Inspiration is tied to mood?
If the mood is bad, nothing can be written?
The fanaticism on the faces of Allison and Yekaterina froze instantly, as if a basin of ice water had been poured over their heads, chilling them to the bone.
Prime Minister Allison, who had spent decades in the political arena and seen all kinds of people, understood Wendy’s subtext almost instantly.
Though the Little Queen was young, she had survived the court struggles, and her mind was no ornament.
Seeing Wendy’s innocent “I am very fragile, come coax me” expression, she gritted her silver teeth in anger.
This monster wants to manipulate us!
But as it happened, they were vulnerable to exactly this tactic.
“Ahem.” Prime Minister Allison was the first to react.
She nonchalantly righted the chair she had knocked over earlier, her face once again blooming with a smile as warm as a spring breeze: “The Prince is right. Creation is a sacred and meticulous task that must never be disturbed by mundane trifles. I wonder… what matter has troubled your mood? Please speak freely. I, and all of Valoran, will clear all obstacles for you.”
“Yes, yes!”
Yekaterina also hurriedly echoed.
Her mind was currently filled with Frodo and the Ring Expedition Team, and she no longer cared about a Queen’s dignity.
“As long as it makes you happy, we will agree to any condition!”
Looking at these two women who practically had the words “at your mercy” carved on their faces, Wendy was delighted in his heart, yet his face grew increasingly sorrowful.
He let out a long, faint sigh, his gaze sweeping across the window, filled with a sentiment of compassion for the world: “Alas, whenever I think about how the Kingdom is still recovering, the treasury is empty, and the People can barely afford to eat, my heart feels like it is being twisted by a knife. Under such circumstances, how could I possibly have the heart to conceive some epic story?”
The corner of Allison’s eye twitched.
“Actually, a few days ago, I watched the farmers plowing the fields and felt that their method of using only hoes was too cumbersome.”
Wendy frowned, wearing an expression as if he were just speaking casually.
“I once saw something called a ‘Curved Shaft Plow’ in an ancient book. It is said to be lighter and more labor-saving, and it can plow deeply, which can greatly increase grain yields. If all the farmland in the country could use this kind of plow and everyone could eat their fill, my mood… might be just a little bit better.”
Grain yields greatly increased?
Allison immediately realized the terrifying value hidden behind this seemingly simple suggestion.
Regardless of anything else, food was the foundation of a civilization’s development!
“And then there are those Nobles who were forced to wear the ‘Loyalty Collar’.” Wendy’s tone shifted, carrying a bit of reluctance.
“Forcing them to donate money directly is too crude; it makes me feel a bit guilty. So why not change the approach? For example, in the name of the King, ‘borrow money’ from them.”
“Borrow money?”
Yekaterina was stunned.
“Yes. We give them a beautifully crafted certificate called a ‘Kingdom Glory Bonds’. Tell them that this is an opportunity to share the country’s burdens. When the Kingdom’s finances improve, we will not only return the money but also pay a bit of interest.”
“This way, they can preserve their own dignity and show their loyalty to the King, and we can get the money we desperately need. Everyone is happy, and my mood will naturally become pleasant.”
Allison’s brain buzzed as if she had been struck by lightning!
Borrowing money… paying interest… bonds… this… this was simply unheard of, yet it was an accumulation method so reasonable that it made her want to clap in admiration!
Wendy gave them no time to digest it and continued: “Money and grain alone are not enough. For a country to have long-term peace and stability, it needs talent. We cannot always pick all our officials from those few Noble families, can we? If we do, won’t the country become theirs? Just like the Veid Family… this makes me feel very insecure.”
“Perhaps we could hold a type of public examination. Don’t ask about birth or background; as long as someone has talent and passes the examination, they can serve the country. I call it the ‘Imperial Examination’.”
The moment the words “Imperial Examination” were uttered, Allison’s entire body shook violently.
Her gaze toward Wendy had changed from looking at a “gold mine miner” to looking at a living deity… and also with infinite fear.
This was no longer just a strategy for governing a country; this was an overt scheme capable of overturning the Political Order of the entire Continent!
Finally, Wendy picked up the glass teacup on the table, stroking it gently and summarizing lazily: “See, like this cup, it is crystal clear and so beautiful. But for such a good thing, we have to spend a fortune to import it from the Elves, letting them slaughter us at will. If we could fire even more beautiful vessels ourselves and sell them across the entire Continent, would the treasury still lack Gold Coins?”
“As long as the country is rich and powerful, the People are happy, and talent is abundant, I will eat and sleep well every day, and inspiration will naturally flow like spring water, unstoppable.”
After speaking, he blinked and revealed a pure and flawless smile.
Inside the Council Hall, however, there was a dead silence.
Yekaterina and Allison had been completely stunned by Wendy’s combination of agricultural, financial, political, and industrial punches.
After a long while, Allison took a deep breath and performed a respectful, grand salute toward Wendy.
“The talent of the Prince surpasses a million-strong army. From this day forward, every plan you have mentioned will become the highest national policy of Valoran…”
***
After writing down the rough designs and information regarding the Curved Shaft Plow, the Imperial Examination system, the national debt, and glass production, Wendy watched the Prime Minister and the Little Queen leave in a state of near-manic excitement.
Only then did he let out a long sigh, his entire body slumping into Astreia’s arms.
“Sigh, acting is so tiring…”
Astreia lovingly kissed the top of his head and said softly: “You must be exhausted, right?”
“I’m fine.”
Wendy adjusted himself into a comfortable position, though a deep look flashed in his eyes.
He did all of this not just for the Valoran before him.
In the plot of “Witch’s Conquest”, a few years later, the rising Vampire Queen and the invading Void Monsters would drag the entire Continent into the abyss of the apocalypse.
He needed a super fortress that could mass-produce troops, conduct research, and provide him with endless support.
And Valoran was the first foundation stone he had chosen.
Once he returned from graduating from the Central Academy, this place would become his base for confronting the apocalypse.
***
Three days later.
Above the Royal Capital, several loud and high-pitched cries suddenly echoed.
A massive Shadow cast downward, covering the entire Courtyard of the Royal Palace.
Dozens of extraordinary Griffins dove down from the clouds.
Their wingspans exceeded ten meters, and every flap of their wings stirred up a violent gale.
The lead Griffin was snow-white all over, without a single stray hair, and was exceptionally magnificent.
Sitting astride its back was a cold-faced female Knight wearing silver chainmail.
On their breastplates, the crest of a sun, a tower, and crossed swords was uniformly engraved.
That was the Continental Center Academy of Erathia, the most elite aerial force—the Griffin Guard.
The Griffin Guard landed steadily in the center of the Courtyard, their movements perfectly synchronized.
The wind pressure they kicked up made the surrounding Guards struggle to stand.
The female Knight at the lead dismounted and knelt on one knee, her voice ringing out like a bell:
“By the order of Dean Layana Klein, I have come to receive Princess Astreia and Prince Wendy to head to the Central Academy for further studies!”