Nine, being elected is not the end of everything

  Nine, being elected is not the end of everything

  "How many have been stored now?" After a night of contemplation, Phil still looked somewhat tired as he picked up the portable magic web terminal, only to be disappointed to find that less than half of the 300 spell slots had been filled.

  "Is it because I've been using this local hardening technique too much these two days?" He muttered to himself, carefully putting away his lifesaving treasure in this world - if he didn't have this super cheat-like thing, he would have lost his life on the battlefield long ago.

  If it were still in DR2350, Feili didn't have to go through so much trouble to supplement the spells in his portable magic web terminal. As long as he was willing to pay for each spell, he could connect his portable magic web terminal to the intelligent magic web and download any 5th-level or lower spell like downloading a ringtone on his phone, even if it was a completely unlearned spell, ordinary people who had never learned magic could also easily enjoy the convenience brought by magic with money.

  Unfortunately, it's still DR1990 and the Magical Goddess Mithril hasn't yet outsourced the magical network to intelligent magical network companies of various countries, so there's nowhere to buy magic even if you're willing to spend money. Fortunately, the storage function in the portable magical terminal is still usable, so Fili can store the magic from her daily meditation memories, just like how one would create and store ringtones on their phone. However, with a 14th-level mage's abilities, plus having to use so many local hardening spells and transformation spells every day, filling up all 300 spell slots is indeed an arduous task.

  Outside, Zena, the Speaker of the House, was directing her servants to remove the unfortunates who had been trapped in the magical traps overnight from the spider webs, mud pits and petrification spells. Those that were not worth keeping were stripped naked and left hanging upside down from trees, while those that were worth keeping were locked up in the dungeon for Zorvath, the female Speaker of the House, to slowly savor. The little servant girl who had been living in the doghouse for a few days was finally able to escape, and a female thief who had been having a streak of bad luck had taken on her task.

  Feri put on a black robe, and walked downstairs to the dining hall, where a long wooden table with snow-white tablecloths was already set with a sumptuous breakfast feast. There were steaming hot oatmeal and cocoa, freshly fried eggs and steak, delicate cheese pancakes and ham, various vegetable salads, strawberries, grapes, and melons that had been magically cultivated out of season, milk, coffee, and large jugs of red tea, as well as high-end red wine. The lavish spread left Feri slightly astonished.

  "What's going on today? Why bring so many things, is something big happening?"

  Zena, the female speaker of the Zorvath, walked into the dining hall with a nine-tailed whip in hand and pulled up a chair to sit down at the table. Today she was clearly in a good mood, as she didn't even use a cup, directly pouring a bottle of red wine "glug glug" down her throat. After finishing the bottle, Zena let out a satisfied sigh, then without using a knife and fork, grabbed a piece of omelette and started wolfing it down.

  Is this still the usual courteous female speaker? She's become a rough and boorish pirate queen! Feary is speechless.

  "What's wrong with Little Phil today? Don't you have an appetite? That's not good for growing up." Seeing Phil still dazed, Zena, the president, put down her pancake and scooped a spoonful of oatmeal with a silver ladle, extending it to Phil: "Here, ah——"

  "Hey, don't treat me like a picky eater."

  "What's the use of opening your eyes so wide! Open your mouth instead, come on, open wider!"

  Fili finally resigned himself to reacting, opening his mouth to swallow the oatmeal, and before he could even open his mouth again, a large piece of cheese pancake was stuffed into his mouth. Fili had no choice but to chew the pancake desperately, and finally took advantage of the female speaker's cutting steak to ask the question in his heart.

  "Excuse me, is there anything special today? Why are we having so many dishes for breakfast?"

  The female president put down her knife and fork, staring at Ferri with a strange look in her eyes.

  "Have you really forgotten?"

  "What?"

  "Oh my god, it seems you've put all your energy into doing business and forgot that today is the formal voting day! The representatives have already gathered in the square of Gray Castle to vote. If nothing unexpected happens, the results will be out this afternoon, and we can go back in a day or two."

  "...... Aren't you going? And now, isn't it a bit too early to celebrate?"

  "A bit early? No, I'm thrilled to be able to leave this godforsaken place as soon as possible. You've seen it too, these lunatics have turned the beautiful Onsen Valley into what it is now!" The female chairman clenched her fists in indignation.

  It wasn't to celebrate Governor Nohm's election, I thought your relationship with him wasn't that good. Fili nodded in understanding, after all, watching two groups of lunatics fight all day was really annoying, especially since the benefits and positions originally allocated to the female speaker were taken by Governor Lyle. Watching others vie for power and profit while being unable to intervene was a particularly cruel torture for a seasoned politician.

  He rummaged through the remaining goods in the space ring, considering whether to have a discount promotion, until a bit of beef sauce stuck to his nose.

  "Come on, have another piece of meat, ah—"

  “…………”

  ****

  "Please note, ladies and gentlemen, that the voting has ended. Please leave the polling station. Observers from various churches will supervise the conduct of this vote and the counting of votes. Please maintain order and patiently wait for the results..."

  The white-haired old pastor, with the aid of amplification magic, repeatedly exhorted supporters from both sides to leave. The holy emblem of Hemm, the guardian deity, shone brightly on his chest. Since the birth of the election campaign, the Temple of Hemm had become an arbitrator of this important political activity, and serving as the electoral committee was almost becoming a full-time job for this declining church. For this election of the war zone commander, the Temple of Hemm in New Thirteen States of Nalsareil had almost mobilized all its forces, but unfortunately, only two people were summoned, which reflected the unpopularity of Hemm, the guardian deity.

  The supporters of both sides dispersed and went to find a place to rest in twos and threes. These people who were fighting each other to the death just a few days ago now seemed like old friends who had not seen each other for many years, chatting with each other shoulder to shoulder, some even sharing food and wine. During this period of waiting for news, whether it was bureaucrats, members of parliament, soldiers or supporters who came voluntarily or were hired, they all looked relieved and the atmosphere was harmonious and relaxed. However, if there were any twists in the election results, I believe they would still be fighting each other again at the command of their leaders.

  After all, there were only 400 votes in total. In less than half a time, the staff of the Temple of Haim completed the counting under the supervision of representatives from other temples. When the old pastor walked up to the temporary stage with trembling steps, the entire scene fell silent, and the air was filled with tension, with urgent breathing sounds clearly audible.

  "I declare the results of this vote." The old pastor paused, looked at the tense crowd below, and shouted loudly with a hint of triumph, "Soren Norm, 199 votes; Godric, 184 votes; 17 abstentions, concluded!"

  Wow! The crowd erupted into a huge commotion after a brief silence, with everyone starting to push and shove. Some of the supporters of Godrick began chanting slogans like "rigged" and "recount", but they were quickly silenced by General Xiao - since they had already lost, there was no need to make a scene. Rather than losing face in front of everyone and making it impossible for anyone to save face, it would be better to make some behind-the-scenes deals with the winner.

  The politicians quietly exited the crowd and began a new round of horse-trading. The emergence of the election results did not mean that everything was over, on the contrary, everything had just begun.

  But for the ordinary people gathered here, everything has indeed come to an end. The "enthusiastic supporters" who came from various channels left after receiving the "election allowance" from the two candidates and went home separately. Among the soldiers brought by both sides, a considerable number were arranged to return first - stationing troops in a high-consumption place like Wenshui Valley is simply a daily expense of thousands of gold coins!

  After the voting results came out, according to convention, they still had to use ultra-long-distance communication to send the message to the central government and wait for the central government's approval before Sohn Nom, this newly minted war zone commander, could take office. After all, New Elysium's 13th state was not an independent country, but just a part of the New Elysium Empire. Even if they used relay communication to do this work, it would still take about a day. Sohn Nom and his direct subordinates would have to wait another one or two days in Wenspring Valley before they could leave after getting approval and holding the inauguration ceremony.

  However, these periods are also very valuable for politicians who are still in the midst of a new round of transactions. For example, discussing the allocation of positions in the newly established war zone official office, coordinating with local governments in various states... These issues must be reached before the inauguration ceremony. There is also an important task, which is to appease the original opposition.

  In any case, the people in Guderian's camp actually control nearly half of New Tuscany, and their opinions cannot be ignored in future governance. Otherwise, they can make a non-violent non-cooperation to Sohn Norum, which is enough to make the newly appointed war zone commander jump off the building. Moreover, General Guderian still controls the only fleet of the 13 states of New Tuscany, and it is necessary to fight well in future wars. Therefore, some concessions are necessary, which is also a necessary demeanor for the winner of political struggle.

  And the best venue for such activities is also completely consistent in any era.