The Messenger

As dusk settled and the sky began to lighten, the Humvee pulled up to a low-lying area.

A dozen or so motorcycles came from all directions, circled around, and then stopped. A group of Yorushi (a Japanese motorcycle group) cheered loudly, probably because from now on, these green-skinned people would have another hobby.

Kang De and his two companions got off the carriage and quickly freed the "zombies" tied to the green carriage seats. The poor members of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce were jolted senseless, after all, the driving skills of a group of speeding green carriages were unimaginable. Fortunately, the guards were strong and healthy, while the weak servants had drunk precious magic potions beforehand to temporarily enhance their endurance and stamina, which prevented them from being tortured to death.

However, most people couldn't hold back and started vomiting after being untied.

Hong San checked on everyone's condition and then said to Kang De, "Most of them are almost exhausted and need rest. They also cannot withstand that kind of high-intensity evacuation anytime soon."

Another jolt, and even if he drank the magic potion, he'd still die.

Kang De asked, "Will the spirits pursue us?"

"Theoretically, they should relentlessly pursue us, but for some reason, their enthusiasm for the chase isn't very high."

Hong San frowned. "Could it be that the elven commander has overplayed his hand and thinks that our breakout yesterday was just to mislead them, and that you are actually still hiding in the city? But that doesn't make sense. Is he really that sure?"

Last night, the Dusk Warband launched a pursuit, but the situation wasn't too good. After all, they were elven cavalry, with fierce and powerful mounts and highly skilled riders. Most importantly, they were even more familiar with the terrain around Valentan than Kang De and his group, and they even split up to encircle and annihilate them.

Fortunately, their side was also a mobile force, and at least two generations ahead of the enemy's mobile forces. The skilled rangers, proficient in mounted archery, were quickly turned into little devils by the Autobots' guns and rockets, and the Greenskins' haphazard and flashy weapons on their vehicles also made great contributions.

However, it seems that Kang De played the decisive role.

When Kang De joined the battle, leaning out from the top of his Humvee and firing wildly with two pistols while cursing, the Elven cavalry, who had already charged at close range, were thrown into chaos. Their skilled and well-trained warhorses neighed and leaped about wildly, no longer obeying their master's commands. Moreover, the direction Kang De looked in became more frightened, and the louder Kang De cursed, the more cowardly the riders became.

There was even an elven archer who, while drawing his bow and preparing to shoot, suddenly stumbled and tumbled to the ground, throwing his master off—it was truly bizarre.

This isn't anything new, but it's still strange.

Back in the Holy Seal Archipelago, he was immune to mosquitoes and flies. Even back on Earth, he scared chickens, ducks, and dogs into running around in terror. Kang De attributed this to magical creatures; spending so much time with them inevitably picked up some of their scent—it wasn't even magic, because many animals on Earth would collapse to the ground with weak legs at the mere smell of apex predators like tigers.

The strange thing is that the Dusk Moon Dynasty is so powerful that its beasts must have undergone countless years of breeding and careful training. Whether it is bloodline, strength or courage, they must be much stronger than chickens, ducks, cats and dogs in the countryside of Earth. But last night, the performance of these war deer and warhorses was even worse than the dogs back home.

After thinking it over, there's only one explanation.

That is, among the magical creatures, there is one that has a long history with the elves, perhaps even of an unfathomable seniority, which is why it possesses such a powerful, special-attack-level bloodline suppression...

Moreover, this connection is mostly karmic, like that of enemies.

Otherwise, the Kangaroo on the Holy Seal Archipelago were killing elves with such gusto, and nobody dared to object.

Various conjectures and considerations ran through Kang De's mind. Only now that the formidable enemy had temporarily departed did he have time to think about them in detail, but they were ultimately just guesses and he still couldn't come up with a clear strategy.

Oh well, it's a good thing anyway.

Hong San volunteered to patrol the surroundings, Kang De sent two greenskins with him. He then looked at Leona: "Now that you've left Valentan and escaped danger, what are your plans?"

Leona was checking on the health of each member of the chamber of commerce when she heard this. She stiffened, turned her back to Kang De, and said casually, "We'll leave it to you. Wherever you think is convenient for us, just leave us there."

The old butler frantically winked at Kang De, his face pleading. Kang De understood what the butler meant, but he was in a state of utter confusion and desperately needed to find a place to think and calm down. He simply didn't have the mood to pay attention to or care about anything else.

He pondered for a moment, then said softly, "As the heir to the Vidal Chamber of Commerce, even if you encounter an elven army, they won't cause you any trouble. As for running into the Goth army, I'll leave you some proof... Ah, I don't know if it'll be useful. If the elves try to take advantage of the situation after they breach the city, my reputation will suffer."

His words implied that they were parting ways.

Leona was kneeling in front of a maid to check on her, her back to Kang De. Upon hearing this, tears streamed down her face, and she bit her lip.

Looking back on the past few days, it really feels like a dream.

Born into a prominent family in the empire, she grew up spoiled by her father and brothers, and possessed great business acumen and talent, enjoying all the advantages of life.

She has everything: family background, looks, achievements. Putting everything else aside, just looking at her foul language and habitual behavior, one can tell how unbridled her upbringing has been.

Before this, her life had been smooth sailing, with almost no setbacks. However, a few days ago, out of loyalty and to slap Tina in the face, she risked everything to step into a war-torn foreign land.

He arrived in Goth's city in a daze, met Kang De in a daze, was trapped in the city in a daze, was protected by Kang De in a daze, and even broke out of the city in a daze.

Now we must part ways in a confused and muddled way.

For a moment, she didn't know how to describe her feelings—bitter, melancholy, regretful... like a bottle of long-aged bitter wine, containing many flavors.

Yes, he has already broken through. He still has many things to do, but his mission is complete. Kang De already knows what Tina is doing now, and she has done everything she could.

So, are we parting ways? Are we going home?

But hidden within this mixture of bitterness and melancholy was a sliver of impulse that terrified her.

That heartfelt emotion called upon her to do something.

Because she heard it all...

But this guy... he probably doesn't mean anything to me...

After all, he already said that...

Leona, caught in a dilemma, heard Kang De say, "Forget it, who knows if Goth and the elves will be reasonable? Who knows if there are any rebels or bandits? I'm still worried..."

The girl suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with a light like stars.

Then Kang De's voice came through his ear again. "So I'll send you to the Gladiolus Legion..."

The silver-haired girl turned and jumped up, roaring, "--You were just toying with me, weren't you!"

About half an hour later, the group set off again. This time, unlike at night, the pace was slower, so the ride was less bumpy, and the Vidal Chamber of Commerce members were able to manage.

Inside the Humvee, only Kang De and Leona remained. Hong San, being a shrewd man, used the excuse of going for Kan Fantian to go with Kan Fantian as his knight-errant.

A moment of silence, two unspoken thoughts.

Kang De was in the driver's seat, Leona was in the passenger seat; neither of them spoke.

This was a vehicle unlike anything she had ever heard of or seen before. Everything inside was so novel, but it did nothing to arouse Leona's interest. She frowned, her mind in turmoil, sometimes gritting her teeth, sometimes unconsciously giggling, and sometimes looking annoyed and resistant.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught Kang De turning his head. A thought struck her, and she quickly composed herself, sitting up straight. Then she heard Kang De ask, "What kind of person is Tina's second brother?"

"..."

Leona nearly fainted, and it took her several deep breaths to calm herself down.

--Damn it, if I think about that nonsense again, I'm a dog! What's so great about such a lousy man?! Why am I even in heat?!

Wake up! Wake up! These thoughts and impulses are just because I was too depressed during the siege, so I've become dependent on him. That's how some nobles train their servants. It'll pass in a while! Only Tina would want a guy like that. I don't care!

Leona mentally prepared herself, then coldly asked, "Why ask him?"

Kang De said, "If it were a heartless bastard, he certainly wouldn't leave you there."

--Calm down, calm down, he just sees you as a friend.

Leona snorted, "Then why are you asking me? All I know is the surface appearance he presents. How can you know a person's true nature until a crucial moment? You have to go through many things together to see their true colors."

At this point, the girl gritted her teeth.

Kang De nodded and said, "That's true, you see things very clearly."

--I'm so impressed with you!

Leona barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, "So what are your plans?"

Kang De let out a long sigh, his expression somewhat blank and desolate.

Some things, even if anticipated and prepared for beforehand, are still unpleasant to experience when they actually happen. Your intentions are trampled on, your contributions are erased, and your achievements are criticized.

This was the first time since arriving in this other world that he had put all his effort into doing the right thing for someone else.

He said in a low voice, "I don't know."

Leona looked out the window and said softly, "Then before you really make a decision, go find Tina. Maybe she'll change her mind, and let her comfort you with her overdeveloped breasts. Otherwise, you've willingly done all this for Goth, suffered so much injustice, and gained nothing in return. That would be too much of a loss."

Kang De shook his head and said, "We'll see."

Leona turned around and glanced at him. "Where exactly do you live?"

Kang De paused for a moment, then said, "A place with fewer scoundrels than here."

"No wonder," Leona said softly. "The people in your hometown must all live very well."

Kang De turned to look at her.

The girl leaned her head against the window, gazing at the scenery rushing past. "When I realized that this world wasn't just about loving family, polite guests, and obedient servants, I was probably twelve or thirteen years old. I started learning how to do business. You know, the most shameless, dishonest, and ruthless people in the world, if they're not businessmen, are mostly officials."

"I've seen the true colors of many rotten people. Of course, they're not the only rotten ones. Rich people can become rotten, and powerful people can become rotten, but their rottenness is ingrained in their bones, while they appear very elegant and kind on the surface. Some people, on the other hand, are rotten on the surface, and their core may not be good either."

"Later I realized that sometimes even if things are only superficially good, it's still beneficial to the country and society. It's much better than everyone being rotten inside and out."

"But some people are rotten to the core and rotten on the surface as well. I gradually became interested in this and observed and summarized that, without discussing their true nature, just looking at the surface, those who are rich and powerful and live a carefree life are generally not rotten, while those who come from humble backgrounds and live on the streets are almost all rotten people."

"Sometimes I wonder, if those people from humble backgrounds, if they become wealthy, have no worries about food or clothing, and receive an education, will they become the kind of people who appear good on the surface but are still rotten at heart?"

"If that's the case, then the difference between their fate and that of the nobles and wealthy families seems to be only whether they possess money and power. They are essentially the same in nature. Is the so-called bloodline just a lie and a deception?"

"Unfortunately, there are no 'what ifs'."

Leona sighed, "No one gives them money or power, no one gives them a better life, no one can change their fate, so they are destined to be rotten people, rotten inside and out."

She paused, then suddenly realized her mistake and smiled apologetically, "I was just feeling sentimental."

Kang De's eyes flickered, lost in thought. Just as he was about to speak, his Iron Son, said, "Father, I'm sorry to bother you, but I've checked the map, and we're almost at our destination."

Kang De's expression shifted slightly, and he ended the conversation.

Nick mentally outlined the marching route of the Gladiolus Legion, but with a large army setting out, there are always variables along the way, and the direction of travel may be changed temporarily. The only constants are a few relay points, and the place they are about to arrive at is a hiding spot closest to Valentan, a place the Gladiolus Legion will inevitably pass through.

Kang De said calmly, "Let's stop here."

Hong San led a few Greenskins on a patrol, keeping watch for ambushes. The other Greenskins were also prepared. Kang De climbed onto the roof of the vehicle, took out the map Nick had given him, and looked around. "The route is good, but we haven't seen any signs of the main army setting off, which means they haven't arrived yet. In that case, we'll follow this road..."

Just then, a commotion arose not far away, startling everyone. A short while later, they saw Hong San carrying someone towards them, his expression somewhat doubtful.

The man was dressed in peasant clothes, his body filthy, but he didn't show the cowering and fear typical of the lower classes; instead, he exuded a sorrowful expression.

He did not resist, but his steps were unsteady as he staggered towards them. He immediately spotted Kang De and said softly, "Is this His Highness Kang De?"

Kang De put down the map in his hand, jumped out of the car, and said, "It's me. Who are you?"

The man swayed, then said in a pained tone, "I'm just a messenger on a mission. I'm ordered to wait for you here and deliver a letter."

A sense of unease crept into Kang De's heart. "On whose orders?"

The messenger laughed, but tears streamed down his face. "Nick Valentan, he is my master. Kang De Highness Kant, my master said you would arrive in three days at the latest. You've come too early; I would rather wait forever."

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PS1: Time to sleep.