Yes, Madam Prime Minister

There's a reason she's so agitated.

Although she hadn't done much these days, she had still traveled to many places and discovered that immigrants from the mainland were living very poor lives in the colonies.

The workers, in particular, sometimes work up to nine hours a day.

Nine hours sounds wonderful, but were the colonists really that kind-hearted? Of course not. This is because it wasn't the industrial age with the widespread use of large machines yet. Instead, it was the era of manual manufacturing with only small machines. There weren't as many jobs available, and workers couldn't perform repetitive labor for more than ten hours a day like industrial workers.

Indigenous people are certainly in a worse situation, because the workers among them do the most basic and laborious work. They absolutely do not have any of the easier technical positions.

For example, in iron smelting, indigenous workers were responsible for mining coal and transporting it. In wool textiles, they were responsible for shearing and washing wool.

Immigrants suffer, but indigenous people suffer even more.

Dinia wanted to change this situation, but after more than two years as mayor, she had matured.

In the past, she would have wanted to arrest these officials immediately, and she could have done so. Yvette had already gathered a lot of evidence, and Agustina had accepted the governor's military duties.

But she wouldn't do that now. She knows that to make changes, she must first ensure that the total production volume absolutely cannot be reduced, otherwise she, as the governor, would be derelict in her duty.

Is there any way to increase the total value of agriculture while also slightly improving the lives of farmers and workers?

Dinia had considered referencing the model of New Sea City, which had seen rapid economic growth while also raising the living standards of many people, but she quickly dismissed the idea.

The new city and the colonies are too different; blindly copying them will only make things worse.

Dinia misses Ronan even more than she did when he left Xinhai City for the capital. Back then, she was just a little overwhelmed by the endless tricks of some officials, but now, she's not just unable to do anything, she can't even think of what to do.

"Commander, thinking about men again?"

At that moment, Agustina's voice came from behind Dinia.

Dinya did not immediately respond.

Agustina was shocked. Shouldn't the captain be scolding her at this moment?

"My God, Captain, you don't actually want a man, do you?" Agustina exclaimed.

Dinia continued to look out the window. "I just have a lot of questions in my mind and want someone to help me answer them."

"What do you mean 'someone'? It's Ronan, isn't it?" Agustina teased. "It seems you really like this guy, Captain. When are you going to make him your lover?"

Dinia put her feet down, sat up, and faced Agustina. "Can't you be serious for once?"

“I’m being serious. In two years, he’ll be marrying that princess. Will you still be able to rely on him like you do now? Of course, I’m being a bit pragmatic here, but putting that aside, Commander, you’re almost thirty. In thirty years of your life, he’s probably your only male friend. Hurry up and make your move, and you’ll have both a successful career and a happy marriage.”

“This is no problem. Commander, just beckon him with your finger and he’ll pounce on you right away.”

Agustina got more and more excited as she spoke.

Dinia simply raised her hand, and a giant red mushroom hand grabbed her and threw her out of the window.

After Agustina left, Dinia continued drinking, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep on the recliner.

In a daze, something warm and soft touched her private parts. She looked down and saw that it was Ronan licking her through a layer of flesh-colored pantyhose. She herself was not wearing any underwear under her pantyhose, and her white pubic hair, the same color as her hair, was clearly visible.

"Ronan!" Dinia called out, and just as she was about to reach out to push him away, she suddenly woke up.

Only then did she realize that she was still on the recliner. She lifted her skirt, and there, inside her flesh-colored pantyhose, were her white panties.

It was just a brief nightmare.

Four days later, at night.

Agustina knocked on the door. "Captain, I've brought you what you've been longing for."

Dinia beckoned with her finger, and a mushroom hand sprouted from the wall, opened the door, and Ronan's smiling face appeared in her sight.

"Long time no see, Your Excellency," Ronan greeted him, still in that irritating bureaucratic tone.

"Yes," Dinia responded, then asked, "Is it urgent?"

“It’s urgent, we’ll talk on the way.” Ronan said, walking to the window, conjuring a floating shield, jumping onto it, and then extending his hand, “Come on, lady.”

Dinia walked over, instinctively trying to push Ronan's hand away and climb up herself, but her hand froze in mid-air. In the end, Ronan grabbed her hand and used it to jump onto the shield.

With a whoosh, Ronan flew out of the large window with Dinya in his arms. Dinya placed her hands on Ronan's shoulders and continued to infuse him with magic.

I have to say, it's much more fun to fly with Dinia. When he flies by himself, he has to rest for a while and stop to meditate and quickly replenish his mana.

“Here’s the thing…” Ronan got down to business.

Chapter 217 Night Flight, Kidneys, Judging People by Their Legs

Night fell, and Ronan and Dinia were still flying.

Ronan's shield can change form: small round shield, large round shield, kite-shaped shield, fan-shaped shield, tower shield, etc. However, the size will be adapted to the wearer's body size. When Ronan fought that old antique two years ago, after Ronan and Dinia merged, the shield automatically adapted to Dinia's red giant and became equally huge. But now Ronan himself is controlling the shield, so it can only change into the tower shield form at most.

The tower shield is large, but two people still can't stretch out comfortably if they want to sit down.

Dinia simply made a mushroom-shaped cushion, and then Ronan and Dinia sat in a tandem motorcycle position.

Ronan was in front, and Dinya had her arms around Ronan's waist, her chest pressed against Ronan's back.

Because of the continuous high-speed flight, a streamlined, sloping windbreak made of tough mushrooms was placed in front to prevent the wind from constantly blowing on your face and making it difficult to speak clearly. There was also a windbreak at the back, so there was no need to worry about your luggage containing clothes, food, and water bottles falling out accidentally.

Flying at high altitudes, Ronan doesn't need to worry about road conditions, so he can talk while flying.

Before long, Ronan recounted his encounter with the Twin Bears tribe to Dinia and told her that he speculated that behind the three parties who had all chosen the ruins as bait, there was a hidden hand. This hidden hand was likely someone from the organization that Frederick, whom he had met on the alternate dimension island and who later attacked Elena and Alice, belonged to.

Its purpose is still unknown, but it is most likely related to the ruins.

This organization has been trying to excavate what the otherworldly beings left behind.

This ruin was built by an otherworldly visitor who came into contact with this world more than a thousand years ago, and it should be of the same origin as the gardener Tyr's botanical garden that he and Dinia had visited before.

Ronan continued, “From the moment you and I met that gardener Tyr, some things were already destined. We were forced to come into contact with what the otherworldly beings left behind. Similarly, we also had an irreconcilable conflict with those who tried to gain power from the alternate dimensions left behind by the otherworldly beings. After all, you have the so-called ‘original species’ on you, while I gained power from the land of the dead.”

"Since they are irreconcilable enemies, they must be completely eliminated."

"This time, the other side has mobilized so many forces; their ambitions are considerable."

"This time, we have to capture a few people alive, otherwise they'll keep hiding in the shadows and we'll be too passive. My strength is still a bit lacking, so this time we're counting on you."

As Ronan spoke, his fists clenched involuntarily. This organization, which left no trace whatsoever, was a thorn in his side.

“Hmm.” Dinia responded, unconsciously tightening her grip. She was also very interested in this organization; the magic they used was so similar to the spatial summoning magic passed down in the royal Freigo family.

Ronan's face twitched as Dinia grabbed him with both hands. "Ouch, don't grab my kidneys. The future of our country depends on this."

Dinia sneered, "You think I don't know anything? Men get women pregnant with that thing."

"You old maid, what do you know? If your kidneys aren't up to par, you won't have any energy. How are you going to make a woman happy? Do you think people are rabbits, that you can just go up and thrust a couple of times and be done with it?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Ronan involuntarily shuddered. He must have lost his mind to say such a thing to Dinia.

However, the expected punch did not come; instead, silence arrived.

After a long silence, Dinia finally spoke, her voice very soft, unlike her usual self, "Is that kind of thing really interesting?"

Ronan couldn't help but laugh. He really didn't expect Dinia to ask such a question, especially not to a man like him.

He patted his chest to calm himself down. "How am I supposed to answer that? I'm a man, so of course I find it interesting. I'm not a woman, so I can't express a woman's feelings. If I had to say, I could only speak from Elena and Alice's perspective. Overall, they found it quite interesting."

“At least, doing it with someone you like should be something interesting,” Ronan added.

“What you said is as good as nothing,” Dinia said.

Ronan noticed that Dinia seemed to be in a particularly good mood today, so he mustered up the courage to ask, "You never used your fingers to do it?"

Dinia's eyes widened instantly, her pupils trembled, and she instinctively raised her fist, but then lowered it, answering firmly, "No."

“Then you can give it a try,” Ronan suggested.

“This…” Dinia didn’t know what to say for a moment, and her resistance came out almost reflexively.

“It’s really nothing serious,” Ronan said, but before he could finish speaking, Dinia gripped his waist tightly. He quickly changed the subject, “Uh, it’s getting late. I’m going to slow down and land. I’ll find a place to sleep and rest later.”

Soon, Ronan and Dinia landed.

Ronan went off to urinate, while Dinia set up her tent on the grass at the foot of a small, steep slope. She simply made a frame out of tough mushrooms and deformable mushrooms, covered it with a canvas net, and secured it. A small, simple triangular tent was thus created.

Having experience with long marches, she moved quickly, and by the time Ronan returned, she had already finished.

Ronan returned, and Dinya left. She attended a party that evening, drank quite a bit, and then drank some more after returning home. Although she had gone to the toilet once before leaving, she came again now.

When Dinia returned, Ronan had already laid out a blanket and was fast asleep with his head resting on the bag containing the clothes.

After four consecutive days of flying and traveling, he was already exhausted. Before meeting Dinia, he took a shower, shaved, and almost went straight to sleep.

Dinia gazed at Ronan's peaceful sleeping profile for a long time, and a smile inadvertently appeared on her face. Judging from his face alone, Ronan seemed more like a simple-minded young scholar than a man whose words and actions were full of bureaucratic style.

Then, Dinia lay down with her back to Ronan.

The next morning, when Ronan woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

He stepped out of the tent and outside, where Dinya was sprinkling salt and spice powder on the roasted meat.

The taste was alright, but I don't know what kind of sheep this was from. The meat quality was really not good. I can only say that the meat of most wild mammals is not as good as that of livestock that have been domesticated for thousands of years. I can only make do with it.

After finishing a breakfast of pure meat, the two washed their hands by the stream, drank some of the water, and continued on their way.

Two nights later, Ronan and Dinia arrived at the outskirts of the Twin Bears tribe.

The first thing Dinia did was take a shower and change her clothes, and then she became a different person.

Her signature snow-white hair with a hint of light gold had turned into red curls, tied in a high ponytail. Although her figure and face remained unchanged, her eyes were covered with a red cloth. She wore a red silk shirt with a floral collar, a black trench coat, and a red long skirt with a side slit that reached her knees. Underneath, she wore slightly thin, semi-transparent silk black stockings and red pointed high heels with ankle straps.

She went from aloof to alluring, and only Ronan, who could recognize her by her legs, was able to identify her immediately.

Chapter 218 New Team, Original Plan, That's it?

The next morning, the team set off for the ruins.

Sebastian's group was complete. Besides himself, there were six novice mages dressed in the same equipment as him. The girl with the chubby face and expensive jewelry from the banquet had also come. She was actually the strongest person in the group. Judging from her senses, she should be a high-ranking mage, but definitely not above the second rank.

She changed her clothes, no longer wearing the gorgeous and bulky dress from the previous banquet. Instead, she wore a slightly pastoral-style off-white long-sleeved dress, an olive green short vest, a pair of sheer, skin-toned pantyhose, and matching olive green flat shoes with a single buckle that exposed the instep.

He no longer wore jewelry, but only carried a pair of extremely ornate long-barreled pistols. The pistol barrels were covered in silver and inlaid with gold arabesque patterns, while the ivory handles were carved with a crowned lion and surrounded by gorgeous gemstones.

On the other side, the group of Faith, a woman from Wieland with a face as delicate as a puppet, consisted of only two people: herself and another man. The man was not the bald, ugly man with ginger hair from the banquet, but a very tall and strong Ragman bald man who was probably two meters tall, with muscles all over his body, and his arms, torso, and even half of his face were covered with tattoos.

This time, Faith really wore a conservative nun's habit, with a coffin on her back.

He was bald, naked from head to toe, wearing shorts and straw shoes.

On Ronan's side, he had already sent two guides with five students to leave this place and stay temporarily in a small tribe further east. The withered old man, Yang Ike, had set off four days ago and would meet them back to Ronan's territory when the time came.

Ronan's team heading to the ruins was quite impressive: Ronan himself, Noah (two Tier 4s), Dinia (in disguise), and Elena.

On the Shuangxiong tribe's side, their military deputy commander, Xilaiusu, who looked like a bear, led a team of more than thirty warriors carrying muskets, grenades, and machetes. These warriors were not as muscular as Xilaiusu, and were generally lean, but they moved in an orderly manner and did not chat. They could be considered above average even in the Western Continent, and among these natives, they were the elite of the elite.

To reach the ruins, one must first traverse a primeval forest in the mountains. There are no roads here; only native warriors can lead the way, using iron machetes bought at high prices from the colonists to cut down low bushes and clear a path.

The journey was generally smooth, except for Olivia, a noblewoman in Sabusian's group, who occasionally complained that the food was barely edible and that it was impossible to sleep in a tent on the ground in the wild. There were no other discordant voices.

Ronan actually thought the food was alright. In a big pot, salt, spice powder, a lot of chili peppers, and butter were added, stirred, water was added and brought to a boil, then meat slices and corn were added and simmered. Wasn't this just hot pot? Although the taste was very different from all the hot pots Ronan remembered.

According to the plan arranged by the three parties, the indigenous people would poison the food at this time, but of course, that's not happening now.

Ronan, Sebastian, and Faith even specifically looked into that poison; its colorless and odorless nature was quite remarkable, and it was supposedly specifically designed to target magicians. Ronan even had Dinia test it out, since she was completely immune to poison and could regenerate at any time.

According to Dinia's feedback, the poison has two effects: one is to induce euphoria and affect mental state, and the other is to disrupt magical abilities for a period of time.

Overall, it's not very strong, and its effect on high-ranking mages is minimal.

That's normal. If it were really a potent poison against magicians, it would have been famous long ago.

After all, ever since magicians were born into this world, research on how to efficiently kill a magician has never stopped, and it is not ordinary people who are doing this research, but the magician community.

Don't ask, because if you do, it's all about involution.

After a two-day journey, the team, which ostensibly came to explore the ruins, finally arrived at their destination.

This is a mountain that stands alone in a basin surrounded by small peaks, like a cup with its rim wider than its base, upside down in the middle of a basin.

This mountain is indeed an excellent ambush location, because if people go up to the top of the mountain and are surrounded, the only way to break out is to jump directly up from such a height unless they can fly.

And their current location is on the top of this cup-shaped mountain.

The group didn't rush in, but stopped to rest. The mountain was too steep, with many places being almost 90 degrees, requiring climbing. Although the mountain wasn't even 100 meters high, it still exhausted most of them. The natives were basically paralyzed with fatigue. Ronan and the other magicians could release magic to help them climb, and their physical condition was also superior to that of ordinary humans, so they fared slightly better. Only Dinia, the monster, was unharmed. Wearing high heels, she could climb more easily than anyone else using only her two hands.

Ultimately, she was a woman who could rival the top magicians with her fifth-tier level of power; she was not only a magic monster but also a physical monster.

After a long rest, the team continued forward.

The mountaintop was flat. Although it was surrounded by weeds and low trees, and looked like no one had been here for who knows how many years, some regularly shaped stones with wind-eroded reliefs could be seen by lifting the vines, and the large stone slabs with stripes on the ground clearly told the group that this place was artificially leveled and built.

The mountaintop wasn't very big, and we didn't walk far before we saw the so-called ruins.

A typical pyramid is flat at the top, not pointed.