Smuggling Out

Amy stared at Li Qi.

Li Qi's expression did not change as he waited for her answer.

After a long while, Amy finally took a deep breath and asked Li Qi with a hint of threat in her voice:

"You know so much. Aren't you worried that I might attack you?"

"You can try."

Li Qi spoke calmly.

Amy's expression darkened further. "You think I wouldn't?"

"No, I believe you would. But I'll say the same thing again: you can try."

There was a playful glint in Li Qi's eyes, and even a hint of provocation in his words. He seemed to be looking forward to Amy actually doing what she had said.

Clenching her fists, Amy studied Li Qi for a long time before suddenly laughing.

"I was only joking. I'm not stupid enough to attack the mayor's daughter in the city."

She seemed to be trying to change the subject, but unfortunately, she failed.

"Even after we leave the city, you can try. I'll be waiting anytime."

Li Qi's voice remained calm, which made Amy's expression turn even darker.

"You really aren't worried that I'll attack you? Where does your confidence come from?"

Because I'm stronger than you, and I'm carrying a gun.

Li Qi really wanted to say that, but he could not reveal his trump card in front of outsiders. So he smiled and explained:

"Because I believe you're a smart person, Ms. Amy. I think you know very well what will cause trouble for you and what won't."

"..."

"Besides, even if we take a step back, I didn't report you on the carriage. Is it really too much to ask you for one small favor here?"

It is!

Amy really wanted to say that.

But looking at Li Qi's smile, she ultimately forced a smile and said:

"It's not too much. It's just that you might not like the way I leave Uno..."

"That's fine. As long as I can cross the border. Don't worry, Ms. Amy. Once I cross the border and reach the interior of the Shipu Federation, I'll leave immediately. We won't see each other again after that."

Amy did not trust Li Qi, and Li Qi did not trust her either.

After all, Li Qi had no idea which country's spy she was.

She might be from the Shipu Federation. She might be from a country bordering the Shipu Federation. Or, more likely, she might be from Inglis, which was currently at war with Uno!

If he did not truly need Amy, Li Qi absolutely would not cooperate with a spy from a suspected enemy nation.

In fact, he had already made preparations. The moment they crossed the Shipu border's defensive line, he would disappear without a trace!

Who knew whether Amy was really from the Shipu Federation? If she was, then continuing to follow Amy after entering the Federation would be no different from walking straight into a trap.

On the carriage, Li Qi and Amy reached a deal.

Afterward, the two of them followed their route. They first went to the theater to enjoy an opera, then returned to their respective residences.

When they returned to the Angulo Family's home, Generro, who had heard Li Qi and Amy's entire conversation, could not help asking worriedly:

"Are you really going to cooperate with her? She's a spy. Shouldn't we arrest her?"

"That's the Intelligence Department's job. It has nothing to do with us right now."

Sitting on the sofa, Li Qi casually picked up the Magic Book Claudia had prepared for him. As he flipped through it, he said to Generro:

"Don't forget our current identities. We're 'fugitives,' after all."

"Even so, we shouldn't cooperate with personnel from an enemy nation."

Generro muttered under his breath.

Li Qi had excellent hearing and heard him clearly. He looked up at his frowning subordinate and asked:

"Then tell me, how am I supposed to get to Inglis?"

"Isn't Mr. Dag trying to think of a way?"

"If he could think of a way, he would have done so before we came here instead of waiting until now. Besides, we can't place our hopes on these nobles. You've seen what they're like during our days here. The nobles... heh."

There was disdain in Li Qi's tone.

It was not that he looked down on every noble. In fact, there were quite a few outstanding people among them.

For example, the marshal of the military who was trying to change the country's current situation, and Bolent, who had arranged for Li Qi to go to Inglis.

They were both nobles by birth, but they were clearly different from the nobles Li Qi had met.

During his days in Kefiser City, his interactions with these nobles had given Li Qi a deep understanding of them. They were still clinging to the glories of the past.

They turned a blind eye to the crisis before them. Uno was clearly fighting a two-front war against two countries, yet they continued eating, drinking, and making merry every day, without the slightest concern that something might happen to Uno.

Were they simply too confident? Did they believe Uno was powerful enough to defeat two enemies at once and emerge victorious?

No. They simply did not care what would happen if Uno lost the war.

Li Qi had "fortunately" overheard a conversation between several noblemen. They had said that even if Uno really lost, they could end the war just as they had before by paying a little more compensation and handing over a few colonies.

Li Qi did not know what the "past" had been like, but it was clear that these nobles were still lost in it and refused to move on.

They had no idea that the world had already changed.

That was why Li Qi did not believe these nobles could help him in any way, Dag included.

Generro said nothing this time. He fell silent and sat opposite Li Qi.

Li Qi did not want to argue with him over this matter either. After thinking for a moment, he changed the subject.

"After you send me into the Shipu Federation, are you going back to the front?"

"Mm. I'm qualified to form a squad now. I want to earn glory on the battlefield like you, Squad Captain."

"Just don't get yourself killed."

"Well... all I can say is that I'll do my best."

At that, Generro began to smile.

Aside from someone like Li Qi, who held Strategic Rank, no one dared guarantee that they could survive on the battlefield.

Even those of Strategic Rank—even those of Strategic Rank who possessed a title—might not survive.

Therefore, Generro could not guarantee that he would live, but he could at least guarantee that he would kill enough enemies to make his death worthwhile.

Seeing the fighting spirit in Generro's eyes, Li Qi let out a nearly imperceptible sigh.

Compared with him, Generro was the truly pure soldier.

As for Li Qi... he was still somewhat afraid of death.

Time passed quickly, and several days flashed by.

The atmosphere throughout Uno grew increasingly tense. Sometimes, when Li Qi walked through the streets, he saw recruitment advertisements posted by the military.

As mentioned before, men in Uno were forced to enlist after reaching adulthood, so these recruitment advertisements were not aimed at adult men.

They were aimed at women.

In this era, when women still held a relatively low status, Uno had begun recruiting women into the military.

This proved from another angle that the situation at the front was not good.

That was only natural. Li Qi did not know what was happening at White Rock Strait, but he knew the situation on the Mien Frontline, which bordered Falor, quite well.

During his year at the front, Li Qi had seen countless dead people. Even before this war began, before Falor's brief ceasefire, the Mien Frontline had already been suffering from a shortage of troops.

He had thought Falor's ceasefire would give Uno a chance to catch its breath, but who would have expected the war to begin again before even half a year had passed?

And this time, it was fighting on two fronts against two countries.

It was perfectly normal for the military to feel pressure. In fact, it would have been strange if it did not.

That was why Li Qi wanted to leave Uno as soon as possible.

He did not want to end up being sent to the front again.

But even though the domestic situation had already deteriorated to this point, the nobles in Kefiser City continued eating and drinking as usual every day.

At most, they changed their daily Tea Parties into ones held every two or three days.

Seeing this, Li Qi became completely disappointed in this group of nobles.

Fortunately, Li Qi soon would not have to face these troublesome nobles in Uno anymore. On the tenth day after Li Qi arrived in Kefiser City, Amy contacted him.

She had already made preparations to smuggle herself into the Shipu Federation.