Yes, Madam Prime Minister

“You’re amazing,” Ambrina said, her heartfelt thought after witnessing Ronan completely dominate the five men.

She already knew about Dinia's mayoral election, and through Alice, she learned about the situation in the seven special cities. She knew very well that the five people she had just met were actually the secretaries-general of the other five special cities, people who were like lords.

But these five people were like cotton candy in front of Ronan; he could mold them into whatever shape he wanted.

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness, but your view is wrong. I am not powerful. In terms of ability and experience, I am no match for any of those five. I only have a weapon that they do not have. It is like a sickly boy with a musket facing five knights with longswords and superb martial arts skills. Because I have a musket, I can suppress them."

Ronan explained this principle to the princess.

On the one hand, this was indeed the case; on the other hand, Ronan did not want the princess to think too highly of him.

Ambrina paused for a moment, "I think I understand a little bit, but there are still many people who don't understand."

Ronan said, “Your Highness, this is merely my humble opinion. Once you return to the capital, you can consult those learned and experienced scholars. They are a thousand times better than an ignorant person like me from a remote place.”

“You mean those old men? They drag out their sentences even longer than you do, and they use words I can’t understand at all. I can understand what you and Alice are saying,” Ambrina muttered, recalling some uncomfortable memories. “The younger ones either make up stories or talk about really useless things. And, and, they’re not good-looking. I don’t like listening to them.”

Ronan almost burst out laughing; he hadn't expected that this princess was such a sucker for good looks.

However, as the future queen of the kingdom, and at an age where she could marry at any time, His Majesty the King would certainly not allow handsome and truly insightful young men to approach her.

Wait a minute, isn't he a handsome man with some knowledge?

Damn, if the king finds out, he'll probably send a group of mages to obliterate him.

No, we must stay away from this princess; it's too dangerous.

“Your Highness, I suddenly remembered that I have official business to discuss with Ms. Dinia, so I will take my leave now. Please contact Alice if you need anything.”

Ronan immediately slipped away.

After leaving his home, Ronan went straight to the mayor's office at the city hall.

At this moment, Dinia was working with Yvette on some documents that Ronan had already processed. These were remnants of some government affairs left over from the last period of Winston's administration. There was nothing particularly important about them, except for the matter of renaming Blackfish Harbor.

“Madam Mayor, I have something to discuss with you.” Ronan went straight to the point, glancing at Yvette as if to suggest that she step aside.

Since her apparent reconciliation with Ronan, Yvette no longer made snide remarks to him as she used to. She stood up, nodded to Dinia, and then stepped outside.

“Speak, what is it?” Dinia said.

"When will Your Highness leave?" Ronan asked.

Dinia looked puzzled. Why was Ronan suddenly concerned about Ambrina? Only the King and she knew about the King's plan to hold an exam to choose a son-in-law; even Ambrina, the person involved, was unaware of it.

"Why ask that question?" Dinia asked.

“Here’s the thing, my maid Alice…” Ronan took a few minutes to explain Alice and Ambrina’s situation, “In short, the princess thinks I’m quite capable and wants me to answer some questions for her, but I really can’t handle this kind of thing.”

Seeing Ronan struggling because he didn't want to have too much contact with Ambrina, Dinia was first pleased, and then a little smug. "Oh, so there are things you can't handle."

"Madam, I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, but are some of the princess's questions really my responsibility to answer? I'm still young and want to live a few more years."

Ronan said.

He certainly wouldn't dare say things like he was afraid that the princess might express her affection for him, or that His Majesty the King might, in a fit of rage, send dozens of sorcerers to obliterate him.

Dinia sat up straight. "To be honest, I don't know when she'll go back. The capital will soon be in turmoil."

Ronan was stunned. The statement that the capital had been in turmoil recently was simply too shocking.

"I'll take my leave now." Ronan ran away. Compared to getting close to the princess and hearing some inside information he shouldn't have heard, he might die even faster.

Seeing Ronan's hasty escape, Dinia's expression turned serious after a brief smile.

Before leaving the capital, the king told her some things.

Three years after that incident, it wasn't Isabella who sent someone to stab the Queen's brother in the kidney, but His Majesty the King himself. And soon, the Queen's brother will likely suffer the same fate; he won't just lose a kidney, but his head.

He wasn't the only one who lost his head.

His Majesty the King, whose condition is worsening, must begin to clear obstacles from the path he envisions.

Chapter Sixty-Two: An old comrade, a professional, single-minded.

In the evening, before Ronan had even started his dinner, the White Star City Secretary General, Bar, arrived with another secretary general, Alves.

Alves Frank, the oldest and least talkative of the five secretaries who had visited before, was fifty-nine years old, only a little younger than Barr.

Without him saying a word, Ronan knew that he was prepared to accept the position of chief judicial officer that Ronan had previously mentioned.

Sure enough, in critical moments, the experienced veteran is the most reliable. When people get old, they don't think about whether there will be a chance tomorrow; they only think about seizing the day. After all, their "today" is running out, and they understand very well that once this opportunity is gone, it's gone forever.

As for the other four, they are still too young and naive, and need to learn more.

"Please sit down, please sit down." Ronan quickly stepped forward to greet him. "Alas, I was too arrogant as a young man before. I hope you don't mind, Frank."

“Young people are bound to have tempers, that’s normal. I was like that when I was young too.” Old man Alves slowly sat down, his tone as kind and gentle as a kind old man, as if the person who had cursed Ronan as a little bastard in his heart was not him at all.

Ronan also had a smile on his face. "The newly established city is a brand new ship. It still needs an old seaman like you to be in charge so that it can sail smoothly. You have seen a lot in your life, so you are very clear about the law and human feelings. It is only right that you should sit in that position."

He was very direct, meaning that since you're here, this position is yours.

The old man waved his hand modestly, "I'm just helping you young people out. To be honest, although I'm an old man in good spirits, I'm getting old, and I might just pass away one day from a moment of emotional outburst, don't you think? But I was born and raised here, and as long as I have a breath left, I will do my best to do my job well."

The old man was clearly setting conditions. He was willing to let him take the blame, since he didn't have many years left to live anyway, but he wanted him to stay in the position indefinitely, without any three- or five-year terms.

"Alright, the mayor is very open-minded. As long as she's in the mayor's seat, she'll definitely support someone as experienced and passionate about their work as you."

Ronan's words were a way of agreeing to the old man's conditions, but at the same time, he reminded the old man that the city of Sher, which the old man represented, must be defeated by Dinia, otherwise he could lose his official position.

"Understood, understood. I'm here now, so I need to get some sleep. I'll take my leave now."

Old man Alves got up to take his leave. He had said what he needed to say, and there was no need for him to stay any longer.

Baal also left with him.

Before the two had even stepped out of Ronan's house, they saw another secretary, Antoine, the youngest of the five, who was only thirty-seven years old.

Antoine was shocked to see Alves; he never expected to be a step too late, and that the old man would beat him to it.

“Antoine, you still lack boldness, haha.” Old man Alves teased him, then his face darkened. “By the way, I, this old man, was once a judge, while you, the son of a loan shark, are just in charge of money.”

Antoine's face twitched. "You're right, my family is in the loan business, so I have money."

“Ronan never accepts bribes, and that mayor will certainly not take your money,” old man Alves reminded him.

“Money can be used in many ways.” With that, Antoine walked straight into Ronan’s front yard.

The next day, the other three secretaries-general also came to visit.

Each has its own unique style.

It must be said that when it comes to official positions, bureaucrats may say they don't want them, but their actions speak louder than words.

Even if an official has to take the blame and offend people, he's still an official.

Many people would love to take the blame for this, but no one has the connections to do so.

However, in the end, Alves, the old man, was chosen. The reason was simple: the old man's influence was the weakest, and the other few were too complicated and difficult to control.

As for the old man's experience in legal work, it was a plus for Dinia. She felt that professional matters should be handled by professionals, and even praised Ronan for recommending a good candidate.

Ronan was in a difficult position, because his expertise was not a plus for him, but a minus. He truly understood the law. Once the land repossession was over, would Ronan be able to fool him in the future? He'd be lucky if the old man didn't turn the tables on him.

May the gods have pity on this old man who, despite his advanced age, still burns himself out to illuminate others, and take him to heaven soon.

Now, Dinia has a stable three votes, and even the remaining four votes shouldn't be too difficult to obtain.

The logic is simple. The secretaries-general of the remaining four special cities will definitely be thinking about one question: Dinia has already won by a large margin. Although they still have four votes, they still have a chance to win if they unite as one. But what if someone secretly sides with Ronan, or even if they unite, they still can't win?

Doesn't that mean I'm destined to be tormented by Ronan in the future?

The only solution is to remain neutral and pretend that nothing happened.

As for the officials under the Secretary-General, and the merchants and landlords who stood with them, seeing that they were likely to lose, as intelligent people and as people with assets, they did not think about making a desperate gamble, but rather how to surrender, how to surrender gracefully.

Only a dignified surrender can ensure a dignified future after the merger, right?

Indeed, with more than twenty days until the vote, officials, businessmen, and landowners from all over the seven special cities had already started flocking to Ronan's place. Elena had even started collecting environmental protection fees at Ronan's doorstep. There was no other way; too many carriages were coming, and the horse manure was polluting the environment, so they had to collect environmental protection fees.

However, Ronan did not meet with most of them, but instead directed them to Yvette, the future mayor's private secretary.

On the one hand, Yvette had reconciled with him and was no longer targeting him, so Ronan had to repay her by letting her get to know the real influential people in the seven special cities, which would facilitate her future work.

On the other hand, it was time for Ronan to keep a low profile. He couldn't let his superior, Dinia, think that he was someone who could command a large following locally and could sideline her at any time.

So, after meeting with guests for several days in a row, Ronan took another day off.

He planned to go fishing with Elena.

To Ronan's utter surprise, Princess Ambrina was also coming, saying she had never been to sea before.

Ronan certainly didn't want to bring the princess along. Firstly, he and Elena wanted to relax at sea, and secondly, he really didn't want to be bothered by the princess with those questions.

But Ronan couldn't refuse, so he went to Dinia and asked her to persuade the princess.

"Don't let her gentle and easy-going appearance fool you. She's actually quite stubborn, and I can't persuade her. Just be careful yourself," Dinia said.

"Is it really appropriate for Your Highness to go to sea with a man like me?"

"Don't you still have your two maids? Besides, no one else will know about this."

Chapter Sixty-Three: Preservation, Cooking, Weapons

In the end, Ronan agreed to take Princess Ambrina out to sea.

Taking the princess out to sea, it's impossible to use the small fishing boat that only one or two people can operate. He can't possibly have the princess squeezed into a room with him, can he? He'd probably be blasted to smithereens by the mage squad.

Ronan borrowed a small sailboat, about ten meters long, from his old friend Pierre the Fat in White Star City.

Such a ship could not be piloted by just one or two people, so Ronan also found a young sea lizard priest and four sailors to steer it.

The purpose of this trip is no longer to spend a day at sea and then return, but to depart from Leyte to Saco Island, which is 130 kilometers off the coast, stay there for two days, and then set off back to Leyte.

Before setting off, I did some shopping.

Ambrina also went to the market and bought a lot of vegetables and meat, which she then put into her "little house". The so-called little house is an alternate dimension that Ambrina's magic connects to. Compared to her ancestors, her magical power is indeed not strong, so she cannot put living things in it. The space is also not large, just a room of about 200 square meters and 3 meters high.

However, the preservation ability of her space is practically time-freezing. According to her, potato chips put in there for several months are still crispy when taken out.

As for freshwater, there's no need. All seven special municipalities are major wine-producing areas, so just drink the wine directly.

After completing their shopping, Ronan, along with two maids, Ambrina, and five seapipers, set sail in a small sailboat towards Saco Island.

As soon as they set sail, Ambrina leaned on the railing, her face beaming with excitement. She would sometimes look down at the rolling waves, and sometimes gaze at the horizon where the sea met the sky. She would run from the bow to the stern, just like a child who had just received a new toy.

Ronan now completely believed what the princess had said earlier; it really was her first time at sea, and she had never experienced such scenery before.

While the princess admired the scenery, Ronan was preparing a meal. There was no way around it; both maids were utterly useless. Elena's culinary skills were limited to baking bread and making Italian pasta—oops, Venaian pasta. As for Alice, she was also not very good at cooking. The best cook on the entire ship was Ronan himself, and to entertain Her Highness the princess, he naturally had to take charge.

At noon, Ronan presented a simple meal.

The appetizer was a seafood trio: boiled lobster balls with sea urchin and caviar. There was no fancy technique involved; it was all about freshness and sweetness.

Next came the soup, cream soup.

The main course was red wine stewed beef, a common dish in the southern part of the kingdom, and a cold dish of garlic-flavored pork belly, which could only be found here.

Then came the soup. Ronan used a Chinese cooking method, making clear chicken soup with fish balls, which could cleanse the palate and remove greasiness.

The main course was spaghetti bolognese sprinkled with black truffle bits. The northern forest region of Wright is one of the main production areas of black truffles, and one of them costs less than the cold cake that Ambrina ate back then.

The second main dish was mashed potatoes with cheese.

The dessert was orange-flavored ice cream. Since both main courses were quite flavorful, the dessert should have a refreshing taste, rather than being overly sweet.

“I didn’t expect Mr. Ronan to be such a good cook,” Ambrina said.

“You flatter me,” Ronan said.

His practical skills weren't high, but when it came to theory, he was far ahead. Before he transmigrated, he loved watching cooking videos, both domestic and foreign. After transmigrating, he had both money and free time, so he conducted many culinary experiments and even created some dishes.

“It’s better than what my family’s chef makes, really,” Ambrina said earnestly. “Especially the pork.”

Ronan was taken aback.

He was so stupid, really. All he knew was that it took ten minutes to walk from the kitchen to the dining table in Ambrina's house, and that she was frugal and didn't tolerate waste. So the pastry chef, in order to make money, raised the price of each dessert and created an overly sweet, cold cake.

But they forgot one thing: if pastry chefs are like this, then head chefs for main courses can't be much better.

Even if Ambrina's servants were replaced after that incident three years ago, it wouldn't change much, since the royal chef is, in a sense, a civil servant.

The imperial chef wouldn't cook the dishes too well, lest she become too picky about food, and he certainly wouldn't cook seasonal delicacies for her, lest she be unable to eat something she wanted.

It's the same principle as civil servants hoping to cultivate a political official who isn't so decisive.

“Miss Ambrina, this is just your feeling after trying a new dish. Please believe me, even the best dishes will not taste good if you eat them too often.”