In the Name of the Queen

Just as the five people left happily, Sif slowed down, approached Roland, and walked side by side with him without changing her expression.

"Did you feel it?"

"Someone is staring at us, a transcendent person." Roland said lightly.

"Maybe it's level seven, but it's definitely not Sophia." Sif said softly.

"reason?"

"If it's that woman, it's impossible for us to find out at the same time, unless she did it on purpose. She is also the queen after all, and there is no reason to run around all day."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sif felt that her words were a bit arbitrary, and quickly added softly: "I am different from her, I have not officially ascended the throne."

Just not that woman.

So what if it was someone else, even a seventh-level transcendent.

As long as we protect our main output, Master Anthony, ordinary level seven is no match at all.

Roland glanced at Anthony's strong body from the corner of his eye, and suddenly felt that this giant bear-like non-mainstream magician didn't need much protection.

Anyway, no luck tonight, go back and have a good rest.

Silently all the way, the five people rode back to Hanseatic City.

At this time, the rising morning sun was slowly rising from the east, illuminating the city of Vaal.

Entering the city, Anthony and Lisa went to the hotel to find a place to rest, and Christine also made excuses to leave.

"Roland, I have to go and host the handover ceremony."

Handover ceremony?

That's right, today is the day when the flag of the city-state of Vaal is officially lowered.

The Vaal City State will announce the end of its last official day of get off work at noon and hand over power to representatives of all parties.

Because it was a peaceful handover, the personal and property safety of officials in the Vaal City State was jointly guaranteed by several major powers.

But they also lost the most important thing, power.

The former Vaal City was not that important, and the plenipotentiary representatives sent by various countries and forces were not that important, so it was entirely possible to accept them.

But after the emergence of magic crystal veins, Vaal City has become the focus of attention from all parties.

This place is destined to become a miniature battlefield, where elites from various countries will engage in bloody, tragic but controllable confrontations.

Through this confrontation, countries will test and pull each other, and will decide whether to renew the Continental Treaty and in what form.

If a certain force can monopolize or form an alliance to occupy Vaal City, the ownership of the magic crystal veins will naturally be revealed.

Of course, all this has nothing to do with the officials of the Vaal City-State.

Facing the first ray of sunshine in the morning, Mr. Tony looked at himself in the mirror, and he didn't know when crow's feet had appeared in the corners of his eyes.

He is forty-seven years old and in the second half of his male career peak.

He was supposed to be in charge of power, be a good dancer among various countries, and fight for the interests of Vaal City.

However, the international situation has changed dramatically. Who could have imagined that it would become like this.

In diplomatic negotiations, he did try his best.

Unfortunately, diplomatic negotiation skills cannot change the fact that the Vaal city-state is weak and helpless.

Among these tigers, leopards, jackals, and bears, no matter how innocent the sheep on the table are, they cannot change the fate of being torn into pieces and eaten.

Unlike wild beasts, humans eat slightly better-looking, and that's the only difference.

Tony walked out of the room and walked towards the city hall.

The city-state government is the city government.

In order to improve administrative efficiency, the city-state of Vaal did not have too many idle people and redundant officials.

Their simple government framework resulted in extremely high administrative efficiency.

Although the Vaal city-state was only a small force with a population of several hundred thousand, it was able to control the golden waterways and accumulate massive wealth. This effective administrative system played a major role.

This administrative system is very advanced and far surpasses the complicated bureaucracy of several major countries.

But it was of no use.

In the face of absolute strength, no matter how good your skills are, they are useless.

Tony smiled self-deprecatingly and walked on the way to the city hall.

People on the roadside recognized him.

People stopped and watched the old leader go to his last shift.

Usually they have some opinions on officials, despising them for making money and despising them for not doing things well.

But when the city-state of Vaal was about to cease functioning, all complaints disappeared.

What's the use of talking about it now, the country is dead.

People are reminded of the benefits of city-state governments while they were still there.

In this era of unlimited official power, the city-state of Vaal has a relatively clean official system and basic civil rights protections.

All this is gone.

When the flag of the Vaal city-state is lowered, they will become the subjects of Sussex, Vladimir, Tyrol and other countries.

And they are destined to be second-class people without citizenship rights.

Even among the natives of these big countries, not many citizens have the power to participate in political discussions.

Thinking of the doomed bleak future, people standing on both sides of the road suddenly felt sad.

Mr. Tony took off his top hat, waved to the crowd next to him, and greeted them warmly.

But careful onlookers saw tears in the corners of his eyes.

When he was about to enter the city hall, he slowly turned around and bowed to the people on the roadside.

"Gentlemen and ladies, thank you for your support over the years. Today is the last day of office in Wa City State, if anything happens"

Tony paused for a moment and smiled self-deprecatingly: "We probably won't be able to handle anything, but I can record it for you and pass it on to the new government."

"This is after all our last request and they should consider it."

As he spoke, Tony's voice was choked and he couldn't speak at all.

"We want the city-state of Vaal!"

The little girl's clear voice broke the silence.

Her mother covered her mouth in horror, dragged her to a nearby alley and spanked her severely.

Normally, the people around her might laugh at the little girl or hold her angry mother back, but today no one moved.

People's mood is very depressed.

They did not follow the little girl's excited slogans.

Children can be ignorant, but adults cannot.

Police from various countries have been stationed near the city hall. There is no essential difference between shouting "We want the Var City State" and rebellion.

Nostalgic, nostalgic, the city-state of Vaal will eventually perish.

People dispersed in a hurry, and Mr. Tony put on his hat with some regret and walked towards the city hall in the most elegant manner.

Roland and Sif happened to be passing by and watched this scene silently.

Lisa and Master Anthony suffered a huge physical loss last night, so they went back to rest first.

Christine was busy with something, leaving only Roland and Sif wandering around the city like outsiders.

Roland is the governor and Sif is the queen. This city has the rights and interests of Sussex, but it has nothing to do with them, the rulers of the empire.

They mocked the city-state of Vaal flawlessly.

Educated gentlemen and ladies can be unsympathetic, but there is no need to rub salt into other people's wounds.

"What a pity for this Mr. Tony."

Sif said softly.

"What a pity?" Roland asked softly.

Sif sighed softly and said with some sadness: "I have read the information from Alina and know something about Mr. Tony."

"This person is not an honest official. Although he is not corrupt or embezzling, he made the family a lot of money through the information he obtained. Fortunately, he did not break the law."

"Compared with his ability to make money, his ability to govern the city is stronger. Vaal City is only a quarter of the size of the Imperial Capital, and its population is much smaller. However, this city is clean and beautiful, and its governance is effective. There are more faces on the passersby than the people of the Imperial Capital. A bit of a smile.”

"If only he were one of my officers."

Sif sighed and shook her head.

Roland smiled, clapped, and praised softly: "Congratulations on finding the right political officer."

"Huh? But he's not from Sussex." Sif's eyes widened.

"He can be." Roland smiled.

"Then should we invite him for an interview?" Sif's eyes lit up.

Roland was right.

The city-state of Vaal is occupied by five countries, and the people here will be divided among the countries according to the occupied areas.

Officials are relatively free. They can choose to stay or leave on their own. They can join any country, or they can leave Vaal City and choose other countries to join.

Sif looked at Roland nervously and asked softly: "Do we have a chance?"

"We were his only option."

Sif thought for a moment, then raised the corners of her lips slightly, understanding what Roland meant.

The Vladimir Empire, which proposed the partition plan, was the chief culprit in the minds of the Var people.

If Mr. Tony chooses them, he will be pointed at and spurned by the old and young of the Val City State.

One also has to wonder if he took advantage of the Ruriks.

You can go anywhere, but not to the Vladimir Empire.

After excluding the wrong options, the second excluded Kingdoms of Pruden and Tyrol.

They have friendly relations with the Vladimir Empire, and there are even rumors that they are brewing an alliance.

It's not okay to take refuge in them.

Neither can a country like the Weimar Federation, which is about to serve as a meal.

By defecting to them, Mr. Tony risks experiencing another Partition.

The next options are the Golden Kite Republic and the Sussex Empire.

The Golden Yuan Republic has just experienced civil strife, and it will take time to stabilize order.

Their comprehensive national strength lags behind the Vladimir Empire, and they can defend themselves against the Empire but find it difficult to attack.

Going to them only ensures temporary peace.

If you want to stay safe, you can choose the more distant New World or Southern Continent. With Mr. Tony's financial resources and connections, you may be able to make a career overseas.

This would even be the best option without the Sussex Empire.

However, the Sussex Empire is here, and there is no possibility of détente between them and the Vladimir Empire.

As long as it proves to Mr Tony that joining Sussex is better than trying to make it overseas, he will join.

Sif stood on the roadside, lost in thought.

After a moment, she murmured in distress: "I can offer preferential terms, but I can't give unlimited preferential treatment. This will destroy the balance."

"Athos and the others have worked hard, and they will feel very sad if they allow those who come after them to rise above them."

Sif suddenly thought of Lisa.

She came later than Lisa, but she wanted to take Roland away secretly. Lisa must have felt uncomfortable.

That's why Lisa was so crazy that she ran into a volcano.

Athos and the others would not jump into a volcano, but if Tony was reused, the resentment in their hearts would surge like a volcano.

Roland was impressed by Sif.

She did grow.

As a monarch, the most important thing is not to be wise or powerful, but to know balance.

Sif is already on the road.

Roland didn't know that Sif learned the truth from Lisa jumping into the volcano. If he knew, his expression would probably be wonderful.

Seeing Sif's thoughtful look, Roland reminded softly: "It will certainly cause imbalance if the newcomers are treated better than the elders, but if the newcomers are not treated as well as the elders, it will also chill the hearts of the newcomers."

"Are they to be treated the same and share power equally?"

Sif asked, biting her lip.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

Could it be that Roland meant for her to share it with Lisa.

Her heart suddenly stopped beating, and she was completely dumbfounded.

Roland, is this what you really think?

Sif felt a sharp blade piercing her chest, making her unable to breathe.

This is not love.

Love is exclusive and monopolistic!

That's what the book says.

Roland didn't notice Sif's expression, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

That's right, you're right, Sif!

He said softly: "Why can't we share? As long as Tony and others make enough contributions, we can give citizenship to the Val City-State and let them become citizens with the same rights as the locals."

Sif was stunned.

She stared at Roland blankly, and it took her a long time to react.

It turned out that Roland was really just thinking about how to place Tony, and didn't take the opportunity to hint at her anything?

She was a little embarrassed and asked softly: "What did you say just now? Give them equal citizenship? Of course, just do as you say."

Seeing that Sif listened to his advice so well, Roland was in a good mood, and made a gesture of invitation, inviting Sif to the cafe for a cup of coffee to calm her nerves.

After all, everything that happened last night was too exciting.

Walking side by side with Roland, Sif breathed a sigh of relief, but Roland's words forced her to think about how to place Lisa.

It only took her half a second to rule out the wrong option of excluding Lisa.

After last night, if she still couldn't see Lisa's feelings for Roland, she would be an idiot.

She was very smart and had long seen that there was something wrong with these two guys.

She and Roland were innocent, but Lisa and Roland were not.

Sif tried to find reasons to convince herself.

Think about everything in a positive way. Roland's refusal to abandon Lisa shows that he values ​​love and friendship.

If Roland saw the possibility of marrying the queen and abandoned his childhood sweetheart who had been with him for many years, this person would be terrible.

Fortunately, Roland was not that kind of person.

Sitting in the cafe, looking at the bustling crowd outside the window, Sif's mind was blank.

The doctrine of abundance advocates loyalty and mutual trust between husband and wife, and strictly implements monogamy.

Although some people are smart enough to come up with a lover system, the status of a public lover is much lower than that of a wife.

Can Lisa accept it?

Sif thought about it and her face was hot.

She started thinking about these things even though she and Roland haven't confirmed their relationship yet. What's wrong with her?

No, no, she has no problem. This is how politicians think about problems.

You always have to think a few steps further.

If it was before last night, Lisa might be able to accept it, but after last night's adventure, Lisa's future is limitless. Will she still share it with others as a disadvantaged person?

What to do?

The coffee was served, and the white mist curled up, making the girl's sorrow a little hazy.

Seeing that Sif was still thinking about how to recruit Tony, Roland smiled and teased:

"Why think so much? We are a family. Internal conflicts can always be resolved."

"Ah?"

Sif's eyes widened.

Is this your solution, Roland?