Xiao Xun, catching the smell of cheap cigarettes, covered his nose and asked, "Don't you know the factory is full of flammable and explosive materials? Who allowed you to smoke here?"
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. No one actually told us not to smoke here, and we're just too tired. A cigarette helps us stay awake."
Xiao Xun pondered. It was true that since the arsenal was established, no corresponding safety production responsibility systems, precautions, measures, or methods had been formulated.
It was a miracle, or perhaps just luck, that no safety accidents had occurred up to this day.
Xiao Xun waved his hand, "Alright, you two can go!"
As if granted amnesty, the two quickly scurried back to their respective workshops. kAnshu伍.ξà
Xiao Xun went to the arsenal's office and saw the duty minister of the arsenal slumped over a pile of blueprints. He must have been exhausted and intended to discuss the formulation of the safety production responsibility system after he woke up.
However, after sitting for a while, he felt something was wrong. He walked over and nudged the minister, who showed no reaction. Xiao Xun checked for breathing and felt for a pulse; the man was already cold.
"Bai Yang, find a priest."
In this other world, there were no doctors. When people felt unwell, they sought out priests, sorcerers, or shamans.
The priest enveloped the minister's body with Holy Light and then said to Xiao Xun, "Your Highness Svein, he has cerebral hemorrhage. However, there are no external injuries. I don't know how the assassin managed it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xun stood up, asked the two people at the door to carry the minister away, and said to the priest, "He wasn't assassinated. This is called sudden death."
The concept of "sudden death" didn't exist in this other world, so the priest looked confused.
"Sudden death means dying suddenly."
Unexpectedly, the priest delivered a piece of news to Xiao Xun: "This is the ninetieth person to die of sudden death this month."
Xiao Xun was shocked at this number. "How can so many people die of sudden death?"
The priest didn't know either. He had only heard the term from Xiao Xun and had no idea about the cause of the illness.
At this moment, Bai Yang spoke, "My lord, could it be related to not sleeping?"
Xiao Xun looked at Bai Yang. "You're saying these people don't sleep?"
"They do sleep, but very little. Some sleep less than an hour a day, while others sleep only once every two or three days."
Xiao Xun understood. It would be a miracle if they *didn't* die of sudden death. "Then why aren't they sleeping?"
The priest and Bai Yang answered in unison, "They don't have time."
Xiao Xun was speechless. "Don't have time…"
Bai Yang nodded and said, "Yes, because the tasks assigned to them from above are extremely heavy, and they simply don't have time to sleep."
Xiao Xun suddenly thought of something and said to Bai Yang, "Quick, take me to the Fire Shield Divine King's Palace."
A hexagram array appeared on the ground, and the two fell into the Empress's office in the Fire Shield Divine King's Palace.
The place was brightly lit. Except for a few absent ministers, all the others were there, diligently working on official documents, clearly very busy.
Seeing Xiao Xun's sudden appearance, a few ministers looked up, but most remained with their heads down. They had no time for anything else.
Xiao Xun walked directly to Selepeth's throne. "Your Majesty, something serious has happened."
Selepeth's complexion wasn't great either, but due to the care she received in her original world, she was much better off than the ministers below.
"What is it that has you so flustered?"
Xiao Xun said anxiously, "Your subjects are not sleeping."
"Why?"
"Because they say they don't have time. Many have already died of sudden death, including important ministers and administrators."
Selepeth also realized the gravity of the situation. "How could this happen?"
Xiao Xun retorted, "Don't they know people need to sleep?"
Selepeth looked at these people. "They probably don't."
"Isn't sleeping common sense? No, isn't it something that must be done?"
Selepeth sighed. "That's common sense in that world. People in this world don't have much time left to sleep. If we can't defeat the Four Demon Kings, everyone here will never wake up again."
"But we're already short-handed. If we don't get proper rest, how will we cope when the enemy arrives? Everything needs to be done step by step…"
Perhaps Xiao Xun's voice was a bit too loud, as everyone stopped and looked at him. He realized there was no movement behind him and turned around, knowing he had been rash.
This was not their original world; this was a world of magic, and he was shouting at a monarch with supreme power, showing no respect as a subject.
Realizing his mistake, Xiao Xun immediately bowed to Selepeth. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I got a bit too emotional, but everyone must sleep. Otherwise, before the Four Demon Kings invade, we'll exhaust ourselves to death."
Selepeth looked at Titeyajeve. "Did you hear that?"
Titeyajeve, with bloodshot eyes, lowered his head. "I heard, Your Majesty."
"Issue a decree immediately: all citizens of the country must sleep for at least three hours per day. Those with special circumstances must accumulate five hours of sleep over two days."
"Yes."
Xiao Xun looked at the Prime Minister's appearance and worried that he might be the next to die of sudden death.
He walked over and said to him, "Prime Minister, I have a humble suggestion."
"Your Highness Svein, please speak."
"If you're tired, sleep. Don't drink coffee."
After speaking, Xiao Xun bowed respectfully to Selepeth. "Once again, I offer my deepest apologies to the esteemed Your Majesty. Please forgive my rashness."
Xiao Xun understood that if he set a bad example, the Empress's authority would be undermined, which concerned the future of the country.
Furthermore, Xiao Xun knew that if nothing went wrong, the next monarch of Saint Roman would be his and the Empress's son. Thinking of this, Xiao Xun even felt a bit excited.
Selepeth looked at Xiao Xun, wondering what he was thinking. "Svein, if there's nothing else, you may withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Xiao Xun left, Bai Yang followed him out. The quiet office immediately became busy again.
It wasn't that they disregarded Xiao Xun's words, but rather that these matters had piled up, and they simply couldn't afford not to deal with them. Even if they were told to sleep, they couldn't.
Leaving the Fire Shield Divine King's Palace, Xiao Xun went to Zeppelin's design studio. The old man was sleeping soundly; he heard his snoring as soon as he reached the stairs.
Pushing open the door, he saw calculation drafts scattered everywhere. Three large blackboards were pinned to the walls, covered with writings and drawings that Xiao Xun could recognize individually, but not when combined.
Just as Xiao Xun was about to leave, Guan Jiawen walked in, yawning.
Upon seeing Xiao Xun, she immediately closed her mouth. "Lu..., Your Highness Svein."
Xiao Xun nodded at her. "Are you writing letters home?"
Guan Jiawen took out two pieces of paper, still warm, from her embrace and handed them to Xiao Xun with both hands.
Xiao Xun took them without looking. "You didn't mention anything about what's happening here in your letter, did you?"
Guan Jiawen quickly shook her head. "Absolutely not. I just told them I'm doing well here, to put their minds at ease, and to take care of themselves."