My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 138

Um... so...

Would you like to try it?

Yang Hao licked his lips. It was no exaggeration to say that if he really developed this thing, making the Ursus Empire the world's number one power wouldn't be a problem at all! The price would be nothing more than a strange reputation, just some bad reputation. What was there to be afraid of? From a cost-benefit perspective, it was just a hundred or two hundred years of stigma—once the generation that still remembered the horrors of biological weapons died out, would the next generation, under his future education measures, possibly remember what happened back then?

but...

He recalled the infected community he and Kosiché had painstakingly built, and the infected people in the community now—they were human too.

Moreover, Yang Hao hadn't forgotten what he had once said: even if he married into the Duchy of Kosiché, he would still become a good lord who brought smiles to the people's faces.

so...

"never mind."

He shook his head, readily abandoning this utterly wicked yet undeniably effective possibility without a shred of guilt. He chose to let Ms. Kal'tsit continue her research on her drug, simply because he remembered his promise.

Chapter 47

7 month 20 day.

The great Duke Yang Hao abandoned his research on Originium weapons, not only for the sake of his people, but also for the sake of his children who would inherit his mantle.

However, he abandoned his research on biological weapons.

But that doesn't mean he can't research better things, does it?

So you see: with Duke Yang Hao's strong push, a biological weapons research laboratory called "Umbrella" was established. Although there isn't a single qualified researcher yet, at least—we need a framework first, and then we can recruit people, right?

"So Kosiché, trust me! What Umbrella is researching will definitely come in handy with us in the future!"

"Oh, of course I want to believe you. But my husband? Have you forgotten what it's like on Duke Nikolai's side?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. What I want to research is different from what they're doing. I just want to research a new type of human who is immune to Oripathy, it's no big deal—"

"Shut up. Eat properly and stop thinking about all that nonsense—besides, we don't have any money."

...

Then, the research lab went bankrupt that very day. Yang Hao's wife didn't have the money to support him, and frankly, what he was thinking was far too dangerous. Even Old Black Snake, who wholeheartedly trusted Yang Hao, was worried and afraid about it—so she chose to have her husband stop this type of research, and that it wouldn't be too late to establish it again once the industrial and scientific research level of the Duke of Koschie reached the standards he needed.

After all, researching these things now is still too advanced. Shouldn't the Duchy of Kosiché focus its attention on something more immediate?

So, although Yang Hao felt a sharp pain in his face from Koschke's cat tail slap, and his lower body was also sore, he still obediently understood his wife's thoughts. After the Umbrella Research Laboratory temporarily went bankrupt, his mind was still active, and he came up with some other good ideas.

These valuable things are related to industry and scientific research, and in a sense, the earlier the research is conducted, the greater the benefits to the Dukedom of Kosiché and even the entire Ursus Empire.

"...You mean?"

"Exactly, perhaps we should consider prosthetic technology. After all, the upcoming war will inevitably cause a large number of casualties on both sides—and not just our soldiers and civilians, but also the innocent civilians in the Duke of Nikolai. If a large number of people become disabled, it won't be good news for the Ursus Empire."

“That’s true… but prosthetic technology is just too expensive. Even in Ursus, only a few elites can afford to have prosthetics custom-made for them by skilled craftsmen.”

"So I want to lower the barrier to entry for prosthetic technology, develop temporary substitutes, and then research more advanced, cheaper, and more accessible prosthetic systems—of course, cheap only applies to the Duchy of Kosiché and the Ursus Empire."

Prosthetics technology—a technology that already existed in the world of Terra, but in Yang Hao's opinion, the existing prosthetics technology is not only too expensive, but also not very practical.

What he meant was... that high-performance prosthetics at this point in time are like custom-made jewelry, impossible to mass-produce industrially, and therefore impractical in industry. What we need now is not prosthetics that take years to build and are studded with jewels to turn an ordinary person into a superman, but industrialized prosthetics that can be mass-produced in less than a day, allowing every disabled person to become human again.

These industrialized prosthetics may be of average effectiveness—but as long as they are cheap enough, of average quality, and have basic or relatively good functional capabilities, that is sufficient.

After all, the ensuing civil war will inevitably create countless disabled people. Some of these disabled people are soldiers, and some are civilians, but regardless of their status, they will need prosthetics to become part of the workforce of the Duke of Koschche and the Ursus Empire again. Moreover, only after acquiring prosthetics can they see a glimmer of hope for their hopeless future.

If Yang Hao were to provide them with loans and low wages, allowing them to pay for their prosthetic limbs over 10 years or even less, it would be more than just a glimmer of hope for them—it would be like the sun hanging directly above the clouds, its rays shining directly upon them. Even if they instinctively wanted to escape, they would ultimately be immersed in this light and unable to extricate themselves.

Well... although in essence this is just Yang Hao investing a little money to avoid wasting labor, and he may not even have considered the thoughts of these disabled people, but it's a policy issued for the sake of more benefits... in any case, people will be overjoyed by Yang Hao's bold policy - especially those disabled people who have lost limbs.

Moreover, the industrialization of prosthetic technology not only brings good news to people with disabilities, but more importantly, it can lay the foundation for Yang Hao's bold future plan.

That is--

[Mechanical Ascension].

He was not satisfied with the current state of the Terran world. He thought it was a huge waste that the Terrans were fighting amongst themselves over just a few acres of land!

Despite the existence of mobile cities, the technologies used in industry and scientific research are so awkward.

They could have done better, yet there are still many idiots like the Sherlock Holmes who harm the people.

You are all human beings, so why are you distinguishing between kings and nobles? Even if people in this world are indeed different based on race and bloodline, this is not the time for you to waste your productivity and play with feudal remnants!

Why are you all indulging in feudalistic practices? Why don't we ascend together and unify the world a few hundred years from now, wipe out that deep sea thing, wipe out that psionic being, and then ascend out of the planet together and build a space station on the edge of the solar system? Although Yang Hao admitted that he was indeed thinking a bit too far ahead, he had more and more power and could see further than ordinary people, so he really had too much dissatisfaction with the people of this world.

But it doesn't matter. Yang Hao is confident he can lead the people of his own territory to ascension first. As for the rest? Well... the rich help the poor, isn't that only natural?

It's just that some groups might perish along the way.

Chapter 48

In short, I understand what you mean...

After Yang Hao explained the importance of industrialized prosthetics and the changes they can bring,

The immortal black snake frowned, noticing that Yang Hao was sitting on the bed, and she was currently wriggling restlessly. She was deep in thought, completely forgetting that she was still connected to him inside her body.

While his wife was deep in thought, Yang Hao wiped the sweat from his brow, gently pulled her body up, and quickly ended their connection. He breathed a sigh of relief: after all, before going home, he had been forcefully taken advantage of by Sonia's mother in her private room. If he continued with his wife now, he probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Kosichrie didn't reprimand him for his furtive actions... She simply frowned, pondering the credibility of simultaneously dealing with the civil war and the development of [industrialized prosthetics] technology. Then, she climbed off Yang Hao's lap and sat down on the edge of the bed. After the man beside her cried out in a mixture of pleasure and pain, "Monica, I really don't have a drop left!" from the sensation of the head maid [cleaning] his genitals, she said:

"Yes, I understand. I agree with the plan, but darling, won't it feel like a huge burden for you?"

"—"

“Darling? Oh—let’s talk about it after you’re done. Monica, remember to be considerate of him.”

She shrugged, stretched comfortably on the bed, and considered whether there were any modifications she could make to her husband's suggestion.

After all, for Kosichrie, Yang Hao's ideas were simply too advanced for her. They had already done many things ahead of their time, and it was hard to imagine whether they would face resistance if they did something even more advanced. After all, that's how profit is. This time, Yang Hao was able to monopolize the Ursus prosthetic market with industrialized prosthetic technology and even take over the high-end prosthetic industry; next time...

What will those powerful and wealthy people who have made their fortunes from Originium companies, or even the people who depend on Originium for their livelihoods, think next time he proposes to replace Originium with more advanced energy?

And what if next time... he proposes an even more advanced policy, one that empowers the people to be the masters of their own destiny? How would Catherine view him then?

There's more...it might even include his secret forces, his scientists, his confidants...what if he comes up with ideas that are so far ahead of their time that they turn against him and alienate everyone?

......

As for why not ask yourself?

The reason is very simple—Koschke is Yang Hao's wife, hoping to spend a long life with him and live forever. If even his wife doesn't trust him, who else will?

Koschke trusts Yang Hao unconditionally, but even with unconditional trust, he still needs to ask for the data and details he needs to know.

so...

......

"Honey, what happened yesterday... doesn't it feel like a big burden to you?"

At 8:21 AM on April 7th.

When Kosicie woke up, she lay on her side in bed and asked Yang Hao, who was also awake, with a sinister smile.

And then Kosich's wife asked him about it the night before.

The man, whose eyes were vacant and whose mind was filled with thoughts of "feeding you is too difficult," simply shook his head, indicating that it wasn't a big burden.

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

At 9:00 AM on the 21st.

While Kosichrie was working in the audience hall with her husband, who was inexplicably weak, she received news that, under His Majesty's command, the Imperial army had achieved a great victory in a battle against the main force of the Sherlock Holmes nightclub. They were now advancing towards the Duchy of Kosichrie while wiping out the disorganized troops along the way, intending to "borrow" a route to attack the Duchy of Nikolai and, incidentally, bring St. Arthur's Castle with them.

Upon hearing this news, Yang Hao was utterly dejected and pale. Kosichev's face was gloomy, but he still managed a forced smile and praised, "His Majesty the Emperor truly lives up to his title."

What could Koschei do? Her Majesty the Emperor had already proven her importance to the Ursus Empire with her strength! Moreover, considering the relationship between her husband and the Emperor, even if she had Serpent Scale kill Her Majesty Yekaterina, she would probably only gain her husband's cold shoulder and discord between them, right?

She didn't want it to be like this! But if she didn't do it, was she really going to just watch Saint-Germain-des-Prés being built? And then have an emperor preventing her from dating and being intimate with her husband every day? What if she had to watch her husband sit on the throne next to His Majesty when she attended court? Watch them publicly announce their affair?

The thought made Koschitch's lips twitch uncontrollably. She felt this might be retribution for snatching Yang Hao from that little bat... But Koschitch wasn't one to believe in such karma!

You can't afford to mess with them.

Can't I at least hide?!

With a grim expression, she began to consider her next move after leaving the Duchy of Koschei. Fortunately, the renewable resources in the area where the Duchy of Koschei was located had been almost completely depleted. According to the previous predictions of the Cataclysmic Messenger, although the cataclysm was still some time away, using the excuse of "avoiding the cataclysm in advance" to escape shouldn't be a problem...

that is...

"Koschke? Hmm... I feel like you're thinking about something strange."

"Honey, you're mistaken. I'm just thinking about what's to come."

"Really? But the expression on your face is changing very strangely?"

"...Heh, after all, thinking about what Monica did to you last night—"

"No, don't say that... I know I was wrong..."

It's just that they can hide for a while.

You can't hide forever.

Hiding from Saint-Germain every day will also affect the development of Ursus!

so...

I need to have a proper discussion with His Majesty the Emperor and finalize a contract...

Although I allowed my husband to have a mistress secretly, and I allowed him to wait for Little Bat to grow up and give her an answer, I did not allow you to bring your affair into the open!

Since you've brought this up, I have no choice but to...

"Kosice?"

"...nothing."

"You seem a bit down. How about we go for a walk? Just to clear your head, okay?"

"...Ugh."

Forget it.

Dating my husband is still more important.

Kosichrie pursed her lips, told Monica to decline the morning's guests, and then happily snuggled up to her husband and went with him to their date in the courtyard.

And while the Kosiché couple were on a date.

In Kazdel—

When the little bat and her teacher arrived in this desolate land, their first challenge was getting lost.

Chapter 49

"teacher..."

"...Don't ask me, I haven't been here in a long time either, I don't know where I went..."

"But..."

"No buts! Let Sanae take us to a safe place to rest first... Hmm? By the way, did you bring this phone, Margarita?"

"No, that's not it..."

"Whose is that... Never mind, I'll leave it for now. Let's go, let's go. It'd be better to get out of this forest as soon as possible."

At 9:21 AM on April 7th.

When Margarita and her teacher finally reached the border of Kazdel—perhaps because Sanae was simply too exhausted? Or perhaps because she was startled by a distant noise during their journey—whatever the reason, the bizarre rock crab, now the size of a bus, fled in a panic into the roadside woods after being frightened, and then, amidst Margarita and Ms. Northumb's screams, led them to some unknown, desolate wilderness.

All around them were trees, mud, and rocks. Leaving aside why the timid, monster-like Sanae was startled, Margarita and Norsen were certainly worried about how to get out of this eerie place.

They discussed it among themselves, and then, after Margarita used her [prophecy] ability to find a mountain path that people might pass through in the future, they set off along the overgrown mountain path, riding on Sanae's back.

"But teacher, won't Sanae be mistaken for a monster and attacked?"

On the way, Margarita expressed her concern for Sanae more than once—after all, Sanae was looking really strange. A rock crab the size of a bus wasn't unheard of. But when this rock crab had bat-like sharp teeth and wing membranes, and for some reason its color was increasingly turning a deep red, that was a different story...

People might accept a future with rock crabs bigger than buses, but they might not accept a rock crab with bat fangs and wing membranes. Even the Sarkaz people are no exception.

so...