My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 33

Ivan was well aware of this. So he didn't blame the Duke; he was just troubled about how to support his family.

"Lea, aren't you going to eat?"

“Me? I’ve already eaten,” Leia laughed. She had lost a lot of weight due to long-term malnutrition and the effects of their bastard baby. “You should eat more. The family is counting on you, Ivan.”

"...Um."

He nodded and ate the few thin slices of bread.

This worker, who had never shed a tear even when his arm was burned by sparks from the steel foundry, now shed tears for the first time as he ate bread and looked at his frail wife and their child.

The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.

.......

Anton Niels was a minor nobleman in a city within the Duchy of Kosiché. He was fortunate to be of noble birth, even if the status of nobility wasn't as high as he had imagined; at least it ensured he would have enough to eat and wear during this economic crisis.

He was even more fortunate that none of the old men or women in his family would consider investing in businesses or factories, because those nobles who did invest in factories or businesses, at worst, had gone bankrupt and were living in poverty, and at best, they had basically no money to earn and were struggling to make ends meet, waiting for the Duke's noble relief.

"Anton, dinner's ready!"

Just as Mr. Anton was feeling fortunate, his wife called him downstairs for dinner. He quickly jumped up from the sofa and put on his clean, aristocratic clothes in front of the wardrobe. In this era of economic crisis, he still had a considerable amount of money to maintain his clothes, proof that he was living better than others.

After getting dressed, he slowly walked downstairs, carrying a cane that symbolized his power and status. In the dining room downstairs, the maid had already prepared their lunch for the day.

Looking at the large amount of food laid out on the table covered with a silk tablecloth, Mr. Anton frowned and complained to his wife in an annoyed tone:

"Niya! There are only two people in our family, and six people including maids, housekeepers, and butlers. Is it really necessary to prepare so much food?"

He pointed to the food on the table. Lots of caviar, lots of toasted white bread, lots of egg tarts and roast meat, and even a whole roast chicken—they simply couldn't possibly finish all of this. What else could preparing so much food be but a waste of money?

In this economic downturn, at least when it comes to food, this family should be more frugal, right? Although Anton wasn't worried that the poor outside would smell the delicious food at home, he was very worried that his icebox, which held the food reserves for the next ten years or so, might be used up prematurely.

Faced with Anton's complaints, Niya, dressed very simply, merely raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise:

"Didn't you tell me to prepare like this yesterday? You said some friends were coming over! I waited for a long time but they didn't show up, so I had to ask you to come down first."

"Friends? Oh—yes, that's true..."

Anton recalled that he had indeed mentioned yesterday that friends would be coming over for a gathering. But that guy had stood him up this morning, and it was his fault for not reminding his wife.

Thinking this, he sighed, all his complaints vanishing. Since he'd already done it, he might as well eat it. Later, he could share the leftovers with the servants, and if there was anything left uneaten, he could just put it, plate and all, in the back alley. Hopefully, there wouldn't be a few more people lying there, barely alive, fighting over food.

"Sigh, never mind—let's eat first. Nia, what are you planning to do today?"

"Me? Hmm... I'll stay home. Honey, you know how dangerous it is outside."

"Those hungry citizens? The economic downturn has left the people of Ursus starving... I'm so glad we're not that miserable."

"Me too."

They sat side by side, the maid watching them lovingly cut the food on their plates with knives and forks. The caviar, like black gold, was spread on the clean toast.

"Sir, so today, as usual—"

"Ah, go ahead, but remember to have Jason, that big guy, with you. Otherwise, it would be terrible if you got attacked by bad guys while distributing bread."

"Yes."

The maid nodded and left first. She was to follow her master's instructions to distribute bread to the refugees on the street.

Chapter 83

After lunch and a short rest, Yang Hao prepared to head to the residential area closer to the Duke's mansion, to the place where the Gauls were located, to carry out his plan.

However, before leaving, Kosicée returned to her chambers. It seemed that Monica had informed her, so she planned to talk to Yang Hao about something before he left.

"Koschke? What's wrong?"

"No, I just wanted to give you a few pieces of advice."

Kosicie took Yang Hao's hand and returned to her chambers. It seemed she had something she didn't want anyone, including Monica, to hear, and only wanted to talk to Yang Hao alone.

...

She led Yang Hao back to the bedside, and as she sat with him on the edge of the bed, Kosichrie stretched her tail inside his clothes, pressed it tightly against his lower abdomen, and slowly drew a small circle there.

“To put it simply, I already know about your conversation with Joseph—well, I must remind you first, my husband, while my army and Serpent Scales can help you deal with…some troublemakers in my territory, that doesn’t mean we can execute nobles indiscriminately within our lands, understand?” Kosiché gently reminded him, watching the comfortable blush rise on her husband’s face. She thought to herself that her observations these past few nights had indeed yielded good results. “You must find as much evidence as possible that they must be executed, understand? I mean, even if you can’t find evidence, you can fabricate it.”

"Ah... I understand that. But Koschche, your tail..."

"Don't you like it?"

Her smile instantly turned somber. She controlled her now-familiar tail, rubbing it against his lower abdomen as he moaned contentedly, but just as she was about to thrust directly into his pants, she gave up.

It's still working hours, let's talk about it tonight.

With that thought in mind, Koschke pulled his tail out. Luckily, he had been taking good care of his tail recently; if even a few hairs had stayed inside, it would have been a real problem.

“So, my husband, you need to be careful when you handle these things.” Kosichek put his arm around Yang Hao’s shoulders and straightened his collar. “By the way, do you really like Victorian clothes that much? But I hate Victorians, especially their spies.”

"I like Victorian-style clothes, you hate Victorians, so let's take down Victoria and turn it into Ursus?"

“It’s good, I like it very much—but for now, let’s prioritize your method of immortality.”

"Isn't this work?"

Koschei gently flicked Yang Hao's cheek with her tail, smiled, and didn't continue speaking. She glanced at the clock; it was getting late, and she couldn't disturb his work any longer.

“Then I’ll head back now,” she said. “My husband, let’s have a proper talk tonight. I have a feeling someone is watching you.”

"They're targeting me? It can't be that bastard from Colombia, can it?" Yang Hao was completely bewildered, finding it strange: although he had long been prepared to attract attention while standing next to Kosic, why now? So quickly?

What puzzled him even more was that, given the intelligence network that Kosich had cultivated for who knows how many years, all she could say was "it seems"?

“I don’t know. They could be from Ursus, or they could be from other countries. In any case, my husband—you need to be careful.” Faced with Yang Hao’s question, Koschei simply shook his head and stood up from the edge of the bed. “I’ll keep an eye on any possible reports. But you have to cooperate with me. Don’t leave the city recently, okay?”

“I haven’t left the city in the years I’ve lived in Colombia, let alone now… Alright, alright, Cosicche, you go to work first, I need to get to work too.”

...

The couple left the palace together. On the outer corridor, one moved towards the outside of the Duke's mansion, while the other moved towards the audience hall.

As they moved toward the audience hall, Kosic said to the shadowy figure following him:

"Snake Scales, have you found any clues?"

“No, Your Grace.” The snake scales following her shook their heads. “We have not found anyone who might be keeping an eye on Lord Yang Hao. But we have evidence that His Majesty the Emperor may now be turning his attention to Lord Yang Hao because he can no longer tolerate the bad influence of the court jesters and court jesters—if Lord Yang Hao has already achieved sufficiently attractive results.”

"...Besides the emperor?" Kosiché's expression darkened. The emperor might be trying to steal her man?

This is really...

"...We have received information that some unaffiliated groups calling themselves the [Deep Sea Hunters] have entered Ursus from the eastern border, but we do not know their purpose, nor do we know their numbers or composition—they are unusual."

"They've actually set foot on land to fight unspeakable hunters along the coast? Interesting... Is there more?"

"Kazdale seems to be making some strange moves as well. But our spy network isn't deployed there; we've only gathered some rumors."

"Hmph... The Sarkaz have their own ideas too? I think about my husband—"

Originally, Kosichrie didn't take the potential threat from the Sarkaz seriously. After all, how could her husband possibly have designs on any Sarkaz—except for that Blood Demon Lady?

But then Kosiché realized something was wrong.

...Wasn't the first gift he gave me a Sarkaz sculpture?

...At this moment, Kosiché suddenly felt a tension he had never experienced in thousands of years, and felt somewhat uneasy.

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

"Monica, this time we're going to that [Lille Bar]—"

“It’s the Lille Tavern,” Monica reminded them. Paul had somehow joined them, protecting their safety.

“Oh. Let’s go there.” Yang Hao stretched. “Judging by the time... it will take us ninety days to complete the reform of the administrative department... and recruiting the Gauls will take at least a month. Then, considering the adjustment period, some necessary training and adaptation... hmm... it seems like it fits together?”

"As you see fit."

Yang Hao hoped that when he recruited the Gauls and completed the reorganization, they would be in sync with the reforms of the administrative departments.

In that case, the subsequent reforms to improve people's livelihoods could proceed smoothly—just as he was thinking this, he suddenly realized something.

"...Monica, the infected person from the Duke of Koschche, where is she placed?"

That is, infected persons.

He forgot to ask Koschice how she wanted the infected person handled.

Chapter 84

The infected—those infected with Oripathy—this is a group that Yang Hao...has neglected for a long time.

How so? Simply put, the vast majority of products in this world require a mineral called "Originium" to be produced or used as an energy source, and the widespread availability of Originium has given most people a set of testing data called "Originium Arts".

In this world, there is a profession called "Warlock," who can conjure fireballs out of thin air with their staffs and then throw them—this is Originium Arts.

Some warriors' swords may spark or become sharper for a moment when they slash – this is also known as Originium Arts.

The Originium Arts that doctors release when they use their staff to save people in the wild are also Originium Arts.

Some of the older refrigerators—these things also require Originium Arts to use.

Even the drones used for brainstorming tests by elementary school students require Originium Arts to operate.

In a sense, Originium Arts are a necessary basic condition for survival in this world. Even Yang Hao himself, as a transmigrator, has relatively poor Originium Arts that allow him to live in this world.

However, the widespread use of Originium Arts has also brought some troublesome things... Because Originium itself is a highly polluting mineral, all Originium products, people who use Originium Arts, or people who come into direct contact with Originium may become extremely dangerous, yet also exceptionally pitiful, beings known as "Infected."

Extremely dangerous, meaning these infected individuals are contagious. No one wants an infected person living near them unless they themselves are infected.

"Extremely pitiful" refers to the fact that infected individuals in this world almost always face discrimination, have their lives restricted, and may even be directly killed. They not only face the hatred and contempt of outsiders, but Oripathy itself is a disease with a 100% fatality rate—and when they die from the disease, their bodies explode like flesh bombs, spreading Oripathy to those around them in an explosive manner.

Moreover, even after death, their bodies remain infectious... so almost every infected person's body must be cremated, burned to ashes, and then decomposed in certain specific locations until it is confirmed to be safe before their remains are properly disposed of—if they still have any remains.

...This tragic and inevitable fate led to even more severe discrimination against the infected. Some research books in Colombia even state that the infected have been persecuted by ordinary people since the day the world's first law was enacted, or even earlier. In the eyes of most people, they are truly "inferior people." However, in Yang Hao's view, these "inferior people" are merely a pretext to cover up class contradictions.

“Essentially, the infected are a good source of labor.” In the car, Yang Hao shared his thoughts with Monica while Paul drove towards the location of the Lille Tavern. Although the tavern was open at night, that didn't stop Yang Hao from walking around the neighborhood and getting a feel for the local life. “The vast majority of them are decent sorcerers, or at least have the potential to become sorcerers.”

　Sending these people to mine or imprisoning them is such a waste. Even using them to divert attention from class conflict, military conflict, or even social conflict is a huge waste. We should make them produce greater value, instead of letting them contribute only a single Originium or be able to afford expensive oatmeal porridge until they die.

All they need to do is provide them with education and benefits, and then compare their living conditions to those of infected people elsewhere, and they will become our staunch supporters.

Let's put it this way: it seems like all the mistakes in this world can be blamed on the infected.

Insufficient food production? It must be the fault of those infected.

The war was lost? It must be because the infected were consuming resources and holding us back!

Insufficient mineral production? Can't you infected people put in a little effort?

The nobleman next door is making us pay more taxes; it must be the fault of you infected people!

And so on... The infected class in Terra suffered many hardships that they shouldn't have had to endure. They should have only had to suffer the chronic infectious disease with a 100% fatality rate and the inability to live with ordinary people. The torment and injustices that those in power inflicted on them to divert attention from other problems were truly not their fault at all.

Their definition in this world is probably that of a trash can; everyone can throw their trash in there and then leave it there, really.

But who can blame them when the infected class has virtually no voice in this world? Kazdel, the region with the largest number of infected, is a place without even a single mobile city. In Colombia, the freest region, the infected are struggling to make ends meet, let alone help their fellow infected in other worlds. And what about the infected in the remaining regions that are neither free nor numerous... besides facing discrimination and being forced to bear burdens that are not theirs?

Becoming refugees? Aside from Kazdel, only Colombia is willing to accept infected people. Perhaps some uncivilized places wouldn't mind? But it's conceivable that there aren't many places that can accept infected refugees.

Becoming a bandit? Who would willingly abandon a stable home and take the path of banditry unless driven to desperation? Besides, even if they were bandits, the Mineral Patients, the Infected, could only band together for warmth—even among bandits, there are different classes. Healthy bandits would still discriminate against the Infected, let alone recruit them into their ranks.

Well... it's not that a very small number of infected people in certain areas are able to lead relatively normal lives. But how many infected people can those areas accommodate? Even if they accept infected people, don't they set standards that almost all infected people cannot meet?

Therefore... the vast majority of infected people can only pray that their area has laws protecting them. If so, they can at least live a period of poverty but peace. If not? Then they will either be abandoned in some area to fend for themselves, or sent to mines to work until they die.

What's the situation like in Ursus? Hmm... Yang Hao hasn't found out yet, but judging from the interface provided by the [Puppet Stage], it seems that Ursus handles infected people by sending them to mines while isolating them?

So what are Kosic's arrangements? After finishing his sentence, Yang Hao looked at Monica, hoping she would give him an explanation.

Monica, of course, knew what Yang Hao was thinking. After some consideration, she gave Yang Hao the answer he needed:

“My lady, Lord Kosiché’s arrangement for the infected is to designate a certain area around the city and concentrate them there, so they can at least live on the outskirts of the city,” Monica explained. “However, the infected are not allowed to enter the city proper. At most, they can only fend for themselves in the settlement area—some infected will voluntarily go to the mines or other places that allow infected people to work in order to obtain the necessary funds for survival. But that’s all.”

I do not recommend that you grant preferential treatment to ordinary citizens who are infected, out of personal bias... because this is a method that Lord Koschei painstakingly devised to temporarily stabilize the people of the duchy. The residents of the city gain a sense of superiority by observing their lives, which are drastically different from those of the infected settlements, and thus spontaneously tend towards stability. Even so, the situation in the duchy can only remain this dire for now.

If you absolutely must improve the living standards of residents who are infected... at least you need to figure out how to stop them from causing trouble.

Monica believed she had been quite tactful; she didn't want Lord Yang Hao to waste too many resources on the infected at this critical juncture. After all, although Lord Koschche had provided Lord Yang Hao with a sufficient budget to complete the transformation of the administrative center and the local economy—using that money on the infected would only make the already unstable city's residents even more uneasy, serving no other purpose.

At least that was true for Monica. She genuinely didn't want Yang Hao to do anything to the infected at this critical juncture—she knew Yang Hao's abilities were limited; when the people in a region were determined to oppose him, he couldn't control them.

...As for how Monica knew these things? It was Lord Koschei who told her. Naturally, she wouldn't betray Lord Koschei's trust.

Yang Hao frowned at Monica's statement: