Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 842 - 71

The successful ascent test of the Floating City module was something that brought Perfikot immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

It’s like something you’ve been striving for finally achieving a milestone success, the kind that can win the approval of most people, and naturally, you can’t help but feel quite pleased with yourself.

For Perfikot, aside from not discussing the historical significance of the Floating City, nor considering its impact on the development of alchemy, merely discussing the construction of such a vast thing was enough to feel overwhelmingly fulfilled.

In fact, it’s impossible not to discuss the historical significance of the Floating City as humanity’s first city to ascend into the sky, and its tremendous impact on the development of alchemy.

Although Perfikot strictly controlled the dissemination of information during testing, as further tests and activities of the Floating City progressed, more and more people became aware of this gigantic flying city.

People marveled at Perfikot’s capabilities and were astonished that she could actually make a city fly.

Although the news of Perfikot’s large-scale activities had been circulating, since the entire Northern Territory had been mobilized by her, it was difficult to say that no one had gotten wind of something.

However, most people had difficulty associating Perfikot’s actions with the Floating City, and some people simply didn’t believe Perfikot could succeed, thinking that she was just "wasting resources."

Yet, when the Floating City was truly completed and successfully ascended, those who didn’t believe were the ones bragging the most.

Bragging in various settings about how foresighted they were, claiming that Perfikot would undoubtedly succeed and so on.

It can only be said that some people are like that, having nothing but a big mouth, which inevitably swings with the prevailing wind.

Perfikot had no particular thoughts concerning these people anyway, as they likely wouldn’t dare ramble in front of her.

However, even if these people really did ramble in front of her, being two-faced, Perfikot probably wouldn’t care much.

These people were just getting a thrill out of talking, they hadn’t really created any obstacles for her, and it wasn’t worth it to put them to death over such trivial matters.

Though she needn’t pay heed to such small fry, Perfikot still needed to be concerned about the reactions of certain big shots, especially those truly high-ranking and powerful figures.

For instance, Empress Annie was complaining that Perfikot didn’t even give her a heads-up about such a large-scale operation.

"After all, I am the Empress of the Empire. Even if you needed secrecy, for such a significant event as the first ascent of the Floating City, you should have at least invited me to witness it firsthand, shouldn’t you?" Empress Annie complained to Perfikot, not out of real anger but expressing her grievance for not being informed.

"Aunt Annie, you’re still the Empress! Could you stop acting like a child?" Perfikot looked at the complaining Empress Annie somewhat helplessly, sighed, and explained, "The ascent test of the Floating City had certain dangers, and if any problem arose, everyone present would be in life-threatening danger. How could I possibly let you be there in person?

If something went wrong, the Empire would truly be in turmoil! How could I face the late Emperor’s entrustment?"

"Now you’re self-identifying as the guardian of an orphan!" Empress Annie snorted, but she didn’t say anything more. After all, no matter what, she was still Perfikot’s elder and more importantly, the Empress of the Empire, she still had to uphold her dignity.

Complaining to Perfikot about a few things was fine, but there was no need to play petty.

Empress Annie was merely expressing her dissatisfaction and then asked Perfikot, "Is the Floating City now operational?"

"Which aspect do you mean? If you’re referring to showcasing over the city, that’s not a problem, but as for everything else, forget it. The weapons system isn’t installed yet, and there are still a lot of devices on the entire Floating City module that need to be installed and debugged, it cannot be completed in just a few months." Perfikot didn’t hold back and frankly explained the situation to Empress Annie.

To which, Empress Annie nodded with satisfaction and then explained, "The matter of the Floating Battleship has greatly boosted the morale of the Empire’s populace and tremendously improved the economy. This brings a positive effect to the current situation of the entire Empire.

It enabled the Empire to quickly recover from the disaster of the last snowstorm.

So I was considering if it could be done again, it might better stabilize the Empire’s situation.

You know, apart from the Northern Territory, currently, none of the Empire’s colonies are very stable, even from a certain point of view, the Northern Territory is unstable."

Empress Annie did not play any word games with Perfikot, nor did she equivocate, but directly stated her purpose, as well as the grim current situation of the Empire.

Although the Northern Territory, having Perfikot as the stabilizing bedrock, could be considered a ’paradise’ under the apocalyptic winter, this did not conceal the now almost fragmented state of the Empire.

Empress Annie personally inspected all the Empire’s colonies, and the local situation could be said to be just one step away from breaking away from the Empire.

It was then, as the Eldest Princess, Annie fought one colony after another, restabilizing their situations, preventing the Empire from falling into a fragmented state.

Even so, presently, the Empire relies on Flying Airships to maintain connections with the colonies in such a post-apocalyptic environment.

This has significantly weakened the Empire’s control over the colonies.

In the past, there used to be close economic and trade relationships between the colonies and the Empire. The colonies had to rely on trade with the Empire’s mainland to maintain the local economy, and the Governors appointed by the Empire also needed support from the mainland to control the situation in the colonies.

But with the advent of the apocalyptic winter, the Empire’s control over the colonies plummeted, even the Northern Territory, where the Imperial Center is currently located, is only stable because of Perfikot’s loyalty to the Empire, preventing matters from devolving to an irrevocable state.

Otherwise, if Perfikot declared the independence of the Northern Territory, the Empire would instantly fall apart and cease to exist. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Therefore, Empress Annie had always been planning how to regain the Empire’s control over the colonies.

Although previously reclaiming all colonies by force, and now barely maintaining air routes with Flying Airships to keep the colonies in nominal compliance, Empress Annie still hoped to strengthen the Empire’s control over the colonies even further.

After all, as Perfikot shared with her, humanity, facing the threat of the gods, needs to unite more forces.