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

The thug-like man bowed obsequiously and reported to the man in front of him who was wearing a black snake trench coat and a strange mask.

The masked man shook his head upon hearing this, and refused very seriously:

"Deal with them? What are you planning to do with them? Kill them?"

The masked man raised his index finger and shook it slightly:

“That won’t do. Do you know who those two people are? The one who calls herself ‘Yaoji’ is the director of the Lungmen Guard Bureau—Nine. And the oni who introduced her, Sister Oni Hoshiguma, who hasn’t heard of her name? She used to be a big boss in the underworld, but now she’s a member of the newly established Special Inspectorate of the Lungmen Guard Bureau, a true protégé of Wei Yanwu.”

He paused, then warned:

"These two are untouchable, at least not now. Even if we had to, we couldn't use killing. Otherwise, it would easily cause trouble. We're not strong enough right now, so let's be patient."

The man who gave the report looked somewhat displeased. He was a complete thug and scoundrel; he was skilled at fighting, and he genuinely loathed the idea of ​​backstabbing and scheming. This was why, despite his formidable skills, he had never become a gang leader after more than a decade in the underworld.

He's a bit clumsy and can't outsmart others.

Despite his displeasure, the thug didn't utter a single complaint. He knew perfectly well that their organization's current prosperity was entirely due to the man before him!

"Rattlesnake" is a notorious figure who has risen to prominence in the Lungmen underworld in recent years. He controls slums three through five, wielding immense power and commanding a band of extremely reckless and ruthless thugs. They act with impunity, indulging in everything from prostitution and gambling to drugs, thus attracting waves of criminals seeking to make "big money." It is said that even the reigning king of Lungmen's underworld, "Rat King," is powerless against him.

This man, this thug, is the reason the thug has risen to his current position as captain of the organization's "Hospitality Team," and the thug is absolutely loyal to him. If "Rattlesnake" gives the order, even if it's to storm Wei Yanwu's mansion, the thug wouldn't hesitate for a second.

The thug didn't know anything about Director Nine of the Lungmen Guard Bureau, nor did he care about any members of the Special Inspectorate. All he knew was that Lord Rattlesnake wasn't planning to deal with the two cops who had infiltrated the organization for the time being. Since that was the case, he would just have to follow orders.

"Then, sir, what should we do next?"

The thug asked respectfully.

[Rattlesnake] pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"Go and investigate what Wei Yanwu has been preparing for all this time."

It's no secret that Lungmen's core city is decorated with lanterns and colorful lights. Even those living in the slums on the outskirts of the outer city can clearly see the dazzling light show of the Lungmen Core City Commercial Building at night.

Whether the light show is good or not is unimportant; what matters is who it's for. [Rattlesnake] is very interested in Wei Yanwu, this guest. Perhaps, they can pull off a heist?

Of course, he wasn't one to show his face in public. Even with his most loyal subordinates, Rattlesnake always appeared wearing a mask, uttering only orders and never saying another word. His caution was a major headache for both the Guard Bureau and the Rat King.

The reason Jiuhe and Hoshiguma infiltrated the organization was to uncover the true information about Rattlesnake. Otherwise, even if they hastily took down this infected thug organization, the real big fish, Rattlesnake, would surely disappear without a trace. Without eliminating the ringleader, this criminal organization will inevitably rise again sooner or later!

Upon hearing Rattlesnake's command, the thug was somewhat troubled.

Investigate Wei Yanwu? What kind of nonsense is this?

The slums fall under the jurisdiction of the Rat King, so Wei Yanwu generally doesn't easily interfere in their affairs, which is also a way of giving face to his old comrade, the Rat King—it's an agreement they've reached. However, if anyone in the slums goes too far, Wei Yanwu won't ignore it, after all, he is the true leader of the Dragon Gate.

The investigation into Wei Yanwu's actions undoubtedly fell into the category of "crossing the line".

The thugs didn't want to cross the line easily; their strength wasn't enough. If they really attracted Wei Yanwu's official crackdown, this small infected organization would be utterly vulnerable. But Rattlesnake's determination was unwavering. He needed to know what Wei Yanwu had been plotting all this time.

Because this is his "mission".

"I know you're all monsters and demons in Longmen, so today, I'll trouble you to use your abilities to figure this out. Money, women, or anything else you want, I can give you whatever you want, understand?"

The thug lowered his head and replied:

"clear."

...........

After the thugs left, Rattlesnake turned around, lightly stomped on the floor, and the seemingly ordinary floor tile suddenly sank. Then, the ground sank, and a path leading underground slowly appeared in front of Rattlesnake.

A secret mechanism! Perhaps even the Rat King, who had ruled the slums for over a decade, was unaware that such a secret room existed beneath the Lungmen slums.

This is normal, because this passage, which is not marked on the city planning and construction map of Lungmen, was the work of Duke Kosichä of the Ursus Empire, the former owner of this city!

Rattlesnake, member number 003 of the secret spy organization "Snake Scales" under Duke Koschei, is one of the spies that Duke Koschei has planted in Lungmen.

[Rattlesnake] Descend the stairs of the secret passage to a dimly lit secret room at the end. At the end of the secret room, two other people have been waiting for a long time.

"Rattlesnake, how's the job going?"

The voice that spoke was a woman's voice, and it sounded exceptionally gentle, so the appearance under the mask must be quite beautiful.

"It's alright. What about the bamboo leaf green (a type of insecticide)? Any progress?"

The rattlesnake asked a question while answering.

Zhu Yeqing nodded, then shook his head: "There has been progress. The staff I arranged at the Elizabeth Hotel reported that the people staying at the Elizabeth Hotel are from Yan Country, dressed in mainland clothing. Judging from their clothing and accent, they seem to be from Shengjing."

“It’s the Dali Temple, no need to investigate.” The third person, who hadn’t spoken yet, suddenly said, “The intelligence is 99% reliable. It seems Wei Yanwu is welcoming people from the Dali Temple.”

"Then why did he suddenly transfer Chen Huijie from the Guard Bureau?" Rattlesnake asked. "What is the relationship between the Dali Temple and Chen Huijie?"

"We don't know yet; we need to investigate further," Zhu Yeqing replied.

Rattlesnake could only nod: "Very well then. Gentlemen, I have recently received contact from Ursus. Talulah's seed has gradually grown, and our colleagues have begun to prepare to create an opportunity to catalyze her growth. Everything is going well on their end, and we cannot delay. Let us work together for Lord Koschei's great cause."

Let's encourage each other.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Let's Go to Sleep

Flame, Dragon Gate.

Wayne dragged his tired body back to his room. He was puzzled. Wei Yanwu hadn't given him black tea, so why was he getting sleepier the more he drank it? Shouldn't this stuff make you more energetic? Or, Wei Yanwu, did you never expect you to be a homosexual?

Ugh, I'm scared, I'm scared. I think I'll move to a hotel tomorrow.

As Wayne pondered this, he sleepily threw back the covers and lay down.

"You're back so late?" Theresa's voice rang in my ears, sounding somewhat helpless.

Wayne, with his eyes closed, complained, "Yeah, that guy Wei Yanwu kept me talking all night. I suspect he has ulterior motives."

"What did you talk about?" Theresa asked curiously.

"You chatted... huh?!"

Wayne's voice stopped abruptly. The next second, Aslan displayed his amazing jumping ability as a feline, arching his back and jumping off the bed in an inverted U-shape. He landed on all fours in the aisle beside the bed, staring blankly at Theresa, who was lying on the bed.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Theresa asked, somewhat puzzled. Wayne, still shaken by his own reaction to being stepped on by a feline, slowly turned and sat down, rubbing his temples, and asked:

"No, I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere. But..."

He looked up, his face flushed, barely daring to look at Theresa, and asked:

"Theresia, what are you doing here?"

"Vina is already awake. She just threw up in the bathroom and is now asleep. I've never seen Her Majesty the Queen snore in her sleep before."

Theresa sat up in bed and said with a smile.

Wayne shook his head: "No, no, no, that's not it."

Vina has fallen asleep, and I didn't know she snores. But it's probably because she ate too much and drank too much tonight. It's quite an interesting new discovery. If it were Wayne, he probably would have mischievously recorded it and played it for her tomorrow.

I reckon I'll get a photo that'll make you say "Wow!"

Of course, you might also get a slap in the face.

But does that matter? That's not the point! The point is, why did you come to my room, Theresa, after Vina went to sleep?!

"Where else can I go? This is my room."

Theresa shrugged.

“Your Highness Bruce, I arrived in Lungmen with you as the Princess of Wales. Where else could I be but here?”

In Victoria, both Vina and several high-ranking officials knew that although Wayne had always insisted on treating Theresa as a princess, they had never officially married. This was due to the national context and the times; in this era, the marriage of the Prince of Wales to a Sarkaz woman would have had a significant impact, forcing Wayne to consider the consequences.

The problem is, in Victoria, everyone tacitly agrees on this. But in Longmen, Wei Yanwu and Madam Wenyue are completely unaware of it.

Although they were shocked that Wayne dared to defy the world by choosing Sarkaz as a royal partner, this was, after all, a family matter of Victoria. Wei Yanwu, a mere city lord, had no right to interfere.

Since Wayne stated that Theresa was the Princess of Wales, and Queen Vina, as the leader of the pride, had not denied it, Wei Yanwu arranged things accordingly. Given that it was obvious to everyone that Wayne and Theresa hadn't had any conflicts and their relationship was quite good, would he really be foolish enough to arrange a separate room for Theresa?

That's obviously impossible. To put it mildly, it shows a lack of emotional intelligence; to put it more seriously, if Wayne dared to accuse him of "affecting the relationships among royal family members and implying a split within the royal family," a charge Wei Yanwu couldn't afford.

So, Wei Yanwu simply decided to ignore it. Although Wayne and Theresa both looked a bit too young, since you are the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales, then you can share a room. It's reasonable, legal, and there's nothing wrong with it.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Wayne slapped his forehead and slid his face down in a smug grin.

Wei Yanwu, Wei Yanwu, really! Even after you leave, you still manage to cause me trouble. Look at the mess you've made...

"If Your Highness Bruce is really bothered by that, I can go sleep with Vina..."

Theresa pursed her lips, lifted the blanket, and said somewhat dejectedly.

You tell me, how could you...?

Wayne glanced at Theresa. The pink-haired Sarkaz princess was wearing a white nightgown dress. The thin material looked like silk. She was hugging a pillow and turned her face to one side. A faint blush tinged her cheeks, but more than that, she looked pitifully lost.

How do you... how do you know so much? Well done, Wei Yanwu!

Mind? How could Wayne possibly mind?

Wayne never forced Theresa, nor did he ever suggest sharing a room with her. In the Londinium Palace, Theresa and Vina were usually neighbors, while Wayne lived across the hall.

Did he not like Theresa? That was impossible. Wayne knew his own feelings perfectly well; he wasn't a people-pleaser, nor was he a bulldozer. Some people, like Himer and Seria, he would try to save as well, but he would always maintain a certain distance. As for Theresa, he had made up his mind to make her the Princess of Wales from the very first day he saw her. How could he not like her?

The main reason he never did so was out of guilt. Wayne was, in some ways, a very traditional person. Theresa was now practically a figurehead in Victoria, although she had appeared in many public occasions with Vina and lived in Iron Palace as a princess. But ultimately, she lacked a formally recognized identity from the Victorian civil registry.

As for this identity, Wayne cannot give it to her for the time being. They can only wait until Kazdel has developed a bit, or until Victoria can overwhelm Laterano and the potential anti-demon alliance. Otherwise, officially announcing Theresa's identity to the outside world now would not only harm Kazdel and Victoria, but also her.

The people of Victoria will question Sarkaz becoming a queen, the people of Kazdel will question why the Demon King would marry so far away, and everyone else on the entire continent of Terra will be wary of the demons who have colluded with Victoria, fearing that the demons will grow up and take revenge on them. There will definitely be many countries and organizations that want to strike first and eliminate the threat to prevent future troubles!

But running away will never solve the problem. By openly referring to Theresa as "Princess of Wales" in his official letter today, Wayne has formally brought her into the public eye. From now on, regardless of whether Wei Yanwu spreads this news or not, Theresa's public identity has become an unshakeable "Princess."

The time has come. The previously missing formal recognition has now been objectively established. Theresa doesn't mind, and neither does Wayne.

Whatever storms may come, let them come.

Wayne stopped Theresa, who wanted to go to Vina's bedroom, and led her back to the bedside, where they sat down.

"Don't go, go to sleep. This is someone else's house. Ask any questions tomorrow."

Theresa smiled and nodded. "Go to sleep. Goodnight."

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Wow~ Wow~

One night passed.