Chen Rui thought hard, countless sights and stores of knowledge from his past life flashing through his mind. He felt that a great deal of it might be useful, but he couldn't come up with a concrete plan just yet. All he could do was slowly search through his memories.
Shea didn't interrupt. She simply watched Chen Rui in silence, waiting for his answer. It had to be said: although this human man wasn't particularly handsome, there was something captivating about him when he was deep in thought. No wonder Alice and Athena both enjoyed spending time with him so much.
"Since the Eldest Princess has spoken so frankly with me, I won't be afraid to make a fool of myself, even though my abilities are modest." After thinking for a long while, Chen Rui finally had a rough framework. "Dark Moon's situation can be described as being beset by troubles at home and abroad. Usually, to resist external threats, we must first resolve our internal problems. Dark Moon's own strength is the fundamental condition for resisting the Imperial Capital. But Regent Heiyao is gradually losing patience and has begun using all sorts of methods to deal with Dark Moon. If he really launches a war, Dark Moon in its current state won't stand a chance. So we have to take two steps at once. First, divert Heiyao's attention and buy time to develop. Second, resolve the territory's internal problems as quickly as possible and rapidly increase our strength."
Shea was quite pleased that he had used the word "we." "You have an excellent grasp of the big picture. But the question is, how do we buy time? Or, how do we divert Heiyao's attention?"
"General George, Athena's father, is the Eldest Princess's greatest supporter. He's currently stationed at Warlock Fortress on the northern border. I heard from Athena that although the three nations signed a peace agreement, the Blood Fiend Empire often harasses the border and sometimes even launches small-scale attacks. Emperor Lei Chan of the Blood Fiend Empire turns a blind eye to this and doesn't restrain them?"
Shea nodded. "At the time, Heiyao used Emperor White Night's sacrifice for the Demon Realm as a reason to sign peace agreements with the Blood Fiend and Shadow Empires. But in terms of power, prestige, and ability, Heiyao can't compare with the other two emperors. Both empires have always coveted our Fallen Angel Empire, especially Emperor Lei Chan. And Emperor Catherine of the Shadow Empire is no simple opponent either. Her strength is almost on par with Lei Chan's, and she's also the Demon Realm's foremost strategist. The Fallen Angel Empire has fallen from being the strongest empire to the weakest."
"So the two empires are what Heiyao fears most? Since General George is at Warlock Fortress, we could make use of the Blood Fiend Empire."
Chen Rui's suggestion made Shea frown deeply. "You don't understand. My conflict with Heiyao is an internal affair of the Lucifer Royal Family and the Fallen Angel Empire. No matter how dire things become in Dark Moon, we will never stoop to colluding with a foreign enemy. Even if we used Lei Chan's power to destroy Heiyao, we'd be handing the Fallen Angel Empire over to the Blood Fiend Empire. My Lucifer Clan would inevitably decline as a result, and I, Shea, would become the empire's greatest sinner."
"Your Highness, you've misunderstood." Chen Rui smiled faintly. "I mean that, when necessary, we could have General George create the illusion of a Blood Fiend invasion to divert the Regent's attention. Of course, that alone won't be enough. Besides external threats, we should also stir up some trouble at home to further divide Heiyao's attention and let the Regent experience what it's like to be beset by troubles at home and abroad. That would buy Dark Moon precious time."
Shea nodded slightly in approval. "That's a very fresh approach. There shouldn't be a problem with General George. But as for the empire, all the lords who openly supported me have basically sided with Heiyao, while Dark Moon is constrained at every turn by Chiyou Territory. I'm afraid there's little we can do."
"When I say trouble at home, I don't mean pressuring the Imperial Capital by using the lords. I have another approach. I have a plan, but it requires a very particular candidate. This person must have extraordinary courage, a silver tongue, a clear head, and excellent adaptability. They also need to be skilled in business, and it would be best to give them an identity and background that people will readily trust."
"If you hadn't mentioned that last requirement, I would have thought you were describing yourself." Chen Rui's words had piqued Shea's interest. "I'd like to hear your plan."
"It's only a preliminary idea for now. If anything is inappropriate, please don't take offense, Your Highness."
Chen Rui leaned closer and spoke in a low voice. Shea's expression gradually grew grave, then shocked. Only after a long while did it finally return to normal.
"I have to say, your intelligence is rather frightening." Shea's eyes gleamed with admiration. "This is a truly ruthless masterstroke. If it succeeds, the Imperial Capital and those territories will be thrown into chaos, and we'll gain an astounding amount of wealth."
"Frightening? Ruthless? Your Highness, are you praising me or criticizing me?" Chen Rui gave a wry smile. "This plan is only a rough outline and needs to be refined further. It may prove crucial someday. We must keep it secret, both before and after we put it into action."
Shea's eyes flickered. "Yes, it must be kept secret. If we use this stratagem well, it may deal Prince Heiyao a heavy blow."
"Then this can be our little secret?" Chen Rui said, carried away, and let the words slip out of habit. The moment they left his mouth, he regretted them. She was a mature beauty, sure, but she was also an "iceberg"—and perhaps a "terrifying iceberg" at that. If she got angry and unleashed a murderous aura, he'd be done for.
Fortunately, Shea didn't get angry. She merely let her gaze grow colder. "I don't want to hear you say things like that again. Instead of wasting your thoughts on that, put your intelligence to work on planning, like you did just now."
"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean anything by it." Chen Rui gave an awkward smile. "I just see how hard Your Highness works handling the territory's affairs. You never smile, so I thought I'd make a joke and cheer you up."
Shea stared at the emblem of the Lucifer Royal Family on the opposite wall. After a moment of silence, she said flatly, "I don't remember the last time I smiled... Leave that sort of happiness to Alice."
Chen Rui was slightly shaken. He fell silent for a while, then nodded and said, "What I just mentioned was only about dealing with external threats. Dark Moon's internal problems are just as important. If we don't resolve them quickly, we'll have little hope of turning things around even if Heiyao doesn't make a move."
Shea's violet eyes immediately brightened. "I was just about to hear what you think about that."
Although they had returned to their earlier tone of discussion, both of them vaguely sensed, without saying so, that the atmosphere had somehow changed.
Chen Rui pointed out that the territory's two biggest internal problems were its military and its economy, and Shea needed to keep both under her own control. Militarily, Shea commanded the Royal Palace Guard, which could hold its own against the Garrison Army. But economically, Dark Moon's lifeline was entirely controlled by Chiyou Territory. That was the most critical issue. Compared with military affairs, which were more likely to alert Heiyao, the economy should be Shea's first priority.
Shea agreed with his analysis. "Chen Rui, I think the same way you do. The problem is that more than half the food supply for Dark Moon Territory comes from the support of the Alvin Family, while Joseph controls the merchants' association in Darkmoon City and half the shops. We're in a very passive position. Two years ago, I tried opening a route to the west with a caravan so we could trade and buy grain, but it was attacked by bandit gangs several times, and our losses were severe. Unless we deal with the bandits, we'll never be able to keep the trade route open."
"Why not send the army to wipe them out?" Chen Rui asked, puzzled. In his mind, bandits and brigands usually fled when they saw regular troops.
Shea shook her head and sighed. "I sent Allen to lead several campaigns to clear them out, but he failed each time. I suspect the bandits are actually a trap laid by Chiyou Territory, intended to bring Dark Moon further under its control. Allen may well be in league with them."
Chen Rui frowned and said nothing. One was a treacherous wolf, the other a smiling tiger. With them working together, Dark Moon's budding development had been snuffed out. Unless they got rid of both men, Shea had no chance of turning things around.
A wolf? A tiger? Right, could he use a tiger to drive off a wolf? But the two men were thick as thieves. It seemed unlikely they would turn on each other.
"Your Highness, I need the most detailed information you can provide, including statistics on every aspect of the territory and information about the various families and their key members. Especially Joseph and Allen."
A battlefield was like a marketplace. Planning was like developing a market strategy: first, you had to understand the market clearly, then you could formulate a proper plan.
"Do you have a way to deal with those two?" Shea was increasingly convinced that her two earlier decisions had been correct. Even without the Grandmaster Inheritance, this human man's demonstrated abilities were more than enough to make her value and rely on him.
"Your Highness thinks too highly of me." Chen Rui shook his head. "I don't have a specific solution yet, which is why I need more detailed information. We humans have an old saying: 'Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'"
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated?" Shea looked at him intently. "The Demon Realm isn't unfamiliar with the human world. I've never heard that saying, but I'm very glad you aren't my enemy. That stratagem just now, and your overall planning—even old Gauss can't compare to you. This kind of intelligence has little to do with the Grandmaster Inheritance. It comes entirely from your own abilities."
Was that just the Demon Realm version of the "Longzhong Plan"? If so, maybe he did have the makings of a military advisor... Chen Rui chuckled awkwardly. "Your Highness, actually, I..."
"All right, you don't need to explain. All I know is that you're Dark Moon's record keeper now, and that's enough. I'll have Kagulon bring you the information you asked for once it's ready, later on at the laboratory." Shea closed the documents and spoke seriously. "I want to remind you that Allen isn't difficult to deal with, but behind him stands the Kalon Family. If you kill him and someone even more difficult to handle takes control of the military, we'll have gained nothing. But Joseph is a very complicated man. Even though you covered your tracks well during this Aerial Competition, he may still have become suspicious. You must be careful."
Chen Rui said he understood, then added, "I should also remind Your Highness that, perhaps because of the Grandmaster Inheritance, I had a strange feeling when I saw Joseph. It seemed as if his power surpassed even Athena's. In any case, Your Highness should be careful."
A look of surprise crossed Shea's deep violet eyes. "As expected of a successor to the Grandmaster's legacy. Your intuition... should be right."
From Shea's response, Chen Rui knew she must already have been aware of it. He said no more. He just wondered who was stronger: the iceberg princess, whose strength was "impossible to assess," or the smiling tiger.
He'd heard that as soon as yesterday's Aerial Competition ended, Joseph had returned to Chiyou Territory with the envoy. He had probably gone to apologize to his lord father.
After thinking it over, Chen Rui also came clean about his plan to open a shop with Alice. He first explained that it was a way to test business strategies, then painted a grand vision, saying they might open more shops and eventually establish a merchants' association to counter Joseph. Finally, he tactfully mentioned his other goal: earning money to buy the magical materials Beast Taming Technique consumed.
Shea didn't object. Instead, she looked apologetic. "You've certainly planned far ahead. Go ahead and do it; I'll support you fully. It's just that my resources are limited, so I can't provide you with more money or materials."
Chen Rui was delighted. Money and materials were only an immediate concern; policy support was what mattered. Since Shea had promised her full support, it would undoubtedly be a huge help to his plans to make money in the future.
As he took his leave, Shea's soft voice came from behind him. "You did excellent work on your first day, Sir Record Keeper."
Chen Rui smiled faintly and strode out.
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