"Is this the Holy Land? It's nowhere near as good as the Monster Country Federation!"
Zhong Chen looked at the Holy Land, which occupied a vast area and was surrounded by cliffs, his face full of disdain for the place.
"Master, this is just a large school. Is it really appropriate to compare it to the Monster Country Federation?"
Sakuya stood to the side, smiling as she spoke.
"Haha, that's true, but it's really not that great, and everyone here is either royalty or nobility."
"Ordinary people can only be bullied here. I really don't like this kind of place. Comparatively, I still prefer Academy City."
Zhong Chen shrugged indifferently at Sakuya's words.
"Huh? What are you two talking about? I think I heard something about a Federation?"
Lashara, who was walking ahead, turned her head back to look at Zhong Chen, her face full of confusion.
"Oh, we were talking about the Monster Country Federation. It's the country we were in before we came here."
Zhong Chen had no intention of hiding it and simply stated it.
"Monster Country Federation? It sounds like it's not a simple country!"
Kea just hearing the name felt that it wasn't a small country.
Lashara, upon hearing it, had a glint in her eyes and further doubted Zhong Chen's identity.
She felt that Zhong Chen's status in the Monster Country Federation must not be simple; this could be sensed from his personal maid, Sakuya.
After all, an ordinary person wouldn't have such an all-around maid.
"You wouldn't happen to be a high-ranking noble from the Monster Country Federation, would you?"
Zhong Chen shook his head directly and said:
"High-ranking noble? No, to be precise, there are no true nobles in the Monster Country Federation."
Upon hearing Zhong Chen's words, Lashara and Kea looked at him in surprise.
"No way, then who rules you all?!"
Lashara asked Zhong Chen with a look of disbelief.
"The Emperor, the Emperor of the Monster Country Federation. He is the supreme ruler."
"See, aren't there still nobles then?"
Lashara immediately stated that she had found a crucial point.
"How should I put it, you might not understand, but I think Kenshi should understand. You know about constitutional monarchy, Kenshi, right?"
Zhong Chen didn't directly answer Lashara's question but instead looked to the side and asked Kenshi Masaki, who was dressed in servant attire.
"Oh, I know about that. Grandpa taught me. It's about the monarch having no real power, and all authority being handled by the council."
"And the monarch only exists as a spiritual symbol of the country."
Hearing Kenshi's words, Zhong Chen nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Lashara and said:
"Do you understand? Although the actual situation of the Monster Country Federation is a bit more complex, the practical reality is not too different."
How to describe the system of the Monster Country Federation… one could say it's an absolute monarchy, or a constitutional monarchy.
However, Zhong Chen's evaluation of the Monster Country Federation's system was an "offline monarchy."
As the name suggests, the monarch has real power but never handles official business, is always offline, and everything is handled by subordinates.
This is the Monster Country Federation; the entire country, from top to bottom, has extremely high loyalty to Zhong Chen and Rimuru.
If another country were to operate this way, someone would have usurped the throne long ago.
"There's actually a country where the king has no real power. Doesn't she fear being overthrown?"
Lashara, who had received a traditional royal education since childhood, asked with a surprised expression.
"Then let me ask you a question?"
"What question?"
"Everyone in the country knows the king has no real power, so what would you be usurping for?"
"Of course, for… for…"
Lashara thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what to usurp for.
For the king's name? But someone who could usurp the throne certainly wouldn't lack fame.
For money? Perhaps the king isn't even as rich as the usurper.
As for power? That would be a joke.
"I understand!"
"I never thought a country could be governed this way!"
Lashara, who had understood, looked at Zhong Chen with a shocked expression.
"There's a lot you don't know, little girl. Learn slowly!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Lashara increasingly felt that Zhong Chen was definitely not a small figure in the Monster Country Federation.
"Hmph! You've said so much, but you still haven't told me what you actually do in the Monster Country Federation!"
At this, Zhong Chen immediately put on a proud expression and shouted loudly to Lashara and the others:
"I'm a kept man!"
"A kept man!"
"Kept man!"
"Man!"
Lashara and Kea's faces immediately darkened. How dare you say that?
"Don't joke around, you scoundrel!"
Looking at Lashara, who was yelling at him with a crumbling expression, Zhong Chen put on an innocent face and said:
"I'm not lying to you. My position is that of a kept man."
"You…"
Just as Lashara was about to inquire further, two people walking towards them made her involuntarily close her mouth.
The newcomers knelt on one knee before Lashara in salute and said:
"I was very worried when I heard Hakucho Castle was attacked, but now that I see you safe and sound, I'm much relieved!"
Seeing the two kneeling, Lashara suppressed her displeasure and spoke with a smile:
"Thank you for coming to meet me, Dagmaya."
"By the way, please also report my safety to your esteemed father, Lord Babaron. I imagine he must be very worried."
Hearing Lashara's words, Dagmaya responded with a feigned smile:
"Yes, I will do so as soon as possible."
"Then I'm relieved!"
After speaking, Lashara led Kea and the others directly past the two.
Kea looked back at Dagmaya, wanting to say something, but then thought better of it and continued to follow Lashara.
"Oh my, the little girl is quite good at enduring, but I don't have high hopes for you to turn the tables!"
Zhong Chen quickly walked up to Lashara and said directly.
"Hmph! I will eventually reclaim my rights through my own efforts!"
"Sigh! I really don't understand what you guys are thinking. Isn't it better to just travel around all day? Reclaiming real power just means having to manage so many things."
Zhong Chen expressed that he couldn't understand these people. Anyway, if anyone asked him to handle government affairs or anything, he would definitely kick that person out.
Dagmaya looked gravely at Kenshi, who was following behind Lashara.
Then he asked the maid beside him with a puzzled expression:
"Has anything been found out about that guy? He can get so close to Lashara."
The maid beside him quickly replied:
"I heard he's Princess Lashara's newly hired senior personal advisor. His specific background has not yet been thoroughly investigated."
"Is that so? Never mind, he's just a minor character. He won't affect our plan."
Hearing that he was just an advisor, Dagmaya immediately lost interest. He was just a small fry, not worth his further attention.
And Zhong Chen, as if sensing something, slightly turned his head and glanced at Dagmaya, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"It's so big! Is this the arena?"
Kenshi looked in surprise at the circular arena below, filled with stone pillars.
Seeing the surprised Kenshi, Lashara explained with a hint of showing off:
"As you can see, fighting amidst the dense stone pillars and water lines is extremely difficult. Winning the laurel here is the highest honor for a Seikishi!"
Hearing Lashara say this, Kenshi looked at the arena again, rubbed the back of his head with his right hand, and said with a puzzled expression:
"Huh? But is it really that difficult?"
Hearing Kenshi say this, Kea looked at Kenshi with annoyance:
"You, you…"
Before she could finish, Zhong Chen directly interrupted:
"Kenshi and I think the same thing. Is it really that difficult?… Could it be that you guys are just too bad? No way, no way…"