Directing on the Ark, Success if I'm Not Banned

"We can help you find a cook," Manfred suggested. Upon hearing this, Theresis immediately seized on the key point and asked, "Then who pays?"

"You pay for your cook, of course."

"How much?"

"—About eighty thousand to one hundred thousand Victoria Gold Coins annually."

"I can't afford that!"

Theresis slumped back into his seat, clearly not surprised by this outcome. This scene, however, couldn't help but bring smiles to the faces of the Sarkaz and politicians in both rooms.

After all, it was quite rare for a Prime Minister to be stumped by the issue of a cook. It completely shattered everyone's initial perception of the "Prime Minister" role.

However, unlike the Victorian officials who were simply enjoying the spectacle, the Sarkaz saw the person performing on screen as their Regent. And Theresis's impression on most Sarkaz was inseparable from titles like "Iron-Blooded Monarch" or "Iron-Fisted General."

Now, for the first time, Theresis showed an expression beyond impartiality, seriousness, and authority in front of everyone. Involuntarily, the Sarkaz watching this scene began to change their view of their monarch.

It seemed... His Highness the Regent wasn't as cold as they thought; he actually seemed quite humane?

Theresis didn't intend to cultivate a relatable image like Theresia. After all, he and Theresia had different styles. He intended to foster an image of a monarch with authority and deterrence. He needed his subordinates to hold him in awe to ensure they carried out his orders.

But now, his performance had inadvertently caused his Sarkaz subordinates to change their opinions of him... What would Theresis feel if he knew?

"To hell with state affairs, I want a cook." Theresis appeared like a petulant child, but in the end, he reluctantly had to deal with affairs first.

Manfred recommended that Theresis have Humphrey, portrayed by the Bloodborne Archon, solve this problem. After discussing the first press conference and the visit of the Columbia Union representative (currently under Victoria, but merely an affiliated nation responsible for a large portion of steam knight production parts) with the press department, the Bloodborne Archon then proceeded to the office.

"Humphrey, I'm thinking."

"Excellent." The Bloodborne Archon smiled, his tone doting like an old fox coaxing a child.

Theresis was slightly taken aback by the other's attitude but still spoke, "Since I became Prime Minister, let me think... it's been three days?"

"—And you've been a very good Prime Minister," the Bloodborne Archon immediately chimed in, playfully teasing Theresis with a wink.

"...I didn't ask you to flatter me, though it has been going smoothly." Theresis felt pleased by the timely flattery from the Bloodborne Archon, his face almost betraying his suppressed smile, but he maintained a composed demeanor.

These few lines of dialogue allowed everyone who hadn't understood them before to instantly grasp their personalities. Especially the politicians and civil servants, who highly praised the Bloodborne Archon's performance with explosive laughter.

"So much like them, these civil servants are exactly the same.jpg"

Chapter Thirty-Four: Theresis Sees Potential in "Yes, Prime Minister!"

"This Cabinet Secretary will play this foolish Prime Minister like a fiddle."

"Yeah, just like we played our Prime Minister back then."

"He'll definitely be led around by the nose."

Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, had only appeared for a short while and had only exchanged a few words with Theresis, who was playing Hark. Yet, these seasoned veterans, who had been in the political arena for many years, saw through it all, each offering subtle smiles and evaluations.

There was an unwritten rule in Victorian politics: the closer one was to the Prime Minister, the greater their power—because the Prime Minister's views were, to a large extent, influenced by the opinions of his Cabinet Secretary and private secretary.

In this regard, the veterans present were all experienced. As long as the secretary could master the rhetoric that the Prime Minister found acceptable and employ suitable guidance methods, many of the Prime Minister's views could be changed.

And Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, clearly demonstrated his ability to influence the Prime Minister from the beginning, for example, by firmly controlling the Prime Minister's emotions.

Soon, just as the ministers and civil servants had expected, after a brief chat, Theresis brought up his cook problem to the Bloodborne Archon.

"There's a small matter, I need a cook and butler."

"You can place an advertisement," the Bloodborne Archon replied, showing no interest in the matter. However, Theresis immediately added:

"No, a government-assigned cook and butler."

"Ah... that might be a bit difficult." The Bloodborne Archon quickly realized the crux of the issue. Although it was a minor matter, it was unexpectedly a matter of principle. He said, "That's your private residence, it just so happens that the residence and office are in the same location."

Theresis stated matter-of-factly, "I live here, I eat here, I just want someone to cook. Doesn't that make sense?"

The Bloodborne Archon's refusal was very decisive: "It's not that it doesn't make sense, it's just impossible."

Theresis was surprised by this outcome and instinctively exclaimed, "—I have the power to destroy any country on this land with steam knights, but I can't get a plate of scrambled fowl eggs?"

"You have the right to apply," the Bloodborne Archon replied with a straight face, but the politicians clearly understood his unspoken follow-up.

Yes, you have the right to apply, but whether they would grant it was another matter entirely.

Theresis clearly understood this meaning and immediately changed his approach, saying, "What if I invite the Leithanian ambassador for a meal?"

"Then that would be fine; it's a formal appointment, an official reception," the Bloodborne Archon replied immediately when discussing a professional matter he understood. "We can provide a seven-course feast, wine, and brandy, no problem."

"So the Leithanian ambassador's lunch is a government activity, but mine isn't?" Theresis seemed to have found his angle, but his tone carried a hint of resentment.

"It's not just Leithania; it's the same for any ambassador."

"Alright..." Theresis received this affirmation and turned to Manfred beside him, saying, "Bernard, get my schedule."

"Monday, lunch with the Leithanian ambassador; Tuesday, the Gallian ambassador; Wednesday, the Kazimierz ambassador; Thursday, the Laterano envoy—how many countries are there in this land?"

"Twenty-one," Manfred replied immediately. Theresis, with a gleeful expression, said, "Then that's enough for three weeks. We'll start the cycle again!"

Theresis's elaborate effort to solve his lunch problem by using diplomatic incidents caused not only the Sarkaz and politicians to burst into laughter but also the members of the Cultural Troupe at the filming site to nearly stifle their laughter.

However, Chen Qi did not immediately call a halt to the situation. After all, the post-production team would handle these sounds later, so there was no need to ruin the perfectly fitting atmosphere.

Soon, Theresis received the expected refusal. After all, the Prime Minister couldn't engage in diplomatic activities with every country every day to solve his lunch problem, as this would undermine the diplomatic achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the years.

Moreover, the Prime Minister has never had a private chef. The Prime Ministers before Hark were all wealthy and noble. There was no precedent for a commoner Prime Minister like him, so he was naturally at a dead end regarding this issue.

"Let me rephrase, are you sure your first policy upon taking office as Prime Minister is to give yourself a 10,000 Victoria gold coin annual salary increase?"

"—Just don't tell them (the public), haha." Theresis showed a bit of cleverness at this moment, which couldn't help but bring a smile to one's face.

Especially the Sarkaz, who found it quite amusing to see their Regent appear so... well... cute.

"No, no, transparent government, you understand," Bloodborne Archon shook his head, rejecting Theresis's idea and stating righteously: "We must be open and honest with the media and the public; they will find out any information they can."

With that said, Theresis knew his issue with the chef wouldn't be resolved. He then turned to Bloodborne Archon and brought up his new policy: stopping research funding for new Steam Knights, ceasing the production of new Steam Knights, and reinstating conscription.

However, in the end, this proposal was met with strong opposition from Bloodborne Archon. He argued that the current Steam Knights were very old and firmly supported the manufacturing of new Steam Knights, as only then could they ensure that powerful nations like Ursus, Gaul, and Iberia would not harbor covetous intentions towards them.

But Theresis felt that Victoria's Steam Knights were already sufficient to deter any nation. Hundreds of Steam Knights could severely cripple any major power. If they didn't want to be exploited, they wouldn't provoke Victoria. All of this was enough to deter Ursus.

"But that's not enough!" Bloodborne Archon argued forcefully. "Once the new Steam Knights are in use, we can dominate the entire western part of this continent!"

Ultimately, neither Bloodborne Archon nor Theresis could persuade the other, and the argument ended unpleasantly. However, it was clear that neither side had abandoned their ideas.

Bloodborne Archon: "Then, the only way to make the Prime Minister temporarily give up this idea is to find him a chef."

"It seems the Prime Minister isn't that difficult to appease; it's like coaxing a child. As long as his previous demands are met, he'll forget about the subsequent ones."

Theresis: "—Is that so? I, on the other hand, believe this is merely a test. I am confident that after today's events, Hark will have made some progress and will know how to negotiate with the cabinet to achieve his goals."

After the filming concluded, Bloodborne Archon removed his makeup, his pale skin and alluring face restored. He confidently poured himself a glass of red wine.

In front of Bloodborne Archon, Theresis and Manfred, also having removed their makeup, poured themselves glasses of red wine. The day's filming was over, and they could finally rest and discuss the future plot.

It had to be said that "Yes, Prime Minister" had provided the three of them with many topics for discussion during this period. Their only common ground was their understanding of politics, and the many issues reflected in the plot of "Yes, Prime Minister" were indeed worth discussing.

"It seems that without the support of these important figures, the Prime Minister will be unable to move forward with anything, even something as simple as a chef is difficult."

Manfred voiced his opinion first, then said to Bloodborne Archon and Theresis, "This is like what the General is doing now... General, you are constantly trying to win the support of the kings of the Royal Court, is it to gain more influence for yourself?"

"You've improved, Manfred," Theresis nodded. Although they had already seen their respective scripts, when they truly experienced acting them out, they realized that many of the events happening within them were related to their current situation.

"If I cannot guarantee the support of the Royal Court, which holds influence, then all my reforms in Kazdel will be difficult to implement... let alone everything in Londinium."

"Just like Prime Minister Hark," Manfred nodded and then asked, "Then, General, you asked me to gather all officers above the rank of Centurion to watch on the day of broadcast. Is it also your hope that they will learn some political knowledge while laughing heartily?"

"—It's not just that, Manfred."

Hearing this, Theresis opened his eyes, revealing a pair of scarlet irises, and said word by word, "This drama satirizes Victoria's government, but the enemy's mistakes are loopholes we can learn from."

"As an established power, Victoria's political system must have its own merits in its operations, but now, a drama can expose many problems for us, so that our future rule will not make the same mistakes as Victoria!"

"By learning from the enemy's loopholes and flaws, we will avoid making the same mistakes, thus our rule will be more successful."

This was Theresis's ambition. He believed that the potential of the drama "Yes, Prime Minister" might be more than just to disintegrate the resistance of Londinium's residents, make them realize the corruption of the Victorian government, or reduce the probability of strikes and riots.

Now he saw the potential in this drama. The Sarkaz high command knew too little about Victoria's politics. He wanted to use the enemy's loopholes to improve their own policies.

"Director Chen Qi... is a genius, not only a genius screenwriter but also a political genius."

A sinister smile appeared on Theresis's face as he said to Bloodborne Archon and Manfred, "I have already told him that we will broadcast the first two episodes of 'Yes, Prime Minister' in Londinium, and we will know the audience's reaction on Sunday."

"And even if the reaction is indeed poor, I will tell him everything is going very well..."

"—Does the General need his wisdom to write more content exposing the flaws in Victoria's political circles?"

At this moment, Manfred and Bloodborne Archon understood Theresis's plan. Bloodborne Archon then raised a crucial point, saying, "Then, when he has nothing left to write, how will you deal with him, General?"

"You can sign a blood pact. Even if you are the General, violating a blood pact will make all Sarkaz despise you."

"...That's a matter for later. For now, let's savor his wisdom."

Theresis did not immediately reveal his thoughts. He no longer had such greedy thoughts about the Integrated Cultural Troupe led by Patriot and Talulah—the Sarkaz army never lacked high-end combat power, and the strength they currently held did not urgently require the "icing on the cake" from the Cultural Troupe.

What Theresis wanted more now was Chen Qi's "wisdom"—how many of Victoria's flaws could he expose for them, the "country bumpkins" from Kazdel?

"I'm really looking forward to it. When the people of Victoria discover how many exposed problems their supported government has, will they still be able to trust their government so much... or will they choose to defect to a more enlightened leader?"

Theresis downed the red wine in his glass. He was gradually beginning to feel that... public opinion, once grasped, was something one could not let go of.

Chapter Thirty-Five: We Must Make People Believe Victoria is Being Protected!

Sunday. Londinium, now surrounded and with almost all city defenses and communication controlled by the Sarkaz army, was as gloomy as ever. It wasn't just because of the frequent natural disasters in this world that made it difficult to see blue skies and white clouds; the environmental pollution caused by Londinium's industry was also a factor.

The entire sky and this mobile city appeared lifeless... oppressive and stifling. For the worker Bill, this should have been a mundane and uninteresting day, as usual.

"I'm home."

After a day of high-intensity work, as the Sarkaz overseer team allowed no slacking, old Bill returned home dragging his exhausted body. His home was no different from that of an ordinary worker: a house of fifty to sixty square meters, with the living room, dining room, and kitchen combined into one space, and only one bedroom, barely accommodating him, his wife, and their child.

If there was anything valuable in their home, it was probably the television in the living room, which they bought three years ago to celebrate their child's birth. Although it was a bit old, it was their only source of entertainment.

Unfortunately, since Theresis had taken up residence and gained control of Londinium, the programs on Londinium's television station now only replayed old themes in a loop, which, over time, had become tiresome even for old Bill.

However, on this day, when old Bill returned home, he didn't find his busy wife. Only his dinner for the day was laid out on the wooden table: black bread, half a fish from yesterday, mashed potatoes, and a glass of strong liquor.

The sound from their old television, along with occasional bursts of laughter—some from strangers, some from his wife.

"Ah, you're back, Bill."

Bill's wife quickly heard her husband return. She hadn't quite recovered from her earlier amusement. Her face, previously sallow and darkened by their grim surroundings, now seemed full of life. Tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Old Bill was a bit stunned. Ever since the Sarkaz entered the city and took over Londinium, he hadn't seen his wife smile so happily.

But before Old Bill could react, his wife eagerly got up and pulled him to the sofa, saying like a child sharing candy:

"Come quickly, come, watch TV with me!"

"The neighbor's wife told me about a really good drama today, a new one! It's so funny, I've already watched it three times!"

"It's at the most exciting part right now, hurry and watch!"

"Hey, hey, hey, I haven't even eaten yet!"

Old Bill couldn't refuse his wife and was unceremoniously dragged to the sofa. He wasn't interested in any new dramas. Ever since the Sarkaz surrounded Londinium, information had been cut off. Everyone in Londinium knew they had become Sarkaz "captives," though most didn't dare to resist.

Those who dared to resist were either hanged or had fled into underground tunnels, calling themselves the "Londinium City Self-Rescue Army," secretly encouraging everyone to join their ranks every day.

Old Bill considered himself an ordinary person who just wanted to protect his children and wife. He also didn't feel much loyalty to Victoria, as Victoria hadn't given him anything. Everything he had, he had earned himself.

Old Bill sat on the sofa. The television in front of him was currently showing a scene—several Aslan, who looked like social elites, were acting. This made Old Bill, who harbored a slight resentment towards the wealthy, subconsciously frown and ask:

"What's this drama called?"

"'Yes, Minister'," Bill's wife said, sitting next to him and anticipating her husband's reaction. "It's about government affairs, but it's very interesting."

"What's interesting about government affairs... It would be better if they just gave us more subsidies," Old Bill replied glumly, already starting to form a critical opinion of the drama.

But he still didn't want to dampen his wife's spirits and patiently continued watching. Soon, two Aslan appeared on the screen.

"...Why does one of them look familiar? Isn't that the Sarkaz general who's always on the wall?" Old Bill frowned slightly, but then he began to watch more closely.