Chapter 450: line with translation of chapter title

Although Aurora Dance already had a decent pair, this was after all a gift from Ji Ming, and she had already worn it, so it definitely couldn't be handed over.

Fortunately, she had prepared in advance, deliberately studying wood-element magic and even specially boosting her wood-element affinity, so she wielded her brush and ink and made another one on the spot.

【Ding! You have acquired new equipment: Advanced Close-Fitting Leg Armor·Black】

But when this thing was finally placed on the bigwigs' conference table, the old-timers sitting on either side couldn't utter a word for a long while.

It's not because this thing has nothing to do with Huaxia; after all, the symphony's origins are also something old Europa plays, so it doesn't hinder the White Eagle People from borrowing a chicken to lay eggs.

"If we were to deploy all the weapons in our plan right now, would we still need to compete in this way?"

LaoZhao clenched his fists, his face turning red from holding his breath.

"Everyone, remember today's humiliation; this is the result of our lack of effort!"

Everyone nodded deeply in agreement, all sighing regretfully.

Regrettable as it may be, what needs to be done still must be done.

So they seriously analyzed the current situation and selected the most suitable test subject from the Foreign Affairs Bureau's current circle of friends.

LaoZhao gave a light cough and began to summarize the meeting's results.

"Let's first treat it as a birthday gift, take it to give to Madame Carter tomorrow to see if she likes it, and if she does…… then……"

Or rather, the old buddies around him, like a super squad unleashing their ultimate move, all pressed their hands on LaoZhao's shoulders to transfer energy, which barely restored his SAN.

"If she likes it, we'll keep sending it to other female nobles we get along with, and then gradually develop it!"

"All of this is for our…… everyone's cause; it's reasonable and justified!"

Everyone (clapping): "Exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly!"

And as the provider of this precious item, Aurora Dance was temporarily reassigned, briefly taking the lead in the research and development of silk…… cough, the application of talisman materials.

After officials from various countries successively changed their tactics, Guanghui Capital thus became their stage to show off, with every noble becoming a card that could be won over.

Speaking of this, perhaps some people with active minds and a bit of historical knowledge would show a different expression, thinking of some very bad things.

But please rest assured, this is impossible.

First, if anyone really tried to imitate the old powers' story of pouring smoke ointment onto Yangyue, as the new power Huaxia would definitely suffer PTSD, making it easy to choke on water while drinking.

Second, the side effects of this thing are undeniable; Guanghui isn't lacking smart people, and if not, there are still the cultivators on ShanShang watching, so truly poisoning the world would easily get one drowned while walking.

Lastly, the freedom degree of Double Moon Struggle really isn't that high; Ji Ming would absolutely not allow players to use something as utterly wicked as this.

Any act of attempting to manufacture something with subjective intent, aside from the first person who tried eating a spider merely receiving a warning, the rest all enjoyed the top-tier punishment of direct account deletion.

Moreover, we actually don't need this thing anymore, because under the all-out effort of all humans to attack the itchy meat, the Guanghui nobles, whether in food, clothing, usage, or personal preference, have begun shifting toward Pioneer specialties.

Thus, it's like the Romans' first encounter with Huaxia.

Out of their love for silk, porcelain, and tea, as well as their recognition and admiration of a distant, mighty empire with no competition against them, the Romans held many praises for the Great Han.

Although the first eight characters of that evaluation—"peaceful and carefree, no war, numerous population, vast territory"—are pure nonsense.

But placed in that old version where many humans were still squatting in trees watching beasts gnash their teeth, overall it's still fairly accurate.

And facing the Pioneers, whose camp is strong, full of talented and extraordinary people, and who can always produce all kinds of novel gadgets.

Regarding that elusive homeland they call "some kind of ball" in their mouths, the Guanghui nobles also couldn't help but develop similar fantasies.

Perhaps to the east of the main continent it's not an endless ocean; there really exists another landmass, which is also currently known as the third continent.

There not only exists civilization, but it is also several civilizations that have contradictions and competition with each other, yet overall maintain peace—an advanced civilization?

Especially that latter point, the Guanghui people share the same envy as the Romans.

However, the Romans are invincibly lonely, because having grown tired of effortlessly ranking up, they long for rest and fantasize about an eternal peaceful mighty empire.

Meanwhile, the Guanghui people are like hicks who have someone urinate on their necks; they just want to spend their lives indulging in pleasure in the bustling metropolis, wishing they could enjoy spicy and fragrant food forever at this very moment.

Thus the Pioneers' status kept rising in Guanghui; although still a bit shy of T0, after all no amount of shielding can surpass those foreign monks on ShanShang chanting sutras, but they are definitely no longer the previous bandit small-time crook image.

Moreover, it's just like the old European aristocracy and new merchants at the end of the 19th century.

The old nobles with prestige and status ultimately couldn't keep up with the times; their influence waned, lacking confidence, they needed large sums of money to maintain their dignity.

Meanwhile, the wealthy and hard-handed merchants also yearned to cleanse their vulgarity with a surname worthy of history and a glory laden with historical weight, formally stepping into the gateway of national power.

Thus, the era of the new earthling nobility has arrived.

They began to serve as aides to the Guanghui nobles, becoming their indispensable left and right arms, and even simply being listed among the immortal class in history, making them unstoppable.

Of course, the Pioneers wanting to fully complete their glorious transformation still need time; for now it's only that they've built a bridge of trust, and reckless behavior could still lead to a broken relationship.

But at least now, from the moment the newly invented trousers-style leg guards from Warm Jade Pavilion went on sale and instantly became all the rage throughout Guanghui Capital, it's clear they can't be easily cut off from the Pioneers.

However, just as the capital's situation gradually eased and the shadow of the king's grave illness was temporarily concealed, everything finally began to develop for the better.

Further south than the barbarian plains, beyond the endless forest, lies another grassland that echoes with the distant Prometheus—the Wasteland.

"The Guanghui situation, really like this!?"

Wendigo leaned back against the huge gilded chair on his own throne, whispering to the mana conduit in his hand.

As for the one linked to the other side, naturally it's also an old acquaintance of the group, the Archbishop of the Shadow God Church's Guanghui Diocese—Yinni.

But his signature low, deep voice now carries a hint of red-hot panic.

"Surely, my great Lord, if we don't act now, we very likely won't be able to suppress them!"

Fortune's wheel turns; some families rejoice, some grieve.

While the players' good news kept coming, that bunch that had already formed a grudge with them in Sunshine City were completely numb.

After all, although they similarly harbor ill feelings toward themselves, the Guanghui side at least has various minor gods and sects, as well as that mysterious band of assassins who tried to kill the princess, to share the hatred.

But the Pioneers have piled up new and old grudges against them sky‑high; when they wield the butcher's knife they feel no psychological burden, needless to say, and they might even settle everything at any moment.

More importantly, the Pioneers have already climbed onto this big tree of Radiant Light; although this big tree is only fit to kowtow and show filial piety before the Deep Forest, it remains a colossal entity for the wasteland.

Thus, even in Wendigo's plan, this corrupt kingdom will sooner or later be incited by Him to have the Wolf King Court swallow and devour it gradually, reducing it to His own followers' pasture.

But if one is still in the early stage of desperately farming and developing, it's still quite troublesome that the two enemies one is destined to face have already joined forces.

Therefore, the correct course of action now is to try to intervene in the Radiant Light situation, no matter what, to ruin the relationship between the Radiant Light people and the Pioneers, and absolutely not allow them to unite.

Just like those colonists in history, even without ethnicity we must create ethnicity, even without conflict we must create conflict, so that the locals turn against each other and all engage in internal strife!

However, this tactic is utterly unrealistic for Him, because even if He had laid the groundwork years in advance, His church only has slight influence in the rural areas of southern Radiant Light.

After being repeatedly plowed by mysterious assassins, Holy Light Knights, and Pioneers, they have lost so many troops that even maintaining an outpost and keeping the function of transmitting important information is now a sweaty struggle.

——In such a situation, merely not being completely swept out the door is already a relief; where would there be any energy left to scheme?

Although the best way to destroy something is to attack its interior, this does not mean there is no second method.

Thus, after a moment's thought, Wendigo turned into a shadow and swept out.

By the time it re-formed its body, it had already arrived outside an endless expanse of brushwood.

But as soon as it touched down, it regretted it, and while frantically circulating its internal mana to disperse its form again, it kept groaning.

Because if the first reaction of the hundreds of wolf guards stationed outside upon detecting something unusual was to raise their shields and spears, they could still be commended for their vigilance.

But in fact, their first response upon noticing the anomaly was to draw their bows, nock arrows, and, with magical assistance, unleash a lightning-fast explosive barrage to sweep the ground—something bordering on madness.

Still, the one they faced this time was, at the very least, the State Preceptor, second only to the Wolf King himself within the royal court.

Furthermore, Lao Yang Tou himself had managed to survive to this day in his uncanny form solely by relying on his extraordinarily skillful art of survival and disaster avoidance.

Thus, after that frantic bombardment, the looming shadow bearing a rotting deer-bone skull naturally emerged completely unharmed.

The huge contingent of elite wolf guards, aside from turning the open ground outside the royal court into a shambles, actually accomplished nothing.

But these guards had neither the desire nor the time to consider that.

Because they had already swiftly drawn the sidearms at their waists and placed them against their own throats, nearly in unison.

"Your subordinates dare to be so bold as to attack the State Preceptor; we are willing to atone for this great crime with our deaths!"

Furthermore, this is not just for show; the slight bulging of muscle on their right arms shows they are in earnest.

The reason they have not yet moved is simply that, per the rules, they must first declare their guilt before they die.

This is the fearsome nature of the wolf guards: their only guiding principle in life is the Wolf King's rules, and nothing else.

Thus, the reason these hundreds of guards tasked with guarding the gate strike anyone they see and kill as soon as they act is also quite simple.

A misjudgment that injures their superior certainly merits death, but if they fail to act promptly, they will surely die!

One is a chance of death, the other is certain death; even a fool knows which to pick.

But such conduct is perhaps too cruel; even if Wendigo considers itself ruthless, it really can't stomach it.

——Heaven and earth's conscience, how could one indiscriminately slaughter one's own subordinates like this?

Entities such as the Eye Demon, the elf bloodline, death knights, and even the archmage who was sold off before attaining a position—all have sat in the Seventh Seat of the Strange Council.

"Haha, I, the 'grass mud horse of the Gobi,' am fine as long as I didn't kill it myself, right!"

"No, this deity absolutely has no such shamelessness!"

If Wendigo were truly given a chance to confront them face to face, it would surely say firmly.

"You used your lives to scout the path for me; this is certainly a deserved death, not wanton slaughter!"

"Damn it!"

In short, after dodging all the attacks, Wendigo swiftly struck, using shadow chains to seize the weapons in their hands.

"Hold on!"

Unfortunately, the wolf guards did not appreciate it; instead, they all changed expression angrily and shouted.

"State Preceptor, why are you doing this? Are our lives not enough to atone for offending you?!"

"Indeed, where do all these paragons of filial piety in this world come from? Simply because if they don't die, they must drag their families down to die with them."

And although Wendigo's relationship with the Wolf King is one of mutual exploitation, at least on the surface the Wolf King is still its leader, so Wendigo naturally dare not openly question the Wolf King's rules.

It could only immediately clarify.

"Not so! I too am at fault in this matter; how could you not heed my words and instead rush to die on your own?"

"This…"

Laughable—who would truly want to die? Faced with this reasonable operation within the rules, the wolf guards hastily relaxed their grip on their weapons.

The white-furred wolf leader also stepped forward a few paces, and before speaking, offered a salute.

"Your subordinate knows the error; please, State Preceptor, make it clear!"

In the world, all matters are thus; as soon as one speaks, there is room for maneuver.

Thus Wendigo first self-reproached: "I only neglected the rules and appeared privately near the royal court because I had important matters to report to the great king; I deserve punishment!"

Then he emphasized that both sides were at fault, and since the King's rules contain no detailed definition for such a situation, it conforms to the first decree.

"Indeed, this decree is the legendary 'final interpretation right'!"

So…

"Perfect; I will now go see the King to apologize and let him decide the punishment for me and you all."

Having said that, it was escorted by the wolf guards' gazes as it entered, and under the 'protection' of the other soldiers, it arrived at the royal tent.

One could call it a royal tent, but who doesn't know that living in a house is more comfortable than living in a tent?

In fact, it is actually a complex of several stone-built houses designed to be quite rugged, and it is also surrounded by high walls.