A Trade-Off

"General."

Li Lin moved his chess piece forward another step, while looking at Angela with a leisurely smile.

"Master, isn't it a bit too early for you to expect me to surrender just like that?"

Faced with Li Lin's threat, Angela leisurely narrowed her eyes, observing the situation on the chessboard in front of her. The current situation was evenly matched; although Li Lin had made a rather dangerous move, it wasn't without a solution. Angela merely frowned and pondered for a moment before picking up her queen, which had remained untouched, blocking Li Lin's path to victory. In fact, they had been playing this game for a full half-day, both sides extremely cautious, not making any easy attacks. Although neither side had much time to think, after such a long back-and-forth, surprisingly, neither had captured many of the other's pieces. Moreover, the current situation remained a chaotic battle between the black and white pieces, as if the player intentionally didn't intend to end the fight.

Faced with Angela's counterattack, Li Lin simply retreated his pieces and returned to a defensive stance.

"Hoo..."

Standing next to hetushu. com, Yi Aier couldn't help but yawn. From the moment she opened her eyes this morning until now, all she had seen were these black and white chess pieces moving back and forth. Both sides were quite patient—even excessively patient. This was already making Yi Aier a little dizzy, while Suoxiate remained unchanged, still wearing her usual smile, serving tea and sweets to both players.

Looks like the download will never finish.

Seeing that Angela not only didn't press her advantage but also cunningly defended her own pieces, Yi Aier felt somewhat helpless and desperate. She now understood even the rules she hadn't known before, while the two players remained in the middle game, not making any further moves. Clearly, for them, determining a winner wasn't important; passing the time was their primary objective.

"According to Miss Nia's message, Lady Nisi has awakened."

Suoxiate refilled Li Lin's empty teacup with hot tea, reporting in a low voice.

"Right now, Miss Nia is training her as Arcane Mage."

This is a good sign.

Faced with Angela's attempt to lure him in, Li Lin did not fall for it. He moved an insignificant piece to disrupt the game and answered her question.

"It's always good to have more Arcane Mage, and one of the original purposes for which Nia was created was to train new Arcane Mage... Come to think of it, this seems to be her first time teaching Arcane Mage. Hopefully, Nia won't take it too seriously and scare that little one Nisi."

"Wasn't that your order, Master?"

Angela chuckled softly, not even glancing at the piece Li Lin had used to disrupt the game, but instead taking a step to the side.

"However, from my perspective, I don't want so many Arcane Mages to appear. Master, putting aside the past Arcane Mage, will these newcomers truly be loyal to you? I have serious doubts. That elven mage is still young and powerful, though she seems harmless at first glance. But what will happen once she gains immense power? Sudden power can become fertile ground for ambition, can it? An old tree can become nourishment for a sapling; I hope you're not raising a tiger to threaten your future."

"Our daily life is an adventure."

Li Lin did not respond directly to Angela's warning. He captured Angela's fourth piece, while simultaneously suppressing the attack from below.

Even a divination mage cannot accurately predict what will happen tomorrow. As long as everything is within our control, there's no need to worry about these unknown dangers. At least for now, I still possess enough strength to back up my confidence.

"This isn't just arrogant delusion, is it?"

Angela's expression darkened slightly when she saw her piece being captured.

"In my opinion, the most direct way is to make her your woman... Once you completely conquer her physically, you won't have to worry about potential betrayal in the future."

"I don't have the energy to conquer every woman who poses a danger to me."

Faced with Angela's suggestion, which he couldn't tell was serious or a joke, Li Lin replied with a wry smile.

"And what about Her Majesty the Queen, who is about to meet us?"

Angela ruthlessly captured the piece Li Lin had used to disrupt the game, and began to reorganize the already somewhat chaotic battlefield.

"She's just a woman, no need for Master to fuss over her. If I can control her like I control Weila, then everything will be easy, won't it? What human women need are nothing more than youth, beauty, immortality, and true love. It's not difficult for me to invade their hearts and turn them into completely controlled puppets."

"Hmph. All you ever think about is controlling, you're a control freak."

Yi Aier interjected, clearly displeased.

"A little girl like you wouldn't understand."

Angela narrowed her eyes, a hint of enjoyment and joy in them.

"To control the lives and even the destinies of others is such a delightful thing. It was one of the few forms of entertainment I could repeatedly enjoy without getting tired of it during my long life. Human reactions to manipulation vary depending on region, era, and civilization. It can be said to be a wonderful game that never ends, constantly evolving. This is the ultimate entertainment that only those in positions of power are entitled to enjoy. A big-breasted, brainless maid like you, serving others, will never understand."

"You little brat...!!"

It was clear that Yi Aier could not possibly ignore Angela's provocation. But just before she was about to explode, Suoxiate reached out and stopped Yi Aier's rampage.

"Master, Miss Angela, we are about to reach our destination."

"How is the situation?"

Li Lin put down the chess piece he had originally intended to use for attacking and asked.

"... Hmm, it looks like a very ordinary city, old-fashioned and dilapidated. This is supposed to be a royal city? These barbarians really know how to live... Master, nobody's here to greet us! Do these damned, ill-mannered barbarians look down on us?!"

Having quickly identified her target, Yi Aier clearly chose to redirect her anger in another direction.

In fact, everyone inside the royal city was also filled with helplessness.

According to rumors from the Red Armament commander, the other party will arrive today and meet with their queen. However, the most crucial point is that the other party hasn't even stated where they'll be coming from. This has left the protocol officer in charge of receiving them quite frustrated. Moreover, before the other party's identity is confirmed, they don't know what kind of etiquette to use. If they use grand state honors, only to find out the other party is merely an envoy or something similar, it would be a demotion. But if they use less grand honors, and the visitor is of high status, it would be offensive. After all, they are just a small country, lacking the strength to withstand the potential anger and conflict that might result.

Although inquiries were made, the Queen's response was simply, "Handle it yourself," which immediately gave the protocol officer a headache. Too much formality, and if the other party wasn't up to standard, he would be disrespecting the nation and would certainly be executed. Too casual, and it could escalate into a serious diplomatic issue, in which case he would still be held responsible and face the same fate.

Either way, it's death.

"Your Highness, I beg you, please give me a definite answer."

Left with no other option, the protocol officer, with a long face, turned to their prince—who was also the commander of the Red Armament Forces, "Red Lions"—for help once more. After all, only he had direct contact with the legendary mysterious guest, and only he was truly qualified to advise on which direction to take. Although he knew that the prince might just say "handle it yourself," like his mother, the protocol officer figured he might as well go all in...

Fortunately, the prince didn't just kick him away; instead, he finally provided some relatively familiar information.

"This must be a very distinguished guest."

Then, they kicked the protocol officer out.

"Why..."

The master of ceremonies walked out of the city gate dejectedly, glancing at the soldiers standing ramrod straight outside, and couldn't help but sigh. Since he didn't know what to do next, he decided to focus on the basics of etiquette first, so he had long ago assigned these soldiers to stand at the gate to greet the guest whose arrival was uncertain—just in case.

"This damn weather is..."

His Highness's words were essentially meaningless, but they still caught the attention of the master of ceremonies—he noticed that the prince, who always preferred armor to formal attire, was wearing the kind of clothing typically reserved for nobles! There must be some meaning behind this. Thinking this, the master of ceremonies looked up towards the setting sun. Then, his eyes widened in surprise. At that moment, he clearly saw a massive ship tearing through the crimson sea of clouds, slowly emerging and heading towards the royal city.

"What, what is this thing...?"

He stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the approaching, ever-growing airship before him. A ship, floating in the air? This was beyond his comprehension. The protocol officer even pinched his thigh hard, but the stinging pain relentlessly told him that this was not a dream.

Could this be the guest Her Majesty the Queen was referring to?!

The master of ceremonies had no time to think further, for the airship had already arrived at the gates of the royal city. Its appearance naturally caused considerable chaos; no one had ever seen such a strange thing before. Soldiers gripped their weapons, nervously watching the airship, unsure what to do. The ordinary servants and maids had already screamed and fled in all directions; after all, the fear of having such a colossal object looming over them was unbearable for most.

"Quickly! Quickly! Inform Her Majesty the Queen immediately!"

Fortunately, the master of ceremonies reacted quickly. He grabbed a soldier next to him, issued the order, and then looked back at the floating ship, his brow beaded with sweat. At that moment, the Queen also peered out the window, carefully observing the enormous and imposing creation. Her hands gripped the railing tightly, her expression grave.

"Finally... has it arrived?"

Then, she turned around and went into her room.

"Ah... Your Majesty, Your Highness..."

Seeing the two figures appear one after the other, the official in charge of etiquette finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least, in this situation, a minor official like himself had no purpose. He was about to step forward to report when, just then, the magic ship suddenly burst into bright light.

A pure, flawless beam of energy filled the entire ship and then shot downwards, instantly enveloping everything in white light, causing everyone to involuntarily close their eyes. When they reopened their eyes, they discovered that two people had appeared in front of them sometime during the night.

"It seems pretty good."

Li Lin surveyed his surroundings, a slight smile appearing on his face. Then, he turned his gaze to the royal city before him.

Just as Yi Aier had complained, the royal city didn't seem particularly grand or imposing. It paled in comparison to the Five-Nation Alliance, but this suited their small nation's status perfectly. If a small country possessed a magnificent royal city, it would only invite disaster. Although Li Lin had already considered forming an alliance with them during his conversation with the commander of the Red Armament Forces, it was merely a superficial observation. Now, it seemed that the internal workings of this small country were also quite manipulable.

Then, he turned his gaze back to the woman standing in the center of the royal city gate. She was a veiled woman, her age impossible to discern, but her slender yet voluptuous figure was undeniably alluring. Facing Li Lin's scrutiny, the queen neither glared defiantly nor showed weakness, but stood there dignifiedly, allowing him to observe her body. It seemed that for her, this was an honor, not a disgrace.

"Welcome, mysterious guest."

After Li Lin finished scrutinizing her, the Queen finally spoke. Her voice was cold, beautiful, and carried an unassailable air of authority.

"I am Queen Xitalisi of North Ailanke State, and on behalf of my nation, I welcome you."

"Well then, let me introduce myself as well."

As he spoke, Li Lin casually waved his hand in front of his chest, performing a relatively formal salute.

"I am Li Lin, Arcane Mage from the Magic Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty Queen Xitalisi."

Li Lin's answer immediately drew the attention of everyone present. They even looked at each other in bewilderment before staring intently at the young man before them. Judging from his appearance, this man seemed to be a scholar skilled in research. However, no matter what, no one could connect this far too young man with the legendary Arcane Mage.

"Nice to meet you, Arcane Mage."

A flicker of surprise crossed the Queen's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of North Ailanke..."

As she spoke, she glanced at the petite and adorable girl standing beside Li Lin. In fact, she was just as eye-catching as the man who called himself Arcane Mage, but she hadn't uttered a single word from the beginning until now. Even now, she didn't seem to have any intention of introducing herself. And Li Lin, it seemed, had no intention of introducing the girl beside him either.

"Then, please follow me, Arcane Mage."

As she spoke, the Queen turned to the side, gesturing an invitation. But to the Queen's surprise, just as Li Lin and the girl walked to her side, the girl suddenly turned her head, squinting her eyes and looking at Her Majesty with curiosity. Just as the Queen was somewhat astonished, Angela's nose twitched slightly, and then an excited expression appeared in her bright red eyes.

"Master... this woman..."

"Angela?"

Under Li Lin's low urging, Angela barely managed to suppress her next words. But in that brief moment, the unfinished sentence made the Queen's heart pound wildly. Who exactly was this girl? Did she see through her...?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

The queen, who was staring at Angela with fear in her eyes, was completely unaware of her own abnormality. It wasn't until the master of ceremonies whispered reminders in her ear several times that she came to her senses, regained her composure, and led the two into the palace.

Although according to state etiquette, the envoys should have been received first before discussing other matters, Li Lin politely declined Her Majesty's invitation to the banquet. After all, their visit was merely a side trip and not originally part of the plan. Li Lin's current diplomatic focus remained on the Dragon Clan, and what he was doing was simply a convenient side activity. Thus, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two sides quickly entered into formal talks.

"I think you've already heard about the purpose of my visit."

Li Lin had no intention of wasting any time and went straight to the point.

"Indeed."

Although she hadn't expected the other party to be so direct, the Queen responded quickly.

"However, your request is unreasonable, Arcane Mage. In any case..."

That's not what I wanted to say.

Li Lin clearly didn't want to waste time on meaningless things.

"As I've already said, I'm simply interested in where you obtained your technology, and obviously, asking Your Majesty is the most direct way. You should understand that the Magic Empire disappeared from this world a thousand years ago, and now its technology has appeared in such a small country... It's hard for me not to be interested in it. Of course, I'm not only seeking answers from you."

As Li Lin spoke, he took out a scroll from his pocket.

"If you can provide me with a satisfactory answer, then I will help you and deliver this complete version of the magic beacon to you. I think you should also be aware that the beacon you are currently using is incomplete, and—very rudimentary."

As he spoke, Li Lin casually waved his hand, and the scroll slowly floated up before landing in front of Her Majesty the Queen.

"This is part of the beacon. You can take it to verify its authenticity. I think you must have the technology to use a beacon."

"..."

Without saying much, the Queen quickly took the scroll and opened it. Noticing this, Li Lin's lips curled slightly. Clearly, this Queen was not as simple as she appeared. Her choice to confirm it herself was a convenient and quick method, but it also proved that this Queen had at least some understanding of the civilization of the Magic Empire, which was very unusual for a royal woman from a small country.

Angela's guess wasn't without merit.

"... So, Arcane Mage, what exactly do you want?"

After reading the scroll, the Queen gazed at Li Lin before her and asked in a low voice. Although she did not directly answer Li Lin's question, her attitude had already made her decision.

"Of course I can answer your question, but... I don't think that's why you came here."

"This was just one of my purposes; in fact, I was only here incidentally."

Li Lin glanced at Angela sitting next to him.

"However, how our relationship develops from here on out depends on your attitude, Your Majesty."