Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 817 - 46:

After a round of conversation and detailed questioning, Perfikot finally understood what was going on with Miss Aili.

Simply put, she was duped.

Initially, she encountered nothing more than the daughter of an ordinary merchant, with no knowledge of the Empire's politics whatsoever.

Although her father was a businessman with access to some politicians, he was also clueless about the operations at the Empire's power center.

Plus, it was just after a snowstorm, and the entire Northern Territory was in a chaotic post-disaster reconstruction situation, with some political instability, making it even harder for the lower society to comprehend the workings of the government's power center.

To some extent, this was related to Perfikot herself, as she had returned directly from Beloburg to Chernobyl at the time, leaving many matters to the cabinet to handle.

From a certain angle, this did indeed confirm the rumor that the cabinet was in power, while Perfikot was relegated to her fief.

Especially as Perfikot ultimately chose to fully support the Empress ruling by herself, behaving as if she had lost influence, further fueling certain people's propaganda.

Perfikot herself didn't care at all, considering that if she wanted, she could sit on the Empress's throne at any time.

Empress Annie had initially intended to adopt her after her parents passed away, which she simply refused.

Moreover, she possessed inherited rights to the throne from Prince Edward, and according to the Empire's succession laws, Perfikot had ample legal standing to claim that position.

Most importantly, she wielded the Godslaying Armor, a force capable of overturning the table.

Not to mention, at this moment, the floating battleship hovering in the sky outside looked imposing and majestic, with its hull equipped with triple-mounted 150mm naval guns, exuding intimidation.

However, compared to Beifa beside Perfikot, Beifa could likely sink it in three minutes if she unleashed her full firepower.

This thing was not made to counter top-level extraordinary combat forces.

And if a floating battleship, the currently most advanced human-made superweapon, couldn't withstand Beifa, then conventional forces stood even less of a chance.

When equipped with Perfikot's custom Divine Artifact Level Godslaying Armor, Beifa embodies a complete divine-level combat power, an entity humanity cannot resist.

In other words, Perfikot had her legal standing and a force to suppress any dissent. She was willing to indulge in political games with them, so they had better be grateful to play along.

If anyone refused to abide by the rules, then the outcome would be the same as the last coup.

Aili was completely unaware of these things; she was swayed by the merchant's parliamentary friend. Despite her attempts to validate and discern his words, the identity of a National Assembly member, although trivial for Perfikot and the cabinet, truly possessed the ability to influence government operations.

Thus, Aili was deceived, or rather, developed a relatively erroneous understanding.

By the time she could finally reach a level of actual power figures like Kallen, she already held a mistaken understanding and didn't think about discussing how the Empire's power operated and who truly wielded authority.

After all, in Aili's view, Kallen, as the Deputy Prime Minister, was already one of the highest powers in the whole Empire, and even if there were deviations, it wouldn't be too far off.

"We can only say your understanding isn't wrong, but it isn't entirely correct either…" Perfikot somewhat helplessly remarked, Aili's understanding truly couldn't be considered wrong: "Deputy Prime Minister Kafka is indeed one of the highest powers in the Empire, second only to Her Majesty the Empress, myself, and Prime Minister Wellington.

You can influence the Empire's policies through her, which reflects her status and position.

But unfortunately, the entire cabinet is merely a substitute I conjured up to avoid overtime; if I wished, I could dissolve the cabinet at any time, call for new elections, or simply take the Prime Minister's seat myself and give orders."

Hearing Perfikot's unabashed words, Aili was stunned.

She, an inexperienced young girl, had already done an impressive job understanding how the Empire's cabinet operated within such a short time.

But expecting her to comprehend how Perfikot manipulates the cabinet was indeed putting her in a difficult position.

At this point, the Empress further added with a cutting remark: "In fact, my mother, the previous Empress, hoped Perfikot would serve as the first Empire Prime Minister, only she declined.

But fortunately, she accepted my mother's dying wish and took on the role of Regent."

"So does this mean Perfikot Brandelis is the most powerful person in the Empire?" Aili finally understood who really held the high and low cards in the Victor Empire.

Empress Annie nodded with a smile and said, "She's not only the most powerful figure in the Empire but also its actual ruler in a true sense; the whole Northern Territory was promised to her as a domain by my mother.

As the Empire's Count of Exploration and Northern Guardian, she legitimately governs the entire Northern Territory. As long as her will does not conflict with the Empire's laws and she does not betray the Royal Family, she can treat any cabinet decision as mere scrap paper."

"Usually, I don't treat the cabinet's decision as scrap paper, because those are often drafted by me and merely passed by them." Perfikot had already put away her previous aggressive demeanor, found a chair, and sat down again, while Beifa also took off the Godslaying Armor and resumed her maid attire, preparing tea for Perfikot.

This scene again shocked Aili somewhat, for she was genuinely taken aback by Perfikot's method of having such formidable combat power serving as a maid.

Although within the divine realm, most divine attendants also possess similar strength, none of the Deities would have their attendants truly act as servers or servants.

However, once realizing these were dolls crafted by Perfikot, Aili said no more, obediently sitting beside Perfikot, drinking tea with her, gazing at the floating battleship in the sky.

At this moment, Perfikot asked Aili: "What were your thoughts in formulating those policies influenced by Deputy Prime Minister Kafka?

Some policies indeed played a role in the Northern Territory's economic recovery, but others still seem somewhat unreasonable to me.

Can you share your thoughts? These policies have already been enacted, and even I can't eradicate their impact in a short period, so I need to understand your thought processes and intentions to adjust future policies and mitigate the effects these policies have caused."