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

Jiu narrowed her eyes, asking with some suspicion, "Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?"

Wayne turned his head away, not wanting Nine to see the slight change in his eyes when he activated his Originium Arts, and shook his head with a smile, saying:

"You will not betray us, because faithfully completing the mission is your only way out."

Nine looked at Theresa and agreed. With a mind reader by his side, any lies, conspiracies, or betrayals were meaningless. The moment he had this thought, Theresa was able to sense it.

Moreover, seemingly still feeling uneasy, Wayne stepped forward, took Nine's outstretched hand, took out his gentlemanly device from his breast pocket—a pen that was tucked into his breast pocket—and after thinking for a moment, casually drew a tower symbol on her wrist.

After doing all this, Wayne pursed his lips and said, "Hmm, the mark of the Tower of Babel."

"If you break our agreement and harbor thoughts of betrayal, this spell will punish you."

P.S.: I've seen many people suspect that my writing about the ninth chapter might be betrayed.

Let me state here that it's possible, but the likelihood is really not high.

The Regent next door has a friend who works as a copywriter at YJ. According to his inside information, Nine's identity is truly not simple. The fact that the Phidian silver-ringed snake's features are exactly the same as Koschke's was foreshadowing. The reason for the horns on its head is also said to be complicated.

It just won't be revealed so soon.

However, I'll just consider this my own interpretation. After all, Yostar has retconned before, so who knows if they'll change the setting later.

They're right to betray us.

Chapter 121 Night Party

Dragon Gate, Elizabeth Hotel, Victoria Floor, Night.

After spending so many days in Lungmen, this was the first time Wayne was able to return to the hotel and get a good night's sleep.

After taking a shower and washing away his fatigue in the bathtub, Wayne picked out his favorite casual outfit from the closet. This T-shirt with the support graphic on the chest was the same style as Vina's Vanguard T-shirt, the latter's cut making Vina appear more voluptuous. It was also a set Wayne was most familiar with—he'd seen it countless times in the game. It was just a pity that Vina didn't really wear that shirt anymore.

Her Majesty the Queen must maintain a proper demeanor at all times, even though Vina is just a teenage girl. The weight of responsibility is always overwhelming.

He wore casual shorts on his lower body, and his unkempt, frizzy hair was spread out, so much so that Wayne couldn't help but grab a handful.

Fortunately, he did not have any symptoms of hair loss.

Turning around in front of the mirror, Wayne was quite satisfied with his current outfit. He looked like a handsome, athletic young man, even though he should be a support type.

"I only went to play support because I'm too strong!" Wayne firmly believed that he had broken Kal'tsit's monopoly on Terra's top combat power.

No problem, Wayne picked up the cotton coat from the closet and went outside.

In the living room, Theresa, Vina, Kal'tsit, Jingzhe, Jiu, Surtr, and Mudrock—seven women in total—sat staring at each other blankly, waiting for Wayne, the person in question, to come and explain the situation. When Wayne emerged from the bedroom, the first to rush up to him was Vina, who was least reserved in front of him.

She glanced at the down jacket Wayne was carrying, then looked at the smiling Wayne, and frowned as she spoke:

"So, what Theresa said is true? Brother, you really agreed?"

Wayne nodded. Vina gritted her teeth, as if wanting to rebuke something, but opened her mouth and couldn't utter a word, finally letting out a worried sigh:

"But traveling to Ursus through unofficial channels is very dangerous. How could you agree to such a thing?"

Theresa pursed her lips. She had only told Vina about this today, and Her Majesty the Queen had immediately expressed strong opposition. She did not want Theresa to leave, and even less did she want Theresa to leave for a country known throughout the continent for its violence and war. How dangerous that would be!

What can't be resolved through negotiation? Victoria is so powerful that, in Vina's memory, it's just a request to Ursus to repatriate a Sarkaz citizen. The new emperor shouldn't refuse to give her that much face.

Nine glanced at Wayne, noticing he had no intention of speaking, and decided to step in and explain, "Your Majesty, things are not as simple as you think. Theresa... Your Highness..." She paused when she called out Theresa's name before adding "Your Highness" with difficulty. She instinctively felt a mixture of anger and fear towards mental sorcerers, especially those who had cast the [Curse of Babel] on her. "The person she requested is rather special. Bozokasti, also known as the Patriot, is a war hero of Ursus. He suddenly disappeared during the great rebellion that swept through Ursus, and everyone assumed he was dead. Frankly, if news of his survival reaches Saint-Horned Fortress, it's truly unknown how His Majesty the Emperor will react."

She paused for a moment, seemingly searching for a suitable analogy, before continuing:

"If someone asked you to hand over Marshal Ernest, would you agree?"

Vina shook her head. Ernest was Victoria's current military leader and a key figure in Wayne's rise to power, a loyal minister who helped her get crowned. Unless he committed treason, Vina would never convict or sentence him.

Victoria was not the Great Yan Dynasty. Although monarchical autocracy and centralized power had gained some momentum with Wayne's help, it was far from being able to completely dismantle the aristocratic system or to kill meritorious officials and generals who had overshadowed the ruler. Vina still needed Ernest, so there was no reason for her to hand him over.

"So, the same goes for Bozokasti," Nine concluded. "The Ursus Empire is in turmoil, and the emperor is unlikely to hand over a patriotic hero who has been exiled to a foreign country, unless he wants to incite another major rebellion in the already restless Ursus."

Vina nodded with some disappointment. The logic wasn't hard to grasp; Vina had already considered it, but she was unwilling to admit it. She still felt somewhat uncomfortable with pure politics that involved no personal relationships or exchanges of interests. Wayne bore a large responsibility for this.

Surtr, looking completely bewildered after hearing only half of their riddle, scratched his head and asked:

"I don't understand what you're saying. But isn't she the one we're supposed to protect?"

Surtr pointed at Theresa, only to have her finger slapped away by Mudrock. Surtr looked at Mudrock, who had removed her mask, with a pitiful expression.

“That’s Princess Theresia! The Queen of all Sarkaz! How rude of you, Surtr!”

Mud Rock, his anger blazing, reprimanded loudly.

Seeing that Prince Wayne and Princess Theresa's relationship was still so good, she felt relieved. When she saw Kal'tsit flirting with Jingzhe in the docking area, Mudrock was really terrified, especially by Wayne's intimate attitude towards Kal'tsit in the phone message. Mudrock thought that Princess Theresa was going to be apologized to.

Now it seems she was overthinking it. Kal'tsit is usually so eloquent, but for some reason, she became a silent gourd in front of Wayne. Her eyes were fixed on him, but her mouth didn't open at all, like an unlucky person who had been silenced by a spell.

Surtr rarely saw Mudrock so angry, even more so than when he had broken her figure, so he had no choice but to obediently admit defeat:

“Alright, Your Highness Theresa.”

“Surtr, there’s no need to be so polite.” Theresa smiled helplessly. Both of them were talented individuals from the Sarkaz, but unfortunately, Wayne beat them to it, making it difficult to bring them into the Tower of Babel.

Fortunately, Theresa came up with a good idea: to achieve her goal indirectly by bringing Wayne into the fray. In this way, Surtr and Mudrock naturally became hidden members of the Tower of Babel.

Theresa, you're amazing.

"See, even Theresa said so, right?"

Having received Theresa's permission, Surtr immediately turned around and relentlessly questioned Mudrock in a provocative manner. Mudrock rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to her. Her hand had already been quietly pulled out of her armor, and she was now holding the newly made, improved, posable Wayne figure, thinking about how to naturally give the figure to Wayne.

Wayne finally spoke. He patted Vina's head, and then, seemingly not satisfied, leaned over and rubbed against her. Her fur was very soft and had a slightly sweet vanilla scent, though it was unclear whether it was the vanilla ice cream Vina had just eaten or the fragrance of her shower gel.

Perhaps it's the scent of a young girl?

Ahem, she's my younger sister. Because she's my younger sister, I can suck and masturbate. I can't think too much about it, or I'll feel guilty.

The intimate gesture made Vina blush a little. She wanted to push Wayne away, but when her hand was on Wayne's chest, she lost her strength. She could only push him a couple of times with a mixture of resistance and resistance before stopping. Her face was red as she listened to her heart beating faster and faster, as if everything around her had disappeared.

Having been masturbated so much on ordinary days, Wayne finally got his chance to get his revenge today. After enjoying himself, he calmly comforted Wayne:

"Don't worry, Vina, things aren't as bad as you think."

"You'll understand sooner or later that the world is the world and it doesn't revolve around any one person. Theresa has things she has to do. These things concern her race, her country, and the future of the Sarkaz. Now that she's made up her mind, I can't stop her, and nobody can stop her. All we can do is offer her our blessings and help. Just like now."

"For Theresa's perilous journey, I've brought Mudrock and Surtr as aids. I've told you of their bravery in the Northern campaigns; they are trustworthy and reliable warriors. I've also prepared ample supplies for Theresa, enough food, water, warm clothing, tents, and sleeping bags for her to sustain her for nearly a month in the desolate snowfields, even if they encounter an ambush by the Ursus Empire. If anything unexpected happens, a month is enough time for us to intervene through official channels. We may not be able to bring back Bozokasti, but the Ursus Empire has no reason to object to bringing back my queen. I've also prepared a suitable guide for her, Serpent Scale of Koschei, one of the most knowledgeable people in Ursus, with rich experience and unwavering loyalty, to help Theresa avoid getting lost in the snowfields. With everything prepared, all I can offer her is my trust; I believe she will return, and return successfully."

Wayne pressed down on Vina's shoulder and said:

“Even a fledgling eagle will one day spread its wings and fly. Theresa’s temporary departure may not be a bad thing for you. It’s time to test whether Your Majesty can complete your mission, isn’t it? Don’t you hope that when Theresa returns, she will see a well-organized Victorian court?”

Vina nodded solemnly.

Of course she hoped so, desperately so. She desperately needed an opportunity to prove herself. Even if it was behind-the-scenes, unknown work in internal affairs and logistics, there would always be someone who could see it.

For example, her teacher, Theresa.

Vina felt a surge of fighting spirit, but after a moment, she nervously leaned close to Wayne's ear and whispered:

"Then...then...after Theresa returns, you two will get married..."

Wayne quickly covered her mouth.

You can't just say that, it's a death sentence! Slap yourself, you're talking nonsense!

Wayne abruptly changed the subject, looking at Jingzhe, who was sitting to the side with her head buzzing.

"Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? Why am I with a bunch of Sarkaz and Athrun? What happened?"

She looked at the silent Kal'tsit, her eyes filled with disappointment. In that instant, Miss Jingzhe's budding feelings were nipped in the bud by that wretched lynx.

"Similarly, Miss Jingzhe, I need your help with something."

"Huh? What kind of help?" Jingzhe looked up at Wayne. She was barely able to protect herself; Wei Yanwu had even arranged for people to kill her. What help could she possibly offer?

Nine awkwardly turned her head away; she was the one who fired that shot. Only the Guard Bureau possessed such heavy firearms. However, she hadn't intended to hurt anyone. She had deliberately missed.

Wayne said earnestly, "I need your help to safely send Nine out of Lungmen through your channels."

Chapter 122 Actually, we are all Joseph Pulitzer.

Jiu's current position in Lungmen is awkward. Upward, Wei Yanwu intends to appoint Chen as the director of the Guard Bureau, and Jiu, who occupies this position, has become an obstacle. If it weren't for the years of superior-subordinate relationship, Wei Yanwu might have used some underhanded means to remove Jiu from this position.

Jiu is a man who knows when to advance and when to retreat. He has long been prepared to retire. After Wayne leaves Lungmen, Jiu will probably take the opportunity to formally submit his resignation to Wei Yanwu.

Down below, while Nine still enjoys the trust of the Guard Bureau, she has already lost much of her power. The newly established Special Inspectorate is an organization Wei Yanwu used to decentralize power; Chen had long ago acquired power far beyond what a new police officer should have. Otherwise, how do you think she managed to achieve her series of somewhat unrealistic acts of justice?

Even so, Jiu's current position in Lungmen is still crucial. After Wayne vouched for Jiu and pushed Zhu Yeqing out to take the fall, even if Wei Yanwu suspected Jiu, he couldn't find any evidence for the time being. Jiu is still the director of the Guard Bureau and Wei Yanwu's henchman. She has no reason to leave Lungmen, and Wei Yanwu will not allow Jiu, who knows too many of his secrets, to leave Lungmen.

Wayne can't take Jiu away; it would involve a diplomatic incident. A foreign head of state comes to visit and, on his way out, manages to take a local high-ranking public security official with him. Just hearing about it makes it clear that something fishy is going on inside, and Wei Yanwu won't allow it.

But it's okay during the Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe).

With the backing of the Dali Temple of the Yan Kingdom, and behind the Dali Temple, the Great Yan Dynasty, Jingzhe couldn't possibly contend with the entire court with the strength of a single city, regardless of what treaty Wei Yanwu and Lateran had reached. His preferred strategy remained to bide his time and build up his strength. Jingzhe only needed to fabricate a reason, even something as simple as suspecting Wei Yanwu of treason and wanting to bring Jiu back to the court for questioning; Wei Yanwu would have no choice but to accept it. After all, he had messed up his handling of the Censorate. With Jingzhe's connections, Wayne could easily bring Jiu out of Longmen.

But a transaction isn't a gift; everything comes at a price. Jingzhe looked at Wayne and asked in return:

"So, what's the price, Mr. Wayne? What kind of return can you give me?"

Wayne wanted to say that he could hand over Kal'tsit, that scumbag lynx, to him. He listened as Mudrock and Surtr described the scene of them catching Jingzhe. This Terra wrench lady really opened the wrench without him noticing.

But he couldn't bear to part with it, so he changed his mind and said:

"I can give you anything you want."

Jingzhe sneered. Wayne's words weren't even an answer. What she wanted, Wayne couldn't possibly give her, because it was evidence of Wei Yanwu's treason. Wayne ignored the disdain on her face and calmly continued:

"Does Miss Jingzhe know Joseph Pulitzer?"

Upon hearing the name, Jingzhe paused slightly, then glanced at Wayne suspiciously before hesitantly nodding.

I've heard a little about it.

Do you know what he does?

Jingzhe didn't understand what Wayne meant, so she could only reply in agreement:

"Of course I know. Joseph Pulitzer is an admirable hero whose influence extends far beyond a single city or country, reaching across the entire continent of Terra. His advocacy and exposure of the Reformation, the Victorian corruption case, the secret of the Columbia Loken water tank, and the Ten Principles of Journalism are all works that have profoundly impacted the entire land. They possess immense political and literary value. Copies of these reports have been preserved in the Great Yan Imperial Historian's Pavilion and submitted to the Ministry of Rites' Cultural and Propaganda Department. From my personal perspective, my favorite is his call for justification by faith during the Reformation. People don't need to pray to any authority; they only need to be true to themselves."

So that's how you interpret justification by faith? It seems quite different from the original meaning. However, different people can have different, yet beneficial, interpretations of a single sentence; that's part of the charm of literature and thought.

Wayne thought about it and suddenly realized what was going on.

"Don't you know this very well?!"