"All right, let's go!"
Xi Yan grabbed his pistol and sprang up, vaulting past one side of the desk in a single bound before striding toward the door.
He strode out of his office and headed downstairs. These floors were all government offices, and many staff members bowed respectfully to him along the way.
Of course, quite a few struggled to keep a straight face at his absurd outfit. Xi Yan himself was utterly shameless in social situations, swaggering along covered in dragon graphics.
Xi Yan's father, Marshal Xi Lie, had founded the entire Ring World colony. In the early days of the Interstellar Human Military Junta, he had led the people in building this new colony, and every citizen adored him.
That affection extended to Xi Yan, who had become someone most people respected as well. After all, according to the historical records, Xi Yan was Xi Lie's only descendant.
"Hello, Marshal!"
"Hello, everyone."
"Good morning, Marshal!"
"Not good. I have to work."
"Uh..."
"Thank you for your hard work, Marshal!"
"You're working harder than I am."
Xi Yan politely answered every staff member who greeted him. The moment they spotted him, they rushed over and bowed deeply. It was honestly hard to keep a straight face.
Enjoying their respect, Xi Yan couldn't help slowing down, strolling toward the office door on the floor below his own.
[Secretary of State's Office]
Bang!
Xi Yan pushed the door open and walked straight in.
He looked around. Everything was decorated in soft pinks. A perfectly good office had been turned into a girl's bedroom.
"Where is everyone? What the fuck is this decor?" Xi Yan asked in bewilderment.
"Marshal, I-I'm here..."
A small hand rose from behind the office computer.
Xi Yan approached and saw a little blonde woman in a Lolita outfit sitting at a raised desk, one hand lifted as she stared at him in surprise. Her beautiful blue eyes lingered on his "dragon robe" for quite a while.
"Whose kid are you? Hey, squirt, where's my secretary of state?"
"I'm the secretary of state, Ailiveer Yan."
The little blonde rubbed her blue eyes and looked at him in confusion, then stood up and explained with a serious little expression.
"You? Are you even an adult?" Xi Yan's eyes widened instantly.
Is this fucking eight years old?.jpg
"I'm already twenty-two! I'm not little!" The child-sized secretary of state puffed out her cheeks fiercely.
She was two years older than Xi Yan. A genuine, legally adult little lady!
"Ah, you poor thing." Xi Yan looked down at the short, fuming secretary of state with pity.
Feeling his gaze on her, Ailiveer flew into a rage!
"I-I-I-I'm not small at all! It's genetic! I'll definitely develop later!"
"No, wait, I meant my height! My height!"
The little woman stumbled over her words as she tried to explain.
Xi Yan spread his hands helplessly.
VV smiling: I'd call that a kind of confidence.jpg
"Ahem, enough about that. Do you have any instructions, Marshal?" Ailiveer tried hard to look serious, but her tiny stature really didn't lend her much credibility.
Still, she handled many matters involving the economy and people's livelihoods, especially finances. Xi Yan had briefly looked through the relevant documents earlier, and Ailiveer had done an excellent job.
He just didn't know how loyal she was.
"I came to take a look at your work and get to know you," Xi Yan said.
"Please look through whatever you like, Marshal. You're authorized to review all these documents."
Xi Yan picked up a paper document at random and began reading.
It was the empire's fiscal budget for the year.
Military spending accounted for thirty percent...
Thirty percent?
Although Stellaris players considered fifty percent the bare minimum for military spending, thirty percent was still absurd in the real world. Xi Yan couldn't help asking, "What's going on with this budget?"
"Oh, that. I was just about to discuss it with you, Marshal."
Ailiveer brushed back her hair and said solemnly, "Marshal, first, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ailiveer Yan. I'm not only your secretary of state, but also a trusted confidante of the former marshal. I can promise you my eternal loyalty."
"I can vouch for that," Beta added.
Xi Yan fell silent, slipping his hand into his pocket and gripping his pistol.
Well... how am I supposed to know who I can trust?
Since Beta has vouched for her too, I suppose I'll trust her for now.
Control of the entire empire was at stake. Xi Yan couldn't afford to be careless. Everyone knew that power struggles could cost you your life.
"Just tell me what you need to say." His expression cold, Xi Yan sat down in front of Ailiveer, picked up the tea on the desk, and took a gulp.
"That's my-"
Tea I'd already drunk from.
Never mind.
Ailiveer sighed almost imperceptibly, then told Xi Yan solemnly, "You've only just taken office, but you need to understand that all power should rest in your hands."
"I understand that. But now, I've discovered..." Xi Yan took a sip of tea and answered softly.
"Yes." Delight flashed in Ailiveer's deep blue eyes. "As long as you have that resolve, I'm willing to serve at your command."
The corners of Xi Yan's mouth lifted slightly.
"Pretty words. But the former marshal is already dead. How much of that loyalty do you still have left?"
Ailiveer's eyes widened slightly, and sweat began to bead on her forehead beneath her bangs.
Xi Yan rested a hand on her forehead, his black eyes glinting with an icy chill.
"M-Marshal, what do you mean?" Ailiveer swallowed and began trembling beneath his hand.
"Nothing. I believe you're loyal to me, too."
Xi Yan suddenly smiled, withdrew his hand, and took another gulp of tea. "Tastes good," he praised.
The tiny secretary of state's gaze went blank for a moment. Xi Yan drank his tea and watched quietly.
She doesn't seem all that emotionally mature. She does seem genuinely loyal, though.
Xi Yan felt his mental state growing a little twisted. Even the hand gripping his pistol had begun to tremble.
Someone please let me shoot them. Pretty please!
The gunfight dreams of three hundred million mouse-clickers are kicking in!
"Um, Marshal, should I continue?"
Ailiveer stole a somewhat frightened glance at Xi Yan.
"Please do. Relax." Xi Yan gave her a friendly smile and reached out to stroke the little secretary of state's head.
Now I finally know how Masaomi felt patting Murasame's head. This feels absolutely top-notch. (Yuzusoft fan___)
Ailiveer narrowed her eyes as though enjoying it, then finally caught herself. She cleared her throat and said seriously, "On the day the former marshal passed away, most of his powers were temporarily handed to five regent generals. After you took office, they never handed those powers back."
"So the key is to kill the five generals?" Xi Yan lightly traced the grooves on his pistol grip with a fingernail.
Ailiveer was starting to break out in a cold sweat. "That's not necessary, really..."
The young marshal is way too eager to kill. I don't know whether that's good or bad...
"There are still some among the five regent generals whom we can win over."
"Go on."
Xi Yan finally took his hand off Ailiveer's head.
"One of them is my older sister, Veronica Yan," Ailiveer began.
"So you got into the imperial government through connections," Xi Yan muttered.
"No! I'm very capable too! From the former marshal's death until today, I've been doing most of the work!"
Hearing Xi Yan question her abilities, Ailiveer struggled to keep her composure.
That was how marshals were. All she had to do was quietly get the work done, while the marshal had so much more to consider.
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