"Was Victoria's Aslan's most unwillingly acknowledged piece of history really being revealed so casually?"
Ablana could not help murmuring to herself. Perhaps these words would not have been particularly shocking to some Victorians. After all, the history of the Aslan overthrowing the Drac imperial authority from Victoria's throne had always been public knowledge.
The Tara Dynasty had been replaced by the Aslan Dynasty. From then on, the people who had originally belonged to Tara were eradicated, assimilated by the Victorians, and gradually came to live as the new Victorians.
But exactly how they had been overthrown—most of those details had already been erased. For Aslan rule, it was a history inconvenient to disclose.
Yet even Ablana had never expected that one day, she would not hear these things in a speech, but in a political satire comedy circulating through Victoria, presented as a joke, something almost childish.
It was even delivered so lightly, as though it were only natural... But without question, the attitudes of Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon on the television, and the other Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary... represented the attitudes of Victoria's upper-class Aslan toward this matter.
—They were not even ashamed of their ancestors' despicable deeds.
Yet Ablana did not even have the chance to be angry. Her eyes were fixed on the television, where Bernard, played by Manfred, had entered the office and begun asking about what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had concealed from the Prime Minister.
"It seems the Prime Minister knows absolutely nothing about it." Manfred desperately wanted an answer from the two people before him, but the moment he said that, the Bloodborne Archon replied:
"Good, very good. What else?"
"Uh... I was wondering whether there were some diplomatic matters he didn't know about?"
"I don't even know where to begin, Bernard." The Bloodborne Archon slowly sat down, but his meaning was already perfectly clear. They had never intended to let the Prime Minister know anything about so-called diplomatic affairs.
Clearly, Humphrey and the other civil servants believed that allowing MPs and politicians to participate in diplomatic affairs was extremely dangerous. The Bloodborne Archon specifically explained to Manfred:
"Diplomacy is about ensuring Victoria survives into the next century. Politics is about ensuring Victoria survives until Friday afternoon."
As canned laughter played, countless viewers burst into laughter once again at those words, which practically sounded like eternal wisdom.
And why Friday afternoon? Because Friday afternoon meant getting off work and starting the holiday! The viewers immediately understood that politicians and MPs did not actually have attitudes toward work much different from ordinary workers. Everyone clocked in and clocked out, muddling through life day by day.
Yet it was also subtly conveying a dangerous message—if workers muddled through, perhaps only some products would turn out faulty. But if MPs and politicians thought that way too, then what would go wrong?
At that moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary explained to Manfred, "There are twenty-one countries on this land. We've dealt with them for years, yet nearly all MPs know absolutely nothing about them."
The Bloodborne Archon also chuckled and joined in, saying to Manfred, "Give them a map, and most of them couldn't even find Ascara County—the place where Silver Ash trained the 'Mountain Snow Demons.'"
"...Politicians can't be that ignorant, can they?" Though Manfred was also a civil servant, he could not agree with the Bloodborne Archon and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary. As the Prime Minister's personal secretary, he still had to preserve a little dignity for Theresis, the politician he represented.
Yet the moment Manfred said that, he received a burst of laughter from the two of them. After the two old Vulpo exchanged glances and smiled, they finally spoke.
"Very good. Please sit down, Bernard."
Once Manfred slowly sat down, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary and the Bloodborne Archon began proving their point, one question each.
"Where is New Agi City—the famous city from Higashi games, anime, and urban legends?"
Manfred: "Uh..."
"Where is Durin's capital?"
"Um..."
"What is the second-highest position in Sargon's feudal system called?"
"Uh."
"What doctrine does Siracusa believe in?"
"Uh..."
"—Bernard." The Bloodborne Archon watched the bewildered Manfred with a broad smile and teased, "You should run for Parliament."
"Hahahahahaha!"
At that moment, Rhodes Island erupted in thunderous laughter. Amiya, Huang, and the elite operators beside Kal'tsit, as well as many operators watching the show in their own rooms, all let out long-missed, hearty laughter, clutching their stomachs.
Even Kal'tsit shook her head, the corners of her mouth twitching faintly as she struggled to hide her amusement. As someone long-lived, even she had to admit that politicians and MPs could sometimes be more ignorant than she imagined.
But soon, when Bernard asked why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not need to discuss such diplomatic questions with MPs, the Bloodborne Archon generously explained the meaning of diplomacy:
"The media, the public, and the leaders they elect only want to know who is good and who is bad."
"The problem is that for national interests, we have to trade with countries people think are bad, and occasionally abandon good people who refuse to cooperate."
"That's why we avoid discussing diplomatic affairs, or only discuss them inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We formulate one policy, submit it to the Foreign Minister, and that is our conclusion. He carries it out. It's that simple."
If the previous conversation had merely been teasing, then this was the real substance.
For a moment, Vina, Kal'tsit, Ablana, Wei Yenwu, and all those exceptionally sensitive to politics immediately sensed something different. They all realized that what would be exposed next was surely information considered an "internal unwritten rule" within Victoria's Civil Service System!
Especially after hearing the Bloodborne Archon's words about the purpose of diplomacy, Ablana immediately took out her notebook and began recording them. She realized these were things she absolutely needed to know—if she truly could rebuild the Tara people's dynasty.
On the television, Manfred also felt that something was wrong and continued asking, "What if he isn't satisfied?"
"If he presses us, we'll take another look," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary indifferently. Manfred thought that might lead to a different result and could not help asking:
"And reach another conclusion?"
"Of course not. The same conclusion."
"—Obviously, Bernard. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the Foreign Minister three options." At that moment, the Bloodborne Archon once again personally taught Manfred, imparting his experience.
"Two of them are actually exactly the same, while the third is completely unacceptable."
"For example, dispatching Steam Knights to bomb Yan, or invading Gaul."
"Sometimes, we also encourage the Foreign Minister to come up with a policy himself, then tell him that if he does not do so within forty-eight hours, we will begin a world war that drags every nation into it."
In just a few sentences, the Bloodborne Archon and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary had thoroughly laid out Victoria's diplomatic policy. It might have sounded like merely a few tricks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the fact that Victoria's MPs had employed such methods to this day was enough to prove just how effective they were.
Vina's expression became serious, but also surprised... She had ended up on the streets too early. Although she had received education since childhood and understood political matters well enough, she knew very little about these unwritten rules.
"Chen Qi... Where did that guy learn all this?"
"And why is he working for Theresis? This is just—"
Vina lightly gritted her teeth, feeling an unprecedented sense of frustration. It was like... someone had already seen right through her, yet she did not even know where that person was.
Chen Qi—you bastard! Don't let me catch you!
A Famous Scene: Victoria's Four-Step Diplomatic Method Exposed!
"This guy— even if everything he wrote is true, what benefit does exposing it bring him? Does he really hate Victoria that much?"
Now, even Vina, who did not have such lofty ambitions for the throne and merely wanted to fulfill her duties as an heir, could not help feeling a little more resentment toward Chen Qi.
No matter what, Vina was still Victoria's heir, and she was also Victorian. Though her past experiences had caused her to lose everything she once had, she still recognized Victoria in her heart and hoped to restore its former glory.
Yet she discovered that the Victoria she saw seemed completely different from the Victoria Chen Qi saw. Moreover, Chen Qi had been coerced by Theresis into going to Londinium. He had stayed in Londinium for only a while—could he really see through Victoria's Civil Service System so thoroughly?
Or had Victoria's civil servants become so utterly corrupt that an outsider could simply ask around and expose all their internal secrets to the public?
"...Clearly, Theresis is even more eager to promote Yes, Prime Minister."
At her side, Kal'tsit, who understood Theresis's style fairly well, spoke up. "He is extremely steady in everything he is skilled at, but he is particularly eager when exploring new fields."
"If this is a desire to explore new knowledge... then perhaps it can count as that. But clearly, Theresis is now using Yes, Prime Minister to constantly erode the Victorian people's confidence in Victoria."
"Perhaps one day, Victoria's people will have no expectations at all for either the present Victoria or the Victoria that once stood at its peak. If the Ursus people still have their former emperors to admire, then Victoria may have nothing left that its people can regret losing."
Kal'tsit's words were especially merciless, but she noticed the trace of darkness that flashed across Vina's apparently placid face and said:
"...But honestly, if a country can be defeated by a television show, then that country is nearly finished anyway."
"Victoria's future ultimately depends on you, Miss Vina. What path do you intend to lead your people down? How will you restore their confidence? Those are the things you must think about."
Kal'tsit's words plunged Vina into a long silence. Vina was considering the question as well. The reason she cared so much about Victoria's jokes in Yes, Prime Minister was mainly because she understood too clearly just how fragile Victoria had become.
The conflict among the dukes, all of them staring fixedly at the throne; Victoria now leaderless, its national strength declining by the day, even its capital occupied by Sarkaz!
Even without Chen Qi and without Yes, Prime Minister, Victoria was already extraordinarily fragile. That was why she worried this television show would accelerate Victoria's fragmentation...
"...I still haven't figured out how to continue down this path." Vina fell into a long silence, not knowing how to resolve Londinium's predicament, much less how to restore her people's confidence.
After all, this was Victoria's current state. Vina had to admit that everything Yes, Prime Minister satirized was correct.
Kal'tsit did not continue speaking. She knew Vina was still not mature enough and needed more time to think about the road ahead.
Kal'tsit had a feeling that it would not take Vina very long to figure these things out... Perhaps on the day the plan to rescue Chen Qi succeeded, Vina would suddenly see the light.
For now, Kal'tsit could only turn all her attention back to the television. She needed to see whether the show would say anything even more astonishing later.
At that moment, the three people on television received intelligence that, with the support of Ursus and Gaul, a coup in the Euricca Autonomous Region was about to erupt. Kal'tsit and Vina both knew that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not act, then The Siege would unfold just as it had in history.
Yet on television, the Bloodborne Archon and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary remained entirely unmoved. This not only made the viewers anxious, but prompted Manfred to ask anxiously as well:
"Then what about the local residents?"
"Bernard, you sound just like a politician." The Bloodborne Archon teased him. But Manfred had no mood to joke with him and said urgently:
"I'm sorry, but how are we supposed to help them?"
"Do nothing." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary answered decisively. Seeing that neither of them was moved, Manfred asked the question that concerned the audience outside the screen most:
"What if they ask us for help?"
"We'll give them every support, except aid."
As soon as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary said that, familiar laughter rang out through the screen again. Clearly, Victoria's inaction was not a first, and they were very practiced at watching the Felines fight from the mountain.
When this scene reached Ablana's eyes in Deep Pool, she could not help smiling faintly as she earnestly took notes and murmured to herself:
"That's right. Those sanctimonious people of Victoria are all like this, staying out of everything and remaining unmoved by the pleas of us Tara people, even the Tara people who have already become Victorians."
"Now your true faces have been exposed by the Sarkaz. I wonder how you feel..."
Thinking that, Ablana could not help feeling secretly delighted. Beside her, Shadow Dancer—her elder sister Lavshini—had never seen her sister smile with such genuine joy.
For a moment, even Lavshini, who only half understood politics, could not help looking toward the television. She became curious about the screenwriter her sister cared so much about.
On the television, Manfred's exchange with the two of them was not over. He could not help asking, "What if the Prime Minister insists on helping them?"
"Then we follow the 'four-stage strategy,'" the Bloodborne Archon answered with a smile. Manfred knew nothing about it, fortunately the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary explained it to him and everyone outside the screen:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' standard crisis response strategy."
"Stage one: We say nothing has happened."
"Stage two: We say perhaps something has happened, but we should take no action."
"Stage three: We say perhaps we should act, but there is nothing we can do."
"Stage four: We say perhaps we could have done something before, but now it is too late."
Finally, the Bloodborne Archon gave everyone one last explanation of the "four-step method," making the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' so-called crisis response strategy perfectly clear and explaining everything in an incredibly intuitive way.
At that moment, it was as though the entire world had fallen silent. Only the canned laughter from the television remained, while every faction paying special attention to Yes, Prime Minister, apart from ordinary viewers, fell into silence.
Wei Yenwu and Chen in Lungmen were stunned.
Vina, Amiya, and Kal'tsit of Rhodes Island had their mouths slightly open, yet could not say a word.
The sisters Ablana and Lavshini of Deep Pool could barely process it, even forgetting to take notes.
In Londinium's sewers, Alda of the Self-Rescue Army even forgot to be angry, her pupils contracting slightly.
That silence did not last long. In the next moment, as the scene transitioned, every television broadcasting Yes, Prime Minister in Lungmen, Rhodes Island, Little Hill County... every Victorian city except Londinium, suddenly changed screens!
The next moment, everyone was met with static symbolizing a lost signal. Apart from Londinium, the television show had seemingly vanished from Terra.
And there was clearly one most direct explanation: the rulers of Victoria's other mobile cities—the dukes—had all tacitly chosen to cut off the broadcast the moment those words aired!
And it could convey only one message... They had likewise been shocked by the secrets exposed in Yes, Prime Minister.
And that meant everything said in Yes, Prime Minister—all of it was true! It was what Victoria's rulers did not want their people to know!
The dukes had chosen the most foolish method, the one thing they absolutely should not have done. From the moment they cut the broadcast, all Victorians understood a Yan proverb—"Here lies no silver, three hundred taels buried below."
"Leader! Achfeni is back! She brought news from Londinium! We found out the screenwriter's name!"
In Little Hill County, Ablana stared blankly at the static-filled television. Mandragora, a Deep Pool officer, came to where her leader was and passed the information in her hand to Ablana through Lavshini.
"...Chen Qi."
Looking at the intelligence in her hands, along with the detailed information Achfeni had gathered about Chen Qi, Ablana's eyes filled with ever-greater delight. She could not even hide the smile on her face!
"My sister, I've decided. We're going to Londinium!"
"Now?" Lavshini was startled, but she saw the determined expression on her sister's face. Ablana nodded heavily and declared with resounding conviction:
"We need Chen Qi. We need that screenwriter. With him, we will move through Victoria as though no one stands in our way! Our offensive will be unstoppable!"
"He possesses power beyond anything we can imagine. As long as we have him, it will not be long before we Tara people reclaim everything that belongs to us from Aslan rule, with justice and victory!"
Before you continue