Chapter 57 second quarter

Mayor Hera Burano looked more than sixty-two: she hadn't always looked that old, but now was the exception.She was so preoccupied that when she entered the map room, she even forgot to avoid the hateful mirror and accidentally saw her own image, only then did she realize how haggard her description had become. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh, this job can really drain people's fuel.She has served as the mayor for five years, and in the twelve years before that, she was hidden behind the two puppet mayors, but she was already in power.For seventeen years, everything has been extremely peaceful, everything has been extremely successful, and everything has been extremely—tiring.Even if it was smooth sailing, if it was a combination of fatigue, frustration, and bad luck, she doubted anyone could stand it.

She suddenly realized that her luck was indeed not bad.But when she thought that she could only follow the trend and not be able to make a big difference, this terrible thought made her lose all hope. The Seldon Project has always been quite successful, and it will be implemented smoothly in the future, but this is entirely due to the second base.As the great helmsman of the base (the official name should be "first" base, but no one has ever thought of adding this adjective on Terminus), she can only be regarded as enjoying her prosperity. History will not remember her as a person, at most it will be mentioned briefly, or even not mentioned at all.She was like sitting in the cockpit of a spaceship that was actually remotely controlled from outside.

Even Indepur III did something, at least, when the base fell to mules during his time in power; he at least caused its brief downfall. But later generations will look back on history and say that Mayor Burano did nothing! Unless this Glenn Trevize, this reckless MP, this lightning rod, can turn things around for her... She stared at the map thoughtfully. This set of maps was not generated by the most modern computers, but a full map of the Milky Way projected by a three-dimensional laser array in mid-air.Although it cannot move, rotate, expand, or contract, users can move around it to view the model from different angles.

She pressed a switch, and a large area of ​​the map of the galaxy turned red (if the core area of ​​the "inanimate zone" in the core area is not counted, it accounts for almost one-third of the total volume).This red area represents the Base Federation, which covers a total of more than seven million inhabited worlds, all of which are under the rule of the "Council" and herself.These more than seven million worlds have also elected their own representatives to form a huge "Planetary House", arguing about trivial matters all day long, and then voting solemnly, but never having the opportunity to deal with any major issues .

She flicked the switch again, and many pink areas appeared around the edge of the Federation at the same time, which represented the range of influence.Those areas are not yet the territory of the base, but although they are nominally independent, they dare not even dream of opposing any actions of the base. She is 100% sure in her heart that no force in the galaxy can compete with the base (not even the second base, but unfortunately its whereabouts are still a mystery), the base can send out the latest star fleet at will, and easily establish the second empire . However, only five centuries have passed since the implementation of the Seldon Plan.According to this plan, ten centuries of preparation were necessary before the Second Empire could be established.The task of the Second Base is to ensure that the execution of Seldon's plan is correct.Thinking of this, the mayor shook his head sadly, while tugging at his gray hair.If action is taken now, the base will fail anyway; although their fleet is invincible, they still cannot avoid the fate of defeat.

Unless Trevize, the lightning rod, can attract the lightning from the second base, then there is a way to trace the source of the lightning. She looked around. Where was Cordel? He really shouldn't be late at this juncture. Cordel seemed to have sensed her call, and walked in swaggeringly in a short while.He had never looked so kind-hearted—with a cheerful smile, gray beard, and tanned skin.Although he is kind and kind, he doesn't look old. In fact, he is eight years younger than her. How could he not be tired at all? After fifteen years as the security chief, the years have never left any marks on his face?