Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 785 - 14

Using a movable vehicle equipped with a weather controller to disperse the blizzard is indeed a method worthy of trying.

Even if it can't catch this white disaster, perhaps it can be of great use next time, but now...

Perfikot looked at the Astrologer from the Astronomical Society, whom she had specially invited to attend the cabinet meeting, and asked her, "How much longer will this blizzard last?"

Although this era lacks meteorological satellites and various weather monitoring methods of the original world, the presence of astrologers can still achieve precise weather predictions within a limited scope.

Perfikot is even willing to lend the Philosopher's Stone like she did years ago, enabling them to make more accurate and broader forecasts.

Faced with Perfikot's inquiry, the Astrologer merely produced a reading record, reporting to Perfikot: "According to our divination, this blizzard will last for several days, but the prophecy has an interference factor. If the choice of this factor changes, the blizzard will dissipate within three days."

The Astrologer didn't say it directly, but the meaning in his eyes had already conveyed the information clearly.

"So that's it, it appears my decision will determine whether the Northern Territory can quickly get through this white disaster!" Of course, Perfikot understood what he meant, but she hadn't made a decision regarding this matter.

Undoubtedly, what the Astrologer meant was that if she was willing to personally intervene, the blizzard could be ended in three days.

For Perfikot, it's not unachievable, but it also means she would need to pay some costs she originally wasn't willing to pay.

This decision ultimately boils down to Perfikot weighing between the cost she originally didn't want to pay and the losses caused by letting the blizzard rage for another dozen days.

If the blizzard dissipates within three days, then everything is naturally simple, and the losses for the Northern Territory can also be minimized.

But this means Perfikot has to give up something extremely valuable to her, and that might be the key affecting her decision.

Allowing the blizzard to rage for another dozen days means the entire Northern Territory needs to endure this current predicament for another dozen days.

In these ten days, there might be widespread fuel supply interruptions for shelters, food shortages, and people freezing or starving to death who could have survived, dying just because Perfikot was unwilling to sacrifice something extremely valuable to her.

Of course, the consequences of a blizzard lasting a dozen days extend far beyond that. Every aspect will suffer severe impacts after enduring nearly a month of blizzard rampage.

It might take years to eliminate the aftermath brought by this blizzard, potentially causing Victory's current barely manageable state to fall into a decline, and the entire country plunging into decay.

Therefore, should she abandon something of enormous value to herself to ensure the Empire smoothly gets through this blizzard?

Perfikot found herself in hesitance.

She could do it, but she hesitated.

This wasn't because Perfikot couldn't let go of her treasures. If possessions could exchange for the Northern Territory's safe passage through this crisis, she wouldn't be stingy with financial losses.

What truly made Perfikot hesitate was the Empire bureaucracy's reliance on her.

The entire cabinet waited for her to solve problems, instead of trying to solve the problems themselves.

The inability to solve problems, and the unwillingness to attempt solving problems are two completely different concepts.

The former represents a capability issue, an innocent fault.

The latter is an attitude issue.

Without the correct attitude, having ability is pointless.

Just like Perfikot herself, she possesses the ability to end this blizzard, but she is unwilling to intervene, thinking someone in the Empire will solve the issue and she doesn't need to take the lead, which could lead to a very bad outcome.

In other words, if Imperial cabinet officials had been actively working to provide disaster relief, rather than always doing nothing due to various objective conditions, Perfikot might not hesitate now.

They might lack ability, but their attitude should not be so idle.

They can be incapable, but they must not be inactive, even if someone comes earnestly requesting Perfikot's intervention, she would think at least these people have tried.

Yet till now, all cabinet members have just passively waited, waited for Perfikot to propose a solution as in the past, and then they would complete it, and no one actively thought about how they themselves could solve this blizzard problem.

This was the primary reason for Perfikot's hesitation. She didn't want her outstanding ability to turn these people into useless beings.

Her aim is to rescue humanity from the extinction crisis, not to babysit and turn the human race into incompetents after doing everything herself.

Therefore, after asking the cabinet members again for any other solution unsuccessfully, Perfikot made a decision finally: "I will no longer handle this matter. All relevant aspects of this white disaster will be decided and handled by the cabinet. You will decide the Empire's fate."

Having said that, Perfikot stood up, paid respects to Empress Annie, and left the cabinet meeting room.

Perfikot's seemingly abandonment maneuver scared all the cabinet members; everyone knew the consequences last time she did this, causing the Empire to nearly fall into huge crisis and chaos in various matters ensued.

Although it's not that the Empire can't do without Perfikot, her unwillingness to manage affairs has very serious consequences, which has long been consensus among everyone.

Now that Perfikot once again seemed about to abandon duties, how could it not cause panic within the cabinet? Especially when it's during such a crucial time when the blizzard is ravaging the Northern Territory.

Everyone got anxious.

Even Empress Annie was worried, worried about what Perfikot might be thinking.

Though Empress Annie roughly guessed what Perfikot wanted to do, some things, even when known, still make one worry, especially when the cabinet's performance is unsatisfactory.

"Someone, invite Count Brandelis for a discussion," Empress Annie thought for a moment, deciding first to clarify what Perfikot's specific thoughts were, whether there were any guarantees before discussing other matters.

And the cabinet members found themselves left in the meeting room, staring at each other.

However, Kallen didn't fall into panic like the other cabinet members. Previously she truly couldn't think of a solution and thus remained silent, now under such circumstances, she was instead the most anxious one among the entire cabinet.

But her identity and position determined she couldn't just rush to Perfikot for clarity, hence she could only restrain her inner anxiety, planning to visit Perfikot in the evening to clear things up.