Miss Miriam very gracefully refuses the payment she deserves, and decides, as Murphy says, to fight for her future with the present as collateral.

However, the red-haired girl knows that the bright future still requires her to work hard now, and as the number one "reserve politician" under Murphy, she is indeed busy with official duties now, and after ending the conversation with Murphy and having a casual breakfast, she returned to the survivor camp with a few of her carefully selected assistants.

Major construction is underway here.

Murphy had just rescued more than 1,800 people from the Vulture Corridor, and it was a very disturbing sign that he had twice as many mouths to eat, but fortunately, there was already a rough and simple order that worked in the camp before, so that Miriam was still basically able to stabilize the situation.

According to her own schedule, she was going to have a meeting with the leader of the survivors of the cloisters early this morning about sending people into the ruins of the outer city to clean up and rebuild the initial reconstruction.

From a manager's point of view, the situation Miriam is facing can be summarized as follows:

The good news is that the other party is very cooperative with the work of the camp, and even took the initiative to integrate the 1,800 survivors into the existing management system based on "labor points" and "big pot rice".

The bad news is that there are a few people in the leadership who are quite restless and a little bit interested in seizing power.

Lady Adele had told Miriam the news in private, and as Murphy's blood and steward, she felt compelled to inform the current administrator of certain phenomena in the realm that needed attention.

Miriam didn't care about this before, she wanted to finish it quickly and apply oil to the soles of her feet.

But now, Miriam finds herself like a scrappy "battle hen", eager to wait for a challenge from her peers.

It seems that many people have noticed the "treasure" represented by the survivor camp, and as the closest person to monopolizing the treasure at the moment, the smart and fierce red-haired girl obviously doesn't intend to let go so easily.

The change in mentality has brought her more subjective positivity, just as the guy who has found her goal and the person who goes with the flow are definitely two states of life.

"Smack"

The door to the small "conference room" was pushed open, and it was actually a burnt-fire but barely functioning house in the ruins of the outer city.

A man dressed as a middle-aged scholar who was sitting in it looked up.

He should be the representative sent by the other side.

With a broken frame glued together with glue and cloth, gray hair looked haggard, a little worry between his eyebrows, although he was plainly dressed but very well-groomed and clean, his legs and feet seemed to be inconvenient, and he had a wooden cane at his hand.

In front of him lay some manuscript papers full of words, apparently intent on arguing with Miriam to gain more benefits for the "camp" he represented.

This scene gave the redhead a strong sense of déjà vu.

It's as if she is now playing the role of the leader of a certain force, and is about to start a game called "politics" with the other party's diplomats for her own benefit. What was once far away for her has become a reality for her at this time.

"Hello, I'm Miriam, the director of the survivor camp."

She took the initiative to say to the middle-aged scholar with a calm face in front of her:

"I don't want to hide my intentions, but the survivor camp has reached its limit of accepting so many people, and we must both work together to open a new living area in the old city as soon as possible, otherwise there will soon be some chaos here that no one wants to see."

"I know what you mean, Miss Miriam."

The middle-aged scholar smiled, and he said very humbly:

"In the two days since we left the cloister, my companions and I have come to an agreement that we have no intention of challenging your position in the survivors' camp and that we are willing to assist you in the management of the survivors' triage.

At least I don't want to see people face unnecessary waves after surviving hard, so I propose."

Miriam listened carefully to the other party's description.

From the other party's attitude that seems to be weak, but is actually ready to come up with a complete plan, it is clear that her current opponent is not easy to deal with.

But just as the middle-aged scholar was about to say the specific plan, the door of this "conference room" was suddenly pushed open, and Major Fraser, who was wearing the military uniform of the Plantagenet Kingdom, bent in very dissatisfied, and said loudly to Miriam:

"I'll have to go into the ruins of the Vulture Corridor to check the situation to confirm that Salokdal really is. Hey? Professor Winston Malcolm? How did you end up here? ”

The major of the "enemy country" noticed that there were other people in the room, and he didn't care, but when he turned around and saw the scholar who was talking to Miriam, he was dumbfounded, and the instinct of the soldier made him straighten up, and he made a standard bend bow to the middle-aged scholar who was also stunned in front of him, and said loudly:

"Hail to you, Mentor! I'm Frazier Robert Capet, Class 1100 of the History Department of the Chardo Artisan University, Class 7!

I have sat in on your seven public lectures on the evolution of the nobility of the Kingdom of Sealand, and I have to say that those lessons are still fresh in my memory and have given me some interesting anecdotes about my family's history that have not been recorded in the family tree. ”

"Ah, Lord Fraser, I remember you!"

The middle-aged scholar did find some residual memories after removing his torn glasses and rubbing his forehead, saying:

"You invited me to sit in the most luxurious café in Puerto Chardo after class, and asked me some pretty professional questions about Capet's family history, which I asked at the time, but you denied it.

Now it seems that you are indeed a descendant of the oldest family of Sealand nobility? ”

"That's what my father asked. He said that if I wanted to prove my ability, then at least I should not get too much interference and help from my family during my studies. ”

Major Fraser was also surprised and overjoyed to see his former teacher, and he simply pulled out a chair and sat down next to Professor Malcolm, and said apologetically:

"Truth be told, I admired your talent so much that I wanted to ask you to serve as a historical advisor to the Capet family, but the suddenness of the Ten Years' War caused me to fail to finish my studies and return home early to become a soldier.

It's comforting to see familiar faces in this strange land, professor, but if I'm not mistaken, didn't the Faculty of History issue a recall order in the first year of the Ten Years' War?

I've heard that the Chardondo University Administration has also sent someone to protect the safety of the faculty and staff, why are you here in Transnesia?

And make such a mess of yourself? ”

"Ugh."

Hearing this question, the middle-aged scholar who was very self-contained also showed a tense expression on his face, and while stroking his knees, he explained in a low voice in a tone of "the past is unbearable":

"Because at the time of the war, I was invited by the Explorers Guild to visit some historical sites of the Western Saharian barbarians, and as a result, I was somehow caught up in the rebellion of the Old Religion against the Plantagenet Kingdom, and almost became a prisoner of the angry mountain people in the Saks area.

It was a life-or-death experience.

Later, I witnessed the massacre of the mountain people in the Plantagenet Kingdom in the midst of the upheaval and exile, and I also saw the scenes of the armed blood servants going thousands of miles of red land.

That is the truth of every page of history. ”

Professor Malcolm didn't look very old, but the weathered years of the war had left him with gray hair, and he was always reluctant to talk too much about his experiences to others, but when he met his former students, he spoke freely.

After all, people need a window to vent after being tense for a long time.

Mature men can't share too much of their pressure with their families, and now it's normal to meet someone close to them and pour bitter water.

He patted his knees, sighed and said:

"It would have been fine if it had been me, but my wife and children had been on an expedition with me for pleasure, and I had to join the army of the Portia Confederacy as a logistics officer to protect my family, and then settled in Cadman.

But fortunately, after nearly ten years, at least my family has been safe, and I still have a healthy little daughter, which may be the protection of fate, and I don't want more now. ”

"As fate would have it, a brilliant scholar like you shouldn't have been drawn into this goddamn war."

Major Fraser comforted him, then turned back to Miriam, who had a strange expression, and said:

"Miss Miriam! You have also heard the true identity of Professor Winston Malcolm, a rare gem in the field of human history, and I now make a solemn request to you as the Major of the Pioneer Legion of the Plantagenet Kingdom and the heir of the Capetian family!

You are no longer allowed to detain Malcolm in the name of those vampires. Well? This is? ”

Before he could finish his righteous words, he saw Miriam, whose expression was already indescribably strange, covering her eyes and taking out her "student ID" from her psionic bag.

She glanced at Major Fraser and whispered:

"I am a student of the 1109th class of the Department of Administration of the Chardo Craftsman University. Well, I didn't expect me to be an alumnus with you nasty guy. Also, good teacher! You should have identified yourself sooner rather than later, so we don't have to have that awkward conversation.

In front of a scholar like you, I am afraid that I have already been clearly understood by you, and I have just made you laugh. ”

Miriam stood up, straightened her clothes, and bowed generously to Professor Malcolm, who was sitting in his chair for the second time in silence and amazement.

This multiple reversal of identities made the well-informed Professor Malcolm and the enemy Major Fraser next to him laugh and cry.

The atmosphere between the three people in the small conference room suddenly became a little delicate.

But now that the three parties have made their identities clear and there is such a relationship, the small antagonism before them can be put aside for the time being.

Miriam breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

She put away her cold expression just now, and said to Professor Malcolm very politely and sincerely:

"Professor, I promise I'll find a way to get your family back to Port Chardo when this is all over, but for now, I really need your expertise to help me manage this growing camp.

I don't have to hide it in front of the elders!

This period of work has made me emaciated, after all, I am only a student who has not yet graduated, and my ability is limited. And you have a couple of managers over there. How so? I received messages that they were trying to disrupt the peace we had so earned.

This incident made me quite anxious.

Doing this kind of thing on vampire territory is self-defeating, and Master Murphy doesn't know it yet, but if he did, he would never let it go.

You shouldn't be involved.

If you're involved, stop it now! ”

Professor Malcolm didn't answer immediately, but looked Miriam up and down, and after a few seconds, he smiled and said:

"To be able to single-handedly assemble such a large survivor camp in the midst of the Cadman City disaster, and manage everything in order, Miriam, I'm sure you're the best graduate of your class!

Not one of them.

When a student is in trouble and asks for help from a tutor, how can I, as an educator, sit idly by?

Actually, I've met a few of them too, and I can't help them with some of their practices, and most importantly, it's a little more complicated than you think, Miriam. ”

The professor put his broken glasses on the table, he lowered his voice, rubbed his eyebrows, and said solemnly:

"They are supported by external forces! That's why they're determined to take your stewardship, and I've tried to convince them of the wordy promises they've made, but they've been so blinded that they're not listening."

"Ahem"

At this time, Major Fraser, who was next to him, coughed a little unnaturally with an expression, and he whispered:

"It's me, Professor. In the name of the Pioneer Corps, I made a small hint to those ambitious men. Don't look at me like a madman, Miriam, discovering and exploiting the internal contradictions of the enemy is only the basic ability of an intelligence worker.

I wasn't going to make things crazier here, just to cause some trouble for the vampires before I left.

But since this matter involves scholars whom I respect, then I will quit from now on!

As for those unlucky people who are ambitious but have cute ambitions, you can deal with them yourself.

However, I must be granted access to the Vulture Corridor, and there must be enough truth in my report to His Majesty. ”

"I'll mention this to Master Murphy, but it's a vampire sanctuary, and it's not up to me whether you can get in or not."

Miriam didn't give the bastard a good look.

The latter was also very interested in not staying any longer, and after agreeing with Professor Malcolm to meet and talk in detail, he took the initiative to withdraw.

With only Miriam and her teacher left in the room, Professor Malcolm pulled his glasses on, glanced out the window of the burned house, and after a few seconds of silence he asked an important question:

"Miriam, please tell me seriously, do you really intend to serve Murphy for a long time? I mean, see him as the Lord? ”

"Me"

Miriam peeked at the professor like an accountable student, clenched her fists a little nervously, and finally replied very honestly:

"I'm actually very disgusted with vampires, Professor, and I still think the so-called Midnight Nobles are a bunch of cancers. But I don't think Mistress Murphy is like any other vampire, and he promised me that he would treat all life on this land equally.

I've also seen him unite with witch hunters to kill his fellow people in order to protect the civilians in the camp from being poisoned by mad vampires!

What's more, it's also an opportunity for me personally.

You also know how difficult it is for someone like me who has no background or background to make a career and really create value for what he has learned.

I don't want to give up! ”

This answer made the middle-aged scholar nod, and he asked again:

"You're a student of administration, so do you know what the core of politics is?"

"Compromise?"

Miriam gave a uncertain "cure-all" answer, but the professor shook his head, and he stood up, holding his leg wounded in exile to the window, looking at the gatherers toiling on the ruins in the dawn of light.

He whispered:

"It's checks and balances!

Checks and balances on power are at the heart of politics, and letting rulers willingly go into cages is the art of politics, which is the answer given by history.

I will stay and help you.

Not only because I was cared for by the good people here during my years in Cadman City, but also because I knew Murphy before this disaster, even before you.

But just like you, Miriam.

I also think that Lord Murphy seems to be different. ”

The professor thought of the strange vampire he had seen in the alms of the street some time ago, who was always polite and kind to others, and he smiled a little and whispered:

"I have a hunch that something is about to happen in the long-suffering land of Translasia, and as a historian I have a responsibility to record all the changes here and am honored to be a part of it.

If you don't dislike that I'm just a lame old man with no power, then Lady Miriam, I'm willing to be your lieutenant and give as much as I can to the land I've lived in for years.

My youngest daughter was born here, and I would love to see it thrive. ”

(End of chapter)