Chapter 10: That Glance Full of Charm
It was a habit Roger had developed from making videos and live streaming.
When a new game or a new gossip or meme came out, he would inevitably make a video to mock it for the hype.
Sometimes, a video wouldn’t have much content to cover, so the uploader would have to improvise and pad the runtime.
It’s how you make a living; there’s nothing shameful about it.
Over time, Roger could expand on any topic, turning it into a standalone comedic skit.
After transmigrating, he knew he couldn’t just spout nonsense.
Yet, he often encountered situations so frustrating that he just had to vent.
He thought, “Just a few mental grumblings, what’s the harm?
Is someone going to use mind-reading on me?”
So, outwardly, he was respectful and obedient, but his inner monologues were incredibly active.
In fact, one could say they were unrestrained and overly vigorous.
For example, when the Empress of Eternal Night asked how to make the seventeen kingdoms truly loyal, Roger thought it was a no-brainer.
Any high school student from China could answer it perfectly.
“Because we were born in a unified country, something the Western world never had!
The Eternal Night World draws inspiration from medieval Europe. No matter how brilliant the Empress is, she wouldn’t understand Eastern wisdom.
【Standardize chariot wheels, writing, and customs; unify weights and measures; build a convenient postal system, a unified document system across the nation, and establish true central power!】
【To make the seventeen kingdoms completely loyal, the core is to build a unified culture and belief system. Language, writing, living habits, and festivals must all be consistent.】
【Furthermore, clearly establish the Azurevine Empire as the ‘Superior Celestial Empire,’ with all culture, goods, clothing, and tools respecting the Empire’s supremacy!】
【In addition, compile educational materials based on Azurevine culture and the Empress’s achievements, and enforce their study. Once the new generation of the seventeen kingdoms grows up, who wouldn’t yearn for the Empire?】
【In time, driven by the environment, without any orders, the citizens of the seventeen kingdoms will naturally integrate with the Empire. This is cultural invasion!】”
“The Azurevine Empire as the Superior Celestial Empire? Make the seventeen kingdoms respect the Empire? Write my achievements into educational materials?”
Upon hearing Roger’s ideas, the Empress of Eternal Night felt a jolt of novelty; she had never heard such things before!
The people of the Empire were quite pragmatic.
Those who didn’t obey were either suppressed by force or bought off with money; it was all very straightforward.
Angelina’s and Margaret’s strategies, no matter how they shifted, never deviated from these two approaches.
The Empress herself was a brute force believer, where might made right.
How could they understand public opinion, controlling hearts, or cultural invasion?
It was just that a dynasty could be conquered swiftly, but not governed swiftly.
Even in the thirteenth year of Eternal Night, when the story began, the Empire hadn’t resolved the issue of disunity among the citizens of the seventeen kingdoms.
If this problem had been solved, the Heavenly Dawn Army couldn’t have progressed so smoothly.
But Roger, with his Eastern wisdom, approached the issue from a cultural perspective, revealing the key points that established the Qin Dynasty’s foundation for a unified empire.
Naturally, even a powerful figure like the Empress of Eternal Night was astounded!
This was a collision of entirely different thought systems!
Many problems that had puzzled her for ages were suddenly clear!
This was about eradicating the traces of the past seventeen kingdoms from the root!
In her mind’s eye, the Empress envisioned a future scenario where the Azurevine Empire received tribute from all nations!
However, there was a problem…
The methods Roger proposed were almost perfect and could lay the foundation for the Empire’s eternal prosperity.
But the time required was certainly no less than Angelina’s plan.
The Empress of Eternal Night sighed with regret:
“It’s regrettable that even with such a good method, it probably won’t take effect immediately. The Empire can’t wait any longer…”
“Your Majesty, you must be strong! Believe the Empire can do it. There are always more solutions than problems…!”
Roger felt like the Empress was just using him as a sounding board again, and his casual remarks were no longer enough!
While he preferred to lie flat, facing idiotic questions and being unable to comment was also uncomfortable!
So, he could only engage in a mental skit:
“What? Even ‘Blood Mom’ gets melancholy and lacks confidence about the future?
The Empire and the Gods are just starting to clash, and the unrest in the seventeen kingdoms isn’t at its peak yet. It shouldn’t be hard to solve this little problem!
Even if unification isn’t achieved right away, in this blue world, as long as we prove we’re better than their homeland, isn’t that enough?
Humans always view the past through rose-tinted glasses, favoring antiquity over the present. The solution is simple: just show them their past memories again. No comparison, no harm!
The Empire could send people to impersonate a restoration army, with the slogan ‘Restore your homeland, no taxes!’
When the restoration army actually arrives, they’ll impose heavy taxes, engage in looting and destruction, perhaps even exercise the right of the first night… Heh, I guarantee the citizens of the seventeen kingdoms will spit blood and open their city gates to welcome Imperial rule!”
The Empress of Eternal Night, eavesdropping on Roger’s thoughts, couldn’t help but slam the table:
“Lord Roger is correct! There are indeed more solutions than problems!”
Impersonating a restoration army? Promoting tax exemption?
It sounded absurd. How would a tax-exempt restoration army survive?
But people are greedy; if someone makes a promise, others will believe it.
When hope is shattered, that’s when they will hate their homeland the most!
At that time, they will realize… Heh, the Empire is better!
What a perfect example of ‘no comparison, no harm’!
The Empress of Eternal Night, having experienced numerous struggles, had her mind opened by this. Building upon the “impersonating a restoration army” idea, she devised a series of nested schemes.
Real looting and destruction would fill the Empire’s financial deficit!
Using the restoration army for entrapment, to gather the seventeen kingdom remnant tribes who yearned for their homeland the most, and capture them all in one swoop!
Moreover, under the guise of the restoration army, they could extort various benefits from the Seven Gods’ church!
“Huh? Your Majesty, you’ve thought of a solution?”
Roger was startled by the Empress of Eternal Night suddenly standing up.
Then, seeing her excited expression and radiant eyes, he involuntarily averted his gaze…
Restored to her confident state, the Empress of Eternal Night was as dazzling as the moon on a clear night, almost too bright to behold.
“Yes!”
The Empress of Eternal Night nodded with a faint smile.
It wasn’t that she’d found a solution; she’d copied the answer from you, young man!
“Then I truly congratulate Your Majesty.”
Roger’s words were sincere.
After all, he was an imperial citizen.
The stronger and more stable the Empire, the safer his current pursuit of leisure.
It was good for him that she could clarify her thoughts and solve the Empire’s problems.
“Congratulations to both of us. I also thank Lord Roger for your reminder.”
“I’m just a small sounding board, I didn’t…” Roger’s polite words were cut short as his eyes suddenly widened.
The Empress of Eternal Night rested her elbow on the table, leaned forward, and reached out a small hand to wipe away a smudge on Roger’s face.
Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? I cannot accept such a gesture!
The Empress’s imposing yet beautiful face was only a fist’s distance away from him.
A mysterious, unknown fragrance, like an inexhaustible source, wafted to his nose, making his heart flutter.
Yet, even at such proximity, he could find no flaw on her exquisite face.
Even more devastating was the low-cut design of the Empress’s long gown!
The leaning-forward posture perfectly revealed a grand landscape for Roger to feast his eyes upon!
“Holy crap, Your Majesty has such a magnificent bosom… no, such white snow-capped peaks…”
“What pathetic losers are those cosplayers? They can’t even compare to a finger of Blood Mom!”
“Ah, no way, Brother Two, hold it in! I want to suppress the pressure… Crap, I can’t hold it!”
“It’s over, it’s over. I’m going to be chopped for such disrespect, aren’t I?”
The Empress of Eternal Night, receiving Roger’s explosive inner thoughts, tried to adjust her posture, attempting to cover herself in her panic. However, she didn’t get angry. Instead, she looked at Roger with amusement.
That glance made him wonder if he was in the human world or paradise.
Suddenly, she let out a proud smile and gracefully stood up.
Her wide sleeves blocked Roger’s view.
When his vision cleared, all that remained before him was the faint glow of the teleportation array.
The Empress’s figure had vanished.
Roger, still somewhat dazed, wondered:
“Could it be that Her Majesty is suddenly rewarding me with a treat and praising me for being a good sounding board?”
“Is she an Empress or a succubus?! Seriously!”
“Even the devilish Margaret wouldn’t be so seductive!”
It took Roger’s heart a while to calm down.
“The Empress’s move of seducing and then running off is too irresponsible!”
“And… ‘The Empress’s Feast’ is total garbage!
What are those common prostitutes compared to her? Blood Mom is the true beauty!”
But Roger had a premonition that he would never forget the charm of that glance.
He had to admit, Blood Mom…
She understood people very well.
