Alien world

Chapter 1847, Section 480: The Collective
"If you don't want to be driven out with my order, causing your empire and the family behind it to lose face, then stand obediently below the stage and watch..."

Annan was 99% certain that this banquet was a setup for a triangular alliance. But if that 1% happened—he'd cling to his ancestors' leg and weep, then defect to the devil!

He's already taken care of the Succubus Queen, and with Free City joining him, he should be able to get a deputy legion commander position!
Keller Simmons's face was terribly gloomy. He knew, of course, the purpose of this banquet, which was why he was in such a hurry to use the devil to cause trouble for Annan and weaken his reputation.

As for whether the empire would drive him out... he dared not gamble.

Annan didn't say anything, but simply stretched out his hand, looked at him, and gestured for Keller Simmons to leave.

Not many people paid attention to the conflict here, except for a few guests who had been watching Annam since he entered the banquet hall, such as the Third Prince.

The Minister of the Interior noticed the Third Prince's hesitation and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, the Or Empire and we have a good personal relationship. It's not appropriate for us to help either side... It would be best to pretend we didn't see it."

"Uncle Galkin always mentions those things Annan said to me, like a parrot repeating itself. Do you know what he says most often?" Prince Doyle, the third prince who had been groomed to be king since childhood and had been acting as regent for half a year, asked in return.

"I know a saying, 'If you want to wear the crown, you must first bear its weight.'" He read this in an article in the magazine "Zhiyin."

“No, it’s that phrase, ‘Loyalty that isn’t absolute is absolute disloyalty.’ He absolutely adored that phrase.” The third prince mustered his courage and strode toward Annam.

The Home Secretary quickly followed up, listening as the Third Prince continued, "Once we decide to do something, we shouldn't look back."

They approached Annam, but the situation was contrary to their expectations; Annam was suppressing the Orr Empire's ambassador.

His presumptuous intervention not only failed to help, but also allowed the ambassador of the Orr Empire to escape a predicament.

He looked at the third prince, took a step back, and distanced himself from Annan: "Prince Doyle, are you also going to stand with Free City, which is colluding with demons?"

Before the third prince could speak, Annan retorted, "Why drag others into this? I hugged the ancestor before I came. Are you going to say that the ancestor also betrayed us?"

"Enough!" Ambassador Keller Simmons had had enough of Annan's unreasonable demands. He looked at Annan coldly and said, "Do you think the Empire would clash with the King for your sake?"

"Then do you think the Orr Empire would clash with me for your sake?" Annan retorted.

Keller Simmons couldn't understand how Annan, at such a young age and after several debates, could come up with so many fallacies that left him speechless.
In Annan's eyes, this ambassador of the Orr Empire was nothing more than a corrupt politician who kept repeating the same few phrases: either questioning your loyalty or doubting your stance, and constantly making you prove yourself through internal strife.

A younger person would try to prove their innocence, even at the cost of doing so. But rather than trying to prove his own innocence, Annan preferred to drag his enemies down with him.

You say I'm immoral? I'll say you're promiscuous. You say I don't act like an aristocrat? I'll describe the characteristics of those men. Your voice may only be heard within your own territory, but I can make your jokes the talk of the town in the most remote south.

Annan lost interest; as a politician, the ambassador was far too weak with words: "Go back and tell the Orr Empire to remember, don't mess with me. It was I who nipped a world war that would have engulfed the entire world in the bud."

"When?"

"Just now, thanks to my strong self-control."

The envoy laughed, a laugh like a lion seeing a fawn charging at him. "Annan, you know nothing of true strength."

"Strength doesn't prove anything, just like today's protagonist is me, not you."

"Annan Reeves, do you really think the Orr Empire can't do anything to you?"

"You really think I can't do anything to the Orr Empire?" Annan whispered, activating his innate spell. His aura gradually rose, even attracting the attention of the surrounding guests: "The destruction of the Orr Empire is in my hands. You can't afford to bear it."

It's just empty threats; anyone can do that.

Keller Simmons was truly intimidated by Annan's imposing presence and couldn't help but wonder, what if he really had something up his sleeve...?

In any case, his attempt to quell Annan's arrogance failed. Others were also watching, and Keller Simmons, who didn't want too many people to know that he had been in contact with Annan, snorted coldly and left in a hurry.

Annan beckoned to Russ and whispered, "Write it down. Have Evelyn write an article about Annan and Ambassador Keller Simmons of the Orr Empire having a pleasant conversation in the gardens of the Ring Mountain Palace."

Since you're so fond of professing loyalty, then let the empire personally verify your loyalty.

The third prince stood beside Annan, staring in disbelief from beginning to end. This scene had a greater impact on the young crown prince than anything he had ever experienced before.

In his conventional wisdom, large countries could arbitrarily humiliate small countries, and small countries could arbitrarily humiliate minor powers. Even officials of large countries were expected to be treated as equals by the lords of minor powers. But in Annam, this set of rules suddenly became invalid.

Although there are many arrogant minor lords who dare to defy the great powers, he is Annan Reeves!
Annan explained, "Remember, politics is like playing cards. Even if you have a bad hand, you have to pretend you can fight him to the death. Losing is normal, but winning is a huge profit."

"But that's an empire..."

How could we possibly win? Aren't the only options to lose, lose badly, or lose terribly?

“Prince, you must understand that a country is incredibly vast, especially an empire that has lasted for thousands of years. You think I have angered the empire, but the empire is not a single person or a single group of people, but a collective composed of countless individuals. Each of these individuals has their own calculations. There are those who agree, and there are those who disagree; there are friends, and there are enemies.”

"Even the Empire, a nation hailed as barbarians from top to bottom, has only reacted to the provocations of the forces of Chaos today, and that is precisely why."

There's also Annam and the Elven Kingdom. Their relationship has become incredibly cold, and because of the Otherworld Tree, a brutal war could break out at any moment.

But this doesn't affect Annan and Irelanze's relationship... or Tedel.

"As for offending this ambassador... he doesn't represent anyone." Annan shook his head, thinking he was just a nepotism figure who couldn't find his place, nothing to fear.

"Remember, if anyone ever asks you to prove your innocence, throw your sword in front of him and let him commit suicide to prove his loyalty."

(End of this chapter)