Chapter 168

At the same time.

Far across the other side of the Earth, across the ocean.

Near the waters of Beautiful Country, a private island shrouded in dense vegetation.

This was a secret private estate of the Adams family, the supreme rulers of Beautiful Country.

The island had no modern skyscrapers; instead, it was filled with luxurious medieval Gothic castles, radiating a chilling, oppressive atmosphere.

Boom—

A large transport aircraft bearing the Imperial Mark of Yingguo descended from the sky.

The cargo door opened.

A middle-aged man from Yingguo, dressed in a crisp suit with slicked-back hair, stepped down from the plane.

He was Watanabe Junichi, Yingguo's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Behind him, a squad of fully armed Yingguo soldiers escorted a group of people down.

They were dozens of young girls.

Some wore school uniforms, others casual clothes.

But without exception, their hands were locked in cold handcuffs, their eyes filled with despair and numbness.

The sea breeze blew through them; they shivered in the cold, daring not to cry out loudly, like lambs awaiting slaughter.

Not far away, several extended black luxury sedans had been waiting for a long time.

The doors opened, and a white middle-aged man, flanked by bodyguards, slowly approached.

He was Carter Adams, one of the core high-ranking members of the Adams family.

"Oh, my dear Minister Watanabe, welcome, welcome."

Carter's words sounded warm, yet his expression radiated condescending arrogance, as if he were looking at a dog.

"Respected Lord Carter! To meet you again is my honor!"

Watanabe Junichi hurried forward.

He bowed deeply, his demeanor abjectly humble.

Carter's gaze passed over Watanabe and landed on the trembling girls behind him.

Soon, his brow furrowed.

"What is this?"

"If I recall correctly, your Yingguo last supplied one hundred and fifty toys. What? Do you now think the protection of the Adams family has become so cheap?"

Hearing the anger in Carter's words,

Watanabe Junichi trembled violently, sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

"No no no! Lord Carter, please let me explain!"

"We originally carefully selected two hundred of the finest girls from across the Empire to offer to you and the family elders!"

Watanabe swallowed hard:

"But…"

"But you know, the sea monsters on the ocean are simply too numerous."

"We had terrible luck this time—two 90-level Deep Sea Bosses attacked in succession!"

"Two transport aircraft carrying the 'cargo' were lost. These are all we managed to save at the cost of our lives…"

Listening to Watanabe's explanation,

Carter's expression softened slightly—only slightly.

In this world, the oceans had always been a human forbidden zone.

Even superpowers found transoceanic travel extremely dangerous.

"Hmph, useless."

Carter sneered arrogantly:

"This time I'll let it slide, but remember: your Yingguo owes the Adams family a quota. Next time you deliver tribute, you must make it up!"

Hearing this merciless rebuke, Watanabe Junichi felt a flash of humiliation.

He, the esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yingguo, had been so powerful at home—yet here, he was scolded like a dog.

But he dared not resist in the slightest.

"Yes! Yes! Lord Carter, rest assured—the next delivery will be fully made up!"

Watanabe Junichi bowed deeply again.

Seeing Watanabe so compliant, Carter nodded in satisfaction.

He casually changed the subject:

"By the way, I heard your Yingguo's current 'Oni Corps' is quite formidable—they've seized three team dungeon records from Longguo at once?"

At this mention, Watanabe Junichi instinctively straightened his back a little.

His face lit up with pride and excitement:

"Yes, Lord Carter! This year's Oni Corps is the strongest in the history of the Great Yingguo Empire!"

"They've discovered a completely new method to break the dungeon mechanics. Even if Longguo had a hundred years, they could never reclaim those records."

"Hmm, well done."

Carter offered a perfunctory compliment, a cold smile curling at his lips:

"Whoever makes Longguo suffer, the Adams family is more than happy to see."

He paused, idly adding:

"Oh, by the way."

"Since you've found this new method to break the mechanics, next time you deliver your tribute, include a full report of it."

Hearing this, Watanabe Junichi's heart clenched tightly.

That was the blood and sweat of the Empire's prodigies—thousands of iterations, day and night!

And now, with just a careless word, he was expected to hand it all over?

But seeing Carter's cold, superior gaze,

Watanabe Junichi could only swallow his bitterness and reluctantly lower his head:

"Yes… Lord Carter, I'll have my people prepare it immediately upon my return."

Carter was satisfied with Watanabe's attitude:

"Good."

"Anything that strikes at Longguo deserves reward."

"Going forward, every time you break one of Longguo's remaining dungeon records…"

"I can petition the higher-ups to grant your Yingguo a reduction in next year's resource tax."

At these words,

Watanabe Junichi nearly collapsed to his knees in excitement.

"Thank you, Lord Carter! Thank you, Adams family, for your grace!!"

"Don't thank me yet—this is still nothing."

Carter stepped forward, lowering his voice:

"I heard that in the upcoming 30-level World Arena, your Yingguo has been matched against Longguo in the same battlefield zone?"

"Y-yes."

Watanabe Junichi nodded.

Carter sneered:

"Watanabe, if your 'Oni Corps' can annihilate Longguo's current 'Dragon Order Class' in the World Arena…"

"I guarantee, on behalf of the Adams family's high council, that your Yingguo's resource tax will be waived for three full months!"

"And in addition, I'll provide you with three exclusive weapons."

Three months of tax exemption!

Three exclusive weapons!

Watanabe Junichi's heart pounded wildly.

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Watanabe Junichi puffed out his chest, swearing solemnly.

Their current Oni Corps was actually far better at killing people than fighting monsters!

"Lord Carter, wait for good news!"

"The strength of our Oni Corps is unmatched in the Empire's history!"

"What Dragon Order Class? Before our Great Yingguo Empire's Oni Corps, they're nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing this, Carter threw his head back and laughed loudly.

He reached out and roughly ruffled Watanabe's hair. "Good! I love this confident dog-like attitude of yours!"

Watanabe Junichi could only force an awkward smile, letting Carter rub his head.

After laughing, Carter's gaze swept again over the Yingguo girls.

He licked his lips, revealing a grotesque, lecherous grin.

A twisted, perverse desire within him was fully ignited.

"Since you've come all this way, Lord Watanabe."

Carter turned his head and extended an invitation to Watanabe Junichi:

"You did well today—you truly shamed Longguo. I grant you the privilege of joining me to enjoy the little trinkets you've paid as tribute."

Upon hearing this, Watanabe Junichi immediately wore a fawning smile:

"It is my honor, Lord Carter."