Arknights: Prime Minister of Kjerag — Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Ernst: Blizzard, This is Caudic!

“So, Boss, what you’re saying is that Enciodes is finally planning to make a move against us?”

Ho’olheyak sat perched on the edge of the mahogany desk, her long legs elegantly crossed. She looked completely at ease, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. “I thought you called us all in here to hand out our paychecks. I certainly didn’t expect mandatory overtime. You know that comes with an extra charge, right?”

Ernst rolled his eyes at her teasing. “If I fall from power, let alone a salary, you won’t even have a job. What will you do then? Scurry back to Columbia?”

After the words left his mouth, he fell silent for a moment. He met Ho’olheyak’s gaze, which was practically overflowing with unconcealed amusement, and finally nodded in dry defeat. “Alright, fine. You actually could just go back to Columbia.”

Ho’olheyak’s talents were undeniably exceptional; in certain specialized fields, her capabilities were off the charts. She wouldn’t struggle in the slightest to secure a lucrative position back in Columbia., when it came to living standards and working conditions, Kjerag—a frozen nation that barely even had reliable space heaters—simply couldn’t hold a candle to Columbia, a modernized powerhouse that had already standardized central air conditioning.

However, her brazen confidence naturally grated on Platinum, who was standing right beside her.

Unlike the Kukulkan, Platinum’s living conditions back in Kazimierz were far from ideal. If she were forced to return, with the Armorless Union actively hunting her down, resuming her old profession as a Competition Knight would be entirely out of the question. She would be forced to live in constant, suffocating paranoia, forever looking over her shoulder for the inevitable assassins that would catch her scent.

As for the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce and the Supervisory Council, Platinum had absolutely zero intention of enlisting in the military as a Campaign Knight. As a native of Kazimierz who was already thoroughly accustomed to the comforts of city life, who in their right mind would willingly march to the brutal front lines to deal with those crude, warmongering Ursus imperials?

Besides, this particular Snow Leopard had, after all, saved her life. Even if she possessed the means to run away, abandoning him now would be utterly ungrateful.

Therefore, she remained a staunch, unwavering supporter of Ernst’s regime. Seeing Ho’olheyak’s sarcastic, carefree demeanor, Platinum immediately bristled.

“Then just go back to your precious Columbia!” she snapped, her voice laced with defensive pride. “I will definitely stay right by the Boss’s side! I’ll accompany him to the very last moment!”

Hey, Platinum, did you even think before you spoke? Ernst thought, his brow twitching slightly. I’m still entirely confident in our victory, but the way you phrase it makes me sound like some tragic, cornered warlord at the end of his rope, just waiting to die. You’re going to jinx me to death! Have a little faith in my scheming, would you?

Completely unaware of Ernst’s dry, resentful gaze, Platinum turned her head to face him. Her expression was determined and resolute as she eagerly volunteered, “Boss, I used to be a top-tier Competition Knight, and my archery and assassination skills are still razor-sharp. I can go and take care of Enciodes for you right now. Don’t worry—even if I get caught, I will absolutely bite my tongue and never expose you!”

What kind of defeatist strategist’s speech is this?! Ernst internally groaned. Assassinations are supposed to be invisible and traceless, or at the very least, leave no surviving witnesses. Even the more unconventional, messy ones are focused on mission success. How is it that you’re already mentally preparing to trigger a defeat cutscene and grind for some ‘die rather than surrender’ achievement?

And, setting aside the fact that Enciodes and I still maintain a superficial layer of political camaraderie… even if you actually wanted to take him out, could you even pull it off?

Ernst thought about the logistics seriously for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

Platinum’s eyes softened, looking genuinely touched by his gesture. “Are you… worried about me putting myself in danger?”

Ernst looked her in the eye and answered with brutal honesty. “No. I just don’t think you can win.”

Platinum stiffened, clearly a little unconvinced and offended. “How can you say that? My combat strength is quite considerable! The opponent is just an entrepreneur, right? He’s just like those soft spokesmen from the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce who sit in plush offices all day. How powerful can he really be?”

Ernst replied gravely, his tone dropping an octave. “Enciodes himself might be a businessman, but the corporate hound working for him is exceptionally fierce. And you probably know her.”

Platinum was stunned. How could she possibly know a local enforcer from the isolated mountains of Kjerag? “Who?”

“She’s a knight. Rumor has it she spent a few years fighting in your Major Knight Tournament, and she’s quite famous. Nothing too crazy, just a three-time consecutive champion,” Ernst recalled, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Oh, right. Her title seems to be the ‘Black Knight’, Degenbrecher. How about it? Still feeling confident?”

Platinum suddenly took a few staggering steps back, a highly embarrassed expression washing over her face as an invisible bead of cold sweat rolled down her cheek. Her fierce demeanor instantly evaporated, replaced by a sunny, fawning smile as she pivoted toward Ho’olheyak.

“Let’s revisit that conversation about running away. Miss Ho’olheyak, could you introduce me to a nice, quiet job in Columbia? It would be even better if the package could include the Boss.”

If I can’t bring him with me, I’ll just take a few of his clothes, Platinum justified internally. When I make enough money over there, I’ll set up a nice little memorial for him or something. His life-saving kindness can only be repaid in the next life by giving myself to him.

“According to my estimation, the probability of Platinum successfully securing a stable office job in Columbia is exactly 83.33%.” Joyce Moore, who had been standing silently in the corner like a dormant machine, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was flat but carried an absolute, unyielding conviction. “However, Joyce Moore’s probability of leaving Karlan is 0%! As long as you, Prime Minister Ernst, do not fire me, I will never abandon my post!”

Look at this! Just look at this outstanding college student! Ernst praised in his mind. Learn what kind of noble moral standards and unwavering personal qualities are cultivated by a proper higher education! Now, examine yourselves, you rebellious bunch—especially you, Comrade Ho’olheyak. You, much like Comrade Courier who never seems to return from his field missions, still desperately need to improve your ideological level. I will make absolutely sure to properly supplement your missing cadre education in the future!

After inwardly lambasting his eccentric subordinates—who truly served as a chaotic microcosm of his entire officialdom—Ernst cleared his throat and spoke aloud.

“Actually, none of you need to worry so much. We have someone watching over us from above, so this matter won’t escalate too far out of control, one way or another.”

As he spoke, Ernst pointed a single finger toward the ceiling, gesturing to the sky above. Ho’olheyak’s eyes narrowed slightly as she immediately grasped his hidden meaning.

The Prime Minister was already the highest nominal political position in all of Kjerag. Who else could possibly be above him?

Of course, it was their revered, great First Citizen—the Great God Kjeragandr!

Ernst had already established direct, personal contact with Her. With a literal deity backing their play, what was there to hesitate about?

“You should have said so earlier, Boss. You almost had me packing my bags for real.” Ho’olheyak hopped off the mahogany desk, a dangerous, excited glint returning to her eyes. “If the Great God Kjeragandr has truly responded to you, then our victory is assured. Compared to the overwhelming divine power of an ancient Feranmut, what is a mere Enciodes?”

Ernst shot a dry glance at Ho’olheyak, marveling at how quickly she could change her tune when the odds shifted in her favor. “However, She will not directly suppress the rebellion for us. Before this matter escalates to the point of divine intervention, it theoretically still has to be resolved by our own hands.”

He leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. “Of course, I also won’t let any of you put yourselves in unnecessary danger. You are all vital pillars of Kjerag whom I painstakingly recruited—and occasionally cajoled—into service. The future government still desperately needs your dedication. Therefore, in this upcoming operation, I only need you to do one simple thing.”

Ernst pulled open his bottom drawer, took out several thick, brightly colored cylindrical fireworks, and placed them heavily onto the table. “It’s very simple,” he instructed. “Set off these fireworks.”

Noticing Platinum and Joyce’s thoroughly puzzled expressions, Ho’olheyak, who had already deduced Ernst’s tactical intent, proactively offered to explain.

“Unlike the Boss, none of us are native Kjerag citizens, which means we aren’t required to participate in the upcoming Holy Hunt Ceremony. However, we are official civil servants of the Kjerag Government—the highest secular authority in the nation. There is virtually no place we are forbidden to go. In other words, while the Holy Hunt Ceremony is underway, we will be among the very few individuals permitted to move freely throughout the Karlan Holy Mountain area.”

Ho’olheyak had already confirmed this loophole firsthand. As a complete outsider, she had still managed to visit the Karlan Temple’s Sacred Record Hall countless times to consult their restricted ancient documents. Such a holy sanctuary was a place that even devout, native Kjerag citizens were highly likely to never see in their entire lives. Yet, she could wander its halls with ease.

Ernst’s younger sister, the revered Saintess of Kjerag, along with her somewhat eccentric and notoriously hot-tempered Head Maid, were exceptionally accommodating to them as official Kjerag Government personnel!

“Therefore,” Ho’olheyak concluded, flashing a predatory smile, “when the time comes, if Enciodes truly intends to pull some sort of stunt during the Holy Hunt Ceremony, we will be positioned as the absolute best observers on the mountain.”

“Exactly.” Ernst nodded approvingly, confirming her deduction. “When the ceremony begins, I will need you all to scatter and keep watch. When the time is right, light these fireworks.”

He tapped the colorful cylinders on the desk. “If you observe a minor anomaly, light one. If you spot Enciodes or any high-ranking Karlan Trade personnel—including Matterhorn, Courier, or the Black Knight Degenbrecher—appearing near the Karlan Holy Mountain, immediately light two. If you directly detect mobilized enemy armed forces, then light three. Hell, light them all if you have to, it doesn’t matter. I have plenty of these in reserve.”

Ernst leaned back in his chair. “The more urgent the situation, the more fireworks you light. I trust you all to judge the specifics on the ground yourselves.”

He had specifically asked Vina to commission several heavy crates of premium fireworks from the finest artisans in Lungmen! He was not the least bit worried about running out of signal flares!

“Once I see your signal illuminating the sky, I will naturally react and spring our trap.”

After a brief moment of heavy, dramatic silence, Ernst decided to infuse the moment with a proper sense of ceremony, assigning this clandestine operation an official codename. Since the original historical event initiated by his brother Enciodes was famously known as the Snow Mountain Incident, and Ernst was now preparing to launch a counter-operation that would sweep through Kjerag like a sudden, violent blizzard, the perfect codename was obvious.

“Everyone,” Ernst declared, his voice ringing with absolute authority. “The codename for this counter-offensive is ‘Operation Caudic’!”

He slammed his palm against the desk, his eyes burning with strategic fervor. “Our goal is simple: we are going to kill the blizzard!”