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

If negotiations go smoothly and the military compromises to release the prince, the presiding judge can use the National Guard to protect His Highness the Prince of Wales and safely escort him back to Washington State, returning this dignitary to Victoria. If negotiations fail, he can mobilize the National Guard to launch a surprise attack on the unprepared army, attempting to rescue His Highness the Prince of Wales!

Meanwhile, in Washington state, the federal legislature has also prepared contingency plans, including mercenaries and special planes to receive the Prince of Wales and the chief magistrate upon their return.

Of course, this is only the worst-case scenario. From the judge's perspective, he doesn't think the military would dare to betray the political establishment. The military today is not the same as the military during the War of Independence. In the century since Colombia's founding, the military's strength has long been weakened by the constant erosion of the political establishment. In this day and age, the political establishment has already completely overwhelmed the military; otherwise, the political establishment wouldn't be able to manipulate its checks and balances so freely.

Ultimately, this is just an emergency plan.

After receiving a promise from the trembling National Guard captain, the chief referee put down the phone. Just then, the driver slammed on the brakes, stopping the vehicle in front of the military roadblock. He turned to the chief referee and said:

"Mr. Referee, the road ahead is blocked, and the car can't get through."

Wall Street is blocked? The judge gasped, feeling his blood pressure surge like a volcanic eruption. These military lunatics, do they even know that New York State is the financial heart of Columbia, and Wall Street is the largest artery of that heart?

They've sealed off this place; how much damage are they causing every day? That's real money! If this drags on, Colombians will die of heart failure in just a few days!

We absolutely cannot allow the military to continue acting so recklessly. After this diplomatic incident is resolved, we must thoroughly purge our internal problems!

Unable to proceed by vehicle, the chief referee had no choice but to get out and walk briskly toward the financial exchange. However, before he had taken two steps, he was blocked by two soldiers wearing helmets and carrying heavy crossbows.

"Halt! This is a military-controlled area. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter!"

The chief referee showed his credentials and said:

“I am the chief judge of the Federal Assembly. Let your superior come out and speak to me.”

The two soldiers looked at each other, one of them winked at the other, who then jogged away to the back.

Please wait here for a moment.

Soon after, the soldier returned and nodded to his comrades.

The soldier then stepped aside and walked into Wall Street.

Soon after, the doors of the financial exchange finally appeared before him.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: FOR THE KING!

"Hello, Chief Federal Judge."

The man, who identified himself as a lieutenant general, extended his gloved hand and shook hands with the chief referee.

"What brings you here? If I remember correctly, the military representative has already gone to Washington state. Did you meet with him, or did you just miss him?"

The chief referee paused for half a second before remembering who the military representative the lieutenant general was referring to.

That guy who spouted nonsense in the Federal Parliament hall and was kicked out of the hall by me with a simple "Get out".

The military is just the military; they don't even have the discernment to choose an envoy, picking such a worthless contraption. Does he even speak like a human being? Not resisting means losing money, resisting means losing your life. The most tragic thing in life is dying before you've spent all your money. They don't even understand such a simple principle? How could you choose him as your representative?

Of course, the chief referee couldn't voice these complaints publicly; he could only force a smile and nod.

"We met, had an in-depth exchange, shared constructive opinions, and reached a general consensus."

The lieutenant general paused for a moment, turned to look at his adjutant beside him, and asked in a low voice:

"Can you translate this for me? What does it mean?"

The adjutant gave an awkward laugh, leaned close to the lieutenant general's ear, and explained:

"That means he met with the people, said a few words, and felt that our representatives' opinions were utter nonsense and unacceptable. The political circles disagreed."

The lieutenant general looked enlightened. "I disagree. If you disagree, what are you doing here?"

He raised an eyebrow, his attitude less enthusiastic than before, and this time answered the same question in a more indifferent tone:

"I see. May I ask what brings the chief referee here?"

“I’m here to take someone away,” the chief referee replied.

"Oh, taking someone with you?" The lieutenant general chuckled, glanced around at the soldiers, and spread his arms, saying, "Which one of these has caught the chief referee's eye? Pick one!"

The chief referee also laughed along.

"General, you are so straightforward. Chatting with you is very enlightening. However, General, the person I need to take away is not here, but there. Please do me a favor and let me take one of the people inside."

The chief referee raised his hand and pointed to the financial exchange not far away, which was completely blocked off by barbed wire and roadblocks, and was surrounded by soldiers patrolling.

The general frowned, but quickly relaxed and said frankly:

"That's easy. How could I refuse the face given by the chief referee? Just tell me who you want to bring, and I'll bring people to help you carry it."

The referee approached the lieutenant general mysteriously and said, slowly and deliberately, "Prince of Wales."

The lieutenant general's expression changed instantly. He frowned, looked at the chief referee, a dangerous glint in his eyes, but asked with a cheerful smile:

“What do you need him for? Find someone else. The people locked up in there are all heinous criminals, but because of your reputation, Judge, I can make an exception and let you take one away.”

The chief referee shook his head and raised his index finger: "Only one, a Victorian! The Prince of Wales!"

"This won't do. I still need this person. What do you need him for?"

The lieutenant general shook his head. "How could the Prince of Wales be handed over to you politicians? Your ulterior motives are as clear as day. The news of Victoria's public threats against Colombia has spread throughout the land; it's caused quite a stir. Even for the sake of the military's reputation, he would never hand over the Prince of Wales to you politicians to curry favor with Victoria."

Upon hearing this, the chief referee's expression also turned cold. By blatantly rejecting the political parties' demands, the military clearly showed they didn't take the political establishment seriously.

Your military may have some sense of shame, but do we politicians not? If it weren't for Colombia, and for the sake of continuing to make money in the future, would we stoop so low as to appease Victoria? If we don't send the Prince of Wales back safely, we'll lose seven mobile cities on the border—that's a huge loss! Not to mention that Victoria might declare war on Colombia later. How long Colombia can hold out then is entirely up to fate!

We've already bowed our heads and admitted defeat, we've lost all shame. It wasn't your military that was being criticized at the press conference, yet you're still trying to save face and maintain a facade of integrity. Do you really think our political circles don't know what kind of people you are?

"So, General, you're not going to give it to me?"

The chief referee finally advised,

"General, you need to think this through. It's impossible to rely on the Prince of Wales to keep Victoria in check. He's unreliable."

The lieutenant general raised an eyebrow: "Then who do I rely on?"

"Me." The chief referee patted his chest.

The lieutenant general almost burst out laughing. "You? The chief judge of the Federal Parliament?"

Have you been writing too much in your diary and lost your mind? A bunch of people with no guns or cannons, you think you can rely on us? We have guns, you have money, you are our gold mine, we'd rather rob you, relying on you? Dream on.

Despicable.

"Unreliable, unreliable. Please leave. This matter is non-negotiable. If Victoria wants the Prince of Wales, then she should show me sincerity, come and talk to me in person, offer money to redeem him, or exchange him for land. Otherwise, there's no point in talking. Don't keep sending dogs to get in my way; it's bad luck."

The chief referee, gritting his teeth and his face flushed, grabbed the lieutenant general's arm and demanded:

Who are you calling a dog?

"Whoever takes it personally will be criticized."

The lieutenant general raised his head in disdain. At the same time, the soldiers beside him, who had been barely holding back, immediately raised their crossbows, nocked bolts, imbued with Originium memories, and aimed them at the chief referee. If he dared to make any further rash moves, they would immediately riddle him with bullets.

"let go!"

The lieutenant general sneered. The chief referee, unwilling to give up, glanced at the sharp alloy arrows around him out of the corner of his eye, gritted his teeth, and was about to let go.

The peace negotiations had failed, but fortunately, he had prepared a backup plan: leave first, and then launch a surprise attack on the troops here as soon as the National Guard arrived! These people were not carrying heavy weapons, only some light armor and crossbows, and he didn't even see many sorcerers. They were definitely no match for the well-trained National Guard!

Your smugness won't last long!

The chief referee slowly released his grip. But just then, a sudden commotion erupted at the entrance of the financial exchange, and before the lieutenant general and the chief referee could react, the exchange's doors were smashed open!

The soldiers stationed at the gate were focused on the conflict between the lieutenant general and the chief referee not far away. Before they could even react to the rushing crowd, they were engulfed by high heels, boots, fists, and thighs. Men in suits and ladies in long dresses and hats seemed to have transformed into incredibly disciplined soldiers, disarming the gatekeepers in less than ten seconds and simultaneously targeting the stunned lieutenant general and chief referee standing nearby.

They probably never imagined in their lives how all of this happened, how a team composed of ordinary citizens, a group of lazy capitalists, socialites, and a few cleaners and exchange employees could suddenly unleash such terrifying execution power.

But they never had a chance to figure it out.

"shooting!"

Wayne stood at the back of the crowd, grinned, and gave the order.

Originium Arts – [Heavenly Mandate] activated. A faint phantom of a lion appeared behind Vayne. The lion, feigning sleep, slightly opened its eyes and let out a lazy yet domineering roar. The next second, obeying the command, Vayne's "lions" raised their crossbows and sabers, firing, throwing, and pouncing with all their might at the lieutenant general and the chief referee not far away.

Kal'tsit understood people's hearts very well. He arranged an excellent stage for Wayne, allowing him to unite the people trapped in the exchange and become the center of the crowd in order to protect himself.

But Wayne's thinking was broader.

He was a born king. The Originium Arts—[Heavenly Mandate]—granted him limitless possibilities. On the land he recognized, among the people who recognized him, this Originium memory ability could reach its limit, which is what he is now—everyone is his [prince of lions], obeying his commands, following his orders, and hunting him!

For The King!

Chapter Sixty Your Will, Your Majesty

When the chief referee was escorted to Wayne by his own Colombian soldiers, he truly realized that Colombia was finished. Victoria's threat might not have been a threat at all, but rather a statement of fact.

Even the army betrayed Colombia. They must have colluded with Wayne long ago, otherwise why would the soldiers of Colombia choose to defect immediately after their commander was pierced by a heavy crossbow?

The chief judge briefly glanced into the golden eyes of the Colombian soldiers who had escorted him. There was no sympathy, no regret, and no hesitation in those eyes; they seemed completely unashamed of what they had done.

He was surprised because he saw glory and loyalty in those golden eyes, like the most primal and unwavering loyalty of a pride to its king.

He dared not look at him for long, and turned his head to look at the Prince of Wales, whom he had never met before, but who had already brought him too many "surprises".

His attention was instantly drawn to Wayne's equally golden eyes. What kind of eyes were they? Just seeing them was like seeing a towering mountain, a vast ocean, the power within them almost filling his empty mind in an instant, making him want to immediately prostrate himself on the ground, honor him as king, and pledge his allegiance to him.

But Wayne immediately looked away.

He turned to the side, glancing at the chief referee only out of the corner of his eye, and said:

Do you know why I didn't kill you?

The chief referee, passively affected by the [Heavenly Mandate of Heaven], fell into a daze for a while before finally regaining his senses and letting out a questioning cry:

"what?"

"Do you know why I didn't kill you? I heard your conversation very clearly. You came to save me, didn't you, Mr. Judge?"

The exchange did not block network signals, and the Unicorn and Victoria agents lurking nearby had already sent Wayne all the information on Colombia's top leaders. Wayne had noticed him as soon as the chief judge arrived at the exchange.

He hadn't originally planned this direct assault, as any adventure meant potential danger. But when negotiations with the chief judge to rescue him stalled, and Colombian soldiers surrounded him with crossbows and swords, Wayne knew that the Colombian political establishment alone probably couldn't save him.

There must have been some major conflict between the military and the political establishment, to the point that a lieutenant general dared to confront Colombia's highest political leader with a sword. This means my safety inside the stock exchange is no longer guaranteed. The military, when it goes berserk, is not something an ordinary person can stop; it's best to leave now.

But before that, Wayne planned to set things ablaze. To make Colombia burn even more fiercely.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness the Prince of Wales."

The chief referee breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Wayne had no intention of killing him; a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He still vividly remembers the scene of the lieutenant general being pierced through by a heavy crossbow bolt and pinned to the ground. He might even suffer from insomnia for a long time afterward.