Bernard, you really do have a bright future!

However, while Wei Yenwu hadn't even considered the feasibility of Bloodfiend Demon's plan, in Londinium, Duke of Windermere, upon hearing this, almost roared as he stood up and slammed his hand on the table in front of him.

As a duke with a distinguished military record guarding the frontier, Duke of Windermere was always on the battlefield, so his voice was louder than most people's. If Chen Qi were present, he would definitely think that this duchess's voice was louder than that of a certain senior police superintendent of Lungmen that he knew.

Her strength was terrifying; the table she slammed down on snapped in two, spilling all the fruit and desserts onto the ground, creating a horrific scene.

However, even after all this, the Duke of Windermere's anger had not subsided. Completely ignoring the Duke of Wellington's calm gaze and Ablana's frightened expression, she gritted her teeth and said:

"What * Victoria slang* guy came up with this?! This lowers the unemployment rate, so what?! Will it lead to strikes and riots?"

"My soldiers and I are stationed on the Victoria not to let these insects wreak havoc on our rear! Nor are we Protection a Victoria like this! The soldiers entrust their lives to me because they believe we can take care of their families!"

"But how could these guys in Parliament come up with such a heinous method? Using social security to threaten people into working? If this continues, which Victoria citizen will support us? Without the people, who will support our supplies to the front lines?"

"If our soldiers knew how you're treating their families back home, they'd come after me with their weapons!"

The Duke of Windermere knew all too well that the Victoria army desperately needed a stable rear. Victoria had only recently escaped its decline due to this upheaval, and although much was in need of rebuilding, the people of Victoria had not lost faith. Their love for the country had put Victoria on a long-awaited upward trajectory.

But if, at this time, those guys in the parliament were to implement a proposal like the Bloodborne Archon's, it would be a devastating blow to the Victoria people, who are currently driven by their passion for the country.

Victoria cannot afford any further suppression. What they need to do is seize this upward trend, restore Victoria to its former glory as soon as possible, strengthen Victoria's defense capabilities, and deter the Sarkaz, which is still deep in Victoria's territory, and the ever-watchful foreign enemies from taking any action.

Now is the time when unity is most needed, and these people in parliament dare to say such things publicly? They are simply bringing disaster to the country and its people!

"This isn't what my soldiers and I Protection! Whoever proposed this plan should be beheaded!"

"Calm down, Windermere, it's just a play." At this moment, the Duke of Wellington finally spoke, allowing the Duke of Windermere was currently engrossed in the role, to calm down a bit.

"Moreover, Humphrey in the show also said that such a policy is impossible to implement, so there's no need to worry about members of parliament actually proposing it. Even if they did, no politician would dare to stand up and bear such consequences."

"--That would be for the best. But I hope you congressmen don't even have such thoughts, or I'll personally send these people to the guillotine."

The Duke of Windermere's temper subsided slightly, and he returned to his seat sullenly. However, he belatedly realized that his emotions had been stirred up by the plot of a TV series, which he found rather strange.

Perhaps it's simply because... the proposal put forward by this demon-turned-person is far too radical? It's reached an unacceptable level?

Back in the story, Manfred's character, Bernard, is seen carrying a tape recorder as he enters the Bloodborne Archon's office. After exchanging greetings, Manfred asks, "What do you need this for?"

However, the Bloodborne Archon still looked smug, seemingly still savoring his flawless performance on the show, and laughed:

"VBC just sent me a tape, it seems to be an audio clip from my interview. They said it's so interesting!"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

However, the Bloodborne Archon was clearly unaware that his outspokenness in the studio had been recorded. But the viewers, with their omniscient perspective, were well aware, and could easily guess, what the tape contained.

Manfred's expression changed upon hearing the comment "too funny." He naturally had no idea what the Bloodborne Archon had said after the show, and sensing something was amiss, he probed:

"Your interview?"

"Don't you believe I can be funny, Bernard?" The Bloodborne Archon noticed Manfred's skepticism, and Manfred cautiously replied:

"No, I just thought you were going to do nothing, like usual, uh..."

The Bloodborne Archon rolled his eyes at this, having no doubt whatsoever about Manfred's feigned ignorance, but still said considerately:

"Open it and listen, Bernard, you'll benefit greatly."

The Bloodborne Archon was completely unaware of his current situation, and Manfred, with a hint of skepticism, pressed the record button. Soon, as the internal tape began to play, the Bloodborne Archon's unrestrained words from the studio were broadcast.

"Dear Lud, no one will tell the truth about unemployment."

"Why?"

"Because everyone knows that halving the unemployment rate only requires..."

Slowly, as the original audio from the tape recorder played, the Bloodborne Archon's initially confident expression stiffened, gradually shifting from composure to astonishment, and then to shock...

Manfred, who was listening nearby, instinctively sat up straight and glanced at the Bloodborne Archon with great surprise, seemingly beginning to doubt the authenticity of the recording.

But at this moment, everyone, both on and off television, knew that it was true. The Bloodborne Archon was increasingly panicked, his fingers trembling as he tried to press the pause button on the recorder.

However, he didn't even succeed the first time. After speeding up, he finally managed to stop the tape recorder.

"--Sir Humphrey, is this not you?!" Manfred's voice trembled as he turned to the Bloodborne Archon with his last shred of hope.

However, at this moment, the Bloodborne Archon, looking utterly bewildered and unable to even think, subconsciously replied:

"It's me, Bernard."

"How could you say such a thing? Is there anything more to this?"

When Manfred tried to turn on the recorder again, the Bloodborne Archon quickly waved his hand to stop him, but after a long while, he couldn't utter a word, as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

However, knowing that he had made a grave mistake, the Bloodborne Archon, whose coping abilities were relatively weak, was unable to accept the fact for a long time. Accompanied by a racing heart and belated fear, the Bloodborne Archon's expression was extremely tense.

However, after the initial tension, he was at a loss for what to do. In addition, he was getting old and couldn't withstand such a huge shock. The Bloodborne Archon's expression began to distort, even becoming somewhat comical, like an exaggerated case of a heart attack and a spike in blood pressure.

Such exquisite acting skills are beyond compare. Apart from Theresis's dramatic change in expression when she heard about the death of the former prime minister, no other scene can match the Bloodborne Archon's superb performance.

"... What did you say this time that made someone like the Bloodborne Archon so frightened?"

However, at this moment, Talulah, who was watching the last episode of "Yes, Prime Minister" with Chen Qi, also turned her gaze to Chen Qi, who was smiling beside her. She automatically ignored Nian, who was about to fall off the sofa laughing, and Xi, who was covering her face and trembling all over, and turned to ask Chen Qi.

Talulah knew very well that Chen Qi preferred to find actors who could handle the roles when choosing characters, but when it came to testing acting skills, Chen Qi always managed to find ways to evoke the emotions of these non-professional actors.

"It's very simple. What would make Theresis laugh out loud is the sudden death of one of the kings who opposed him; similarly, as one of the kings of the Royal Court, the Bloodborne Archon's greatest fear is having his position usurped."

Chen Qi also gave a slight smile and said to Talulah:

"I told him that when the performance reached this point, he should think about how his position as one of the Royal Court was about to be replaced by a new Sarkaz tribe, and that new kings were thousands of years younger than him."

"I thought that someone as proud and arrogant as the Bloodborne Archon would never accept such a situation, and now it seems that his performance proves my guess."

How could the Bloodborne Archon accept that the Bloodfiend's position in the Royal Court would be replaced by another race? You must understand that although the positions of the kings in the Royal Court have always existed, they are not theirs forever. They represent the backbone of the Sarkaz race and the race with the greatest potential for development.

The Kings represent the strongest beings below the Demon King. While there are many branch races of the Sarkaz, few possess the potential to overthrow them.

Not many, but not impossible. Therefore, the Bloodborne Archon found this scenario unacceptable just to think about, especially for someone as proud as him. If the Bloodfiend clan he represented were driven out of the Royal Court, he would be so ashamed and indignant that he would self-destruct.

In the storyline, Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, also answered honestly after experiencing some pain:

Yes, Bernard.

"--Is it all this destructive?" Manfred gradually realized the seriousness of the situation, but still repeatedly confirmed just how serious it was. The Bloodborne Archon also understood this, and therefore answered very "honestly":

"That's not all... I think it mentioned... 'parasites'."

As he spoke, the Bloodborne Archon couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his brow. Manfred, equally surprised that his opponent had revealed such a glaring flaw, couldn't help but question, "How could you be so careless?"

However, Manfred's words directly provoked the Bloodborne Archon, who prided himself on never making small mistakes. Realizing that he was now on the verge of death, he hurriedly defended himself:

"The interview is over! We were just chatting; this is not an official record!"

Belatedly realizing what was happening, the Bloodborne Archon suddenly came to his senses. He slapped his forehead, looking at the card he'd received along with the cassette tape from VBC, and exclaimed, "Lord! I understand!"

"Blackmail."

"Extortion?" Manfred took the note from the Bloodborne Archon and read its contents aloud, "This is the informal part of your interview. We found it so interesting that we will contact you soon."

"What do they want, Bernard?" The Bloodborne Archon walked to the window with a dejected expression and asked, his heart filled with despair.

Manfred: "VBC? A 50% increase in subscription fees?"

By this point, many viewers were already laughing uncontrollably. Although most viewers didn't know what a 50% cut of the viewership fee meant, that didn't stop them from understanding. Humphrey was completely cornered now; no matter what demands the other party made, he could only reluctantly agree.

The Bloodborne Archon clearly understood this as well, and said somberly, "Perhaps it's the producer extorting money from us privately."

Doesn't he know how poor I am Humphrey?

However, upon hearing the Bloodborne Archon, one of the most powerful figures in the Civil Service System, say that he was "poor," Manfred, with a touch of deliberate misunderstanding, jokingly remarked in a seemingly low-EQ manner:

"... Perhaps he doesn't understand your life of living on a meager budget of 81,000 gold coins a year."

"Hahahaha!" XN

After being rebuffed by Manfred, the Bloodborne Archon was unable to vent his anger on Manfred. He could only tense up and suppress his emotions as he sought Manfred's help. "Bernard, what should I do?"

"Keep your mouth shut from now on."

"You too, Bernard!" The Bloodborne Archon suddenly erupted in anger, instinctively trying to force Manfred into submission, and shouted sternly, "Don't utter a single word about him to anyone! Nobody!"

"It is my responsibility to tell (the Prime Minister)..."

"Bernard! I--"

However, as he spoke, the Bloodborne Archon suddenly lost his confidence, because he knew that he had made a big mistake this time, and he looked much more dejected.

The thought that all his achievements and efforts might be forever consigned to the center of power because of this one incident filled the Bloodborne Archon with immense regret. He almost cried as he asked, "Bernard, what should I do...?"

At this moment, Manfred didn't seem particularly nervous. However, the flustered Bloodborne Archon failed to notice his unusual composure. Manfred simply said:

"Perhaps you should issue a statement in the media expressing empathy for the unemployed?"

"... Empathy?" The Bloodborne Archon, thinking he had grasped a lifeline, asked instinctively. However, to his surprise, Manfred delivered a sarcastic remark:

"Well, you'll be joining them soon."

"Hahahaha!" XN

"Hahaha! Help, help me! My stomach hurts! Cough cough cough cough!"

Meanwhile, Chen Qi was laughing so hard she was clutching her stomach, and she rolled off the sofa in one go. But even that didn't stop her from laughing so happily. Her face was flushed as if the heat inside her was boiling.

Even Xi's face turned bright red, and she covered her mouth tightly to stop herself from laughing too loudly. Her slender waist made her head almost bend down to her knees.

"What an annoying guy, always trying to embarrass me..."

However, although Xi thought this way, her tail kept intentionally or unintentionally patting Chen Qi not far away. Clearly, Xi, who was laughing so happily, was in a very good mood.

Such times... aren't bad, at least, short selling doesn't require constant worry about "age." Xi thought to herself, briefly forgetting her fear.

Chapter 165: Bernard, you truly have a bright future ahead of you!

"Hahaha! Interesting, very interesting! Humphrey has no one to help him now. This kind of worm should have been kicked out long ago!"

Meanwhile, Duke of Windermere, who had been extremely angry about the Bloodborne Archon's proposal, quickly cheered up after the Bloodborne Archon's humiliation. His usually stern face broke into a rare, hearty smile.

"I told you, it's such a shame you don't read 'Yes, Prime Minister,' Windermere."

The Duke of Wellington smiled. As one of the Grand Dukes who had followed the TV series "Yes, Prime Minister" from the very beginning, Duke of Wellington knew all too well the show's appeal—it was a series that could be understood and made people laugh, regardless of class, knowledge, or even the system and national conditions they lived in.

While the higher your status, the easier it is to appreciate the key points in this drama, it doesn't take a lofty, elite approach. Instead, it makes the characters as down-to-earth as possible, allowing the public to see that those they don't have access to are actually just like them—human beings.

This is a very important point: this TV series has changed the image of "those in high positions" in the minds of a large part of the public.

Although the supreme rulers of many countries in Terra are themselves powerful figures with strong bloodlines, "Yes, Prime Minister" has indeed opened up a new world for all ordinary people.

Today, the image of the "ruler" in the hearts of many people on Terra no longer seems so unattainable.

"Director Chen Qi's talent in explaining the methods of governing a country and internal struggles in a way that most people can understand, using the simplest language, is truly beyond our imagination."

"From now on, the people of Victoria will be much more discerning than ever before... Although the impact won't be huge, we still need to pay more attention to what the public thinks."

"--That's your business, old Wellington." Duke of Windermere, however, didn't care at all. Her main focus was on military affairs, and she only had to learn about domestic politics to prevent the others from joining forces to seize military power.

However, this did not prevent her from appreciating Chen Qi Duke of Windermere's attitude towards the people was still quite good—because she needed the support of the people and logistics to fight the war, so she was extremely concerned about Victoria's current national strength recovery and the development of its army.

She was willing to support anything that could benefit Victoria. And the Duke of Windermere felt that Chen Qi's TV series would definitely be helpful to Victoria's future.

If at the beginning Duke of Windermere had some reservations about awarding a foreigner a medal and entrusting "that thing" to Chen Qi for safekeeping, her dissatisfaction has now subsided considerably.

Back in the show, Manfred has once again found Prime Minister Hacker, played by Theresis. Theresis is now agonizing over how to explain the wiretapping to the Grand Secretariat and whether he should tell the truth.

"Excuse my bluntness, Prime Minister, you should treat the Grand Secretariat the way you expect to be treated."

Manfred's implication was that it all depended on whether Theresis wanted the Grand Secretariat to sideline him or continue to entangle with him. If Theresis admitted his mistake this time, he would be likely to break his promise.

Once is never enough Theresis; there will be a second time. This time, because everyone in the Grand Secretariat kept the fact that "the wiretapping was real" from him, if Theresis admits his mistake this time, then next time the Grand Secretariat will continue to keep it from him, causing him to repeat the same mistake.

Whether or not Theresis understood Manfred's implication, or was simply indignant because the Grand Secretariat had kept it from her, she didn't think for long before saying:

"You're right, I must stick to what I said in the House of Commons."

When Theresis saw that Manfred was still there, she inquired about him, and Manfred told the Prime Minister about the Bloodborne Archon's interview.

"Boring, right?" Having been poisoned by long, complex sentences, Theresis had already guessed the answer, while Manfred replied with a smile:

"Yes at first, but it gradually became more interesting; he became increasingly outspoken."

"Humphrey? Outspoken?" Theresis seemed somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, he thought the interview was over and they could just chat casually, but the tape was still spinning."

"He fell for such an old trick?" Theresis was somewhat shocked upon hearing this, but after the shock, she found it amusing. As a former media professional, she knew all too well the tricks of the trade. She said, "A Mike should always be considered as if it's on. Doesn't he even know that?"

"As far as I know, he doesn't often appear on the radio." Manfred then explained on behalf of the Bloodborne Archon. Although he was helping the Prime Minister, he didn't intend to force the Bloodborne Archon to resign because of this.