Chapter 437: After all... is it time to go to work? (5000!!)
The next morning, in the palace of the White Kingdom's capital.
The Council of Ministers was convened.
Rand attended the trial as the husband of Prince Ellie and honorary general of the White Kingdom.
The political model of the White Kingdom is somewhat similar to that of the Dukedom of the Moon.
The ministers will report to the White King on matters that require his decision, and then the White King will make the decision, or the ministers will make a decision together after discussion.
Not all ministers will be present, but today more than all of them are here.
The White King had nothing to hide or keep secret from Rand.
We talked about politics, military affairs, economy, culture and all other aspects until noon.
Rand did not make any comments, but listened quietly.
There were only two things that required Rand's attention.
One is that the White Country is also going to hold a cooking conference.
Rand remembered that Elsa brought a kitchen knife, so he could try it.
As for other words like further promoting the development of the new economy but also strengthening supervision, Rand was not used to hearing them.
But basically, there won't be many changes in the White Country's economic system.
It won't have much to do with Rand.
The reason is simple, the White Kingdom is not the Dukedom of the Moon.
There are too many so-called "traditions" here. Rand feels that it is very, very powerful that the White King can govern the White Kingdom into what it is now.
The Dukedom of the Moon was developed by Rand step by step. Although it will be affected by the times, Rand's governance will not be too difficult.
If there are opponents, they will be sent to labor camps. If they oppose again, they will be killed.
The second thing that Rand needs to pay attention to is military activities.
On the distant border, the siege of the royal city of Cuiying Principality has begun.
Rand listened in and heard a lot of data.
From the casualty rate and the progress of military supplies consumption, one can roughly get a glimpse of the siege scene of the royal city in the distant Cuiying Principality, just like seeing a leopard through a tube.
The White King's method of exploring common interests is indeed good. All nearby countries that are qualified to divide up the land of the Green Shadow Kingdom have sent troops.
Most of the countries that do not border the Cuiying Principality and do not want to take an enclave also provided material and financial support.
When we conquer the country, we will pay profits to these countries.
In fact, it doesn't take so much force to capture the royal city of Cuiying Principality now.
However, the White King still believed that cooperation at this time would be beneficial to the next step.
Therefore, the White King spent a lot of effort to integrate the forces of all parties.
Now the siege is in full swing.
It's basically a sure win.
It’s not that the coalition forces are very strong.
But the orcs' will to defend the city is no longer very firm.
The orcs have retreated to the Principality of Green Shadow for nearly two years, during which time they have also tried to farm in the Principality of Green Shadow.
But the countries of the Northern Alliance will not allow the orcs to farm and hoard food.
In short, the offense and defense have changed. In the past, orcs plundered humans in autumn and winter every year, but now humans plunder the orcs of the Green Shadow Principality in autumn and winter.
The orcs haven't grown anything in the past two years, and now they are facing a shortage of food.
Indeed, everyone can see that the capital of the Green Shadow Kingdom has extraordinary strategic significance for the orcs.
This meant that the orcs were no longer permanently blocked from the northern border.
But without food, we can’t hold on.
The orcs' military strength is actually not worse than that of the human coalition. If they are determined to transform into hell, they will be much stronger.
But Purgatory also requires eating.
Unless the orcs really attack other human cities at all costs and are determined to cause complete destruction to both sides, there shouldn't be too many surprises in the siege of the Green Shadow Kingdom's capital.
…
The afternoon is time for strolling.
In the evening, the first cooking competition of the White Kingdom’s capital will be held.
The venue was borrowed from the Colosseum.
Many stoves are lined up in a row.
"Aren't you going to participate in the competition? I can allow you to be a seeded player." Bolan said to Rand.
Rand shook his head, looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, and said proudly, "These chefs haven't even touched the threshold to see me."
Then Rand's mouth was covered by Ellie, and Ellie also covered her face. Rand was nice most of the time, but there were always times when he would say something inexplicable and embarrassing.
In fact, many people in the high-level positions in the den are like this. For example, Elsa's kleptomania has not been cured yet. That is to say, after she has risen to a higher position, there is nothing worth stealing for her, so she doesn't have many attacks.
As for Lysa.
There's really no need to say more about Lisa.
Bolan didn't think Rand's words were strange. In fact, the White King Bolan thought Rand was right.
The White Kingdom's court chef might be quite capable, but these contestants in the audience...
Anyway, the court chef from the White Kingdom’s capital did not go down to participate in the competition.
They all went to be judges.
Rand looked at the judges' table: "Have those judges undergone physical fitness tests?"
The White King Bolan said as a matter of course: "Of course, if you can't beat the ingredients, you can't be a chef here."
Rand sat down with confidence.
Yesterday’s dance was indeed an illusion.
But it also makes sense. In the White Kingdom, which is full of wild beasts and monsters, if you can't beat the ingredients, how can you be a court chef? Rand, the White King, and Ellie sat in the best viewing position.
Olena and the top executives of the den sat in the back row of the audience.
Elsa represented the den in the competition.
Some of the ministers of the White Kingdom were working, while others came to watch the cooking competition.
Many of the White Kingdom ministers who came to watch the competition had visited the holiday villa with the White King in the past, so they knew what the judges of the cooking competition did.
So no minister will serve as a judge.
However, those big, strong and tough court chefs who looked like they were not easy to deal with did not understand the ins and outs of this cooking competition.
But it doesn’t matter, after they taste the contestants’ works, they will realize where the problem lies.
And just when the game entered the middle.
An old female clerk walked up to the White King and whispered a few words to him.
The White King took a document from the old female clerk.
After scanning.
The White King frowned.
Then the White King stood up and said to Rand, "Follow me, something has happened."
Rand was helpless.
He came to the White Country this time just to travel.
The final battle with the orcs will not be now, otherwise Rand would bring the thirteenth son of the Black and Brown Marquis with him.
There is no need to worry too much about the battle to drive the orcs out of the Principality of Green Shadow, everything has been calculated.
But now it seems that going to work is still inevitable.
I guess something happened.
Just as the White King would lend a helping hand when his hideout encountered difficulties, if the White Kingdom encountered any trouble now, Rand would definitely not stand idly by.
Rand also stood up, stopped watching the "interesting" cooking competition, left his seat, and followed the White King to the palace.
Some ministers from the White Kingdom who were watching the game here also left one after another.
After entering the palace, the White King spoke bluntly: "According to the intelligence from the front line, the Purgatory Human Army appeared in the Wisteria Kingdom and launched a surprise attack on the coalition forces surrounding the Emerald Shadow Principality."
"The commanders of the humans on the front line were quite capable and had been on guard, so they withdrew their troops in time to stop the losses." The White King continued, "Those infernal humans don't seem to have much rationality and are now trying to attack the capital of the Green Shadow Kingdom."
"But many have entered our country's borders, and there are already reports of damage," said the White King.
The White King looked at the people in the palace and said, "My judgment is that... a cult that believes in the devil of purgatory has appeared in the human country. It needs to be dealt with seriously."
"This is all we know so far." The White King stopped talking and asked the clerk to distribute the documents to the ministers. "Do you have any ideas?"
Rand was also given the file.
"I think we can just handle it normally." The Minister of State, who was even stronger than the Minister of War, said, "Since the losses on the front line were stopped in time, the situation will not be too serious. The cultists are just rats after all."
After saying this, the strong Secretary of State even made a gesture of squeezing a mouse to death: "Just pull the mouse out and squeezing it to death."
The White King looked at Rand.
"Duke Land, do you have any ideas?" asked the White King.
The ministers all turned their eyes to Rand.
"I also think that it can be handled normally. If you are still worried, you can try to mobilize the people, or seek help from the Torch Church's Novice." Rand also thinks that it can be handled normally. Due to the rampage of the Nurturing Blood Sect, various countries still have a lot of experience in dealing with cultists. They can just slowly root out the cultists.
However, the White Country has another advantage.
That is, in this country, at least the knight class and above, all worship the White King.
The White King's orders will be effective.
And if the previous fight against the orc invasion and the aftermath of the war had been handled well, the lower classes of the White Kingdom would now have more trust in the rulers.
If the lower classes are obedient enough, dealing with cults will be relatively simple.
The meeting soon ended.
Only Duke Rand and the White King Borlan were left in the palace.
"Based on my experience, this incident won't be too small." The White King's icy blue eyes moved as he fell into deep thought. "You are also involved in a cult, do you have any ideas?"
"What a cult!" Rand glared, "The sect I lead is an orthodox sect, the right religion."
The White King certainly knew that Rand ran a sect.
The White King knew about it before Rand officially married Ellie.
As for why it was determined to be a cult.
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That is naturally because all countries only recognize the Torch Church as the only orthodox sect, and the rest will not be recognized.
It's just that the White King believed that Rand could grasp the extent of it, so he never questioned it.
Now I can ask Rand how he, as the leader of a sect not recognized by the mainstream, preaches among human forces.
The White King nodded and said, "Then great leader of the Holy Church, Lord Rand, do you have any opinion?"
"Just check the floating population and that's it." Rand said succinctly.
"Cultists are a group that needs to move around. Otherwise, if they stay in a corner and farm, they will starve to death because their farming skills are not as good as those of normal farmers." Rand said with experience.
Back then, when the den was just established.
There are many evil cult forces near the valley where the hideout is located.
But it is obvious that the Mother Goddess sect, which supports Rand's adapted doctrine, is the most superior.
Other sects such as the God of Struggle, the Mother Goddess sect that Rand did not belong to, the Scourge Cult, etc., are no match for the Mother Goddess sect that follows Rand.
The White King and Rand thought the same thing.
"Then let's check it out." The White King made the decision.
Things were quickly arranged.
At present, the White Kingdom's capital has not been affected, so the cooking competition has not been stopped. However, when Rand returned to the cooking competition, it was already coming to an end.
Half of the strong court chef judges had already fallen down, and the remaining ones had all kinds of pale faces.
There are white, green, blue, and purple ones.
It just doesn't have a normal facial expression.
Fortunately, they can finally feel better.
All the contestants who made it to the finals are very talented.
Like Elsa wearing a white chef's apron and a small chef's hat.
all in all.
After being influenced by the King of Gourmet Rand and through constant training, Elsa has now become a powerful chef.
At least according to the White Kingdom's standards, Elsa must be the most powerful and qualified court chef.
Rand went down to taste Elsa's entry.
Rand felt the pressure.
Rand was a little skeptical. If Elsa practiced for another ten or twenty years, she might have a chance to challenge him, the king of gourmet food.
This made Rand a little worried. It seemed that he should spend some time studying cooking.
Elsa is a cold-blooded killer and also a cold-blooded cook, but the cold-blooded Elsa won the championship of the White Country Cooking Competition with her excellent cooking skills.
In fact, as early as a cooking competition in the den, Elsa was able to win by using some cheating techniques.
For example, stealing ingredients from competitors.
However, Elsa's choice was to work hard to hone her cooking skills.
This is now Elsa's second championship.
The prize was an ice-blue gemstone kitchen knife, so gorgeous that it looked like a glacier under the light.
Because of something, the top leaders of the hideout, including Ellie, did not live in the palace today.
"It's expected that the devil will take action," Ellie said, "but I don't know how much the devil can do at the moment."
"And whether it will affect the Frost Moon Kingdom." Elsa added.
"It shouldn't be that serious." Rand was also a little hesitant. "Next, I will choose to participate in the White Country's operation to eliminate demons and personally understand the specific situation."
Rand was also wary of demons.
The reason is simple.
Act III.
The event of the sacrifice of Grand Prince Vladimir.
Grand Prince Vladimir is a devil in purgatory.
Grand Duke Vladimir was originally a well-known vampire who died at the hands of a human warrior.
But conventional methods of purifying vampires do not apply to Grand Duke Vladimir.
That was when the gates of Purgatory opened wide.
Everyone threw the vampire into purgatory.
After all, there are no humans in Purgatory for the vampires to suck blood from, so even if Grand Duke Vladimir doesn't die of thirst, he will definitely not feel good.
But Grand Prince Vladimir's vitality far exceeded everyone's imagination.
When it occasionally intersects with the main world through Purgatory, it captures humans and brings them into Purgatory for its enjoyment.
Survived until now.
The long years and countless horror stories made it have believers, and after countless battles, Grand Duke Vladimir gained divinity.
But this also makes it more difficult for Him to approach the main world.
There are no humans for Him to enjoy in Purgatory.
Later, the famous incident of Grand Prince Vladimir's sacrifice to the gods occurred.
Now that the demons from Purgatory have begun to act in the human world, does it mean that the third act is not far away?
As a cloud player, Rand really didn't know the time of Grand Duke Vladimir's sacrifice.
Even if he knew, it would be useless. Rand could not interfere in the affairs of Purgatory.
And that is, Rand has already had a huge impact on the world, and all the original plot directions will inevitably undergo major changes because of Rand's appearance.
Now we can only be more cautious and take each step as it comes.
So at least now, Rand is willing to move more, to see and understand.
As for what will happen after Grand Prince Vladimir's sacrifice.
Rand only knew that all surviving vampires in the main world would be directly controlled by this ancient vampire.
And the gods living in the kingdom of God will finally have some opportunities to truly turn their attention to this world.
Not all gods require faith, and not all gods are malicious, but all gods must be interested in the main world.
No matter what purpose these gods have.
Rand had no idea about more things. Things that he could not influence were not considered by Rand.
For now, let’s go and deal with the cultists.
…
Industrial area in the Burning Lands.
Several laborers, wearing relatively thick coarse cloth clothes, were carrying wood.
Since accepting labor reform.
The bandits in the Burning Land have been working for Rand automatically at his request.
Nowadays, some outstanding prisoners have been promoted to become labor camp managers.
It is estimated that in a few years, they will successfully get rid of their status as labor camp prisoners and become citizens of the den.
Rand has a very complete reward and punishment mechanism.
Ensure fairness and justice in labor reform work.
The work of prisoners in labor camps is not easy and sometimes even dangerous.
But at least Rand would make sure they were well fed before working.
This was something that many Burning Land bandits had found difficult to do in the past.
The land in the Burning Land is relatively barren and cannot grow much food.
It would be very dangerous if they went out to plunder.
And sometimes hungry and sometimes full.
After all, most businessmen who can trade in this world have some skills.
"Have you heard? We are going to build an industrial zone here, and next to the industrial zone, we will build a high-end canteen and living area." A laborer said, "It seems that they are going to take advantage of the location to further increase production capacity."
"I don't really understand." The other prisoners were confused. What did these changes have to do with them?
"Oh." The obviously well-informed Burning Land bandit said, "The living area will definitely be built for us. Those knights will not do these rough work with us. By then, we may be able to eat food that can only be found in the holiday villa. And, Lord Rand has made it clear that a bathhouse will be built here. Hey - have you heard of the big bathhouse in the holiday villa?"
(End of this chapter)