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

Compared to her confidently telling Theresa, "No one knows Wayne better than me," only to be proven wrong, it was much easier for her to accept someone like the Doctor, whom she didn't know much about from the start.

However, that's all well and good, the Doctor's matter is still far off. Kal'tsit had found the used home medical device in Ursus and stored it in Chernobog. Chernobog is located on the eastern border of Ursus, adjacent to Lungmen, a trading city of the Great Yan, and Blood Peak, a mountain range in the northern part of the Eastern Kingdom. It's quite far from Victoria, and she won't have a chance to get close to there anytime soon.

A private operation was out of the question. Kal'tsit couldn't possibly steal the medical device that powers the entire mobile city of Chernobog on her own, let alone transport it back to Victoria. Besides, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she was currently on the Ursus Guard's hunting list, belonging to the most serious category of "traitors."

Last time, within Earl Vincent's territory, he was able to repel the pursuing guards by virtue of Victoria's prestige and his barely equal fighting strength. Now, residing in Victoria's palace, with the siblings Wayne and Vina by his side, and the protection of the unicorn, the guards dare not make any moves against him.

But if someone recklessly goes to Ursus themselves, that's a different story. One wrong move, and even a miracle won't save them.

Let's take a longer-term view.

Kal'tsit tidied up the list, prepared to take a nap, and said goodbye to Wayne the next day. She would then head to the addresses of the people on the list, confirm their wishes one by one, and bring them back to Kazdel.

But before she could lie down, there was a knock on the door.

"Which one?"

Kal'tsit answered wearily, wearing pajamas and slippers, and walked to the door and opened it.

Wayne stood at the doorway, giving the old lynx a surprised look at its unusual attire. He raised an eyebrow and muttered:

"Kal'tsit, can't you be a little more mindful of your appearance at home?"

"What, does my appearance excite you, Prince Wayne?"

"No, I just think you're already quite old, the sexy route isn't working anymore, so you shouldn't abandon the innocent route too."

"Your *unspeakable lynx-like profanity*"

"Tsk tsk, getting impatient, why is the old woman acting like a virgin?"

A vein throbbed on Kal'tsit's forehead, and she closed the door halfway shut, revealing only half her face, as she spoke:

"You're here to cause trouble, aren't you? Just tell me what you want with me, or are you just here to make fun of me?"

“Cut two ounces…cough cough…” Wayne almost slipped out of character, straightened his expression, stopped joking, and asked:

"I've noticed you haven't left your room much these past few days. People our age should get more exercise, so I was thinking of inviting you to join me..."

"Don't go!"

Before Wayne could finish speaking, Kal'tsit shook her head.

She didn't want to go out with Wayne again. Hadn't she suffered enough when they went to Colombia together last time?

She cooked for Wayne, cleaned his room, claimed that his wife had been taken advantage of, ran errands for him, and even wrote press releases.

Wayne, on the other hand, thoroughly slacked off, doing virtually nothing except for using Originium Arts and scattering money around. Meanwhile, Kal'tsit always seemed to think Wayne was busy and tired, wanting to help him out. Looking back now, she probably had a screw loose and was manipulated by that scumbag.

I've lived to be four figures and no one's ever tried to manipulate me. I've already given you my first chance. You want a second time? No way!

If she hadn't still somewhat trusted Wayne's bottom line, Kal'tsit would have almost felt like she'd been given "royal power" by Wayne during that period. Her mind was completely preoccupied with his affairs, and she hadn't considered anything else.

In short, she's definitely not going this time. Let whoever wants to go go; she's going to stay home and sleep! After she's asleep, she'll go collect the members of the Tower of Babel.

"Really not going?"

Wayne asked again.

"Don't go."

Kal'tsit shook her head again.

"Alright then, what a pity."

Wayne could only sigh. Now, Kal'tsit wasn't going, but Swire was, both were film, but something just felt off.

But he wasn't a bad guy. He wanted to drag Kal'tsit on a trip, but she didn't want to go, so she let it go.

Seeing Wayne leave dejectedly, Kal'tsit suddenly felt a pang of reluctance. But she still firmly shook her head.

It's just a trip, so it's okay if she misses it. If she were to stick to Wayne all the time, she wouldn't be Kal'tsit.

Little did he know, Wayne had already found another cat outside.

Chapter Fourteen: Awakening and Wine

Kazdel, headquarters of the Military Council.

A full year had passed since Theresa last stepped into this building. She had thought she might never have the chance to set foot here again, but time flies, things change, and she eventually returned.

"Your Highness Theresa!"

The guards standing at the gate looked at Theresa with delight as she approached, straightened their posture, and gave her a solemn military salute. They were so excited that they even forgot about Theresis and Bozocasti behind Theresa.

"Hello, thank you for your hard work."

Theresa stopped and nodded slightly to the soldier in front of her.

The soldiers bowed deeply as if they had received a great honor, their movements so graceful that the wind seemed to cut through the air.

"We are all so happy that you are back, Your Highness!"

Theresa pursed her lips, nodded, and said solemnly:

"Yes, I'm back."

In short, Theresa had no idea how much emotion was contained within those words.

I'm back. But why did I leave in the first place?

The Kazdel Military Council is a large, unified council organization dedicated to promoting the modernization of Kazdel, building a defense system, and uniting the Sarkaz people. Founded by the Sarkaz national heroine Theresa and her brother Theresis, its ultimate goal is to complete the transformation of the Sarkaz into the Tikkaz, that is...

—Give all Sarkaz a home.

However, during the long struggle, Theresa and Theresis developed huge differences in their ideologies. After a series of internal divisions, Theresa, whose methods were far less ruthless than Theresis's, finally decided to leave the military council.

"This organization, which was once created for peace, is now on an endless path of war, which is a betrayal of our original intentions."

When Theresa left, she said this to Theresis, and what followed was a long period of cold war, with the two siblings refusing to give in to each other, and Kazdel almost falling into a split between their two minds.

Theresa abhorred war, that was a fact; no one could laugh and praise its greatness after witnessing indiscriminate warfare. When the hillsides were littered with corpses, the small bodies of children floated on the murky water, women screamed, and men died, no one could remain unmoved after seeing so many of these human tragedies.

But does Theresa really hate these soldiers?

When she looked at the young Sarkaz in front of her, she knew clearly that she didn't hate them.

Soldiers exist to protect the nation; without an army, the nation is merely a lamb to the slaughter. When necessary, they must use their swords to protect the people's plow. They should not be hated, much less criticized.

The problem lies in the mindset, not the people. What Theresa needs to do is correct these misguided ideas, no matter how difficult, no matter how great the resistance, no matter if those standing in her way are the members of the Military Council, the royal court that wants to punish all foreign tribes through war, or even her brother, Theresa.

The words of the pardoner, Shining, awakened her.

The royal court and Theresis did not reject her rule; they were still waiting, waiting for Theresia, with her battle flag and sword at her waist, to return to her vacant seat on the military council. The people, too, were waiting for the legendary scenes of the demon king and general working together to resist foreign enemies to reappear.

Running away solves nothing.

Abandon illusions and prepare for struggle.

Theresa's enemies are the distrustful gaze of the royal court and Theresis, the cowardly self-deprecating nature of the fragmented Sarkaz people, and the rampant extreme militarism spreading within the military council.

Her enemy was an ideology. An ideology that was invisible, intangible, and even difficult to describe accurately in words. Therefore, she could only confront it with another ideology.

This time, she was no longer alone and helpless.

With her hand tightly gripping the medal engraved with the lion's emblem on her chest, Theresa's gaze gradually hardened as she strode confidently into the gates of the Military Council.

Therese followed behind her, his tense expression suddenly momentarily dazed.

This familiar feeling... Theresa, are you finally awake?

He stared at the girl's retreating figure, her indomitable spirit seeming to last only a moment, leaving Theresis somewhat helpless.

Was my feeling wrong?

Is it just a long-lost feeling of being reminded of the past?

Shaking her head to clear her mind of distractions, Therese knew that regardless of whether Theresa was conscious or not, she was no longer in a condition to take over the Military Council.

The reason is simple: no one will believe her.

The Sarkaz are a sensitive race. Theresa once betrayed the Military Council and even abandoned the organization she created. Now, even if she really wants to return, it's definitely not a story of rallying the world and winning their hearts.

Her comeback will undoubtedly be fraught with difficulties. Not to mention... he, Theresis, the current chairman of the Kazdel Military Council, will absolutely not relinquish his position!

"Bozokasti, let's go. Would you like to see your chieftain first, or have a meal?"

Therese turned to the side and asked the tall Wendigo behind her.

"Kazdel...it really...has changed a lot...."

Bozocasti did not answer Theresis's question, but instead sighed in a muffled voice.

"It's just old wine in new bottles," Theresis said calmly. "After Prince Wayne of Victoria issued the immigration regulations, quite a few Sarkaz people wanted to join Victoria. Even those who didn't meet the requirements could still be considered talented, the kind of people Kazdel needs. I tried sending pardoners to recruit them, and I also personally visited a few myself..."

"The result?" Bozokastie asked.

Therese seemed to be narrating something completely unrelated to him, but Bozocasti could notice the deep sorrow and helplessness in his eyes:

"As a result, most of the Sarkaz didn't even know what Kazdel was, and they thought that the absolutioners who appeared on the scene to recruit people and me who came to them were special channels opened up for them by Victoria. After I explained it to them, most of them refused."

What is putting old wine in new bottles? Therese said it this way:

"Whether outwardly dilapidated or outwardly glamorous, the Sarkaz people still don't recognize their homeland. What we lack is something more important. It's like a bottle of bad wine; no matter what kind of bottle you put it in, you can't make it taste good."

"So...what do you think...we're lacking?"

"Bozokas asked," Theresis glanced at him and answered as she walked.

"We lack guns because our liquor is constantly being smashed. Someone has to defend it, doesn't he?"

Theresa's focus on culture, history, and heritage can indeed make wine taste better and make Kazdel more appealing.

But that's only if the bottle of Kazdel exists.

I don't know how long it will take my silly little sister to understand this.

Wayne, you should teach her this. I've entrusted her to you; don't let me down.

Chapter Fifteen: As the Demon King

Kazdel, Military Council, Restaurant.

Theresa sat at the head of the dining room, while the remaining members of the Military Council, during this leisure time, exchanged bewildered glances.