Probability

"It failed."

Lily was munching on a bag of imported Japan super spicy potato rings. This snack, with Weir rating of 300,000, was a treat for the Dragon Girl. Of all the snacks Kang De provided, she had a particular fondness for spicy ones, because they gave the dragon a "thrilling, fire-breathing sensation."

As for why the feeling of "wanting to breathe fire" is so satisfying...

When Kang De asked this question, the Dragon Girl's gaze drifted towards Kang De's lower body. "Don't you feel good when you want to spray something?"

Speechless.

In short, the Dragon Girl, who had returned from the outer sea, explained the negotiation situation to Kang De and Stella.

"He's a staunch conservative henchman who's weathered many storms. If he could be persuaded to defect with just a few words, the Dragon Emperor wouldn't have been annoyed by those old dragons for so long."

She recounted the entire conversation, even not concealing her advice to the other party to join the royal faction.

Kang De sat on the other side of the table, legs crossed, studying the aerial map of the scorched earth region and the deployment. He didn't think much of Lily's actions; after all, she wasn't one of their own, and there were no promises or agreements. It was perfectly normal for her to act in her own interests.

What a coincidence...

He said, "It seems His Dragon Emperor wants to use this opportunity to do something. It looks like you've received some missions from Dragon Emperor privately?"

Lily said calmly, "It's just a win-win situation. He has no right to order me around, and I have no obligation to obey his orders. He just wants to take the opportunity to weaken the power and prestige of the conservatives, and I also want to take the opportunity to deal with those old dragons who have had grudges against me in the past. It's a perfect match."

Horus privately messaged, "Father, perhaps there are other terms in the deal, such as the Dragon Emperor promising to help her quell the opposition and obstruction from within Dragon Island, so that the dragons will stop bothering you with the Dragon's Covenant and stop causing you trouble—she's just too lazy to say it out loud, Father. Don't let this little female dragon's vulgar and aloof demeanor fool you; she's actually surprisingly..."

Is it true or false?

Kang De raised an eyebrow, looking at Lily. Lily frowned after being stared at for a few seconds and said, "What are you looking at? Are you unhappy? Do you think my unauthorized actions have affected your plans?"

"No, that's not true," Kang De muttered to himself, but smiled and said, "Thank you."

The Dragon Girl's expression changed slightly, and she said impatiently, "Why are you thanking me?"

Seeing her like this, Kang De had a better idea of what was going on.

After all, preserving one's youthful and delicate appearance is a matter of restraint for a gentle man.

He said, "Of course, thank you for your efforts. After all, your and His Dragon Emperor's actions have also benefited Goth. We also prefer to see a reasonable partner with whom we can do business, rather than old fogies clinging to so-called ancient honors and incomprehensible arrogance. On this point, the Dragon Emperor and I share common interests, and of course, we can cooperate sincerely."

Horus praised, "Father, you have shown remarkable flexibility and responsiveness, especially in conversations that do not involve romantic relationships. You truly live up to your reputation."

--Ugh, this thing is so annoying, doesn't it have a mute button?

Lily snorted, glanced at Kang De, and slightly raised her chin.

Kang De then added, "Furthermore, if we take down those old dragons, leaving them disheveled, preoccupied, and in a sorry state, they won't have time to bother with our affairs. On this point, you and I share a common goal; perhaps that's what partnership is."

Horus exclaimed in surprise, "Who are you!"

--So noisy!

Lily's lips curled into a smile, and she glanced at Kang De suspiciously a few times before saying calmly, "Think what you want. I'll do what I want, and they can object if they want. It's none of my business—anyway, let's continue talking about scheming against those old dragons."

Kang De nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, you've told them everything?"

"Yes, including those idiotic dragons unleashing the corrosive curse, your angry plan to hold them accountable, and that extremely harsh cannon fodder clause..."

The Dragon Girl asked, "What exactly was the purpose of all those things you made me say?"

Kang De smiled and said, "I was planning to explain it to you after you returned, but it seems His Majesty the Dragon Emperor and I have some understanding. You can handle this yourself, so you won't have to make another trip..."

Lily brought not only a situation report, but also a notice from Kang De.

In retaliation for these dragons' previous trespassing in the airspace, and as a follow-up to the previous accusations leveled against the dragon race, Kang De ordered the dragon race to send several high-ranking dragons to join the investigation team to participate in the exploration and clearing of the underground caves, in order to contribute to making amends for the dragons' foolishness and to provide initial compensation.

If that were all, the dragons would be very happy. They had wanted to investigate on their own, but were hindered and intimidated by Kang De's tough stance. The Forbidden Spell alone would have been one thing, but the elves' ambiguous attitude made even the most hawkish dragons back down.

That's the downside of living a long time; you experience everything and remember everything.

For example, the time he was beaten up by elves when he was young.

It's good news that Kang De has now agreed to let them pass, since the guiding principle behind the elders' orders has changed—from defending the dragons' dignity to preserving the dragons' dignity.

Kang De's relenting meant he made a concession, which meant he saved face.

--But this is on the premise that there are no additional conditions.

But some do.

Moreover, it's a very long list of additional conditions.

All dragons involved in the operation must unconditionally obey any command of Kang De, without protest, questioning, disobeying, or shirking responsibility. They must also sign extremely strict responsibility agreements, agreeing to be subject to the supervision and regulation of Goth's military law. If they violate these agreements, they are willing to accept all punishments and sanctions, including the death penalty, without any complaints.

And so on.

To summarize, it means -- to be a fourth-class bipedal amphibious multipurpose animal.

Disobeying orders means death, defying orders means death, questioning orders means death—basically, if you displease me, you're dead.

As well as.

If the search process causes damage to Goth's ecological environment or even more serious consequences, a huge fine shall be imposed, and all interpretation and pricing rights shall belong to Kang De.

Stella, sitting between Kang De and Lily, shook her head upon hearing this.

"No dragon would agree to such terms," she said. "This is purely provoking them—is that part of your plan?"

"Wrong."

Kang De corrected him, saying, "That's a misstatement. It's not that no dragon would agree to such a term, but rather that no dragon stationed and waiting in the Goth Sea would agree to such a term."

The second princess frowned and asked, "Is there a difference?"

"Of course there's a difference." Kang De snapped his fingers. "Stella, we have a misconception, a stereotype. We think dragons are proud, powerful, and ruthless. This impression isn't entirely wrong, but the key issue is that based on this impression, we imagine dragons as an inseparable collective—a group of proud and powerful dragons united in defending the dignity and honor of the dragon race."

"Actually, that's not the case. They also have their own temperaments, selfishness, and internal conflicts. All intelligent beings have the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. If they avoid harm, someone else has to face it. This trait can be called selfishness—all intelligent beings, because they possess a self, will have a selfish instinct."

He grabbed a plate of pistachios from the dish and scattered them on the table.

A small group was separated.

"These," he said, "The dragon henchmen waiting for orders off the coast of Goth are the armed forces and lackeys of the conservative elders. They won't agree to my terms because it would be a disgrace for them to be dragons, and they would become my tool dragons and cannon fodder, falling into a contract of servitude woven from language, terms, and traps—which they certainly don't want."

Then, Kang De split into another small group.

"These," he pointed, "The conservative dragon elders."

Pushing these pistachios far, far away from the group of dragon henchmen, Kang De continued, "These old dragons are far away on Dragon Island, extremely safe. Since ancient times, it has been the adults who have made calculations and plans in safe and comfortable houses and on exquisite military maps, and then ordered the soldiers on the front lines to fight to the death in blood, mud, rot, filth and death, facing all variables and crises."

"As for the difficulties and costs, they are especially heavy for the soldiers, but nothing to the adults. They only care about the results and the numbers, not the process."

Stella understood. "You mean, the elders will force these dragons to agree? I don't think so. These terms are extremely harsh. The Dragon Legion commander will definitely report it. The elders aren't stupid; they should know that forcing the soldiers to agree will only alienate them."

Kang De picked out a piece of pistachio from the elder's pile of pistachios. "At least the dragon elder whose grandson is trapped underground is inclined to let them agree. Humans have different degrees of closeness, and dragons certainly do too. To rescue their grandson, these henchmen are simply a necessary price to pay."

Stella still frowned. "The other elders approved of his actions because of his own selfish motives?"

Kang De glanced at Lily: "This elder is in charge of the armory, holding a high position and wielding considerable influence. Even the conservatives are divided into factions, and he certainly has his followers who cheer him on... But that's not important. It doesn't matter how many elders agree or oppose him; what matters is..."

He laughed, "The dragon will force them to agree."

"Who."

Kang De picked up a pistachio. "Dragon Emperor."

Then push that single pistachio back into the remaining pile, the one with the most pistachios.

"The reformist dragons, the dragon mouths of the Dragon Kingdom, under the instigation and impetus of the Dragon Emperor, will transform public opinion into the most powerful force, pushing the elders into a corner."

"After all, public opinion is something that powerful figures don't bother to use. When they don't want to use it, it's like toilet paper—they won't even glance at it. But when powerful figures decide to use it, public opinion becomes an invincible weapon. Wherever it goes, people are swept away, and political enemies dare not stand in its way."

"Our terms, though harsh, are veiled in sincere rhetoric. Whether it's obeying orders or making compensation, it all appears righteous and justifiable. And more importantly..."

He pointed to the largest pile of pistachios.

"I bet these dragons, incited by the Dragon Emperor, won't even bother to glance at the terms."

"As long as they hear rumors that the elders, in order to preserve their strength, refused to let the legion join the search party for Goth, and vehemently denied that the party had inadvertently broken the corrupting curse and harmed Goth, they will undoubtedly stand on the high ground of justice, righteousness, and kindness, and vehemently criticize and denounce those incompetent old dragons."

"The elders were helpless and had no chance to defend themselves. Otherwise, why would they be considered conservatives? Even if they were all tied up, they couldn't defeat the Dragon Emperor, who was a staunch advocate for reform and the establishment of Dragon Defense."

He leaned back and smiled at Stella, "Guess what these elders will do when this public opinion is burning so fiercely, and when the Dragon Emperor seizes the opportunity to launch his attack?"

Stella finally understood.

The way he looked at Kang De became subtle and chilling.

"Their anxiety to preserve their power and interests will manifest as urging and coercion, which will fall upon these dragons on the front lines. After all, what do dignity and life matter compared to their own interests—of course, the dignity and lives of other dragons."

Kang De glanced at Lily again and said with a smile, "When that time comes, when the elders' orders rise one after another, that dragon commander will taste the bitterness of being betrayed and abandoned as a pawn—and then, I think he will seriously consider the second path."

He smiled slightly at Lily as he said this, "You can go and inform His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, tell him that this is a small token of my appreciation and a gift, as an apology for angering him regarding the Dragon's Covenant..."

Lily's expression turned cold as she glared at Kang De and said, "You knew all along?"

Kang De tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "What?"

Lily looked at him for a moment, then sighed, "That's true."

"..." Kang De glared at him and said, "What rude thoughts are you having?"

The little female dragon raised her head and stepped out of the tent.

Stella turned her head, her beautiful eyes wide open, staring intently at Kang De.

Kang De felt guilty again.

Where are Hong and Hong San?!

"Using public opinion to coordinate with the Dragon Emperor's plan to squeeze out the Dragon Clan elders..."

The princess asked, "Did you come up with that?"

Kang De nodded. "What's wrong?"

"I've thought about it again, and it truly makes sense. This principle can even be applied to Goth, the Empire, and even various races... The depth of their understanding of public psychology, the skill and sophistication in manipulating public opinion and playing with minds—all these interconnected steps, this meticulously planned scheme targeting the Dragon Elders and the Dragon Legion... The person who devised such a plan must be a shrewd, unfathomable, and incredibly intelligent sage..."

Kang De replied proudly, "Thank you for the compliment."

But Stella stared at him for a long time before asking, "Have you been pretending to be stupid all this time?"

"... ah?"

Kang De looked bewildered, not even understanding what she was talking about.

Stella shook her head and sighed, "That's true... It's amazing that there really are people like that in the world."

"What are you thinking about now?!"

Stella smiled slightly, but her gaze made Kang De uneasy. He felt that his second wife's gaze was a bit strange, and even instinctively gave him a bad feeling.

But the second princess skipped over this topic and asked, "After your plan succeeded, the dragon commander indeed threw himself into the Dragon Emperor's arms—what happened next?"

"What's next?"

"Of course, it's this underground cave!"

"Oh," Kang De replied, "Of course, we should still send the dragons to investigate."

"... Isn't this just like your harsh terms!?"

"It's different," Kang De said, spreading his hands. "He used to be the elders' henchman, so of course they dealt with him ruthlessly. But now, he's become the Dragon Emperor's new underling. You have to consider the owner before beating a dog, so of course they have to be more restrained. He joined as the Dragon Emperor's new underling, and whether he openly rebels or goes undercover, he has to go through this process. The difference is that with the Dragon Emperor protecting him, he's naturally more at ease. After all, he's an ally now."

Stella thought for a moment, then sighed, "Why not share some of that cleverness with..."

"What strange things are you saying now!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing," the princess smiled, "It's fine, it's fine."

Even with her current appearance, she can still attract unwanted attention from cats and dogs. Once she gets smarter, she'll be unstoppable.

"Anyway..." she said, "Now, it's just a matter of waiting for news, right?"

"Yes, but we can't just wait around," Kang De replied. "For us, the focus has shifted. Finding the dragons is no longer the most important thing. What's important is that we resolve this new crisis... That mysterious corrosive energy, I don't know what it is. I'm not very good at dealing with such mysterious things. Do you have any ideas?"

Stella teased, "Even a Grand Forbidden Spell Master doesn't have a good solution?"

Kang De rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, what can I do? I can only dig out this entire underground area and teleport it into the deep sea. I'm sorry, I can only resort to such a violent method."

Her Highness stuck out her tongue, then stretched. "To address these issues from the perspectives of mysticism and arcane magic, we first need to confirm the experimental results... By using the response regulations and testing methods of the Arcane Council's Life Department, we can determine exactly what type of corrosive energy this is, and then take corresponding measures to specifically eliminate it..."

Kang De nodded, then asked, "What if this energy isn't any of the recorded corrosive energies or anomalies? What then?"

Stella paused slightly, then waved her hand and said, "You're overthinking it. The Life Department of the Arcane Council has a long history, and its records can even be traced back to ancient times. Do you know how small the probability is of encountering a corrosive energy that even they haven't recorded or discovered? It's as small as the probability of a long-lost goddess reappearing and being snatched up by you the very next day."

Just then, a panicked shout suddenly came from outside the tent.

"Your Highness!"

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PS1: 5,000 words... I haven't even played Mount & Blade II yet... Time for bed, I'll check it out tomorrow.