Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

"Go ahead and say it. As long as you're not lusting after my body, everything is negotiable."

"You are joking, Your Excellency."

The captain chuckled awkwardly as he sat down, looking slightly restrained, with his legs together and back straight, like a primary school student in class.

After a moment's hesitation, she abandoned her roundabout approach and stated directly:

"I have come to bother you today because of Victoria. To be honest, Victoria has just ended the war and is in a state of great need of reconstruction."

"Are you saying that Victoria can't contribute to the Terra United Association for the time being?" Qi Yan confirmed. "I can discuss this with Azer, but there's one thing I must make clear beforehand: Victoria can choose to preserve her national strength for the sake of the country's situation, but it's best not to deliberately avoid cooperation because of the Sarkaz's involvement."

"Of course not. The war is over. I can't say that all grudges will be forgotten, but Victoria can see things clearly when it comes to matters of principle."

The captain shook his head repeatedly and explained in detail: "Actually, I understand that the more effort you put into this cooperation, the greater the reward will be afterward, but Victoria now... Since it's about Lord Qi Yan, I might as well speak frankly."

In my opinion, Victoria's current situation is even more dangerous than during the war, and I am very worried that Victoria will fall into an irrecoverable abyss under Her Highness Vina's control.

"What do you mean?"

"I wonder how much you know about the parliamentary system that Her Highness Vina is currently promoting?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow:

"I've heard people mention it a few times. This plan was devised with the help of a PhD. Don't tell me the PhD messed it up."

“The system may be good, but it may not be well suited to Victoria’s national conditions.” The captain smiled wryly. “Victoria is in dire need of breaking free from the effects of the war. There is a shortage of supplies, the threat left by Sarkaz witchcraft has led to the rampant spread of Oripathy, and people’s morale is beginning to crumble.”

Victoria needs someone to step forward, to be a king upon whom everyone places their hopes and is willing to die for, not a parliamentary system with a promising future.

"Whose side are you on?" Qi Yan suddenly asked.

The captain paused for a moment, then answered honestly, "The Duke of Caster's men."

"How is the parliamentary system progressing in Victoria?" Qi Yan asked again.

"It has been initially implemented. Now, many decisions are made through discussions between Her Highness Vina, the dukes, and representatives of other organizations."

"You've come here hoping I'll persuade Vina to temporarily suspend the implementation of the parliamentary system and put that crown on her head first?" Qi Yan smiled.

Seeing Rupert's smile, the captain froze, his hand still on his tongue.

She vaguely sensed a dangerous aura emanating from Qi Yan.

“I know, I understand. The birth of a new king can bring Victoria and the dukes back to the peaceful times they once had.”

Qi Yan stood up, walked behind the captain, and put one hand on the captain's shoulder.

His voice floated down behind the captain:

"Then at some necessary moment in the future, the dukes can find a reason to hang Vina in the glory of Victoria, just as they hanged the former king."

Chapter 1018 Treating People as Humans

The captain broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

She dared not make any unnecessary movements, and could only repeatedly say before Qi Yan could continue speaking:

"Your Excellency misunderstands. We would not do such a thing. The dukes also want a better Victoria. We just hope there is a way to resolve the current predicament."

"So what do you want to do?" Qi Yan asked, still smiling.

The captain swallowed hard. "If possible, could you please come to Victoria and attend a meeting?"

“I understand. Kaster hopes to use my name to forcefully suppress all dissenting voices in the country for Vina.”

"That's right, we're all doing this for Her Highness Vina, we're all doing this for Victoria."

When the captain saw that Qi Yan understood his purpose, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She believed that given Qi Yan's extremely protective nature, he would definitely not mind standing up for Vina.

Unfortunately, Qi Yan patted her shoulder again.

"Before the parliamentary system was implemented, Victoria only had the King's voice; after it was implemented, Victoria still only has the Speaker's voice... In that case, wouldn't Vina's efforts to implement the parliamentary system have been in vain?"

Qi Yan leaned down over the captain's two cat ears, her breath gently brushing against them, making the captain's ears itch slightly.

The two yellow cat ears twitched twice as a conditioned reflex.

However, the captain himself dared not make the slightest move.

Qi Yan's voice came again: "I'm sorry, I won't help Vina. I will only be a sword hanging over the heads of the dukes. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will die."

"But Victoria..."

"Nothing but."

Qi Yan interrupted the captain calmly: "Madam, you say you are Duke Caesar's man, and you know the mission you bear. Then let me ask you, do you know the mission Vina bears?"

"I...I don't understand."

"What Vina needs to do is actually very simple, just four words."

Please enlighten me.

Treat people as human beings.

The captain turned around blankly.

She saw the legendary, aloof figure behind her, still wearing a faint smile on his face.

There was no scrutiny, no oppressive pressure; it seemed as if everything she had just experienced was just her own self-inflicted fear.

"Victoria is now in a difficult situation, suffering from the aftermath of war, the growing pains of transformation, shortages of supplies, rampant disease, and morale collapse."

Qi Yan slowly returned to his desk and plopped down in the soft chair.

He picked up the juice on the table, took a leisurely sip, and looked at the captain, saying casually:

"Unlike fairy tales, the cheers of people after a war victory do not magically conjure up a better life. And unlike in games, policy changes are not simply implemented by changing the card design."

Victoria is still Victoria. The dukes are high and mighty, while the common people below are muddle-headed and aimless. If Vina is simply pursuing power, what do you think was the point of her recent struggles? Was she just putting up with hardship?

The captain argued, "Although the Duke holds a high position of power, he is only trying to make Victoria better."

The pressure on the dukes is equally heavy. The Duke of Wellington remains a threat, and it is only through the combined efforts of the other dukes that he has not instigated a new round of war. The dukes are also working hard to bring peace to Victoria.

Qi Yan put down her juice: "You misunderstood me. My point is not about power, but about what lies beneath power, about you, and about all Victorians like you."

"What...what do you mean?"

“You really should have a good talk with Biura.” Qi Yan shook his head with a smile. “But since you’ve already come to me, let me talk to you first.”

The captain pursed his lips, awaiting Qi Yan's instructions.

To her surprise, Qi Yan didn't launch into a long speech; he simply posed a question:

“When Chester sent you to me, did she mention what risks you would be willing to take?”

The captain seemed somewhat hesitant.

She didn't know if telling the truth would anger Qi Yan, but looking at Qi Yan's calm face, she chose to give him her trust.

"His Excellency the Duke said... you won't punish me arbitrarily, but I bear a heavy responsibility that will influence Victoria's future." The captain concluded, his face filled with a profound longing. "For Victoria, I am willing to go through fire and water, even die a thousand deaths!"

"So Victoria's future is in my hands?"

"In a sense, yes."

"Forget it, being betrayed by Amiya and having to take on the responsibility of saving Terra has already scared me to death."

Qi Yan waved his hand with amusement: "Don't leave Victoria's future to me, and of course, don't leave it all to Vina, and certainly not to those dukes."

"Then who should it be given to?"

These words startled the captain so much that he immediately stood up from the sofa.

Qi Yan gestured for her to calm down:

"Don't get excited. The future of Victoria is for you, but not just for you, but for millions of Victorians like you."

You traveled thousands of miles to find me because of a word from the Duke. Throughout history, how many Victorians have devoted everything to a word from a Duke or King?

But when people crowd around the king and duke, singing their praises, who has considered whether those achievements were truly created by a single word from those in power?

“Victoria will reward all those who have contributed to its cause,” the captain retorted.

"Why should the value you create go through all that trouble, only to be bestowed back by those in power?" Qi Yan sneered. "Do you really enjoy having middlemen profit from your mistakes?"

team leader:"……"

"Madam, did I create this glass of juice out of thin air?" Qi Yan asked.

The captain slowly shook his head.

Qi Yan tilted his head back, picked up the juice, and drank it all in one gulp.

He wiped his mouth and chuckled:

"Your mission is doomed to fail because I cannot conjure up a large amount of supplies for Victoria, nor can Vina, nor can the Duke."

The only thing that can help Victoria out of its current predicament is the ordinary people of Victoria. It is the workers who hammered out Lentinium, the farmers who sowed grain and reaped a bountiful harvest, and countless ordinary people who make up Victoria.

Vina wanted you to stand up, but you knelt down and begged me at the Duke's command?

"I...I didn't kneel down."

Do you think you're standing still?

“Madam, I am equally helpless in the face of Victoria’s current difficulties. I know the drawbacks of the parliamentary system; its process is lengthy and far less inspiring than a supreme voice leading people toward tomorrow.”

Qi Yan casually wrote a line on his tribute list: "When the crown is placed on your head, you will find that it has taken root when you try to take it off. When people kneel for a long time and want to stand up, their knees will hurt so much that they feel weak all over."

In Victoria today, every single second, someone is falling in agony just before dawn. But please don't despair. Just as you were willing to give everything for the Duke, why not try to give everything to the rising sun?

"But what should we do?" The captain closed his eyes in anguish. "Your words are certainly inspiring, but as you said, you can't conjure up a future where everyone can live a good life."

In present-day Victoria, resources are so scarce that even war heroes cannot obtain medical treatment. Vina's attempt to save everyone through the parliamentary system is doomed to failure; we must make a choice.

Qi Yan's voice rang out in front of the captain.

She instinctively obeyed the command, opened her eyes, and saw a list being held up in front of her.

"Take back the list of tributes that the Terra Federation has made to me, its president, and have Vina and the dukes implement it properly."

team leader:"……"

Her feelings were extremely complicated, and she was even a little angry at Qi Yan's opportunistic and exploitative behavior.

But she dared not show it at all, and obediently took the list and looked at it carefully.

"what?!"

After seeing the contents of the list, she could no longer contain her anger and exclaimed, "Your Excellency, do you intend to forcibly conscript soldiers from Victoria in its current state?!"

Are you trying to completely destroy Victoria?

Qi Yan was not surprised by her anger and calmly said:

"Didn't you just say that the parliamentary system can't save everyone and that we have to make trade-offs?"

Now you don't need to worry, because I've made the choice for you. Focus your resources on rebuilding Victoria's citizens. These soldiers, I'm taking them with me; they will fight for Terra's future, and Terra will provide them with the necessary supplies.

The captain was stunned on the spot, and then his breathing became rapid.

This method works!

The dukes would absolutely disagree if anyone else were to do it.

But this person was Qi Yan, raising the banner of fighting for the future of Terra, and no matter how angry the dukes were, they could only swallow their anger.

Without their armies, the dukes are like tigers with their teeth and claws pulled out; their voices in parliament are destined to grow weaker.

The captain was completely unaware that, unknowingly, his stance had shifted from the Victoria described by the Duke to the real Victoria under Qi Yan's influence.

Soon, the captain realized another problem:

"But... Your Excellency, if Victoria loses its military strength, won't it become a fish on someone else's chopping board?"

"No, sister, are you kidding me?"

Qi Yan was genuinely amused.

He pointed to himself and asked, "Who am I?"

"That's right, this name is the answer."