don’t need to worry.”

"I just hope you're satisfied."

“Of course I’m satisfied,” Ernst said sincerely.

A skilled warrior doesn't achieve great feats. Like Joyce, Lola, though rarely seen, is an indispensable part of Sherag's development.

She was Scherrag's first real scholar, and her existence was Scherrag's pride.

Ernst knew that since Lola had said all that, he probably couldn't persuade her otherwise. But there's always a workaround. Since he couldn't convince Lola to rest, he could try other ways to give her a break in a roundabout way.

"Here's what we'll do: every two weeks, you'll set aside one day to come to my office and report to me in person on your recent work."

"Isn't half a month too short?"

Lola hesitated. A construction project could take anywhere from two or three months to a year or two. What could she possibly report on if she only had to give a report every two weeks?

Ernst knew this, of course, which is why he insisted.

"This is an executive order."

He tapped the table lightly, and Lola immediately nodded:

"I understand!"

Having said that, she didn't dare waste a moment and immediately said:

"Then I'll head back to the construction site now. Goodbye, young master!"

“Say your title, Miss Engineering Minister!” Ernst reminded her again seriously, then smiled and waved, “Goodbye.”

"Click."

The door closed, and after Lola left, Ernst pressed the bell again and spoke into the microphone: