Chapter 36: A Simple Question

Chapter 36: A Simple Question

As Audrey recalled her father and brother's discussion regarding the current situation, she improvised

"They believe the current structure of the government is too chaotic. Every time an election concludes, any change in political parties results in a complete turnover of personnel from top to bottom, making things a mess and rendering the administration extremely inefficient. This has not only led to military failures but has also caused great inconvenience to the populace."

Klein knew very well that because there was no precedent, the Loen Kingdom had not yet evolved a civil service examination system. The form of party governance was still in its primitive stages; thus, after an election victory, many so-called administrative positions would be rewarded to party members and supporters.

*Hmm, Emperor Roselle didn't invent such a system in Intis? That's quite unlike his character... Could it be that he shifted his focus elsewhere later on?*

Hearing this, "The Hanged Man" Alger interjected with a low chuckle

"They believe? Their senses are truly dull. Perhaps it takes them a year after being bitten by a black mosquito to realize it itches."

The black mosquito was a creature found in the southern part of the Loen Kingdom, known for its intense toxicity and for making people want to scratch their skin raw.

Audrey extended her palm to cover her mouth, ignoring "The Hanged Man's" sarcasm, and threw out the core of the news she had just shared

"Unfortunately, they haven't found a good way to replace this system for the time being."

Klein listened quietly, feeling that the topic had entered his area of expertise. He smiled slightly and said

"It is a simple question."

The Great Foodie Empire, and the British Empire that had learned from it, both possessed very successful and advanced experience.

"Simple?" Audrey asked back, feeling slightly surprised.

Although her private tutoring did not include politics, she frequently eavesdropped on her father and brother's discussions and possessed sufficient understanding of such matters.

Klein felt as if he had returned to an old internet forum. He smiled composedly and said

"Exams. Much like university entrance exams, a public examination could be held. This could be divided into two or three rounds to filter out elites in the most objective manner possible."

"But..." Audrey vaguely understood what kind of opposition this would bring.

Without giving her a chance to organize her thoughts, Klein continued

"Afterward, these elites would fill the cabinets, county governments, municipal governments, and the administrative positions of various towns—that is, the positions directly involved in doing work, such as senior secretaries in the cabinet."

"Depending on the different requirements for different positions, they could be tested separately and distinctly in the second or third rounds. Professional matters should be left to professionals."

"As for political positions like Ministers, County Governors, and Mayors, those would be left to the winning political party. That is the cake they are rightfully entitled to."

Beside them, Alger, who had lacked sufficient interest in this question, unconsciously tilted his head to listen intently. Audrey, meanwhile, frowned slightly, falling into deep thought.

"Don't rush to replace everyone at once, or the cabinet and various levels of government will paralyze. Exams can be held every year or every three years to allow for a gradual turnover. Afterward, based on the expansion of the kingdom and vacancies caused by resignations or old age, quotas can be determined systematically." Klein fully utilized his characteristics as a "keyboard politician," finally spreading his hands and saying, "This design can incorporate as many knowledgeable elites in the kingdom into the government as possible. Furthermore, regardless of which party takes power or who the ministers are, the administrative officers can ensure the kingdom maintains a basic and relatively effective operation."

Of course, the side effect would be the birth of the undying demon known as bureaucracy.

Audrey thought about it and asked doubtfully

"In other words, even if those ministers turned into baboons, it wouldn't have much of an impact?"

"No," Alger interjected proactively. "I think baboons would be a better choice than the current ministers."

He paused before adding

"After all, baboons only need to eat, sleep, and mate. They won't offer foolish ideas, nor will they persist in brainless plans."

*Mr. Hanged Man, it sounds like you have a rather unpleasant superior...* Klein sat at the head of the table, shaking his head with a smile.

Audrey ruminated on Mr. Fool's description for a long while before saying in astonishment

"That actually sounds like it might work..."

"A very simple, yet very effective method!"

She looked toward Klein and praised him with sincere admiration

"Mr. Fool, you must be an elder with profound life experience and outstanding wisdom!"

...Klein's mouth twitched. He looked at "The Hanged Man" and "Justice," remained silent for a few seconds, and said

"Let's end today's gathering here."

*If Miss Justice can influence her relatives to push this matter forward, I will guide Benson in advance, giving him a chance to become a 'civil servant.'*

*Thinking about it, Benson is actually quite suited for that line of work.*

*However, 'Justice' likely won't do it proactively. If she did, once I asked 'The Hanged Man' which noble proposed the suggestion, I would basically be able to guess her true identity.*

*Of course, she could take a detour and use a more concealed method.*

"As you wish," Audrey and Alger said simultaneously as they rose.

Klein leaned back slightly and severed the connection. The illusory, blurred figures of "Justice" and "The Hanged Man" quickly shattered and dissipated.

Above the gray fog, in the magnificent hall that resembled a divine dwelling, he was left alone, sitting quietly at the head of the long bronze table.

Klein did not fall directly into the gray fog to leave like last time, because as an Beyonder, he still had sufficient mental strength.

The reason he ended the "Tarot Club" meeting early was that he now knew the true attitude of the "Nighthawks" toward the Antigonus family notebook. He decided to act as if he were seriously searching for it later, rather than just lying down to sleep, which would make Dunn Smith and the others suspect what he was doing at home.

Moreover, today's gains were not insignificant.

Klein sat in the high-backed chair at the head of the bronze table, his arms resting on the armrests. With his fingers interlaced, his gaze settled calmly on the boundless gray fog, feeling that this place was so vast and silent, as if no one had set foot here for millions of years.

When he was establishing the connection to "summon" the projections of "Justice" and "The Hanged Man," he had keenly noticed one thing.

That is, as a Beyonder, he had enough strength to touch another "Crimson Star"!

"In other words, I can 'summon' another one?" Recalling that feeling, Klein muttered to himself with near certainty.

However, he had not impulsively tried it before because he did not know what identity or attitude a newcomer would bring. After all, not everyone could integrate quickly and provide mutual benefit through unique personalities like "Justice" and "The Hanged Man," who seemed willing to hide their identities. If he pulled in someone like Dunn Smith, his newly formed "mysterious organization" would be immediately exposed to the "watch of the Church."

As the big boss of an "evil" organization, his future would be in jeopardy.

—Klein knew that this gray fog was very special and understood that it was not something a Beyonder of a sequence like Dunn Smith could "crack." But the problem was, since he possessed Beyonder powers, he had to consider the existence of deities.

Currently, Klein cautiously believed that the seven orthodox deities truly existed. Of course, he was more inclined to believe that these deities were merely slightly stronger and more powerful than high-sequence Beyonders and were subject to certain strict limitations; at least since the Fifth Epoch, aside from a few divine decrees, they had shown no further deeds.

"Heh, forcing people to join is also a bad thing. No one wants to be inexplicably embroiled in mysterious incidents... I'll wait and see later..." Klein sighed and stood up.

He expanded his spirituality, sensing the existence of his body, and then began to imitate that sensation of rapid, heavy falling.

The light and shadow before his eyes changed instantly. The gray fog and the crimson retreated into the distance. It was as if Klein had pierced through an endless water membrane, finally seeing the real world and the dimness of the room.

This time, he was completely lucid, experiencing the process earnestly.

"Strange... the gray fog is still somewhat different from the Spirit World..." Klein moved his hands and feet, feeling the reality of his flesh and blood.

After contemplating it seriously for a while, he shook his head, walked to the desk, and reached out to pull the curtains.

*Swish!*

The curtains retracted, sunlight poured in, and the room was filled with light.

Gazing at the street outside the bay window and the passersby, Klein took a breath and whispered to himself

"Time to go to work."

"How should I act as a 'Divination Wizard'?"

"I can't rush this... for now, I only know how to use Spirit Vision..."

***

Backlund, Queenston.

Audrey Hall saw herself in the mirror—saw her cheeks flushed with excitement and eyes so bright one dared not look directly at them.

She didn't have time to scrutinize these; she quickly recalled what had happened, then picked up her gem-encrusted fountain pen and began scribbling the formula for the "Spectator" potion onto exquisite parchment

"80ml of pure water, 5 drops of Colchicum essence, 13g of peony powder, 7 petals of Elf Flower, a pair of adult Manhal fish eyes, 35ml of ram-horn blackfish blood."

*Phew...* Audrey exhaled, reading it over several times before finally confirming there were no errors.

She felt the urge to dance again, but told herself to remain poised.

After a moment of thought, she began writing various chemical names around the potion formula, disguising the page as a complex and chaotic collection of scientific knowledge.

*Hmm, as long as someone isn't reading it carefully on purpose, a casual glance won't reveal the details I've hidden... Wonderful!* Audrey praised herself, then turned her thoughts to obtaining the materials

"First, I'll look in the family's various treasuries. For the parts I can't find, I'll try to exchange for them with others..."

"If I still can't gather them all, I'll have to ask Mr. Fool and Mr. Hanged Man for help during the next meeting... What should I use as payment?"

After considering it for a while, Audrey closed her notebook, placed it on the small bookshelf in her bedroom, and then walked briskly to the door and opened it.

A large golden-haired dog was sitting obediently outside.

The corners of Audrey's mouth curled up into a smile as bright as sunshine

"Susie, you did a great job on your task!"

"In the serialized stories in the newspapers, the detective always has a capable assistant. I think a real 'Spectator' also needs a large dog following behind them~"

***

In a basement lit by only a flickering candle, Alger Wilson raised his palm and looked at it carefully.

After a long time, he let out a sigh of emotion

"It's still so mysterious; I can't grasp the details at all..."

Even though he had made thorough preparations in advance, he still failed to discern how "The Fool" completed the "summoning"...

His gaze shifted downward toward the parchment on the long table.

In the yellowish-brown header, a line of Hermes written in deep blue ink read

"7, Sailor."