Chapter 610: A Sudden Affair
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Congress quickly moved on to the next motion — a motion that had given Baiyi quite the headache for days — military intervention of an Otherworld that was called ‘Dark Fertile Land.’ This dark world, which was discovered recently, had a large expanse of highly fertile black soil, which allowed the people in that world to enjoy bountiful harvests. Unfortunately, the feudalist societies in this otherworld needed political stability, and wars were easily started over the most trivial reasons.
The New Empire — using her technology, which was centuries ahead in advancement — quickly took control of Dark Fertile Land’s local governments. A cursory expedition of the world followed, and the results were disappointing: this otherworld lacked profitable resources. The only diplomatic tributes that the Dark Fertile Land could give Baiyi were agricultural produces and handcrafted products. To the New Empire, it was as though this otherworld did not exist.
All of this changed last year, however, when the Dole Family, which was led by the Merchant Walker and Undine Dole, discovered a hidden silicon reserve beneath the Dark Fertile Land’s fertile land.
As one of the main materials used to produce magic-electronic products, silicon was expensive and in great demand. The natural resources in the New Empire were being competed for by the Archmage’s Forward Sci Business Group and the Sidhe tribe’s Verdant Tech Business Group, both of whom were just as eager to get their hands on silicon.
These two powers were the New World’s leading manufacturers of electronic products. The Archmage’s company focused on cutting-edge, innovative technology, and the Sidhe tribe focused on affordable prices and user experience. Both dominated a separate consumer base split between high-end and low-end products.
It was a bit puzzling that a creature of nature and aesthetics could go into the business of synthetical, electronic products, but all living things evolve when their environment changes, else they risk being left behind. The times had changed, and the fairies knew that they had to follow.
Complications between both companies were significant because Baiyi and his family were involved. Baiyi’s daughters each had shares in Forward Sci Group, as the Archmage loved gifting his adorable granddaughters with his company’s shares. On the other hand, Sylvia Sidhe — the Fairy Walker, who was Baiyi’s first wife — was the biggest shareholder of Verdant Tech Group. On their two-thousandth wedding anniversary, Sylvia gifted Baiyi some of her company’s shares.
News of the recently-discovered silicon mine was not a welcome one for both companies, as the mine had been discovered by the Dole Family. The Merchant Walker and Undine, both of the Dole Family, had strived to expand their business, placing their focus on the electronic sector. An elaborate scheme to topple the two giants of that industry had been in the works for years.
Once the Dole Family obtained excavation and managerial rights for Dark Fertile Land’s silicon reserve, they planned to compete aggressively with the other two corporate t.i.tans. This would benefit their family, company, and interest groups.
That compet.i.tion began quicker than was expected, and the Dole Family, as it turned out, was quite prepared. After securing owners.h.i.+p rights to the silicon reserve, the Dole Family soared past its opposition, and its domination of the industry seemed set in stone. The New Empire’s electronic product market seemed ready to welcome a new and powerful challenger into its fold.
Right when this was set to happen, civil unrest suddenly broke out in the area that the silicon reserve was discovered. The unrest was intense, and it was sure to take a long time to dissolve. No silicon could be mined until everything was settled.
When the Archmage was asked about the unrest, he swore that he had nothing to do with it. He claimed that he “did not use any despicable schemes to meddle in the internal affairs of Dark Fertile Land, causing a civil war. After all, I am not that kind of person, am I?”
Before Sylvia the Fairy Walker could be questioned, she donned the s.e.xiest lingerie in her collection and rode Baiyi to oblivion. Afterward, during pillow talk, she cooed as innocently as possible, “Darling, we’ve been in love for two thousand years, from a time when we believed escaping the Void to be impossible. Have I ever been a selfish, vile vixen? We fairies value peace, honor, and fairness more than our lives! This has nothing to do with me, darling; I swear.”
Baiyi was speechless. The Empire did not receive intelligence that suggested either of the two had been involved. However, suspicions arose when an unknown member of Congress ‘accidentally’ leaked information to the media that the government had obtained concrete proof of collusion and was deciding its next course of action.
This lead did not exist, and the Empire opposed interventionist methods. In fact, the government should have stood idly by and let the corporations fight it out, but sitting by the side would make the Dole family’s years of preparation and hard work be for nothing.
At the critical point in time, a familiar face returned. After choosing to be absent from Baiyi’s life for a long period of time, Undine visited Biayi and told him that she could not bear to let their old love die.
Unbeknownst to most, Baiyi and Undine had a secret affair shortly after the move to the New World. At the time, Baiyi took Aya — a woman of different species — as his fourth wife, but he did not make things between himself and Undine formal. This infuriated Undine, and she severed her ties to the Fifth Walker.
Many years had pa.s.sed since then. Undine, who was still as young and gorgeous as Baiyi remembered, was prepared for their reunion. This was evident by how quickly she convinced Baiyi to join her in bed for a romp that was reminiscent of their first time. When both had reached cloud nine, Undine, who had only her black over-knee socks on, rested her head on Baiyi’s chest and cooed, “I’m no longer mad at you for not choosing me back then, my love. But, this time, you must stand by my side! Ah, I mean, you must stand on the side of justice!”
The next day, a member of Congress suggested that the New Empire use its military to quell the unrest in Dark Fertile Land and restore political stability. If the motion was pa.s.sed, the Imperial Airforce and Air a.s.sault teams would be deployed to Dark Fertile Land to quell the rebellion in twenty-four hours. After that, the Dole Family would begin mining silicon as initially planned.
The motion was fiercely contested. Heated arguments and even fights broke out. After a long and tense period in the chamber, voting came to an end: the Yeas and Nays were evenly matched. Hence, the case was taken to Baiyi.
Baiyi quickly dismissed the motion, citing insufficient information. Thus, the motion was sent back to the chamber for the second round of debates. In this manner, Baiyi made excuses three more times, and today, the motion was sent back to the chamber for the fifth debate.
The previous day, the Archmage had had an hour-long heart-to-heart talk with his student, claiming that he was only putting his student in the “right frame of mind.” As Sylvia was currently in another world, discussing a large-scale purchasing contract, she opted to send Baiyi a personal letter, in which she made mention of her love and their relations.h.i.+p. The letter was filled with lewd descriptions fit for erotica.
At night the previous day, Aya was suddenly invited to attend a special talk on childbearing being held by a renowned professor at Imperial Da Xue. When Aya left for the talk, Undine, who was wearing extremely skimpy lingerie, crept into Baiyi’s room.
All three sides had brought their A-games in a bid to lobby for the favor. However, the main factor for his indecision was not personal; he was not worried about what his wife, daughters, or mistress thought. Instead, he mused if allowing a new compet.i.tor into this industry was a good idea, or if it would cause problems to the economy or his control. What kind of effects will a new compet.i.tor introduce to the industry? What could the pros and cons be? How about the political implications of meddling in a va.s.sal world’s internal affairs, and what sort of impression would it make to other va.s.sal worlds? Some of the latter had established their own diplomatic ties to Dark Fertile Land, too, so what would their most probably responses be?
Those were only the tip of the iceberg. Any decision would cascade into a series of complicated consequences. Even Baiyi’s background group of experts and intellectuals was unable to come to a unified conclusion.
The parliament would not care; they answered to the interest groups and lobbyists behind them. They were also incredibly persistent, like the man who was currently giving his speech on stage. He was lifted to the podium by two security marionettes because he had encased himself with a full set of plate armor, and now he looked like a dollar-store version of Ironman.
“Beg your pardon on my appearance, Sire. We must decide on this long-delayed motion today, so I have no choice but to wear this,” The man said in a voice that sounded like Darth Vader’s.
On their last proceeding, this man had delivered a very pa.s.sionate argument for this motion before another parliamentary member suddenly hysterically burst into the stage and knocked the former out with a sucker-punch. The culprit was later diagnosed with episodic psychosis, and since the man was attacked before voting, the Chamber skipped the motion.
It seemed that the accident burnt a lasting impression on the poor man after all.
According to the rules, weapons, mana, combat chi, and any other offensive tactics were prohibited in parliamentary brawls. In comparison, the rules for defensive gears were a lot laxer. Anything other than enchanted armors and mana-powered battle suits was allowed, so this guy decided to build his own Ironman suit — or a c.r.a.ppier version of it.
“With all due respect, the Chamber would like to remind you that this is the fifth discussion for this motion, Sire. According to the Const.i.tution, a verdict must be made today. You’ve suggested the senate to redefine this motion on reasons that it was too broad and loaded, but three separate hearings had concluded that no changes were necessary,” The man spoke at length. “So today, Sire, I humbly implore that you give the Chamber our much-needed direction through your divine sagacity.”
Baiyi ignored him. The only thought in his mind was: ‘Why the h.e.l.l did I give that much power to the parliament and left so little for myself? I wouldn’t have gotten into this pickle otherwise!’
As though she read his mind, the she-dragon leaned close to him and whispered, “Would you like me to swallow him whole, Beloved?”
Although he appreciated Aya’s concern, Baiyi shook his head. He would rather the she-dragon stomped the man into junk metal instead.
It was at this moment when an imperial guard, clad in the latest generation of mana-powered mobile suit, suddenly barged into the hall. Tinman instinctively let out a shriek, thinking that the Emperor had arranged someone who was even more psychotic than his last attacker to a.s.sault him for his position.
However, the guard’s eyes were on no one but the Emperor. He hurried towards Baiyi and whispered into his ear of bombsh.e.l.l news.
Baiyi reacted by slapping onto his table so hard it cracked and crumbled instantly. He rose from his seat and left the Chamber as various notification jingles began to ring:
“One of the Empire’s districts, Mapleleaf Town, had just suffered a devastating terrorist suicide attack. The number of casualties is yet finalized.”