Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 171 - 169: Iron Blood

Chapter 171: Chapter 169: Iron Blood

Seeing the battered armor and the hole in the wall, Eldest Princess Annie was almost caught off guard.

But she quickly understood Perfikot’s meaning.

Without a doubt, to Perfikot, a debauched Justinian was absolutely no threat to her, the Empire’s foremost alchemy master.

Thus, Perfikot was not frightened earlier; in fact, the situation had always been under her control.

And what she said to Eldest Princess Annie was clearly not referring to this matter.

Yet, from a certain angle, this matter was indeed related to what Perfikot mentioned, as her implication was to decisively deal with Justinian.

"But... he is my brother after all." Eldest Princess Annie hesitated.

"I didn’t say to kill him, just to eliminate any potential threat he poses to the entire plan." Perfikot placed her hand on the battered wall, within a mere breath she restored the wall and repaired the ragged armor.

After finishing these, Perfikot looked at Eldest Princess Annie and said: "The Empire is now on a very dangerous path, like navigating a classic sailboat through a storm, requiring all of us to work together.

My duty as Northern Guardian is to make this ship sturdier and more resistant to the storm, while Aunt Annie you are akin to the first mate or even the captain.

At times like this, you need determination, and once a decision is made, the resolve to carry it through.

Rather than hesitating because of the life or death of a crew member or someone voicing opposition, as doing so might doom everyone on board!"

Perfikot’s words were heavy, not something typically said by a junior to a senior.

Yet at this moment, Perfikot spoke not in the capacity of a relative or junior, but as the Northern Guardian to the Empire’s Eldest Princess.

Eldest Princess Annie naturally felt the weight in Perfikot’s words, her face turned pale momentarily, immediately showing signs of conflict and solemnity.

"Is there really no other way?" Eldest Princess Annie seemed to have made a decision, but was still hoping for a better solution.

"If Aunt Annie you cannot make up your mind, then vacate the captain’s position." Perfikot did not hold back, uttering the most rational and cold words.

Faced with Perfikot’s attitude, Eldest Princess Annie gritted her teeth.

She was indeed not a hardened individual; even as a soldier, she was more like a traditional knight, still carrying the so-called "romance" of the old times into battles.

After all, before being cultivated as the Empire’s successor, she was just a little princess obsessed with knight novels, dreaming of becoming a great knight like those who protect the nation in the stories.

But regardless of everything, having been on the battlefield, Eldest Princess Annie understood that at times like these decisions must be made, hesitation and indecision would harm everyone.

So even if unwilling, she promised Perfikot: "I will thoroughly investigate the forces behind Justinian and eradicate them completely!"

"Justinian is merely a clown, so are the forces behind him." Nevertheless, Perfikot was still not satisfied, but Eldest Princess Annie taking this step was not easy, Perfikot did not overly pressure her, but pointed out the more crucial issue: "Aunt Annie, now you need to go and talk to the Empress, have her place you as the Empire’s official successor and ensure you are the sole candidate for this position.

To achieve this, you need to eliminate not just the worthless Justinian, but also Prince Edward."

"Uncle Edward? Why? He..." Eldest Princess Annie paused, but then quickly understood: "You are worried that the opposition forces will support him? As someone who once posed a huge threat to my mother inheriting the throne, his threat is indeed greater than Justinian’s.

But after that incident, he with his wife has retreated into the territory, hasn’t been involved in political affairs for a long time, does he still have sufficient influence?"

Back then, Prince Edward made quite a scene to marry the widow from the colony, forcing him to relinquish the right to inherit the throne, living with the widow he successfully married on his own land ever since.

An always secluded former crown successor, a failed power struggler, how much threat can he still pose to the current crown successor?

"No need for influence, or rather, lack thereof is easier to control." Perfikot looked at Eldest Princess Annie helplessly, realizing her lack in this aspect, but could only guide her as best as she could: "The real influence and threat is from those opposing factions, the remaining, whether Justinian or Edward, their most important attribute is their status as male successors to the Empire’s throne!

The opposition needs only to use their status and the righteousness brought by it, holding onto it, according to the Empire’s inheritance law limitations, Aunt Annie, you cannot legally compete with them."

"What should we do?" Eldest Princess Annie had at this point taken Perfikot as her advisor, asking her for opinion.

"If you ask me, my solution you might not like." Perfikot made a shrugging gesture, then said half-jokingly: "I brought forty Steam Knights, their loyalty is fairly reliable, if Aunt Annie you need it, they could be your military support for a coup.

Whether cleansing the palace or dealing with opponents in Langton City, I think they can handle it impressively for Aunt Annie, you just need to wait to be crowned as the Empire’s new ruler."

Although Perfikot’s words were a joke, with forty Steam Knights in hand, she really could carry out an efficient coup.

However, Eldest Princess Annie hurriedly shook her head, denying: "Things haven’t reached that point, mother still firmly controls the Empire, I don’t need to do this, nor can I do this."

Compared to the Empress who has ruled the Empire for decades, Eldest Princess Annie clearly knows where the gap lies, therefore she does not intend to do such a thing.

And indeed, there is no need, as she is being groomed as the heir by the Empress, already having home field advantage, no need to take risky actions.

Seeing this, Perfikot nodded slightly, then stated: "Since that’s the case, display some toughness Aunt Annie, show the spirit of an Eldest Princess, use ironclad means to eliminate the forces behind Justinian, my White Bear Knight Order is available for your use, forty Steam Knights are enough to leave a deep impression on them."