Chapter 337: The Troy Incident

The next morning.

In the attendants' respectful knocking, Lin An opened his eyes without hesitation.

His mental sense spread outward; outside the door stood not only the attendants, but also Commander Ma Ke.

Given Lin An's physical condition as a Second Level Awakened One, his sleep quality is extremely high; just two hours of sleep a day is enough to keep him energetic all day.

Something is a bit off.

Are you disturbing someone's sweet dream?

Under normal circumstances, this old fox wouldn't likely come knock so early.

Beside him, Mo Ling lay asleep in a tangled heap, like a child with no sleeping posture.

With Lin An nearby, the little girl slept very soundly.

Not choosing to wake her, bringing Mo Ling along to see Bolaka in the afternoon would also be of no use.

"Click"

The heavy wooden door opened, and the attendants outside were sent downstairs by Ma Ke in advance.

As soon as the door opened, he saw a middle-aged man in a neat uniform smiling before him.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Envoy; I hope my actions haven't affected your mood."

"The weather is so nice; why don't you and I try Bolaka's specialty breakfast together?"

A rather clumsy excuse, but the weather is indeed fine.

It seems Ma Ke indeed has business to see the Envoy.

Considering Ma Ke's status, just from his backing and position, he actually outranks the Envoy of Troy.

Behaving so humbly and selling many favors, one can only say he certainly knows how to get along.

Lin An pondered for a moment, then nodded.

There's nothing much in the morning; he could only meet Bolaka in the afternoon.

Ma Ke has repeatedly wanted to see him; let's just talk.

In the clean, bright dining room, the two sat facing each other.

After casually ordering some snacks, Ma Ke said with a smile:

"I don't know what the Envoy intends to discuss this visit to Bolaka."

He knows full well but asks anyway.

Even a small figure like a field mouse knows the Envoy's purpose; Lin An doesn't believe Ma Ke would be unaware.

Too lazy to beat around the bush:

"Request Bolaka send troops to assist against the corpse tide, and meanwhile purchase some supplies."

Upon hearing that, Ma Ke feigned surprise, elegantly cutting a small piece of cheese and putting it in his mouth.

"I see."

"Then I hope your trip goes smoothly."

"If you need any help, feel free to contact me."

"You helped me discipline Du Lan Di yesterday, which also counts as venting my frustration."

"If you need supplies, especially weapons, I can personally arrange a discount for you."

"As fellow Safe Zones near Bolaka, we should support each other."

He emphasized the word 'support' heavily.

After eating the cheese, Ma Ke leisurely pointed to the exquisite dishes on the table.

"Won't you eat?"

"These snacks are quite good."

"Sweet but not cloying, with a fresh fragrance."

"I heard you are the nephew of the Vice Commander of Troy; I once met your uncle, and he liked the flavor here."

Lin An said nothing.

The wilderness environment is unsuitable for raising dairy cows; the farmland seen along the way has extremely poor growth.

Then, what is the source of these dairy products? The answer is really simple.

Ma Ke kept spouting nonsense, and Lin An was too lazy to engage in formalities with him.

They rambled on about east and west, and for half a day not a single substantive sentence.

Have you seen the Envoy's uncle?

Helping him vent his anger, so thanking himself?

Heh.

"Cut the nonsense."

Straight to the point.

Lin An calmly gazed at Ma Ke, who was still preparing to chat, and got straight to the point:

"I don't like people being long-winded."

Ma Ke froze.

Lin An's tone was very impolite,

"How dare an Envoy be so rude to me? Is it because I've been too easygoing, making this guy not take me seriously?"

Suppressing his displeasure, as a deep‑scheming old fox, he also did not show any dissatisfaction.

Having heard that the Troy military mutineers are all brainless brawns, it seems true.

"Then I'll just say it straight."

Ma Ke wiped his mouth, a cold laugh in his heart:

"The Envoy may not know."

"Three days ago, Troy's third external combat unit was completely wiped out by the Lion Safe Zone."

"The news was sent out by radio telegram, and I happened to receive it at the Bolaka garrison."

"The Lion Safe Zone issued a statement two days ago, declaring their intent to go to war with Troy."

Sitting askew, Ma Ke gazed at Lin An with interest, ready to see him flustered.

After Troy's military coup, its formerly strong military strength has been more than half drained by internal conflict.

From Troy, preparing to seek aid from Bolaka, this is clear.

The external combat forces have been wiped out, and with the Lion Safe Zone's declaration of war, it's nothing short of adding insult to injury.

Although communication facilities are largely damaged and aged after the catastrophe, they are unattended.

But with no spiritual energy interference, the world's radio communications can still barely work.

The Envoy departing from Troy could not possibly carry a bulky radio station.

If contact is needed, one can use the facilities inside Bolaka city.

Therefore, Ma Ke is sure Lin An definitely doesn't know this news.

Otherwise, how dare he act arrogantly before me?

Unexpectedly, Lin An sitting across seemed not to have heard the news, just taking a sip of water.

"Oh."

Hearing Lin An's flat 'oh,' Ma Ke couldn't help but sit up straight, looking at him like an idiot.

Your Safe Zone is about to be done for!

As Troy's Envoy, is this your reaction?!

"Your Excellency, did you not understand what I meant?"

Ma Ke stared at Lin An fixedly, his tone no longer polite:

"Your Safe Zone is now in grave danger."

"I can clearly tell you that Bolaka has also gotten this news, and even sooner than I."

"You must have also gotten the booklet from the Internal Affairs Office, right?"

"Put simply, Troy used to be a force, and your status merited the title of Envoy."

"But now?"

Ma Ke snorted:

"Bolaka is just short of openly casting you out of the union; bluntly, Troy is worthless in their eyes."

"With the Lion Safe Zone and the corpse tide threat, how long do you think Troy can hold out?"

"Without Troy's backing, Your Excellency will soon fall to being a lowly commoner!"

"With such fine food provisions, do you think you can still enjoy them?"

Ma Ke looked at Lin An scornfully, as if he were utterly indifferent.

According to his information, this Envoy is just a youngster leaning on his uncle's connections to come here and enjoy himself.

If nothing changes, that's indeed the case.

But now.

Hah.

Without Bolaka's troops, Troy is essentially doomed.

Even if they reluctantly agree to send troops, they will surely carve out a sizable chunk from Troy.

An unequal treaty, or even outright becoming a vassal.

And for Troy to quell internal discontent, as the Envoy who signed the treaty, will he even get anything good in return?

Someone has to take the blame.

Young man, you're still too young.