Run, My Ass

Thirty years.

Kang De stared blankly at the lines on his palm, feeling as if he had been transported to another world.

He whispered, "... Yes, thirty years is enough. To care for my parents in their old age, to fulfill my responsibilities as a son, to help my country return to its rightful place, and to usher in our own era. Thirty years is enough for me to do everything I need to do on Earth, and have no regrets..."

The Earthling slowly clenched his fist, as if holding something in his palm.

"I've been balancing my energy between the two realms, trying my best not to miss anything, letting the people of Distant Harbor know I'm always here, and letting my enemies know I'm always watching them..."

"... It also lets my parents know that although their son has a new destiny and life, he can come back to them anytime, anywhere, always lively and energetic, so they don't need to worry about him."

He spread his palms, rubbed his face, remained silent for a moment, and said softly, "But I still left."

"Every time I text Xiaoman, she always replies instantly if it's during the day. But I can only see her messages when I'm back on Earth. Every time I go home, my parents are just overjoyed. They no longer ask, 'Are you coming home for dinner tonight?' They've gotten used to their son not being around."

"They never ask me what I'm doing, but they always know. My father has seen me carrying all sorts of weapons and killing people without batting an eye. He only once, when he was drunk, patted me on the shoulder and half-jokingly said, 'Reading novels is one thing, reality is another. I hope my son is an invincible overpowered Long Aotian.'"

Then, bleary-eyed from drunkenness, he laughed out loud, shrugged, and said, "He must be a monk."

I don't know how to answer him.

At this point, Kang De himself laughed.

But the Parrot didn't laugh.

Although she understood the reference... among the beings of this other world, no one understood it better than her.

She simply gazed at Kang De and listened quietly.

Kang De smiled and looked up at the Parrot, gazing at her hair, as green as distant mountains, and her unparalleled beauty, as serene as the blue sea. Then he asked softly.

"Malegith."

He whispered, "At the current pace—managing the Distant Harbor, developing our military, actively preparing for war, and uniting with other nations—can we defeat the Star Palace? And what sacrifices will we have to make?"

The Parrot remained silent for a moment, then pushed aside the keyboard. Her long, slender legs, wrapped in white fabric, shimmered with a dazzling soft light as she gracefully swayed and stepped, creating a captivating silhouette. She sat down beside Kang De, her Kang De arms gently outstretched, encircling his neck and embracing him.

"In the Mortal World, mind control magic is a forbidden zone for the soul; it consumes a great deal of energy, carries high risks, and yields low returns."

She continued, "As long as the target's mental strength is even slightly strong, or if they wear relevant resistance accessories, then mental control is extremely difficult to achieve. After all, completely controlling a person is extremely difficult, and it will cause potential soul damage... Even a high-level mage who is well-versed in soul studies, even if they can manipulate a group of people with mental spells, will find it difficult to completely control and enslave even a single commoner."

"Not to mention those of even higher status... Nobles in high positions have valuable defensive items, Arcane advisors, and special meditation training techniques. It is extremely difficult to completely control their minds, and it is easy to expose weaknesses. They are truly the most useless of all."

Kang De frowned and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Malegith ignored him and continued, "But difficulty doesn't mean impossibility... If the target is an ordinary person who hasn't undergone any extraordinary training, the success rate will increase significantly. If the target is an elderly person, the success rate will increase even further."

"If he already has mental health issues, that's even better. Not only will it further increase the success rate, but the side effects after control can also be masked by his mental problems."

Kang De seemed thoughtful. "You..."

The Parrot tightened its grip on Kang De's neck and declared resolutely, "That's it! After the war with the Council is over, let's shift our focus back to Earth, seize the bird throne, and become chieftains!"

Kang De exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?"

"I secretly went to the White House and saw Master A Chuan. Although this old bastard is old, his soul is strong and his mental sea is still Raging Tide. Mind control magic can only turn him into an idiot."

The Parrot said ominously, "The general election is coming up this year, and this guy's base is as solid as the Rocky Mountains. Even if the Donkey Party resort to dirty tricks and the Elephant Party turn against him, they probably can't do anything to him, so..."

The ruthless and decisive elven queen, who had ushered in an era in the Mortal World, declared, "The next step is to interfere in the election! We must find a way to bring down A Chuan and let that old Donkey Party member take the throne!"

"Then we mind-controlled him. Anyway, the American Empire knows Sleepy Joe is senile. Even if he shows some idiotic symptoms after being elected due to the side effects of mind manipulation, it won't arouse suspicion."

Malegith became more and more excited as she spoke—because of Kang De, she had fully realized the disgusting nature of the Onsa gang, and her saddled firmly with the China side. Like Kang De, they were both extreme Han chauvinists who had entered the Central Plains for entertainment.

The fact that they were able to put on such a great show is something to celebrate!

Kang De was stunned and immediately shook his head, saying, "If the country finds out, the honeymoon period will be over. If we slip up and the American Empire notices, a nuclear war might break out."

He is a pessimist; he always thinks of the worst-case scenario first.

He shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Besides, this president isn't an emperor. Even if Yuri, he wouldn't be of much use... Wait a minute, why didn't Yuri just mind control the American Empire president back then?"

"Because Yuri's character is entirely a villain... but that's not the point!" Malegith said. "Even if his power isn't absolute, he's still the supreme leader of the strongest hegemon on Earth, and the absolute commander-in-chief of the five armed forces! Are you just after United States because you want Wall Street's money?"

She brought her face close. "It's the American Empire nuclear arsenal, the military power of the most powerful nation ever built in human history, and top-tier war potential and military research and development capabilities!"

"Yuri Sleepy Joe means you can interfere with the future direction of the American Empire military research and development and construction plans, guiding this superpower to begin preparing for war against the Star Palace... Do you understand?"

"Yuri, Sleepy Joe, you have, to some extent, control over the location of all US military assets. While the president's power isn't absolute, think about how much his family made when A Chuan was in power?"

"With just a little manipulation, many large American Empire military bases could have an additional laboratory wholly owned by AWSL. With a mere stroke of his pen, you could control all US military movements, getting whatever you want for free..."

"And that's just one of the benefits!"

She waved her other hand. "Think about it! If electing a president didn't bring in money, then why would every presidential election involve such fierce competition? Wall Street reaps the benefits of electing a president, the military-industrial complex reaps the benefits, so why can't we? This is the United States Dream!"

Grass.

Kang De had already been deeply moved by what he had heard, but upon hearing this, he still felt quite disappointed.

He looked puzzled. "How is this the United States Dream?"

The Parrot declared confidently, "A stunningly beautiful, peerless, and brilliantly ambitious retired elf monarch from another world, and a monk-turned-superpowered individual who has transmigrated to China —these two individuals with an excess of these Element, upon arriving in United States, can still, through their relentless efforts, interfere in the presidential election, become the master of this country, reach the pinnacle, and share the same joys as the major conglomerates and political groups..."

"What is this if not the United States Dream? This is the light of democracy where everyone is equal!"

"..."

To be honest, that's true.

I've heard from public intellectuals that American Empire campus buses are of excellent quality and extremely safe because "a future president might be sitting inside."

--It's as if the reason other children who couldn't become president, whose lives were destined to be mediocre and who might even be shot, commit suicide, die kneeling, or die of illness, were able to live to adulthood and die peacefully is all because of the president's influence.

Of course, that's not the point. The point is, since even the little kids sitting on the American Empire school buses could become future presidents, it's not surprising that a China guy and an otherworldly elf could replace Wall Street as the masterminds controlling the president.

Kang De had already considered this in his mind several times, and he was becoming increasingly tempted.

First of all, it's a lot of fun.

Dealing with A Chuan was fun enough, but being the American Empire was even more fun. Double the fun combined made it a truly United States dream-like time of happiness. Physically entering the country, what a luxury!

Secondly, as the Parrot said... there are many benefits.

Influenced through this relationship, shifting the American Empire military focus, would also be a meritorious act.

Don't America, these past few decades have seen wars fought everywhere, destroying countries and families, committing countless atrocities, and committing countless sins? If we can further support the Mortal World people in their great cause of fighting against the Star Palace, it will be a way to accumulate merit, and prevent them from causing trouble on Earth.

Compared to these enormous benefits and enjoyment, the potential risks seem insignificant.

If this matter is exposed, the consequences are unpredictable... but it's best not to expose it. Keep things clean, and don't make the transfer of benefits too obvious. Anyway, this matter is being handled by Parrot; she has a wealth of political experience, has lived a long life, seen a lot, and knows how to keep things in check.

What Kang De needed to do was to absolve himself of any responsibility.

After all, he wouldn't do it himself; he didn't even understand this kind of magic.

--What does Yuri, the elf from another world, have to do with the President of the American Empire, and me, Kang De, an earthling?

He thought about it again and decided it was feasible, so he said, "Then..."

"Then after you finish the Council, we'll get back to this matter," the Parrot said preemptively. "Use Griffin to paralyze the Star Palace, confuse them, and make them agree to sign a peace treaty. In exchange for you ceasing your expansion and returning to the Mortal World, they will stop their attacks and extermination of the Mortal World."

"Drag it out for as long as possible. Three years is a great profit, five years is even better, and if we drag it out for ten years, we can start farming here on Earth and reach the early stages of the Stellaris Alliance. Three escort ships can destroy Star Palace's shitty space station."

Kang De remained silent, watching the Parrot quietly.

The Parrot shifted its gaze somewhat uncomfortably. "... What?"

"What if, within months of signing the peace treaty, the Star Palace breaks the agreement and invades the Mortal World?"

"If they can repair the Starry Firmament Bridge that quickly, then even if you stay in the Mortal World, you won't be able to stop the Star Palace from destroying the world." The Parrot turned back and said seriously, "At that time, your only option will be to escape back to Earth, which will waste precious development time... That can only be said to be fate."

Kang De didn't reply, only shook his head. After a short while, he said in a muffled voice, "And what about you? To put it nicely, you have other plans; to put it bluntly, you're deserting your post... You..."

"Don't worry about our thoughts. Our battle and efforts are long over," Malegith said calmly. "Our lingering Mortal World, these few hundred years in the mortal realm, were all bought with Li Manyue's life. You only became Fire Thief by chance, which doesn't mean you bear any responsibility."

She reached out and covered the back of Kang De's hand.

"Let's make a promise," she whispered. "Three years—three years in the Mortal World. If the Mortal World isn't destroyed by the Star Palace within those three years, it means fate has once again shown mercy to the mortal Mortal World, allowing us to try to save it once more."

"If the Mortal World suffers the annihilation blow of the Star Palace within three years, then I hope you can do your best to save as many lives as possible, evacuate them to the White Mist World, and preserve the Spark of Civilization..."

The former Phoenix King lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly. "This can also be seen as the work of the Fire Thief... Perhaps we were wrong from the beginning. The Fire Thief's mission is not actually to defeat the apocalypse, but to preserve hope. After all, through era after era, no one has ever truly won."

Just as Kang De was about to speak, he felt Malegith tighten her grip.

Listen to me... This Mortal World is not your home, and you have no reason to die for it.

She looked at Kang De with a fear and anxiety in her eyes that she herself was unaware of.

During her glorious and arduous years, the invincible Li Manyue shone like the sun, even subduing such a proud queen. Yet, even such a powerful person fell silently, leaving her with the judgment that "it is impossible to win," which was like a stamp, imprinted on her heart.

She has never been able to escape the Shadow of Li Manyue's passing.

Therefore, people are worried about Kang De... At the prime of his life, having acquired unparalleled magical powers, he could have had a better life on Earth. Why stay in the Mortal World to face a perilous situation with little chance of victory?

Listen to me.

She grasped Kang De's hand, forcing a smile, "I've fought wars my whole life, and been caged as a bird for so long, shouldn't I at least enjoy myself on Earth?"

Kang De was startled and reached out to embrace the Parrot.

The former Phoenix King showed unprecedented weakness and helplessness, nestling in Kang De's arms.

"Don't stay in the Mortal World..."

She stretched out her hand and counted her fingers one by one.

"Before leaving, try to gather as many people as possible and bring them to the White Mist World. If the Mortal World can gain three years, that's twenty years on Earth, enough time for a baby boomer generation to grow up..."

"Bring your legion, your loyal followers, and the girls you like, so they can see the world too..." The Parrot smiled enviously.

"There are no Star Palace here, no impending doom. The White Mist World is the only passage. It doesn't matter how long you stay here... There's no need for Fire Thief here. You're just China man Kang De. Do what you love, and I'll be with you no matter what..."

After she finished speaking, she gently grasped Kang De's collar, her voice soft and pleading.

"... Okay?"

Kang De closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

He whispered, "Let 'Council, end this war, and then we'll talk."

Malegith paused for a moment, then a smile bloomed on her face.

He straightened up, leaned closer, and gently kissed Kang De's lips.

She knew in her heart that Kang De had wavered.

Just then, Kang De looked down at her. "... You might not necessarily lose."

"The longer we delay, the greater our chances of winning will be."

"..."

Kang De was speechless.

Malegith seemed to have a weight lifted from her mind, and her smile brightened.

"Alright," she said, "Then let's deal with the immediate problems in the Mortal World realm first, and then manage the Earth."

Kang De did not answer. He looked up at the sky. The sky over the Great Lakes region was azure and clear, but Kang De's gaze was not fixed on this sky, but on the distant starry sky beyond the atmosphere.

The Parrot followed his gaze; she knew what Kang De was looking at.

The former Phoenix King suddenly sighed and said leisurely, "Spectacularity can ruin a country."

Kang De glanced at her sideways. "Don't you want to do it?"

Malegith's expression immediately changed. "Increase the intensity! Increase the intensity!"

When Star-Bearing Titan descended upon the Great Lakes, Kang De planted a seed.

A sphere, no bigger than a ping-pong ball and carrying a space beacon, evaded the North America Aerospace Defense Command's surveillance and entered outer space. It then deployed Phase Door, releasing a faster beacon that accelerated continuously in the dark universe. Over time, it traversed hundreds of millions of kilometers, narrowly missing Mercury.

After continuous adjustments and calculations, we finally reached our destination.

Now, the Phase Gate opens once more, and a device forged in the White Mist World leaps out—made with a large amount of dragon scales, referencing and utilizing the Arcane Council's energy conversion technology, tempered with Paradox Element, and using a massive amount of magical materials traded from Twilight Moon, the Southern Council, and even the Empire over the past few months. The pure white, large device floats silently in the void.

It's like a strangely shaped outpost.

It guards, or rather watches over, one thing—a massive fireball with a lifespan of forty-six years and a diameter of nearly 140,000 kilometers, a ball of interwoven magnetic fields and plasma.

It watched, collected, and calculated, while the terminal phase beacon continuously opened space gates, launching extremely fast projectiles towards the fireball.

And slowly, as gracefully as an angel, it unfolded four enormous wings that blotted out the sky and were shrouded in countless dazzling runes.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: I originally planned to stay silent until I reached 180,000 words this month, since doing is more important than saying in this situation... But the pace has picked up, so I'll explain anyway. In short, please enjoy reading.

PS2: I thought for five minutes about how to reassure everyone, such as explaining my ambition and intentions behind this book, or explaining the book's revenue situation—from any perspective, saying I want to run away is absurd, but explaining it would be a bit lengthy. Perhaps you will understand after the book is finished and everyone has read the whole story... If I don't finish this story, it would be a denial and betrayal of my writing career.

PS3: So I decided to explain it in one sentence.

PS4: I haven't even written the part where A Chuan, the Dragon Emperor, and the Emperor play mahjong yet -- do you think there are any web novel writers in this world who can give up writing this kind of plot? Forget it.