Chapter 443
In any case, we'll deal with whatever comes our way, and if we encounter a sudden situation, we'll defeat them head-on.
"Alright, let's wait here for now. The supplies should arrive at eight o'clock, at most ten minutes late."
It was 7:45, a quarter of an hour before the transaction. Knowing he was being ignored, the Grey Hat stood by a white pillar in the parking lot after speaking.
Ever since arriving here, Amiya seemed completely uneasy. Vigna, noticing something was wrong, tilted her head to look at her for a moment before asking in confusion:
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Amiya shook her head slightly, indicating that she was fine. She frowned and looked at the ceiling, feeling something indescribable:
"No, it's just that I feel inexplicably uneasy, like there's something around that's making me feel depressed. But I can't quite put my finger on what it is."
At first, I thought it was because the air in the Underground Parking Lot wasn't circulating properly, causing some oxygen deprivation in my brain. But then I realized that wasn't the case, and I don't know what's going on.
Vigna didn't seem flustered, nor did she notice anything else amiss. Since Amiya said it wasn't serious, she decided to change the subject and distract her:
"I heard the Sarkaz call you the Demon King before, but you're clearly not Sarkaz, are you?"
Amiya was still young and not a particularly cunning person. She didn't choose to deal with the Demon King Power within her with polite words:
"Actually, this power does not belong to me, but was bestowed upon me by Empress Theresia of the Sarkaz. She gave me this crown of power, but did not tell me how to use it or what to do in the future."
Some people can be content with the present and do whatever they want. But others must shoulder heavier responsibilities, even if it is not their own will.
Sometimes I wonder if my current choice will disappoint Theresia? Even if I'm not someone worthy of being entrusted with this ability.
Vigna empathized with this, because she knew she wasn't up to the task, yet she had to bear the same expectations.
Since escaping the Imperial Palace fire 26 years ago, Vigna has settled down in the Glass Gang.
Most of the time, he would beat up a few troublesome drunkards, or rob the rich to help the poor, and lead his friends to evade the police in the Norbert District.
She remained skeptical about her ability to become the monarch who would revitalize Victoria.
"That's not bad, at least you're willing to take on this responsibility. Actually, I have the same concerns, afraid that I won't be able to become the leader people expect."
I wanted to escape to faraway places, but I couldn't ignore the expectations of the people of Victoria. When they learned I was a descendant of the Aslan Royal Family, they all knelt down in worship. I looked at the huge crowd and couldn't say a word.
Amiya nodded in agreement, because she was all too familiar with this kind of scene.
Before she even reached adulthood, Doctor Kal'tsit placed her in the leadership position at Rhodes Island. Every time she held a meeting, the audience consisted entirely of Operator older than her, more experienced, and more suited to leadership.
"Miss Vigna, perhaps this is enough. Just as Theresia once told me, Demon King is not a duty. When I can no longer bear the pressure behind me, running away is indeed a better choice. But now, I still have some confidence that I can face it."
Just then, the Grey Hat walked over:
"Gentlemen, I hope I haven't disturbed your enjoyment?"
Seeing that Amiya and Vigna remained silent, he didn't let the atmosphere become awkward and continued to try to find a topic to talk about:
"His Lord Duke has never minded having more friends and fewer enemies. Especially not Her His Highness Alexandrina Victoria."
Vigna had been using the codename "Crownslayer" for years, and only close friends addressed her Vigna. The fact that Grey Hat called her by her real name right away made her feel strange.
"Don't call me by my name, call me Crownslayer."
"Very well, Your His Highness. Victoria is now riddled with problems and carries an unusually heavy burden. No matter how noble his bloodline, this man's return will be of no benefit to the country."
Finally, the Grey Hat even distanced himself from his master:
"These are my personal opinions and have nothing to do with the Duke Kester."
"If you can't represent him, then shut up. I don't want to hear your clichés anymore."
Seeing Vigna's firm stance, he gave an awkward smile, attempting to ease the tension.
"Your His Highness, there's really no need for things to get so tense between us. I'm just following orders, and I've already shown enough goodwill within my authority..."
Goodwill? Was there any?
She wondered if she had misheard, and immediately retorted:
"Either you're being too subtle in your expression, or you misunderstand the word 'goodwill.' Or are you mistakenly believing that your forgiveness is an act of goodwill?"
The Grey Hat, somewhat at a loss for words, avoided Vigna's sharp gaze and shifted the topic to Amiya:
"Rhodes Island leader, do you also feel that I haven't expressed enough goodwill?"
"That's true, sir. When you first appeared at the Self-Rescue Army camp, you were able to identify many people. I was thinking then, you've always been able to do that, haven't you?"
The man in the Grey Hat, puzzled, wanted to confirm:
What do you mean?
"Whether it's the Self-Rescue Army, the Glass Gang, or Rhodes Island, you've never been completely ignorant. Your intelligence-gathering capabilities are far superior to what we believe."
"It's not that exaggerated, and it's not as amazing as you imagine. We just did our homework before the formal meeting and learned about everyone's identities."
That's not what Amiya meant:
"From our meeting in the Oktriug District of the Central City District to the Norbert District, you managed to Investigate Clearly information on almost everyone within just a few hours, proving your intelligence capabilities are outstanding."
This means you can attack Londinium whenever you want. But why are you staying outside for so long, waiting for the situation inside the city to worsen?"
This was not only her question, but also the question of most Victorians.
They could only conclude that the Dukes didn't care about the lives of ordinary people. To maximize their own interests, no one wanted to be the first to storm Londinium.
The Grey Hat directly addressed the question, and his answer largely represented the views of most Duke:
"Although I'm reluctant to admit it, the Sarkaz regent is a formidable opponent. Even the Duke of Kester and Duke Wellington would acknowledge that."
Despite their outdated equipment, their sorcery and magic originating from Kazdel are not to be underestimated. For the past six months, the various Duke have refrained from a direct assault. Besides protecting their reputations, the most important reason is that they know they cannot win. Only by uniting can they drive out the Sarkaz."
As early as last year, Kal'tsit had been gathering intelligence on Londinium. Amiya, as the leader of Rhodes Island, knew as much as an intelligence operative:
"It's rather ironic that you would say such a thing. According to our analysis, Theresis's personal strength is indeed very strong. However, she is far from being able to put all the Duke in a passive position."
Your claim that you can't win only makes me more certain. You're deliberately standing by, hoping to plunge the country into war so you can seize power.
With the emperor's death, Victoria was leaderless. The Duke hoped that Londinium would descend into chaos so that they could defeat the Sarkaz and gain the people's support.
Now that things have come to this, the Grey Hat has no reason to hide anything:
"You're right, the purpose of war is never itself, but rather an extension of politics."
The Sarkaz need a war to unite their fellow citizens. Victoria also needs a war to unite the nobles and commoners within her borders. As for whose side to unite with, that is a matter for discussion.
War is inherently cruel and merciless; it brings harm and death.
To put it more bluntly, war is a grand game of redistributing interests and power.
Shi Lei understood this point, which is why, when the Doctor requested an end to the war, he proposed that Shi Lei himself should decide which side to help win.
Amiya began to understand why the Doctor couldn't make a decision. Although she had known what kind of person the Duke was, she was still disappointed when she finally got the answer.
"If a leader can disregard the safety of the people, does he deserve to be united with?"
Faced with the questioning, the Grey Hat shook his head repeatedly. Clearly, he did not agree with Amiya's statement.
"There was a time when I was just as cynical as you. But as I've grown older and gained more experience, I've realized that my previous views were too one-sided."
Only in times of peace is there a need for an emperor who cares for his people. In times of frequent turmoil, what is needed is a leader who can bring prosperity and strength to the nation.
If Victoria was a person, then the people were the water. A person cannot live long without water. But simply drinking water won't make a person gain weight. They need to consume carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Only in this way can they become stronger and avoid being bullied by others.
When others covet your body, survival becomes the primary concern. To obtain the nutrients needed for growth, sometimes you have to drink less water. I think this trade-off is worthwhile.
The Duke I served genuinely hoped that Victoria, having overcome its hardships, could regain its glory and find a future where the country could stand firm."
Amiya listened, then hesitated, her lips moving slightly, but she couldn't utter a word.
Because I couldn't refute the view that 'the country is water and the people are water,' and even felt a slight agreement with it.
Amiya glanced to the side for help, but seeing Vigna's furrowed brow and thoughtful expression, she figured she couldn't count on her.
She didn't know how to argue, but when she looked around and saw Shi Lei, her eyes lit up.
Got it!
Amiya walked straight over and explained the point made by the man in the Grey Hat. In her mind, Doctor Zhongli was a voracious reader and should know more than she did.
"I know his statement is problematic, but I don't know how to refute it. Can you help me?"
"Ha, what a high-sounding phrase."
Shi Lei was amused after hearing this and gave guidance:
"When you feel that a viewpoint is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on why, it's often because that viewpoint is too idealistic and disguised."
Don't listen to what he says, watch what he does. He says one thing and does another. This is the most common practice for politicians and nobles.
Anyone can claim that they are the only one who can guide Victoria to become better. To conceal their true intentions, they will label those who disagree, saying that only shallow people would think it's a struggle for power and profit.
In reality, the Duke Kester coveted Victoria's throne and that's why he wanted the Breath of the Kings, a symbol of royal power. If he truly cared about the future of the country, why would he go to such lengths to obtain it?
I bet he'll explain that the sword is needed for the operation to be legitimate. Only then can Victoria's glory be restored. Listen to that, is that even human language? These two-faced Duke are the real culprits dragging Victoria into the quagmire of war."
Amiya looked enlightened, impressed by his extensive knowledge, and grinned:
"Thank you, I know what to say now."
"Wait a minute, Amiya."
Shi Lei called her back and added:
"The Grey Hat gets paid by Kester; that's his job. What's the point of arguing with him about who's right and who's wrong? Do you expect him to betray the Duke and join Rhodes Island's side?"
You are you, and he is he. Listen to what others say casually, but make your own decisions.
If a person lacks their own opinions and is easily influenced by others' viewpoints, then if they can be persuaded by you, they will naturally be persuaded by others as well. If they are not easily swayed, no matter how much you say, they will still believe they are right.
Therefore, the most important thing is to stick to what you believe is right and not try to correct other people's opinions.
Amiya nodded emphatically, deeply grateful. The lesson Doctor Zhongli had taught her was incredibly beneficial, resolving her previous confusion as well.
If Theresia were still alive, she might be disappointed in Amiya. She asked herself honestly and felt she had done her best. The failures she encountered were valuable lessons, an indispensable part of the process.
Sensing that someone had disembarked from the airship and landed on the hotel rooftop, Shi Lei confirmed the exact number of people and then gave instructions to the three people he had brought with him:
"Mudrock, stay behind for Amiya's and everyone else's safety. Horn, you assist her in keeping watch on their surroundings."
Amiya, unaware of the impending danger, asked in confusion when he suddenly began assigning tasks:
"Doctor Zhongli, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I'm going out to take care of something. You stay here and don't wander around."
After saying this, Shi Lei called to Ines and prepared to leave.
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Chapter 520 Ablana (4K)
Seeing Shi Lei suddenly leave, Vigna wanted to ask him what had happened. But since he hadn't even told Amiya, she figured asking him would be even more pointless. So she swallowed back all the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
Mudrock accepted the arrangement, but longed to carry out the mission with her master. She didn't verbally protest, but simply gazed at her lover with reluctant eyes.
Shi Lei grinned, knowing roughly what she was thinking. Before leaving, he didn't forget to coax her:
"I'm leaving. Someone has to stay here to keep things in order. I don't trust anyone else but you. Be good, I'll make it up to you tonight."
The last sentence was perfectly timed. Mudrock's upturned lips were almost as comical as the Crooked-Mouthed Dragon King's.
She quickly realized she had been somewhat rude, lowered her head shyly, and then glanced at her lover again:
"Okay~ Go on."
Shi Lei brought Ines along because their next target was the Sarkaz. If they were to meet the Victorians, they would naturally bring horns.
After he left, everyone remained in the hotel's Underground Parking Lot to wait silently.
More than ten minutes later, the clock struck eight. Before the trucks carrying supplies appeared, a group of fully armed soldiers burst into view from another passage.
After just one glance, the man in the Grey Hat recognized the other party's leader and cautiously maintained a safe distance.
"What are you doing here? Should I address you as the captain of the Crimson Iron Guard, or as a colonel from Deep Pool?"
The officers also recognized the Grey Hat; its distinctive shape was hard to miss.
"It seems the Duke Kester has gotten there first."
"Same to you, the Old Duke Wellington is equally eager to compete. But is this all the people you have?"
Both sides tacitly agreed on the reason for their arrival. The only valuable thing in the Norbert District was the airships hovering hundreds of meters in the air.