Change Is a Good Thing

Although Oute doesn't have a penchant for artificially separating superiors and subordinates, his work is still too demanding. And the entire Rhodes Island, inside and out, including logistics personnel, has thousands of operators.

Most operators have only a handful of opportunities to meet Oute.

Tsukino chuckled softly, seemingly sensing something, but still said, "Even so, it would be impolite of me to refuse!"

We've hardened our resolve to defend East Country cuisine!

The moment Oute stepped into the kitchen, he shifted most of his focus to other tasks.

It doesn't cause you any delay at all!

Shipborne prison, warden's solitary cell.

Talulah shook her head, thinking to herself, "[I thought you guys were having your own little clique, what brings you here?]"

Oute bluntly replied, "[I'm conserving my attention.]"

The dragon girl reached for a medical textbook, picked it up, and flipped through a few pages.

"Are you studying medicine?"

She then asked and answered herself, "Now I suddenly have all the time in the world, and I just happen to be on a hospital ship."

This scene looks quite terrifying.

The dragon girl wrinkled her nose slightly again. "Deal with Kal'tsit less. Under certain constraints, to ensure accurate information transmission, the amount of effective information in her words is extremely low."

Is it possible that this bizarre way of speaking was learned from you?

"... What exactly are you here for?"

As Rhodes Island's most dangerous prisoner and its only warden, Talulah's office is a prison cell partitioned by screens.

Oute picked up the key from his desk and opened the door from the inside.

"It's time to deal with our new prisoners."

Watching the SUV drive away, the Dragon Girl sighed and asked, "You mean release him?"

The person driving it had perfectly healthy legs and feet, and there was no indication that Thor had suffered a comminuted fracture in his lower body.

Oute turned to the Tsvonnek official negotiating with Kal'tsit and said, "If we let him cross the border as well, then there's no point in saving him."

"We don't have a direct intelligence route to Trimounts, so it's unknown how the Twin Empresses view the border nobles' affairs: are they using them as bargaining chips in political deals to gain concessions from the nobles, or as an excuse to wreak havoc and purge the entire east?"

"To be on the safe side, we must provide the Leithanien bureaucracy with an excuse for inaction, an all-powerful culprit."

Talulah nudged Oute: "I thought Mr. 'All-Knowing' could deduce their attitude."

"If you toss a coin, which side will land face up?" Oute countered.

"Moreover, everyone's decisions are subject to countless distractions at every moment," he added. "Perhaps just a subtle difference in the information presented before or after a meal could lead decision-makers to make drastically different decisions about... a tiny town like the Habsburg."

After all, it's too small to be of any significant importance.

The dragon girl watched silently as the SUV, purchased from the countryside of Kazimierz and probably used by many people, drove towards the heart of Leithanien and disappeared into the distance.

"It seems you really dislike that Thor."

Oute didn't answer directly, "There are plenty of scapegoats who could fool Leithanien and make them turn a blind eye. I just chose which ones to kill."

Tax collectors, remnant sorcerers, the Catastrophe Messenger Thor, or the unofficial village chiefs of the three villages... any of them could give the Leithanien bureaucracy a satisfactory answer.

"Does he expect you to thank him?"

"That's certainly true regarding his legs."

Of course, Oute hates Thor.

In the original timeline, Thor's home planet Wolumonde was destroyed in Catastrophe, with shipping routes cut off, winter supplies and agricultural areas all wiped out. To save Wolumonde, Thor chose the most extreme tactic: eliminating Rhodes Island's field medic Anto to draw away external forces.

"He stole our car and got into an accident; there are very few people outside of Rhodes Island who can treat that kind of fracture."

A loud noise suddenly came from Kal'tsit's location.

"... Even without weapons, it cannot dock!"

Compared to before, there was now an additional Campaign Knight. Although the city bureaucrats disagreed with his views, they couldn't easily reveal them in front of outsiders like Rhodes Island.

"Such a large ship, even if there were a few Leithanien hiding inside, we wouldn't be able to find them!"

Kal'tsit's explanation was somewhat weak. "I assure Tsvonnek that there will not be a single unauthorized Leithanien here!"

Ah, this...

Oute felt a little guilty.

Although Thor has been thrown out, the remnants of the Witch King's faction are still in their slums.

Those people certainly didn't qualify as having "permission."

However, by the White Queen's standards, it's questionable whether these remnants of the Witch King are even human. Since they can't be called human, they naturally can't be called Leithanien, and therefore, the question of authorization is irrelevant...

"Rhodes Island has crossed into Kazimierz multiple times, even Kawalerielki (the capital) has..." Kal'tsit tried to explain.

"Before!?" the knight interrupted fiercely, "Who allowed you to anchor at Kawalerielki before!? Give me a name!"

[Let's go, Doc Otter, you seem a little angry.] Talulah understandingly relinquished all control.

The long, sword-shaped staff, radiating fire, was thrust straight into the face of the Campaign Knight.

The Campaign Knight jumped back warily, breaking out in a cold sweat.

So strong!

Behind the knight, beneath a simple, even somewhat tattered linen coat, stood "Vouivre" with a cold and aloof air.

Talulah's indifferent eyes remained unmoved as she uttered a name from her unadorned lips.

"Ioleta."

"When!?" The Campaign Knight had no time to listen.

The city bureaucrats standing by didn't react much. "Your eyesight is terrible. It's like gods fighting; you can't tell the difference at all."

"Excuse me." Oute stepped past the slightly trembling Campaign Knight and drew his longsword from the ground. "The answer to your question."

The dragon girl flicked her sword, sending fragments falling like snowflakes.

The horses galloping across the grassland were suddenly enveloped by a huge shadow cast from the sky.

The Campaign Knight instinctively stepped back, gripping the lance on his back.

Even his trusted companions could not soothe his trembling heart; even the mane on his tail seemed to have a soul of its own, thumping restlessly against his thighs.

But this finally calmed the Campaign Knight down. "Respected lady, I think there may be some misunderstanding between us."

If Leithanien's bizarre system of "noble titles" accumulated over generations of "elective monarchy" is already a headache enough, giving one a smattering of understanding about countries with weak and declining monarchical power.

That Kazimierz is definitely something that will "refresh your mind".

Kazimierz is a... rather unique country: a hellish society that combines the worst of everything, a mix of "aristocratic oligarchy" and "capitalist oligarchy." Even a shred of feigned compassion, used to further exploit the people for the personal ambitions of the rulers, is unacceptable.

In the city, there are capitalist beasts that devour wealth and corrupt the flesh; in the countryside, there are feudal gluttons that grind their teeth and suck blood.

The "oligarch" in the noble oligarchy republic refers to the "Administrative Council" that oversees the administration of Kazimierz. Its current "head" is the executive head of the Administrative Council, the "Grand Knight Commander" Ioleta Russell.

"The name you just mentioned, does it belong to... Sir Russell?"

The Dragon Girl nodded.

The Campaign Knight another step back and sheathed his lance.

He maintained a rather impolite distance, trying his best to suppress his trembling, and said in a tedious and repetitive manner:

"I'm sorry, madam, this seems to be your ship's first visit to us, and you may not be very familiar with Tsvonnek. And I may not have been clear: Tsvonnek is a border military city."

It's not just that it wasn't expressed clearly, it wasn't said at all.

The Campaign Knight had simply and brutally prevented Rhodes Island from docking.

"This is the southern part of Kazimierz and the northern part of Leithanien." The Campaign Knight made various hand gestures involuntarily, as if playing an accordion.

The city bureaucrats couldn't stand it any longer. They covered the cowered Campaign Knight and said to Kal'tsit, "Just as the knight said! Out of caution towards this neighboring country, we cannot take the enormous risk of letting such a magnificent... mining ship cross the border directly in this direction."

Although their current composure is simply because Oute hasn't put pressure on them...

"Although it was converted from a mining ship, it is now a medical ship," Kal'tsit said.

"Ah, yes, yes, it's a hospital ship," the bureaucrats chimed in, then said, "Well then, Meshko Industries happens to have a transport ship. We can borrow it and set up a temporary stop for Rhodes Island in the countryside, where it can handle the resupply."

After considering the performance of the Campaign Knight and the Grand Knight Commander, the bureaucrats decided. "Transportation costs will be waived, and we will also reduce supply prices by 30%!"

Chapter 292 Change is a Good Thing

Kal'tsit is already showing interest.

The dragon girl's eyes flickered slightly. She sheathed her sword and said, "Sorry, I just swung the sword out."

Having said that, he turned and left.

After all, he didn't visit in person.

Since Kal'tsit is willing to accept this compensation, there is no need to leave outsiders with the impression that "Rhodes Island's internal power structure is chaotic."

Rhodes Island, kitchen.

"Um..." The village girl looked bewildered. "If you're asking me this kind of question, does that mean the pie should be bigger? And the filling should be more?"

"Mmm!" Tsukino listened and took notes at the same time.

"Ah! I remember now!" Outrage exclaimed cheerfully, "The tart base is baked first, then the filling is filled!"

"Speaking of which, why did you only make such a small amount of carrot pie?" Oute asked casually.

"Doooc Otter! Don't just ask about things you like!" Amiya whispered.