You Call This a Surprise?

Distant Harbor, Golden Bay.

Three armed merchant ships flying the flag of the Broken Isles' twelve-ringed star are undergoing inspection.

The Suppressors of Rebellion, composed of navies from the three nations, used search magic and mutated hounds to thoroughly search the merchant ship's cargo and all its crew members. Contraband, dangerous goods, and hidden personnel were all on the list of targets.

The sailors from the Broken Isles cooperated fully. They had disarmed all their defensive weapons before entering Goth's territorial waters, since the purpose of this mission was not war. They were an envoy carrying gifts and friendship to congratulate the new ruler of the Distant Harbor.

A young man dressed in a purple swallowtail coat stood at the bow of the ship. His hair was combed into a shiny black top hat. His left hand tapped the deck lightly with his cane, while his right hand rested on the gently swaying edge of the ship as he gazed at the distant Knight Astolfo.

That is already the most eye-catching landmark of Distant Harbor.

A dragon-slaying warship forged from steel.

Since the end of the Battle of Distant Harbor, people from all over the world have flocked here every day to join the locals in gazing at the sacred and noble warships from the Golden Bay pier area.

The silver hull gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, its entire structure displaying a sharp and concise edge, like a blade cleaving into the azure waves, giving it a solemn and iron-blooded air.

It's like a hermaphroditic deity.

Her slender, concise, and capable figure, along with her flawless silver-white body, made her look like a noble Valkyrie, while the countless massive cannons on the ship's sturdy hull exuded an aura of iron, blood, and death, giving her a masculine warrior's beauty. The combination of these two contrasting impressions gave the warship an air of infinite mystery, like a mist, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

It captivates and amazes everyone who sees it.

It wasn't that no one tried to approach this androgynous warship; everyone wanted to get a close look or learn about the secrets beneath its silver skirt. But whether they were simply admirers or trespassers with ulterior motives, they were all sternly warned and kept away. The steel warriors defended the long skirt with weapons and warnings.

Those who disregard warnings or act recklessly out of overconfidence have become mere bait for the fish.

The envoys from the Broken Isles stared at the warship in awe, completely stunned.

Only those who truly understand ships and their manufacturing processes can comprehend the terrifying nature of this vessel.

"Isn't that an incredible miracle?"

Seemingly aware of his companions' shock, the man in purple chuckled, "Luer, do you think this warship can stand against the entire world's navy? Can it defeat the elves' Invincible Fleet single-handedly?"

The man Luer was a two-meter-tall, burly figure with short hair that stood on end like needles. His ugly features radiated a bloodthirsty ferocity. He wore a sailor's blouse, his chest exposed, and his muscles, tanned dark by the sea's bright sunlight, bulged inch by inch. He thought for a moment, then grinned maliciously, "No, I don't think so."

"Yes, that's obvious. If this one ship could defeat all the navies in the world, then Kang De wouldn't be some Dragon of Cathay, but a god of magic, craftsmanship, and war."

The man in purple then asked, "So, do you think Kang De could single-handedly provide for the food needs of Distant Harbor, the Azure Waves Province, and even the entire Goth forever?"

This question touches on the expertise of most people, and the messengers behind him burst out laughing and shook their heads in unison—of course not.

The man standing at the bow of the ship revealed a charming smile. He turned around and looked at everyone with eyes as calm and wise as the sea. His figure was as trustworthy as ever.

"So, why are you afraid?" He spread his hands dramatically. "Have we come here to sue for peace after being defeated?"

The laughter grew a little louder.

"So why this fearful and solemn demeanor? Kang De's Forbidden Spell are powerful, but would he risk being ostracized and feared by the entire continent to destroy the Broken Isles with Forbidden Spell?"

"While the Kang De warship is powerful, there is only one. Can it break through the Broken Isles' fleet of thousands of sails and its centuries-old island defenses and mage tower arrays?"

"Can Kang De's ability to move grain using spatial magic compare to the Broken Isles, a commercial hub and the Pearl of the West Sea, which handles millions of goods daily?"

With reasoned arguments, skillful body language, and a strong personal charisma, this mobilization dispelled the fear born of witnessing the steel behemoth. The members of the delegation clenched their fists, shouted in unison, their eyes filled with pride. "No! No! No!"

"... Keep it down, keep it down."

The man in purple raised his hand in a gesture of slapping down, stuck out his tongue at the gazes of several Suppressors of Rebellion in the distance, and then winked at his group members. "Don't be too arrogant on other people's turf, you Broken Isles folks."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter again.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, remember our mission. We are not here for war, nor to seek peace. We are here to rescue our comrades who are imprisoned. As for the food price war, we lost. Business is business, and we accept the consequences of our gamble, but we will win it back sooner or later!"

He brandished his fist, lowered his voice, but spoke with fervor.

This earned him the eager gaze and respect of his companions.

Just then, the conversation of the Suppressors of Rebellion came from the nearby dock.

What's going on with them?

"My lord, these short-lived creatures wish to have an audience with His Highness Kang De."

The man in purple paused for a moment, then leaned forward and smiled, "Esteemed elves, we are envoys from the Broken Isles. My name is Qiaobu..."

The Suppressors of Rebellion on the dock merely glanced at him and ignored him. The Suppressors of Rebellion had previously reported to his superior corrected him, saying, "Oh, sir, these short-lived creatures from the Broken Isles wish to pay homage to His Highness Kang De."

"..."

"..."

The short-lived species looked at each other, somewhat exasperated.

"Goods and personnel have been inspected and found to be in order?"

"Yes, the initial check confirms everything is correct."

"Alright then..."

A moment later, the elf's voice rang out again. "You short-lived creature named Qiaobu, His Highness Kang De has granted your request to see him. We will prepare a carriage for you, and you will arrive at the Sound of the Tide Manor in ten minutes. Be mindful of your manners, words, and actions. Remember, life is only once, but death can be very long."

The man in purple, Qiaobu, politely removed his hat in greeting and asked courteously, "May I bring my entourage? They each possess unique skills and expertise, which could be helpful for my audience and the subsequent negotiations..."

"Negotiation?"

The Suppressors of Rebellion on the dock laughed when they heard this.

Whether human, elf, or member of the Arcane Council's navy, everyone's laughter was filled with disdain and contempt, as if it were a very, very funny joke.

The obvious disdain made the man in purple turn pale. His hand gripping the edge of the boat tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning blue. The burly Luer, stepped forward and shouted, "You're laughing..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of black-robed Suppressors of Rebellion gathered on the dock all looked over.

The Imperial soldiers jumped up from the crates on the dock, pulled down their hoods, and stretched their necks.

The magic thugs of the Arcane Council swung their staffs in circles, creating sounds of wind and thunder.

Luer swallowed the rest of his words, but the words that had already been uttered could not be taken back.

A cold wind swept through, and the next moment, a black-robed figure wielding a hammer appeared before him. The handsome face peeking out from beneath the cloak and the unusual bulges on either side of the hood were enough to confirm his elven identity. The figure looked down at the two-meter-tall, muscular man and said in a sinister tone, "Short-lived creature, what did you say?"

--To emphasize, in today's era, whether it's a sacred empire, an advanced ideology like the Arcane Council, or the world's strongest army, the invincible Dusk Moon Dynasty, in the military systems of these countries and even every nation, the navy is the most arrogant and lawless, and the most troublesome branch of the military.

The man in purple, Qiaobu, immediately pulled Luer back and revealed a peacemaker's smile.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding," he laughed. "Please don't mind him. People from small places can be a bit ignorant and arrogant. Please, noble elf, don't take offense—I'll set off immediately, immediately, so as not to delay His Highness Kang De's affairs..."

At this point, he became a little worried that if Luer stayed, they might take the opportunity to cause trouble, so he added with a forced smile, "May I bring my attendant with me? He..."

Before he could come up with a reasonable explanation, Qiaobu heard the elf opposite him let out a very soft, strange chuckle, "Fine, go ahead and take it."

For some reason, Qiaobu felt a sense of unease.

They boarded the prepared carriage, and with the sound of turning wheels, they set off for the Sound of the Tide Manor to meet the legendary figure who had recently risen to fame and shocked the world.

The atmosphere in the car was a bit heavy.

Qiaobu gave Luer a wink, and the latter understood, touching his nostrils with his finger and immediately letting out a thunderous sneeze. Taking advantage of the noise, Qiaobu touched the ring on his hand.

An invisible barrier that blocks out sound is set in motion.

"In Eastern parlance, this is called 'the first demonstration after dismounting'," Qiaobu comforted his companion, then said calmly, "It's truly laughable. Without countless elite troops, without boundless territory, without an endless population, merely relying on a dubious number of Forbidden Spell, this Easterner considers himself an emperor of the empire or Phoenix King of the Twilight Moon... A farce beyond description."

Luer snorted a few times and said in a low voice, "I don't like it here."

"I don't like it either," Qiaobu said. "Kang De is building a dangerous order. He seems to think that Forbidden Spell can do whatever they want, that might makes right, that he can blackmail and plunder whatever he wants by wielding a sword called Forbidden Spell. He tramples on the dignity of the nobility, he despises the glory of the Broken Isles, he doesn't even care about the Empire or the Twilight Moon ..."

At this point, he snorted again, "If things continue like this, he will eventually push all the nations to their breaking point."

"I bet the numerous mysterious research institutes of the Elves, the Empire, and the Arcane Council have begun to shift their focus to developing warning, destruction, and defense systems against high-speed impact spells, as well as confinement trap mechanisms against large-scale spatial teleportation. When the three most powerful nations in the world begin researching similar spells and magical devices, similar achievements will appear within one to two years."

"At that time, Kang De's deterrent effect will completely lose its effectiveness."

Qiaobu sneered, "Tell me, what awaits him then? And what awaits Goth? What he did today, he will surely pay for in the future."

Luer's eyes lit up, revealing an ugly and cruel smile, "So, back then, did we have a chance to wash away the shame he brought upon us? Whether it was that Forbidden Spell, or this blatant seizure of our property and members... Could we take revenge on Kang De?"

"Of course, even..."

A lewd glint appeared in Qiaobu's eyes, and he chuckled, "We can also..."

He shut his mouth and subconsciously glanced around. After all, this was Kang De's territory, and he didn't dare to say these things out loud. But men understand men, and Luer also gave a knowing smile.

Then, the tall, burly man turned his attention to the present.

No matter how wonderful the future may be, the current situation is terrible.

Kang De remains the Dragon of Cathay, whose fame was unparalleled and whose Forbidden Spell intimidated the world.

He whispered, "Would Kang De agree to our proposal?"

Qiaobu replied, "Yes, it's just a matter of how much they'll lose."

"What if he wants to resort to force?"

"Use force?"

The man in purple scoffed, "What means would he use to resort to force? I've already said it, he wouldn't dare use Forbidden Spell to Broken Isles, because that would incite outrage and fear throughout the world. People might respect a man wielding a sword, but they would never tolerate a madman who can swing a sword indiscriminately at any moment."

"He can use his steel warships to blockade the Broken Isles and cut off trade. But don't forget, we do business all over the world. If he does this, not only will we not make money, but our customers will also not make money. Our customers are all over the world: elves, empires, Council, southern kingdoms, eastern mountains... countless nobles, powers, and organizations. Does he want to make enemies of the whole world?"

"And the island-seizing operation after the blockade..."

Qiaobu laughed out loud, "You see? Those so-called Suppressors of Rebellion are nothing but surrendered soldiers from the navies of the three kingdoms. They don't even have their own army."

"Governing Distant Harbor and controlling the situation is nothing more than waving someone else's banner. This Kang De is only good at intimidation and deterrence, but lacks actual strength. He is severely unbalanced, relying solely on Forbidden Spell. He might be able to win a major war, but war is always composed of decisive major battles and countless small and complicated occupations, pacifications, suppressions, and cleanups... Don't you think his alchemical weapons have always been extremely rare and sophisticated weapons? That chariot, that flying machine, that warship..."

Luer seemed to understand. "I think I get it now—you're really insightful, Mr. Qiaobu. With your analysis, it seems like Kang De isn't so scary after all."

"Of course not, my friend. I'll say it again: mere military intimidation won't work in this world. Otherwise, the emperor would be the biggest bandit leader. Luer, remember this: the one who can control the order of this world and the joys and sorrows of countless people..."

Qiaobu opened his arms and then closed them.

"It's money, it's wealth, it will always be them..."

"This is the creed of the Broken Isles."

The wheels rolled on, gradually slowed down, and then stopped.

Sound of the Tide Manor is right in front of us.

"Alright, Luer."

Qiaobu retracted his soundproof ring and chuckled, "Let's go get that idiot Luste back. That arrogant fool is no longer a threat to me."

The third floor of the manor.

"Arrive."

Hong San looked out from the balcony.

He turned and asked, "Should we leave him out for a while, Your Highness? Or should I deal with him? After all, given his status, he's not quite qualified to have an audience with you—the list of gifts is quite long, though."

"There's no need for that this time," Kang De waved his hand. "Let him come here."

Some rules are only observed when they are necessary.

Hong San glanced at Kang De and nodded in understanding.

"Also, prepare another car."

"Yes."

Five minutes later, Kang De met the messenger from the Broken Isles.

"Greetings to you, great Dragon of Cathay, Grand Forbidden Spell Master..."

The lengthy congratulatory remarks and greetings had barely begun when Kang De interrupted, "That's enough."

Qiaobu in purple, immediately shut his mouth and maintained his bowing posture.

"So..." Kang De sized up the man before him, "You're from the Broken Isles?"

"The Fire Crystal Flower Chamber of Commerce, under the command of the Fifth Golden Ring Island's Anjisi Island Lord..."

"Alright, that's enough," Kang De said. "I can't remember such a long name."

"..."

Qiaobu maintained his elegant and composed smile.

Calm.

Arrogant as Kang De, of course he would put on this face; a little bit of difficulty and contempt was expected, something he had foreseen before setting off... but that's not the most crucial point.

He said respectfully, "The twelve lords of the Broken Isles have prepared a generous gift for you, Kang De Highness, hoping this gift will resolve any misunderstandings between you and the Broken Isles..."

"A misunderstanding?" Dragon of Cathay asked, sounding confused. "What misunderstanding?"

Qiaobu smiled and said, "It's like this, a few good-for-nothing rich kids from the Broken Isles took their fathers' money and recklessly invested in the Azure Waves Province, offending Your Highness..."

Kang De asked in bewilderment, "Is that so? How did they offend me?"

"..." The man in purple possessed remarkable composure, having long since cultivated his skills in the commercially driven Broken Isles. "It was like this: at that time, some wicked Goth nobles were attempting to inflate grain prices and cause suffering to the people, and these arrogant bastards dared to interfere..."

"Such a thing is true!" Kang De slammed his hand on the table, startled. "Hand them over immediately! Let the people of Distant Harbor give them a fair trial!"

Qiaobu gritted his teeth inwardly, but still forced a smile and said, "They were arrested by you a week ago..."

"Huh? You mean that Luste something -Aona?"

Kang De then realized the truth.

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"--Oh shit!"

Qiaobu's words were interrupted again, and Kang De slammed his fist on the table. "Why is it that these people's testimonies say they were instructed by the Broken Isles authorities to cooperate with the Distant Harbor nobles to drive up food prices, starve some of the lowly, damage my reputation, and show the world the power of the Broken Isles?"

Before Qiaobu could even defend himself, Kang De pressed on, "Why would they say that? Why does their story contradict yours?"

The man in purple whispered, "They probably acted on their own, young and impetuous..."

"Wrong!"

Kang De stated categorically, "How could some arrogant and ignorant spoiled brats possess such meticulous logic, such malicious thoughts, and such a confession? If it were merely youthful impetuosity, why would they confess that the Broken Isles ordered them?"

"Oh, this..."

Qiaobu's expression was complicated, while the Earthling suddenly realized something and slammed his fist on the table. "I understand!"

--What do you know!

"Think about it! My friend! If you hadn't come to explain, and if I had believed their testimony, thinking that the Broken Isles were trying to sabotage me and embarrass me, what would I have done? Of course, I would have considered you my enemies! I would have definitely thrown Forbidden Spell at them! How terrible that would be! Now, my dear friend, do you understand something? Have the questions in your heart been cleared up?"

"..."

Clam?

Kang De slammed his fist on the table and cried out, "A conspiracy! A colossal conspiracy! These Broken Isles are sowing discord! Framing others! Trying to incite war between me and you! Trying to make me kill you with Forbidden Spell! What a human tragedy! Why do these second-generation rich kids from the Broken Isles want to destroy their own homeland? Is this traitorous behavior a distortion of humanity or a moral collapse?!"

"No, I can't tolerate this!"

"I almost accidentally killed an innocent person with Forbidden Spell, and almost bore such a heavy blood debt. And you, my friend, your whole family almost died!"

"Your dad might have been slammed into your mom's belly by a massive tsunami unleashed by the Forbidden Spell; your mom might have had her internal organs ripped apart and exploded due to the violent shockwave, killing your dad inside; your brother might have been blown into the sky by the turbulent air currents while watching your dad fight for a parking spot... In short, your whole family almost died a terrible death. The reason you're still alive is because I still use my immense power with the same caution as Arthas. You should thank me for my mercy, hesitation, and humanity, right?"

Mr. Qiaobu, from the Broken Isles, was subjected to both mental and logical rape at the Sound of the Tide Manor.

He now had only one thought in his mind.

I fucking... I fucking...

"But a tragedy didn't happen, and the culprit must be brought to justice! It seems we haven't punished them enough."

Kang De roared menacingly, "Investigate! We must investigate! Investigate to the end! Investigate why these spoiled brats of the Broken Isles would do such a heinous thing, why they would slander the innocent, white lotus-like Broken Isles in their confessions. Do they want to watch everyone's parents fly away in Forbidden Spell? I suspect there must be a huge conspiracy behind this, someone must be directing them!"

At this point, the Earthling shouted, "Someone come here!"

A loud reply came from outside, "Yes!"

"Go tell Alset! The torture must be extremely forceful! Pass on my orders! The treatment team and the apothecary team, take your positions. Lock all the prisoners face down on the stone platform, and then bring out fifty large wolfhounds and feed them aphrodisiacs..."

"--Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Qiaobu jolted awake.

Luste is the old man's only son. If he's sent back in that state, it's no different from being unable to be rescued—but for the sake of his promise and support, we have to put in some effort.

He quickly smiled apologetically, "There's no conspiracy, really no conspiracy. I think there's no need to trouble the Inquisition. It's just a misunderstanding. The Broken Isles are willing to clear this up with the utmost sincerity... Your Highness, it will surely be a pleasant surprise for you..."

Kang De sat back in his chair, a look of delight on his face. "Will you satisfy me?"

Qiaobu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes."

The Earthling leaned forward, like a child daydreaming endlessly about a birthday present.

His eyes sparkled as he asked in a clear voice, "Would the kind-hearted island lords of the Broken Isles really kill the entire families of those involved and those who instigated it for me?"

Qiaobu's smile froze.

"Do you think the island owners would give me all the property and assets left behind by those fools who killed their entire families?"

Kang De's smile became even more joyful.

"Ah!"

He smiled with boundless delight, pointing to the door outside. "Will I be able to see the twelve island lords kneeling outside when I open the door, their smiles as vast as the ocean, shouting 'surprise' or something like that, and then offering me all their shares, assets, and loyalty?"

Qiaobu's smile was already very forced, "Your Highness is joking."

"A joke?"

His voice immediately turned cold, as if a chilling current had swept through the study, penetrating to the bone.

Who the hell do you think you are, to dare to joke with me?

Kang De's smile had turned cold. He lightly tapped the table. "You call it a surprise, but you didn't kill their whole family, nor did you kneel down and act like a dog for me. What the hell is this surprise?"

"Generous monetary compensation; from now on, all supplies you need in the Distant Harbor will be charged only at cost price and shipping fees; the secret shipping routes through the Broken Isles will be opened to you; our covert infiltration of Azure Waves Province will assist you in taking over this province and even this country; at the same time, we will offer you the position of the highest councilor of the Broken Isles Joint Conference, the position of island lord awaits you; in addition..."

Qiaobu spilled out all his conditions, even his bottom line in the negotiations.

But all he got in return was a cold laugh from Kang De.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to try and bribe me with my things?"

Qiaobu paused, his anger barely contained, but he forced it down and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, why bother with words against a nobody like me? Wouldn't it be better to exchange it for benefits that money and power cannot buy?"

Kang De said calmly, "But what if I really want to kill my whole family?"

"Luste... you can't kill him."

Why? Does he have a daughter who's as strong as an ox and a great golfer?

"Ah?"

"I mean..."

Kang De stood up, grabbed Qiaobu by the neck, pulled him close, and said calmly, "You said you'd give me a surprise, but here you are haggling. Do you want me to teach the Broken Isles what a surprise really is?"

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: 7,000 words... I'll stop here. I'll try again tomorrow. Goodnight.