A Warning from the Hatchet

Kang De's thoughts on Mayor Nick's actions were simple.

I can understand it, but it's still a bit hard to accept.

Imagine if Kang De didn't have that knight-princess relationship, and was just an ordinary transmigrator who inexplicably found himself transported to another world, to the city of Valentan, and before he could even figure out what was going on, suddenly the elves arrived, war broke out, the mayor closed the city gates, allowing entry but not exit, and seeing his extraordinary physique, wanted to conscript him into the army to fight for a city and country he had no connection with...

Wow, only an idiot would do that.

Putting yourself in his shoes, if you were to experience something like that, if you were forcibly conscripted into the army and forced to fight, you would undoubtedly feel immense humiliation and anger. You would certainly use every means to seek revenge, not only against Nick himself, but also against the country.

After all, Mayor Nick wasn't a stunningly beautiful and wealthy woman, nor did she have a pitiful younger sister.

This is clearly human nature.

To put it simply, how many Dragonborn have joined the Stormcloaks without hesitation because of that Imperial female officer Helgen's words, "Let's just kill them all," even though Old Ulfric's backside isn't exactly clean either?

Based on this perspective-taking mindset, Kang De, the suspicious and sensitive time traveler, was extremely wary of people like Mayor Nick —for one thing, this mayor was already somewhat insane.

He even felt that even if he revealed his identity, he still wouldn't be able to leave.

He had just demonstrated his value and power on the city wall.

And Nick's reasons are certainly very valid.

--This is the Germany, and behind us are the Germany. The Taidariel Family is fighting a bloody battle for this country, and even the youngest princess is no exception. We are all willing to defend the city and die for it. As the prince consort of Goth and the master of this land, you should of course stay and fight!

And so on.

As for Leona and Hong San's feelings, they are easy to understand.

They themselves and those they knew had become cannon fodder in Mayor Nick's brutal resistance policies, and the Heaven and Earth Society had just suffered heavy casualties—even if they admitted in their hearts that Mayor Nick's actions were not inherently wrong, how could they emotionally accept it?

Therefore, Hong San was filled with grief and indignation, vomited blood, and fainted.

Therefore, Leona, who had fewer worries and more to rely on, was filled with shock and anger, and a murderous intent arose in her mind. In her opinion, the lives of the loyal guards of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce were far more important than the loss of this city. What did Goth have to do with her, an imperial citizen? Killing Nick sooner would make the city fall easily and reduce the bloodshed.

Everyone's ideas are valid; they are all normal thoughts based on their own perspectives.

So...

Seeing Leona's expectant look, Kang De rolled his eyes. "What are you thinking? Assassinate Nick? How could you even think of that?"

The girl paused for a moment, then provoked, "Are you scared?"

Kang De rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm scared, scared that you'll get into danger."

Leona was taken aback, her face flushed, and she spat out, "What nonsense are you talking about! That's indecent!"

Kang De asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

The girl snorted, "Me? How could I possibly be in danger? It's none of your business how much you need to worry about me!"

Kang De was even more baffled, looking at him with an expression of utter disbelief. "Nick was clearly prepared in advance, intending to fight the elves to the death in Valentan. When the Heaven and Heaven and Earth Society first entered the city, Nick chose them to be cannon fodder. He mobilized the entire city and pressured all sectors, so he must have been mentally prepared to incur public wrath. Under the oppressive policies, the city was in turmoil. Didn't he have any preparations or contingency plans?"

"What if the assassination fails, or he discovers it beforehand? I can simply walk away, but what about the Vidal Chamber of Commerce? And what about you?"

Leona stammered, "Well... that's not necessarily true..."

"Absolutely not, okay?"

Kang De rolled his eyes and said, "Your plan is utterly delusional. As the highest-ranking official in the city, fighting bloody battles against the elves, how could he not be wary of assassins?"

"Furthermore, even if your plan succeeds, the gap between Nick's death and the elves' breach of the city will inevitably plunge the city into great panic and turmoil."

"If I, who was in charge of the assassination, am witnessed, there will only be one outcome: I will escape, and the enraged people will associate it with the Vidal Chamber of Commerce and the Heaven and Heaven and Earth Society, and wipe you all out."

"If no one sees me, that's fine too. The masses, driven to their final madness, will surely hate everything and continue killing indiscriminately to vent their anger. You imperial bastards, betraying Goth, how can you possibly benefit from this?"

Leona was increasingly speechless. Looking at Kang De's eyes, which seemed to pity a mentally challenged child, she became furious and snapped, "If you're so capable, can't you hold out until the elves enter the city? Once they're inside, we'll be completely safe, and we can leave at our leisure."

Kang De looked at her with a strange expression.

It made the girl a little uneasy.

She glared at him and said, "What... what are you looking at?"

Kang De sighed, "Are you really a business genius, not just bragging?"

This was tantamount to questioning Leona's most commendable and proud professional skills, which was completely intolerable. However, the girl still felt somewhat guilty in the face of Kang De's questioning.

After all, the key to doing business is not honesty, but being honest when you should be honest. As a qualified businesswoman, she admired the simple yet terrifying concept and methods of a Ponzi scheme. She could never have come up with such a heinous idea.

But Kang De figured it out easily.

So when Kang De questioned her professional competence, the young woman was very unhappy, but she couldn't stand up straight. It was like a college student seeing a Nobel Prize-winning physicist looking at him with suspicion and asking if he was really a college student. The first reaction of that person might be, "I got into university through my own ability, why shouldn't I?", but in his heart he was still uneasy, not knowing where he had embarrassed himself.

She didn't even manage to swear; her voice was weak and strained. "Wh... what's wrong?"

Kang De sighed again, "Let me put it this way, the elves almost won today. If they had charged onto the wall, it would have been all over. At the crucial moment, I intervened, destroyed the earthen ramp, repelled the cavalry, inflicted considerable casualties, dampened the elves' morale, and set the stage for their counterattack..."

Leona said, "Alright, I know you're awesome, and I've found out what you did. You really are amazing, no need to emphasize it anymore. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted to team up with you to kill Nick..."

That's not what I meant...

Kang De said quietly, "What I mean is, the elves launched a fierce attack, employing ingenious strategies and showing great effort. However, I slapped them back from the brink of victory, causing them to suffer heavy casualties and look utterly defeated. Do you think they will put up a huge bounty on my head after they break through the city, wanting to skin me alive to vent their anger?"

Leona paused for a moment, then her fair and beautiful cheeks quickly flushed red.

For a moment, I felt both ashamed and indignant.

--Damn it, how could I have forgotten about that!

In this light, the idea of using the reputation and power of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce to help Kang De leave unscathed is utterly ridiculous! Moreover, having Kang De help resist the city's final madness during the vacuum period, in preparation for the elves' entry, is simply laughable.

How come I didn't think of that?

This mistake... is so basic!

Girls are generally very sensitive.

Especially in front of others, especially in front of special people.

Leona's feelings towards Kang De were very complex, but one thing was clear: she was unwilling to be outdone by Kang De, perhaps because of that axe incident, or perhaps for some other reason...

But I just said something so stupid in a serious tone, and this guy saw it all—he's probably laughing his head off! He might even be starting to suspect me...

Overwhelmed by shame, she blushed deeply, clutching her clothes tightly. For the first time in her life, she was speechless, only feeling tears welling up in her eyes.

In a blur, Kang De looked at her from across the room.

The girl's body even trembled slightly, bracing herself for even more excessive ridicule and mockery.

But all I heard was a sigh.

Then she felt a heaviness in her head.

The other person reached out, pressed down on her head, and then stroked it twice.

--The last time Kang De did something like that, she scolded him severely. She's not a child, and girls really hate being touched on the head by men. Anyone who would do that is just stupid [beep--] and has read too many frivolous books written by virgins, believing the other person's imagined ideas.

But this time, she forgot to be angry, or perhaps she wasn't in the mood to be angry.

Then she heard Kang De's voice, calm and gentle.

"Now I know why you came up with such a terrible solution."

Kang De said softly, "It's just that you're completely flustered, isn't it? You're worried about the lives of your subordinates in the Chamber of Commerce, you can't bear to see them die a violent death, even if you're safe yourself, you'll still worry about their safety. Concern leads to confusion, you want to do something, but in the end you find yourself powerless... Is that how it is?"

The girl gazed at him, her eyes growing increasingly misty.

Kang De smiled at her.

"I understand how you feel, and I know what you're thinking, so don't worry."

He said, "Even if the assassination plan fails, I will do my best to help you save these people's lives... After all, this matter started because of me, and the reason you came here is to find me."

Leona clutched her clothes, pursed her lips, her eyes shimmering, and remained silent.

The next moment, she reached out and slapped Kang De's hand away, her voice trembling with a hint of a sob. "I told you not to touch a girl's head like that, you idiot!"

Then she threw herself into Kang De's arms, hugged him, and cried, wailing and hitting him as she cried, "You know I came here for you! You know how worried I was about them! What if they died? I brought them here! They didn't complain when they were conscripted! I came to you for help, and you doubt me! You bullied me! You laughed at me! Why did you run off! Why didn't you leave!"

Her sobs grew louder and louder. "Why did you become Tina's lover?!"

Just then, the girl's cries woke up Hong San from his unconscious state.

The mountain leader of the Heaven and Earth Society had just regained consciousness when he heard the girl's soft sobs.

And this thought-provoking and explosive line.

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PS1: Second update, 3000 words. I kept my word. Time for bed. Time to vote!