What a Waste

In conclusion

This informal delegation, which kept its head in the dark and acted evasively but whose true intentions were clear to everyone, successfully arrived in Valentan and checked into the residence prepared by Goth's side.

From the carriage to the mansion, everything was handled and managed by Hong San.

The mansion for the elves was located in a wealthy area. Several small buildings and houses were divided into a section to serve as a temporary embassy. It was surrounded by barriers and guards stood guard symbolically.

This piece of land already belongs to Kang De; it's just being temporarily set up for the elves to live on.

In the Battle of Valentan, many nobles died, and many families, large and small, were even expelled from the government. Many mansions and properties became ownerless. Originally, no one would have dared to say anything if Kang De had simply accepted them all. However, Kang De didn't care about such a small gain. Hong San, who handled all of Kang De's affairs in Valentan, had much bigger ambitions. How could he be so foolish as to make a mistake over such a trivial matter? He knew that what is free is often the most expensive.

So a few days ago, Hong San publicized Kang De's opinion to the provisional municipal committee.

After a brief vote, the committee members unanimously agreed to establish the "Nick Valentan and Kang De" Post-War Reconstruction Special Fund, whose function is to consolidate, collect and represent all ownerless property lost in the Battle of Valentan, and to conduct appropriate financial management, investment and management.

All proceeds from this will be used for postwar work in Valentan, generously and benevolently benefiting every Valentan People is able to work hard and bravely to rebuild their homeland, including medical care, compensation, reconstruction, commemoration, disaster relief, education, investment, and so on, to ensure that the wealth left behind by the great men who sacrificed for this land can continue to help the people of this land.

Another function of the foundation is trusteeship, which not only involves managing assets but also handling inheritance issues. For example, if a distant relative of a nobleman who died in battle comes to inherit the property, the foundation will conduct a rigorous and meticulous examination to determine the other party's identity and then return the property in another way.

This means that the assets would be converted into gold coins based on their pre-war value and used for a one-time payment.

Most of the committee members did not understand the deeper meaning of this regulation, but since it was proposed by Kang De alone, no one would object. Moreover, this method of return was extremely generous—after all, with the outbreak of war, the properties in Valentan were no longer worth much, and paying according to pre-war prices was entirely due to His Highness Kang De's benevolence.

Only Hong San knew what Kang De was really thinking.

"The area around Valentan will become my base from now on. I'll build around this area, and within ten years, property prices will increase a hundredfold or two hundredfold. How can I let those cowardly nobles who were fighting outside and then came back to reap the benefits? The locals staying in the city to fight and enjoy the development dividends are their due, but I'm the one who defended the city, and I'm the one who built the economy. How can I let cowards come back and take advantage of this? We need to shut them up now to prevent any trouble later."

This is what Kang De said to Hong San in private.

Guided by this ideology, Hong San understood his leader's intentions and began secretly searching for and inspecting properties, acquiring land as quickly as possible.

All industries were paid for at pre-war market prices, plus an additional 20%.

The money used to buy the house was all donated to the foundation.

They called it setting an example and providing the foundation with a cash flow.

The Vidal Chamber of Commerce, at Kang De's suggestion, also purchased quite a lot.

This should be one of the most successful investments for Leona and even the entire Vidal Chamber of Commerce over the next decade.

Therefore, the most profitable way to make money in the world is undoubtedly by investing in real estate.

Even more lucrative is investing in real estate by obtaining policy information in advance.

An even better and more profitable option is, of course, to formulate your own policies and then invest in real estate.

However, Kang De was only smug for a short while before forgetting his smugness. First of all, Valentan had not been built, and he had no real sense or prediction of how much housing prices and personal wealth would inflate. He had not seen any money yet, and what he was doing now was just an investment and a strategic move.

It's nothing.

By the time Valentan develops and is built up rapidly, his influence, power, strength, and status will have likely expanded to a certain extent, and money may just be a string of numbers to him.

Thinking about this, he became less excited.

And he even sighed – Damn, if only buying a house on Earth were this simple, convenient, and cheap.

"Your Highness, the elves have already moved in."

The elven delegation arrived at the temporary embassy, while Kang De, Hong San, and others were still wandering outside the city. They were walking back and were almost at the city gate when someone was already standing by the roadside, reporting the news.

Kang De nodded, then asked Hong San, "How did you arrange it?"

Hong San replied, "Apart from symbolic sentries, nothing else has been arranged. There are no servants in the embassy. We will provide them with food and supplies comparable to His Highness's. Everything else is up to the elves. This is for safety reasons; they don't trust us, and no human in Valentan is willing to serve the elves."

Kang De thought for a moment upon hearing this and asked, "What about security? Should we let them defend themselves? What if some wicked hostile force, such as saboteurs from the Empire, orchestrates an attack or poisoning, or even a cunning elven assassination plots itself? Won't we be in a very passive position?"

Hong San smiled and said, "Your Highness, were you stunned by the Elf Duke's crying? This is an informal meeting, and we didn't beg the elves for peace talks, so how could we be on the defensive?"

"... Too."

Kang De tapped his head and pointed to the municipal official waiting by the roadside. "Brother, please make another trip and tell the elves to be careful. No one in Valentan will attack them, but there might be someone with ulterior motives. If Duke of Tiling is attacked and killed, there will be no room for negotiation, and we'll have to fight again, which will result in many more elves dying. So please ask them to be extra careful."

The municipal official was a spirited young man who had been standing before Kang De with an expression of reverence and admiration. Upon hearing Kang De's words, he was so excited that his head nearly exploded. His face flushed red, and he shouted, "Yes, Your Highness! I will convey your words to you word for word!"

These Goth People, or rather, people from all nations and races across the continent, were accustomed to the Elves as the world's overlords, a noble and powerful race with invincible national strength, always the beacon of justice, power, and glory. People of any race or nation would always be humbled before the Elves, and even when the two nations were at war, they would feel uneasy. They had never seen anything like this before.

--Envoy Wuna, take care of yourself. We won't kill you, but if someone else kills you, our two countries can continue fighting, and I'll have to kill tens of thousands more elves!

Before this, the young municipal official could never have imagined that the Goth People could speak to elves like this, to elf messengers like this, and to elf dukes like this.

--As expected of His Highness Kang De.

The fanaticism of die-hard fans has intensified once again.

Kang De and Hong San smiled as they watched the young man stride away, seemingly burning with passion.

"Your Highness, please get in the carriage as well."

Hong San gestured for them to proceed. "It's no longer convenient for you to walk around the city. The enthusiastic crowds will surround you unless you want to give another public speech."

Kang De climbed into the carriage parked by the roadside, smiled, and said, "Let the elementary school students of later generations be spared."

Hong San was not exaggerating at all. Kang De's prestige in Valentan was now like that of a god. He had destroyed five elven warbands with incomprehensible and terrifying power and defended Valentan. In the eyes of most people, he was already a demigod descended to earth. His speech in front of the Valentan National Cemetery further endowed this powerful hero with human kindness and greatness, winning the hearts and minds of many strongmen and nobles.

As a result, the reconstruction and medical treatment work in Valentan proceeded smoothly in the past two days. There was no plague, no hunger, and no cold. Although it was thanks to the material support from the surrounding areas of the province and the hard work of all the staff, in the hearts of the masses, the greatest credit naturally belonged to His Highness Kang De. This is the advantage of being a leader; good things can fall from the sky.

When news of the establishment of the "Nick Valentan and Kang De" special foundation spread, and a large number of temporarily recruited speakers and municipal officials spread the word about the initiative throughout the streets and alleys, Kang De was practically deified on the spot.

Because this is an initiative that benefits every Valentan People.

This is the first time something called a foundation has appeared on this land, in this world.

It is public-spirited, responsible, and dedicated to serving the well-being of the vast majority of people.

Most importantly, everyone knows, everyone hears.

Perhaps they weren't highly educated, or perhaps they had difficulty understanding how the foundation operated, but the speakers who were dispatched to every neighborhood and alley, tirelessly and loudly announcing the news, touched everyone—His Highness Kang De was speaking to them, that he cared about every ordinary life.

As the carriage entered the city, the weeping on both sides of the street gradually subsided, replaced by laughter, strong or enthusiastic conversations, and cheers. Post-war work was progressing very smoothly.

Because after experiencing a nightmarish catastrophe, someone is guiding everyone's future.

As long as this person is there, people will not be confused.

"Your Highness," Hong San said earnestly, "This land will indeed become the foundation for your success."

Kang De gently shook his head. "Still far from it."

Provisional embassy.

Knock, knock, knock. There was a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

The elven sage Elandil pushed open the door and entered.

He was one of the most trusted courtiers, serving as the etiquette teacher and royal advisor to two generations of Phoenix King. He was elegant, handsome, erudite, and charming, with countless stories and legends surrounding him. His name was synonymous with elegance, and he was always composed, calm, and wise.

But now his face was unusually dark.

He was obviously extremely angry.

Inside the room, the Duke of Tagelise, who had previously been sobbing uncontrollably and appearing weak and effeminate, was now sitting in a large chair, leaning back with one foot propped on the edge of the chair, fiddling with the flowers on the table.

With a click, Elandil closed the door.

Upon hearing this sound, Duke Tagelise immediately lowered his legs, withdrew his hands, and sat up straight.

Then, like a startled rabbit, he turned his head, and in an instant, his expression changed from fear to grievance, his eyes welling up with tears. The Duke pouted and whispered, "Will Teacher Elandil punish me?"

"..."

The ever-elegant and refined elven sage took a deep breath, holding back, holding back, holding back. He silently recited the other person's identity, his oath of loyalty to the royal family, and his duties as a subject, as well as his own elegant and composed way of dealing with people. But then he saw the expression on Tagelise's face...

I couldn't hold back any longer!

He shouted in an unprecedentedly fierce tone, "Please have some manners!"

The aggrieved, terrified, and tearful look on Tagelise's face vanished instantly. He sighed, "Lord Elandil, you see, both are reprimands, but why is it that Kang De's words to me are almost the same as Father's, while you only ever say 'Please be more dignified'?"

Elandil didn't argue with him, coldly replying, "Because you are utterly disrespectful!"

The scene that had just unfolded left Elandil even more bewildered than Kang De and Hong San. After Kang De's initial shock, he was filled with disbelief and doubt, while Elandil nearly fainted after recovering from the shock.

Thinking back to what he had witnessed, he was still trembling with anger.

Elandil roared, "Do you know what you've done? The honor of the royal family, your personal reputation, all in public, in front of our enemies! Do you know how shameful this is?"

Tagelise smiled slyly upon hearing this, "But what does that have to do with me?"

"..."

Elandil's eyes widened.

These words were so shameless that he was speechless for a moment.

He then added, "Even if... even if you don't care, the reputation of the Dusk Moon Dynasty..."

Tagelise sighed, "You old folks, why are you getting more and more concerned with saving face? What's wrong with crying? Is crying a loss of face? Will my crying today make the Royal Army look down on? Will it make the Royal Navy less vigilant? Will it make Kang De think the Dusk Moon Dynasty is terribly weak? Then I can cry a few more times."

Elandil paused again, then shook his head and said, "You can't say that."

"That's what I meant, Lord Elandil. You're overreacting. My actions just now were merely a tactical part of the plan and won't have any negative consequences."

Duke of Tiling Tiring waved his hand and said, "Otherwise, given the situation at the time, what other way could we have broken through Kang De's aggressive stance? Luckily, I reacted quickly and was a good actor."

He chuckled smugly, winking at Elandil: "Even though I haven't used this trick in ages, I can still cry on cue. Typical of me, Lord Elandil. Don't you miss it?"

The elven sage said coldly, "I miss my teaching stick and the strict teacher-student relationship of that time."

The words had barely left his lips when a shadow flashed before his eyes, and Tagelise appeared in front of Elandil, extending a delicate, pale hand, his palm almost translucent. He pouted, as if enduring impending pain, and his eyes, like faucets, began to well up with tears again. "T-Teacher, I was wrong..."

Elandil covered his eyes and sighed, "Please, have some self-respect..."

"Ugh, how boring." In the blink of an eye, Tagelise reappeared by the window, examining the potted plant and sighing, "Elandil was quite amusing when he was a teacher."

The elven sage showed a hint of nostalgia, then shook his head and said, "Things are different now."

"That's right, things are different now, but they're still different now. Since that's the case, of course I can do whatever I want." Duke of Tiling stood up, turned to look at Elandil by the window. The sunlight shone on his face, making his already handsome, somewhat effeminate face even more charming.

He pursed his lips and smiled, "What do you think?"

Elandil paused for a moment, then slowly sighed, "I knew it wouldn't be that simple..."

"Hey, don't make it sound like I just ran away to have fun. Of course I have a mission, a mission. It's actually quite embarrassing to cry in the street. It's all that bastard Cathayan's fault."

Tagelise snorted, his fair face slightly flushed. "I thought he'd at least exchange some polite pleasantries with us, so I revealed that I brought the Queen's peace wishes, and then we all sat down to talk. And then I waited, waited for something to happen, waited for everything to happen..."

As he said this, he muttered, sounding somewhat angry, somewhat embarrassed, and even a little envious.

"Who knew this bastard would be so rude and barbaric, saying all sorts of things? And yet, we can't do anything about it, and nobody criticizes him for what he said or did wrong..."

Tagelise sighed slowly, "To be honest, I'm a little envious."

The elf tilted his head back, and sunlight streamed down his face as he lifted it, like flowing liquid light rolling on his delicate skin, highlighting a touch of melancholy under the bright sunshine.

He said softly, "To deter hegemony, to wield great power, to make nations wary, yet without having to wear a mask."

Elandil remained silent.

Then he said, "Actually, we could leave now. Although he is rude and barbaric, he is very perceptive about one thing—no matter how these talks go, the war will continue."

As for him as a person...

A sharp glint flashed in the elven sage's eyes. "He won't live much longer, and the preparations made by the council and the Legal Department will most likely be useless... Goth's fate was already sealed."

Tagelise shook his head decisively. "No."

He leaned against the window, arms crossed, and snorted, "If I leave now, wouldn't all my crying have been for nothing?"

"It wasn't a wasted cry," Elandil said calmly. "To see you in your wretched, wailing state before you die, as a human being, he should feel the highest honor, and his life will not have been in vain."

Tagelise exclaimed, "It's not that ugly, is it? I practiced in front of a mirror when I was a kid."

He subconsciously touched his face.

Elandil sighed, "Not leaving?"

Tagelise nodded and said, "I'm not leaving."

He straightened up and paced a few steps. "Although he spoke harshly and was so rude, I will still stay and save his life. Goth's defeat was inevitable, but there is no single victory in war."

"I see it now. Although he's rude, he's neither crazy nor stupid. Compared to our brief time together today, I'm more inclined to believe the analysis of the intelligence I gathered earlier. The logic behind all his actions, the testimonies of everyone he's come into contact with—all of these combined reveal his true character..."

Elandil interrupted him, "Your Highness, are you really sure?"

Duke of Tiling looked up, his gaze piercing through the ceiling and reaching towards the distant sky. "He displayed a terrifying power that is incomprehensible yet incredibly strong, enough to destroy an army or raze a city. The most critical thing is that we are unsure whether he can only use it three times, or whether its power is limited to this extent... I don't trust someone like that, the Emperor of the Empire doesn't trust him, but some other guys trust him even more."

As the elf said this, a cold smile appeared on his face.

"Judging by the time, those guys up there should be on their way by now. They won't allow anything beyond their control to happen; they'll definitely capture Kang De, interrogate him for his secrets, or kill him. In other words, if we leave him alone, he'll be finished soon, and once he's finished, Goth will have no hope of winning."

But I won't.

He narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "I will ruin everything these guys want to do!"

The voice was soft, but it was resolute and carried a sharp killing intent.

Elandil took a deep breath and whispered, "Your Highness..."

"I've already said it." Tagelise turned his head, his eyes as cold as knives, "Such an ability is a waste to use only to intimidate us."

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PS1: Long chapter, 5500 words. My sleep problems have been getting worse lately. Damn, if I don't sleep well tonight, I'll have to go to a hotel... Goodnight, goodnight.