Chapter Forty-Five: Iconic Scene: If You're Defending the Weak, Why Not Attack Ursus? / Chapter Forty-Six: Vina: Stop Insulting Us-Victoria's Barely Keeping Its Underwear On!

Vina felt somewhat melancholy as well. Victoria had become so unbearable that even she, the crown princess, could no longer stand the sight of it. She could not even bring herself to hate the comedy Yes, Prime Minister—though it repeatedly mocked Victoria's civil servants and politicians, Vina had to admit that every bit of its satire was spot-on.

"Yan has an old saying: 'Born in adversity, perish in comfort,'" Kal'tsit said from beside her.

"Victoria once had many wise monarchs, who gradually turned it into a great power that dominated this land. But after the Drac royal line died out and the Aslan noble families fell into internal strife, this great nation was reduced to chaos in barely twenty years."

"...I know. That is why I'm sitting here, watching a television drama that satirizes Victoria."

Vina understood that very well. She had to admit that Chen Qi, the creator of Yes, Prime Minister, possessed the sharpest insight and political sensitivity she had ever seen. If she had not known that Victoria's Civil Service System had never contained a single Yan citizen, she might truly have believed this was a script written by a veteran civil servant.

If this had been a time of peace, then upon discovering a talent like Chen Qi, Vina would certainly have made him her imperial tutor. But now, Chen Qi was using his talents to aid the Sarkaz. Even if he had truly been forced into it, Vina could not forgive him so easily.

"Doctor Kal'tsit, when can we depart for Londinium?" The moment Vina thought of this, she could no longer wait to return to Londinium and beat up... no, "rescue" Chen Qi and his crew.

"At least another week. We must first get closer to Victoria's borders so that the landship can support a trip to Londinium and make the return journey," Kal'tsit said.

"I will lend you Rhodes Island's elite squad. They will not help you seize power at this time, but they will help you destroy Londinium's television station and relocate Chen Qi's group."

"...So that means I still have to watch two more episodes after this one airs?"

At this moment, Vina truly wished she could fly home. The thought that every moment she delayed meant Yes, Prime Minister would air two more episodes within Victoria left her deeply anxious.

In just five episodes, Chen Qi had already satirized Victoria's national defense, the Infected issue, civil servant corruption, and lawmakers' inaction. If this continued, who knew what other aspect of Victoria Chen Qi would drag out and mock?

Just as Vina worried about this, Amiya's slightly excited voice rang out again.

"Everyone, look! Episode six is out!"

"...I truly wish it only aired one episode a day, like Yan dramas. It would be wonderful if it ran an episode and then played half an hour of advertisements."

The moment they heard that a new episode of Yes, Prime Minister had appeared, Vina and Kal'tsit, who had just relaxed somewhat because episode five had been relatively restrained, instinctively tensed up again.

Yet Kal'tsit's rare complaint was echoed by a similar remark from Wei Yenwu in faraway Lungmen.

"Sigh... This might be one of the few times I've hoped for more advertisements. Every time I watch something that brat Chen Qi made, I feel like my heart can barely take it."

"...I think it is precisely his daring personality that made Little Tal willing to follow him."

Chen disagreed with Wei Yenwu. But in that respect, Chen was only a senior superintendent of the Lungmen Guard Department. Her duty was to uphold the law and punish wrongdoing. To a great extent, her upright and impartial nature made her suited for that position, which also meant she knew nothing about politics.

Chen's simple and unadorned sense of good and evil made her feel that boldly exposing a nation's flaws and the vermin within it on television was something worthy of praise.

"No one has ever done this before. Aren't you proud of him?" Chen could not help turning to ask Wei Yenwu. With Talulah's return, the relationship between Chen and Wei Yenwu was no longer quite so strained.

"I hope my niece likes a living person, not some spirit carved into a statue after he has been murdered." Wei Yenwu shook his head helplessly and let out a heavy sigh.

"Heroes only ever live in books and legends. But I do not want the person my niece likes to become such a symbol, leaving her alone to suffer through the rest of her life."

"That brat is currently in Londinium, keeping company with a group of Sarkaz... Though he was certainly forced into it, filming so recklessly will only bring more trouble to him and his crew, not to the Sarkaz."

"By the way, have you decided to go with those people from Rhodes Island?" Wei Yenwu suddenly recalled how Kal'tsit had specifically sent someone to discuss Chen Qi's situation with him some time ago.

That was when Wei Yenwu and Chen learned that Chen Qi was in Londinium, and that Londinium was now occupied by Theresis and his Sarkaz legion. There was no doubt that Chen Qi and his group had been forcibly taken there to film such television dramas for the Sarkaz.

Wei Yenwu's account was what made Rhodes Island settle on its plan this time—not to "kidnap" Chen Qi, but to "rescue" him.

The outcome might have sounded the same, but the concepts were entirely different. If it was a rescue, then Vina and the others had to make Chen Qi cooperate and leave with them.

But if it was a kidnapping, Vina would not need to worry about anything. She would definitely whack Chen Qi over the head, knock him unconscious, and carry him away—while venting the anger in her stomach.

"Of course. Little Tal and Chen Qi are both in Londinium. Of course I'm going to save them." Chen answered without hesitation.

"Not just me. Lin Yuxia said she wants to come with me too. We'll go to Londinium and save Chen Qi, Little Tal, and the others."

"...I want to say that it is dangerous, but clearly I cannot persuade either of you."

Wei Yenwu took a heavy drag from his cigarette. He understood Chen Huijie's thoughts well. After a moment of silence, he slowly sighed.

"Take care of yourself. Cherish this hard-won reunion, understand?"

"...I understand." For once, Chen Huijie did not clash with Wei Yenwu. Instead, she nodded solemnly.

"I only just reunited with Little Tal. I'll do my best to come back alive... if it truly becomes necessary."

"That's good." Wei Yenwu felt somewhat reassured, but he also knew very well that Chen Huijie was someone who would give everything for others, even sacrifice herself for them. Her purity had made her a senior superintendent of Lungmen, but that same purity was not particularly suited to surviving a battlefield...

"...Let's keep watching." Wei Yenwu did not know what else to do, so he could only cherish this time with his niece before their parting and turn his gaze back to Yes, Prime Minister.

Soon, as episode six began, Lungmen, Rhodes Island, and everyone following Yes, Prime Minister immediately understood from the opening lines what this episode's theme was—and what aspect of Victoria it would satirize next.

This time, after the target of the satire was revealed, Vina, Kal'tsit, and Wei Yenwu's expressions changed again. The subject this drama intended to mock was called "diplomacy."

A Classic Scene: If You Punish the Strong and Aid the Weak, Why Not Fight Ursus?

Diplomacy. For any nation, diplomacy had always been an extremely serious subject. Among the nations of Terra, where the current world order had gradually taken shape and solidified, diplomacy largely represented a country's strength and attitude.

The diplomatic stances of the nations across this land also varied greatly. To name a few typical examples—Yan's foreign policy was to refrain from interfering in other nations' internal affairs and keep to itself. Combined with Yan's formidable military strength, even though it shared borders with Ursus, the two had never experienced much conflict.

Ursus, during the reign of its late emperor, had been extraordinarily aggressive. Under his leadership, Ursus embarked on the path of becoming an industrialized great power. Its national strength developed rapidly, and while it continuously exploited the value of vast territories, it also constantly interfered in the affairs of other nations through military threats and diplomatic conflicts.

It had even continuously extended invitations to foreign politicians and civil servants, seeking to recruit more talent for the construction of the Ursus Empire. It had also planted spies in every nation except Yan.

Victoria, as an old great power from the same era as Ursus, was naturally a place Ursus "paid special attention" to.

During the era in which Yes, Prime Minister was set, the balance of power was delicate. Every nation was powerful, and none could bear the losses brought by an all-out war. Therefore, employing "salami tactics" through diplomatic means was Ursus's habitual method.

The story of episode six of Yes, Prime Minister unfolded for precisely that reason. Huck, played by Theresis, insisted on carrying out his Defense Policy: halting the production of Steam Knights and focusing on strengthening the military. To advance this policy, he planned to begin with Leithania and improve relations between the two nations. If Ursus launched an invasion in the future, their combined military strength could check Ursus's advance.

After all, compared to Kazimierz, Leithania's attitude was firmer. It could be considered a qualified ally.

Sure enough, Ursus soon made a move against Victoria. Victoria's Euric Autonomous Prefecture appeared to be plotting a coup with the involvement of forces from Ursus, Rim Billiton, and Gaul. On this matter, Theresis intended to stand with Leithania.

But Victoria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs seemed to have a different idea. They did not want to offend the powerful Ursus and intended to remain inactive regarding the Euric Autonomous Prefecture.

Theresis did not trust the Ministry of Foreign Affairs either, and his reason was...

Theresis: "The Leithanians think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is full of defeatists and traitors."

"No. Uh... not all of them." Bernard, played by Manfred, did not say much more, but his meaning was already obvious.

But clearly, a nation could not have two foreign policies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had its own ideas.

"If Victoria becomes involved in the Euric Autonomous Prefecture affair, then the Columbia region, where we have only just stopped providing Steam Knight components, will be alarmed. If we involve ourselves so deeply in this incident, it will inevitably cause panic in the northwest and prompt them to seek independence."

"Besides, we have just signed contracts in the Euric Autonomous Prefecture to construct direct rail lines and Originium transfer stations. It would be inappropriate to provoke a conflict at this time."

Of course, the greater reason was that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not want to offend the two great powers of Ursus and Gaul. Though Victoria's relations with both nations had never been particularly good, placating them was far more worthwhile to the Ministry than currying favor with Leithania.

As for how to please Ursus and Gaul... the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had its own methods.

Some time ago, Rim Billiton and Sami had experienced several conflicts, and Rim Billiton demanded that Victoria and other nations sanction Sami. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly believed that a place like Rim Billiton, which possessed vast Originium and mineral resources, was much more valuable than a nation like Sami, and therefore intended to support Rim Billiton.

Leithania, however, leaned toward Sami and hoped Victoria would stay out of the incident. The Prime Minister saw it the same way. The Ministry intended to use this matter to make the Prime Minister yield to it.

"We only need to make him—the Prime Minister—understand that when foreign affairs are involved, his work is limited to public relations, welcoming guests, and being hospitable."

"The actor is the one standing on the stage. All he needs to do is look steady, stay alert, and recite his lines in order." The Ministry's secretary made this request of Humphrey, the Cabinet Secretary played by the Bloodborne Archon. Her tone was filled with contempt for the office of Prime Minister.

"Some people try to make up their own lines." The Bloodborne Archon smiled faintly, and the Ministry's secretary immediately chimed in.

"And then they are off the stage at once."

Their exchange made everyone laugh again. But at Rhodes Island, Vina could not help viewing the matter from the perspective of a monarch and murmured, "...Victoria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs can even hollow out the Prime Minister's authority?"

"Perhaps it is because the royal family handed too much power to these people that Victoria has now been carved up so thoroughly by several dukes."

"Do not reject something wholesale because of that. Victoria's decline ultimately came from the fact that imperial authority had no power to intimidate." Kal'tsit had her own view and spoke calmly.

"National policy must keep pace with the times. Extraordinary periods require extraordinary measures. But once one goes too far, a stable system can easily become a tool of dictatorship. Every system has its own strengths and weaknesses; it depends only on the circumstances in which it is used."

"At least, the decisions Victoria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made in this television drama cannot be considered wrong. This is clearly an adaptation of The Siege, and the Euric Autonomous Prefecture was ultimately handed over to Rim Billiton, was it not?"

"Yes... If the Ministry followed its policy of inaction, then The Siege would definitely happen. So is episode six about that?"

Vina was very familiar with this part of her nation's history. She turned her eyes back to the screen. Since she already knew how things would unfold, she wanted to see exactly how far Chen Qi intended to take his satire of Victoria's diplomacy.

It was nothing more than incompetence and inaction, right? There could not be anything especially novel to mock, could there? Vina thought so, while on the screen, the Bloodborne Archon and Theresis had begun confronting one another.

The Bloodborne Archon supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had practically become its lobbyist, seeking to change Theresis's mind and stop him from opposing his own Foreign Ministry.

"Surely we should promote peace, harmony, and friendship?" Theresis asked in surprise. To him, this seemed to be a simple matter of right and wrong rather than diplomacy.

"Then that is strange." The Bloodborne Archon raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Whenever representatives from the foreign ministries of multiple great powers gather together, it is universally understood to be an occasion for expressing international hatred."

"Humphrey, should Victoria not support law and justice?" Theresis tried to seize the moral high ground as he questioned the Bloodborne Archon.

However, that tactic was useless against a seasoned civil servant like the Bloodborne Archon. He smiled and said, "Of course, Prime Minister—as long as it does not violate our foreign policy."

"We should punish the strong and aid the weak!" Theresis declared righteously, firm in his stance. The Bloodborne Archon smiled again and asked in return.

"Then send the army to the East and fight the Ursus legions."

"Ursus is too strong."

"Hahahahaha!"

Theresis had been an embodiment of justice one second ago, but the next, upon hearing that he would have to confront Ursus head-on, his momentum instantly deflated. This sparked uproarious laughter across Victoria, Rhodes Island, and many other places, filling the air with cheer.

Of course, there was another widely known reason. Ursus's expedition against the East had actually ended in failure. The only setback suffered by the once unstoppable Ursus legions under the late emperor had unexpectedly been dealt by a small nation like the East.

Before that, the East had been virtually unknown across this land. Everyone believed the Ursus legions would conquer it just as they had conquered the territories of other nations. Yet, supported by various parties, the East had truly struck a heavy blow to the morale of the Ursus legions.

Looking at that line now, its satirical meaning was even double-edged. It mocked not only Victoria's superficial "justice," but also Ursus's strength, which was merely "superficial."

"Thank goodness... That guy finally picked another country to mock too."

For the first time in Yes, Prime Minister, Chen Qi's script had satirized a country other than Victoria. This improved Vina's mood slightly.

Someone else whose mood improved for the same reason was currently within Victoria, in a medium-sized mobile city called Little Hill County. There was a beautiful woman with long snow-white hair and dragon horns. Though lovely, she gave off the dangerous air of a venomous scorpion.

...Much like the faintly sinister yet strangely scorching presence that lingered around her. She was the "leader" of the somewhat renowned Deep Pool organization in Little Hill County.

Some people in Little Hill County knew of Deep Pool, but they did not know who its true leader was. Now, this true leader, a Drac woman named Ablana, watched the scene on the television with great interest.

"No matter how many times I watch it, it still surprises me. Victoria actually dares to make so many taboo matters public? These are things they would never let others touch, much less broadcast on television."

"...No, rather, this is not something Victoria would do. The other Victorian mobile cities probably do not know yet, do they? Londinium has long since been occupied by the Sarkaz."

Ablana's eyes flickered faintly. As the leader of Deep Pool, she had always actively planned to fight for everything her people deserved. But now, Yes, Prime Minister, spreading from Victoria, had entered her sight.

"Still... the Sarkaz in Londinium should not have the spare time or energy for this, should they?"

"This is clearly not the Sarkaz's handiwork. Those war-crazed lunatics should not have thought of using such a method to break Victoria apart from within."

Ablana pondered for a long time. Then, looking at the actors on television who were clearly not real Aslan and Feline, she could not help smiling knowingly.

"Interesting... Who came up with all this? It really makes one curious."

"We have already sent Achfeni to Londinium to gather intelligence. I believe she will bring us a satisfactory answer, Sister."

Not far behind Ablana, a woman who resembled her nearly ninety percent approached slowly, calling her "Sister." The only difference between the two sisters was that the feeling around the younger sister shifted between cold and hot, though it always remained within a warm limit.

Hearing her younger sister's words, Ablana smiled faintly.

"Yes, Lavshini. I am truly looking forward to her bringing back useful intelligence. I am curious what kind of talent Londinium's Regent has acquired."

"Though I do not know who he is, his exposure of Victoria's problems is the wisdom we need."

Vina: Stop Mocking Us, Victoria's Underwear Is About to Show

On the screen, Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary discussed the Euric Autonomous Prefecture. As the Bloodborne Archon poured wine, he could not help sighing.

"The Euric Autonomous Prefecture affair is truly tiresome."

"Indeed." The Ministry secretary nodded approvingly. As she stubbed out her cigar, she answered, "Letting them become an autonomous prefecture twenty years ago was a grave mistake."

"It was the tide of the times, wasn't it? The great current of reform and all that."

"Yes, but we went about it the wrong way." The Ministry secretary accepted the wine handed to her by the Bloodborne Archon, then spoke a line that stunned everyone watching the episode.

"We should have partitioned the region from the beginning."

The Bloodborne Archon immediately understood. Without hesitation, he said, "Just as we partitioned Old Tara, Sargon, Rim Billiton, and the Columbia region back then?"

"Exactly. That has always been our policy toward regions with separatist tendencies, and it has never failed." The Ministry secretary admitted it frankly, so quickly that people barely had time to react.

The Bloodborne Archon, as Cabinet Secretary, did not understand foreign affairs particularly well. With some confusion, he asked, "But does partitioning countries not always cause civil wars? Like Sargon and Rim Billiton now, and Tara in the past?"

"Exactly. But it gives them something to do. Rather than fight other countries, they fight themselves."

"Yes, very good. It saves us the trouble of making policies." The Bloodborne Archon smiled slowly. The two powerful secretaries raised their glasses together, and amid a burst of canned laughter, they revealed a piece of history Victoria had always refused to acknowledge.

At the same time, whether it was Kal'tsit and Vina at Rhodes Island or the Deep Pool leader in Little Hill County, everyone who knew this taboo history was deeply shaken by that line.