In the Name of the Queen

Governor's Mansion, Earl's Office.

The door was closed, Roland and Stanley sat opposite each other on the sofa, and Sif sat behind the desk.

Stanley was not an ordinary person. He was once the deputy leader of the Royal Knights, and he also ran a large-scale chamber of commerce with a convenient intelligence network.

He knew that Count Sif was the Queen.

Since he was applying for the Queen's face, Sif should naturally sit in the main seat.

Roland gave the initiative of today's conversation to Sif. He would not interfere too much. He was only responsible for keeping an eye on Stanley to prevent this guy from taking risks and attacking Sif.

Although the possibility was almost zero, he still had to guard against it.

He could feel that Stanley's strength had improved a lot compared to before, and his eyes were less sinister and more heavy.

In such a small space, Stanley was still a bit threatening.

Sif understood Roland's eyes.

Under the desk, her little fists were clenched, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

If Mr. Stanley applied for other positions, he might only have an A-level score. If he applied for a position in the business field, he would be a potential S-level talent.

This was an important test Roland gave her.

If she could not lose in the confrontation with Stanley, she would also have S-level potential.

Facing Stanley, who had a calm expression, gentle eyes, and no flaws, Sif took a sip from the teacup and decided to slow down and say hello.

"Mr. Stanley, long time no see, how are you recently?"

Roland almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

It's you, Sif. Such a beautiful girl, how can you be so poisonous.

Sure enough, Stanley, who was still calm just now, changed his face slightly, his forehead veins bulged, and his hand, which was originally casually placed on the sofa, clenched unconsciously.

If the information he gave was not useful enough, he would have died in the Knights' cell.

Asked him if he was okay?

Stanley instinctively thought Sif was mocking him, and raised his head with some annoyance.

Looking at Sif's clear eyes, Stanley's anger just ignited disappeared.

As a successful businessman, he has seen too many people of all kinds, but this is the first time he has seen such clear eyes.

He really can't be angry.

Because Her Majesty is just asking him if he is okay.

He cleared his throat and said helplessly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for forgiving my crimes and keeping some of my property for me, so that I can come overseas safely."

"After the changes in the Knights, my previous family has completely cut off from me, and I can finally face the reality and find my real family."

"The Governor should know that I wanted to injure you and escape in the Little Pine Forest. It's not that I don't care about my family's life or death, but they are not my family."

At this point, Stanley's expression was a little unnatural, and he obviously didn't want to say anything more.

Sif resisted the gossip and said softly: "Congratulations on being reunited with your family."

Perhaps thinking that Stanley could find his family, but he was an out-and-out orphan, Sif's expression was a little depressed.

Stanley knew so much about the ways of the world that he could see through Sif's sadness at a glance.

Of course, he couldn't comfort her, after all, the old emperor was not dead in theory.

Some words could not be said even if they were well-intentioned.

He coughed lightly and simply got to the point, "Mr. Earl, can the interview begin?"

If you feel sad, then work.

You will soon find that work is even more difficult.

Sure enough, Sif's sadness disappeared instantly.

She cheered up and asked calmly, "Mr. Stanley, I want to hear your views on the current state of business development in the Governor's District and your ideas for future development."

"My views?"

Stanley picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said shockingly, "There is no such thing as a Governor's District. This place is almost becoming the territory of the Samaritans."

Sif frowned and asked softly, "Mr. Stanley, don't be alarmist. I want to hear constructive speeches."

"My Lord Earl, you know the three overseas provinces, oh, sorry, it's now called the Governor's District. Do you know how much tax it pays to the empire every year?"

"Last year it was 390,000 pounds." Sif answered in seconds.

As the deputy governor of the Governor's District, she was still very familiar with these basic data.

Stanley was obviously a little surprised.

He thought Sif was a puppet in Roland's hands, a standard vase, but he didn't expect her to be so familiar with the situation in the district.

This is good. It is better to serve the real queen than to work for the powerful ministers.

Stanley was somewhat frightened when he thought of Roland's decisiveness in turning against him.

The simple-minded queen is still the best.

Stanley thought silently.

Since the queen is a wise person, he didn't pretend and said directly:

"It's not 390,000 pounds, but a loss. Last year, the empire's fiscal expenditure on the three provinces for stability maintenance, military expenses and administrative expenses was about 2.1 million pounds. After deducting taxes, it still had to pay more than 1.7 million pounds."

Sif said calmly: "Of course I know this, and this is also the reason why those short-sighted politicians clamor to give up overseas provinces."

Stanley's mouth corners slightly raised, and he asked in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why the poorest provinces in the mainland can guarantee a small profit, but the rich three overseas provinces are bleeding the empire?"

"Military expenses? Stability maintenance? There has been no war in the three provinces in recent years. These expenses are indeed not small, but they are not to the extent of losses."

Sif's breathing was a little rapid, and she asked in a deep voice: "Then why do you say?"

"It's very simple, if there are rats in the granary, there will be no food left. I'm not talking about official corruption, but the Samaritan merchant alliance that creates a monopoly under the cover of officials."

"Monopoly?" Sif's eyes lit up.

Stanley cleared his throat and prepared to start the lecture.

It is not easy to monopolize the new concept of popular science for the queen who has no basis in economics. This is also the confidence for him to seek his own interests.

He wants to expose the elaborate disguise of these greedy Samaritans.

"Your Majesty, the Earl, may not have heard of monopoly. Let me think about where to start."

"No, I know. And I've seen it with my own eyes."

Sif gave Stanley a very brief lesson before Stanley started class.

Using the price increase incident that Roland encountered at the Alchemy Alliance as an example, she briefly recounted the lessons Roland had taught.

Stanley's eyes widened.

Seeing his surprised look, Sif raised the corners of her lips proudly and gave Roland a slightly proud look.

Roland was very happy, but he couldn't hold back his laughter.

Seriously, this is a talent recruitment site.

He coughed lightly and reminded Sif to do business first.

After a long time, Stanley finally woke up from the shock. He was impressed by Sif's ability, put aside his thoughts of showing off, and said modestly:

"My lord, the Earl, has such a deep understanding of the causes and harms of monopoly. I admire him from the bottom of my heart."

"No, I only have a superficial understanding." Xif said modestly, but couldn't hide her smile.

"Now that you know the monopoly, it will be much easier. The issues in the Governor-General's Territory are complex and involve many factors such as politics, culture, ethnic groups, commerce, and security, but in the final analysis it is still a matter of money."

"As long as you get enough money, you and the Governor can realize your ideas."

Stanley's position was very correct. He never talked about other fields, only how to make money.

This is also true.

Money can solve most problems.

Problems that cannot be solved by money are often more terrifying than lack of money.

Sif's eyes lit up, "Mr. Stanley, what do you have in mind?"

"It's very simple, take care of the granary and catch the rats."

Stanley's eyes flashed with a coldness, "Businessmen are all profit-seeking. It's normal to like money. I like it too, but the Samaritans are too greedy. They don't have a long-term vision at all. Everywhere they go, I always want to drain the local oil and then leave like locusts, leaving a mess on the ground.”

"Their presence will destroy the entire environment and this should be called"

When Stanley was thinking about how to describe it accurately, Sif answered for him, "What they are destroying is the business environment."

"Business environment? Your Excellency, the Earl said it well."

Stanley looked at Sif a little more eagerly.

He was initially a little uneasy about coming to seek refuge with the Queen, fearing that she would not be accepted, or that the Queen was too stupid and was completely Roland's puppet.

But he had no choice.

The Samaritans destroyed everything for him.

Without the instigation of his Samaritan wife, he might not have been so crazy as to eat from the emperor's bowl.

The last few years have been a nightmare.

His wife's betrayal freed him completely.

This is not only a personal feud, but also a business competition.

As we all know, simple business wars don’t involve so many tricks, they just find ways to kill the opponent directly.

Relying on the protection of officials from the three provinces, the Samaritans have squeezed out local merchants in Sussex and the three provinces in the past few years, and suppressed foreign merchants. This has long been a source of outrage.

No matter how the market expands, only a few will be able to eat meat.

When the Samaritan finished eating the meat, what did the others eat?

If we don’t get rid of the greedy rats, how can there be food in the granary?

Stanley talked eloquently about how the Samaritans colluded with officials from the three provinces to squeeze out other merchants. As well as the sin of Samaritan merchants making excessive profits through monopoly and completely destroying the market order.

What he said is true and there is no need to discredit it at all.

“Samaritans are particularly good at packaging, packaging themselves as hard-working and intelligent spokespersons through increasingly developed media.”

Stanley sneered: "Hardworking? A joke! If hard work can make you rich, then farmers in the countryside and female workers in textile factories must be very rich."

These words brought back unpleasant memories for Roland. He coughed lightly and reminded Stanley not to expand the topic casually.

"Mr. Stanley, you must believe in the progress of human civilization. Whether it is the past era or the future, hard work is an excellent quality."

Stanley quickly stood up and apologized to Sif, "Lord Earl, I was too extreme. Please don't take what you just said to heart."

Xif was silent for a long time and said quietly: "Although what you said is unpleasant, it is all true."

She looked at Roland with some discomfort and murmured:

"Roland, will the future you talk about really come?"

"Yes, I promise!"

Roland, who had seen the light, was very convinced of this.

But he didn't say anything yet.

The three people sitting here are all remnants of the old era, and their ships will probably not exist in the new era.

Roland decisively stopped this increasingly dangerous topic.

"Leave the worries of the future to the future, we focus on the present."

"As Mr. Stanley said, we need money, and it's an astronomical amount. Since the Samaritans took money that didn't belong to them, let them spit it out."

Sif bit her lip and said word by word: "That's my money, these damn rats!"

"Mr. Stanley, tell me how we should deal with these rats."

Stanley pondered for a moment and said slowly: "We in Sussex are a country ruled by law, so we must punish them by legal means. We should first promote antitrust legislation, and then use antitrust laws to split up these rats' companies, disintegrate their alliances, and make them spit out things that do not belong to them."

"Too slow! Roland, you say." Sif was somewhat dissatisfied with Stanley's method, and directly signaled the perfect mouth to speak for her.

Roland cleared his throat and said with a smile: "It is not easy to make new laws. We must convince the cabinet ministers to agree, and then go through parliamentary approval. When we do not have absolute power, this requires an exchange of interests, and the cost is too expensive."

"It takes a long period from the passage to the implementation of new laws, and we can't wait."

"We must deal with them within the existing legal framework."

Roland pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Samaritan merchants like to stick together. We find a way to gather them all in Hansa, and then catch them all in one fell swoop. Just..."

What crime should we charge?

Bribery will implicate officials from the three provinces, which is not conducive to unity.

The Queen has already pardoned them, so it is not appropriate to pursue them further.

This is definitely not possible.

Then find out their crimes in business.

For example, unfair competition, damaging the business environment, or stepping into the door with the left foot first.

Just as Roland was thinking, Sif was already a little impatient.

"What country are these Samaritans from now?"

"Well, they have no motherland, and they don't join any mainstream country. They call themselves the people of the ancient country of Samaria."

Sif tapped the table lightly, stood up and paced back and forth, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Take them to Hansa, and then start a holy war!"

"Ah?" X2

Stanley and Roland looked at each other, both a little confused.

Sif snorted lightly, her eyes burning with flames.

"At the beginning of the new calendar of the Magic Era, the countries that overthrew the Magic Empire signed the Old Heresy Convention, and the contracting parties were obliged to launch a holy war against the old heretical beliefs."

"The Samaritans are the remnants of the old era. For more than a thousand years, they have never actively integrated into the new era. They still miss the glory of the past and believe in heresy. They deserve to die!"

"Wage a holy war, kill all these greedy rats, and confiscate their ill-gotten gains. This is the sacred power given to us by the convention."

Sif proudly raised her head, and her whole body was shining with dazzling light like the goddess of vengeance.

Stanley looked at Sif in astonishment, and his back was slightly cold.

He suddenly felt that he was not extreme.

Looking at Sif's fanatical eyes, Roland coughed lightly and reminded:

"It's okay to launch a holy war, but the target must be locked on the Samaritan merchants. There is no need to affect ordinary Samaritans."

Even with the perfect reason of holy war, Roland still couldn't accept indiscriminate massacres.

Expanding the war goals will make the war completely out of control, and the Sussex Empire will stand in the moral trough and can't stand up straight.

Sif looked at Roland gently and nodded.

"Of course I understand. Do you think I want to slaughter indiscriminately? We are a civilized country, and even holy war has a bottom line."

"Let's set the target of holy war on people with assets over 500 pounds."

Sif said calmly: "If we kill all the Samaritans with assets over 500 pounds, there may be some innocent people. If we kill nine out of ten, there will definitely be some fish that slip through the net."

Roland acquiesced to her standard.

In this era, earning 500 pounds by hard work is simply a pipe dream.

Stanley's understanding of Sif was refreshed.

Sif had previously pardoned his crimes, left some resettlement expenses, gave him a glimmer of hope, and let him acquiesce in her simplicity and kindness.

He finally understood now that people can change.

After staying with Roland for a long time, the pure and kind queen had long changed.

He didn't know that Roland was wronged this time.

This was entirely Sif's idea, and he even heard of the Old Heretic Convention for the first time.

After all, the last time a holy war was launched with this excuse was more than 700 years ago.

Unlike Roland, Sif was an idle earl in her early years and received systematic aristocratic education.

She was very clear about some unknown important events.

Seeing that the atmosphere on the scene was a little solemn, Sif stopped talking about this topic and asked with a smile:

"Mr. Stanley, I recognize your talent very much. What position do you want to hold?"

Stanley smiled and shook his head and said, "Although His Majesty has pardoned my crime, I have a stain of disloyalty after all. It is not appropriate to hold a government position. I hope to become a royal merchant and get some convenience."

"Just get some convenience?" Sif was a little curious. Stanley took a huge risk to meet the emperor and spared no effort to show his ability, just for this little benefit?

Stanley stood up and said sincerely:

"My Lord, after leaving the imperial capital, I reunited with my real family and my mentality has changed a lot. Now I just want to provide my family with a rich life."

"Not enough."

Sif said calmly: "Wealth alone is far from enough, you also need identity and status. Think about these Samaritan merchants. If they are targeted, no matter how much wealth they have, it will be useless."

"This" Stanley hesitated.

Sif's attitude just now did make him understand this.

Wealth alone is far from enough, just as those Samaritans find it difficult to integrate into mainstream society no matter how much wealth they have.

"Roland, you are the governor. What position do you think Mr. Stanley is suitable for?"

"I have an idea. Government officials cannot do business. We also need agent businessmen. Mr. Stanley is the most suitable. At the same time, we can hire him as a senior consultant."

Sif understood instantly.

Government officials cannot do business ≠ big businessmen cannot be royal consultants.

Roland extended his right hand to Stanley.

"Mr. Stanley, the hunting operation requires a lot of preparation, and we need your help even more."

Stanley quickly extended his hand and shook Roland's hand.

When he walked out of the Governor's Mansion, Stanley always had an indescribable subtle feeling.

Because he heard the incredible plan, he just made a soul oath and swore allegiance to Sif.

He knew very well that his interests were tied to the Sussex royal family again.

Originally, he just wanted to gamble on the Queen and Roland's ability to make some profits for himself, but he didn't expect to reap such a rich harvest.

Thinking of the past when he was controlled by his ex-wife from Samaria and was cheated, Stanley's eyes gradually sharpened.

Her Majesty is not only knowledgeable, but also has Roland's assistance, so she will definitely accomplish great things.

This big ship must not be missed.

Damn rats, it's time to pay the price.

After sending Stanley away, Sif, who was still pointing out the situation just now, suddenly wilted.

Her eyes were erratic, and she didn't dare to look Roland in the eye. She asked softly: "Did I do something wrong again?"

"That's not the case, but we must be cautious when dealing with Samaritan merchants. We have to find out their strength, design traps, and complete the hunt."

"You, you don't object?" Sif was a little surprised.

"Why should I object? I don't agree with the indiscriminate slaughter of ordinary people, but it doesn't mean I can accept Samaritan merchants hollowing out the foundation of the country."

Roland said firmly: "Sinners are sinners, civilians are civilians, and they must be distinguished. We can even blame the fate of ordinary people in Samaria on these rats."

Sif breathed a sigh of relief.

Roland was right.

The purpose of cleaning up the rats is to take back the granary, not to vent anger and kill.

"To deal with these rats, in addition to mastering accurate intelligence and accumulating strength, we must also make good use of public opinion tools."

No one has launched a holy war for seven hundred years. Sussex suddenly did this. What do other countries think?

They will not agree with you to launch a holy war. They may even add insult to injury and publicize Sussex's targeted massacre all over the world.

Hunting operations must be fast, accurate and ruthless.

Military operations must be fast and the battle must be ended before other countries react.

This is not easy.

The Samaritans made money everywhere but were not slaughtered. It was not because the rulers of various countries were kind-hearted, but because they were strong.

Since the destruction of their homeland, the Samaritans' superstition about wealth and force has almost become an obsession.

They have mercenary organizations all over the world, powerful private soldiers, and killers. They use various shameful means to threaten those in power and protect themselves.

In many countries, the king and the government are the rulers in the sun, but the Samaritans are the underground masters in the dark.

They are everywhere.

The Samaritans are very strong in unity. Even if they can knock out some merchants in a short period of time, the counterattack of other Samaritans will be difficult to stop.

This is probably the reason why the monarchs of other countries are unwilling to break up with them.

After all, these monarchs cherish their lives and have families.

But Sif is different.

She has no family, is alone, and has only the pressure of survival.

She needs money to arm herself, a lot of money.

Even if they want to retaliate, who are the Samaritans going to retaliate against?

Find the missing emperor and kill him again?

Thinking of this, Roland finally understood why some people worry that young people don't get married.

Young people who have strength and power but no family are likely to go to extremes like Sif.

This is really

too good.

Roland almost laughed out loud, after all, he doesn't have a family either.

Just after laughing twice, his expression froze.

Well, this is not something to be proud of.

Looking at Roland's stiff expression, Sif was a little surprised.

"Roland, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, I just thought about how to fight the war of public opinion."

"Are you planning to build a newspaper?" Sif's eyes lit up.

"I must build a news agency, but it will take time. I plan to ask Mr. Rupert to help open an overseas branch for The Sun."