My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 23

Miss Koschke tossed and turned in bed for a while, and just as she decided to "sleep it off first" in the face of difficulties, she received a message from Serpent Scale, who was stationed in the duchy: because of Serpent Scale's large-scale outings, spies from other nobles in the city were now preparing to assassinate her.

"Assassination? None—wait..."

Originally, Miss Koschke had absolutely no interest in the so-called "assassination." After all, even if her body died, she could simply take the body of an heir.

But it was precisely because of this idea... that Koschche found a perfect opportunity. A perfect opportunity... to explain his physical uniqueness to Yang Hao.

She immediately sat up in bed. She frowned as she looked at the intelligence report sent back by the remaining Serpent Scales—after seeing the report that an assassination attempt on her was scheduled for the 23rd or 24th... Miss Koschche smiled.

"Let my [heir] come over tomorrow. I hope he will like little Felin."

...... ......

It was late at night again. While resting, Yang Hao decided to visit the House of Elegies. After all, it had been almost four days since he last entered the House of Elegies, and he hoped he could find something new and good this time.

However, because they were in the wilderness and the convoy was constantly moving forward, Yang Hao's entry this time was carried out in a similar manner to before. He lay on the bed, unconscious, and after his soul went through a journey of ups and downs like bungee jumping, he arrived at the House of Elegy once again.

Today, the House of Elegy is bathed in an eerie purple hue. The window, which had been open sometime during the night, is now letting in purple light from outside.

"welcome."

He was greeted by Miss Elegy once again. She was still shrouded in the thick black fog, standing in the spot where Yang Hao had stood when he left last time.

"What new items do you have today?"

Having had several encounters, Yang Hao was now able to chat casually with Miss Elegy at ease. After inquiring about the purpose of his visit, he pointed to the purple hues within the House of Elegy: "And this purple light is..."

“This is a normal phenomenon in this world. Every so often, the light of the world changes color due to the changes in the celestial bodies—the light of the Fire Celestial is orange-red, the light of the Gray Celestial is a somber gray. What is here now is the purple light of the Secret Celestial.” Miss Elegy explained simply. “Then, please follow me. Today’s merchandise has been changed—but as last time, you’ll need good luck to see the goods you need.”

"...I hope I'm lucky."

"hehe."

Led by Miss Elegy, Yang Hao toured the extra merchandise in the House of Elegy with considerable disappointment.

how to say?

Each of those products has extremely high side effects, but also extremely high positive effects.

For example, the House of Elegy currently has a product called the "Gene Editor." Its effect is to "precisely" adjust a specific gene of a target race, transforming it into a better farmer, a better worker, or a better scientist.

Land that originally required a hundred people to cultivate can now be controlled by a single modified farmer. Skyscrapers that previously required a hundred workers can now be built with just a small team of modification workers. Furthermore, with fewer restrictions on scientists, it's even possible to achieve a situation where everyone is a scientist.

Doesn't it look incredibly powerful? If we disregard the negative effect that [the modified race cannot survive for a year]... it is indeed very powerful... For a single-ethnic nation, this is a final celebration; for a dual-ethnic nation, it's gambling on the possibility of becoming paralyzed in one year to become a world superpower. Anyway, Yang Hao doesn't really like it because it's not worth the risk.

...Today, the House of Elegy is filled with almost all such products, so it's understandable that Yang Hao would be greatly disappointed.

So, after his disappointment, Yang Hao asked Miss Wange if he could request that some of the effects be [targeted].

"So... next time I come, could you offer more items like [immortality] or [life extension]?"

“That won’t work. My goods are delivered by the Sichen – you need to continue evolving your abilities. I think that during your second evolution, some Sichen might be willing to provide you with some of the goods you desire.”

Miss Elegy declined, but Yang Hao wasn't angry or objectionable. After all, he was the customer, and she was the merchant. Customers have the right to choose their merchants, and merchants have the ability to choose their customers. It's reasonable for both parties to get what they need.

Before leaving, however, Yang Hao still asked Miss Wange the question that had been bothering him: what was the connection between Miss Wange and the [Puppet Stage]?

Faced with Yang Hao's question, Miss Elegy unexpectedly remained silent for a long while. After a few minutes, she said:

"Yes, we have a very deep connection. Every owner of the House of Elegy is closely associated with the owner of the Puppet Stage. Our relationship is more like a community of shared destiny—if you live, I will live. If you die, I will die."

"...what?"

"In a sense, the reason you can take things from the House of Lamentations for free is because of this—do you have any other questions?"

"No, no more."

He received an unexpected answer. Yang Hao nodded thoughtfully, preparing to create a memo on his phone to record this information after leaving the House of Elegy.

Chapter 61

From the 21st to noon on the 23rd, Yang Hao was contemplating life in the car, while the convoy continued to move towards Miss Kosiché's Duchy.

He sat on the bed, occasionally chatting with Paul about the local culture and environment of Ursus. When Paul was too busy with his duties to talk, he would chat with Miss Kosiché to build a relationship. And when he had absolutely nothing to do and couldn't fall asleep even with his eyes closed—he would check what goodies the evolved [Puppet Stage] had to offer him.

...Actually, it's not a big deal. Basically, it just adds a military factory outside the map [currently shut down], an import module function [starting at 20000 political points], and some other peculiar functions such as cabinet construction and secret force construction.

In more detail, this means he can see more information. If initially he could only discern the names of the unsuspecting neutral forces, now he can see their approximate numbers, just like now—

"Oh dear... the infected bandits around here only have a strength of 200 to 400 people? Sigh, not even enough to fill a gap between their teeth."

This is a very useful improvement. If anyone tries to launch a surprise attack on Miss Koschke's territory by hiding their forces, he can detect them in advance and prepare accordingly. Moreover, he can even see who the financial backers are who are providing weapons and funding to those troops...

The infected robber had no wealthy patron, so there were no clues, suggesting that he had once lived a life of hardship, sometimes going hungry and sometimes full.

Meanwhile, the local militia, which was besieging the infected bandits, were government employees who received weapons and funding. Therefore, the names of their financial backers were directly revealed to Yang Hao under the influence of the puppet stage.

"This must be the name of a local nobleman? Hmm... Does this mean that if Colombians hire Casimirs to cause trouble in Ursus, I can immediately tell that the people behind them are Colombians? This is a good thing... It's worth studying more."

Yang Hao was overjoyed with the new abilities he gained after the evolution of his [Puppet Stage]. Just as he was excitedly preparing to study the upper and lower limits of these two new abilities, an event that hadn't occurred in a long time suddenly brought him a pleasant surprise.

[Event: New Home]

After many twists and turns, you have finally arrived at your new home—the duchy of Ursuscosić.

This was a duchy pieced together from four cities. Because the Duke of Kosice allowed other villages to settle around the cities, land resources outside the cities were extremely scarce, but at least they had the means to make a living.

While the Duchy of Koschei appears stable compared to other duchies, this stability is built upon the legacy of the Duke of Koschei—or more precisely, the Ursus nobility's consistently reign of terror. You might be able to change this trend, and then, after some time, consider how to improve the duchy.

The population of this duchy is quite diverse, with some Gallo refugees hiding in the city, desperately seeking a chance to survive. The infected live on the outskirts of the city, and under deliberate influence, their lives are vastly different from those of the city dwellers, which also helps to divert social conflict.

Meanwhile, the relationships among the Ursus nobles are not as harmonious as you might imagine... Many people want to take Duke Kosichear's head—and after you get married, your head will also become one of their targets, so be prepared.

Friendly reminder: The borders of Duchy of Koschei are not neat, but there is a city in the neighboring duchy that can make this place neat and tidy, which will make obsessive-compulsive people feel at ease.

'I can really shine here!'

'Perhaps I need a few weeks to adjust and fully understand the local social atmosphere before starting my work.'

"Huh? What's this—"

"My lord, we are almost there."

Are we almost at Miss Kosiché's house? Just as Yang Hao was lost in thought, Paul suddenly opened the small window from the driver's side and told him that if nothing unexpected happened, they would arrive at their destination in the afternoon.

"Are we almost at Miss Kosiché's house?" Yang Hao nodded, and after watching Paul close the small window, he took a deep breath.

This place seems even more dangerous and terrifying than he imagined. But it doesn't matter. His experience in Colombia tells Yang Hao that when facing assassins who might try to kill him and Miss Kosiché, or the nobles behind them—as long as he assassinates them before they can, wouldn't he be safe?

However, we'll have to wait and see when we get there to get more details. With a mix of trepidation and anticipation, Yang Hao arrived at Miss Koschche's duchy at 4 p.m. that day.

He had just gotten off the car and hadn't even had a chance to observe what Miss Kosiché's mansion looked like when he was warmly received by the hostess.

Of course, he was only entertained by maids. Five capable maids. They were all Ursus, young and beautiful, dressed in simple yet elegant maid dresses. The head maid introduced herself as Monica, the head maid of the Duke's mansion.

"My lord, you've had a long day. The Duke is currently busy and may not see you until tonight, so please rest for now. We will put your personal belongings in your room."

Miss Koschich is currently dealing with political affairs, so Yang Hao understands why she didn't receive him. After Monica, the maid, finished explaining what seemed to be his schedule for the day, he breathed a sigh of relief and said he wanted to go to his room to rest for a while.

"Please take a shower before you rest. We will bring your meal to your room afterward. Do you have any personal belongings left in the vehicle?"

"No. But I didn't bring any change of clothes."

"Please rest assured, His Highness the Duke has prepared a change of clothes for your stay in Ursus—please follow me."

A change of clothes? Do they fit...? Miss Koschche...when did you find out my size?

Yang Hao blinked, confused. He wondered if he had told Miss Koschei his height and weight. He then obediently followed the maid to take a bath and rest for a while, preparing for his real meeting with Miss Koschei that evening.

Chapter 62

...

to be frank.

Yang Hao's first impression of the Duke's mansion was that it was huge.

My second impression was one of luxury.

This place is so big and so luxurious. The main corridor alone looks like it could accommodate ten people walking side by side, and there are statues that should be of Ursus rulers throughout history placed along the corridor. The walls are covered with famous paintings by Ursus artists, and in well-lit areas, there are stained glass windows made of precious jewels.

Moreover, if he wasn't mistaken, the place where he got off the car should be the backyard of the Duke's mansion. He should be moving around in the living area of ​​the Duke's mansion now. He hadn't even seen the administrative area, which should be the largest area. Just the spaciousness, luxury and size of this place made Yang Hao's jaw drop.

In Colombia, Yang Hao had never seen such luxurious accommodations. Although he was currently maintaining a facade of shock, who knew what might happen next? Perhaps when he saw something even more astonishing, he wouldn't even be able to maintain his composed expression?

At the same time, amidst his admiration and shock, he also realized that the wealth gap between different social classes within Miss Kosiché's duchy was likely greater than he had imagined. Miss Kosiché's duchy was so extravagant; she possessed vast wealth to furnish her residence, but what about the other residents?

These funds should be used in better places! For example, paying high salaries to prevent corruption and improve administrative efficiency, or investing heavily in education to ensure a continuous output of talent and increase basic education, especially the most important literacy rate.

In addition, the construction of public infrastructure requires substantial funding, and the police system also needs significant funds to ensure efficient operation. Even the military faces this challenge—while money cannot instantly transform an army into a disciplined force driven by unwavering conviction, it can at least make them more professional and provide them with more high-tech equipment for unforeseen circumstances.

Moreover, the funds invested in these infrastructure and basic expenditures will also have a continuous positive impact on the entire territory in another form: increasing immigration rates, increasing stability, reducing social conflicts, improving the knowledge level of the next generation through education, and even gradually eliminating racial conflicts through education.

But he was probably overthinking it... Maybe Miss Koschke had too many things she couldn't do, so she had no choice but to not do them? Sigh... Thinking of this, Yang Hao realized how tempting his abilities were to her.

Perhaps that's why that "K" from Colombia is trying so hard to bring me back? Hmm?

"This is the bathroom. Please take off your clothes in the changing room cubicle after you go in, and then go in to shower." Just as Yang Hao was thinking about something, the head maid Monica suddenly stopped in front of a door. "If you need anything, please call me anytime—we will put your clothes in the changing room while you shower. After you shower and change, you can go to your room to rest through another door in the changing room."

Head Maid Monica gestured, and Yang Hao looked in the direction she indicated. He noticed that to the right of the door leading to the bathroom—about ten or twenty meters away—there was another magnificent door. On either side of that door stood two maids, ready to open the door for anyone entering or leaving.

"Besides the door in the bathroom and changing room, is there another way to my room?"

"Yes. But the door to the dressing room is only for your use and His Majesty the Duke's use."

Oh—you mean those automatic doors that automatically recognize identities? In this world, they're doors with restrictions imposed using special Originium Arts, right?

At this moment, Yang Hao hadn't realized why Miss Kosiché would also use that door. He was simply in a cheerful mood, thinking, "After being in the wilderness for so long, I can finally take a bath," and followed the maid's guidance into the dressing room.

He quickly took off his clothes in the locker room, then took his phone and went into the bathroom—the spaciousness and luxury of the bathroom startled Yang Hao again, but now, his heart was gradually able to withstand the impact of such luxury.

Yang Hao was currently indifferent to both joy and sorrow. He calculated the exact cost of renovating the bathroom, while simultaneously contemplating the wonderful impact that money could have had elsewhere. After placing his phone where it wouldn't get wet, he immersed himself in the warm water. He thought with astonishment, "Even if we just replaced the ornate chandelier in the Duke and Duchess of Kosiché's bathroom with a simpler model, halved its size, and removed the exquisite stone fountain in the center of the tub..."

Okay, if we put that money into education, government spending, or the military, it probably wouldn't make a ripple... but if we put it into infrastructure...

It was a sum of money sufficient to transform a poor village in the world before the time travel into a wealthy one.

Yang Hao once again felt the imbalance of wealth under the aristocratic system. However, as a future beneficiary of this wealth, he didn't seem to have any reason to condemn it. He sighed, comfortably lying in the hot water, muttering to himself, "Even the bathtub in my house in Columbia doesn't let me stretch my legs out," while pondering what he should say when he met Miss Koschche tonight.

Alas, he came all the way from Colombia in disgrace, causing her Serpent Scales to lose a lot of manpower... and even continued to maintain an ambiguous relationship with Margarita because of it.

Yang Hao felt ashamed and didn't know how to face her.

......

"So, he's arrived?"

"Yes, Your Grace. The gentleman is taking a bath now."

"...I understand. I'll head back to my quarters now—I'll bring dinner over in half an hour. I imagine he must be exhausted from the journey."

Miss Kosiché ended her day's political affairs early. Not for any other reason than that Yang Hao had already arrived.

She couldn't wait to actually meet him—although Miss Koschke thought it would be better for her to take a shower now, but since he was already in the bathroom, she shouldn't scare him. She'd wait a while.

She decided to ask Yang Hao for some of the previous payment tonight. Of course, this was also in preparation for tomorrow's body swap.

"I told you, this will satisfy you."

After Head Maid Monica took her leave, Miss Kosch, seated on the throne in the audience hall, smiled and muttered to herself. She was certain Yang Hao would be satisfied with what she had given him; after all, her future husband, who wasn't very proactive, needed a proactive woman to truly win his heart.

Chapter 63

...

It is said that taking a bath is the most wonderful time to let your mind wander and contemplate life.

Stretching out in the warm water, surrounded by a quiet space—in this comfortable environment, Yang Hao let his mind wander as he soaked in the bath. He had stopped thinking about how to face Miss Koschich; since she was already there, why not just let things take their course?

He was more concerned about what kind of land he was facing. So he used his [Puppet Stage] and was surprised to find that the entire [Duchy of Koschche] had already turned blue, representing [Allies].

Moreover, after Yang Hao opened the political interface of the duchy, he stared at the [Heir] section and fell into deep thought.

Duchy of Cosiché:

Succession system: Perpetual rule/Joint rule. Main ruler: Kosicé. Co-ruler: You. (Just one ceremony away? Or just one more meeting with her?)

"...It seems that at least I don't have to worry about being used as a tool after coming here."

Fortunately, they were in the bathroom, otherwise Yang Hao would have had no way of explaining to outsiders that he wasn't crying, but that his eyes had accidentally become sore and watery from the steam of the hot water.