Yes, Madam Prime Minister

If it's the kind with reinforced materials, you can buy five of them for the price of one copper flintlock musket.

Ronan put his luggage on the carriage, took the pancake, and called out, "Let's go." He didn't need to tell the coachman where they were going; he already knew.

On the way, the person who received him talked about his own identity. Ronan was shocked. This person was not even a temporary worker of the organization. He was a person in charge of collecting stall fees at the farmers' market. In fact, he was a small-time gang leader who had been recruited.

Initially, the agency responsible for receiving officials from other places subcontracted the task to the city management center, which in turn subcontracted it to these thugs.

It seems that New Sea City is still not good enough. If we're talking about true fantasy, we still have to go for Royal Capital.

Not long after, the carriage carrying Ronan arrived at a large riverside hotel.

After paying the fare, Ronan carried his luggage inside. This place wasn't cheap, costing thirty silver dragons a month, but fortunately, all services were included.

On the other side, after watching Ronan go inside, the person who received him walked into a small alley.

He started from his chin and swept his hair upwards, all the way to the back of his head, transforming his face from a sleazy middle-aged man into a handsome young man, and his hair from messy short curly hair into a meticulously slicked-back style.

Chapter 156 Novelty, Comparison of the Worst, High-Level Errand

The kingdom comprises a total of twenty-seven state-level administrative regions, including twenty-one ordinary states in the mainland, four border provinces located in the north, northeast, northwest, and southwest, and two colonial governorates located in the eastern coastal region of the New World and the eastern part of the Southern Continent.

There are a total of 276 cities under each state, and the size and population of each city vary greatly. There is a commercial and industrial center like Sama, which has a population of 670,000, more than the combined population of the seven special cities, second only to the capital.

Many cities also have very small populations. For example, Ariel, a city located in the valley region where the central and southern parts of the country meet, has a large area but a total population of less than 10,000, which is less than the population of Ronan's original city of Wright.

More than half of the city's population is around 100,000.

Most secretaries-general are actually similar to the retainers of small lords in feudal times, because their jurisdictions do not have powerful nobles or big merchants who are difficult to deal with or who are not easy to offend. There are also very few troublesome urban classes represented by workers, let alone ethnic or racial issues. The vast majority of the people under their jurisdiction are farmers without any problems.

Of course, this doesn't mean that farmers are truly without problems, but rather that the problems with farmers have already been resolved.

Unfortunately, the place where Ronan is now staying is filled with more than twenty secretaries-general who arrived two days before him, and they are all basically the same kind of people.

Their work was tedious and boring, and their knowledge was not much greater than that of the retainers of a feudal lord.

The capital was new to them, but the people from Ronan, this large fishing village in the south, were even more new to them.

Ronan gave a brief introduction, and they immediately gathered around.

"I've heard that fishermen eat black bread. Why don't they eat fish?"

"Mr. Artes, do you also have Seapiper people over there? Do they really have gills on their necks?"

"What kind of questions are these? The surname Artes is unique to Earl Artes. How could Mr. Artes, as a descendant of the Earl, have contact with those people?"

"I heard that the raw sugar in the Southern Continent is all transported from there. Is sugar very cheap where you are?"

Faced with these questions, Ronan could only answer with words like "Oh," "probably," and "maybe."

This group of people had no concept of the South, did not know that Ronan had long ago voluntarily relinquished his family's noble titles, and did not even know that the current mayor of New Sea City was Dinia. Otherwise, given their behavior, they would definitely keep asking about Dinia.

However, even if they did ask, they would probably ask questions like "Is Dinya really that beautiful?" or "Is Dinya really a lesbian?"

What's even more frightening than these things is that this group of people lacks basic economic awareness.

They can even ask questions like "Why don't fishermen eat fish?" or "Is sugar very cheap in the south?"

Ronan initially thought the officials in the special city were of low caliber, but upon comparison, he realized that any department head he randomly picked was probably more competent than this group of secretaries-general.

Indeed, this is a world where everyone is trying to be the worst.

After lunch, Ronan made a decision: he would look for a luxury hotel in the afternoon, and if he could find one, he would check out of the hotel the next morning and stay there.

At the luxury hotel, Ronan might run into the secretaries-general of the thriving maritime cities on the west coast of the kingdom. Ronan originally didn't want to run into these people because they might see him as a competitor. He was just here for tourism and wanted to quietly get through the month.

But now, Ronan would rather be with people who might see him as a competitor than be with this group of people who, despite not being very old, look like antiques. It's too uncomfortable.

Ronan casually asked a local and, without much trouble, found a luxurious hotel, the Grand Ducal Theatre Hotel. This hotel had a history of over a hundred years and was built after the War of the Two Kings by Loire, the sixth brother of King Lawrence, a man whom Ronan admired.

Loire was granted the title of Duke for his meritorious service in managing logistics instead of fleeing the country. However, he did not ask for the fiefdom and resigned from his official post. He only asked for a piece of land at the bridgehead, which he developed in just a few years. After the development, he sold off a series of businesses, including hotels and theaters. Only the land remained his, and his descendants live off the rent. To this day, they are doing very well.

He famously said, "People who grow up in a honey pot are doomed if they get involved in politics, ruin their businesses if they go bankrupt, and watching plays and playing around with women are the right path for them."

The Duke Theatre Hotel is located just across the river from the cathedral, which is on the south bank. The hotel is on the north bank, separated by a bridge, making it very convenient to access.

He found a new place to stay and booked a room. Ronan ate a meal there by himself and planned to stay one more night as planned, then check out and find another place tomorrow.

Back at the inn, Ronan was surprised to find the "Emblem Man" talking to a mage. Judging from the magical aura emanating from the mage, he was a second-tier mage.

"The Herald" was a nickname Ronan gave himself. This person was the one who had previously pointed out that Ronan was a descendant of an earl. There was almost no family in the kingdom whose history he didn't know. Ronan had basically forgotten what his own family's herald looked like, but this person could still draw a rough outline with a pen.

It's normal for heralds and magicians to speak very politely.

Of the nearly 20 million people in the entire kingdom, only tens of thousands can be called magicians, and a few thousand are at the highest rank. Among them, those at the first rank make up a significant proportion, and those at the second rank are considered elites, who are always honored guests wherever they go.

Upon seeing Ronan approach, the magician bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, Lord Artes."

"Is something the matter?" Ronan asked.

“Someone who greatly admires you has asked me to invite you to be their guest,” the magician said.

The person behind the scenes who can get a second-tier mage to run errands must be someone of considerable status.

"Please lead the way." Ronan did not refuse.

Ronan followed the magician into the carriage. By then it was already dark, and he could hardly see anything around him. In addition, the carriage had taken many twists and turns along the way, and Ronan was not familiar with the capital. When they stopped, he could only guess that he was roughly in the eastern part of the North Shore, but he had no idea of ​​his exact location.

Next, they followed the magician into a villa.

The villa was small, covering an area of ​​about 300 square meters, not much bigger than Ronan's house, but the interior was indeed very luxurious. There were more than a dozen lights in the living room, making the whole room brightly lit. In this era, lights were an absolute luxury.

After the magician left, there were four other people in the living room besides Ronan: a maid and three men around thirty years old. The three men looked relaxed but sat upright, and it was clear that they were also guests.

After introducing themselves, Ronan and the other three learned each other's identities.

Sure enough, he was a guest, just like Ronan, and also the secretary-general of a city.

The three individuals were the secretaries-general of Bretu, Caroline, and Ariel, respectively. Bretu is a vital seaport city on the west coast, connecting to and from the New World. Caroline is located in the northeast of the kingdom and is known for its iron ore. Ariel, though sparsely populated, is a crucial stop on one of the north-south transportation routes.

Chapter 157 Secretary-General, Princess, you stay

The places where these three people work are all of greater importance than New Sea City, where Ronan is located.

Without a doubt, these three individuals are all from privileged backgrounds and possess exceptional qualities and abilities. In this era, it would be impossible for someone without a powerful background to hold the position of city secretary-general in such an important place at the age of thirty.

They lack the ability and it's impossible for them to be capable. The mayor might be an incompetent person because the mayor is elected, but the secretary-general is a civil servant who is promoted through examination.

It's not that promotions are purely based on ability and don't depend on connections, but in this kind of place, who among the civil servants doesn't have connections? If your dad is the governor and my dad is the mayor, does that mean you're guaranteed to get promoted? Not necessarily. The civil service system isn't that simple.

Of course, if my dad is the mayor and your dad is nothing, then you are nothing.

In short, if Ronan really wants to compete for the qualification to "learn" in the central department, these three are his competitors.

However, Ronan really had absolutely no interest in it.

After Ronan and the other three introduced themselves, the four of them stopped chatting and the living room fell into a dull silence.

All four of them were composed individuals. Ten minutes passed, and even the maid beside them couldn't help but pace back and forth, opening her mouth several times as if to speak, but the four of them remained seated and motionless.

Ten minutes later, the sound of someone pushing open the door broke the silence.

The woman who entered had medium-length, slightly wavy brown hair in a ponytail, dark eyes, and very fair skin. Her face resembled Ambrina's in three ways: thick, dark eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and a pointed nose tip. However, her eyes were quite different. Ambrina had standard almond-shaped eyes that were very soft, while this woman's eyes were slightly slanted upwards, giving her a sharp gaze.

She was about 166 cm tall, a head taller than Ambrina, and looked more slender and athletic. She wore a white shirt, a blue scarf, a red military-style jacket, dark brown riding breeches, and black knee-high riding boots.

If there are no surprises, this woman should be Ambrina's younger sister, Princess Isabelle.

She looks more like an older sister, not in terms of age—she looks like a little girl—but in terms of her demeanor.

Isabel immediately sat down opposite the four people upon arrival. "I am Isabel Freigo."

Instantly, apart from Ronan, who had already guessed who she was, the other three all showed varying degrees of surprise and nervousness.

Isabel ignored the four people's reactions and continued, "I don't have any particular purpose. I just want to tell you four some news. After this Secretary-General's Council meeting, there will be ten spots for long-term study in the central departments."

Upon hearing this, Ronan remained calm, and the other three didn't react much either, since the news had already spread, but they didn't know that there were actually ten spots available.

“I’d like to hear your thoughts and opinions on this matter,” Isabel said.

She had no idea what her father was up to, so she wanted to hear what he had to say.

In fact, not only her, but no one in the capital could say for sure that they understood the king's intentions.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I have no opinion."

"All I can say is that I will fulfill my obligations conscientiously."

"Strictly abide by all regulations."

The three men spoke with impeccable words and an attitude that was neither humble nor arrogant. The reason was simple: they did not belong to any of the three factions vying for the throne. In fact, most officials and nobles were not involved in the struggle for the throne most of the time.

Isabel looked at Ronan.

Ronan sighed. Dinia was part of Ambrina's faction, and he was naturally labeled as belonging to the same faction. Princess Isabel in front of him knew this, so he couldn't remain silent.

"Perhaps, they want to select some young people to be trained in the central government. After all, the future king will be young, and young people always have more in common."

Ronan was talking nonsense.

The three were stunned, astonished by Ronan's audacity. He said the future king was a young man, which was tantamount to saying the current king wouldn't live much longer. Although this was common knowledge, knowing and saying were two different things.

At the same time, I was also surprised by Ronan's speculation. Was he really stupid, or was he doing it on purpose? If it was on purpose, then he was treating the second princess like a fool.

A hint of displeasure flashed across Isabelle's face.

Some have suggested that the king's move was intended to help Ambrina, but Isabel simply told him to get out.

This conjecture is completely untenable. These secretaries are all in their thirties, and when her father passes away, they will be close to forty, which is the peak of a political animal's abilities. Ambrina, on the other hand, will only be in her twenties at that time. How could she possibly control such "assistance"?

The founding monarch, Orlando, commanded a group of people in his twenties thanks to his unparalleled military prowess. Lawrence, who turned the tide, commanded a group of people thanks to his courage in leading his troops to confront the allied forces of three nations.

What does Ambrina have?

Moreover, after her father created this situation, he left it to his own devices, letting the subordinate departments handle it as they pleased, without any indication that he was trying to select anyone in particular.

In any case, Isabel didn't know what her father was thinking, and no one else could figure out what His Majesty was thinking either.

Unable to extract any useful information from them, Isabel ran her fingers along the sofa armrest to calm her agitated emotions. "If you encounter any difficulties in the coming days, you can go to the tailor shop at 17 Garden Street and give the letter to a tailor named Blaise. I will do my best to help you resolve any problems."

This was just a casual remark; Isabelle didn't expect the three of them to contact her.

"grateful."

The three expressed their gratitude, but at the same time, they secretly resolved never to have any involvement with Isabel.

"Thank you," Ronan replied, also expressing his gratitude.

After they finished speaking, the three of them got up to leave. Ronan also got up to leave, but Isabel called him back alone.

After a while, only Ronan and Isabel remained in the room.

"Have you seen her?" Isabelle asked.

"Who?" Ronan asked.

“My sister,” Isabel replied, staring at Ronan. After Dinia left, her sister Ambrina also disappeared, only to return several dozen days later. Isabel didn’t know where Ambrina had gone, but it was highly likely that she had left the capital with Dinia and gone to New Sea City in the south, where Ronan was the secretary-general.

"I've only met him twice." Ronan's lies came out of his mouth without hesitation.

Isabelle had no doubts, because in her eyes, the main reason for letting Ambrina go with Dinia was that her father wanted her and her mother to understand one thing: Dinia was the one who would protect Ambrina in the future.

Ronan? He's certainly a very talented person, but what does that have to do with Ambrina?

Isabel suddenly changed the subject, "Adrian said in his letter that you are a person with great insight into reform."

"I'm just a serious executor," Ronan replied.

“If you have lofty goals, my sister is not a good choice.”

Chapter 158 Refusal, Again, How Dare They Say It's Not Tasty?

Isabelle is very direct: "Putting aside her personality, the people who are truly committed to reform are not on her side."

This is a clear invitation to recruit.

Ronan chuckled inwardly. She wasn't here now, but if Ambrina became queen, she would be. Reformers could switch allegiances just as quickly as sycophants.

The same was true of the capitalists who surrounded the queen.

After all, these days everyone just wants reform, no one wants to start a revolution.

Reform inevitably involves dependence on power.

"I'm a rather lazy person, too lazy to change jobs. Maybe it's because I'm a magician and I have a way out. Even if I lose my official position in the end, it's not a particularly big problem."

Ronan replied with this sentence, indicating his refusal.

"Although you rejected me, I still welcome you to join us."