Chapter 295： Overhead

"What? Archon Letome rejected our request to visit?"

As soon as he returned to his residence in the Phoenix Palace, Bachelor Dawn brought another bad news.

"Yes, Lord Viscount, the response over there said that Archon Lettom is not in good health recently and is unable to meet foreign visitors."

Vera sighed: "It seems that the archon of the San Lorenzo family is also biased towards Prince Leahy."

Bachelor Dawn shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. The Litom Archon is already 108 years old. It is said that he often has physical problems. This time it may not be an excuse to prevaricate us."

Colin was speechless for a while, and asked: "I'm so old, don't you retire?"

Bachelor Dawn explained reluctantly: "The consul is a lifelong tenure. As long as Lytom is still alive, he will not retire actively. After all, the members of the Senate are collaterals of various families, without titles and territories. Once they stripped off the aura of the Senate, they immediately became a small character no one cares about."

"Is there no way to dismiss a consul?" Colin's eyes flickered and asked thoughtfully.

Bachelor Dawn seemed to have guessed the true purpose of Colin's question, and shook his head: "No. The purpose of setting up the Senate was to create a completely independent system of supervision and checks and balances in addition to the existing administrative system of the empire.

Therefore, in order to ensure that the decision of the members of the Senate will not be affected by external factors, once elected, the senator will serve for life. Unless the consul has violated the laws of the empire, even the emperor cannot depose him. "

Colin chuckled, disdainful of this so-called "independent supervision system".

Nowadays, the collection of bribes by the Senate is a well-known fact by passers-by, and he himself was demanded by the Sebastian consul for the sky-high "lobby funding". It can be seen that the system of the Senate has been completely corrupted.

"Is there no means to restrict the elders?"

Bachelor Dawn thought for a while and said, "As far as the means of restraint are concerned, there is really no way. However, there are two main ways to exert influence on the elders.

The first is bribery. This is also the most commonly used method of lobbying. The veterans have no territory, and if they want to live a luxurious life, they must inevitably need the support of gray income.

The other way is to inherit the seat of the veteran. "

"Inheritance?" Colin wondered, "Isn't the veteran tenured? How to inherit?"

"The inheritance I'm talking about is different from the inheritance of general titles. The foundation of the inheritance of titles is hereditary. As long as the rule of the lord remains unchanged, the first successor of the lord will naturally inherit everything from him.

But the senator is different. Since the senator is not hereditary, the descendants of the senator cannot "naturally" inherit their seat in the Senate. "

Hearing this, Colin already understood the meaning of Bachelor Dawn.

The so-called inability to inherit "naturally" means that the descendants of the elders can be pushed into the Senate "artificially".

The current members of the Senate are all from the 117 most prestigious lord families in the Glory Empire. To become a senator, you must first become a candidate for the veteran recommended by each family, and then this candidate needs to get half of the Senate. Only with the above votes can they formally enter the Senate.

The second restrictive method mentioned by Bachelor Dawn refers to the qualifications of the senior candidate.

Each family also uses this method to ensure that their elders will not deviate from the will of the family.

For example, Sebastian, his consul position is for life. If he wants his grandson Weber to enter the Senate and inherit his position after his death, he must first let the Duke of St. Hild recommend Weber as a candidate for the senator. .

In this way, the Duke of St. Hilde also mastered the means to restrict Sebas.

But the problem now is that Vera hasn't inherited the title of Duke. On the contrary, she still needs the approval of the Senate.

The inheritance of the title of the general imperial nobles does not need to go through the Senate, but only needs to be canonized by the lord, only the four dukes are different.

They guard the four sides of the empire and are the key force to resist foreigners. The selection of the duke is very important, so the procedure of the Senate is added.

But Sebastian’s attitude just now made Colin realize that the archon who was born in the St. Hild family did not really want to help Wei ** as the Duke of the North.

But Colin found that he had no means to influence the other party, except to pay a huge amount of "lobbying funds."

Is it really going to be severely slaughtered?

no!

In the unlikely event that the other party took the money and didn't do anything, Colin really had nothing to do with him. Moreover, now that the Northern Territory had just been settled, the money was urgently needed to alleviate the predicament, but it could not be used to make the old guy cheap.

Or kill it?

Colin felt cruel.

But then he hesitated. After all, it was in a place like the imperial capital. It was not a last resort, and Ke Lin didn't want to use this kind of tearing method.

If discovered, he can only take Vera into exile...

Or, conversion?

But Colin also felt that there would be a great risk of transforming into blood.

Because blood is self-conscious, Colin never tried to convert his enemies into blood.

The current three bloodlines-the Shire Knight, Queen Aisha, and Valla Knight, Colin is kind to them.

Charles was reborn from a severed limb, Aisha was resurrected and avenged. As for Valla, he felt guilty for Colin, and was given a second life by Colin after atonement by death.

In short, even if these three were not blood, they would not betray Colin.

Transforming into blood only strengthened this attachment and made Colin trust them more.

But in Sebastian's words, Colin would not dare to transform the opponent into blood.

Although he can indeed suppress the bloodline from being able to resist himself, this control is limited to the body and cannot control the spirit.

What if Sebastian pretended to surrender to Colin and turned around and sold Colin.

Of course, if you transform into a blood slave without self-awareness, there will be no worry of betrayal.

But in this case, it is easy to see the flaws.

After all, the blood slave has no self-awareness and only knows to obey orders, unless Colin separates his consciousness to control, but this kind of control is very rigid.

Is there really no way to take this Sebastian...

Colin thought about it for a long time, but suddenly his inspiration flashed, and he said: "In fact, we don't have to win the Sebastian Archon."

"What do you mean?" Vera looked puzzled.

"The consul has only one vote, and it doesn't matter whether we agree or not. As long as we can get the votes of the other twenty-odd northern veterans!"

Bachelor Dawn's eyes lit up: "You mean, the Archon of Sebastian?"

Colin smiled and nodded: "That's right! Although Vera is not the Duke of the North, but now the North is under our control. As long as we put pressure on the major families in the North, then we can pass these The patriarch of the family affects the elders of each family!

In this way, Sebastian is of no consequence. "

Bachelor Dawn nodded again and again: "This is indeed a good idea, but I am worried that time may not be too late."

Colin immediately resolutely ordered: "It doesn't matter, we don't know when Prince Leahy is going to send the declaration of war to the Senate, but it is impossible to wait and die.

Vera, you immediately write to Winterfell, and ask the Marquis Garcia to summon the lords of the north and put pressure on them! "

"Okay!" Vera responded immediately, turned around and went to find a pen and paper.

Colin said to Bachelor Dawn: "Okay, let's just count the 20 votes in the Northern Territory. Now, we still need to talk about the veterans of the First Territory to ensure that Prince Leahy's declaration of war will not be absolute. The majority voted."

Bachelor Dawn pondered for a moment, and suggested: "My lord, I think the most sure thing is in the San Lorenzo family. Since Archon Letome doesn't want to see us, then we can try another person."

"Who?"

"His Royal Highness."

"Queen?" Colin hesitated. He was no less wary of that glamorous queen than Sebastian. If he could, he didn't want to ask this person. Senior veteran."

Bachelor Dawn shook his head and explained: "My lord Viscount, I hope you can meet His Majesty the Emperor through the queen. He is the key person who can really influence the attitude of the San Lorenzo veterans."

"But... isn't the emperor sick?" Vera interrupted when he heard the words.

Bachelor Dawn curled his lips and said: "80% are pretending to be sick, just avoiding Prince Leahy, and also don't want the declaration of war proposal to pass the Imperial Conference."

Colin also nodded and said: "Yes. Moreover, the emperor is the one who is most anxious about this matter If the declaration of war is passed by the Senate with a large number of votes, it will definitely be fatal to his prestige. Blow.

It can even be said that from now on, Prince Leahy's United Senate can directly vacate him. "

"Yes." Bachelor Dawn said, "Furthermore, Emperor Reinhardt has the right to recommend candidates for the veteran of the San Lorenzo family, and can influence the attitude of the Archon of Letome more than we do."

Just when Colin was determined to see the Queen Midella again, an attendant knocked in and delivered an invitation letter to Colin.

Colin opened it suspiciously: "Crete Saint-Grian?"

Hearing this name, Bachelor Dawn's eyes lit up and said, "This is the consul of the family of Saint Grian, the lord of the West, in the Senate!"

Colin also smiled immediately and said:

"This consul has invited us to a banquet!"

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