My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 140

By hiring mercenaries from the political entity Kazdel, Yang Hao can gradually influence the relationships within Kazdel. While there's no need to instill in them the illusion or sense of legitimacy of being Ursus's dogs, making Kazdel a political entity similar to the future Kazimir that Yang Hao envisions would largely align with his ideas.

Why is it that all of a sudden, the Kazdel people are willing to provide me with mercenaries?

No, it's not that I'm afraid to touch you, but this pie, though it didn't fall from the sky, was inexplicably delivered to my mouth. Isn't that strange?

I need to be more careful.

"Darling?" The old black snake beside him showed a concerned expression. She looked at Yang Hao, her hand, which was clasped tightly around the back of his hand, now gripping the gaps between his fingers. Her tail had somehow gotten draped over his arm, slowly rubbing against his clothes. "What's wrong?"

"Ah, no, nothing..." Faced with Kosiché's concerned inquiry, Yang Hao simply shook his head, chuckled dryly, and asked Monica to bring him two drinks. "I was just thinking about the civil war."

"Heh... civil war, huh. Duke Nikolai can't get through, and we can't get through either. It seems we'll have to rely on His Majesty the Emperor's main force to end this war as soon as possible."

"It's not that we can't use other things to end the civil war quickly... but I'm a little worried that if the war drags on for too long, the Colombians will use a blitzkrieg to wipe out Casimir, and then our plan will be completely useless."

"There's nothing we can do about that. Or do you have any better ideas?"

His wife squeezed the back of his hand. To be honest, Koschei was almost unbelievably gentle when he was alone with Yang Hao... Even Monica would occasionally quip silly things like, "Lord Koschei, have you been possessed?" This made Yang Hao happy, but he also vaguely felt that if Margarita really came, Koschei probably wouldn't be able to get along with her properly...

Sigh, let's put that matter aside for now. Yang Hao sighed, then reached out his other hand to rub the tip of his wife's tail before beginning to explain his thoughts.

...... .......

While the Duke of Kosiché and her husband were discussing important matters, on the other hand, Her Majesty Catherine's army was gaining an increasingly greater advantage in the war.

The army of the Cheshire Nightclub was utterly pathetic. While they initially appeared robust and imposing, wielding standard equipment that intimidated the civilians, a closer look revealed them to be nothing more than empty shells. Their excessive cannibalism had caused severe brain damage, and some Cheshire Nightclub soldiers even died laughing maniacally. They knew nothing of discipline or courage. How could such a creature possibly stop His Majesty's Royal Guard from sweeping through their stronghold?

Even with the war progressing so smoothly, Her Majesty Catherine showed no sign of recklessness. After each battle, she would stop at a suitable location to await the arrival of supplies and reinforcements from the rear from Saint-Germain, so as to prevent the army from fighting the enemy while its supplies were depleted.

However, even while waiting for the city to arrive, Her Majesty Catherine was certainly not idle. She summoned the chieftains of the Wendigo tribes currently in the army and planned to have them take a group of men to the Dukedom of Kosiché to deliver a few words to the esteemed Duke of Kosiché.

"Your Majesty, do you mean...?"

"Your son happens to be there too, right? It's no big deal. Just take a few people over and say a few words to Duke Kosiché—tell him that Saint-Germain might need to temporarily merge with her city to address the issue of supplying the army. That should be fine."

"I understand. But what about you?"

“I can handle things on my end. What I’m more worried about is that Duke Kosiché will be attacked by the main force of the Sherlock Holmes nightclub, which is desperate and has nowhere else to go. Our army can’t march too far without supplies, so having you there is a kind of insurance.”

"Yes."

The pure-blooded Wendigo patriarch nodded, then turned and left.

And it was after Wendigo left that Her Majesty Catherine breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Duke Kosiché wouldn't still be hiding from St. Arthur's Castle to come over, would he?

Chapter 52

7 month 24 day.

Several more days passed. Tonight at 11:40 PM, Yang Hao announced some good news that almost made him lose his head—the national policy of providing work relief had finally come to an end!

"It's really not easy..."

With the completion of the national policy tree, and with the arrival of massive bonuses and the stability and development levels that Yang Hao coveted—

He lay in bed, nestled against his mother Koschei's chest, suckling at her breast, tears streaming down his face, yet also feeling ecstatic. He could finally choose other national policies to make the Koschei Duchy better! And not only that, after choosing all the national policies for the Koschei Duchy, having already secured his position second only to the emperor in the Ursus Empire, he could now also choose national policies for the Ursus Empire!

Although the territory occupied by the Sherlock Holmes nightclub can't be used for much yet... at least the areas now under His Majesty the Emperor's control are still under his control. To avoid future conflicts with Her Majesty Ekaterina, he plans to discuss the Ursus Empire's national policy with her later.

With that in mind, Yang Hao now hopes to implement the national policy of the Duchy of Kosiché. However, before that...

"Yes, yes, you've worked very hard, darling? So can you get some rest today?"

"Woooo..."

Kosiché looked helplessly at her husband, who was lying on her chest. Sitting on the bed as well, Head Maid Monica looked helplessly at her master, whose mental state had suddenly regressed to that of a child. The two, whose spirits were still relatively good, exchanged a smile, both seeing only helplessness and resignation in each other's eyes.

After a while, once Kosichelle's beloved husband had finally calmed down, he took the handkerchief Monica offered him. Wiping away his tears, he lay sprawled on the bed, muttering something to himself, lost in thought.

After completing the "Work Relief" national policy tree, Yang Hao hoped to next upgrade the "Increase Industrial Strength" national policy tree. After all, in the civil war, the enemy was the incompetent Duke Nikolai. The best strategy was to focus on developing his own side while His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Nikolai were at war!

Moreover, it's not just about increasing power and productivity. If possible, it would be best to see a national policy that allows for the opening of a second research slot... After all, having only one research slot is too slow right now!

It's so disheartening that I can't even study 45 years of industry and 45 years of military affairs at the same time!

"call..."

"Be good. Close your eyes and get some rest."

Kosichrie gently patted his cheek, then covered him with a blanket before gesturing for Monica to go back and rest.

Yang Hao slowly closed his eyes under Kosiché's comforting words. But his mind remained sharp; he not only immediately wanted to go and report the good news to Sonia's mother, but he was also preparing for his future work.

He searched far and wide in the vast area where national policies were like a sea, and finally found such a national policy in a good place:

[National Policy: Duchy University (30 days)]

Although our basic education has not been formally implemented, it does not mean that we cannot first establish a university—a comprehensive university. Although the initial teaching resources of this school may be very poor, at the very least, it will attract the attention of insightful people from all over the world and bring benefits to you for decades to come.

Effect: Gain a new research slot and immediately acquire a mechanized construction unit to build a new university site.

Um...

The national policy that can be completed in 30 days will yield results on the 24th of next month if you apply for it now. In addition to obtaining research slots, you can also establish a new university site with the possibility of future expansion.

And the most important thing is——

"A mechanized construction unit...?"

"I told you, you should get some rest first, okay?"

His head was pressed down hard by Kosiché, and then, squinting, he realized that he seemed to be hugged by Kosiché, his head resting on her chest, and he could hear the pounding of her heart.

Her heart was pounding. Was she really curious about what I was thinking? Was she telling me to rest, which was why she was suppressing her curiosity and not saying anything?

Um...

Let's see what's going on tomorrow.

With this in mind, Yang Hao completely relaxed.

He felt even more relaxed when he felt his back being gently touched and pressed by another person's slender hands.

......

After Yang Hao began to snore softly in his sleep.

Koschke gently patted his head, then turned to Monica, the head maid who was also lying on the bed beside him, and whispered:

"So, Monica, what do you think? Among those deep-sea hunters, is Sonia truly loyal?"

In a sense, Monica was the person Kossi trusted most besides Yang Hao. This was especially true after her ascension and the granting her a lifespan almost equal to his own. Therefore, it was perfectly normal for him to have her sleep in the same bed as him and his husband.

"...Yes."

Head Maid Monica nodded. She said that Ms. Sonia seemed to have given everything to Lord Yang Hao. If she wasn't considered loyal, then there was truly no one loyal in the world except for those who gave their souls to Lord Yang Hao.

Hearing this, Kosiché nodded in satisfaction: she didn't mind Yang Hao secretly seeing other women. Playing with some women was fine, but for those he actually intended to bring home, it was better to confirm their loyalty.

As for why we didn't ask about Theresa's loyalty? Because there's really no point in asking—especially since Theresa chose to flatter Yang Hao even when faced with a huge temptation, her loyalty was already guaranteed.

Koschke had never seen anything like this before... Whether it was her husband's fervor for flattery or Teresa's fervor for being flattered... they seemed more like a match made in heaven—so what was I?

She smacked her lips and gave a saccharine smile: Who cares? As long as he's my husband now, that's all that matters.

Just as Koschke was gently stroking Yang Hao's hair as he slept, Monica suddenly asked:

"Then, Lord Kosiché? What do you plan to do about His Majesty the Emperor?"

She was referring to the possibility that His Majesty the Emperor might piece together St. Arthur's Castle.

When the topic turned to His Majesty the Emperor, Koschei's face fell. She sighed softly, indicating that she needed to negotiate with His Majesty the Emperor, but also suggesting that negotiations might not begin until she was in a different body.

"After all, Miss Green's body is almost beyond its usefulness. I need to inherit Miss Karina's body while she is still young."

"but..."

"Besides, the empire is currently embroiled in a civil war. Sigh... I have no choice but to abandon some of my personal ideas."

"Yes."

They both sighed in unison, and then they closed their eyes together.

Chapter 53

7 month 25 day.

Today is a day off.

Her Majesty's army is advancing slowly, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will completely crush the main force of the Sherlock Holmes in August and September, and then enter a long siege lasting up to a year, slowly achieving victory.

At this crucial moment, although the Duchy of Kosice did not yet foresee the coming of war, the loyal Duchy of Kosice was still working diligently to prepare for the upcoming supply of His Majesty the Emperor's army.

Apart from Yang Hao.

The man, who had excitedly rushed to Sonia's mother's side early in the morning to tell her the good news that the National Policy Tree was finally completed, had no intention of working at this moment. He felt that he could take a break and use the time to study the strange things marked on the [Puppet Stage] National Policy Tree, so as to gain knowledge and enhance his understanding of his own abilities.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Yang Hao, you are really hardworking."

"Yes. And recently, the construction in your village, Sonia, has been going quite fast, hasn't it? If nothing unexpected happens, the most basic defensive fortifications should be completed by August. Then we can see if you can use them and how effective they are."

"I'm really looking forward to it! But before that, Mr. Yang Hao, what are we going to do today?"

"To the hospital. I need to check on the foal."

"Oh? I understand."

Sonia's mother was as gentle as ever, not only gently accepting Yang Hao's joy, but also accepting everything about him.

However, when Yang Hao said he was going to find the foal, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. She seemed to care a lot about this, whether she was worried that Yang Hao had been seduced by another wicked woman similar to His Majesty the Emperor, or something else entirely... In any case, the gentle Sonia seemed to be feeling jealous... but she didn't show it, only affectionately hugging the "child" in her eyes from behind.

But Sonia's mom? This is on the street, you know? While being hugged from behind by a beautiful, white-haired, red-eyed mother is certainly wonderful, this is on the street, you know?

Maybe we should tone it down a bit?

Yang Hao patted Sonia's mother's hand somewhat awkwardly. Sonia then realized what was happening, but she just smiled and continued to hug Yang Hao for a while before letting go.

"Then, let's go."

She smiled after letting go. Yang Hao didn't object to Sonia's smile. With her help, he straightened his clothes slightly, then picked up his cane and prepared to go with Sonia to the hospital where the pony Teresa was, to visit her and, incidentally, examine his belongings along the way.

Hmm... what is that—mechanized construction unit? What exactly is that?

At first, Yang Hao thought they were excavators, cranes, or engineering vehicles used by engineers. But after sitting in the car and examining them closely—good heavens, these weren't engineering vehicles or excavators at all! They were clearly a huge group of robots!

To be precise... this seems to be something like a nanobot?

However, this "nanometer" is a bit too big.

It seems that each mechanical unit is as big as an orange cat.

[Unit: Swarm Building Drone]

A cheap and practical building unit in the interstellar age. Almost all races can use it—except for psionic idealist governments.

A swarm of drones can build a lot of things, and they come with some of the materials themselves. In a sense, they can even become a light reconnaissance unit that is extremely lethal to civilians when "forced" to act.

'You fucking used interstellar-age drones to build me a shoddy university?! Don't you have any conscience?!'

Doesn't your conscience hurt at all?!

You've already sent me everything from the interstellar era! What's wrong with helping me build a wonder university? You won't lose out, and neither will I. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?

Yang Hao was heartbroken by the stinginess of the [Puppet Stage], but his mind was also working at a rapid pace—he understood that he was not playing a game with many restrictions. In this situation, wouldn't it be possible to transform some seemingly restricted things into more valuable things through human initiative?

Just like now, the swarm drones provided by the national policy [Dukedom University], which will be completed on August 25th—it's ostensibly for building a new site for the university, right?

But! He didn't say all the drones were going to be used to build universities, did he?

I can use one drone to help the duchy's workers build a university, then use the other drones in better places, or even dismantle a few drones for scientific research—that makes perfect sense, don't you think?

Besides, no one says drones used for construction can't be used in military units! Imagine if I replaced the power drill with a rocket launcher, and you guys could bombard the enemy's mobile city from thousands of meters in the air—wouldn't that be awesome? Why bother building anything? Just bomb it all, right?

Not to mention—since your drone can be used to build a university, it's only natural to use it to build a mobile city, right?

Hmm... this plan has potential!

Yang Hao was pleased with his quick thinking, while Sonia, though puzzled by his sudden joy, simply smiled and patted his hair, causing the Gaul driving to twitch at the corner of his mouth, unsure of what to say for a moment.

A while later, the car stopped in front of the closest and most prestigious hospital to the Duke's mansion. Yang Hao and Sonia naturally got out and entered the hospital to head towards Theresa's ward. They naturally attracted a lot of attention on the way, but similarly, when Yang Hao arrived at Theresa's ward, he also noticed something noteworthy—