Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 564: Door Call
When Li Zhongren led three thousand Earth Vein Army soldiers, as if escorting a special "cargo," to bring the ashen-faced, resentful yet endlessly fearful Third Prince Cairns Baikal to the court of Fifth Princess Carlos, the entire border was shaken.

The victory horns resounded through the sky, but what followed was not mere celebration, but a dramatic reshuffling of the power structure.

The ruins of Lionheart Castle are like a huge scar etched on the hearts of every survivor.

The collapse of the royal court and the near extinction of the direct bloodline, along with the capture of the third prince, spread like wildfire, bringing unprecedented panic and a power vacuum.

Amidst this desperate chaos, Saruman, the third prince's most trusted advisor and royal steward, demonstrated his shrewd political skills and ruthless decisiveness.

He immediately located the only survivor of the chaos—the youngest daughter of the third prince, Emilia Baikal, who was only ten years old.

With the "support" of Saruman and a group of remaining nobles, Emilia was hastily placed on the throne, becoming the nominal new queen of the Spider Territory.

Saruman appointed himself regent, but actually held all the power.

In order to stabilize the situation, Saruman decisively ordered a full-scale retreat!
All troops entangled with the Fifth Princess's forces on the front lines, regardless of the battle situation, must immediately abandon the castles and lands they have occupied and withdraw to the core defensive perimeter.

The enormous losses and the collapse of the army's core leadership demoralized the troops, and the retreat almost turned into a rout.

But Saruman didn't care. What he needed was time, space, and to stabilize this sinking ship. After all, the Spider Territory was the larger one, both in terms of the richness and the size of its territory. They just needed enough time to lick their wounds and get through this crisis.

Moreover, this is also a show of weakness to the enemy. To outsiders, the Spider Territory Duchy has been severely weakened and has completely turned from the attacker to the defender. However, it has not completely lost enough strength and can still maintain its basic position. Outsiders dare not make any rash moves. After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

If you really push the Spider Territory to the brink, whoever makes the first move will definitely face their wrath.

In contrast to the decadence of the Spider Territory Duchy.

The Fifth Princess's Emerald Palace, however, was no longer filled with the previous solemnity and doubt, but instead with an almost fanatical excitement.

Li Zhongren brought not only the symbolic victory of capturing the third prince, but also a weight that turned the tide of the entire war!
He and his mysterious and powerful "Earth Vein Army" became the most solid support in the hearts of all his supporters.

The rewards were generous and beyond question.

Under Princess Carlos's auspices, Li Zhongren was officially bestowed the title of "Earl of the Mist," with his territory located in the southeastern part of the kingdom, a rich coastal region, the core of which is a natural harbor called "Tidewind City" and its surrounding vast territory.

This reward is far more generous than usual, enough to make any great lord envious and his heart race.

At the court meeting, the border lords who had previously questioned Carlos's decisions and avoided meeting Li Zhongren now wore fawning smiles and vied to express their "respect" and "friendship" to the newly appointed Earl of the Mist.

No one dared to utter foolish words like "huge cost" or "whether it's worth it" anymore.

Looking at Li Zhongren's calm, all-seeing eyes, and at the extraordinary centurions standing behind him with an aura as solid as mountains, they felt only awe and a trace of indescribable fear.

Opposition? Qualifications? Before the power to demolish city gates with bare hands and shatter royal courts with a wave of the hand, those are all laughable.

They could only watch helplessly as massive amounts of gold coins, rare magical materials, and even hundreds of skilled craftsmen were continuously transported to Earl of the Mist's new territory.

However, disagreements arose within the court regarding how to deal with the hot potato that was Prince Cairns.

Some argued that he should be publicly executed as a warning to others, while others suggested that he should be imprisoned as a hostage for a long period of time, and still others proposed exchanging him for huge profits.

Just as the debate was raging, Li Zhongren submitted a plan codenamed "The Prince Returns Home" to Princess Carlos.

Actually, this idea came from Emperor Zhu Qizhen, who called himself the Gatekeeper. History from his previous life proved that this thing was really useful, so he copied it. Moreover, the Spider Territory was not the Ming Dynasty, and it did not have Yu Qian. The Fifth Princess's Carlos Principality was not the Oirat, and it was a disorganized mess.

"...Keynes Baikal was arrogant, tyrannical, cruel, and ungrateful, treating his subjects like dirt."

"Although he was captured, he felt no remorse, only deep-seated hatred and endless resentment."

"If they are imprisoned for a long time, they will surely become a source of trouble, attracting loyal old followers and wasting our energy."

“If we kill him, firstly, the fifth princess will bear the infamy of killing her brother, and secondly, his daughter Emilia, under Saruman’s control, can use the name of ‘revenge’ to unite people’s hearts and inspire the spirit of a desperate army, which will be detrimental to our side in the long run.”

"...Therefore, the best course of action is to 'politely escort' him back to his country."

"However, it is not a simple release; it must wait until the domestic political situation is more stable and Saruman's support for the young ruler is not yet firmly established."

"When the time comes, if this scoundrel is returned, he will surely be unwilling to relinquish power and will inevitably have a fierce conflict with his daughter and the regent Saruman. Father and son (daughter) will turn against each other, the monarch and his ministers will distrust each other, and internal strife will continue. This is a poisonous plan to undermine the foundation of the Spider Kingdom."

"...during the journey back, they need to be given 'appropriate' 'guidance' and 'persuasion' so that the fire of hatred in their hearts burns even more fiercely toward their 'traitor'."

"When they return to their country and 'knock on the door,' that will be the time when their prestige is destroyed and greater chaos ensues. We only need to wait for their internal divisions to fester, and when the time is right, our army will march in and we can subdue them in one fell swoop."

The plan is well-organized and provides a cold and precise analysis of the dark side of human nature and the struggle for power.

The lords present were all sweating profusely. This man was not only a skilled fighter, but also incredibly shrewd and politically astute. He wasn't even afraid of leaking this plan, because it wasn't a conspiracy, but a well-intentioned one.

It is driven by the nature of human beings.

As long as you are still a human being, and not a so-called saint, you cannot escape this plan.

Princess Carlos's purple eyes gleamed with admiration after reading it, and she finally made the decision.

"Let's go with the Earl's plan! The 'Prince's Return Home' plan will be fully implemented under the Earl of the Mist's authority!"

three months later.

The war seemed to have stopped.

The Duchy of Spider Territory finally stabilized, and all the lords had followed the new king. Of course, it was at this time that Li Zhongren, who had been plotting for a long time, finally personally escorted Keynes on his "homecoming" journey.

This matter was kept secret for three months.

At this moment, Li Zhongren made a grand spectacle, parading through the towns and villages of the Spider Territory, which had just been ravaged by war. Keynes was stripped of his magnificent princely attire and dressed in a tattered linen prison uniform. His hands and feet were bound with heavy anti-magic shackles, and he was locked in a specially made, drafty iron cage prison cart.

Wherever they passed, Li Zhongren would have his soldiers casually spread the word.

"Look, this is the third prince who started the war and caused your family to be destroyed!"

“He abandoned you all to enjoy himself in his Lionheart Fortress, but when the fortress collapsed, he was dug out like a rat!”

"His daughter Emilia, with Saruman's help, has secured the throne and completely abandoned him!"

The people along the way had complex expressions in their eyes.

There was numbness, there was fear, but more than anything, there was an uncontrollable resentment and a hint of...pleasure?
Seeing the prince, who once looked down on them like ants, fall to such a state, a twisted sense of satisfaction began to grow within them.

On the way, Li Zhongren whispered in Keynes' ear, like a devil, constantly "analyzing" the domestic situation.

“Saruman, that old fox, is really cunning. By supporting your young daughter, he himself is an uncrowned king.”

"Tsk tsk, look at these notices, 'Long live Queen Emilia'? In just a few days, they've completely forgotten about you."

"Tell me, when you return, will your 'well-behaved' daughter be happy to welcome her father, or... worried that you will take her throne? And how will Saruman 'arrange' for you? A former prince 'enjoying his retirement'?"

Thus, Li Zhongren could see with his own eyes that Keynes, initially enraged, frantic, and roaring like a mad dog, gradually became gloomy, twisted, and resentful, like a venomous snake.
Without a doubt, Li Zhongren's words were like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in his heart. He began to frantically imagine how eager his daughter and Saruman would be to replace him, and how they would celebrate their victory after his capture... Unconsciously, his hatred for Li Zhongren was cleverly transferred and grafted onto the "traitors" in his own country.

Finally, they arrived at Lionheart Castle.

The abandoned castle has been rebuilt, even more magnificent than before, after all, the magic in this world is also very powerful and mysterious.

Above the castle, the new flag of the Spider Territory Duchy fluttered—embroidered with the profile of the young Queen Emilia.

The gates were tightly shut, and the city walls were filled with tense and uneasy soldiers, led by Saruman, whose face was haggard but whose eyes were unusually sharp.

Beside him stood a pale-faced little girl, none other than Queen Emilia.

The two sides just watched each other quietly.

He saw murderous intent in Saruman's eyes. Clearly, the old man wanted to kill Keynes. However, he also knew that it was impossible. In this era, the infamy of regicide was too great. The lords below would definitely use this as an excuse to attack him. It was the perfect excuse.

We can only take it one step at a time.
Li Zhongren ordered the prison cart to stop in front of the camp gate, out of range of arrows.

He personally dragged Keynes out of the prison van, removed the shackles from his feet, and then commanded in a cold voice:
“Cairns Baikal, you’re home. Knock on the door and have your daughter and your ‘loyal subject’ Saruman open the gate to welcome their king… oh, no, to welcome their ‘former king’ home.”

As Keynes looked at the unfamiliar castle before him, at his daughter on the city wall who was both familiar and strange, and at Saruman's cunning face, a tremendous sense of humiliation and anger overwhelmed him.

He wanted to roar, to curse, to order his soldiers to kill these traitors and enemies!

But Li Zhongren's hand pressed down on his shoulder like an iron clamp, and a cold force of earth vein penetrated his body, making him stiff and almost unable to breathe.

He could only be pushed forward a few steps by Li Zhongren like a puppet on a string.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, amidst the terrified gaze of his daughter and the indifferent stare of Saruman, against the backdrop of ruins, this once arrogant third prince uttered the most unbearable cry of his life in a hoarse, humiliated, and resentful voice.

"Emilia! Saruman! Open the door! It's me! Keynes! I...I'm back!"

The sound echoed over the ruins, carrying endless sorrow and irony.

The city wall was deathly silent.

Emilia hid behind Saruman in fear. She didn't like her father; he had never been kind to her.

Saruman stared blankly down below, pondering his actions over the past three months. He had bound all the lords together with benefits, rallying them around the new king. Now that the old king had returned, would they relinquish the benefits they had already gained?
Perhaps this is the turning point.

Li Zhongren didn't urge him, but just watched quietly, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He knew that the seed had been planted, and that this "knocking on the door" would become the beginning of an unhealable rift within the Spider Territory.

Finally, with a heavy creak, the camp gate slowly opened a crack.

Saruman's voice came through, carrying a formulaic respect, but devoid of warmth.

"Welcome back, His Highness Keynes."

He deliberately avoided the title "King".

Li Zhongren released his grip and pushed Keynes forward.

"Go, Your Highness, and have a pleasant journey home."

His words were like a final curse.

Keynes staggered, filled with humiliation, resentment, and impending madness, as he walked step by step toward the open gate that seemed to lead to another hell.

He turned around and stared intently at Li Zhongren, his eyes filled with a venomous resentment that would chill even the devils of hell.

Li Zhongren didn't care at all. He turned around, led the Earth Vein Army, and sank directly underground, disappearing from sight.

That's why he dared to come and see people off; if they wanted to leave, no one could stop them.
-
Dividing line

Tidewind City, Earl of the Mist

Returning to his territory in Xifeng Port, Li Zhongren was finally able to temporarily escape the clamor of war and the vortex of politics.

Nominally, he was the "Count of the Mist," a vassal of the fifth princess, Carlos, but in reality, his territory maintained a high degree of independence in terms of economy, military, and politics.

His three thousand leyline soldiers are his absolute core, with a loyalty level of 100, making him fearless of any threats from above.

Princess Carlos didn't know the specific reasons, but she knew she couldn't really influence Li Zhongren, so instead of trying to interfere in his internal affairs, she continuously provided various forms of support, maintaining the tacit alliance between the two sides.

Standing on the watchtower of the newly built Earl's mansion, overlooking the bustling Xifeng Port and the vast fiefdom, Li Zhongren pondered the blueprint for the future.

War is a means, not an end.

He needs to build, to develop, to transform this territory into the cornerstone of his ideal, a powerful base that can support his pursuit of ultimate "freedom".

Traditional agriculture and handicrafts were too inefficient.

He needs more efficient productivity and stronger technological support.

The Earth Vein Army is invincible on the battlefield, but in terms of construction, it requires more precise control and a broader perspective.

He thought of Karenina's words before she left, and of the legendary witch's island deep in the sea.

He needs the knowledge and power of a witch, but not the kind of black flames like Karenina's that focus on destruction, but rather the realm of creation, transformation, and delicate manipulation.

"Someone is coming."

Li Zhongren summoned a centurion.

"Take my token and this secret letter to the island of 'Eye of the Tides' and find Miss Karenina. Tell her that I need a witch scholar who is skilled in 'Matter Transmutation,' 'Elemental Shaping,' or 'Rune Inscription' to serve as the chief advisor for the development of my territory. The salary is excellent, and the terms are negotiable."

Soon, the messenger, carrying Li Zhongren's token and secret letter, set sail.

Weeks later, an unassuming little boat arrived at Tidewind Harbor.

A young witch, dressed in a dark blue robe, with a cool expression and inquisitive eyes, stepped off the ship.

Holding Karenina's reply and keepsake, she introduced herself.

"By order of the Dean, I have come to assist Earl of the Mist. I am Cecilia Deep Reef, specializing in 'Material Transmutation' and 'Environmental Element Harmony'. I have heard that Your Excellency intends to fuse the unique ley line power, alchemy skills, and magical runes that only you possess to develop your territory? I am very interested."

Cecilia's voice was calm, but Li Zhongren could sense the intense thirst for unknown knowledge beneath her calm exterior.

Very good, this is exactly the kind of person he needs.

(End of this chapter)