In a corner of the palace garden in the Star Luo Empire.
Xu Jiawei sat on a stone stool, his face dark. He said nothing, his fingers absently rubbing the edge of the stone table.
Xu Jiujiu stood beside him and offered a gentle word of comfort. "Brother, don't make yourself ill with anger."
"Shrek stepped in this time and, at least, checked the Sun Moon Empire's aggressive advance. That does benefit us."
Xu Jiawei gave a heavy snort.
"Benefit us or not, we can only hold our noses and accept it."
"Shrek used to insist it stood apart from worldly affairs and would never meddle in any nation's government."
"Now look. It's gone straight into other countries to build branch academies, and it wants to interfere in continental affairs too."
"Wasn't that Shrek Inspection Team supposed to deal specifically with Evil Soul Masters? What, did the Evil Soul Masters scare them so badly that they've switched targets to inspecting empires?"
"What right does an academy have to keep us empires in line? It's absurd."
Xu Jiujiu sighed softly.
"But that's the situation now. The Sun Moon Empire keeps growing stronger. Star Luo alone might not be able to stop it easily, even with Dou Ling and the Heaven Dou Empire beside us."
"With Shrek standing in front, at least the flames of war are unlikely to reach Star Luo itself anytime soon."
Xu Jiawei looked toward the distant lake, helplessness creeping into his voice.
"I know that. But today they can use the fight against Sun Moon as an excuse to order our army around. Tomorrow they'll find a reason to interfere in our court."
"They can help us today, but what happens when our interests clash someday? A nation's fate cannot be held in the hands of an