CHAPTER 1913: CHAPTER 1906: POLITICAL STRUGGLE

"Ridiculous," Gudelv was instantly furious upon hearing this, slamming the armrest of the throne and pointing at Mark, cursing, "Back in the day, our ancestors expanded the territory, and despite some defeats, there were more victories. Now I am preparing to rebuild the Empire, only to suffer defeats and even have to retreat disgracefully from Holy Heart City. How do you expect the world to view me, and how am I to restore morale?"

Mark opened his mouth, but was at a loss for words.

"I know what you’re thinking," Gudelv continued to severely criticize, "You Maniken and Shani people are arch-enemies, fighting each other back on Earth. Instead, you want to use our hands to wage a proxy war. Anyway, it’s our people who die, but the victories are yours..."

"You urge me to attack Lipei, can you guarantee you have no self-interest at all? What is a superficial victory? I should ignore the imminent goals and instead engage in a laborious expedition to attack a position with little strategic value. If it’s not for you, then for what?"

"I..."

Mark was about to defend himself.

"No need to say more," Gudelv raised his hand, refusing, "My decision is made, the target remains the Church Court first, then consider Lipei. If you really can’t stand the Shani people, form your own army and attack them. I don’t want to disrupt my strategic deployment over such issues."

"Understood..."

Mark sighed deeply and closed his mouth helplessly.

At this moment, a diplomat rushed into the palace, walked straight up to Gudelv, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the diplomatic personnel from Lipei have all been settled."

"Very well."

Gudelv nodded with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty actually allowed representatives from Lipei to enter Holy Heart City?" Mark couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

"What are you talking about," Gudelv glanced at him indifferently, "Isn’t Odelanqi, as a sovereign nation, entitled to the freedom of independent diplomacy?"

"But they are enemies."

"Odelanqi has not declared war on Lipei to this day, so where does the enemy talk come from?"

"Isn’t Your Majesty trying to please both sides?" Mark asked quietly after a moment of silence.

Upon hearing this, Gudelv’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light, but being in front of everyone, he restrained himself and gritted his teeth, saying, "You’d better know what you’re saying."

This was a warning, which Mark understood, so he finally shut his mouth honestly and refrained from making any further comments.

After confronting Mark, Gudelv’s mood finally improved a bit, so he looked at the official and asked, "Did they say anything?"

"Uh," the diplomat thought for a while and cautiously replied, "They hope to have a discussion with Your Majesty about matters related to the Church Court. They hope..."

"Hope for what?"

"They hope that Your Majesty can sit down with the Pope and have a good talk, and that there’s no need to resort to arms..."

"Ridiculous," Gudelv sneered, his mouth twisting into a genuine smile of ridicule, "So naïve, could it be that Lipei sent children as emissaries?"

"They do appear a bit young, and it’s a woman," the official replied truthfully.

"Diplomacy being such a solemn affair, yet so casual. It seems Lipei isn’t particularly eager to handle Church Court matters," Gudelv shook his head and said.

"So, how should Your Majesty respond to them?"

"Ignore them for now; let’s solve the matters at hand. These people can wait," Gudelv said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The official nodded heavily and left the palace.

In the room where the diplomat was staying, Yalunte was leaning against the windowsill, gazing wistfully at this city, both strange and familiar to him.

Not long after, Kali entered the room, her face somewhat unpleasant. Although he could roughly guess what she had encountered, Yalunte still couldn’t help but ask, "So, did they not talk to you?"

"How did you know?" This question made Kali feel somewhat uncomfortable, and she asked gloomily.

"That’s just how Gudelv is. Even though it’s been nearly forty years since I’ve last seen him, I still believe I understand him well," Yalunte said calmly.

"So how do we negotiate with him?" Kali took a step forward and asked.

"Don’t count on it. Stay here a few more days and observe the situation," Yalunte shrugged, rolling his eyes, "Gudelv is someone who rarely bothers with matters not related to official business."

"But, I’m supposed to bring Lipei’s voice to Holy Heart City, yet..."

"Luo’er wanted you to voice Lipei’s concerns in Holy Heart City, not to achieve some goals. Don’t push yourself too hard; no merit is needed, but no mistakes either," Yalunte said as he leisurely gazed out the window.

"But staying here doing nothing makes me..."

"What do you want to do?" Yalunte asked without turning his head, "Turn Odelanqi’s war chariot around single-handedly?"

"I..."

Whether because he hit the mark or out of guilt, Kali lowered her head and fell silent.

At that moment, Yalunte’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and he stared intently out the window with a grave expression.

"Kali, a chance for achievement has arrived," Yalunte suddenly smiled, nodding his head incessantly as he said.

"What’s happening?"

Seeing his warm smile, Kali was momentarily confused about the situation.

"Come over, look at that guy."

Yalunte beckoned her to the windowsill, pointing at a person in the distance.

"A man?"

"Look more closely."

"Hmm... I’m not quite sure..."

Kali looked at Yalunte in confusion.

"But I see clearly," Yalunte looked into her eyes with confidence, "That guy is not of the Aud people. Or rather, he is not from the Northern Continent."

"Not a Northerner?"

Kali widened her eyes, still puzzled.

"He’s an Earthling!"

"Huh?"

"To be exact, he should be a white person, possibly a Maniken," Yalunte squinted his eyes and scrutinized once more, speaking with certainty.

"An American?"

Kali instantly displayed a shocked expression.

Though she is Aud, she has been receiving Earth’s education these past few years, hence many names differ from those in the Otherworld, and she’s more accustomed to Earth’s nomenclature.

"At such times, what do the Manikens intend, coming openly to Holy Heart City?" Yalunte again turned to her and asked.

"Uh..."

"No need to guess, just report the information."

Yalunte said, picking up the longsword resting against the wall, checking it by drawing a length, then sheathing it back.

"What are you going to do?"

"I just feel like it might come in handy," Yalunte replied nonchalantly.

"Don’t be reckless, you’re a diplomat, not an assassin," Kali hurriedly advised.

"I won’t be reckless, but I can’t say the same for the Commander’s Office," Yalunte shrugged, placing the longsword back against the wall.

"What do you mean?"

"Quickly, send a report. Why so many questions?" Yalunte smiled again, mysteriously said.

"Oh, I got it."

Kali nodded and then turned to the Magic Crystal transmitter.

After messing around for about five minutes, she finally sent out the message. About half an hour later, she received orders from the Commander’s Office.

Kali picked up the paper and read each word aloud, "Collect evidence, eliminate him!"

After reading, she widened her eyes in shock, turning to look at Yalunte.

"Hehe."

Yalunte smiled knowingly, got up from the windowsill, and casually picked up the sword resting against the wall.

"How did you know what the Commander’s Office was thinking?" Kali looked up at him, incredibly astonished, and asked.

"This is the struggle, this is politics."

Yalunte shrugged, casually took the letter from her hands.

"Are you going out now?" Kali quickly asked.

"Of course, idle as well, doing a little disruption for His Majesty makes me quite happy," Yalunte said calmly.

"Are you going to kill now?"

Kali was even more shocked.

"Didn’t you read it above; first collect evidence," Yalunte pressed the letter on her face, then walked out with the sword in hand.

Outside the room, Yalunte took out a bottle of strange gel-like substance, squeezed a little on his hand, and then applied it to his left face.

After drying, his face twisted and wrinkled as if there was a deep scar there.