Suspicion and a Letter

Another day passed.

Kang De had completely mastered the technique of using the Phoenix Vision to monitor enemies in the heavens.

His current approximate diameter is about 24 kilometers. When the Phoenix Vision is activated and the Qi is sensed, extraterrestrial visitors who enter this area will be detected.

Incidentally, upon hearing this record, the teacher, Tagelise, scoffed dismissively, stating that his own record was 29 kilometers, and then patted Kang De on the shoulder, saying, "Brother, you still need to work harder."

Kang De recalled asking the other person about their sensory range, and they replied that their sensory range was about 10 to 20 kilometers, so even 29 kilometers was still 10 to 20 kilometers, meaning...

"Your... sister! Your sister's perception range isn't ten kilometers, is it?"

Kang De emphasized his words, staring at the other woman's utterly disgusted face, then burst into laughter. "Is she an idiot? How can she be so weak? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..."

Then they gave me extra training.

"Don't you dare laugh at my sister!"

He acted entirely like a loving brother to his sister, and because his sister was ridiculed, he upheld the dignity of the royal family and the majesty of the Empress, launching a legitimate and justifiable act of revenge against Kang De.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have called your sister stupid. Even though her sensory perception is so much weaker than mine, I would never laugh at her for it. She needs love and care..."

"You still dare to talk!"

Add two more exercises.

Is that interesting?

Interesting.

Because teasing this guy is really fun... like a simple, easy-to-understand little child.

Three to five days have passed since Tagelise proposed those shocking peace terms that reverberated across the continent. This explosive news has spread throughout the entire continent, and the plans and intentions of the leaders and monarchs of all sides remain unknown. News from the other world does not spread as quickly as it does from there.

Kang De had previously written a letter to Tina, and after some thought, he also wrote a letter to his father-in-law, Archduke Goth.

Both letters were very formal, because he hadn't yet figured out how to deal with these two... He only emphasized one thing: the peace talks should be led by the Taidariel Family, he respected the outcome of the talks, and he wasn't very interested in the power and status promised by the elves—he was just stating his position.

Whether Archduke Goth believed it or not was his business, and how he would respond and prepare was also his business. Everyone has the freedom to choose their path and should also be prepared to bear the consequences.

Tina's and the Grand Duke's replies have not yet been sent back.

Of course, Kang De wasn't in a hurry either.

Given Tagelise's status, peace talks are likely a real possibility. The threat of the elves can be temporarily set aside, as an even more powerful enemy has emerged.

Moreover, hostilities are imminent.

Tonight, Kang De is having a secret meeting with Hong San.

"Does Your Highness intend to use firearms?"

Having spent a long time by Kang De's side, and being a meticulous and intelligent man, Hong San had already glimpsed the terrifying truth from some details. Naturally, he was determined to keep this secret to himself, so he was most afraid of it being leaked.

He asked, "But what if the elves... find out what's going on?"

Kang De replied, "It's alright."

He used modern weapons several times during the Battle of Valentan, causing numerous casualties, which Selendron would surely report back to his homeland. However, it is clear that the elves do not care about this.

Compared to the terrifying power to instantly destroy five major battle groups, one or two guns and cannons are nothing.

How could a world superpower, a magical superpower, cry out about how terrifying a couple of handguns are?

"I'm overthinking it. The world is so big, it's not surprising to see some strange and unusual skills. Besides, it would be strange if a peerless warrior like me, who wiped out five masters with a single blow, didn't come up with something unusual."

Kang De said, "The munitions are divided into two parts. The first part is arranged, detonated, and bombarded by Horus, who will only think that these are the weapons of the alchemical chariot. The other part is enchanted and handed over to the greenskins for modification, so much so that they are unrecognizable, and they can still deceive everyone."

This way, the traces of mass production can be concealed.

All firearms and ammunition are enchanted. Even if they are unseen before, to the elves they are nothing more than exquisitely crafted enchanted weapons. They will be surprised and curious, but they will not be too wary.

Because the Dusk Moon Dynasty was renowned throughout the world for its bows and magic, with its profound spells and powerful fleet, it was already invincible. In fact, the power of enchanted arrows and many spells was no less than that of modern weapons. Even Tagelise and Elandil would not be surprised by the light weapons in Kang De's hands. In the history of Earth, firearms were also very weak when they were first invented, and it took a long time for them to replace bows and crossbows.

So even if the elves saw it, they would at most just offer a word of praise.

--Unless Kang De leads these elves to an ammunition production line and lets them see how the assembly line spews bullets out like a madman...

--Or show them the scene of a massive salvo from 155mm caliber missiles, or the scene of long-range bombers dropping cluster bombs, the beautiful white phosphorus bombs, the enthusiastic thermobaric bombs, the awesome mother and father of bombs, and then tell them how theoretically easy it is to build this thing.

Only in this way will the elves realize what's happening and turn against you.

Kang De must have been incredibly bored to do that.

Besides, he doesn't have those things now.

"Anyway, there's no problem. I don't think these things will be of much use to our enemies... At most, they'll provide some firepower to create opportunities for Tagelise and A Xing."

After explaining this, Kang De added, "Then comes the question of counterattack..."

Hong San took out a map and laid it flat on the table. The geographical environment around Valentan, down to the height and direction of each mountain, was drawn on the map.

Kang De told Hong San about drawing concepts such as scale and contour lines. This method of drawing, summarized by the wisdom of Earth's Civilization, was extremely amazing and made Hong San admire it greatly.

This Cathayan grasped the point with remarkable efficiency, then borrowed Cassandra's eagle, circled around Valentan for a long time, and then drew a rather decent picture.

"Tagelise has taught me how to use Phoenix Vision to sense and detect enemies..."

Kang De stated, "In other words, we hold the initiative."

Hearing Kang De's words, Hong San became even more curious about the Phoenix Vision's capabilities. "Discovering extraterrestrial enemies... does that mean it can also discover other enemies? I heard that the Phoenix King, in his prime, could monitor the entire continent's airspace. Does that mean he could also monitor the entire continent's military operations and fleet movements?"

Radar.

Kang De replied, "I'm not so sure... When he taught me, he only showed me how to use it and how to perceive it, but he didn't tell me the principles. I think it wasn't that he didn't want to tell me, but that he himself was confused... What an idiot. As for the principles, I've thought about it, and it's roughly like this..."

He looked up at Hong San, who was listening intently. "It must be that these extraterrestrial visitors have different auras, and their usual living environment is also very different from this world. Furthermore, because of their own great strength, after arriving in the mortal world, their excessively powerful and dense energy accumulation has attracted changes in the external elements. Due to density issues, this will cause an abnormal energy degradation and dissipation phenomenon to appear in the surrounding area, which is why it was detected by the Phoenix Vision..."

Hong San was quick-witted and sharp-minded, and soon grasped Kang De's meaning, and smiled sarcastically, "So that's why Your Highness was so tired that day?"

Kang De shrugged and said, "Petty. He's clearly stupid, and when I explained the principles to him, he got jealous and even resorted to underhanded tactics to retaliate against me..."

Hong San smiled and said, "You must have taken the opportunity to make fun of him."

"Certainly."

Kang De chuckled smugly, "Opportunities to tease and mock such important figures don't come every day. It's rare that we're all playing dumb. Since we're seeking excitement, let's go all the way!"

At this point, he couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Speaking of which, their embarrassed and angry appearance is actually quite cute, making you want to keep teasing them. It's a pity..."

Hong San knew what Kang De meant by "regret": "There will be opportunities in the future, Your Highness."

"I hope so," Kang De replied, but his eyes darted around, lost in thought. Then he shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I'll have a stern face when we actually meet... What a pity."

I tossed the phone in my hand; the footage I'd taken these past few days was no longer of much significance.

He composed himself and continued, "Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. If what he taught is correct and truly effective, then I'll be able to detect enemies within a maximum range of 24 kilometers... But we don't know their movement methods or speed, nor their strategies and tactics. In other words, even though the distance is far, our response time might not be sufficient..."

Hong San pondered for a moment, then asked, "What does that sir mean?"

"... Tagelise," Kang De said helplessly, "He said to just attack directly after discovering it."

Hong San shook his head upon hearing this. "This isn't his city, these aren't his people, he won't care. But since Valentan is the foundation of your great enterprise, we still need to make some preparations and precautions, and try our best to avoid fighting within Valentan to prevent casualties..."

"The enemy comes from beyond the heavens, and they must be extremely confident in their ability to capture Your Highness. Even though we have a group of elves assisting us, and the Crimson Queen overseeing us, it's still better to fight in the no-man's-land. I think we should be prepared to counterattack at any time..."

The map marked numerous villages and towns, many of which were labeled "uninhabited," settlements displaced or even wiped out by the war. "Since we don't know which direction the enemy is coming from, we'll have to designate the battlefield ourselves... Your Highness, they're coming for you, so you may have to act as bait."

Kang De nodded and said, "No problem."

His current skill set must be very unbalanced...

I've gotten started with Extraction Extract Enchantment skill, my combat skills are a mess, and I've glimpsed the basics of the Time-Space skill. But compared to these, the Humanoid Nuclear Bomb skill and the Escape Skill are already fully developed.

"Military strategists consider defeat before victory. Although we are well-rested, prepared, and have strong reinforcements, we still need to consider the worst-case scenario..."

Hong San looked at Kang De: "--In the worst-case scenario, you'll have to harden your heart."

Kang De's smile froze for a moment.

Before he could say anything, Hong San continued, "Please don't repeat the perilous experience of the Battle of Valentan... If an emergency arises, please remain calm."

Kang De shook his head and said, "I don't like talking about this kind of topic."

"But this is still an objective problem... I didn't agree with you staying to fight back, but there's no other way to solve it once and for all," Hong San said softly. "The enemy can cause the mighty Cathay to fall apart, and can force a peerless hero like my master to flee to the West... They cannot be underestimated."

Kang De paused for a moment, then asked, "Your master...?"

Upon hearing about this, Hong San immediately sent another letter to his sect.

When Kang De asked, a somber look appeared on his face, and he shook his head, saying, "There has been no reply... The messenger did not see Master, but left a letter somewhere according to the sect's communication method. I haven't returned to the sect for a long time... I don't know what has happened."

Kang De slowly nodded and exhaled a long breath.

Your Highness?

"I..." Kang De hesitated for a moment, then clutched his chest, "I don't know why, but I've been feeling uneasy these past two days... I just don't know why."

Hong San was taken aback, then reassured him, "It's normal. One wave subsides only for another to rise. Besides the elves, there are powerful forces that monitor the world's workings and interfere in the Mortal World. It's only natural to feel apprehensive and uneasy in the face of such an enemy. However, we are not isolated and helpless, and the enemy is by no means invincible."

"I know... but that's not what bothers me."

Kang De took a few deep breaths. "It's that feeling of powerlessness, of being unable to control one's fate and of having limited strength. I've experienced that helplessness before, of believing the future is bright and beautiful, yet sadness creeps in. It was like that in Glittering Sand, it was like that in Valentan. It's as if no matter how hard you try, no matter how strong you become, there will always be higher mountains..."

He walked to the window, opened it, and felt the cool night breeze.

"This feeling... is indescribable. I feel somewhat lost and tired. After the Battle of Valentan, I rested for a while, but looking back, I probably didn't rest well, because there are still many things waiting for me to do, and even more and more enemies have appeared... I'm actually more tired than before."

"And these past few days, I've been feeling rather agitated and uneasy..." He pinched the bridge of his nose and said with a wry smile, "Is it because of too much pressure?"

Hong San remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Perhaps we shouldn't confront them here."

Kang De turned around and asked, "Where is that?"

Hong San replied in a deep voice, "Goth's capital... Now, announcing that you will be heading to Goth's capital to discuss the possibility of peace talks with His Excellency the Grand Duke, the enemy, upon hearing the news, can only intercept you halfway. After all, if you arrive in Goth's capital, the difficulty of taking action will increase significantly. Since you have control of Phoenix Vision, the enemy's movements are completely transparent to you, so there is no need to worry about being ambushed."

Upon hearing this, Kang De paced back and forth a few steps, then glared and said, "Why didn't you say so before?"

Hong San sighed, "Before you learned Phoenix Vision, you couldn't sense the enemy and could only be led by the nose by the elves. Moreover, we don't know if Tagelise is trustworthy... If we travel with him to the Goth capital, given that Goth is now full of Elf Expeditionary Force, what if he has malicious intentions, leads you into an elven encirclement, or even turns on you and launches a sneak attack? Valentan is, after all, our territory, where we can wait in comfort."

"That's true... I was a little confused."

Kang De thought about it and it seemed there was nothing wrong with the plan...

Apart from some safety factors.

For example, might Tagelise, driven by evil intentions, lead him into the enemy's encirclement?

In other words... is this elf trustworthy?

Kang De looked at Hong San, and Hong San looked at Kang De in return. The meaning was clear: whether or not Tagelise could be trusted depended on Kang De's decision; Hong San was merely an advisor.

"I..."

Kang De hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "I need to think about it..."

Having experienced the Glittering Sand Incident, Kang De vowed never to trust again. Trust is precious and difficult to obtain, especially when the other party is an elf, and there is a blood feud between tens of thousands of elves and even more humans, not to mention that they are theoretically enemies.

Compared to trust, suspicion is very, very simple.

It's so simple that once it takes root, it grows rapidly and becomes unstoppable.

It's only natural that I couldn't trust Tagelise without hesitation.

He sighed deeply, once again feeling the mess and helplessness of this other world. As an Earthling, he could live a carefree and fulfilling life in his hometown, but in this other world, he had many things to consider.

Your Highness.

Fortunately, he has people he can trust who continue to support, assist, and accompany him.

Hong San calmly and wisely proposed a solution to the problem and alleviate the anxiety.

"I cannot make the decision for you, nor can I interfere with your judgment, but I can offer a suggestion: if you have any doubts, any doubts about His Highness Tagelise, why not voice them and see if we can resolve them... Tell me first, how about it?"

Kang De blinked upon hearing this.

"I have my doubts..."

Doubt can sometimes be a good quality... but it can also be a reason for self-loathing.

This is because it views the world from the ugliest perspective, and anyone with normal values would find it unbearable after a while, because questioning others is also questioning oneself.

Tagelise treated him with utmost care and goodwill, not taking his initial intimidation or mockery to heart. He offered incredibly generous peace terms, demonstrating his sincerity, and even came specifically to help him in battle, teaching him with utmost dedication...

But he had to question it.

They say they're willing to believe and be friends, but they still can't let their guard down for a while.

Kang De lowered his eyes and said with difficulty, "I'm wondering why those extraterrestrial visitors haven't arrived yet."

Hong San's expression changed slightly.

Kang De murmured, "What if they never come? What if they never come to deal with me at all? What if Tagelise's purpose is to keep me here? What would be the point of doing that?"

Hong San's expression suddenly changed.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

The next moment, a shout came from outside, "Your Highness!"

Kang De and Hong San turned around abruptly, both startled. The steward outside whispered, "Your Highness, the messenger has returned with a letter from the Princess..."

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PS1: Ah, the setup is actually the most troublesome part... It's so hard to write...

PS2: But I'm still going to write it! I'm going to follow someone's example and show you little bitches that I can write epic, tear-jerking love stories! Just you wait and see!