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

After much thought, although Wayne's behavior was unusual, he was still his uncle's son, a staunch supporter of his uncle's faction...

But what if?

What if he isn't? What if what he said is true? Although the identity of an enemy prince might not mean much in front of her terrifying uncle, having even one ally would be better than being isolated and helpless like she is now.

After much hesitation, she still tentatively probed in a roundabout way:

"Um... Wayne, does your father know that you brought me back?"

"I know."

Wayne nodded.

Vina's heart sank. But she still asked, unwilling to give up:

"How did he say?"

"He said he disagreed and wanted to send her to meet Satan."

"what?"

As expected, he received Vina's [Limited Collector's Edition Fear] emoticon. In a great mood, Wayne patted Vina on the shoulder and comforted her:

"Don't worry, I've already taken care of it."

"Solved...?"

"Yes, he has already gone to see Satan."

Wayne answered without changing his expression. Then, he withdrew his hand, stroked his chin, and watched with great interest Vina's complex expression, which ranged from initial surprise to a hint of joy, followed by even greater fear.

Vina was completely stunned.

She had thought that this return to the palace would be a classic aristocratic novel tale of a king's triumphant return, with a battle of wits and courage against her uncle.

At first glance, it turned out to be a typical cliché novel plot where someone suddenly gains immense power and becomes invincible.

Upon closer reflection, he realized that the man standing before him was not some old man who gave him money, power, and a daughter, but a terrifying patricide!

The clown was me? Clinging to a last glimmer of hope, Vina asked:

"you...."

Before he could finish speaking, Wayne nodded and said:

"Um...to be less strict, I think I did it."

Strictly speaking?

Does that mean you didn't do it yourself, but you were directing it from behind?

He killed his uncle, who had defeated the army and driven him out of the palace, simply by instigating him from behind the scenes.

In an instant, Vina's psychological trauma not only did not decrease, but actually expanded.

The father and son both suffer from psychological trauma, each more severe than the last!

Noticing Vina's gaze, Wayne knew exactly what she was thinking.

But you really can't blame him for this.

He, Wayne Bruce, bearing the name of a money-powered individual with the order reversed, the son of the powerful usurper Aslan, is actually a time traveler.

His predecessor, the real Wayne Bruce, was completely unworthy of the identity the name represented. He was a complete coward, embodying the proverb "like father, like son," lacking both ability and common sense. If it weren't for being the only son, he wouldn't have been able to become crown prince. Yet, this very man, now crown prince, actually listened to Laterano's instigation, fearing for his own throne, and wanted to ascend the throne quickly with Laterano's support, even going so far as to kill his own father!

So be it, he'll probably have to be Laterano's dog, but he's still a king. But this kid is a coward; after he finished, he saw his father's miserable state and was scared to death.

That's how Wayne managed to snag a bargain.

As a veteran Arknights player, Wayne naturally knows his predicament. As the puppet king of Victoria, whom Lateran originally wanted to support, after his predecessor was frightened to death, Lateran will support Theresis of Kazdel to enter Victoria in a few years. Now that he has not been frightened to death... or rather, after being frightened to death but has come back to life, what should he do?

He directly embarked on grand ambitions, initiating the Industrial Revolution and religious reforms, crushing Laterano, annexing Ursus, plotting against the Great Yan, and finally unifying Terra.

Given the existence of beings like the immortal Black Serpent who possesses another's body on Terra, if my useless persona were to suddenly change, I'd probably be hanged on the spot before I could even make a name for myself.

So, is he willing to be a lackey of Laterano, enjoying wealth and luxury but living a miserable and pathetic life? If it were his predecessor, he probably would have loved to, but the current Wayne would never agree to such a way of life.

Now that you've come this far and reached such a high position, what's the difference between you and a lazy bum if you just do nothing and live a mediocre life?

He still has many people he wants to save, such as Frostnova, Big Daddy, Ace, and even Theresa.

Given this, what is the best way to avoid a sudden 180-degree change in one's image while maintaining control over Laterano and preventing it from completely controlling one?

Wayne looked at his sister, whom he had painstakingly found in the slums.

The answer is simple.

Be the mastermind behind it all! While reshaping your image, adhere to four basic principles!

Vina, fly with confidence, take responsibility if anything goes wrong, Vina, enjoy yourself, your brother will cover all the good things!

Seeing Vina, who was still relieved by her uncle's downfall, Wayne gave a wicked smile.

You think the "uncle party" has fallen? Actually, it has indeed fallen; after all, the person in charge is gone, so it had to fall.

But as the saying goes, "out of the wolf's den, into the tiger's lair."

Now, the "Brother Party" is all the rage!

So, Miss Vina, the Queen of Push, go for it!

Chapter Three: I, Wayne, am the Oscar statuette himself!

The Norfolk family has always been one of the most formidable noble families in Victoria, ruling for generations over more than three mobile cities, with the massive mobile city-state of Norfolk as its core. Together, they form an eastern fortress protecting the ever-present city of Londinium. Although they have always adhered to the principle of never interfering in Londinium's politics, they have maintained an undeniable influence among the nobility through their military might.

However, the current patriarch, Ernest Norfolk, was known in aristocratic circles as "the insightful Norfolk," the real reason being his decision during the Wars of the Roses, which changed the fate of the entire Victorian era—he sided with his uncle, who initiated the war, breaking the Norfolk family's long-standing principle of non-interference in politics.

Ultimately, the so-called "wise eye" is just a glamorous title. Ernest's power is currently at its zenith, and circumstances dictate his actions. Naturally, the nobles who follow his lead will switch sides and betray him, calling it wise judgment and choosing the right tree. But if one day the situation changes, this "wise eye" might be interpreted as opportunism and changing one's stance with the wind.

But putting aside these issues of honor and creed, as a soldier, General Vayvan, who inherited the name of the Red Dragon Protector, is undoubtedly a first-rate figure. His Steam Armored Legion is one of the few top military units on the entire Terran continent that is no less than the Kazdel Wendigo Legion, the Order of the Exorcists, the Lateran Papal Guard, the Great Flame Shadow Guard, and the Blades of the Ursus Emperor.

In conclusion, gaining the support of this nobleman is an indispensable step in achieving Wayne's goal of breaking free from his shackles and following destiny.

After carefully putting away the secret files on Ernest Norfolk, Wayne tidied his appearance and knocked on the somewhat old-looking door in front of him.

5:30 PM, Triumph Tavern.

Ernest brought the wine glass in his hand to his lips, but his gaze fell on the uninvited guest in front of him, and the provocation in his eyes was self-evident.

Wayne smiled helplessly. To be honest, despite being a British gentleman, this way of discussing world affairs over drinks, where the conversation ends if the drink isn't finished, always involuntarily reminded people of the Ursus Empire and the Great Yan Empire, thousands of miles away.

However, as the saying goes, "One should risk one's life to accompany a gentleman." Since Wayne had come, there was no reason for him to leave easily. He picked up the wine glass that Ernest had personally poured for him on the table, tilted his head back generously, and drank it all in one gulp.

To be honest, Wayne himself doesn't like drinking and is the type who can only drink three cups before he's drunk. But unfortunately, this body has a good foundation. His predecessor was also a womanizer, so a mere glass of beer doesn't affect his sobriety at all.

This truly surprised Ernest. The middle-aged man, well past forty, looked at Wayne's expression with great interest before finally speaking:

"Everyone says that the lord's son is a good-for-nothing, but I don't think so."

"If I were a good-for-nothing, I'd be inside the walls of the Royal Palace of Londinium right now, drinking with some maidservant who came from who-knows-where, instead of running off to a bar in a restaurant that attracts absolutely no customers, drinking with an old man, wouldn't you say, Marshal Ernest?"

Ernest nodded silently, signaling Wayne to continue.

"This is a tavern opened by your comrade-in-arms. During the later stages of the War of the Roses, a lot of confidential information was leaked from here out of Londinium and then to the Northern Army camp where my father was stationed. It can be said that my father's success in the War of the Roses was largely due to this tavern. That is why I was able to find this place."

"But are you so sure I'd come here today?"

Ernest countered with a question.

Wayne shook his head: "Not sure, but if you try a few more times, you'll eventually catch it."

Ernest paused, then turned to look at the one-eyed bartender silently wiping glasses at the bar. This bartender had once been his personal bodyguard and one of the captains of the Steam Armored Corps. After being injured by a stray arrow, he was forced to retire and came to this "intelligence station" in the shadows. Ernest absolutely trusted his identity.

The one-eyed bartender naturally understood the meaning behind Ernest's look. He glanced at Wayne, then nodded slightly.

"This is his third day here."

Ernest fell completely silent.

At the same time, doubts also welled up in his mind.

His "wise Norfolk" has always had a good eye for people, even if it's just in the smallest details, it's enough to see a person's character and ability.

Wayne's ability to discern truth from falsehood from a vast sea of ​​information and locate this tavern is proof enough of his intelligence analysis skills. His willingness to patiently wait outside the tavern for three days just to see him also demonstrates his perseverance. Keep in mind, Wayne's visit to the Triumph Tavern today was merely a spur-of-the-moment decision to meet with an old friend. If he hadn't come, how long would Wayne have had to wait? Three days? Five days? Or a week or a month?

Although it was his first time seeing the crown prince in person, Wayne's impression of him was completely different from the rumored image of a useless prince who was good for nothing and a disgrace to his father.

But rumors don't come out of thin air, especially since the rumors about Wayne being a good-for-nothing had already started circulating when his father was still alive. Why do these rumors exist? And why did he come to find me?

Ernest looked at Wayne, hoping he would provide an explanation.

Wayne was also somewhat upset about this.

According to the original owner's memories, Ernest was actually Wayne's father's best friend, a true "iron uncle" (a term used to describe someone who is extremely close to their father). But now, even this "iron uncle" has expressed doubts about him, which shows just how bad the original owner's reputation has become.

But this only strengthened Wayne's resolve to push Vina into the limelight and remain behind the scenes himself.

— He had only demonstrated the intelligence of a slightly better ordinary person, yet he had already received skepticism from his strongest ally. If he were to suddenly change his personality, from "not eating meat porridge" to "Emperor Guangwu of Han," he would probably be hung on a street lamp the very next day under the pretext of being "possessed by evil spirits."

Changing their preconceived notions will take time and require long-term planning.

Now, it's time to show off your acting skills!

Wayne sighed, solemnly raised his head, and looked at the dignified old man before him. His face perfectly displayed an expression he had practiced countless times: three parts humiliation, two parts regret, and five parts a sense of inescapable responsibility. He took a deep breath, took out the token the Laterans had given to his predecessor when they had manipulated him into killing his father—a token he had prepared long ago—and slammed it heavily on the bar. His face resembled that of an enraged lion cub, its mane bristling, and he gritted his teeth, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

"Your Excellency, do you know the wisdom of self-preservation?"

"If I don't do this, it won't just be my father who falls!"

Chapter Four: Openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass!

The angel in its chrysalis stretched out its four wings, its enormous halo radiating light. Though he had only glanced at it, how could Ernest not recognize the origin of this token? In all of Terra, there was undoubtedly only one race that dared to use such a symbol.

"Latlanders?"

Ernest unconsciously murmured the name to himself; it was an unexpected yet perfectly logical answer.

For centuries, Laterano has been expanding its influence throughout Terra through religious missionary work and almsgiving. Apart from the Great Yan, which pursues a policy of isolation and has no interest in competing for supremacy, and Kazdel, which has a long-standing feud with Laterano, Laterano's power in other countries has been constantly expanding. Even in some border areas between countries, some independent mobile cities that have not joined the national alliance have been forcibly brought under Laterano's jurisdiction. The so-called "Laterano Notary Offices" they established are ostensibly to protect the property of their clients, but they have been secretly conducting intelligence and espionage work. Sometimes they even overstep their authority and execute criminals in remote areas of some countries or independent city-states without authorization, showing contempt for sovereignty.

Although the nations of Terra had long harbored resentment about this, they had been struggling to find enough grounds to provoke it, and the Lateran had also been quite prudent, refraining from any open provocations, so they turned a blind eye.

Victoria has always been one of the countries that has shown great tolerance and respect for Lateranism. Not only has it actively promoted Lateranism within its borders, but it has even established it as the state religion. Ernest never expected that those people who are good at saving electricity would actually set their sights on Victoria.

But upon closer reflection, it's not so unbelievable. After all, Victoria is the country most deeply influenced by Laterano, apart from Iberia, which was already within Laterano's sphere of influence from the beginning. If the Laterano people were ambitious enough to break off relations and fight for Terra, Victoria would indeed be the best target. After all, there would be no need to proselytize after taking it over, as most of the people in the country are believers and regard Laterano as their second home. Such a place is perfect as a beginner's village for Laterano to hone their skills after its emergence.