Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 109: Northern Territory Development Plan

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Northern Territory Development Plan

In response to Perfikot’s questions, Duke of Gloucester simply produced another document, a conferring letter that made Perfikot’s eyelids twitch.

"Because this plan still requires your leadership, Her Majesty the Empress has specially titled you as the Count of Exploration for the Northern Territory," said Duke of Gloucester, uttering words that made Perfikot’s eyes twitch, and then, as if adding insult to injury, he supplemented: "The entire Northern Territory will be under your management, everything in the Northern Territory will operate according to your will, and the Empire will provide you with the utmost support for this matter."

At this point, Duke of Gloucester paused, seemingly weighing his words, because he knew the upcoming thing he was going to say might infuriate Perfikot.

But after some consideration, he still said to Perfikot, "Aside from this, I sincerely invite you once again, in my personal capacity and as the Speaker of the Noble Council, to join the Crisis Management Committee.

Miss Brandelis, your intelligence is an immensely valuable asset to the entire Empire, it ought to exert greater influence and contribute more to the Empire in the face of this catastrophe."

As expected, when Duke of Gloucester spoke these words, the expression on Perfikot’s face turned exceedingly unpleasant.

Almost pointing and accusingly, she ridiculed Duke of Gloucester: "What’s this? Those parasites who sit lazily have finally thought of me after messing things up? Do they think I should obediently listen to their commands? That if they utter a few nice words, I must do as they wish?

Sorry, there’s no such good thing under heaven, the mess they made, let them clean it up themselves. I won’t accept the title of Count of Exploration! Your Northern Territory expansion plan can be done by someone else, no need to come looking for me!"

After finishing, Perfikot turned, ready to leave, but suddenly remembered this was her ship, so she turned back to Duke of Gloucester and said: "This ship is my private property, Duke, due to our previous friendship I’m overlooking this borrowing, I won’t be harsh enough to drive you off the ship.

But I have important use for this ship, so at most it will drop you at the New Continent’s port colony, therefore I suggest you contact the Imperial Navy’s New Continent fleet to send a ship to pick you up now."

Having said that, Perfikot was about to leave.

However, at this moment, Foster suddenly stopped her.

"Grandpa Fu?" Perfikot looked at Foster somewhat surprised, not expecting her loyal old steward to stop her.

"Miss, I know I shouldn’t say this, but I still want to remind you that since the first knight of the Brandelis Clan accepted the Empire’s conferment, up to now, it has been inherited for twelve generations, you are the thirteenth generation of the family and the third Brandelis Baron, loyal to the Empire and Royal Family for generations, receiving the power and treatment from the Empire, while consistently fulfilling the mission of loyalty to the Empire." Foster didn’t say much to Perfikot, but mentioned the glorious history of the family and the tradition of generational loyalty.

Yet, just this one sentence made Perfikot fall silent after taking a deep breath.

On one side, Duke of Gloucester remained silent, very much looking forward to Perfikot, quietly waiting for her decision.

Though just a teenage girl, Duke of Gloucester knew Perfikot had an exceedingly independent and strong-willed personality, her decision couldn’t be swayed by a few words.

Rather than saying more and messing things up, it’s better to wait for Perfikot to make up her own mind.

Her face looked sombre, completely unreadable, but from her shoulder’s tremble, it was evident her emotions were far from calm.

Concerning her character, it’s absolutely impossible for her to accept Duke of Gloucester’s invitation and join that Crisis Management Committee which demeans and insults her.

It’s ostensibly handing over everything in the Northern Territory to her management, but actually, she only continues working for those bloated parasites; the so-called utmost support is merely rhetoric.

If the Empire really could provide utmost support, arriving in the Northern Territory wouldn’t merely be one Flying Airship, but the envisioned Flying Fleet.

So although it looks like the Empire genuinely supports her, even giving her the title of Count of Exploration, essentially, she’s just cleaning up the mess for the Crisis Management Committee and those old folks from the Noble Council.

They still ride on her, not only that, they claim all her achievements as their own, turning around with a "what do women understand," attributing all glory to their "wise leadership," and Perfikot only contributed "trivially."

Keenly aware of these nobles, Perfikot wholeheartedly believed they were capable of such things.

In terms of behaving unscrupulously, the Empire’s nobles always act unscrupulously.

The fact that they appointed her in charge of the so-called Northern Territory expansion project already shows their true colours, shamelessly using resources is indeed these noblemen’s consistent trait.

Later, if things didn’t work out well, they can even assign blame onto her, claiming they devised an impeccable plan, and all failures were her fault.

Perfikot was deeply aware of this, which is why she rejected Duke of Gloucester’s first invitation and now the second one.

She didn’t desire to become those noblemen’s doormat, exploited and tossed aside upon use.

Yet, Foster’s words made her hesitate.

Not because she was truly loyal to the so-called Empire, although she indeed had a close relationship with Eldest Princess Annie, but for a Transmigrator, pledging loyalty to an Empire offering little sense of belonging...

Rather than for the Empire, what Perfikot wished to preserve was the Brandelis Clan.

She indeed had some sense of belonging to this family, after all, this body’s parents were the first she saw after transmigrating, and they died protecting her right before her eyes.

Additionally, with Foster’s considerate care over these years, Perfikot didn’t want to disappoint him, or rather, she didn’t wish to disappoint this loyal old man.

And crucially, if backed by the Empire, she could save more people following her plan.

Ultimately, she was kind-hearted, impossible to genuinely watch as hundreds of thousands perished due to those parasites.

However, asking her to agree with Duke of Gloucester just like that wasn’t swallowing easily, nor willing to work under these noblemen’s "leadership."

So after calming down and considering, she turned to Duke of Gloucester and said: "Duke, it’s possible for me to take over this plan, but I have some conditions..."