Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 781 - 10: Shrinking Settlements

"Regent, can you tell me what you plan to do?" Wellington didn't mince words and directly asked Perfikot about his doubts.

As the Prime Minister of the Empire, Wellington wished to understand Perfikot's thoughts—at least to have some awareness and preparation before other cabinet members arrived regarding what Perfikot planned to do next.

He indeed hailed from the Northern Territory, but as Prime Minister, Wellington was not content to merely be a puppet chosen from the north; he hoped to achieve something during his tenure.

After all, being the first Prime Minister in Victor Empire's history, Wellington hoped to leave a good reputation in history books—at least so people wouldn't label him as an inept Prime Minister when mentioning him.

Yet, facing a genius like Perfikot who appeared out of nowhere, Wellington found it was no easy task to leave a good name.

Perfikot, as the ruler above the Prime Minister and the cabinet, made Wellington and the cabinet seem more like puppets than a real governing center of the state with supreme power.

It's quite ironic to say, although Perfikot had completely grasped the highest power of Victor Empire, both nominally and factually, she seldom personally engaged in the administrative management.

Or to put it more specifically, Perfikot only oversaw the Empire's major administrative directions, while the literal execution was the work of the cabinet.

Which means both the power and fame were in Perfikot's hands, yet the labor was done by the cabinet.

This situation inevitably left Wellington somewhat discontented—rather, he was dissatisfied with merely being an executor of Perfikot's will.

He longed for more, hoping to utilize his talents and achieve something in politics.

So facing a situation where Perfikot appeared to be preparing to do something, Wellington desired to play a larger role and exert more influence.

And facing Wellington's inquiry, Perfikot simply glanced at him and said, "This blizzard has had a tremendous impact on the Northern Territory; through these effects, I have seen the shortcomings and the harmful consequences of our blind optimism."

"Blind optimism? Specifically, what aspect do you mean?" Wellington asked after hearing Perfikot's statement, feeling a sudden jolt of anxiety.

He was very worried Perfikot might intend to do something radical, as she certainly had the capability and authority.

To speak frankly, Victor Empire can maintain a façade and linger in the midst of doom largely due to Perfikot's wisdom and iron fist.

Though she preferred to use soft power, previous coup attempts showed this approach was not well absorbed by the Empire.

Or rather, the ghostly fiend of human hearts and greed left her having no choice but to control the country with iron and power, ensuring everything progressed along her planned route.

Wellington had once asked himself if, without Perfikot, the cabinet and Empire's officials could competently manage the current Empire.

Yes, he didn't even consider whether the Empire could endure through the onset of the doomsday winter without Perfikot.

Because the answer was a unanimous no—acknowledged by everyone.

Without Perfikot, the Empire wouldn't even be able to promptly recognize the arrival of the doomsday winter; even with her cautioning, the Empire hardly timely grasped the disaster's arrival.

So Wellington was merely reflecting, if without Perfikot, could the cabinet and the Imperial Center lead the Empire through the severe winter?

The answer was still no—though bureaucrats of the Empire may not be considered failures, many were indeed diligent and earnest, the undeniable fact remained that they were ordinary people.

While Perfikot Brandelis was a genius.

The gap between her and ordinary people was even greater than any exist between a monkey.

Moreover, such a brilliant figure had not yet celebrated her twentieth birthday.

Her youth is enviable and her genius is despair-inducing; compared to her, Wellington felt serving as her puppet already counted as exerting his utmost effort.

Perfikot naturally was unaware of the inner workings of the Prime Minister before her; she merely glanced at Prime Minister Wellington and said, "I blindly believed the Empire had surpassed its most dangerous phase; even amidst this blizzard, we possessed sufficient strength to confront a disaster."

At this point, Perfikot momentarily paused before continuing, "However, the reality is that we utterly lack the capability to ensure all cities and settlements can withstand the blizzard's ravages during the doomsday winter; any extreme weather could destroy the Empire's current fragile false prosperity akin to a sand-built fortress."

Heard these words, Wellington did not object because the Empire was indeed in such a condition.

Perhaps stronger than the sand fortress described by Perfikot, but not significantly so.

Thus Wellington asked, "Then how do you intend to enhance the nation and people's capacity to resist the blizzard?"

"Shrink settlements, Prime Minister." Perfikot was candid, directly stating her plan: "Our current strength is insufficient to sustain so many settlements; although the settlements themselves pose no issue, their distribution and distance from key cities itself pose a problem.

This blizzard exposed everything; when such transportation is severely affected, settlements can only face hunger and wait for death.

Though weather controllers can disperse blizzards or adjust harsh weather, once used, it's apparent that nature's weather systems are incredibly complex; casually deploying weather controllers to manipulate climate may likely trigger larger scale disasters."

"I understand your point; you intend to shrink settlements to place more population under protection, shielding them from the blizzard's harm." Wellington analyzed the matter carefully and believed he uncovered the 'truth.'

"No, not merely shrinking settlements, but providing them more suitable residences, matching factory-produced compressed biscuits…" Po Pefikote spoke, then sighed, "During this blizzard, it's the Empire's transport networks that first severed! So we must consider if prolonged prioritization escalates the conflict between colonies and the Imperial Center."

So I decide to abandon some less critical settlements, comprehensively shrink, and counter this disaster with superior military force."