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

This is a case of entrapment!

Then Chen was transferred to the newly established special inspection team, probably because Commander Wei was afraid that Chen would pull off another one of those amazing feats.

"It's alright, it's alright. You can go to Commander Wei and ask to have this task given to someone else. After all, it's a bit much to have you entertain important foreign guests..."

"What do you mean, Hoshiguma!" Chen glared at Hoshiguma, who quickly waved her hand.

"No, no, no, everyone has their strengths. Old Chen, you're very good at investigating cases, but this kind of thing really isn't for you. I'm just telling the truth."

But Chen shook her head. Hadn't she tried to decline as well?

After reading the mission details, Chen immediately called Wei Yanwu in a fit of anger, wanting to cancel the mission. The result...

"Wei Yanwu, what are you up to? You're sending me to receive the Victoria Royal Family? Is this the important task you've given me?!"

Wei Yanwu answered with ease:

"Yes, is there a problem?"

“Of course there’s a problem!” Chen said.

Wei Yanwu's lips curled slightly as he countered with a question:

"Oh? Superintendent Chen, do you think there's a problem? Is the mission not big enough?"

Chen was stunned for a moment, and the curse that was about to come out of his mouth was swallowed back down.

Is the mission not big enough? That's impossible. Receiving foreign dignitaries and being responsible for security work—if these missions aren't big enough and serious enough, then there probably aren't many missions that can be called "big missions."

Wei Yanwu wasn't lying; this was indeed a task that "could affect relations between the two countries if not handled properly." Chen shouldn't have complained on his own, much less shirk his responsibility and refuse to do it.

Seeing that Chen did not speak, Wei Yanwu asked again:

"Is this mission too difficult, so Superintendent Chen feels unable to complete it?"

The words Chen had been holding back fell back down his throat.

Unable to complete it? What a joke! In the entire Lungmen, who understands Wayne's temperament better than me?

He and I were classmates! We went through a turmoil together in northern Victoria, and even shared a harrowing experience of being besieged by enemy forces – a true test of friendship. If she doesn't have the confidence to complete this mission, then who in Lungmen can?

Wei Yanwu wasn't lying; it seemed that this task was indeed best left to her...

Seeing that Chen still didn't answer, Wei Yanwu chuckled inwardly and finally asked:

"Or is it that our Superintendent Chen is arrogant and thinks that the people he is hosting this time are not high enough and not worth your personal protection? Or do you have some conflict with the VIPs on this mission, making you unwilling to contact them? If so, I will consider it and it is not impossible to replace him."

Wei Yanwu paused, having perfectly grasped Chen's subtle thoughts, and added:

"However, as the first of the three rules I told you, due to the VIP's status, for the sake of the confidentiality and security of this mission, I must prohibit you from contacting the VIP. I hope Superintendent Chen can understand."

Wei Yanwu walked back to his desk, opened his notebook, and held the phone close to it, deliberately making the rustling sound of pages turning so Chen could hear. He also opened the cap of his pen, making that sound as well. He then continued:

"In that case... I'll change the plans now and rearrange them. Superintendent Chen will not be attending this reception..."

"Wait, I'll join!"

Chen swallowed back the angry words he was about to say, and spoke somewhat urgently, as if he was genuinely afraid that Wei Yanwu would act too quickly and cross his name off the list.

"I accept this task!"

"Oh?" Wei Yanwu could barely suppress the smile on his face as he said, "Is there anything else, Superintendent Chen?"

"That's all..." Chen said, then hung up the phone.

How could she possibly refuse? It was a rare opportunity to see Wayne again after two months.

This time it's still her home turf; there will be no rebels, no studies, and no teachers, classmates, or nobles to bother her.

How could she possibly give up such a great opportunity?

but....

After hearing Chen's somewhat reserved account, Hoshiguma was a little confused.

"So, you're saying this is paid leave to spend time with your friends? Commander Wei didn't lie to you, so why are you so angry?"

Yes, why am I angry?

Chen covered his head with the blanket, leaving only his eyes showing.

Hoshiguma didn't understand, and neither did she herself...

In short, I'm furious. Wayne came to Lungmen without informing me first, instead telling that old bastard Wei Yanwu, which made me get tricked. That's definitely why I'm angry...

Chen Hong's large red eyes stared blankly at the mission letter on the table, lost in thought.

The mission letter was written in the diplomat's beautiful, cursive Victorian script.

"...Your Majesty, the Prince of Wales and his wife are visiting Lungmen in an unofficial capacity..."

Chapter Eleven Vina planned to eat.

Victoria, Lentinium.

Vina is receiving guests today. The Victorian royal family designates the 8th of each month as an open day for the palace. During this time, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, a select group of lucky individuals who have applied will have the opportunity to tour some non-classified areas of the Iron Palace.

Among them, some lucky individuals will have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner with the royal family by donating to the Royal Foundation, a charity sponsored by the royal family.

This has been a tradition of the Victorian royal family for hundreds of years.

Don't find it unbelievable; even royalty needs money. Having a meal with a respectable outsider who's willing to spend money—it only takes a few minutes—can be auctioned off for tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. Why wouldn't they take advantage of it?

It was almost noon, and Vina arrived at the restaurant right on time, ready to meet today's lucky winner.

They are said to be from the Swire family.

I forgot to mention that while most opportunities to enter the palace are drawn by lottery, a small number can still be "gifted." For example, the Norfolk family, behind Marshal Ernest. As one of the three major Victorian families, the royal family would likely grant Ernest's request to have a meal at the palace—a small favor.

Therefore, there was an unwritten rule in the royal family: nobles of the rank of Grand Duke were not allowed to remain in Londinium unless absolutely necessary, but in return, they had six opportunities each year to apply for entry into the palace. As a result, some powerful merchants, such as the Swire family, could exchange opportunities for "gifts" from impoverished nobles by sponsoring them.

Having already purchased the opportunity, a family like the Swire would naturally spend money to compete for the chance to dine together. And this time, it seems the Swire family emerged victorious.

Which store did they buy from?

Before entering the restaurant, Vina whispered a question to the unicorn standing guard at the door, disguised as a guard.

"The Smith family. The patriarch, Don Smith, has recently suffered from mismanagement and the family has gone bankrupt. In order to repay the debts, he exchanged an opportunity for financial assistance from the Swire family."

Vina's lips twitched. What kind of person is a Grand Duke who can cause his family to go bankrupt due to mismanagement?

It seems my brother was right after all. There are still too many nobles in Victoria, each generation worse than the last. They have no real skills, just a bunch of rules, and they live comfortably by exploiting the people. It seems we need to find an opportunity to give them a good beating.

As Vina pondered this, she stepped through the door that the guards had helped open.

The little tiger inside the door is in a daze.

Miss Swire was a little nervous; this was her first time meeting someone of the Emperor's stature. To be honest, she was incredibly excited when her elders summoned her back to Victoria from Lungmen a month ago. Meeting the Queen of Victoria—a figure whose every move could make Terra tremble! Although she had seen Vina on television, the image on screen and the real person were completely different! If she could make a good impression, wouldn't she be on the rise to great heights?

But when it came time to actually enter the palace gates, she immediately had second thoughts. That was Queen Victoria, a figure whose every move could make Terra tremble. Forget about making a good impression; she worried about what she might say, what might she do that would offend Her Majesty, or what might be considered impoliteness. Swire had absolutely no confidence.

Forget about rising to prominence; just avoiding jail time is considered a success.

But to make matters worse, her family had given her a task: to find out Her Majesty the Empress's temperament for her father, the next head of the Swire Group. This would be so that her father, who had also secured a spot that evening, could curry favor with the Empress when he appeared before her.

Businessmen, in order to make money, will do anything to cultivate good relations with the government; they're not ashamed of it.

It was just a pity for Shi Huaiya.

As soon as Vina entered the room, she saw Swire sitting in a chair with his back to her, lost in thought. She was startled.

Why did the Swire family send such a young girl to this kind of occasion?

Although I seem to be a young girl myself.

Vina had dined with such wealthy business families before. Usually, the attendees were either elderly people with white hair or middle-aged people who had experienced many hardships. This was the first time she had seen someone like Swire who looked to be under thirty.

It was truly amazing; at the Queen's Table, where tickets were incredibly hard to come by, she seemed to actually see someone who was there to dine.

However, dealing with a girl of similar age is far more comfortable than dealing with those old men and women who only say three-tenths of what they mean, leaving the remaining ninety-seven-tenths to the reader's interpretation. After ordering the guards to close the door, Vina walked to her seat and slowly sat down.

Seeing that Swire was still in a daze, Vina coughed softly.

"Cough cough."

"Ah!" Swire suddenly stood up, looked in Vina's direction, and rattled off everything she'd been taught at home in a rapid-fire manner:

"Your Majesty, greetings! I wish you good health. I am Beatrice Swire from the SWIRE family. It is an honor to have lunch with you!"

She spoke so quickly, like a torrent of raindrops, that Vina was stunned. She blinked her big eyes at Swire, who was dressed in an elegant black evening gown, for a moment before saying:

"Don't be so nervous, speak slowly..."

"it is good."

What a load of rubbish!

Swire sat down on the stool with a smile that was barely more attractive than crying.

All she wants to do right now is find a place to lie down and be a happy couch potato.

What a mess, what a mess, what a mess. He spoke too fast, his manners were off, he didn't bow, he didn't pull out a chair for Her Majesty, and he didn't even notice Her Majesty enter.

It’s over.

Grandpa, it's over.

Seeing Swire's deathly expression, Vina finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"There's no need to be so nervous, Miss Beatrice. It's just a meal together. I'm not going to eat you."

Vina wasn't really into putting on airs. Although she was the Empress, she never acted that way in front of her old friends like Indra and Gawain. She just played along as she pleased. It was the same at mealtimes. If it weren't for having to cater to those old men and maintain the Empress's image, who would want to be so particular about how many bites to take with their grilled meat?

When facing her peers, she really didn't want to keep pretending anymore; she figured it was better to just be casual, since no one would know anyway.

Even if Swire spreads this around afterward, it doesn't matter. Leaving aside the fact that she was so nervous, she might not even have the guts. Even if she did, the royal family has many mouthpieces. The difference between Her Majesty the Queen being approachable and Her Majesty the Queen being rude is simply how you explain it.

However, before Vina could even think about having a chat with the nervous Miss Swire and making friends, the door was pushed open again.

Vina and Swire both instinctively looked towards the door at the same time, and then exclaimed in unison:

"Brother!" "Bruce!?"

Chapter Twelve: I just sat there, and they laughed.