Here We Go Again

A nighttime visit to Prime Minister Xide.

Although it was a secret trip, with only a small, capable team accompanying them to avoid attracting attention, Maple Leaf Palace had just been attacked with such force that it shook the entire city. Tonight, there were no secrets in Danfeng Lucerne.

Soon, everyone will know that after the attack on the Maple Leaf Palace, the Grand Duke and his entourage went to the Prime Minister's residence.

This undoubtedly sparks a lot of speculation.

Goth's dignity will likely be completely destroyed tonight.

Therefore, the Grand Duke's silhouette appeared desolate and somber.

Two carriages traveled one after the other. The Grand Duke, Stella, and the Sword Saint Cascading Snow sat in the front, while Kang De, Tina, and A Xing sat in the back. Several high-ranking defense officials led the guards in the procession. The carriages swayed slightly, and the cool night wind carried the sound of horses' hooves and wheels. This was Kang De's second visit to the Prime Minister's house.

It's a different feeling now.

From the moment Tina got into the car, she clung to Kang De's arm, resting her head on his shoulder, without saying a word, but very tightly. She was terrified of losing him, and the more terrified she was, the more she hated him.

She leaned silently against Kang De, listening to the powerful heartbeat in his chest, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as she tried to conceal the overly gloomy and ruthless look in his eyes.

In the Huisha Incident, she and Kant both experienced a life-changing night. However, after experiencing despair and pain, Kant eventually returned home and found redemption, while Tina continued to fight for her almost doomed homeland, carrying her pain and anger. In terms of transformation, suspicion, and decisiveness, Tina learned more lessons than Kant and naturally grew more, because she valued less than Kant.

Therefore, post-traumatic stress disorder is more severe.

She will not tolerate the threat continuing.

Whoever that person is.

The silence lasted for a while before Tina's voice broke the silence in the carriage.

"We... Kang De, you or I, we need a direct force."

Kang De snapped out of his reverie and looked into the princess's eyes. Tina was speaking earnestly.

"Strong, loyal, efficient... We need an elite force, otherwise, like now, we have no direct subordinates to obey orders, and our combat strength is very limited. Once our ideas conflict with Father's, things will certainly not develop as we hope."

"For example, tonight, if Father intends to spare Xide's life, he will escape successfully, and we will be powerless to stop him."

Tina said calmly, "So we need a force that obeys you. This force will determine the course of events when there are disagreements. If Father wants him to live and we want him to die, then he must die. If Father wants him to live and we want him to live, then he can live."

Kang De looked into the princess's resolute eyes and felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Based on his experience and knowledge, this would almost certainly lead to a power struggle.

To be honest, he wasn't as anxious as Tina. If there was someone he wanted dead, and the Grand Duke wanted them to live, he could simply resort to the righteous 300mm long-range rockets. If one wasn't enough, he could unleash a volley and scatter their ashes.

He said, "Your father will be unhappy."

"If someone tries to hurt you, I retaliate, but I still have to consider my father's opinion... I can't tolerate the former more than my father being angry."

Tina grasped Kang De's hand. "You'll have your own power sooner or later, won't you?"

Kang De thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, I've already discussed this with Hong San."

"Hong San..."

Tina frowned, then relaxed, and said, "Very well. Recruiting from Danfeng Lucerne might lead to wavering at crucial moments. In comparison, the Goth People from Valentan should be more grateful and loyal to you. Your private army needs to sever ties with Teldrassil, so I shouldn't interfere. Ideally, the army members shouldn't be Goth People; Cathayan, Greenskins, and Bayero People would be more suitable..."

She had done a lot of research beforehand and knew a great deal about Kang De's experiences in Valentan.

Kang De's expression was somewhat subtle. "It feels strange..."

It's just like a warlord or powerful minister who divides up territory.

"Nothing strange about it."

Tina hugged Kang De again and whispered, "If anyone's going to marry, it'll be me marrying you, not you Taidariel Family. I don't like the idea of Goth being the prince consort."

Sitting to the side, A Xing said coldly, "Hey, don't go too far."

She was also very unhappy. Tonight was supposed to be her decisive moment, but who knew that first the Dragon Girl appeared, then the assassin, and the love mentor was beaten into a fool. Who could understand her suffering?

Tina smiled and said softly, "I'm sorry."

A Xing was startled, his eyes darting around nervously.

Looking at Tina's gentle and kind smile, she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.

Loyal, funny, beautiful, cute, gullible, the perfect bodyguard, and deeply attached to Kang De.

Why should we hate and be hostile towards such a pet?

Kang De, however, did not notice this minor exchange. He followed Tina's train of thought and realized that men are inherently driven by a thirst for power and violence; it is their animalistic nature. In other words, from childhood to adulthood, men dream of governing the country, bringing peace to the world, and upholding justice.

After the Battle of Valentan, he discussed the next strategic move with Hong San.

To achieve peace, one must first prepare for war.

Farming, developing industry, liberating productive forces, promoting social progress, and deeply embedding the concepts of equality, freedom, and happiness in people's hearts... these beautiful dreams inevitably require the support of powerful military force.

Judging from the current state of the battle, although the magic of the other world is unpredictable and powerful, it is still no match for Earth's military technology, which has reached the pinnacle of industrialization and is constantly improving in terms of technological development.

From the Industrial Age to the present, countless wars and conflicts, spanning dozens of generations and billions of people, have occurred throughout history. People have been pondering how to kill their fellow human beings more efficiently and cruelly, which has given rise to numerous disciplines, categories, professions, engineering projects, and military forces... all the way to the present day.

Even with constraints imposed by international public opinion, domestic sentiment, and moral standards, it has still been able to develop many powerful and efficient weapons.

Therefore, the simplest, most convenient, and most efficient way to build a powerful military force in another world is to arm it with advanced weapons from Earth.

The reason we didn't start doing it before was firstly because of the time constraints, and secondly because Kang De was also short of weapons at that time. But now, in Africa, having already disembarked from the plane, the situation has begun to open up, and doing some business should not be difficult.

Acquiring arms in Africa is actually easier than buying lollipops back home.

It's time to get a foreign-trained squad. jpg

As for the candidates, the Greenskins are naturally the obvious choice, as they are one of the most important sources of manpower.

It's been a long time since I've seen Kan Fantian.

Poor greenskins, they missed the Forbidden Spell of Valentan, missed the Battle of Danfeng Lucerne, and once again missed out on a taste of fresh shit. Who knows how much they'll howl this time they come over.

The rest can be selected from the people chosen by Hong San.

A Xing's mercenary group has some useful members; you can choose from them, and...

Just then, the carriage jolted slightly and then slowly came to a stop.

Kang De paused for a moment, then took a deep breath.

Tina took his hand.

"It's alright," she said softly. "What you owed the knight, you've already paid back."

Kang De remained noncommittal.

The coachman outside whispered, "Your Highness Kang De, Your Highness Tina, we have arrived."

The car door opened, and a cool, crisp breeze rushed in.

The night was dark, the streets were deserted, and there were eyes watching from all sides. The streets were cleared, and cavalry patrolled around. Surrounded by guards, the Grand Duke stepped down from his carriage.

The men, clad in black armor and helmets, bowed to the Grand Duke, then nodded to Kang De, the Grand Duke's second son, Landisidun, who commanded the Gladiolus Legion.

He is Tina's second brother.

Tina's two older brothers, more or less, inherited the Grand Duke's personality and appearance. Tina's eldest brother was like a carbon copy of the Grand Duke, equally kind, sincere, soft-hearted, and easy to bully, and not very good with words. Her second brother was more lively and decisive, so he became a soldier.

Both of his brothers-in-law were born with good looks; one was as warm and gentle as jade, the other was enthusiastic and cheerful. They were a classic pair: a gentle and kind bottom and a loyal and devoted top.

Because of the busy affairs after defending the city, the two brothers-in-law only met with Kang De a few times before throwing themselves into heavy work and tasks. However, they had a good impression of each other and chatted happily.

Landisidun, in particular, had another connection. Before the Battle of Valentan, the second son of the Grand Duke secretly met with Nick and pleaded with him to defend the city for three days before surrendering. However, Nick was determined to die with the city, which led to the story of Kang De defending the city. Both of them regarded Nick as a close friend and deceased confidant, and they were saddened and remembered his passing. With this shared sentiment, their relationship was naturally very good.

But now is not the time for reminiscing.

They came today to bang on Prime Minister Xide's door.

The arrival of the Grand Duke's carriage caused unease among the guards of the Kailam Manor. They didn't know what had happened, but the earlier attempt by palace guards to break through the gates, followed by the Grand Duke's arrival, could not be a good sign.

Grand Duke Reknos walked toward the tightly closed iron gate.

Only the Sword Saint Cascading Snow stayed by his side.

The other guards wanted to follow, but the Grand Duke waved them off, saying, "Xide wouldn't harm me; I still firmly believe that. If I've misjudged him, then I'll die here."

The Grand Duke still held absolute authority, and the Sword Saint Cascading Snow's martial prowess was enough to inspire trust. So the guards stopped and watched as the Grand Duke went to knock on the iron gate.

In the silence, Landisidun slowly moved to Kang De's side and whispered, "Are you alright?"

Kang De said, "It's alright."

Landisidun hesitated for a moment. "I still don't believe Uncle Xide would do something so foolish."

The two families have been friends for generations, especially the previous generation, whose friendship was deep and long-lasting.

Before Kang De could speak, Tina said, "Xide is almost insane. You can't fathom the thoughts of a madman. Just like I still don't understand why he's so harsh on Kang De."

Landisidun glanced at his younger sister and simply sighed.

Human nature is inherently extremely complex and cannot be explained.

Just then, Phoenix Flame ignited in Kang De's eyes as he looked around. "If it's not Xide, then it's an even more hidden, terrifying, and powerful enemy. Since they did what happened tonight, they must have a backup plan. Since they're framing Xide, they probably have a next trick up their sleeve. Instead of discussing whether it's him or not, we should take precautions... There are quite a few spies around here."

Within the Phoenix Vision, the unusual energy fluctuations were clearly visible, leaving the stealthy individuals nowhere to hide.

Upon entering Danfeng Lucerne, Kang De realized just how valuable Dairila's gift was. It was said to be a rare, powerful, and enigmatic incarnation of Shadow, which could be easily seen through by those eyes. From then on, almost all the secret arts of concealment, invisibility, and disguise in the world were meaningless in front of him.

He sighed softly as he observed his surroundings.

Do you realize you're aiding the enemy?

It's a real shame that such a kind-hearted and tempting elf has become an enemy.

He exclaimed in admiration and asked, "Shall I point it out to you?"

Landisidun sighed. "It's pointless. Father said it's unnecessary. Anyway, things have come to this point. Goth has lost all face. Everyone who needs to know knows. Who knows what kind of storm will be stirred up tomorrow... Alas, this country..."

The crisis of national annihilation had not yet subsided when internal strife erupted, and it was even the prime minister...

For decades, he diligently governed Goth, deeply trusted by the Grand Duke, and beloved by his subjects. His students, followers, and subordinates were scattered throughout Goth's political circles. He never made a mistake, always remained rational—such a person, who seemed least likely to cause trouble, actually ran into trouble...

Tina and Stella also looked dejected.

In the distance, the Grand Duke's calm and steady voice drifted over, reprimanding and ordering the gatekeepers. They had no choice but to hurry back to report. After a while, a figure in a white nightgown slowly approached.

The iron gate remained closed.

Prime Minister Xide and the Grand Duke faced each other through the iron gate.

He ignored everyone else outside, only looking at his old friend of several decades.

You're disturbing my wife.

The Prime Minister said coldly, "Her condition is getting worse."

"I'm sorry, but I must see you to ask you a question."

"Speak."

The Grand Duke said in a deep voice, "Where is Cole? I need to see him."

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow. "He's gone."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Tina's eyes hardened, and her other hand slowly clenched.

The Grand Duke remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and asked, "When? How did they disappear?"

"Three days ago, the day the great hero saved Danfeng Lucerne."

Without even glancing at Kang De, Xide said indifferently, "I don't know where he ran off to, and he hasn't come back yet. Why are you asking him?"

Reknos spoke slowly and with difficulty, "The people who just attacked Maple Leaf Palace can transform into Shadow."

He kept looking into Xide's eyes.

A profound silence fell.

Then, the Prime Minister's cold laugh broke the silence, "Oh, so you suspect me? No wonder you insisted on sending me, no wonder even Lord Kang De graced us with his presence, no wonder you're so hesitant..."

Tina's wrist was grabbed by Kang De, preventing the princess from rushing forward. The Sword Saint Cascading Snow's interface said, "Xide, you don't need to say such strange things. Neither Reknos nor I believe it was you, but this matter is of utmost importance and we must verify. You say Cole ran away three days ago, I believe you. We need to find Cole, even investigate his origins, and search for clues about him. Please tell us."

"So that's how it is. Your esteemed guardian was attacked, and you're busy catching the culprit and currying favor with him?" The sneer on Xide's face hadn't faded. "But what can you do if I don't want to say?"

Reknos hissed, "Xide!"

"Do whatever you want. Dismiss me, throw me in jail, threaten me with my wife—do whatever you want. Please." Xide turned and left. "Excuse me."

With a loud crash, the Grand Duke slammed his fist into the iron gate, his Dou Qi Inspiration, sending iron filings flying. He roared, "Xide! You..."

"Alright."

His roar was interrupted by Kang De had appeared beside him unnoticed, placed a hand on his shoulder, and whispered, "Go back. There are other ways."

There's no point in dwelling on this.

Xide still didn't turn around, not even glancing at him.

The Grand Duke turned to look at Kang De, his eyes bloodshot. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard magical light burst forth again from the direction of the Maple Leaf Palace. A string of dazzling lights soared into the sky, clearly visible from within the city.

The knight commander exclaimed, "Someone has broken in!"

Here we go again.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Wait a minute... Are there any friends who haven't received the chapter update? I haven't missed any updates these past few days. Please check if the chapter count is complete and if any chapters are missing. If so, please leave a comment here.