Chapter Fifty-Three: Theresis Is in a Bind-He Has to Protect It! / Chapter Fifty-Four: Everyone Gathers in Londinium to Watch the Final Two Episodes of "Yes, Prime Minister"

"Yes, Prime Minister."

The Confessor nodded. In a rare teasing tone, he deliberately said those words, which was enough to show that Yes, Prime Minister had clearly become a topic everyone among the Sarkaz in Londinium knew about.

Theresis's gaze was deep and indifferent. Behind him, Theresia watched everything in silence with vacant eyes, yet she was praying inwardly that her words would allow Chen Qi to make the right choice.

This is my brother's test... Mr. Chen Qi, please believe my words. Believe in my brother... believe in the Sarkaz, just once.

Theresia thought this to herself. She understood that this might be the Sarkaz's closest chance yet to reform and change, and Theresis's... closest chance to change as well.

He... was ultimately a lonely person. He needed a friend—someone he could trust, value, and treat as an equal.

Theresis Had No Choice but to Protect Him!

Ever since the Sarkaz garrison had arrived, Londinium's gates, which had never opened again, finally let out a long-overdue sound.

Outside the gates, Chen and Lin Yuxia stood beside a landship, dressed in dustproof clothing and sunglasses. Several masked figures dressed entirely in black like the Confessor and wearing bamboo hats also tensed up.

These people were called the Black Capes, the private guard force of Lungmen's ruler, Wei Yenwu. He had now assigned them to Chen Huijie and Lin Yuxia, clearly showing his resolve. Though he had not come in person, the highly capable Black Capes were enough to pose a certain degree of threat to Londinium.

Of course, Wei Yenwu had a second consideration—if Chen Qi and Talulah could not get out of Londinium, then he had to ensure the Black Capes brought Chen and Lin Yuxia back.

It was a painful decision, but with things having reached this point, Wei Yenwu had no choice but to prepare for the worst. Yet he could never have imagined that Chen, who should have been acting with Rhodes Island, would dare come to Londinium's gates with Lin Yuxia and several Black Capes—and that Chen Huijie and Lin Yuxia had made this decision together.

They were gambling. Gambling that Chen Qi, given his personality, would not enter a tiger's den without confidence. Gambling that if the Integrated Cultural Troupe had been coerced, things would not have remained so bloodless. Gambling that the Sarkaz, who had taken over Londinium, were not treating Chen Qi's group as slaves.

The facts proved that they had won the bet. As the gates swung open, the familiar figures of Chen Qi and Talulah appeared before them. Lin Yuxia and Chen Huijie's eyes lit up, and they cried out almost simultaneously:

"Director Chen Qi (Little Tal)! You're all right!" X2

The instant they spoke, Lin Yuxia and Chen Huijie rushed forward. Talulah and Chen Qi, seeing friends they had not met in a long time, both opened their arms. But in the next moment, Lin Yuxia stopped halfway, while Chen Huijie barreled straight into Chen Qi's embrace.

For a moment, it was as though time had frozen. Talulah stood there alone with her arms open, awkwardly watching her little sister and her man hugging. Lin Yuxia, who had realized midway that something was wrong, stared at them in astonishment.

When did these two get together? Talulah and Lin Yuxia thought at the same time. Chen Huijie also immediately realized something was off. She shoved Chen Qi away, blushing furiously as she glared at Lin Yuxia and demanded:

"Y-you... why didn't you hug them?"

"? I'm not close with your sister. I only helped out a bit more when the Art Troupe was in Lungmen. I'm not as excited as you are."

In truth, Lin Yuxia had indeed planned to hug Talulah or Chen Qi. But she was not very straightforward by nature, and when she imagined herself losing composure, she froze halfway through.

Who would have thought that instead of hugging her own sister first, Chen Huijie would hug Chen Qi? Lin Yuxia had not expected that either.

"I-I—Little Tal, don't misunderstand! I just happened to be standing here, and I got a little excited!"

Chen Huijie had been left utterly embarrassed by Lin Yuxia's betrayal. She hurriedly pushed Chen Qi away and looked anxiously at her sister, as though afraid Talulah might misunderstand.

"...Don't mind it, Chen." After a brief silence, Talulah smiled tolerantly. One hand instinctively hooked around Chen Qi's wrist as she said softly:

"He's my fiancé. Chen, that makes you Chen Qi's little aunt. We're family. This kind of interaction is perfectly normal, isn't it?"

"Y-yes... hahaha..."

Talulah's rarely functional social awareness finally defused the awkwardness. Chen Qi and Lin Yuxia exchanged glances, both feeling that the atmosphere could not continue like this. Chen Qi immediately asked:

"Huijie, Yuxia, why did you come to Londinium?"

"Don't you know? You're famous now, Director Chen Qi." Seeing Chen Qi looking completely unconcerned, Lin Yuxia spoke with a hint of alarm.

"From Columbia to Ursus, everyone knows your name now. With Yes, Prime Minister, you've offended Victoria, Columbia, Leithania, Bolívar, Ursus... practically every country there is!"

"We were afraid that if you kept writing like this, the next time we saw you, it would be in a multinational war gathered in Victoria!"

"Rhodes Island came to us on their own initiative. We heard that all of you were trapped in Londinium, and that the situation there was extremely tense. We thought Theresis was forcing you."

Chen Huijie picked up where Lin Yuxia left off. She spoke gravely to Chen Qi and Talulah. "Victoria's situation is chaotic right now. Dr. Kal'tsit of Rhodes Island was very worried... We don't know what Dr. Kal'tsit is thinking, but she said one thing that was right: if Yes, Prime Minister keeps filming like this, it won't do your safety any good."

"We can't just sit back and watch you become public enemies of the world... Little Tal, Chen Qi, if Theresis is forcing you to keep creating for them, then perhaps..."

As she spoke, Chen Huijie and Lin Yuxia exchanged looks. Lin Yuxia nodded, checked their surroundings, then carefully slipped a note into Chen Qi's hand.

"—This contains the escape plan for tonight. Don't worry, we have Rhodes Island backing us up. They'll send people into Londinium to blow up the television station as a distraction, and then we'll use the chaos to get you out."

"Don't worry. Rhodes Island is going all out this time. There are several people even Chen and I found frightening. It'll definitely work."

But I don't think this will work at all. Chen Qi instinctively looked at the note in his hand, then at the Mini-map only he could see. Seeing several gray markers labeled "Confessor," he felt the plan was unreliable.

Clearly, Theresis had long been on guard against someone coming to "break them out of prison." Now that Chen Huijie and Lin Yuxia had arrived, they were naturally under his watch.

Could Chen Qi still carry out this so-called plan? Wouldn't that be getting everyone killed? Though he did not know why Rhodes Island wanted to extract him, he did know that with Rhodes Island's strength, getting him out would come at a tremendous cost.

He had once been a "Doctor," after all. Even if he did not think himself that capable, Chen Qi did not want Rhodes Island to suffer losses like Chernobog's again—it would make him feel terribly guilty. Especially since, subjectively speaking, as a "Doctor," he had always liked everyone at Rhodes Island.

After hesitating and exchanging a glance with Talulah, receiving her agreement, Chen Qi made a move right before the hidden Confessors' eyes—he returned the note to Lin Yuxia.

"Thank you, Yuxia, Huijie, but I can't do that."

"Why?" Neither Chen Huijie nor Lin Yuxia had expected Chen Qi to give up this opportunity. Before Chen Qi could speak, Chen Huijie anxiously asked:

"Are you worried that our support isn't enough? That we can't save everyone in the Art Troupe?"

"...To be honest, yes." Chen Qi smiled helplessly. Facing Lin Yuxia and Chen Huijie, he voiced his thoughts.

"I don't want anyone to die saving me. Especially when you might not need to save me at all, and the Art Troupe and I may be able to get out safely."

"I know Rhodes Island is helping, and I know Rhodes Island has several people strong enough to deter Londinium. But doing this would inevitably cause massive conflict and casualties... Especially since Talulah and I have a certain degree of confidence that we can get away safely."

"But the premise is that we have to fulfill our previous Blood Pact and finish filming Yes, Prime Minister. We must keep our promise first, so Theresis will keep his."

"There are only two episodes left. Huijie, Yuxia, as long as we make it through one week, all of us have hope of leaving Londinium safely. At a time like this, angering Theresis and trading so many lives for it isn't worth it."

Chen Qi placed both hands on Chen Huijie's shoulders, trying his best to convey his confidence and thoughts—he certainly could not say under surveillance that he and Theresia had figured out Theresis's personality, so Theresis might let them go if he said this.

But as Chen Qi had said, they had a chance to leave safely, without casualties or making another enemy. It was worth trying, especially with Theresia helping him. Their odds were high!

If someone's decision ruined things at this point, Chen Qi would really cry.

"Just wait one week for me, all right? Huijie, Yuxia."

"Tell Rhodes Island to wait just one week. During this week, no one should make a move. Don't try to make an enemy of Theresis. He's ruthless toward his enemies."

"But I'm willing to bet that he's someone who keeps his promises, someone with a ruler's righteous heart, unlike the cunning and savage Sarkaz portrayed in propaganda. I believe he'll honor his promise and let us leave."

"I'm also willing to believe that most Sarkaz, once they have their basic right to survive, are not the bloodthirsty, murderous race the outside world claims they are. I'm willing to believe it."

Chen Qi deliberately raised his voice slightly as he said this. At that moment, every word reached the listening Confessors' ears, then traveled through a recording device in their hands to Theresis in the palace.

Within the palace, Chen Qi's voice echoed. For a time, all the Sarkaz present fell into deep silence after hearing his trust in them and his assessment of Theresis.

Among all the Sarkaz in the palace, Chen Qi was someone with considerable authority—by that, it meant that as a director, he held the power to mobilize every Sarkaz he selected. Even the Bloodborne Archon, Manfred, and Theresis had become actors in his productions.

Theresis even held a council meeting every week to discuss the gains from Yes, Prime Minister. Among the Sarkaz of Londinium, Chen Qi truly was no ordinary person. He was a very special existence.

He was not a Sarkaz, yet despite wielding total authority, he held no prejudice toward the Sarkaz.

He was not an Infected, yet every close friend around him was one. He was not even afraid of infection and interacted intimately with every one of them.

He was also the first partner willing to contribute to everything the Sarkaz had achieved today, and everyone could see the effects he had brought.

And now, such a person was saying that he was willing to believe most Sarkaz kept their promises, and that once their conditions for survival were met, they were not such an evil race.

It had to be said that those words struck directly into the hearts of every Sarkaz present... They felt a strange sense of awkwardness. They wanted to laugh, but could not. It just felt bizarre.

After a long while, perhaps sensing the emotions of the Sarkaz in the palace, or perhaps having been put in an impossible position by Chen Qi's "trust," Theresis finally rose slowly from his throne. Facing the gaze of every Sarkaz, he said flatly:

"...Everyone will cooperate with Director Chen Qi in filming the final two episodes of Yes, Prime Minister. The day after its final broadcast, escort Director Chen Qi and all members of the Integrated Cultural Troupe out of the city. No one is to interfere."

"General..." The Bloodborne Archon felt this decision was too hasty and had just begun to speak when Theresis shot him a cold look and immediately said:

"Watch my lips, Bloodborne Archon."

"I said no interference. No pursuit!"

"Honoring Blood Pacts and promises is our Sarkaz tradition. Even the kings of the royal courts, as long as they are still Sarkaz and still regard themselves as members of the Sarkaz, must uphold this tradition. It is not open to question!"

"This is my decision, and yours as well. Whether you accept it or not, do you understand, Humphrey?"

Theresis's words imitated the tone the Bloodborne Archon had just used toward Manfred, using the title from Yes, Prime Minister.

But this time, the smile vanished entirely from the Bloodborne Archon's face. He looked at the crowd of Sarkaz staring at him. After a long time, he reluctantly answered:

"...Yes, General."

The Final Two Episodes of Yes, Prime Minister Draw Everyone's Attention to Londinium

After Theresis made that decision and rebuked the Bloodborne Archon in the palace, Londinium entered its strangest and quietest week since the Sarkaz garrison had arrived—because every Sarkaz knew that the Regent had ordered Chen Qi's group to be released after the final two episodes of Yes, Prime Minister aired.

Furthermore, no one was permitted to interfere or pursue them. Such actions would violate the Sarkaz tradition of the "Blood Pact." After Theresis issued this notice, all of Londinium was in an uproar.

When Londinium's citizens heard that Yes, Prime Minister was about to end, they immediately expressed enormous regret and lingering disappointment. The comedy, the only thing adding a little fun to their dreary lives, was actually coming to an end.

After all, Londinium's isolated residents had no idea how much impact Yes, Prime Minister had had on other mobile cities, Victoria, or even other nations across Terra. They thought it was merely an unprecedentedly entertaining political satire comedy with sharp dialogue, one that would not cause any great repercussions.

The Sarkaz of Londinium also felt saddened. They knew some of the inside story, and they understood very well that Yes, Prime Minister had dealt a vicious punch to the enemies they might have to face, making all of Victoria tremble.

The Eight Dukes were all deeply troubled by it, and demonstrations had begun breaking out everywhere in Victoria. It was the most turbulent time Victoria had seen.

Yet even when their Regent entered Londinium and nearly took control of Victoria's capital, he had not created such an enormous effect.

But now, a single television drama had left their enemies panicking and overwhelmed. Almost every Sarkaz felt an immense satisfaction welling up from deep inside.

That feeling... was like winning a huge battle without having to exert any effort at all! They were even experiencing the satisfaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "balance of power" policy exposed in Yes, Prime Minister.

They did not even need to do anything themselves. Their enemies would divide internally and fight one another. Watching them tear each other apart was truly satisfying.

However, the news that Chen Qi, who had allowed them to experience this simple yet unusual kind of "war," was about to fulfill his duty and leave left the Sarkaz legions feeling somewhat lost. They only felt an invisible pressure descend upon them once again.

It was the pressure of facing battles of life and death again. Every Sarkaz had long grown accustomed to the feeling that they might lose their lives at any moment... but after witnessing that bloodless "war," returning to a life with their heads hanging by a thread truly created a sense of disparity.

Thus, Londinium's atmosphere became strangely stifling because of Theresis's order. Soon, one week passed, and the final two episodes of Yes, Prime Minister were about to air.

Meanwhile, aboard a larger landship beyond the range of Londinium's city-defense cannons, Chen, Lin Yuxia, and the members of Rhodes Island's elite squad participating in this "rescue operation" were waiting for Yes, Prime Minister to air.

"...Are we really just going to wait? Does Director Chen Qi really have confidence that he can get out of the Sarkaz heartland unscathed without needing our extraction?"

Inside the landship, ACE, Rhodes Island's elite heavy defender operator, asked with concern about Chen Qi's proposal:

"While I understand that Director Chen Qi believes he's important to Theresis and that the Sarkaz won't do anything to him... all of that is based on him cooperating with Theresis."

"Once he shows any intention of leaving their control, Theresis could turn on him without hesitation..."

"—ACE, you aren't Sarkaz. You don't understand how important a Blood Pact is to a Sarkaz."

At the side, Rhodes Island's elite sniper operator codenamed Scout, a Sarkaz who had once participated in the Kazdel Civil War, explained to his old comrade:

"Most Sarkaz survive on this land as mercenaries. For mercenaries, credibility is the most important thing. Otherwise, they won't get work and can easily become drifters or scavengers. In the end, they either get killed while alone or robbed and murdered."

"Blood Pacts are an even older Sarkaz tradition. Sarkaz who violate a Blood Pact will be despised by all their own kind. That means they have no credibility whatsoever among the Sarkaz. No one would dare associate with them, much less trade with them."

"—Even so, Blood Pacts do have loopholes." Another figure spoke. Logos, the handsome and youthful male Banshee King, held a bone pen made from bone in his hand.

"Theresis naturally understands that, as does that Bloodborne Archon in Londinium... He's still acting in Yes, Prime Minister, isn't he? I believe he certainly intends to keep Director Chen Qi there."

"Then are we still going to follow Chen Qi's plan?" Vina, who had also come along and was originally meant to serve as a "guide" to help everyone from Rhodes Island infiltrate Londinium through underground passages, was now the one most worried about the plan going wrong.

As Yes, Prime Minister aired, Vina increasingly felt Victoria's situation becoming more complicated and urgent. She could be said to oppose airing Yes, Prime Minister at such a time more than anyone—she feared that a war sweeping across Terra would begin in Victoria.

Vina might only be a royal heir, and even the heir of a deposed king, but she did not want a great war to begin in her homeland.

Even if she were not a royal heir, merely as a Victorian, she could not stand by and do nothing.

"...We have to trust Chen Qi. He wouldn't gamble with everyone's safety."

Chen Huijie herself was not confident either. How could she not worry that this might happen? If Chen Qi could not leave Londinium, breaking through the now-prepared Sarkaz defenses would only be harder.

There was an even worse possibility... Chen Qi might believe there was no other way, refuse to drag them into it, and gamble his own life on that slim chance—Chen Huijie felt that both Chen Qi and Talulah were capable of doing that.

But Chen Huijie did not want to consider that possibility now, nor did she dare to. She could only calm herself and pretend to be composed as she said:

"Everyone, let's watch the show first. If Chen Qi and the others don't come out the day after it airs, we'll proceed with the original plan. All right?"

"...That's all we can do."

After exchanging looks, the people from Rhodes Island and Vina had no better option but to accept the plan—after all, a direct assault on Londinium was unrealistic, even with someone as powerful as Logos, who could rival a royal court.

After all, Theresis's current attitude meant he would certainly protect Chen Qi at all costs. Moreover, Londinium had at least two royal court-level combatants, even excluding Theresis, Manfred, and the city-defense cannons.

It could be said that anyone who took on this mission might die. If they could employ a safer strategy, everyone would choose not to let the conflict escalate further.

At the same time, what the people from Rhodes Island and Lungmen did not know was that several other forces, both around and within Londinium, were also slowly drawing closer. They were preparing their own tactics and steps. Yet when they approached Londinium, they all coincidentally took out their devices at the appointed time and began watching Yes, Prime Minister.

Whatever plots they had could wait until tomorrow. They had gathered all the intelligence they needed. Tomorrow would be Chen Qi's group's chance to leave Londinium. Whether Chen Qi's group could leave safely or not, they all knew that would be the best time to strike.