CHAPTER 460: CHAPTER 442 RIOT · 6_2

So is this a test? This thought flashed through Perfikot’s mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

Perhaps this opponent’s objection was a test thrown by the other party, but what he said was not. This was likely a statement from the other party to express their stance, while also judging whether Perfikot was "aligned" with them.

Thinking of this, Perfikot changed her tone and said, "Nobles and elites are the foundation of the Empire; though this is not wrong, it is somewhat biased."

As soon as Perfikot spoke, she keenly perceived a fleeting dissatisfaction and disappointment on some people’s faces, as if they thought she was not in the same camp as them.

However, this reaction was already within Perfikot’s expectations. She simply switched her rhetoric and asked, "However, could you all answer me one question: can the nobles and elites of the Empire farm?"

"Count, farming is for the lower class peasants; how could the Empire’s nobility and elites engage in such a lowly trade?" A bourgeois representative spoke, answering Perfikot in a matter-of-fact tone.

Although what he said was a bit excessive, it was evident that many recognized this saying, at most finding the wording somewhat inappropriate.

Perfikot nodded at this answer, not bothered by the choice of words.

After all, in this era, people are classified by rank and station. If Perfikot now said everyone was equal, she would immediately become the target of public criticism.

So Perfikot would not explicitly propose any notion of equality for all. She calmly asked again, "Nobles and elites don’t farm, but what about building houses, weaving textiles? Do you operate related industries? Do you do it yourself?"

"Count, what are you trying to say? Feel free to speak clearly," at this moment, a noble spoke, clarifying the topic to Perfikot: "The nobles and elites of the Empire that you mentioned indeed will not personally do it. This also requires a large number of ordinary people to engage in the related foundational work, which we can understand. But what does this have to do with our discussion topic?"

If you think ordinary people are needed, we can migrate more people to the Northern Territory, as long as they maintain an appropriate ratio with the nobility, don’t you agree?"

In this noble’s view, Perfikot wanted to express that ordinary people are the foundation of the Empire. They engage in a lot of work that nobles and the elite class would not do, yet these things are closely related to every person in the Empire.

So he proposed a concession in his words, trying to reach a consensus with Perfikot.

"That being said, have you considered what kind of impact it would have on the Empire if a large-scale rebellion broke out in the mainland now?" Perfikot did not refute him, just suggested a change in perspective.

Upon hearing Perfikot’s words, everyone’s expressions immediately became somewhat grave.

A large-scale rebellion in the Empire’s mainland would indeed have significant implications.

Although it’s suggested to abandon the Empire’s mainland, it’s not as if it would be discarded immediately. It’s important to remember that the Empire is a late announcer of doomsday news, and many nobles and elite classes on the mainland haven’t yet received the news or went to the Northern Territory before the doomsday announcement. They still need time to manage their various enterprises before they can go to the Northern Territory.

These people still live in the Empire’s mainland now. For them, a stable mainland environment is very necessary.

Thus, they quickly understood Perfikot’s meaning, and someone changed their stance and said, "Count, you are right. What we need now is stability. If we concentrate all resources in the Northern Territory, the Empire’s mainland will inevitably become unstable, which is not what we want to see."

This statement gained the approval and agreement of most people, after all, they are still in the Empire’s mainland, and if something really went down, threatening themselves, that would be terrible.

Although they do not genuinely agree with Perfikot’s plan, at least on the surface, they no longer oppose it.

Seeing the people no longer oppose, Perfikot nodded in satisfaction and said, "In that case, let’s revise the previous plan. The plan to transform the church into shelters remains unchanged, but the scale will be expanded, and I’ll be responsible for resolving related resource inputs.

As for recruitment, material transportation, organizational coordination, and related work, it still relies on all of you. Please ensure to do your jobs seriously; the Empire needs everyone to fulfill their duties."

"Rest assured, this is our duty." A representative of the nobility bowed to Perfikot.

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Inside Windsor Castle, Perfikot was reviewing what seemed like endless documents in her office, an expression of fatigue barely concealed on her face.

Despite being an Alchemist capable of using various potions to remedy physical exhaustion, and even replenishing mental energy, the psychological weariness and fatigue were something she couldn’t shake off.

She was now powered purely by sheer will; if she didn’t have this driving spirit, she might have dropped everything and gone off to enjoy a relaxing hot spring.

Although there aren’t many hot springs in the Empire, with her current status, finding a place for a hot soak would be quite simple.

But the fact is, someone has to do the work, and Perfikot couldn’t find anyone to replace her, meaning she had to shoulder everything herself.

The burden of the Empire’s mainland and overseas colonies rests on her shoulders!

Perfikot indeed wants to shirk this responsibility, but those she could possibly shift the burden onto are pushing it back onto her.

"Little Perfikot, could you help me with this? Surely, you won’t watch those poor people starve to death!" Eldest Princess Annie was pleading with Perfikot, showing a certain tenacity in her appeals.

Listening to Eldest Princess Annie’s pleas, Perfikot could only sigh, "Aunt Annie, you should know, we’re already running low on food! The Empire’s overseas trade has been severely impacted, with the overseas colonies already seeing reduced crops. There’s a severe shortage of food coming into the Empire’s mainland. I don’t have extra resources to support more of the poor.

If they don’t work, they shall not eat; there’s no room for negotiation here.

Moreover, you know my plan. If it weren’t for stabilizing the Empire’s mainland environment, these people would be the ones to be sacrificed."

Perfikot indeed had ways to help those disaster victims, but she couldn’t open this gate.

Now she was promoting the native construction plan, allowing those at the bottom of society to earn grain through labor. If, at this time, someone obtains food without working, the hard-won stable situation will become turbulent again.

Thus, even though she sympathizes greatly with those the Eldest Princess Annie mentioned as starving poor, she can’t show a shred of wavering.

"Even you can’t do anything, Little Perfikot!" Eldest Princess Annie clearly didn’t buy Perfikot’s argument, asking directly, "I know you must have a way, just help me! No matter what conditions you have, I will accept them!"

Eldest Princess Annie was obviously quite desperate.

She herself had tried to support the poor, or found other means to help them.

However, though she was the Empire’s Eldest Princess, with Empire’s mainland affairs currently managed by Perfikot, along with the Empress herself and Duke Grost, Eldest Princess Annie had very limited resources she could move within her authority, and she could do very little.

Especially since Eldest Princess Annie was unwilling to misuse her status or forcibly reallocate some useful resources using her influence and power, this exacerbated her predicament, leading her to turn to Perfikot for help.

Faced with Eldest Princess Annie’s pleadings, Perfikot, after some thought, tapped her pen on the stack of documents on her desk that almost entirely covered her, saying, "If Aunt Annie helps me finish reviewing these documents, I’ll consider helping you."