A New Forbidden Spell

After detailed information about the Tula Xiaye Rebellion spread throughout the world, nations desperately searched for the traitorous Grand Chancellor Griffin in an attempt to make contact with him.

Because the highest leader of this Council possesses the power to counter the Dragon of Cathay.

"Kang De, we're in trouble."

That evening, Tina brought a lot of bad news.

Princess Goth's usually radiant face now showed a rare hint of melancholy.

As the head of the Ministry of Unity, her task and that of her subordinates was to unite all forces that could be united, to unite forces that were unwilling to unite, and to eliminate forces that were truly unwilling to unite.

It was in charge of diplomacy, intelligence, and united front work.

After all, in the early days of the Shogunate, the foundation was not large and the tasks were not heavy, so it was advisable to streamline the organization. It was not impossible for a minister to hold multiple positions. In the future, when the shogunate grew larger, it would not be too late to divide the organization and reward meritorious ministers. Moreover, while the organization was streamlined now, it was also possible to complete the electronic, information-based and intelligent administrative system in advance, so as to avoid the system becoming too big and complicated in the future.

She brought some news that was hardly good.

"We are tracking down Griffin... but he is determined to hide. With his skills and experience as one of the world's top spellcasters, it will be difficult for us to find him in the short term if he wants to conceal his tracks."

In the past few months, the Traitor Suppression Society has taken advantage of the West Goth Company's commercial expansion to establish an intelligence system throughout the continent. However, the time frame has been short and the results have been limited. In particular, intelligence work within the Arcane Council has been difficult to carry out due to the deterioration of relations between the two countries and public resistance.

"To find Griffin, we need the Brotherhood's top assassin masters to conduct the search and reconnaissance."

Tina's face hardened with a chilling glint of murderous intent as she continued, "We informed the Brotherhood and issued them the mission. They readily agreed, but I still saw through their scheme... The assassins have their own agendas; they won't fully support us. Rather, everyone is secretly plotting something."

Kang De was scribbling on the paper when he heard this, so he put down his pen. "What clue?"

Tina said calmly, "Griffin possesses magical defensive weapons that can counter Forbidden Spell... In just half a day, the news has spread throughout the entire continent, even reaching the Church of the Sun. Assassins are known for their extensive network of information, possessing half the world's secrets. How could they not know? Yet they haven't mentioned it. When I spoke with Rosa, I tricked her a few times, and she managed to get some information out of me... The Fate Weaver has her own ideas."

Rosa is the head of the Brotherhood's Distant Harbor office, a legendary master assassin.

Kang De simply smiled, "Loyalty is hard to find, and unconditional loyalty is even rarer. Our relationship with the Brotherhood is merely one of cooperation; they have their own agendas, which is not surprising."

The butterfly effect caused by the Deceleration Field has swept across the entire continent like a storm.

Among the various continental powers, those most wary of Kang De are the Brotherhood, large organizations with clearly defined headquarters like the Battle God City, and various independent city-states.

They believed that, for various reasons, with their own resources and foundation, they had a place on the continental stage and could even make some small countries bow down. However, if they were to fight Kang De, they would be much more vulnerable than the small countries—because they only had one base of operations, and a single Forbidden Spell could completely break their bones.

So don't be fooled by the fact that the Brotherhood and the Battle God City have become sworn brothers with Kang De. If given the chance to resolve the issue of Kang De's Forbidden Spell blackmail, they'll turn on him faster than anyone else.

At this very moment, the Brotherhood would surely dispatch countless elite assassins to search for Griffin's whereabouts—but once found, they would certainly not notify Kang De to immediately come and eliminate him.

Instead, we should negotiate with Griffin and try to acquire the technology... or even the products he possesses.

Her Highness asked calmly, "The assassin team from the Sound of the Tide Manor, are we not going to keep them alive?"

According to the previous agreement with the Brotherhood, a team of assassins was to be stationed at the manor as security instructors, but now, if the Brotherhood reaches an agreement with Griffin, they could very well become a ticking time bomb.

Kang De thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No need."

He explained, "Anyway, we never truly trusted them... From the second day after they moved into the manor, trace amounts of liquid Paradox Element were added to their daily food and drinks. Over three months, a sufficient amount had accumulated in their bodies. I controlled the deposition of these Paradox Element in the appendix area, which had no effect on their health on a daily basis, but allowed me to know everything about them."

"These experienced assassins had already noticed the listening devices and cameras, even pinhole cameras. It's commendable that they had such intuition and observation skills when they knew nothing about technology. They forced themselves to ignore these surveillance devices, thinking they had fooled me."

"But what they didn't know was that those were just smokescreens. The real gaze, like a gentle spring rain, took root and sprouted silently. I not only watched them all the time, but I could also decide their fate at any moment—whether they vanished into thin air, died a miserable death, or became monsters that breed mutated substances."

He stretched his arms and said calmly, "So it's better to keep them. If they do something stupid, it means the Brotherhood not only found Griffin, but also made a breakthrough in negotiations with him. This is a very important source of intelligence... We can't just throw them away."

Tina looked at Kang De, who was sitting in a chair, looking indifferent and talking eloquently. A blush quietly appeared on her fair face, and her breathing became a little rapid.

Ah, such is Kang De.

She said softly, "How pitiful, they had no idea what was happening to them from beginning to end."

Kang De replied, "When they entered the plantation to work, they signed an agreement. I outlined their rights and obligations and clearly stated that, for security reasons, I would use covert methods to monitor them to a certain extent, but I guaranteed it would not affect their present or future lives—they considered pinhole cameras and listening devices to be covert methods, so who can they blame for that?"

--Hidden beneath the long skirt, her long, voluptuous legs were pressed tightly together, rubbing together subtly a few times. The elegant, hazy gray stockings rubbed against each other, creating a wonderful sensation that stirred her heartstrings.

This is the Kang De... Kang De who is usually gentle, friendly, and always smiling, but in reality, he always observes everyone with an indifferent expression...

Fortunately, Tina possessed exceptional self-control. She knew when to engage in rational discussions of politics and when to sit on the edge of the table in front of Kang De, gently lifting her long skirt or pulling down her collar.

Now is definitely not the time to do that kind of thing.

But... I'm so excited, I want to... I want to...

I really want to know.

I really want to know if there are any Paradox Element in my body.

I really want to know if Kang De was also secretly controlling me.

If not, it means Kang De has the utmost trust in me... I'm so happy.

If so...

That means that everything about me is completely observed, controlled, and mastered by Kang De —my body, my soul, my destiny, my life, everything is his...

Ah...

She went around the table, walked behind Kang De, and hugged him from behind.

Kang De paused for a moment, then closed his eyes, pressed his cheek against Tina's leaning face, gently nuzzled her a few times, and patted her hand. "Don't be afraid. Although the Deceleration Field is disgusting, the likes of Griffin are nothing to fear. The real threat isn't him, so there's nothing to worry about."

Tina sighed helplessly, the lingering emotions in her eyes turning into a helpless, wry smile.

Kang De asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong again?"

"No, no, it's perfectly fine for Kang De to remain this adorable."

Being a little naive has its advantages, at least for now, I'm the one who benefits and was the first to arrive.

Tina said in a soothing tone, "Looks like you received the bad news before I did?"

Kang De nodded. "Yes, the Traitor Suppression Society intercepted the information a long time ago. Horus used a mathematical model to calculate that, given the level of development of Mortal World society, such a speed of information dissemination is extremely unnatural. Someone must be deliberately pushing for its spread."

His voice turned colder. "Apart from Cathay, every powerful person in the world fears my Forbidden Spell. Once they know about the Deceleration Field, they'll turn into starving wild dogs, scrambling for Griffin's bone... Our previous idea of a quick victory was truly careless."

At this point, Kang De tilted his head back slightly, and Tina straightened up, embracing the back of her lover's head into her broad chest, gently stroking his chin.

"Lily came to see me before, saying that the Dragon Emperor contacted her using the Dragon Ballad, instructing her to ask me about the details of Tula Xiaye," Kang De laughed. "My half-brother, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, was scolded by Lily, and after that, she came to me to complain, saying that the Dragon Emperor had ill intentions."

The soft fingertips that caressed Kang De's chin transformed into manicured nails adorned with tiny diamonds.

Tina smiled and said, "Miss Lily is so kind to you."

Kang De seemed oblivious, simply saying, "It's just a difference in perspective. Lily understands me and knows I won't casually use Forbidden Spell, so she's not too worried. But the Dragon Emperor is different. As a monarch, he cannot tolerate someone possessing the ability to instantly destroy Dragon Island... no matter how harmless that person is."

Tina smiled and shook her head.

The nail art has returned to focusing on the fingertips.

Kang De said nonchalantly, "Dairila also sent a telegram... The Silver Moon Council wants to find Griffin, give him their full support, and instigate a north-south split within the Council. This would both cause internal strife within the Council and allow them to obtain the Deceleration Field technology. She can't stop this from happening."

"But I did tell you." Tina scratched Kang De's skin thoughtfully. "To reveal such a state secret to you is somewhat unbecoming of a monarch."

Kang De held up a finger. "That's right. As a monarch, Dairila has loftier goals and broader pursuits. In her view, confronting the Star Palace is the top priority. If it serves this purpose, then the monarch's character is not worth mentioning—ah, I'm sure you don't need to scratch me with your fingernails anymore."

Tina was taken aback, then laughed and cried at the same time, and leaned down to bite Kang De's ear.

After a few playful moments, Tina sat down in Kang De's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

With one Kang De around Tina's slender and supple waist, and the other hand slipping under her long skirt, he groped and gently kneaded her plump legs. He buried his head in Tina's chest, unbuttoned three buttons with his teeth, and took a few light bites between her soft, white breasts. Then, he closed his eyes and cuddled her in the alluring scent of her breasts.

Tina looked at him with affection and gently stroked his head.

Although she spoke of it casually, she could still sense a slight unease from the man she loved.

It wasn't out of fear of Griffin, nor out of fear of the global anti-Kanka movement.

He said that these people were not his enemies.

Instead, it is a powerful external enemy that can easily deploy Deceleration Field.

She said softly, "Don't push yourself too hard."

"Hmm," Kang De said softly, "I've prepared for the worst... and I'm continuing to prepare. Even if the worst happens, everyone will still have somewhere to go, and everything will be alright."

"That sounds really reliable."

Tina chuckled softly, but a name flashed through her mind.

The only place I can go is the world of Wang Xiaoman...

Sorry, but if only one person can win... it will definitely be me.

She changed the subject, looking at the table where Kang De had been sketching and drawing. She noticed some kind of design drawing... She knew Kang De was very good at drawing and had unique insights into architecture.

Before coming into this world, I must have been an engineering sorcerer.

She asked, "What is this?"

Kang De pulled his head out, glanced at it, and replied, "The weapon design blueprints... the Deceleration Field issue has been a wake-up call for me. Regardless of whether that thing can be cracked or overcome, our weapons development approach should change. We can no longer rely solely on kinetic energy weapons; chemical energy and even energy weapons must be developed in parallel."

Tina squinted at it for a while. She had Zhendan Language quite well; the design looked like a flower, but the petals resembled canvas, and were straight and flat... She exclaimed, "I recognize those two words... Levitation Stone? This thing floats in the sky?"

"Theoretically speaking, it's in the heavens, very, very far away... it can't even be called the heavens anymore."

Her Highness looked up at the sky outside the window. "High up in the sky? Is that a weapon?"

"It's actually Forbidden Spell, but there are plans to miniaturize it."

Kang De explained, "It's not just weapon design that needs to break through the limitations of kinetic weapons; the same applies to Forbidden Spell. Besides Mass Projection, I previously developed different kinds of superweapons using the Phase Gate, but ultimately, they still rely on kinetic energy for damage, which is significantly countered by this Deceleration Field. This problem must be solved... Although there's a workaround, we ultimately need someone else's help."

He smiled and said, "National strategic assets must indeed follow the path of self-reliance."

Although Tina didn't understand what he was saying, she smiled gently and nodded in agreement.

She then asked, "What about this one?"

"This is a draft we discussed with the Parrot... It's similar to an over-the-horizon radar. The goal is to replace the Phoenix Eye and monitor the movements of the Star Palace across the entire continent. Now that the Star Palace are becoming increasingly active in the Mortal World realm, it's not realistic for just the Parrot, Dairila, and I to keep our eyes open all day to scan the area."

Kang De explained, "Radar technology is already quite mature and not difficult to acquire, but for magical modification, it would be best to be able to detect elemental energy fluctuations... This is also a contingency plan."

Tina stared at it for a long time. This thing was much more difficult to understand than the previous "Forbidden Spell weapon." It seemed to be a huge scaffold made of countless steel pieces... She really couldn't figure out anything about it.

But she still realized something.

Her Highness asked softly, "Will you be gone for a few days?"

Whenever a major event occurred, Kang De would always remain secluded, then produce something extraordinary to make a definitive judgment.

Kang De nodded. "Yes... There will be a fierce battle with Griffin next, and the purpose of this war is not only to kill Griffin and destroy the God of the Star Palace, but also to shatter the illusion of the nations that 'with the Deceleration Field, they don't need to fear Kang De.' For this, I need to make some preparations."

Tina sighed, "If only we could find out where Griffin is hiding."

Kang De stroked her cloud-like hair, smooth as silk. "It won't be that easy. He's already been tricked once, so he won't fall for it a second time. Even if I know where he's hiding, I won't go and attack him like I did this time... The first attack was a surprise attack; if I try the same trick again, I'll just be walking into a trap."

"So, let's just run them over head-on."

Her Highness smiled and said, "Military matters are naturally your decision."

Just then, the phone rang. Kang De pressed the speakerphone button, and A Fu's lively voice came through. "Father, the space scholars from the Broken Isles have arrived, and the space teleportation array has been set up. You can come anytime; they are ready to accommodate all your requests."

"Okay, thank you, A Fu."

"Hey-hey!"

After hanging up the phone, Kang De kissed Tina: "The fact that Phaethon and Griffin used the teleportation array to escape this time has given me a wake-up call. I need to study their teleportation mechanism and see if there's anything I can do about it."

With Brother Tu protecting him, to put it bluntly, Kang De's spatial magic aptitude should be extremely high, enough to shatter a crystal ball.

However, after entering the world, Kant was busy with affairs, Goth's level of spatial scholarship was limited, and his relationship with the Council was extremely poor. Even if he hired a teacher, Kang De did not dare to learn from him.

You'll have to figure it out yourself.

The same principle applies to enchanting.

Although he was just randomly thinking things through by accelerating time, and he had talent and a wildly imaginative mind, resulting in wonderful achievements, he was, after all, a latecomer to the field, without systematic learning and training, and did not understand the principles and intricacies of Mortal World space techniques.

Therefore, even though his phase manipulation skills were astonishingly powerful, they also had many weaknesses—for example, even if he found the remnants of the teleportation array, he couldn't analyze where Griffin and Phaethon had teleported to.

According to the Parrot, if a formally trained space scholar were to elevate his phase manipulation skills to the level of Kang De through systematic learning and his own exploration, then if Phaethon and Griffin dared to ride a teleportation array right under his nose, he could banish those two poor souls to a desolate alternate dimension with a mere flick of his wrist, and they would never be able to return for eight hundred lifetimes.

Upon hearing this, Kang De asked with great interest how long it would take to reach that level if he studied now. The Parrot considered it for a moment and said that, considering Kang De's exceptional talent, based on her past experience, he would be able to reach that level by middle age.

Incidentally, the Parrot is an elf, so her past experiences are naturally those of an elf.

Learn from your mother.

Let's have a crash course in studying.

At 8 p. m. that evening, the explosive news shocked the mainland.

Griffin appeared north of the Council and issued a statement to all the northern counties, saying that Kang De of the Cathayan and Senate Kaliusi had conspired to commit the massacre at the Tower of All-Seeing.

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PS1: March 8th... A tribute to independent, hardworking, intelligent, and self-respecting women.