Dad!

"Oh, Instructor Kang is back."

The Parrot's voice had a distinctly strange, unpleasant quality.

Kang De opened the window. The sun was shining brightly outside, the sea breeze was blowing, the waves were crashing, and laughter seemed to drift in the distance. He had been on Earth for almost three days, but only one night had passed in the other world.

In other words, this was the second day after Kang De delivered his victory speech to all of Distant Harbor, following the shattering of the Starry Firmament Bridge and the piercing of the Star Palace by the nuclear spear... The night of Distant Harbor's celebration and the world's upheaval had just passed.

Kang De, having grown somewhat accustomed to the disorienting effect of the shifting timelines, retorted angrily, "Insolence! This is utterly presumptuous!"

"This is hardly an overstepping of bounds." The Parrot turned off its screen and glanced sideways at Kang De. "You have no idea how many people didn't sleep last night. This morning, from Distant Harbor to Xincheng, there was the sound of recitation everywhere, especially among young people, who all gathered together to recite your speech from yesterday. Tsk tsk tsk..."

Her tone grew increasingly exaggerated. "I secretly went out to take a look, and from aristocratic scions to dockworkers, from ladies' salons to bars, people were gathered together, listening to the script of the Distant Harbor Speech. Now the entire Distant Harbor worshipping you, this saint descended to earth, to the point of complete adoration..."

She winked at Kang De: "Adding to the Valentan Speech we just had, one more and you'll have your three Kant speeches... How does that feel?"

How do you feel?

Kang De remained completely unmoved.

Although he had done great things in the other world, saved tens of thousands of lives, and was sincerely revered by the people of Distant Harbor, his sense of belonging to the other world was far less than that on Earth. Therefore, the pride and sense of accomplishment that arose from it were also far less than those of the latter.

If we're talking about a sense of accomplishment and pride, he's already experienced it firsthand and thoroughly enjoyed it over these three days.

Because on Earth, what he did, the suggestions he made, the directions he gave, and the agreements he made with the nation and the struggles he made together constitute the most magnificent and precious cause of the Chinese nation and even the Civilization of all mankind.

He understood what he had done.

That was the trembling roar of a steam engine, the rumble of an internal combustion engine running and electric current clashing, the flash of atomic energy roaring and bursting forth in the microscopic world, and the moment an integrated circuit was lit up.

The elemental systems and Spiritual Runes of other worlds will slow down or even halt scientific development, and provide new ideas, directions and methods.

For this reason, Kang De stood on Earth with his hands on his hips all night.

In the future, he will surely become the most dazzling character in elementary school textbooks.

At this moment, Kang De naturally ignored the Parrot's announcement that "Your reputation with the Distant Harbor and Broken Isles factions has reached 'Exalted' level, and your reputation points have increased by 2,000."

"That's all," he said arrogantly. "Get to the bone and flesh."

Malegith exclaimed dramatically, "Come and see! The young chicken is ready to eat meat!"

Although the Parrot knew many of his secrets, this was the one thing that made Kang De unafraid to harm him.

He gave the other person the middle finger and sneered, "What, do you want me to display my fearless humanitarian spirit and give this old hag a good thud..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he received a punch to the stomach from the Parrot. Without hesitation, Kang De reached out and grabbed the parrot's cheek. "You motherfucker, you're hitting me again!"

The two fought for a while, but it ended with Kang De's humiliating defeat.

The humiliated Earthling slumped on the table, listless and exhausted. Malegith, satisfied, squeezed in and took up half of Kang De's chair, then began to stroke Kang De hair.

Just like back on the island, she often liked to sit on Kang De's head, while Kang De only accepted her standing on his shoulders, which led to countless battles of wits and courage.

Looking back now, it's fortunate that the Parrot still retained the integrity and dignity of its predecessor, the Phoenix King. When facing Kang De, it would at most bite him with its beak and flap its wings, but it didn't do anything like defecating on Kang De's head or body. Otherwise, now that she has returned to her original form, everyone would feel quite embarrassed when they think about this incident.

Kang De felt the soft, full body that was close to him, and the intoxicating fragrance of her body was like a secluded orchid in a valley. Malegith's small hands were stroking his head, and although they were stroking his head, it still felt very comfortable.

Moreover, the Parrot squeezed next to him reached out and touched his head, which meant that his right arm was raised high and his right upper body was completely unguarded, with the huge headlights pressing down on him. With such a benefit, the slight displeasure brought about by the playful defeat earlier had long since vanished. On a whim, he reached out and put his arm around the back of the Parrot's head, put his arm around her shoulder, and then touched the crystal-clear, small, pointed ears of the previous Phoenix King, which were different from those of humans.

After touching it twice, the Parrot slapped it away with its paw.

"What?" Kang De turned to look at the Phoenix King's breathtakingly beautiful face, which resembled Dairila's, like sisters, while the Parrot was a mischievous and lively older sister type, which appealed even more to Kang De's taste.

He tried to find "a charming blush of shyness" on Malegith's face, but found none. His face full of impatience, Kang De asked, "Aren't ears erogenous zones? Or is it only a husband who can touch them?"

The Parrot rolled its eyes and said, "You've been reading too many online novels. What kind of idiotic logic is this? Let me ask you, are your ears an erogenous zone? Is your ear only for your wife to touch?"

Kang De replied, "No."

Malegith said impatiently, "It's not just your wife who can touch you, but if any random woman suddenly reaches out and touches your ear, and acts like a country bumpkin, wouldn't you think she's an idiot?"

I have no idea.

Because no random woman has ever touched my ears.

Kang De felt a great sadness and decided to skip this tedious topic.

He said, "I spent three days on Earth, and do you know how I spent them?"

The Parrot reached for the switch again and casually said, "You got two thermonuclear warheads from A Chuan, which must have shocked the world. They don't know you're using them to bomb a giant sea monster from another world. The most likely explanation that think tanks around the world have come up with is that a superhuman or superhuman organization used illusion and spatial abilities to steal two nuclear warheads that had already had their terminal fuses engaged."

"They must be incredibly nervous—on the highest nuclear alert level, then cursing and waiting in impotent rage, terrified that the stolen nuclear warheads will explode in their own country. Besides that, they must be frantically searching for the real culprit, and you, Kang De, are perhaps the only China boy who used teleportation in front of all the nations of the world, making you, naturally, the prime suspect on the desks of world leaders."

She glanced at Kang De: "So you didn't even hold a victory celebration, rushed back to Earth in a hurry, and disappeared all night. Of course, it was to prove your innocence and harmlessness to your country. Your country will definitely contact you immediately to confirm your suspicion, movements, and purpose, and then rule out the most dangerous possibility—that you are the one who stole the nuclear warhead and is going to drop it on your own country."

As Malegith pressed the button, she said, "Even if we rule out this suspicion, they still want to break their previous principle of 'never having direct dialogue with high-level officials' and invite you to the capital. First, they want you to participate in the investigation and provide ideas, since you also possess spatial power. Second, they want you to be stationed in the Capital; in the event of the worst-case scenario, you, as the strongest superhuman, might be of some use."

After speaking, she turned to look at Kang De. In that close glance, she exuded captivating charm. If she hadn't spoken, she would indeed have been a stunning beauty, but once she opened her mouth...

"The resources a country can control and mobilize are astronomical for an individual, especially considering how easy you are to understand." She revealed a lewd look in her eyes. "Your country must have been very pleased with you, right? Did they use their honey trap?"

Kang De's face darkened. "Hey! You backward, decadent feudal monarch from another world! How could the people's government of this new era be as despicable as you think!" What sycophancy? Why use such harsh language? It's because the nation treated me as a national hero, and I reciprocated with the same respect—a simple and fundamental principle!

His face bore the resolute expression of a revolutionary patriot vehemently denouncing weak, feudal, and backward forces.

"Listen carefully! Our government has always represented the fundamental interests of the vast majority of our people. My comrades welcomed and treated me with revolutionary friendship and warm sincerity. They invited me to build communism together, and I gladly accepted—this simple, righteous, and passionate revolutionary comradeship, and the shared commitment to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, I think you, a feudal emperor, would never understand!"

The Parrot listened to him with a half-smile, then nodded and said, "That's true. You did something wrong after all, and you're feeling uneasy. You're worried that the country is still wary and suspicious of you. This trip to Capital must have been to offer your country a lot of promises, trying to turn them into revolutionary comrades who share your interests, right?"

She put down her game console, intrigued, and started counting on her fingers. "Let's deduce how much bait you have to make your country willingly take the bait..."

"First of all, there's your cheat code—the teleportation portal to another world. Forget your country, it's enough for the Five Great Powers to fight you over and treat you like royalty."

The Parrot sneered, "You probably didn't hand it in, right? You have doubts about human nature and are afraid of trouble. Introducing interference from another Civilization into this chaotic situation in another world will inevitably complicate things countless times. It also means that you'll be dealing with the various demands and schemes of a massive national entity, because a nation is made up of all sorts of people and even all sorts of interest groups..."

Kang De nodded.

There is another reason – currently, theoretically only he can travel between the two worlds. The White Mist World, which serves as a transit point, kills all living beings, but the appearance of the Paradox Element breaks this rule, meaning that Kang De can bring living beings from the other world back to Earth, or vice versa.

If a nation were to learn of the otherworldly affairs, it would certainly be willing to grant Kang De's every request and provide full support. However, this support would inevitably come with demands, the most significant of which would be to send people into the otherworld.

If Kang De had said that living people couldn't be brought to another world, the state would have secretly harbored doubts. But if he had been frank, even going so far as to take state personnel to another world and begin state-level planning and strategizing...

Kang De thought of the Sound of Doomsday.

He had personally witnessed the shock and pressure brought by the terrifying end times, from the crisis of Mortal World extinction to the prophecy of the Veil —and he did not want Earth to be involved in it.

"Then the answer is clear."

As the Parrot finished speaking, a sigh of unspoken hardship appeared on its beautiful face.

"Training superhumans for your country won't dispel all their fears and suspicions. Besides, we've already clashed with the Star Palace, and it's difficult to rapidly increase our combat strength in the other world. You want to rely on the power of your country, but you don't want to expose too many secrets. It seems there's only one option left."

The Parrot lowered its eyes, its eyelashes fluttering slightly.

She said slowly, "You revealed magical techniques, which are different from the scientific system, to the people of Earth."

Magical arts... This is the source of "science" and power in another world.

Kang De was startled.

He was extremely close to the Parrot —in another world, she was probably the person who understood Kang De the most and knew the most of Kang De secrets, but it was only when Malegith uttered the words "Earthling" that Kang De realized the crux of the problem.

For him, Earth is home.

But for Malegith, Earth was actually a terrifying place.

There is only one intelligent race, and seemingly no supernatural powers. In its thousands of years of Civilization, the individual humans of Earth, with their extremely weak strength, have done the worst and the best things amidst ignorance, slaughter, hunger, short lifespans, and conspiracies. Ultimately, after countless years of ignorance and suffering, they have leaped to the peak in just one or two hundred years, even gaining the ability to self-destruct.

To the noble Phoenix King, this was outrageous, absurd, and terrifying.

Even after she escaped and regained her true form, and reunited with Kang De in Danfeng Lucerne, Kang De unhesitatingly gave her creations made from the fruits of modern Civilization. Moreover, with her body restored and even able to mobilize the vast research power and resources of the Dusk Moon Dynasty through Dairila, the results of her reverse research and analysis of Earth's industrial products increasingly shocked and even terrified Malegith.

After all, the Holy Seal Archipelago lacked internet access, and with Kang De's limited knowledge and computer resources, he couldn't accurately describe the greatness of modern Civilization and industrial achievements—not even one percent.

Now, even though it was prepared in advance, the Parrot could not hide its complicated feelings after guessing the result.

Kang De entrusted the "science" of another Civilization to Earth, where technological development was on the verge of stagnation.

The Fire Thief...

The thought of that all-too-familiar name even evoked a profound sense of absurdity in Malegith.

Even Malegith, who had been sealed away for countless years, was disheartened, and didn't even care about losing the throne, couldn't let go of the significance of this event.

What would happen if Earthlings obtained the Spark of another world?

Her mind was in turmoil, overwhelmed with emotions. Memories flooded her mind, and she even pictured countless torrents of steel, gleaming with magical light, surging out of the Phase Door.

Just then, someone put their arm around his shoulder, and Kang De's voice came. "You..."

The Parrot leaned against Kang De's shoulder, closed its eyes, and whispered, "I really want to strangle you."

Even she needs to calm down in the face of something this big.

"... If you think that after I trigger a new technological revolution on Earth and achieve great success in agriculture, I will immediately lead all Earthlings to flood here, develop new continents, and enslave various races, then you might as well strangle me."

Kang De hugged Malegith and shrugged. "Remember to let me have some fun before you kill me."

The Parrot couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Kang De reached out and patted her head. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."

"Not a big deal," the Parrot muttered. "You despicable Earthlings stole all the core technology."

"Won't Earth's technology soon take root in your other world too?" Kang De said. "Comparatively, the other world learns Earth's technology much faster; we don't even know if Earth can learn it."

The Parrot scoffed, "Fast my ass."

Technological progress is not a dinner party; changes in productivity mean that a large number of vested interests will lose their jobs. This is the most brutal, bloody, and uncompromising reason for war. It is no exaggeration to say that the technological progress and productivity changes on Earth are accompanied by countless bloodshed, violence, wars, and casualties.

If they want to climb Earth's technological ladder in another world, the other world itself might fall into internal strife and war before the Star Palace can make a comeback, and half of them might die first.

Kang De said softly, "We're here."

He gazed at the bright sunlight outside the window and said softly, "I connect the two worlds. I have the White Mist World, I can control the progress of Earth's research into Spiritual Runes, and I also control the most important means of production. I also steer the industrialization process here... We can control measurement."

The Parrot, nestled in Kang De's arms, rolled its eyes at Kang De upon hearing this.

"You have no control over the process whatsoever." She rolled her eyes to the heavens. "You're illiterate. Your understanding of magical arts and Spiritual Runes is worse than an apprentice's. If the research on Earth were even slightly more in-depth, you'd probably be completely clueless and give yourself away. Now you're telling me this, aren't you just trying to make me a traitor?"

At this point, she gave Kang De the middle finger. "I never fucking dreamed that I would one day become a brain-dead scientist and reveal all the secrets of our planet's technology to aliens."

Kang De chuckled at first, then exclaimed with delight, "You agreed?"

The Parrot said unhappily, "Damn it, what else can I do? You've already done it, are you going to watch an illiterate like you recklessly pass on the secrets of magical arts to Earthlings? I'd rather be the one to check it out."

The Earthling laughed and said, "Now you're not worried about it anymore."

The Parrot snorted, "You can't accept it right away, but after thinking about it, you'll understand a bit. Teach it to the Earthlings, let them research and produce good stuff so you can get it for free. It's better than the Mortal World being smashed to pieces by the Star Palace. At that time, you won't have to worry about technology leaks; everyone will just die together."

"As expected of you, you have a deep understanding of righteousness."

Seeing the Parrot's optimistic attitude, Kang De gave it a thumbs up. "Our friends on Earth should erect a statue of you in front of the United Nations to thank you for your trust and kindness."

Malegith stared at him intently. "Who trusts them? I don't even know them."

Kang De nodded. "That's true. After all, with the threat of world destruction looming, this is the only option we have."

--With that, Kang De's face was pushed aside.

"Damn it," the Parrot said irritably, "Turn your head away, I don't want to see your stupid face."

"Ah?"

"You idiot, you dead single dog!"

"Wow, a single dog is a single dog, why add the word 'dead'?"

Because you'll be a single dog until you die.

"I... Hmph, I won't stoop to your level," Kang De said. "But I am indeed considering asking you for advice. Come, design a technological roadmap for Earth. My idea is that Earth's technological advancements and industrial achievements must be prioritized to serve our fight against the Star Palace. I..."

Malegith shouted, "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear this right now!"

"... Okay, okay."

Since the Parrot seemed so righteous, Kang De was naturally willing to appease it. He took out his phone. "Come on, let me show you how great I've been these past three days. Do you know where I've been staying? Do you know what I've been eating? Do you know who invited me? Do you know that I..."

He spoke with great enthusiasm about everything from the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to the sea, from the Patriots' Covenant to the secret lectures at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, from the elders' casual conversations to the soldiers' respect. What he experienced, saw, and felt in these three days was enough to brag about for a lifetime.

Malegith scoffed, "That's it? That's it?"

Kang De was taken aback, then his face fell.

Damn, I was careless.

The nation's warm hospitality and unparalleled treatment are truly an unparalleled honor on Earth and a topic of conversation for a lifetime. Telling any China person about it would make them incredibly envious.

But in the eyes of the mighty Phoenix King, Malegith...

It's nothing at all.

After all, Earth is already a modern society. Even with advanced technology, in terms of courtesy, honor, and enjoyment, it is far inferior to the other world. When Kang De stayed in the Presidential Building at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, he enjoyed the most luxurious and prestigious service in all of China. The waitresses in Building 18 were tall, beautiful, and of excellent quality, but no matter what, they could not compare to the maids in the palace of the other world.

Even with the most professional training, the former are still people with dignity when working as waiters.

The latter, however, have no life of their own; the entire meaning of their lives is service.

If we're really talking about enjoyment, Kang De only needed to accept the olive branch offered by the emperor and then go to the imperial capital as a guest; he would have been licked so hard he would have questioned his existence and become corrupted at lightning speed.

"You poor earth bumpkin," Malegith sneered. "Never seen the world before, huh? Come visit Silver Moon City sometime, and let our elves show you what true hospitality and grandeur are."

--hateful!

Don't underestimate Earthlings! You wicked feudal emperors!

Kang De looked at the smug Parrot and suddenly his expression changed.

"Sigh, in this respect, you otherworldly beings are still superior." He sighed. "Our Earth is such a humble place, the only thing our country can offer me in terms of hospitality is something that's hardly presentable. Please excuse the poor quality, after all, we only have a few insignificant industrial products... Oh, right, there is one aspect of hospitality that I'd like to mention, Silver Moon City probably doesn't have."

The Parrot, unaware of the seriousness of the situation, glanced at him sideways and said, "What is it? Tell me about it."

Kang De smiled modestly, "Nothing special. I made a small request, and the government helped me coordinate. A Japan company brought their unreleased game console and some first-party games for me to review. Oh, and a Poland game company also brought their unreleased titles. Well, they're actually pretty good to play..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Parrot nestled in his arms widened its eyes.

Immediately, the previous Phoenix King flipped over and rolled out of Kang De.

Her noble knees touched the spotless floor, her slender arms embraced Kang De's legs, and her full, soft headlights pressed directly against his thighs. Malegith raised her head, strands of hair falling from her shoulders, her eyes pitiful, her submissiveness tinged with longing. She parted her cherry lips slightly, her voice utterly sincere.

"--dad!"

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Update... Speaking of which, the PS5 and Cyberpunk 2077 are released on the same day, and that day happens to be my birthday. How convenient! (Nods)