Chapter Fifty: Trapped with No Way Out? Koschey's Advice / Chapter Fifty-One: Chen Qi and Theresa-The Princess Teaches You How to Handle Theresis

At this, the Grand Tutor slowly sighed. He had promised His Majesty not to reveal the real reason... After all, the reason His Majesty had made such a huge fuss this time was actually because of a television drama from Victoria...

In fact, news about "Yes, Prime Minister" had already begun circulating through Great Yan several days ago. Most of it had spread through Lungmen's online channels. As an open mobile city of Great Yan, Lungmen possessed a unique role in cultural dissemination, so most news from other nations found on the networks of Great Yan's other mobile cities came through Lungmen.

This time, "Yes, Prime Minister" was no exception... However, because the drama did not have broadcasting rights in Great Yan, only pirated versions circulating online were available.

But Great Yan did not ban the content of "Yes, Prime Minister," so it quickly spread across online platforms everywhere before eventually reaching the capital...

And it so happened that the Emperor of Yan had heard the name of this television drama from Ursus some time ago. He had become curious about the drama Ursus had strictly banned.

The Grand Tutor still remembered it. The next day at court, after the assembly, His Majesty ordered an investigation into the finances of the Six Ministries and every mobile city, demanding clear accounts and forbidding any concealment.

After court was dismissed, the Grand Tutor asked His Majesty about it. Yet His Majesty replied without the slightest trace of fatigue:

"I watched a foreign television drama a few days ago, and it gave me much to consider. There was one line in particular that caught my attention."

"The Ministry of Finance does not raise money after planning how to spend it. Rather, it raises as much money as possible first, then finds ways to spend it—that was what the drama said. It made me feel that the time has come to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Revenue and the finances of every mobile city, lest such problems exist within our court as well."

"My dear minister, you should also go back and watch this drama. I find it quite pleasing. Once I finish it, I believe we should establish a dedicated department to study and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of foreign Civil Service Systems."

That was what the Emperor told him. Yet the Grand Tutor had also heard the drama's name from His Majesty: a television drama produced by Victoria, "Yes, Prime Minister."

But... was it really necessary to establish an entire department just to discuss a television drama?

The Grand Tutor was suspicious, but he felt things were not that simple. If even His Majesty believed the drama had merits, perhaps he should watch it too?

Mm, he would watch it that evening. That was what the Grand Tutor thought. Yet that day, he never could have imagined that at his age, he would lose sleep over a television drama for the first time...

So much so that after court was dismissed the next day, when His Majesty wanted to ask the Grand Tutor what he thought of "Yes, Prime Minister," as well as his decision to establish a special research group, the Grand Tutor, with two dark circles beneath his eyes, instinctively blurted out:

"—Yes, Your Majesty."

The Predicament of Being Unable to Leave? Koschei's Advice

Over the past few days, Chen Qi and the others in Londinium knew nothing of the upheaval "Yes, Prime Minister" had caused across Terra.

Londinium had long since sealed off most outside news, with all information controlled by Theresis. Throughout Londinium, aside from Theresis, probably no one could have imagined that their only weekly entertainment to look forward to was "Yes, Prime Minister," filmed by Chen Qi, Theresis, and the others.

However, after episodes five and six of "Yes, Prime Minister" aired, even without any news reaching them, the crew gradually began to sense that something was off...

"Chen Qi, haven't there been more and more Sarkaz guards protecting us lately? I feel like we've constantly been surrounded by large numbers of Sarkaz recently. You could even call it surveillance!"

That evening, the crew held another meeting after a long time. This time, Chen Qi did not summon the crew's middle management, only the Art Troupe's principal members—Talulah, Alina, Patriot, and FrostNova.

"Talulah is right."

Patriot nodded at Chen Qi and spoke solemnly, haltingly. "Recently... one can sense... familiar presence... Confessors... lingering nearby."

"...Did we make too much trouble?" FrostNova guessed. Now that the Reunion Movement had become an Art Troupe, her Yeti Squadron was only responsible for set construction and scouting locations. This allowed her people to investigate various places openly.

The information relayed by the Yeti Squadron made FrostNova uneasy, and she said:

"Our cooperation with the Sarkaz will inevitably make people resent us, right? And recently, that Regent has sent more and more Sarkaz to guard the area around our crew. Does that mean we're in increasingly greater danger too?"

"Chen Qi, perhaps we really went too far this time, helping the Sarkaz and all... If this gets out, our crew may have no companions left on this land besides the Sarkaz."

Yet everyone was talking over each other, discussing the situation. From beginning to end, Chen Qi offered no opinion at all, merely listening to their feedback with a smile—until the back of his head took a heavy hit.

"Say something too! What are we supposed to do now?!" Talulah could not stand it anymore and slapped the back of Chen Qi's head. Fortunately, although Talulah was anxious, she knew her limits and only used enough force to snap him out of it.

"—I was just thinking that half a year ago, everyone was still an Infected struggling in the snowfields to survive one more second. But now, everyone is already considering whether we should stand with the Sarkaz."

After Talulah struck him, Chen Qi immediately emerged from his thoughts. Yet his first words were to express happiness over the change in the crew's current identities.

Originally, everyone in the crew had been struggling to survive. As the Infected, as the lowest class on this land, most members of the Reunion Movement did not seek dignity. They had only the instinct to survive, along with anger toward the non-Infected over the unfair treatment they suffered.

At their core, they were not much better than the Sarkaz... Wherever they went, people feared them and watched them with wary eyes. Yet in merely half a year, they had gone from Lungmen to Syracuse, then from Syracuse to Londinium. Through filming and work, the crew had gradually regained their dignity.

Naturally, this was a good thing. Only those who were well-fed, clothed, and warm would think about spiritual matters, or consider integrating into society. This was what Chen Qi had always worked toward: helping everyone in the Art Troupe reclaim their dignity.

Now, it seemed he had succeeded. His original goal—the way he had conceived of repaying them ever since Talulah and the others rescued him in the snowfields after his transmigration—had been achieved.

"...Now isn't the time for that."

Chen Qi's words left everyone unusually silent for a moment. But before the meeting could turn into a gathering of thanks, Talulah, the assistant director, promptly interrupted and said to Chen Qi:

"Judging from the guards, our situation is getting more dangerous. Though the atmosphere in Londinium seems to have eased considerably, and strikes and riots have decreased, I heard from some Sarkaz that there has always been a group here called the 'Londinium Residents' Self-Rescue Army.' What we've done may have made them think we are allies of the Sarkaz."

"They may try to harm you, Chen Qi. You need to protect yourself—don't go wandering the streets lately. That Sarkaz princess hasn't shown herself recently either, has she?"

"It's fine. I have Mr. Patriot and FrostNova to protect me." Chen Qi did not care much about that. In truth, however, the reason he was unconcerned for his safety was because he had the Mini-map.

Chen Qi had discovered just how useful the Mini-map really was. With it, whether he could see them or not, he could clearly identify every Confessor and guard hiding nearby.

Nothing within a ten-kilometer radius could evade the Mini-map's detection. Therefore, Chen Qi knew exactly how many people Theresis had stationed around him.

And if people from the Self-Rescue Army really intended to harm him, a ten-kilometer radius was enough for Chen Qi to react. So he truly was not worried about his own safety.

"What if someone turns themselves into a human bomb and throws themselves at you?! Even Patriot won't be able to protect you then!"

Talulah was extremely worried about Chen Qi, the most important person in the entire crew yet the only one without much combat ability. But unexpectedly, Chen Qi merely waved his hand and replied:

"Don't worry. Setting everything else aside, there are plenty of Sarkaz following me every time I leave now. You don't need to worry about my safety."

"Instead... Talulah, protect everyone in the crew. If we really encounter danger in the future, I hope the first people you protect will be Alina and the others in the crew who lack combat ability."

"Every one of them is important to me. Their safety is as important as mine. Talulah, I hope you protect them."

Chen Qi spoke like that because he could not explain why he was unconcerned. The system was too difficult to explain. He was not worried that someone in the crew might let it slip, but on Terra, there were plenty of people capable of mental manipulation. If word got out and someone learned about it, that would be when the crew might truly face irreversible disaster.

Still, the security around him truly allowed him to sleep soundly. Therefore, once Chen Qi said that, even Talulah had nothing to refute. Her eyes softened almost instantly, and she said quietly:

"...I will. Whether it's everyone else or you, I'll protect you all."

"...Actually, I'm more worried about something else."

At this moment, Alina, the only one who had barely spoken, finally voiced her unease and asked Chen Qi:

"Theresis... that Sarkaz king, will he really let us go after we finish filming 'Yes, Prime Minister'?"

"Chen Qi, he values you very highly now, doesn't he? Will he truly keep his promise?"

"..."

This time, faced with Alina's question, Chen Qi, who had always been confident, had no answer for the first time. This was also what troubled him the most now.

Late at night, Chen Qi lay in his bed. On the Mini-map only he could see, the gray-white dot belonging to a Confessor had only just left.

"Are you worried? Worried that Theresis won't let you leave?"

At that moment, Talulah's voice suddenly sounded beside Chen Qi's bed. Yet compared to her usual voice, this one carried a strangely feminine quality, as though it had become more charming and seductive.

Chen Qi immediately turned toward the sound. He saw "Talulah" clutching one corner of the blanket, exposing a large expanse of skin as she stared at him with a seductive, sinister gaze. At that moment, Chen Qi knew exactly who she was.

"If you are worried about that, then as an elder, I can assure you that Theresis will absolutely not let you leave now. Your significance to him has already far exceeded anything you can imagine."

"—You may not even be able to leave Londinium at all. The moment you step beyond this territory, you will face pursuit by the top combat forces of several nations."

Talulah... no, Koschei, now controlling Talulah's body, chuckled softly as he spoke to Chen Qi.

"As my 'son-in-law,' perhaps you need my advice now?"

"It's fine, Father-in-law. I trust that after our 'intimate exchange' last time, you must have learned your lesson."

Looking at Koschei before him, Chen Qi could not help marveling that the old black snake truly deserved to be an immortal being. The old black snake correction palm, specifically effective against Koschei, which he had redeemed from the system, had actually failed to disperse him.

But even though he had not been dispersed, Koschei had suffered severe damage. He seemed capable of controlling Talulah, but in truth, Talulah was merely allowing it. If Talulah refused, the heavily weakened Koschei would have no ability to resist at all.

Therefore, Koschei had clearly adjusted his attitude afterward, lingering on in Talulah's mind in a miserable state—though only to that extent.

"I don't want to disappear yet. And if my daughter dies, my soul will only vanish. I will not be reborn again." Koschei clearly understood the situation as he suggested to Chen Qi:

"Though I have not heard any news lately, I believe the tense situation in Londinium proves one thing: the satirical drama you filmed must have caused an extraordinary effect, to the point that even Theresis fears someone may assassinate you or seize you."

"Otherwise, he would not have arranged for his personal guards and even Confessors to protect you. I can guarantee that your television drama is no longer playing in merely one monarch's television set. You are now a thorn in their eyes."

"—Especially Ursus. If the people there learn of this, they will never let you go."

Koschei's experience as one of the long-lived races finally proved useful. Though he had received no information whatsoever, his analysis of the current situation was nearly spot-on. Yet he did not seem panicked at all. Instead, he appeared completely at ease.

"Then is there any way to help us escape this danger, Father-in-law?" Chen Qi noticed Koschei's expression. Seeing that obvious look of go on, ask me, Chen Qi thoughtfully gave his father-in-law a chance to show off.

"—Why not ask your princess friend?"

Koschei smiled faintly and laid out his plan. "She knows Theresis best. And recently, Theresis has stationed the Confessors responsible for watching her around you instead. There should no longer be anyone monitoring her."

"Take advantage of Theresis's carelessness and have that princess friend you 'revived' offer some advice. Perhaps you may still have a chance to leave Londinium openly."

"Theresia?"

Chen Qi felt that it was a good idea upon hearing this. The princess he had only managed to revive using his sole "Universal Item Redemption Voucher" might be able to help.

"That's a good suggestion. Thank you, Father-in-law."

"...It's nothing. Film a few more television dramas. Living in my daughter's mind, at least I won't be bored."

Koschei responded warmly to Chen Qi's thanks. Now, nothing remained under his control. He had only a sliver of life left, and once he no longer possessed sufficient power, much of his ambition had faded with it.

But... why was this brat so concerned about the Sarkaz princess? Koschei was suspicious. He felt he should perhaps tell his "daughter" about it and have her stay alert.

His foolish daughter currently believed she had nothing to worry about. But Koschei felt that was only because the crew was too small, and the others had no intention of competing with her, allowing her to feel so secure.

If even one truly "cunning" woman appeared... his adopted daughter might end up crying as she realized she did not know the first thing about winning a man's heart.

Sigh... should he teach her a few tricks? Koschei lamented inwardly as he slowly returned to his place.

Chen Qi and Theresia: The Princess Teaches You About Theresis Online

Late at night, Theresia lay on her soft bed as usual—her room was even far larger than Theresis's own chambers. Even though Theresis knew she no longer needed such things, and even if she were immersed in a cultivation tank all day, the soulless Theresia would not have objected.

Yet Theresis ultimately did not do that. He had tacitly allowed his subordinates to revive a Theresia who possessed only a shell through that twisted method, and only because he had believed their situation required Theresia at the time had he refrained from severely punishing them.

But he would never allow Theresia's corpse to be desecrated. No matter what, she was Kazdel's princess and should have been Kazdel's leader. Even Theresis had to acknowledge that.

Theresis was merely a "Regent." Kazdel had only one princess, and that was Theresia. Theresis also knew that of the Sarkaz currently stationed with him in Londinium, nearly sixty percent were not loyal to him. They had submitted only because of Theresia's name.

No matter what, Theresis wished to provide his cousin with an environment suited to her current status. But to Theresis now, the intense turmoil outside made him realize that he should protect Chen Qi first.

Chen Qi's value to Theresis was now far greater than Theresia's usefulness as a "banner." Furthermore, most hostility was directed at Chen Qi. Apart from the Sarkaz in Londinium, no one else knew Theresia had been revived.

Therefore, Theresis did not believe anyone would take the opportunity to abduct Theresia's remains, and he left most of the protective forces around Chen Qi.

It could be said that the defensive forces surrounding Chen Qi were now even greater than those around Theresis himself. After all, Theresis possessed formidable combat power himself, so ordinary assassinations could not affect him at all. But Chen Qi was different.

Theresis did not trust Patriot, nor did he trust Talulah, who slept beside Chen Qi, to protect him. He felt neither of them could do more than handle direct confrontations, and that their ability to deal with assassinations was simply too poor.

But this left a gap in Theresis's otherwise meticulous plan—he had never considered what he should do if his sister suddenly recovered.

At that moment, as Theresia lay in bed, light slowly returned to her vacant eyes. She instinctively took a phone-like device from her pocket and saw the message on it.

Chen Qi: "Your Highness? Are you asleep?"

Almost immediately, Theresia sprang from her bed. A relaxed smile appeared on her face for the first time in a long while, and she began typing somewhat awkwardly—though despite her unfamiliarity, she was unexpectedly fast.

"Not yet, Mr. Chen Qi. Thank you for taking the initiative to message me. I was so bored that I did not know who to talk to."

"Thank you for reviving me. Before, I could only feel that I was alive, yet I could do nothing. I did not even know who I was. But now, I have finally returned to myself."

"I am very curious how you did it. That miraculous... um... Originium Art of yours? Forgive me, that is the extent of my understanding. How exactly did you accomplish it?"

"And could you tell me in detail about what is happening now? Why are we in Londinium? How are Kal'tsit and everyone else doing?"

"And what is the state of the world now? Why does it feel as though, during the time I was 'dead,' Terra completely changed? What is it that I do not know yet?"

Theresia sent a long string of messages. For a moment, even Chen Qi was stunned by her barrage of questions. He discovered that as a modern person, he actually typed more slowly on a phone than Theresia, an "elderly" person!

Theresia had not even been revived for a full week. The phone she used had been redeemed by Chen Qi and directly placed in her pocket by the system, preventing the Confessors constantly lingering around her at the time from discovering it.

Only recently had Chen Qi's security been strengthened. Logically, Theresia should not have had time to familiarize herself with a phone at all... Was this the talent of a Sarkaz princess?

"...I am sorry. It seems I have talked too much."

Theresia clearly realized this as well, and her next message promptly apologized to Chen Qi. Then, wearing a troubled smile, Theresia typed into her phone:

"Am I being too long-winded? I am sorry. It has simply been too long since I last spoke to anyone. Most of the time, I could only stare blankly like this... During this period, you have been the only person who could talk with me."

Chen Qi: "After all, Your Highness cannot reveal that you have already been revived. Although I would be happy to see that happen, you do not seem willing to ruin your brother's achievements, do you?"

Chen Qi replied to Theresia immediately. Yet after he used the Universal Item Redemption Voucher from the system to exchange for the item that restored Theresia's soul, her cautious attitude had admittedly surprised him. But he soon understood it.

No matter what, the siblings ultimately shared the same goal: the revival of the Sarkaz. Their ideas and methods merely differed. If Theresis could refrain from being so hasty, Theresia seemed to have no reason to keep opposing her brother with blades drawn.

"Mr. Chen Qi, did I not say that you may simply call me Theresia? You are my lifesaver. Without you, I do not know how long it would have taken before I could return to this world."