Miss Wang Weina, even your cousin won't do!

"and......"

Wayne hesitated, then swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Theresa tilted her head in confusion and asked, "And what?"

"nothing."

Wayne shook his head.

Moreover, if I hadn't appeared, you in the future would have acted far more "excessively" than I did when faced with such a crisis.

As Empress, Vina's power was virtually limitless. As the ruler of the most powerful nation on Earth, Queen Victoria was far from facing an uncertain future or a precarious situation. Compared to Amiya, the young girl from Cartes who hastily inherited your will, Vina's burdens were far lighter.

In some ways, you are a cautionary tale for me, Theresa.

Seeing Wayne's somewhat strange look, Theresa blinked in confusion and decided to skip the topic.

What's next?

“Hmm…” Wayne hesitated for a moment, then said, “You should go back to the palace first. If Vina is really busy until very late… then lend a hand.”

Theresa immediately put on a mischievous expression and asked, knowing the answer already:

"Who was it that just said I would absolutely not help?"

"That's why I asked you to go and help."

Wayne emphasized the word "you," stressing it out.

Theresa covered her mouth and chuckled softly, then nodded and said:

"How cunning! How many girls have you fooled using this method?"

Wayne paused for a moment, then waved his hand:

"No, no, how could that be?"

Theresa glanced at Wayne, stood up, and let out a soft hum that Wayne couldn't decipher.

"Humph!"

Then she turned around and walked towards the door.

"Then I'll head back first. You should come back soon too. Don't always stay here alone; the palace is very large... it will be very lonely if there are too few people."

Wayne nodded:

"Understood. I'll go back after I've dealt with this."

Wayne pointed to the laptop on the table, gave an OK sign, and Theresa waved goodbye and left the villa.

Wayne then looked down at the computer screen and opened his email inbox.

There are two unread emails above.

The first email was from Rhine Life, a company he had invested in early on with money borrowed from Lateran, inviting him, as a shareholder, to attend an upcoming technology expo in Colombia.

Wayne replied simply, "Thank you for the invitation, I'll arrive on time." He then skipped over the long string of text and polite words introducing Rhine Life's achievements and turned to the next email.

Email two came from an anonymous ID. It was sent through the Lentinium Morning Post to the recently popular legendary journalist "Joseph Pulitzer".

The message was simple: it also invited him to Colombia, but the destination was slightly different. While both were to attend a science expo in Colombia, the focus wasn't on Rhine Labs, but rather on Rhine Labs' rival, the equally influential laboratory "Loken Aquatech." The anonymous letter earnestly requested the Pulitzer journalist, known for his "fearlessness of power and his commitment to justice," to investigate Loken Aquatech's alleged illegal biological experiments, to save children injured or even dying in these illegal experiments, and to bring "just punishment" to Loken Aquatech.

Wayne couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile of considerable interest.

He definitely needs to investigate the Loken Water Tank Laboratory. The sheer number of horrific atrocities committed in that lab is evident from the Rosemary operator's file in the game. The number of lives they bear is no less than that of ordinary executioners, not to mention that most of those lives were taken by children.

Child, the last pure soul on this earth.

Just for the fact that they conducted human experiments on children, the conscience of Terra journalism—no, the one that fights evil, exposes corruption, and criticizes tyranny and injustice—[Joseph Pulitzer] cannot let them get away with it!

But the question is, who is the anonymous sender of this letter?

Who else is also paying attention to this matter and placing their hopes on a reporter who seems to have insignificant power?

Wayne was very curious about this.

After a moment's hesitation, he typed on the keyboard and replied:

"Thank you for your support. I am aware of the situation and will be secretly traveling to Colombia soon to investigate. Please provide me with more information and assistance so that we can work together to dispel the shadow that is shrouding the children."

Click to send.

That completes the process.

Shareholder Veen and journalist Joseph Pulitzer will embark on an investigative journey in Colombia, one working overtly and the other covertly.

Chapter 112 Swire: Is it Bruce?

Victoria, Londinim International Airport.

Like the ocean, the skies of Terra were uncharted territory for humankind. However, compared to the far more mysterious and dangerous dark seabed, the sky, visible to all, seemed much safer. Thus, courageous pioneers began to develop aircraft capable of soaring through the skies alongside the natural disaster clouds.

The experiment was successful, but compared to the technologically advanced passenger planes of Wayne's previous life, the Originium-powered aircraft on Terra were far more expensive to build, had higher operating costs, were more dangerous, and had a pitifully small passenger capacity, making them virtually impossible to popularize worldwide. Most organizations that owned aircraft used them as extremely valuable private transportation, to display their status and position, or to carry out emergency missions. Only wealthy national entities like Victoria had the resources to build official airports solely for commercial operation, risking damage from natural disasters to operate flights to various parts of Terra.

Even so, aircraft are valuable assets. During the turmoil in Victoria, Royal Westminster International Airport, a commercial airport distinct from private airports, also underwent an emergency shutdown in accordance with Victorian flight laws. Aircraft and aprons were sealed off, and mobile urban blocks were removed from civilian areas and spliced ​​together to the military liaison point connecting to the Londinhem garrison. No aircraft was allowed to take off or land at the airport without a flight permit issued by the Aslan royal family.

This is why, even though Miss Swire is the daughter of the wealthy SWIRE family and owns her own private aircraft, she still had to ask "Bruce" to pull some strings and get her a Royal Navy pilot's license if she wanted to leave Londinium for Lungmen, thousands of miles away—money really isn't everything when it comes to some things.

Today was the day Swire was to travel to Lungmen. Chen and his two shadow guards also hitched a ride, preparing to return to Lungmen together to report back to Wei Yanwu and ensure his safety. Before departing, Chen looked back with some reluctance at the towering imperial city spire in the distance, the Lentinium Tower.

She didn't inform Wayne that she would be returning to Lungmen today, firstly because the Aslan royal family was very busy, and secondly because she, the all-around talented girl named Chen Huijie, was unexpectedly bad at handling farewells. Just like her abrupt departure in the North, this time, Chen didn't plan to say goodbye to Wayne either.

She didn't want to show any vulnerability in front of Wayne. If that man looked down on her, Chen Huijie would never forgive herself.

She needs to become strong enough to fulfill the promise of being "knights to each other," and she has a long way to go to achieve that. People like Wayne, who make her hesitate, are a hindrance!

"Alright, alright, Ah Chen, what are you still looking at?"

Swire leaned out of the aircraft and noticed Chen, who was standing on the boarding stairs lost in thought. A mischievous, anime-like "W" shape appeared on her lips, her eyes gleaming with a teasing light. She deliberately said:

"You're not thinking about some man, are you? Hmm, it's okay, I understand. After all, Pink Dragon is getting on in years."

"What nonsense are you spouting, Char Siu Cat?"

Chen turned her head, frowned, and scolded in a pretentious manner, but the faint blush on her face was impossible to hide.

Having been given another unpleasant nickname, Swire pouted, but her curiosity about gossip overcame her temper, and she continued:

"Is it Bruce? Is it Bruce? I can't think of anyone you, Pink Dragon, could be connected to. All the boys at school either avoid you or scurry around you. Only Bruce would drink with you. Is it him?"

Chen turned his face away, not answering the question, but instead changing the subject: "What does 'walking on your stomach' mean?"

"She was beaten down by you, of course. The number one judo player at the Victoria Royal Guard Academy and that woman who rode on her head and used a grappling technique—who hasn't heard of these legendary stories from the academy?"

Chen was stunned for a moment, thinking to herself, "Do I really have such a record?" She did have some recollection of the person who was sneaking around behind her using a grappling technique, but she didn't know that the man was actually the number one on the judo rankings. So she's pretty amazing, huh?

"Yes, she's quite something, a violent woman from Yan Country who doesn't understand elegance or etiquette."

Swire rolled her eyes and casually mentioned Chen Huijie's nickname. Chen, who had been in a good mood just now, instantly lost her smile.

"So, whether it's Bruce or not, I actually think you two are quite suitable. It's just that you have to get past Uncle Wei Yanwu, since Pink Dragon, your identity is a bit different. But I think Bruce's background is probably not bad either. He actually managed to get a royal flight permit, which is extremely valuable on the black market. I guess his background is a little weaker than yours. If you seriously talk to Uncle Wei Yanwu, maybe you'll have a chance?"

"Alright, alright, why are you acting like a 40-year-old aunt? Has eating too much char siu made your brain greasy?"

Chen waved his hand, interrupting Swire's incessant stream of advice. He thought to himself, "You know nothing, what kind of advice are you giving me?"

Bruce's status might only be slightly lower than mine, but is that just a little bit lower? It's a whole billion times higher!

Prince of Wales of Victoria Aslan, the current heir to the throne and son of the King of the North—Chen had heard these titles frequently from Shadow Guards and the Earl of Vincent during his time in the Earldom of Vincent. Chen had also personally witnessed the miracle of Wayne taking control of the entire Northern rebel army with a single newspaper. In Victoria, at least in the Victorian North, Chen had deeply experienced the absolute authority that came with it.

Compared to him, although she bore the title of Princess of Da Yan, the throne was practically unattainable for her; even Wei Yanwu wouldn't have a chance. Let alone any prestige. Moreover, most of the time, Chen disliked this meaningless title; it reminded her of the man who had caused her mother's death through cowardice, and the misfortunes that befell Talulah and her father. She had always insisted on living as an ordinary person, and only hoped to live as an ordinary person.

The gap between her and Wayne is huge, which is why she needs to work even harder. Chen is a girl who believes that hard work can change her destiny.

"Enough of this nonsense, it's time to board the plane."

Reaching out, he snatched the flight permit from Swire's hand. This thing, which Swire and the conglomerate behind her treasured, was nothing more than something Wayne had made by transferring it from one hand to the other, signing and stamping it himself. If Chen wanted one, Wayne wouldn't mind giving her one too. The fact that something he could so easily obtain was something Swire desperately wanted made Chen feel a surge of pride in having "outmaneuvered" Swire.

Swire, stunned by the sudden loss of her certificate, turned to look at Chen, who had already entered the cabin, and jogged after him, calling out as she ran:

"So, is it true or not, is it true or not, Pink Intestine Dragon, Ah Chen, Chen Huijie! Can you bear to stifle a gossipy heart?"

"That kind of heart should just die."

Accompanied by the shouts of two girls fighting fiercely, the aircraft bearing the SWIRE family crest slowly closed its hatch and began its pre-flight run-up. At the same time, on another runway at Londinim International Airport, another aircraft was slowly landing.

The aircraft, bearing the logo of Rhine Lab's positive and negative poles and the infinite Möbius strip, opened its cabin door, and Ms. Vaiva, with silver hair and holding a navigation system, stepped out of the aircraft.

The warm breeze caressed Victoria's resolute face, her diamond-like expression showing no sign of softening.

She meticulously recorded the arrival in Victoria in the mission log, then put away the navigation, looked up at the empty airport, and took a deep breath.

"This is it. Now let's go meet with this mysterious shareholder."

"Hopefully, he's not a difficult person to get along with. Otherwise..."

Saria rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She hoped her often-criticized emotional intelligence wouldn't leave a bad impression on the shareholder.

Chapter 113 Kazdel, Principal of the Whampoa Military Academy, Theresis

Victoria, Londinium, Iron Palace.

With Theresa by Vina's side, Wayne was finally able to free up his hands for a long time and start preparing for the establishment of the "Victoria Royal Military Academy Kazdel Branch" in his bedroom.

Since Theresis, the head of Kazdel's military, has agreed to this, it's practically a done deal. Despite the general disdain for the Sarkaz across the land, the high-ranking officials of various nations are aware of their value. Whether it's the conservative Ursus or the progressive Colombia, each country, though outwardly disdainful, has actually formed its own Sarkaz militarized forces.

The reason for stigmatizing the Sarkaz was merely to curry favor with the Laterans, who possessed firearms and numerous ruins, and incidentally, to reduce the cost of recruiting Sarkaz refugees. After all, the lower the status of the demons on the land, the harder it is for them to survive, the weaker their cohesion, and the easier it is for various countries to divide and absorb them. If a piece of bread and a shack can win their unwavering loyalty, why would anyone bother to spend a fortune on horse bones?

However, this situation will change dramatically once the college is established.

This military academy, named and spearheaded by Victoria and officially supported by Aslan and the Sarkaz royal family, far surpasses any other Sarkaz internment institution on Earth in terms of both influence and strength. It will have no shortage of resources to attract talented wandering demons.

The reason for naming it a branch of the Royal Military Academy of Victoria is twofold: first, to enhance the prestige and attractiveness of the academy; and second, to let those with ambitions know who is really in charge of this area, and that they should refrain from making any rash moves if they don't want to cause trouble.

What will be the reaction of the Terran Parliament?

Wayne said it was none of his business how they reacted. At most, they'd condemn or protest; they weren't going to actually lay a hand on Victoria, were they?

It's important to understand that the British Empire of Victoria on Terra never truly reached the brink of collapse like Great Britain in its previous life. Although there were challengers like Columbia who wanted to shake its position, it was merely a "thought."

Victoria is now the undisputed hegemon of Terra. The Ursus Empire, stronger than it, is economically devastated and its people are suffering. Columbia, wealthier than Victoria, is obsessed with making money and militarily weak. The Great Yan is confined to a corner of the world, Letania is feudal and conservative, and Sargon is a disorganized mess, still in the late stages of slavery. What waves can a single, staunchly anti-magic kingdom like Laterano possibly stir up?

Could he possibly conjure up a crusade? Please, we're in the age of despotism now. The Reformation is over; the crusades are outdated. Forget crusades, he wouldn't even be able to create an economic encirclement of Victoria.