CHAPTER 353: CHAPTER 312: RECOGNIZE AN OLDER SISTER_2

And the thing was, he still felt like he hadn’t bought much?

This was just limiting the weapons upgrade to World War II levels; he couldn’t imagine how much military modernization would cost.

Yan Xing also wanted to purchase surface-to-air missiles.

Never mind whether these things could even deal with heavily armored airships; a complete air defense system would cost billions, no question.

Nevertheless, Yan Xing possessed the territory of a nation but lacked its economic strength.

In a word: poor.

Build it ourselves if we can, buy obsolete models if we have to.

Even with such frugal purchasing, the Eternal Domain’s gold reserves were visibly dwindling.

Since the Silvermane Principality was willing to buy aircraft, there was no reason not to sell.

Sell!

The more they bought, the better.

Lady Karol had only inquired tentatively at first; after all, such large flying machines were undoubtedly precious alchemical artifacts. If Marquis Anderson hadn’t applied significant pressure, Yan Xing might not have been willing to part with such high-end Alchemy Technology. But who would have thought Yan Xing would agree to sell, just like that?

This made Lady Karol even more excited.

The Wildwind Highlands incident had caused Lady Karol to fall out of favor with the Silver Mane Duke. After suffering such great losses and still having to appease Marquis Anderson with smiles, how could the Duke not be furious with Karol? The Silver Mane Duke had yet to summon Lady Karol back to the capital; her position was in jeopardy.

Thinking back on everything she had endured over the years, Lady Karol was not resigned to her fate.

Now, an opportunity lay before her.

"Li Jiya, leave us," Lady Karol said to the accompanying Li Jiya. "Lord Yan Xing and I have some confidential matters to discuss."

"Yes, my lady," Li Jiya curtsied to Karol and Yan Xing before leaving the room.

Only Yan Xing and Lady Karol remained.

Neither spoke.

After a brief silence, Lady Karol suddenly asked Yan Xing, "What are your odds against Marquis Anderson and his Wildwind Highlands Legion?"

Yan Xing smiled and said, "That’s a question I suspect everyone in the Wildwind Highlands would like to know. But Karol, you should realize that my opponent isn’t merely Marquis Anderson. Whether Cloud Tower will directly intervene, or to what extent, is the crux of this war."

Lady Karol pressed, "Does your statement mean you don’t consider Anderson an equal adversary, and that the Eternal Domain is preparing for war with Cloud Tower?"

Yan Xing’s smile faded as he addressed Karol seriously, "You’ve learned some things from me. Isn’t it time you told me something?"

Lady Karol hesitated briefly before making up her mind. "I need the support of Thunderous Swamp..."

"Of course, I’m willing to support you. We are friends and share common interests. Marquis Anderson has blocked my trade routes, and I would be pleased to collaborate with the Silvermane Principality to establish our own market."

"That’s not what I mean."

"Then what is it?"

Lady Karol began to tell Yan Xing her story.

Some of it Yan Xing already knew. Karol was once acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in the Silvermane Principality, with nobles pursuing her like shoals of fish crossing a river. But Karol ultimately chose love, marrying an obscure baronet. Then, her husband died unexpectedly soon after. Subsequently, Karol began frequenting the Royal Court, becoming the lover of the Silver Mane Duke. Her husband was forgotten, and Karol became Lady Karol.

"He took everything from me, and I swore I would take everything from him!"

At this moment, Lady Karol had transformed. No longer was she the poised, sophisticated, and scheming woman of before; instead, she was a wife bent on avenging her beloved husband.

Yan Xing knew who Lady Karol meant. It had to be Duke Trollop Griffin, who was also the Silver Mane Duke.

"Why are you telling me this? Our relationship has hardly reached a level where we can share such intimate secrets."

Yan Xing was curious why Lady Karol was suddenly confiding in him. Indeed, she shouldn’t be revealing such private matters so openly to an outsider.

With a sigh, Lady Karol said, "I once thought I could entrap Griffin with my beauty, leading him to forsake his current duchess and marry me. Then I could enact my plan for revenge. But I’ve had no success these past few years. A woman ages, and the time I have is ever dwindling. Originally, I wanted to use my achievements in the Wildwind Highlands to make Griffin rely on me. Then, seizing a moment when he was pleased, I would bring up the matter of him marrying me... Yet I know I was too naive. Even if I had succeeded, the hope was still slim. Griffin would never marry a woman with no backing. But if you’re willing to support me, I can achieve my revenge."

After listening to Karol’s story, Yan Xing curled his lip and replied, "Why should I support you? Without the Silver Mane Duke, you’re nothing. I can’t oppose a principality for your sake. I have enough troubles as it is."

Lady Karol said to Yan Xing, "If I become the Silver Mane Duke, the entire Wildwind Highlands will be yours."

Karol knew that in the Silver Mane Duke’s Royal Court, younger women could replace her at any time. She had to have a powerful supporter to convince the Duke to marry her.

Yan Xing replied, "If I want the Wildwind Highlands, I’ll take them myself. I don’t need you to give them to me."

Lady Karol said, "From our extensive interactions, I know that Thunderous Swamp possesses Alchemy Technology comparable to Cloud Tower’s, but you lack the resources and funds to turn this alchemy into weapons. I can help you obtain them. You have aircraft capable of transporting goods, which can break through Marquis Anderson’s blockade and go directly to the principality. I can use my power to help you acquire all the supplies you want. Once I become the Silver Mane Duke, the Eternal Domain’s caravans will be able to travel freely within the principality, and the Eternal Grain Bank’s Grain Tickets will become a publicly recognized currency. The principality’s army can fight for the Eternal Domain!"

A woman blinded by hatred is indeed crazy. This is outright treason!

The offer is so generous, I couldn’t even ask for more if I wanted to.

What’s there to even consider?

This time, I’ll teach the Silver Mane Duke a good lesson: never mess with a woman.

"Griffin’s deeds are truly vile and outrageous," Yan Xing spoke earnestly to Lady Karol. "Karol, rest assured... as a man of integrity, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch such heinous acts occur without feeling compelled to act. From today on, you are my sister, and I am your brother. Your husband’s matters are my matters; his enemies are my enemies. Brother will surely help sister obtain the Silvermane Principality and let Griffin know the pain of losing everything!"

Lady Karol hadn’t expected Yan Xing to change his tune so swiftly, suddenly gaining a brother. Regardless of this brother’s sincerity, this public relationship meant she would no longer be considered a woman without a foundation. As long as the Eternal Domain fought well in the war on the Wildwind Highlands, the Silver Mane Duke, in his desire to court Thunderous Swamp, would undoubtedly find ways to please her. The best way, of course, was to marry the sister of the Lord of the Eternal Domain.

Lady Karol, holding Yan Xing’s hand, looked at him earnestly and said, "Brother."

Yan Xing, holding Lady Karol’s hand, replied sincerely, "Sister."

Yan Xing and Karol’s oath as sworn siblings couldn’t remain a secret between them. It had to be announced to the entire city, so everyone could come and offer their congratulations.

Therefore, before the meeting between Yan Xing and Marquis Anderson was even scheduled, the embassy was busy sending out invitations throughout Nuta City. All the city’s nobles and celebrities were invited to the embassy to attend the oath-taking ceremony between Yan Xing and Lady Karol, to witness the deep bond between the new siblings.

The influential figures of Nuta City hadn’t expected Yan Xing to stage such a grand drama at this time. Yan Xing had Thunderous Swamp behind him, and Lady Karol had the Silvermane Principality behind her. The implications of their solemn oath as siblings were certainly worth speculating about.

And what would Marquis Anderson do when he heard this news? He was, nominally, a vassal of the Silver Mane Duke. Regarding the war against the Eternal Domain—to fight, or not to fight? Considering the aircraft Yan Xing had brought to Nuta City, no one could predict how the situation would develop or to what extent the war might escalate.