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

Good grief, Wayne, you've denied me even my chance to deny it, haven't you?

“But it doesn’t matter, it’s fine if he doesn’t admit it. Vina, if you want to do something, you can provide this information to another group of people. I’m sure they will be very interested.”

Another group of people?

Vina narrowed her eyes as if she understood something, Theresa smiled as she looked at Wei Yanwu, and Wei Yanwu's expression suddenly changed, as if he had a premonition of something, and he swallowed.

As the Governor of Lungmen, if someone casts a large-scale mental spell on ordinary people, who should you report it to?

The Dali Temple Inspection Division's national inspection team is currently conducting an inspection!

Wei Yanwu gasped.

He was scared, yes, he was scared!

In the past, he might not have been so nervous, because the Dali Temple was always known as an institution of impartiality and strictness. But now, the situation was different! Wei Yanwu had personally sent two Dali Temple officials to the Imperial Guard Bureau, and they still hadn't been released! The Great Yan was a society that valued personal connections. Wei Yanwu had the status of a prince, and the Dali Temple didn't have any concrete evidence against him, so they might not be able to do anything to him. But now, once this matter came to light, who could guarantee that the people of the Dali Temple wouldn't take the opportunity to retaliate?

He had initially sent the officials from the Dali Temple to the Imperial Guard Bureau to prevent them from interfering with his important affairs. Who would have thought that this would become his fatal weakness?

Wait, it seems that the person who sent the Inspection Department to the Imperial Guard wasn't me?

Wei Yanwu stared blankly at Vina's phone, which was on speakerphone and placed on the table, his face gradually turning pale.

It was Wayne, the one who sent the Dali Temple Inspector to the Imperial Guard Bureau, who was talking incessantly into the microphone!

The strategist laid out a plan, using subtle foreshadowing and hidden details.

Wei Yanwu suddenly remembered this Yan Kingdom term, and without realizing it, he actually had a feeling of being caught in a net with no way to escape.

Chapter Ninety-Two: The strategist's plan, subtle and intricate, leaves Wei in awe!

A skilled strategist lays out plans as subtle as a hidden snake, leaving no trace.

Wei Yanwu originally thought that this statement was just an exaggerated praise of strategists by the author of military books. After all, based on his decades of political experience, the so-called intricate and unpredictable strategic planning was simply nonsense.

People leave their voices, geese leave their tracks; every event leaves traces. Wei Yanwu excels at analyzing and controlling these traces, discerning their schemes and plots. Even the so-called pinnacle of schemers, the immortal Black Serpent of Ursus, only managed to achieve a draw against him. Wei Yanwu confidently believed that on the land of Lungmen, no scheme could escape his notice.

But today, he had to admit that he had been tricked by this despicable outsider, Wayne.

Wei Yanwu pondered Wayne's actions over the past few days. The more he thought about it, the more horrifying it became.

When Wayne arrived, he first used a verbal promise to gain Chen's protection without any investment. Wei Yanwu knew perfectly well that this so-called protection essentially meant acknowledging Chen as Wayne's person. Then, to gain his trust, Wayne casually approached Jingzhe, a rising star inspector of the Dali Temple's Surveillance Department who was patrolling Lungmen. He then easily framed her, causing her to be sent to the Guard Bureau due to mental health issues.

What followed was Wayne's most brilliant move.

As the governor of Lungmen, I was overjoyed to see Wayne successfully subdue the inspector of the Dali Temple's Surveillance Department. My first instinct was that this was a small favor Wayne had done for me, a way of repaying Chen's guardianship rights. Unaware that I was being used as a pawn, I conveniently sent the captain of the Dali Temple's Surveillance Department to the Guard Bureau as well.

Wei Yanwu was puzzled at the time. Why would Xiaoxue, a member of the Surveillance Bureau, "coincidentally" know about Jingzhe's "acclimatization problems and mental instability" just when Wei Yanwu was preparing to attack Xia Zhi and completely expel the Dali Temple Surveillance Bureau from Longmen? Using this as an excuse, she helped Xia Zhi escape a disaster. Although she was placed under house arrest in the Imperial Guard Bureau, at least she did not leave Longmen.

At the time, he assumed that Chen, as the official in charge of the Jingzhe case, had informed Xiaoxue according to procedure. After all, given Chen's personality, she might not have had the political sensitivity to perceive the antagonistic relationship between Wei Yanwu and the Dali Temple Censorate.

But now that I think about it, Chen wasn't the only one who knew Jingzhe was "sick." There was another person who knew everything about it, and that was Wayne Bruce, the one who personally sent Jingzhe to the Guard Bureau!

After the imprisonment incident, the Governor-General of Longmen was overjoyed, believing he had finally found a legitimate way to resolve the troublesome Censorate. Little did he know, he had also thoroughly offended the Censorate of the Court of Judicial Review. A court institution that upheld justice and impartiality had been branded with such a derogatory label, rendered powerless; Xia Zhi must be burning with rage.

If given the chance, they would certainly impeach Wei Yanwu without hesitation. After all, for the people of Yan, if you don't give me face, then don't blame me for not giving you substance.

Finally, through an incident in District 3, Wayne alerted the enemy, causing them to lose their composure and fail to learn of the Level 4 Originium Spell disaster in District 3 immediately. Then, with a simple "threat of betrayal," Wayne connected all the previous plans, creating unimaginable pressure and forcing him to comply.

Wei Yanwu let out a long sigh, as if he had aged considerably in an instant.

He felt a sense of despair because he suddenly realized that even if he had anticipated Wayne's scheme, he really didn't have a better option under the circumstances.

Wayne came to Lungmen and expressed his affection for Chen, prompting Wei Yanwu to ask him to send Chen to Victoria. Could Wei Yanwu refuse such a request?

On this land, besides Victoria, what other country has the qualifications and ability to rival the Great Yan? Ursus? Don't even mention it. That barbaric nation has a weak emperor; it won't be long before it falls apart. Besides, Wayne and Chen already have a life-or-death bond from their time in Victoria. Sending Chen to Victoria will definitely put Wei Yanwu at ease.

This is the best choice.

Wayne sent Jingzhe to the Imperial Guard Bureau, inadvertently provoking Xiazhi's rage, who then got herself into trouble and ended up in jail as well. This gift—effectively weakening the Dali Temple's Censorate, a force he feared most yet was utterly powerless against—could he refuse?

Obviously not. The best option is to let things take their natural course and weaken or even eliminate the biggest obstacle as it arises.

With Wayne in danger in District 3, and as the controller of Lungmen and the person responsible for receiving the Victorian royal family, is it possible for Wei Yanwu not to attend in person? Not only would the Unicorns be critical, but it would also give the court ammunition for criticism. His younger brother has disliked him for a long time, and given the slightest opportunity, Wei Yanwu could be forced to step down. But now is a crucial period for the plan. If he were to step down because of this, even if Wei Yanwu is confident he can regain power, it would greatly disrupt the plan's progress.

This could even cause his Lateran allies to have concerns, making them feel that they are no longer reliable!

Therefore, for the sake of reason, emotion, and self-interest, he had to go there personally, and as quickly as possible. This way, he would miss the reports about the disaster, creating an intelligence gap with Wayne, who was a firsthand witness, and thus be manipulated.

Even after he understood the situation, he still had to go, for no other reason than that it was the best choice he could make at the time.

The best choice—it's like a curse, leading him step by step into the abyss he's in now!

"Strategists lay out plans, subtle clues emerge," this phrase originally came from Yan Kingdom's military treatises, but at this moment, Wei Yanwu felt it couldn't be more fitting to describe Wayne. This wasn't a conspiracy; conspiracies, in retrospect, could be avoided with even a moment's lapse in judgment. This was an open strategy, a series of details, a series of arrangements outlining a vast net, a strategy that leveraged the prevailing trend to force others to submit!

Such a strategy was actually devised by a boy who was not yet thirty. Wei Yanwu felt a wave of exhaustion and lingering fear.

The new generation surpasses the old; perhaps he really is getting old?

Those ambitions, those aspirations, Edward's injustice, Kosiché's hatred—are they truly a thing of the past?

He has been reduced to a pawn, manipulated and turned over by the player without realizing it, and is smug about defeating other pawns under his control and in accordance with fate.

“Wayne…”

Wei Yanwu closed his eyes, suppressing the waves of weariness that welled up inside him, but his face still betrayed an undeniable helplessness.

"There are no outsiders here. At least let me understand how you managed to send a group of over a hundred sorcerers into Lungmen without my knowledge."

Wayne's voice suddenly froze, and he let out a surprised "uh":

"Mr. Wei?"

Wei Yanwu remained silent, waiting quietly for Wayne's answer.

But Wayne remained silent for only a moment before saying:

"There has never been a warlock team. If there is, it can only be you. I have always been alone."

I have always been just myself, yet I am also one of millions. Otherwise, why would it be called destiny? Otherwise, why would it be crowned with imperial power?

With everyone united as one, this is the best interpretation of me and the [Mandate of Heaven Imperial Power].

Wei Yanwu couldn't hear what Wayne was thinking. He just sighed softly, a self-deprecating smile on his face.

Indeed, he failed and Wayne won, but who says the victor has to explain everything to the loser?

Wayne could continue to conceal it, secretly smuggling over a hundred warlocks without anyone noticing. Such methods could play a huge role both now and in the future.

As for Wayne's words, Wei Yanwu took them all as a joke. Only one person from beginning to end? Even a three-year-old in Lungmen wouldn't believe such nonsense!

But he didn't notice that Princess Theresa, who was standing not far from him, suddenly lowered her head thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling with a strange light.

Chapter Ninety-Three: Sparrow Food

A bizarrely appearing "sorcerer team," wielding immensely powerful and wide-ranging Originium Arts, is part of a sophisticated trap set for Wei Yanwu.

Theresa's eyes gleamed with golden light; she seemed to have discovered a blind spot.

What if—and she meant what if—there was a possibility that, despite all the evidence, logic, and witness testimonies pointing to Wei Yanwu, he hadn't lied, hadn't arranged any sorcerer team, and hadn't engaged in any ruthless schemes, but had simply been manipulated so thoroughly that even jumping into the moat couldn't clear his name?

If that's really the case, then who is the person who has Wei Yanwu completely under their control?

First, we can rule out the Dali Temple Inspectorate, trapped in the Guard Bureau. Second, we can rule out Snake Scale Rattlesnake, who has already been captured by Wei Yanwu and is currently in Wei Yanwu's secret interrogation room. Therefore, in the current murky waters of Lungmen, there are two forces capable of carrying out this operation. One is Laterano, whose name is known but whose face has never been seen. The other is Victoria, who seemed to be uninvolved until last night when Wayne was attacked, when she was officially drawn into the matter.

As is well known, the Sarkaz of Laterano are also true spiritual masters. Although they have always been famous for their use of firearms, would anyone believe that someone involved in religion doesn't have spiritual Originium Arts?

The Lateran Saintess, whose true identity has yet to be revealed, is a prime example. In the bar, when Wayne asked Mostima what the silver pendant symbolized, Mostima briefly experienced a dazed state. If Theresa hadn't been present, Mostima might not have even remembered the saintess's existence. This is clearly a method of using mental Originium Arts.

Unfortunately, Theresa never actually met the Lateran Saintess, nor did she have any experience fighting her, so she doesn't know the true nature of her Originium Arts. Therefore, it's difficult to provide a specific evaluation or analysis.

But she knew someone else very well who was capable of doing this.

Wayne Bruce, her bedmate, Prince Victoria, Vina's brother, the true ruler of the empire!

If I'm not surprised, he can do that too.

Wayne had experienced fighting against demons before, and every Terran who knew of their existence was terrified of their bizarre attack methods. But Theresa knew that the truly terrifying aspect of demons was never their simple physical attacks, but rather their corruption, control, oppression, and replacement of the mind!

Throughout her life, Theresa had never seen anyone who could resist the mental attacks of a demon. But Wayne did.

He not only accomplished this, but he also turned the tide and defeated the demons on the mental battlefield, becoming the master of that ancient territory of the consciousness empire. Outsiders might think that it was the Demon Queen Theresa who saved Wayne from the demons, but Theresa, who had truly entered Wayne's consciousness, knew very well that she hadn't helped at all; she had merely acted as a guide, leading Wayne to the exit.

The real battle was fought by Wayne alone.

Theresa wondered at the time how powerful Wayne would become if he used the spiritual power he gained from defeating the demon to enhance his Originium Arts. How many people could he cast spells on at once?

Now, she has her answer.

-A neighborhood, tens of thousands of people!

Moreover, Theresa didn't even know if this answer was the final solution, because according to this reasoning, everything was actually within Wayne's plan, and in order to complete a plan, Wayne might not use his ultimate power, no, it should be said that he definitely wouldn't use his ultimate power.

Tens of thousands of people, and this is not the end!

Theresa gasped, shivering slightly.

It wasn't fear, but surprise and excitement.

Wayne was not an enemy, but a confidant and a lover. She didn't need to be terrified by her lover's strength; that would make her, as the Demon Lord, seem petty. On the contrary, she was relieved that Sarkaz hadn't made an enemy of such a promising young man, and felt a great sense of security for herself.

"Theresia, what's wrong?"

Noticing Theresa's slightly trembling shoulders, Vina patted her in confusion and asked,

"It's good that Wayne is alright, there's no need to get too excited."

In fact, she was very excited herself; the way her little tail swayed back and forth reflected her joy at the moment she breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Vina still solemnly maintained her royal dignity. The efforts of Wayne and the twenty-eight etiquette instructors, who were practically exhausted with anger, were finally not in vain.

Theresa composed herself and shook her head: "I'm fine. Just happy."

She wouldn't undermine Wayne. Just as she said before leaving for Lungmen, sitting in the chair of the New Kazdel Military Council, she was no longer the simple, kind-hearted Theresa.

She has matured. Idealism is admirable, but it can also be too ethereal. Rather than being idolized and worshipped like a clay statue, becoming an object of adoration without any real learning, she aspires to be a competent leader—one who balances compassion with ruthlessness, one who loves war but is utterly unafraid of any battle. Only then can she lead the Sarkaz out of their current predicament and rebuild their homeland.

She aspires to be a pragmatic individual who combines ideals with reality and transforms it.

Wayne was her role model. He showed her that those in power weren't necessarily all bloodthirsty villains, and that achieving one's goals without bloodshed wasn't just a pipe dream if the methods were right.

Wei Yanwu lowered his head dejectedly, closed his eyes, turned around, and walked towards the bedroom.

"Please leave, everyone. I'm a bit tired. If there's anything you need, you can have Wayne come here to find me. Whether it's compensation or an apology, I have no objection."