A Small Sacrifice

This is outrageous!

This is what the lawmakers have been thinking these days.

This is truly outrageous.

Kang De learned from the West's strengths and used foreign media's inherited underworld filters and vilification tactics to attack the Council. It was like beating a grandson. This kind of propaganda warfare has never appeared in the other world.

Therefore, they had no way to resist.

If they wanted to fight back, the Council had neither a systematic and mature means of propaganda nor advanced high-tech photographic materials to provide detailed evidence. They could only engage in impotent and furious verbal attacks to deceive children. Compared with the level of Dior's "pictures and stories from the Distant Harbor," they were far inferior.

Even when Kang De launched a massive air invasion, dropping countless leaflets on the Council's major cities, the Council could only watch helplessly, even filled with apprehension—just as the generals had observed, Kang De's advanced aircraft must have a corresponding combat system.

Today, countless tons of leaflets can be precisely dropped into the air above every major city.

So what will be left behind when war actually breaks out?

The members of parliament were indignant and expressed their opinions. One member, a tycoon in the paper and printing industry, took the opportunity to suggest that they could use the other man's methods against him. If Kang De could throw leaflets, then so could he.

After some discussion, everyone decided that the Starry Sky Council would place an order with a powerful printing workshop and paper mill to quickly print a batch of promotional materials so that the people of the Distant Harbor would know the true face of Kang De.

But soon, the harsh reality told them—no, you can't do it.

It was the senator who proposed the change of seasons who was the first to realize something was wrong.

He seized the opportunity to secure a large order, which made him quite happy. However, this was just standard practice; why not take advantage of public funds? But soon after, the person in charge below rushed to him with a terrified report.

It's terrifying to say, Kang De is terrifying.

The Cathayan were throwing out leaflets everywhere, and this person in charge, out of professional habit, collected a bunch of samples.

He scoffed at the propaganda and smear material about the members of parliament written above—the content was far too conservative and utterly ignorant.

His focus was on the paper itself.

The collected flyer samples came in seven or eight different paper materials, which made the person in charge increasingly apprehensive.

"Sir, the best quality paper is this kind. Its surface is extremely smooth, and its whiteness is exceptionally high. I used Disintegration Spell to dissect it. The manufacturing method involves coating a sheet of incredibly high-quality paper with a layer of white paint, then pressing it flat with an extremely powerful press machine to increase its gloss, smoothness, and density..."

The person in charge gave a stammering explanation.

Newsprint, coated paper, copy paper, letterpress printing paper... He didn't know the names of these papers, but after some research, he could roughly explain their manufacturing principles and specific uses.

That's why he was so terrified.

The congressman grew impatient and told him to get to the point.

"Too many!"

The person in charge, drenched in sweat, said, "I've contacted major cities and roughly estimated the number of flyers that Cathayan has distributed in the past few days... It's almost a month's worth of our output!"

In this other world, paper, even if not a luxury item, is a high-end product. This is because the most important knowledge, namely mysterious power, has a natural monopoly Bulwark, so interest groups will not be overly cautious and will allow the dissemination of rudimentary knowledge. As a result, the papermaking and printing industries are more prosperous.

--After all, if the middle class reads some entertainment works like poetry, they'll cause less trouble. These guys are literate, which can also promote urban development, and they're easier to recruit and manage.

However, paper was still classified as a relatively precious product.

After all, there is still a considerable number of people who do not need to acquire knowledge.

In the Council, this highly profitable and lucrative industry was naturally controlled by the most powerful people. As the person in charge of managing the paper and printing industry on behalf of the councilors, after studying several leaflet samples, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his whole body was trembling.

Because, apart from the spiritual paper with various magical properties that was exclusively supplied to official institutions and major mage towers, the leaflets that Kang De threw out were comparable to all the products of his own papermaking industry—and were generally of much better quality.

The key is output.

Kang De wasn't just throwing out leaflets; he was practically dumping boxes of gold coins all over the place...

"The impact has already taken place... To date, the average price of paper in various cities has been forced to fall by 30%, and sales volume has plummeted by 60%, mainly concentrated in retail..."

Because flyers are free!

And incredibly, only one side was printed, while the back was pristine white and clean. Some even thoughtfully included straight lines drawn on the paper, which is just ridiculous.

Citizens who need paper can save money simply by picking it up; however, if they happen to glance at the promotional materials and pictures on the back, they will fall into Kang De's trap.

These little tricks are something that people from other worlds, limited by their knowledge and narrow-mindedness, would find hard to come up with even if they racked their brains without anyone pointing them out. But for Kang De, a quick-thinking and unscrupulous fellow, they were a piece of cake—as the propaganda war went on day after day, his tricks became more and more numerous.

A few days later, the content of the leaflets was no longer limited to politics; there were also promotional images of Distant Harbor and some Council jokes adapted from Earth's treasures.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing is the pictures of beautiful women—and they are cropped, so that you have to piece together several or even a dozen flyers to see the whole picture.

These things have caused the Starry Sky Council a lot of headaches and they can't be stopped no matter how many times they are banned. After Council, they are a council with an advanced political system. They can't adopt the tyranny of the empire where "private possession is punishable by death." Moreover, since ancient times, some things have become more intense the more they are banned, such as nesting dolls and hiding.

Of course, these matters were not the main point, at least not for that printing and paper tycoon... The real point, he had already realized.

"In other words, given the unimaginable paper production and printing technology that Kang De has demonstrated in the past few days, if he were to engage in cutthroat commercial competition with us, we..."

The person in charge stammered, not daring to say everything.

But the meaning is already quite clear.

Kang De's constant distribution of leaflets is practically free; he doesn't even blink an eye. If he can do something like this, then if he releases even more paper into the market and dumps it at extremely low prices, his own industry's foreign market will probably be wiped out in a short time.

The congressman understood.

"We need to talk to Kang De!"

At the Starry Sky Council the following day, he declared eloquently, "This childish bickering must end! Continuing like this will only waste our honor and prestige, and the lives of our loyal soldiers!"

Another thing happened yesterday.

Finally, a large passenger plane was spotted entering the country. The Council could no longer tolerate it and sent three Wyvern carrying light PRISM to fly to high altitudes to provide refraction for the Solar Flare Jet Tower. The dazzling Flame-Particle Light Lance pierced through the thick sea of clouds and cut towards the passenger plane. According to the report from the reconnaissance mage who was monitoring and locating it from afar, it was a brilliant strike.

The enormous aircraft had one wing easily severed, the tattered wing burning with black smoke as it plummeted to the ground. The remaining body flew erratically in the air, barely maintaining its flight, before leaping into the Phase Gate and escaping.

As the councilors celebrated, they sent people to collect the fallen wing, but a few seconds later, a sudden change occurred: the Phase Gate above the clouds abruptly opened.

Slender, graceful, magnificent, cold, and swift, steel wings pierced through the clouds and roared down.

It flipped and accelerated in the air, sending out two whistling meteors from beneath its wings, instantly blasting the wings of the falling passenger plane into pieces. Then, the three-headed Wyvern that couldn't dodge in time were shot into pieces by the machine gunner in mid-air. The fighter jet then dived and accelerated again, locking onto the Solar Flare Jet Tower launched the attack.

Objects resembling heat decoys were ejected from the fighter jet in all directions, but the aerial combat in the other world did not require infrared Fallout missiles. The ejected objects were Paradox Crystal, which were expanded by Kang De's will and formed a passage connecting the other world and the White Mist World. In that other world, the fire positions were already in place.

The Solar Flare Jet Tower, which had made such a great contribution, was instantly engulfed by rockets and artillery shells. The large shield that had been raised shattered with a roar one minute and fourteen seconds later. Everything was consumed by Flame and explosions. The intense bombardment lasted for five minutes until the hilltop where the jet tower was located was leveled by several meters, and thick smoke billowed everywhere.

The steel wings then soared into the sky, the graceful yet cruel war machine displaying its destructive nature with elegant movements. After a sudden acceleration, it disappeared into the blue light cloud that unfolded in phase.

The Starry Sky Council's order to expose the planet to sunlight was based on the assumption that "Kang De would not initiate a war."

Since you won't initiate a war, I'll shoot down your alchemical flying machine over my own territory.

What can you do?

I can easily destroy your Prism Tower.

What can you do?

I can endure it.

This matter ended in yet another instance of impotent rage.

Ultimately, the current conflict between the Council and Distant Harbor is like a conflict between two people.

The cowardly retreat, the reckless win.

As long as the councilors dare not wage war, even if the Council possesses the Spear of Light of the Land and holds the mysterious lifeline of Mortal World arcane magic, it will have to be subservient and passively take the beating.

Even with immense national strength, they can't utilize it; it only adds to the absurdity.

As he listened to the members' statements and arguments, the Speaker's eyes grew increasingly gloomy.

He admired the emperor, and he also admired Kang De.

He recognized the threat from the Distant Harbor, Kang De's hostility, and that the Council had to fight to interrupt Kang De's expansionist ambitions and force him to abide by Mortal World rules.

Only in this way can the future of the Council be guaranteed, and the Arcane Council be prevented from becoming bait for the rising Kang De in the future... Otherwise, the ambitious and expansionist Kang De will inevitably join forces with the elves to stifle the Council's interests in the western seas, seize markets, and erode the nation.

A war is imperative.

Moreover, it's better to do it sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, he had such courage and determination, but the councilors did not. Constrained by ancient traditions, he could not act alone, leading to the Council so humiliated by Kang De...

But all of this is about to change.

"We need to talk to Kang De!"

"But the messenger we sent to convey our intentions for negotiation was rejected by Kang De."

That's because he insisted on...

The discussion ceased, and everyone turned to look at each other.

The focus is on the Grand Speaker.

Kang De rejected all attempts at negotiation and compromise.

Because the Dragon of Cathay is known for his unalterable word, he insisted on the original conditions.

--The Grand Speaker must come to the Distant Harbor in person to apologize and offer compensation.

The Starry Sky Council, filled with shock and anger, resolutely refused. This was an extreme humiliation; to have the head of state of one of the world's great powers personally apologize was a gross insult to the Council's reputation.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives naturally refused, because if he agreed, his political career would be over. The members of the House of Representatives were not interested in agreeing either, since it was a matter of face, not just the Speaker's business.

But now...

They've had enough of this propaganda war these days. Every day the leaflets have new content, some of which are baseless jokes that infuriate them, while others are real dirt on them.

In addition, the threat of war, Kang De's display of military power, and his inexplicable and unreasonable wealth and economic strength made the members of parliament increasingly wary.

--Let's end this stupid, thuggish brawl as soon as possible.

That's what they think.

Kang De's only condition for peace was that the Grand Speaker personally apologize.

They looked at the Grand Speaker.

The Grand Speaker also looked at them.

Seemingly intimidated by the head of state's calm gaze, none of the members of parliament spoke.

After a long pause, someone chuckled dryly and said, "First of all, the Grand Speaker is definitely not going to apologize. Secondly, we need to get Kang De's agreement not to make this public. Based on that, I think we need to talk to Kang De to get this whole thing resolved in a dignified way..."

Reports indicate that the West Goth Company has been established. This private enterprise of Kang De has completed preliminary negotiations with business giants from Dragon Island, the Brotherhood, the Elves, and the Empire, preparing to supply the entire continent with the magnificent creations and exquisite products of the Dragon of Cathay.

Rumor has it that when asked about what West Goth Company was planning to pursue, its chairwoman, Ms. Leona, responded with a highly aggressive tone.

"We'll do whatever business the Council's profitable."

This is meant to reassure the business giants, assuring them that they won't compete with them for market share.

This is also a warning to the business community within the Council: get ready, the boss is coming in.

It's also a subtle message to business tycoons: they'd better cooperate, or else they'll want to do business with them too.

What's really dangerous is that everyone is pretty sure that bastard Aokexindun has most likely been captured by Kang De. That guy has a lot of dirt on him, and if it ends up in Kang De's hands, things will get really messed up.

The Cathayan employed a variety of tactics and schemes to launch a four-pronged attack. The councilors were dismayed to discover that even without using Forbidden Spell or deploying military force, they were still being suppressed by Distant Harbor.

Seeing that Kang De was serious, and that war was out of the question, the parliamentarians, for the sake of love and peace, became even more benevolent. If all else failed, they decided to try to negotiate.

"It's good to make some concessions on practical benefits... anyway, our losses so far haven't been that significant."

As the lawmakers spoke, they looked at the Speaker, their intentions quite clear.

Since Kang De said that negotiations could only begin if the Grand Speaker apologized in person, then in order to end this farce, it's time for the Grand Speaker to bring peace to a generation.

"Let's do this for the future of this country, shall we?"

They earnestly advised, "Make a small sacrifice, and we will remember your contributions and do everything in our power to uphold your honor... Speaker, the Council needs you."

The nation's supreme leader gazed calmly at those present.

"Are you willing to make such a sacrifice for the future of this country?"

The members of parliament, under intense scrutiny, answered without hesitation, "If I were the Speaker of the House, I would stand up and negotiate with Kang De, even if I were to face ridicule and humiliation. And I believe that if the Speaker were a member of parliament, he would also support me without reservation and defend my reputation and dignity."

Upon hearing this, the Speaker laughed.

He laughed for a moment, then slowly said, "Conditions."

The councilors perked up – it's a matter of exchanging favors, we're familiar with this, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits.

"First, in three days, the generals will submit their military expansion plan, which the Starry Sky Council must approve—although it's supposed to be a matter of negotiation and compromise, you've all clearly felt Kang De's threat, haven't you?"

The lawmakers exchanged glances and nodded.

That's true. If it's just about expanding the army without fighting, then everyone will support it.

"Secondly, we are still in a passive position. If we go to negotiate now, not only will we be humiliated by Kang De as the victor, but we also won't be able to offer many favorable terms."

The speaker said calmly, "Therefore, we must continue to exert pressure on Kang De. This will give the people an explanation and let Kang De know that we are not to be trifled with."

The lawmakers hesitated for a moment; how else could they exert pressure?

"Goth... I demand that you agree to impose sanctions on Goth, including halting trade, expelling students, recalling spellcasters, and many other measures."

The speaker said calmly, "Target Goth, put pressure on Goth, and incite their resentment towards Kang De. This pressure will then be transmitted to Kang De, sowing discord between him and Goth..."

The lawmakers remained silent.

The Grand Speaker concealed the glint in his eyes.

He had studied Kang De's actions and deeds, and if the protection of civilians in Distant Harbor and the evacuation of the Broken Isles were not just for show or to gain fame, then that would say something.

--Kang De needed people, he needed labor, a lot of it.

The Broken Isles were utterly destroyed, and only thirty to fifty thousand people were rescued. Even with the Distant Harbor and surrounding villages and towns combined, the population was barely two to three hundred thousand. Compared to the Council, this number was a joke. Kang De could not be allowed to have what he wanted.

Kang De wanted people and land, but had nowhere else to expand and conquer, so he could only target Goth. With Princess Tina's connection, he could achieve peaceful annexation, for example, by forcing the Grand Duke to abdicate in favor of Princess Tina.

We can't let him have his way.

"As far as I know, Goth's share of the businesses under your names is not very large. Even if sanctions are imposed, the temporary losses will be within an acceptable range..."

The speaker banged on the table and addressed the members of parliament. "So, are you willing to make a small sacrifice for the future of the country?"

--Of course I wouldn't, you old geezer! It's nothing, it's a lot of money!

But since things have come to this point, it's not easy to refuse the suggestion to coax the old man into negotiating.

"Well... alright." The lawmakers slowly finalized their decision. "We agree."

"There's a third thing."

The Grand Speaker slowly said, "Although you claim that these peace talks are confidential, if the news leaks, I'm afraid I'll have to resign. To prevent any of you from taking the opportunity to leak the information and force me out of office, and to ensure that even if I were to step down, I could still control enough benefits to allow me to rise again..."

His gaze swept back and forth. "I need you to give me something... just a nominal gift, which can be withdrawn after the peace talks conclude smoothly. This is my biggest condition for agreeing."

"Otherwise, we'll fight Kang De to the bitter end."

He then offered a price to each member of parliament.

From resistance to wavering, from hesitation to sighing.

That old man has so many problems.

They eventually agreed.

"Then let's vote and sign the documents immediately," the Grand Speaker said calmly. "Documents, bring the memorandum."

After the contract was signed and the agreement was made, the speaker showed a genuine smile.

These idiots.

We've been living in peace and stability for far too long, and have been corrupt for far too long.

"Don't look so gloomy. Once the peace talks are over, the contract will be null and void. If I go back on my word, you can use this contract to veto my claims at any time... just as you all said."

The Grand Speaker smiled.

"This is a small sacrifice made for the future of this country."