Count Arias threw the glass onto the table, and it was about to shatter, but just as it was about to fall over, it strangely turned slightly, shook, and then stopped steadily on the table without a drop of remaining wine falling out.
The count looked at Pinto, as if he wanted him to hear him clearly, and said in a very slow tone: "You should know that this is no longer a good option."
Pinto was less humble than usual at this moment, and said solemnly: "I have to look further ahead for the future of the Arias Family. Just like my grandfather did for your grandfather, and my father did for your father."
"Are you mocking my short-sightedness?" There was no trace of annoyance in the count's voice.
"Your eyes are always looking at the highest and farthest places. I just want to pay attention to the branches that may trip you up and then cut them off."
"Hmm, what if we need to build a ladder with these branches?"
"Perhaps before you reach the top, it will grow into a scary tree man."
"Your mouth is really worth the effort of growing so big." The Count shook his head and laughed, "Why didn't you say it would be a tree man under my feet? Even if the tree man is disobedient, do you know what the Berserker's best weapon is? An axe! What else can an axe be used for besides chopping people? Chopping trees!"
"They are different from us." Pinto did not laugh along as usual, but said more seriously: "They are different from this world in every aspect. Their rules, their way of dealing with things, their methods, everything they do will destroy the original appearance of this world! By then, even if you have successfully seized the throne, you may not be able to bear the consequences."
"Pinto, do you know what the biggest difference between me and my father is?"
Pinto looked up unconsciously and glanced at a portrait on the wall behind the count. The old count was dressed up and riding on a horse, surrounded by countless knights, but his expression was hidden with melancholy. The painter captured this very keenly, or maybe it didn't need to be captured. Anyone who knew him a little bit should know his difficult situation, right? Pinto sighed and said nothing more.
"That is, I will always remember that I am the descendant of a Berserker. How does a Berserker fight? Ignore the pain and always move forward. I can endure pretending to be a dandy boy with no skills for decades, letting everyone look down on me. But I can't stand thinking over and over again and being indecisive when it's time to take action! The Berserker's attack must be thunderous and without hesitation! I will definitely unite all the forces that can be united and give those guys on the throne the most fatal blow. Therefore, I can't let go of any visible and tangible help." Arias seemed to say what he had been holding back for a long time, "We are still far behind them, and every weight on the scale must be added. As for the future... the future will be another story."
Pinto saw the count's pale face flushed with a faint red due to his momentary excitement, and knew that there was no hope of persuading him. He lowered his head and humbled himself again, and asked softly: "Then can the real negotiation begin?"
"Go tell Li Jia that Xiao Chen must be invited here. Although Li Jia has the authorization from the Magician's Castle, what we want to discuss is much more important than what they are planning to discuss. I have to talk to a real magician, not a magic apprentice."
"Should we invite that female mage Luo Ling to come over?"
"Women..." The Earl's lips curled up slightly, perhaps thinking of his daughter, "Let women stay away from these things."
"By the way, you've been watching for several days. Do you think Li Jia is worthy of Selena?" The count suddenly asked just as Pinto was leaving.
"Master, I told you that they are different from us," Pinto replied.
"Go away, you stubborn old man." The count cursed with a smile.
———————————
Luo Ling and Xiao Chen were walking back to the office. The voting had just ended. Twelve team leaders and deputy team leaders plus Chairman Guo Qian, a total of twenty-five people voted. The final result was twenty votes in favor, four votes against, and one abstention. Those slaves could stay with a clear conscience. But at this moment, Xiao Chen felt suffocated.
"I didn't expect that there was such a big quarrel yesterday, but today they are so harmonious. Look at those people, they were counting on their fingers yesterday to criticize us, but today they just smile and applaud. These people..." Xiao Chen shook his head, "How shameless!"
"This shows that they are beginning to play the role of politicians." Luo Ling looked normal, perhaps with some relief that the problem had been solved. "Humans are political animals. Just like a queen bee will always evolve in a beehive, there will always be various roles in a group of people. The only difference is the means and level. Didn't we also play a trick of lobbying outside the hospital yesterday?"
Xiao Chen was stunned and said, "But we are not doing this for our own selfish interests!"
"Who says they must be?" Luo Ling asked back, "Motivation is subjective. You think others are here to fight for power and profit, but they think you want to eat alone! So instead of guessing what others are thinking, it is better to do your own practical work."
Xiao Chen was speechless and could only change the subject: "Speaking of which, I admire those who voted against today even more. At least they have their own principles and bottom line."
"Everyone has a bottom line. It depends on whether you touch it or not. The villain standing on our side is much more useful than the gentleman standing on the other side."
"They don't have a stance at all. They only stand on the side that can take advantage." Xiao Chen sighed, "I originally thought that we would be able to start over again after traveling to a new era. But I didn't expect that after only a few days, all kinds of troubles and dirty things have started to emerge again. Is this really a bad habit that cannot be changed?"
"You have too many expectations of human nature. Next time, lower your goals a little, and you may find a lot of surprises."
Xiao Chen looked up at Luo Ling, who still looked calm. He felt calmer and said, "Maybe."
When the two arrived at the office door, they found two young men and women waiting at the door.
"Ye Zi? Why are you here?" Xiao Chen asked in surprise.
"Senior... Ji Yijun and I are here to report." Ye Zi looked a little listless.
"Well, I know Ji Yijun, the 'domineering little handsome guy' in the military team." Xiao Chen stretched out his hand and shook hands with Ji Yijun.
"What domineering? It's more like unlucky." Ji Yijun muttered, and the two of them greeted Luo Ling again.
"What's the report about?" Luo Ling asked.
Ye Zi lowered his head and said nothing, but Ji Yijun turned his head and said loudly: "Hey, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's just that Wang Jiyuan, this grandson, is vindictive and expelled the two of us from the guard camp. Now, he said that he would set up a special department to manage those slaves and sent us here. Ouch!"
Ji Yijun was kicked by Ye Zi before he came to his senses: "Oh, they assigned us here."
Xiao Chen was a little surprised and asked, "Wasn't Team Leader Wang just voting in a meeting? When did he call you over?"
"He pulled us over last night and had a lecture on us, saying that military management was too rigid and not suitable for people like us. We would be better off as special forces. He asked us to report here this morning," Ji Yijun replied.
"He clearly said that there is no discipline. You should just go and be a security guard." Ye Zi ruthlessly exposed Ji Yijun's cover-up.
"Hmph." Ji Yijun pursed his lips, clasped his hands together, and tilted his head to the side.
Luo Ling and Xiao Chen both laughed. They looked at each other, and Luo Ling whispered, "Wang Jiyuan, you're a smart guy. You figured out what was going on a long time ago."
"Hey, I guess I'm the only one who's really worried. It's like everyone else already knew the outcome."
"You are more straightforward." Luo Ling covered her mouth and chuckled.
The two of them whispered for a while, and Xiao Chen asked Ji Yijun and the others, "Weren't you all top students in the Guard Battalion? What happened?"
"We didn't do anything bad..." Ji Yijun talked about the previous incident of letting the goblins go and hunting down the horse thieves. Of course, in his description, his and Ye Zi's actions were full of justice, and basically stopping them from doing things was against human ethics and justice. Finally, he asked Luo Ling and Xiao Chen: "Sister Luo, Brother Xiao, what do you think, is Wang Jiyuan's handling of this matter unjust?"
Xiao Chen touched his nose in embarrassment and said, "It depends on whose perspective I am standing on..."
Luo Ling smiled and said, "I think Wang Jiyuan is quite honest. If I were him, you would still be locked up in a small dark room."
Ji Yijun was about to argue. But Luo Ling raised a finger to her mouth, silencing him. She said, "Don't argue with me about who is right or wrong. If you think you are a man, you should be worthy of the consequences of your actions. If a person covers up things and talks about them over and over again afterwards, to put it bluntly, he has begun to regret his original behavior. From now on, you will follow me and do things. I have one request: don't do things that you will regret, and don't say things that you want to take back. Can you do it?"
"Sister Luo, you should go to the military team. You are much more powerful when you speak angry words than Wang Jiyuan." Ji Yijun scratched his head and said, "Is that all you want?"
"Of course not! This is just the first requirement. If you can't do this, please go back."
"Okay!" Ji Yijun nodded and said, "I think you are more interesting than Wang Jiyuan."
"I can do it too." Ye Zi followed.
Luo Ling smiled, as if she had found a treasure. "Then welcome to join the working group."
"So next, the two of us will go to the slave camp?" Ye Zi asked.
"No, I have other plans. Ji Yijun and I will go to manage the camp. Ye Zi will follow Xiao Chen. Our last visit to Count Arias was interrupted by a slave riot. Xiao Chen will have to make another trip sooner or later."