Yes, Madam Prime Minister

Page 354

Of the other five people, three were saved, but they were left with disabilities.

Lu Jianling could only ask local officials for help to first collect the remains of the two deceased and send letters to their families.

Then she prepared another coffin and sealed Liu Menglong's body. She went to Guangdong alone, while her second son went to Hanyang to meet up with her eldest son, who had left the capital more than a month earlier, and then came to Guangdong to find her.

Despite carrying a coffin, Lu Jianling, as a fifth-tier being, still traveled at an extremely fast pace, only a step slower than those extraordinary individuals who used external force to transmit messages.

The messenger arrived late last night, and she arrived early this morning.

Then she went straight to Liu Menglong's residence and told Madam Zhao everything, including the fact that it was her "son" who killed Liu Menglong.

Madam Zhao fainted on the spot.

"Gentlemen, I have said everything I needed to say. Even though Lord Liu has passed away, everything will continue as usual. I will go to Lord Liu's residence now," Ronan said, taking his leave.

After saying that, Ronan followed Elena away.

The crowd exchanged conflicted glances, unsure whether to say that Liu Menglong's death was a good thing or a bad thing.

They disliked Liu Menglong because he liked to cause trouble for officials and showed no consideration for their "difficulties." They were neither ordinary people with no ties or support, nor were they officials with powerful backers and promising futures. They were representatives pushed up by interest groups from different regions of Guangdong. To put it bluntly, they had to be mindful of others' opinions.

Lord Liu, you are aloof and remarkable, but if you didn't have a good background and strong backing, could you have risen to the position of a fifth-rank magistrate at the age of thirty and been able to sit among your seniors with scallions stuck in their noses? In fact, if it weren't for the extremely troublesome Master Luo, do you really think that no one could have forced you out?

However, without Liu Menglong as the top official in Foshan, they would not have a legitimate reason to do anything. It was impossible for any of them to temporarily assume the position, because the Foshan Coastal Defense Sub-Prefecture was not a regular administrative unit. It was an administrative agency that was transformed from a military control agency. The top official was a fifth-rank official, and his subordinates were all seventh-rank officials. Below them were clerks. No one could temporarily assume the position of a fifth-rank assistant prefect.

"Gentlemen, the imperial court is currently preoccupied with its own problems. We only need to consider one thing: prevent the governor of Guangdong from sending anyone over."

"This...this governor will listen to us?"

“He can’t listen to us, but he can listen to money.”

In an instant, everyone understood.

That's right, we have to spend money; we can't let anyone ruin the good life of the people of Foshan.

Meanwhile, Ronan quickly arrived at Liu Menglong's residence.

At this time, Madam Zhao had already woken up, and Zhao Yingqi was taking care of and comforting her.

When Ronan met Lu Jianling, he was about to ask her for more details, but Lu Jianling asked Ronan first what exactly was going on with the medicine.

For over an hour, almost without speaking, Ronan went on to describe everything from the Celestial Realm to Egypt, to Hiss, to Vena, to the Emperor and Queen Mother Suleiman, not to tell any stories, but to explain the nature of that zombifying red light and how the drug he gave was developed.

“I see, but why…” Lu Jianling wanted to ask Ronan why he didn’t make these things public, but she didn’t ask.

Because she knew very well that Ronan was not to blame for this.

Ronan's attitude remained amicable. "It seems you understand why. First, I never expected this to happen. This medicine is only effective for a very low probability situation. Second, I am a foreigner, and a foreigner with status in the West at that, so my words are hard to believe. Third, based on what we know now, your Emperor is the mastermind, even though he was deceived. So, even if I say something publicly, it probably won't help."

After saying that, Ronan sighed, "Actually, this is what I was thinking. I'll give the prescription and instructions to Brother Liu and you. Although Brother Liu's rank in the civil service system isn't high, his master, Mr. Yu, can be considered a high-ranking official broker who is on good terms with many civil officials. You, on the other hand, are also a high-ranking military officer and have even better connections. If there are any unusual signs, you can secretly spread this medicine. If nothing happens, it won't be harmful; if something does happen, you can resolve the crisis in time."

“And if someone like you does this, people will definitely believe it.”

"I just didn't expect... sigh." Ronan couldn't help but sigh again. He had made arrangements, but he didn't expect that Liu Menglong, his master, Lu Jianling, and her father-in-law hadn't done anything. They arrived in the capital in September, and the sacrificial ceremony was in late December. In more than two months, they did nothing.

Lu Jianling also fell silent. Her father-in-law, like everyone else, had been misled by the emperor's smokescreen, and his three sons, the third of whom had fooled the eldest and second eldest, had joined forces to deceive her.

As for Liu Menglong, we don't know what's going on, but Liu Menglong definitely doesn't take what Ronan provided seriously.

"If you had talked to him properly, things would have been much better," Lu Jianling could only sigh.

"I have said that, but Brother Liu has clearly become estranged from me." Ronan said helplessly. He had been associating with corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen, and Liu Menglong disapproved of his character. The two had drifted apart.

Lu Jianling downed the tea in her cup in one gulp. "You've done everything you could. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with me."

“Now that things have come to this, let’s plan for the future,” Ronan said.

Chapter 821 Gathering, Judgment, Uninvited Guest

With just a few days left until the new year, Ronan and his women gathered together. For the past six months, they had all been busy, either alone or in small groups, managing one aspect of the work, and hadn't had a chance to get together.

Now, Ronan had to call everyone together.

The back garden, which was originally a semi-abandoned place with only some ordinary flowers and plants, has now become a small garden that combines Chinese and Western styles.

Combining Chinese and Western elements is not a simple matter; if done poorly, it can result in something that is neither Chinese nor Western, creating a strong sense of incongruity and appearing incredibly tacky.

It requires someone who understands both Western and Chinese culture.

In Ronan's time, there were practically no people like that anymore. The vast majority of them neither understood Western culture nor Chinese culture, and the things they designed were like dog shit.

The small garden where Ronan and his group were staying was a perfect example of the fusion of Chinese and Western styles. It was designed by Ambrina and several local literati and crafted by professional garden artisans.

Ambriina hasn't been idle in the past six months; she's made quite a name for herself in the local arts and culture scene.

Along with Ronan and his group, they were all transformed into civilized people, rather than barbarians, through the praise of these intellectuals.

There was no way around it; these days, most of the foreigners who crossed the ocean to come to the East were either hooligans from the church or street thugs. Seris thought that foreign devils were either crazy or barbarians, and there was some truth to that.

But setting aside her identity as an empress, Ambrina was an artist, a third-rate playwright, a second-rate painter, and a first-rate musician. Coincidentally, Guangdong at that time only had second-rate literary and artistic figures, so she was a worthy opponent.

In this era, Seris himself had an overflowing cultural confidence, so his attitude towards Western culture was neither rejection nor high regard, but simply finding it interesting, especially in Guangdong, a place where there were foreigners everywhere.

They were very happy to exchange ideas with Mrs. Anne and learn about each other's culture.

And so this garden came into being.

“…That’s probably it.”

Ronan recounted the events.

At this moment, everyone's expression turned serious. This sudden major event had completely disrupted their plans.

Isabel was the first to speak, "I imagine that the next step will be for those at the very top of Seris to gather together and discuss how to eliminate the enemy leader."

Sending a large army to conquer them would be like sending them to their deaths. Ronan and his companions and subordinates are not from this world, so they don't need to follow any unspoken rule that top-level superhumans don't participate in wars.

Therefore, the key is to capture the leader first. The thief "Ronan" must be at least at the seventh rank. Those at the sixth rank are only qualified to watch, and those below that level are not even qualified to watch. Among the superhumans, the fifth rank is already considered strong, but in a battle at that level, he wouldn't be able to withstand more than two hits.

Normally, even if the world is in chaos and heroes are vying for power, those at the top will not help either side. They will only come out to help stabilize the order after the victor is determined.

There were three seventh-level cultivators at this ceremony for two reasons. First, the emperor had a seventh-level cultivator and a mysterious person, which disrupted the balance. Second, and more importantly, everyone thought beforehand that the emperor wanted to control and promote "talent transplantation and cultivation transfer," which would affect all cultivators in Seris. That's why they came.

This is similar to the time in France when Ambrina and Isabelle were vying for the throne. None of the three giants of the magical world cared about it, but later, Ronan invented the magic gun, giving novice mages the ability to deal with low-ranking orthodox mages. He also established the Ministry of the Interior and recruited extraordinary individuals on a large scale, which caused turmoil in the magical world. In the end, Ronan made a deal with Stefan and formed a friendship with Ursel, which finally calmed the storm down.

Simply put, whether in the East or the West, as long as the fundamental order is not shaken, those at the top have no interest in interfering.

The current existence of Seris, another Ronan, his companions, and a group of demons has seriously threatened "order." Ronan is exceptionally powerful and has already become a demon lord; even three seventh-tier demons could not defeat him.

“They can’t win,” Dinia said. “First, that guy is very strong. Even after Ronan and I merged, we couldn’t easily suppress him. And back then, he didn’t use his full strength or show any of his trump cards. Second, the higher you stand, the more you value your life. They all want to pursue immortality. A joint attack? Only one or two will be killed or seriously injured. The rest will definitely run away.”

There are many seventh-tier beings in Seris, currently more than twenty. If one exerts all their strength and coordinates perfectly, not many, just seven or eight, are enough to overwhelm Ronan and Dinia combined. Even the limit of another Ronan could barely withstand that.

But to give it your all and cooperate seamlessly? That's just wishful thinking.

Therefore, in Dinia's view, Seris's side was bound to fail.

"So, when the time comes, you and Ronan will go and pick up the bargains?" Ambrina asked.

In her view, even if the other Ronan could defeat all of Seris's top fighters, he would pay a heavy price. It would be the time to make a move before he recovered.

"This loophole might be hard to pick up, but we have to go."

Ronan stated.

Regardless of what the other party is trying to do, there is no doubt that he has blocked Ronan and Dinia's path. Moreover, he is another version of himself, and only by personally eliminating him can he clear his name of suspicion.

“Mm,” Dinia responded, indicating her agreement.

The others nodded silently; this was the way things had to be handled.

Just after the matter was settled, Farek suddenly spoke up, "Let me digress for a moment. I have an idea. His innate skills, combined with our potions and meditation techniques, might create a stable and safe way to grant talents to mortals."

“That’s something for later,” Isabel said.

“No, it’s about what’s happening now,” Faith interjected, shaking her finger. “With me and Faith, we can conduct reverse research on people who have been affected by that red light.”

Ronan nodded. "Alright, you guys take your time to study it. I estimate that after the New Year, Seris's top experts will gather and set off. At that time, Didi and I will go together, and you guys just stay here."

Just then, a man's voice suddenly appeared, "You're not ready yet."

The next instant, a man's figure appeared before Ronan and his group.

Dressed in white, with her hair tied up in a blue gauze crown, she stood with her hands behind her back. Her face reminded Dinia of what Lavigne had said to her long ago before she committed suicide: "He's more handsome than your man." "I don't need to introduce him; you'll know when you see him."

"Are you the man Lavigne was talking about?" Dinia asked.

A flicker of melancholy crossed the man's face, but he quickly smiled and asked casually, "Is she dead?"

"you!"

Enraged, Dinia stood up abruptly and threw a punch. No one could stop her; she landed a blow on the man's face.

Chapter 822 Questions and Answers: What is Collective Wisdom? (Self-Introduction)

The man was struck in the face as if by a solid cannonball. His head snapped back, and he was propelled into the air, creating a gust of wind that crushed the plants and flowers on the ground. In the blink of an eye, his body flew almost parallel to the ground, his head smashing through artificial hills, statues, and walls before he flew out of the garden. Just as he was about to reach the nearest house, the man twitched his fingers slightly, stopping him in mid-air. He landed firmly, grabbed his neck with one hand, and snapped it back into place with a crack.

Then, with a small jump on flat ground, as if in a still frame, the man reappeared in front of Ronan and his group.

Besides his strikingly handsome face, his aura of power was even more dazzling at this moment.

He is a seventh-order rank, Ronan confirmed.

“It seems your Chinese isn’t very good,” the man said to Dinia.

He meant that Dinya hadn't understood his previous statement.

Dinia, still clenching her fist, replied, "I know you mean she'll be free now that she's dead, but I can't stand that you're not even willing to express a trace of sadness."

The man shook his head slightly. "Different people express their feelings in different ways. This is something a child like you, who is not even a hundred years old, cannot understand."

Dinia looked like she was about to start another debate, not even considering that she had never won one. Ronan quickly stood up and held her down, while looking at the man in front of him, "Just tell me what you're here for."

The man put his hands behind his back again. "Before I tell you why I'm here, I'll ask you a question: After you've met Lavigne, which path do you plan to take?"

Ronan was still considering whether to tell the truth, but Dinia had already answered, "Of course, it's about turning supernatural powers into powers that everyone can possess, and using the collective wisdom of humanity to solve the apocalyptic crisis."

The man sneered, “Collective wisdom? Whether it’s the research of superhumans into the field of superhuman power, or the research of mortals into those technologies, breakthroughs in related fields are always achieved through individual flashes of inspiration and individual efforts. Most people can only maintain the current system and cannot play a role in promoting it.”

Dinya certainly disagreed, but she couldn't come up with a rebuttal for the time being.

Ronan spoke again, "You should have been to Paradise, and may even have seen what it looked like when it was at its peak. Then you should understand that the crystallization of individual wisdom is the fruit nurtured by the soil of the collective."

In Ronan's original timeline, if Darren hadn't attended a good university and the social environment wasn't what it was, could Sir Richard have achieved such success? Impossible. He would have been forced to farm and herd cattle.

"How many people are there in the world now? Hundreds of millions, but there are only a few hundred thousand extraordinary individuals among them. Add to that the educated ordinary people, and there are only a little over a million. Is it more likely that a few geniuses will emerge from a few million people, or is it more likely that a few geniuses will emerge from a few hundred million people?"

"Moreover, in the current environment, no geniuses can emerge at all. Among the extraordinary individuals, those below the rank of Zhengwei only think about using their strength, which is stronger than that of ordinary people, to make a fortune and live a comfortable life. Among the Zhengwei individuals, most of the lower-ranking ones are single-mindedly thinking about using their magic in a more destructive direction as a form of military intimidation to gain wealth and power. As for the middle-ranking ones, they either think about going further or developing their families, while the first-ranking ones are thinking about pursuing immortality."

"Among the extraordinary individuals, almost none of them think about this world. They only have cultivation or violence in their minds, because violence can bring them what they want under the current rules."

"As for scholars among mortals, their purpose in studying is to become slaves of a higher rank."

"Under such an atmosphere, geniuses who can think about the world and solve the apocalyptic crisis will never emerge."

In fact, it is more accurate to say that it is the wisdom of the times rather than the wisdom of the collective.

"Finally, those who live forever, though their bodies remain young, their hearts will slowly grow old. Perhaps today I would still think of taking a gamble, but in a few decades, I might not think that way anymore. I might simply reduce the number of superhumans, or delay the end of the world through other means. In the end, I can only regret it when I am about to die, regretting that I did not act impulsively when I was young."

Ronan shared his thoughts.

His support for Dinia was never as simple as it seemed.

The man in white did not express his opinion, neither nodding nor shaking his head, but simply said, "Alright, now I can explain my purpose. I came because you are still too weak. Even if you two combine into one, you can only defeat that one demon spirit, not him."

“Ha, the magic of fate isn’t something you can just improve at will,” Ronan laughed.

The advantage of fate magic is that magic power can be gradually increased, and once a certain level is reached, a major decision can be made to advance the level.

But this also means that fate magic cannot advance by leaps and bounds. No matter what, a person with fate magic can never be like his daughter Astrid, who reached the fifth rank at the age of twenty.

Dinia, this freak with an innate and enormous amount of magic, is an exception.

"It's not that difficult, really. Just increase the upper limit of magic power," the man said.

Ronan did not respond.

Each tier has twice the magic power of the previous tier. If the unit for each tier is one, then Ronan would need sixty-four units to advance to tier seven.

At the normal pace, it would take decades to accumulate that much magic power.

"You can directly increase a person's maximum magic power?" Dinia asked.

“I can’t, but someone can,” the man said, looking at Kate Pierre sitting in the distance.

“What are you looking at me for? I don’t have that ability. And you’d better get out of my sight,” Kate said in a low voice, her eyes filled with barely suppressed murderous intent. This man had betrayed her best friend, and although it was probably Lavigne’s own will, she didn’t approve, she didn’t approve of Lavigne, and she didn’t approve of this man.

Ignoring Kate's hostility, the man continued, "In Seris, there is another visitor from another world who should have a way to greatly enhance your magic."