The Inevitability of History / The Black Snake's Conspiracy

"I've been walking all day, I'm thirsty, give me some wine!"

Although they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Yuugi Hoshiguma at all.

Suika took out Ibuki Gourd

"Drink slowly, I don't have much wine... Sigh!" Before he could finish speaking, Yuugi Hoshiguma raised the sake bottle and took a big gulp.

She looked at the wine dripping from the other person's mouth and felt an unbearable heartache. If Reimu and Marisa hadn't been there to stop her, she would have stuck her tongue out and licked the wine clean.

After taking a delicious sip, Yuugi Hoshiguma looked at Suika.

"She's right, the sake in your Ibuki Gourd really isn't as good as hers."

"Ah, my sake!" After snatching back her sake gourd, Ibuki Suika's eyes were filled with tears, and her face was full of heartache.

Although Ibuki Suika was heartbroken that she hadn't understood the meaning behind Yuugi Hoshiguma's words, Reimu Hakurei was different; she was taken aback when she heard Yuugi Hoshiguma's words.

"This isn't the place to talk, shall we go inside?" Yuugi Hoshiguma pointed to the wind goddess girl who had flown back again, and then pointed inside the shrine.

"Come with me!" After exchanging a few words with Alice, Reimu Hakurei led the two into the house.

Wanting to get firsthand news, Aya tried to enter but bumped into an invisible wall. After several unsuccessful attempts, she could only sit helplessly in front of the Hakurei Shrine and complain.

"What are you doing? Setting up a barrier outside the shrine! Don't you know about freedom of the press? I protest!"

Of course, no one paid any attention to her.

The people inside the room were staring in astonishment at the Originium Figurines that Yuugi Hoshiguma and Alice had taken out.

"The two of us went to that place, met that being and that world, and stayed there for seven days." Alice's words left Marisa, who was unaware of the background, completely bewildered.

However, those who knew about this, even Ibuki Suika who was feeling sorry for the drinks just a second ago, immediately sat up straight.

"Um... should I excuse myself for a moment?" Marisa wasn't stupid. From Reimu's unusually serious expression, she could tell they were discussing something very important, but she seemed to know nothing about it. She worried that joining in rashly might cause trouble...

"Well, we're already here. Maybe you'll be next. It won't hurt to listen." Reimu Hakurei shook her head.

After all, Marisa and he had a good relationship, and she often came to the shrine. Sooner or later, she would find out what happened on the other side, so rather than sending her away now and causing a rift, it was better to let her know about it directly.

Moreover, given the other person's personality, they wouldn't go around spreading it, so she didn't need to worry about any problems arising from their finding out.

"Let me tell you!" Alice and Yuugi Hoshiguma had already discussed it on the way. After arriving there, Yuugi Hoshiguma had only seen a limited amount of things while following the group, but Alice had learned more details through the doll's perspective, so she would tell you about the other world.

After she finished speaking, Yuugi Hoshiguma added her opinion on the other side Ibuki Suika.

As she spoke, Marisa's eyes widened in disbelief. It was a completely new world, inhabited by people who looked similar to the demon race, but were much weaker.

And that Originium...

Could a mere mage like her possibly understand these things?

What if he gets silenced by the people inside the house?

Marisa was now regretting her decision. She should have known better than to be so clever as to stay at the shrine and instead go out and foolishly steal a few books from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

"As for my opinion on Ibuki Suika, I think it's more appropriate for Yuugi Hoshiguma to say it, since they've had much more contact with her than I have."

After recounting her understanding of the Terra, Alice turned the conversation to Yuugi.

"Although my own feelings are mixed in, I believe that Suika is someone I can trust."

Then Yuugi Hoshiguma recounted what she had learned from her interactions over the past few days and her conversations with others.

"We do know a thing or two about Talulah, the sage of the Eternal Pavilion Yagokoro Eirin. She did go to that place before, and the potion that is currently being used there was developed with Yagokoro Eirin's help."

The news you brought back this time is very important and certainly requires careful consideration.

"But Alice, do you have a way to contact them?"

Yukari Yakumo looked at Alice; if either of them could possibly have connections to the other side, it could only be her.

Alice nodded, then shook her head.

"I can sense the information being transmitted from the puppet on the other side, but I can't manipulate it, let alone communicate with it in the opposite direction."

Yukari Yakumo wasn't surprised by this; to be precise, Alice's ability to sense another world was beyond her expectations.

It should be noted that the monitoring spells she set up at Little Skullshatterer failed to detect even the slightest trace of Suika's departure or stay in the space, except for that one unusual fluctuation.

"Is there anything we need to do?" Alice looked at Yukari Yakumo, clearly indicating that she, not Reimu Hakurei, was in charge here.

After thinking for a moment, Yukari Yakumo shook her head.

"No need. Whether the appearance of that Ibuki Suika is good or bad for Gensokyo is very important."

However, you said you experienced several battles over there, but I didn't sense any killing or karmic consequences from either of you. This is debatable, because I'm not a professional. So you'll need to stay here for a while while I find a professional to examine you..."

Chapter 364 The Inevitability of History

Terra Ursus

Suika and her group spent three whole months playing house with the Ursus Talulah in Ursus territory, until the end of June.

Scout, who was in charge of reconnaissance, obtained important intelligence.

In the southeast, near the mobile fortress of the Great Yan, Chernobog, several villages have mysteriously disappeared.

"Mephisto's work? Why would it be there!"

Everyone squatted by the map of Ursus, looking at the information on it, feeling somewhat confused.

After all, the area east of Ursus is sparsely populated and too easy to be exposed, so even the Reunion Movement rarely chooses to operate there.

Because it is too conspicuous, and it is not easy to obtain logistical supplies.

Have you ever thought about this question?

Mephisto's practice of forcibly turning people into Infected and then converting Infected into Herd is clearly severing the roots of the Ursus people. The nobles couldn't possibly not understand this, so why would they tolerate such a thing?"

Suika's words silenced everyone. Talulah looked at the map for a long time before suddenly speaking.

"The Old Nobility needs to gain greater benefits through Mephisto."

Suika nodded

"That's right, so what kind of benefits could make them willingly abandon the people in their territory?"

That is seizing power...

The young emperor of Ursus made them restless. In order to acquire more military strength, they had to create a sufficient enemy, an enemy that would force the young emperor to send more troops, even if he inwardly resisted.

"That's not right either. Mephisto and his New Reunion Movement, even without our intervention, are not strong enough to be the formidable enemy of the Old Nobility you speak of."

After Suika finished speaking, Chen blurted out and then looked apologetically at Alex and Lyudmila not far away.

However, neither of them objected to Chen's words, because she was right; although the New Reunion Movement seemed to be making a lot of noise, it was actually a disorganized mess.

If the Old Nobility were to actually take action against them, the New Reunion Movement probably wouldn't last more than a month.

"Yes, Chen, you're right. The New Reunion Movement and Mephisto cannot be used as an excuse for the Ursus Old Nobility to increase their troops, but there is a powerful enemy here that is beyond the reach of the young emperor..."

Suika drew a line on the map with her finger and pointed to a place. Everyone gasped in shock the next second.

"Are they crazy?"

Chen looked at the Lungmen that Suika was pointing to and the Great Yan behind it in shock and said.

"No, they would only do that if they weren't crazy."

"What do you mean?" The leader of the Black Mantle Shadow Guards, who had been invisible the whole time, couldn't help but ask.

After all, this concerns Lungmen, the place where they have devoted almost their entire lives.

"It's very simple. The young emperor's troops are all in the western and northern areas, while the eastern front is implicitly controlled by the Old Nobility."

Therefore, whenever war breaks out in the east, the Old Nobility have a reason to send reinforcements.

The only two targets available to the east are Kazdel and Great Yan.

Although the Sarkaz suffered heavy losses in the War of the Two Kings, they never lowered their guard against Ursus, and their largest force, the Corpse Eater Legion, was always stationed in the west and north to resist Ursus and Leithanien.

If Kazdel is chosen, even if Ursus launches an invasion, the Sarkaz will likely not retaliate, but will instead silently devour the invaders on the wasteland of Kazdel.

But the Great Yan is different. This country is powerful enough and proud enough. If war breaks out, they will definitely choose to recruit soldiers on the border to exert pressure.

"If the Great Yan makes a move, they will have a reason to conscript soldiers on an equal footing. Even if the young emperor inwardly rejects this, he cannot stop the Old Nobility from using this as a pretext for conscription. This is an open conspiracy."

"Then why are you so certain that their target is Lungmen?"

"You know, Chernobog isn't far from Lungmen, but it's not exactly close either..." Chen stared intently at Suika's face, trying to deduce something from it.

"That makes it even simpler, because if we attack other places, the Great Yan Dynasty might really get angry, but Lungmen is different... Perhaps some people in the court would even be happy if something happened here, so that they would have a reason to take over."

"Perhaps the Old Nobility had communicated or reached an understanding with the people on the Great Yan side regarding this matter."

Chen didn't understand what Suika meant, but the Black Mantle Shadow Guards did.

They also knew that Suika was right; the imperial court had always been eyeing Lungmen covetously.

This is not only because Lungmen keeps all of its huge annual profits without having to pay tribute, but also because of the relationship between Governor Wei Yenwu and the person sitting at the highest position.

If what Suika said is true, then even if the two sides have no contact, the imperial court will choose to cooperate tacitly.

For those sitting on high ground, losing a city or a piece of land is not important; the key is to keep power in their own hands.

A city like Lungmen, which appears to belong to the central government but is almost entirely independent, is likely to be disliked by many in the court.

"But that doesn't make sense either. Although Lungmen isn't very strong, it's still not something Mephisto and his Herd can touch."

"With the Guard Department's strength, dealing with Mephisto wouldn't be difficult."

Hoshiguma objected from the side.

The Longmen Guard Bureau, as an official armed force and violent agency, is by no means weak.

It's important to understand that maintaining stability in a place as large as Lungmen isn't solely due to the residents' self-discipline; the Guard Department plays an indispensable role in this.

Even though the Guard Department's strength is insignificant compared to regular army groups, it is a terrifying tiger against a ragtag group like the New Reunion Movement, capable of easily tearing them apart.

"So, they need external help..." Suika looked at Chernobog, feeling a little emotional. Even though her actions had pulled Talulah and most of the Reunion Movement out of that inevitable vortex, history still reverted and rectified everything.

The only difference is that the Reunion Movement, previously led by Talulah, has now been replaced by Mephisto and his Herd.

"Chernobog... How is that possible? This is a major military stronghold in Ursus."

"Even with Mephisto's abilities, he couldn't take down Lungmen, let alone this place."

After realizing the meaning behind Suika's words, Talulah looked at the city closest to where Mephisto had appeared, her tone full of disbelief.

Chernobog is a military fortress standing in the southeast of Ursus. It is a thorn in Ursus's side in the southeast, and its existence is what stabilizes the territory here.

Even for the Great Yan, conquering such a strategically important military stronghold would require extensive preparation and a heavy price.

How could Mephisto and his few little karami possibly accomplish all that?

Chapter 365 The Conspiracy from the Black Snake

"Indeed, Mephisto and his New Reunion Movement, whose main force has been largely dismantled by us, do not have that capability."

But what if there's an inside accomplice?

Suika's words left everyone in disbelief.

"Just to force the Great Yan and Ursus to go to war, you're willing to abandon Chernobog and the people of the city?"

Isn't your idea a bit too extreme?

Even Talulah felt that Suika's explanation was a bit too far-fetched.

"Extreme? No, you can't think about this with the mindset of a normal person."

We are not facing ordinary people, but parasites and vampires entrenched in the country of Ursus.

What Ursus is like is unimportant to them; what matters most is whether their interests can be guaranteed.

If everything they did wasn't so deeply intertwined with Ursus, these guys would have betrayed their country long ago for their own benefit.

Therefore, the lives of the people in a mere city may seem important to ordinary people, but to them, the destruction of a city is entirely acceptable compared to their own interests.

Suika pointed out that those nobles think differently from normal people.

Especially for these old-timers who have been entrenched in a place for a long time, their top priority is their own interests, then the interests of the country, and lastly the interests of the people.

Therefore, when personal interests and national interests are in serious conflict, the interests of the most vulnerable people become unimportant.

Chen wanted to argue further, believing that nobles weren't as cold and ruthless Talulah Suika had imagined, but Talulah stopped her, recalling Koschei's teachings to her.

Although I'm reluctant to admit it, Suika is absolutely right.