Girl Samantha

Kingdom of Congo.

King Mbenel Nzinga stared at the urgent report in his hands, his brow deeply furrowed. "Sigh, where did this Yanhuang Empire even come from? How can it be so absurd—wiping out every country in Southern Africa in a single year? It's just ridiculous.

I estimate that Congo will have to face this Yanhuang Empire next, after all, it's too close."

The Kingdom of Congo lay near Southern Africa, so if the Yanhuang Empire continued its expansion, Congo would bear the brunt of it with no way to avoid it.

Just then, Mbenel's son and heir, Pedro Nzinga, entered the palace. Seeing his father's knitted brows, he immediately said, "Father, are you worried about the threat of the Yanhuang Empire?"

Looking up at Pedro, his favorite son, Mbenel didn't hide the truth from him. "This Yanhuang Empire's military strength is too formidable. Especially those Iron Birds that can fly in the sky—they're utterly invincible. There's no way to counter them.

What I fear most right now is that if they attack Congo, how should we counter their Iron Birds?"

Hearing this, Pedro nodded. He too had heard about the Yanhuang Empire's Iron Birds from refugees fleeing South Africa. If things were truly as those people described, with them on the ground, they really had no good way to deal with it.

After thinking it over, Pedro looked at his father and said, "Father, since it's a kind of bird, why not design an oversized bow to shoot it down?

I believe that as long as the bow's power is enough to pierce iron plates, then it can definitely shoot them down."

Hearing this "brilliant idea," Mbenel nodded thoughtfully, then ordered Pedro to find someone to craft it.

Seeing that his father had truly accepted his suggestion, a hint of surprise appeared on Pedro's face.

"If this task is done well, my position will surely be more secure."

Pedro then hurried off to find skilled artisans, trying to forge the kind of bow he had envisioned.

After his son left, Mbenel thought for a moment and decided to send envoys to several other countries. After all, the threat of the Yanhuang Empire wasn't a danger to him alone.

He believed the rulers of those countries wouldn't fail to understand the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.

South Africa.

Former capital of the Zimbabwe Kingdom, now one of the Yanhuang Empire's forward outposts in Africa. Today, a passenger plane flew in from the Yanhuang Empire.

As the plane landed, Ye Chen stepped out. Looking at the surrounding buildings with their exotic feel, he couldn't help but glance around curiously.

This was his first time in Africa, both in this life and his past one. His previous impression of the place was dirt, chaos, and squalor. Coming here a few hundred years early—well, it was still dirt, chaos, and squalor.

"Your subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

Lin Xuan, the garrison commander, led his officers behind him. Seeing Ye Chen descend from the plane, he immediately bowed in salute.

Then Lin Xuan led Ye Chen toward the palace within the city.

Along the way, Ye Chen noticed that outside the imperial garrison's perimeter, many women and children had set up thatched huts, or simply spread a few leaves and curled up on the ground.

Seeing this, Lin Xuan's heart sank. He knew that Ye Chen hated these foreign tribes the most.

"Your Majesty, these are the remaining old, weak, women, and children from the Zimbabwe Kingdom.

At first, Your subordinate drove them all away, but every time, they would sneak back under cover of night. Even killing a few as a deterrent didn't work—they still crept back.

In the end, seeing that they behaved themselves and caused no trouble, Your subordinate let them fend for themselves outside the garrison."

Hearing this, Ye Chen smiled. These people might all look like the old, weak, women, and children, but there was definitely someone in charge among them.

And that leader was clever. She knew that leaving this place and losing their familiar environment meant these old, weak, women, and children simply couldn't survive.

But staying near the Yanhuang Empire's garrison, with a familiar environment, though survival was still hard, there was at least hope of living.

Moreover, she had figured out that since the Yanhuang Empire hadn't killed them but instead drove them out to fend for themselves, there was a good chance they would be allowed to live on the garrison's periphery.

So, gambling had a high probability of survival; not gambling meant certain death. Those two choices weren't hard to make.

Now, looking at the situation outside the city, it was clear that person had gambled correctly.

"Find the leader among these people. Imperial We has grown somewhat curious about this person."

"As you command!!"

Seeing that Ye Chen wasn't blaming him, Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

After entering the city, Ye Chen rested for a while, then made a round of the military garrison, awarding merits to some who had distinguished themselves.

And surprisingly, though the ceremony was plain and had no stirring music, the effect was explosive.

After all, these were rewards personally bestowed by the Emperor—priceless treasures that could be passed down as heirlooms for generations.

After making his rounds, he returned. Tomorrow, he would go to other garrisons for inspections and awards.

Just as he got back to the palace, Ye Chen heard Lin Xuan say that the leader he wanted had been found.

"Bring them in."

"As you command."

Soon, Ye Chen saw a girl. She wore a light yellow animal-hide garment, with some animal bones hanging around her neck.

Looking at this little girl, Ye Chen honestly hadn't expected the leader of that group to be such a young thing. But judging by her attire, she wasn't an ordinary person.

He thought for a moment but couldn't come up with anything. He knew nothing about Africa.

"What is your name?"

Hearing this, Lin Xuan, standing nearby, acted as translator and relayed it to the other party.

Soon, Ye Chen learned her name: "Samantha Palance."

Samantha looked at the imposing Ye Chen before her, her heart trembling. She didn't know what fate awaited her, but she only wanted to survive.

"Samantha—not a bad name. And you're quite bold, very clever. What made you think running back here would let you live?"

Looking at this young girl, Ye Chen asked with interest.

Samantha met Ye Chen's gaze, her eyes full of longing for life. "Without the protection of the city's army, even if we don't starve to death, we'll eventually be eaten by the beasts at night. So leaving the city means certain death for us.

But here in the capital, with the adults' soldiers around, the beasts don't dare come near. That way, at least we don't have to worry about falling asleep and never waking up. So only by coming back is there hope of survival.

As for whether the adults will kill us or not—that's not something we consider. Because if we want to live, we have no other choice.

And if I had to choose, I'd rather die at the hands of the adults than be eaten by beasts."

Looking at this little one, a hint of appreciation rose in Ye Chen's eyes. Well-reasoned, sharp-minded—quite interesting.

If not for this war, this girl's future achievements would not be low. Of course, that was assuming she didn't meet an early end.

"Do you want to live?"

"Thump!!"

Hearing this, Samantha's eyes lit up. She immediately knelt down and said, "Samantha is willing to do anything for the adult, only begging the adult to grant me a bite to eat."

"Haha, interesting."

Seeing Samantha's quick-wittedness—climbing the pole as soon as the stick was offered—Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh.