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As soon as he returned to his residence in the Phoenix Palace, the Scholar Doan brought another piece of bad news.

“Yes, my Lord Viscount. They responded by saying Governor Lattom’s health is not good and he is unable to receive any guests.”

Vera sighed, “It seems this Governor from the St. Lorenzo family is also leaning towards Prince Lexie.”

Scholar Doan shook his head, “Not necessarily. Governor Lattom is already 108, and it is said his health often plays up. This time, he may not be trying to give us the brush-off.”

Left speechless by what he heard, Colin asked, “He’s so old, why won’t he retire?”

Scholar Doan explained with a bit of helplessness, “A Governor serves for life; as long as Governor Lattom has a breath left in him, he will not voluntarily retire. After all, the members of the Senate are related to the various families. They do not have any aristocratic status or territories, and once stripped of the aura of the Senate, they become insignificant.”

“Isn’t there a way to dismiss a governor?” Colin asked thoughtfully, with a glint in his eye.

Scholar Doan, apparently guessing the real reason for Colin’s question, shook his head: “No. The original intention of establishing the Senate was to build a completely independent system of supervision and checks and balances outside the existing imperial administrative system.

Hence, to ensure that the decisions of the Senate members are not influenced by external factors, a Senator assumes office for life unless he violates the imperial law. Otherwise, even the Emperor cannot dismiss him.”

Colin snickered disapprovingly at this so-called “independent monitoring system”.

The fact that the current Senate accepts bribes is an open secret, and he himself has just been demanded an astronomical “lobbying fee” by Governor Sebast. Thus, this Senate system is completely corrupted.

“Isn’t there any way to restrain the Senators’ actions?”

Scholar Doan thought for a moment and said, “To say there is a way to restrain them, there isn’t exactly. However, there are two main ways to influence the Senate members.

The first is bribery. This is the most common way of lobbying. Since the senators don’t have any territories, they need help with their grey income in order to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

And the other is according to the succession of senatorial seats.”

“Succession?” Colin puzzled, “But isn’t a Senator’s position for life? How is it passed on?”

“The succession relationship I am referring to differs from the ordinary aristocratic succession. The foundation for aristocratic succession is hereditary. As long as the Law of the Lord remains unchanged, the primary heir of the Lord naturally inherits everything.

However, unlike the Lords, Senators aren’t hereditary, so their descendants cannot ‘naturally’ inherit their seats in the Senate.”

Colin understood Scholar Doan’s meaning by now.

If they could not ‘naturally’ inherit a Senator’s position, it means they could ‘artificially’ put a Senator’s descendants into the Senate.

Currently, the members of Senate are all from the 117 most prestigious lordly families in the Glorious Empire. To become a Senator, first one needs to be recommended by one’s family as a Senatorial candidate. Then, this candidate needs to receive more than half of the Senate’s approval votes to officially enter the Senate.

The second control method that Scholar Doan refers to relies on this recommendation qualification for Senatorial candidates.

The families play a role as well; they ensure via this platform that their Senator does not desert the will of their family.

For example, Sebast, his Governor’s position is for life. If he wants to see his grandson, Weber, enter the Senate to inherit his position after his death, he needs to secure the recommendation of Duke St. Hilde, confirming Weber as a Senatorial candidate.

In this way, Duke St. Hilde has a way to control Sebast.

But now, the problem is that Vera hasn’t inherited the Duke’s position yet. On the contrary, she still needs the recognition of the Senate.

In a normal case, the inheritance of nobility in the empire wouldn’t need to go through the Senate. It only requires the approval of the emperor based on hereditary but the four border dukes are an exception.

They act as the key force in resisting foreign enemies in all four directions of the empire. The selection of the Duke is highly critical, therefore, there is an extra process involving the Senate.

But Sebast’s attitude just now has let Colin see that the governor from the St. Hilde family is not earnestly helping Vera ascend to the position of Northern Duke.

However, Colin found that he had no means to influence the other party, aside from paying a large amount of “Lobbying fee”.

Must he really allow himself to be badly fleeced?

No way!

What if the other party takes the money and does not deliver on his promises? Colin didn’t have many good options against him. Moreover, the North Territory state is just stabilized and this large sum of money is needed to relieve the situation. It cannot be used to benefit the old man.

Maybe, he should kill him?

Colin was fiercely determined.

But, he had reservations. After all, he was in the Imperial Capital, a place fraught with powerful and hidden individuals. He didn’t want to use open conflict until he was forced to. If his actions are discovered, he could only escape with Vera….

Maybe, convert him?

However, Colin sensed that transforming him into a Bloodline would pose great risks.

Because Bloodlines have self-consciousness, Colin had never attempted to transform his enemies into Bloodlines.

As for the current three Bloodlines—Knight Shar, Queen Isa, Knight Walra, Colin had shown kindness to all of them.

Shar was reborn after losing limbs, Isa was resurrected and avenged, as for Walra, he felt guilty towards Colin and was reincarnated by Colin after redeeming himself with death.

In summary, these three people wouldn’t betray Colin even if they were not Bloodlines.

Converting into Bloodlines just strengthens their attachment, allowing Colin to trust them more.

But as for Sebas, Colin dared not to transform him into a Bloodline.

Although he could indeed suppress a Bloodline’s resistance through blood ties, this control is limited to the physical body and can’t control the spirit.

What if Sebas pretends to submit to Colin, and then betrays Colin behind his back?

Of course, if transformed into a Blood Slave without self-consciousness, there would be no worry about betrayal.

However, this makes it easier to reveal some flaws.

After all, Blood Slaves have no self-consciousness; they only know how to obey orders. Unless Colin splits his consciousness to control them, the control would be rigid. This could be fooled in a rush, but any prolonged time would inevitably expose the truth.

Is there really nothing to be done about Sebas…

After thinking for a while, Colin suddenly had a bright idea and said, “We don’t need to win over Governor Sebas.”

“What do you mean?” Vera looked puzzled.

“The Governor only has one vote. Whether he agrees or disagrees it doesn’t really matter. As long as we can win the votes of the other twenty Elders of the North Territory, it’s fine!”

The Scholar Doan’s eyes sparkled: “You mean, sideline Governor Sebas?”

Colin laughed and nodded: “Correct! Although Vera is not yet the Northern Duke, the current North Territory is under our control. We can put pressure on the major families in the North Territory and influence the Elders through their family leaders!

With that, Sebas becomes insignificant.”

Scholar Doan kept nodding: “It’s indeed a good idea. I’m just worried that there might not be enough time.”

Without hesitating, Colin immediately gave a resolute order: “No matter what, we don’t know when Prince Lexie plans to present the Declaration of War to the Senate, we can’t just sit back and wait.

Vera, you immediately write a letter to Winterfell City and ask Marquis Garcia to gather the Lords of the North and pressure them!”

“Okay!” Vera responded immediately, turning around to find pen and paper.

Colin then said to Scholar Doan: “Alright, for now, let’s assume that we have the twenty or so votes in the North. Next, we need to persuade one Elder from another territory to ensure that Prince Lexie’s Declaration of War does not receive an absolute majority of approval.”

Scholar Doan thought for a moment and suggested: “My Lord, I think our best bet is with the St. Lorenzo family. Since Governor Lattom is unwilling to see us, we can try someone else.”

“Who?”

“Her Majesty the Queen.”

“The Queen?” Colin hesitated a bit as he was as wary of the glamorously beautiful Queen as Sebas, if possible, he didn’t want to ask for her help, “The Queen would have a hard time influencing the Elders from St. Lorenzo lineage.”

Scholar Doan shook his head explaining: “My Lord, I hope you can meet His Majesty the Emperor through the Queen. He is the key person who can truly influence the attitudes of the Elders of St. Lorenzo lineage.”

“But… isn’t the Emperor sick?” Vera chimed in.

Scholar Doan sneered: “He’s likely pretending to be sick to avoid Prince Lexie, and also doesn’t want the Declaration of War to pass the Imperial Conference.”

Colin agreed: “Yes. Furthermore, the Emperor is the most anxious one about this. If the Declaration of War is significantly approved in the Senate, it would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to his prestige.

Or even worse, from now on, Prince Lexie and the Senate could directly sideline him.”

“Indeed.” Scholar Doan spoke up, “Plus, Emperor Reinhardt wields the power to recommend the Elder candidates for the St. Lorenzo family, he can influence Governor Lattom’s stance more than we can.”

As Colin was determined to meet Queen Midela again, an attendant knocked and walked in, delivering an invitation to Colin.

Colin opened it with slight confusion: “Crete St. Gregan?”

Hearing this name, Scholar Doan’s eyes lit up, “This is the Governor of the St. Gregan family from Westland in the Senate!”

Colin also immediately smiled, saying:

“This Governor is inviting us to a banquet!”