One administrative decree after another was issued, and the entirety of Atester hummed into motion.
Naturally, the first to descend into panic were the merchants. Their entire livelihoods were carried upon the endless streams of freight wagons; if anything went wrong, they could lose everything.
The Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ministry of Administration, quickly introduced a series of countermeasures. They began purchasing goods from the merchants in the name of the Atester authorities to minimize their losses as much as possible.
However, these were not unlimited acquisitions. Instead, they served to provide the merchants with a buffer to adjust their plans.
Rumors soon began to circulate among the common folk:
“The Orcs are about to attack.”
“That can’t be right, can it? Why would the Orcs suddenly attack? I haven’t heard any news.”
“You think they’d just tell you something like that? Every time the Orcs attack, aren’t those lords always the first to run? Anyway, I’d rather believe it than be caught unprepared.”
“Then what should we do?”
“What else? Run!”
Rumors always grew more outrageous as they spread.
In situations like this, it did not matter much if the upper echelons knew the truth; the critical issue was the panic generated within the middle and lower classes.
Standing before the office desk, the Elven Princess Eleanorice, serving as an assistant, looked at the influx of messages and spoke with a hint of fluster. “Lady Saintess Aililan, news is coming from below. Many people are trying to relocate and flee. If we don’t take control soon, I’m afraid it will trigger a mass panic-driven exodus.”
Aililan took a sip of black tea, her tone indifferent. “What is there to panic about?”
“Do you already have a countermeasure? Or… do you plan to see through some conspiracy?”
“There aren’t as many conspiracies and schemes in this world as you think,” Aililan said calmly. “Our job is not to block the information, nor is it to create terror. We must manage the situation and take the opportunity to unify thoughts and public opinion.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
“You… never mind.” Aililan shook her head. “I will have Betiliana of the Inspection Office begin operations, while Bishop Hathaway of the Emile Cathedral conducts a tour of speeches. Go and follow them.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Eleanorice felt a sense of doubt. How exactly would the Saintess she followed handle this crisis?
However, the development of events was smoother — and bloodier — than she had imagined.
Eleanorice had been educated from a young age to cherish all life, so she felt an instinctive fear and unease regarding these issues of public sentiment.
Yet, Betiliana’s method was extremely direct — she conducted large-scale arrests of those spreading rumors and causing trouble.
Eleanorice looked at the overcrowded jail cells and then at Betiliana, who was inspecting the torture instruments. She whispered a reminder, “Miss Betiliana, isn’t this a bit much?”
Betiliana glanced at her sideways and laughed. “What’s wrong with it?”
“But… you’re going straight to using force?”
“What do you know?” Betiliana sneered. “Give them two lashes, and they’ll behave.”
“But if the rumors spread, how many people will be forced from their homes? How much crime will breed on the roads, and how much will it increase the cost of maintaining public order?”
“But…”
“Elven Princess, where do you get all these ‘buts’?” Betiliana said impatiently. “Do you know how many people are forced to leave their homes and how many die on the road when rumors become the norm?”
“Money can be earned again if it’s lost, but if you lose the hearts of the people, that is the true loss.”
“Princess, you are thinking too simply. Why don’t you go look at the scene outside? Because of the rumors, prices are skyrocketing, and the villains in the shadows are beginning to stir. Are the ‘hearts of the people’ you care about the hearts of these rumor-mongers, or the hearts of the general public?”
“But… isn’t there a way to have the best of both worlds? I still cannot agree with your method.”
Betiliana looked speechless. “You… forget it. You should go see Bishop Hathaway. I’m about to start the interrogations here, and I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”
After sending her away, Betiliana let out a long sigh of relief, feeling that the Elven Princess was far too naive. She secretly felt lucky that her own Saintess was not like that.
At the same time, Bishop Hathaway of the Emile Cathedral began her large-scale tour of speeches.
The Church remained powerful when it came to soothing the minds of the people.
Hathaway even held a trump card —
“If you don’t trust me, do you still not trust the Saintess? The great Saintess Aililan has sworn to stand with Atester until death! The Saintess is with us!”
She stood on high ground, delivering a passionate speech.
‘The Saintess…’
The citizens murmured the name, their gazes gradually becoming firm.
“Bishop Hathaway is right! The Saintess hasn’t abandoned Atester, yet we were the ones to lose our footing first!”
“Stand with the Saintess!”
“Long live the Saintess!”
“Fight for the Saintess!”
This was the true heart of the people.
Its root did not lie in the nobility of Aililan’s status, but in everything she had done since arriving in Atester.
Everyone held a scale in their hearts. They saw what it was like before the Saintess arrived and what it was like after. In just one year, they had seen it all clearly.
Order within the city was quickly restored to stability.
This scene left Eleanorice dumbfounded.
She did not understand, nor did she comprehend.
After agonizing over it for a long time, she found Aililan and asked, “How… how did you actually do it?”
Aililan didn’t even look up as she said plainly, “How did I do it? Before I came, the gap between the rich and the poor in Atester was massive, even featuring slums where tens of thousands of people gathered. Since I arrived, I haven’t done anything earth-shattering.”
“I simply ensured that the majority of the people — those who have hands and feet and are willing to work — can eat three meals a day.”
“You might think the people crave freedom and equality. But in reality, what they crave most is nothing more than basic sustenance.”
Aililan raised her head and looked her straight in the eye. “It is nothing more than the lowliest of needs.”
“Can you… can you teach me?”
“I also want the Elves to lead affluent lives and make the Elves strong again.”
“If you Elves become powerful, it brings me no benefit whatsoever.”
“I…”
Eleanorice’s face turned pale. After a long silence, she lowered her head and said, “I am sorry. I overstepped. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Just as Aililan said, the Elves becoming strong was not necessarily a good thing for her; it might even bring trouble. Why should she teach her? Why was she even worth teaching?
Aililan waved her hand.
In truth, the matter was not complicated; it was simply about making the cake bigger.
But unfortunately, “making the cake” was something that seemed simple but was actually the most difficult.
She stopped paying attention to Eleanorice and shifted her gaze to the documents sent by the diplomats.
Diplomat Blaise had already arrived at the War Pig Tribe.
But progress was not going smoothly.
“Fine wine and good food? They even treated our diplomat with great courtesy?”
Aililan let out a cold sneer.
The War Pig Tribe was merely stalling for time.
To put it bluntly, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too.
But — was that even possible?
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