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

The laboratory explosion necessitates a thorough cleanup that cannot be rushed, at least in the short term. Unless a new dedicated laboratory is built, the Patriot Blood portion of Project Spark will inevitably have to be temporarily halted. This means that after seeing his old friends, Wayne no longer has any reason to stay at Rhine Labs. After having a decent dinner with several people in the staff canteen, Wayne boarded the aircraft returning from New Wales to Londinhem.

........

At the same time, on an aircraft flying from Londinium to Sigrani, the capital of Rembitox.

After reaching an agreement with Wayne and signing an employment contract, SilverAsh officially led his Mountain Snow Ghost mercenary group onto the aircraft bound for Rembiton. The aircraft's destination was Rembiton's capital and largest city—Sigleene.

Sigrani is a beautiful city. Judging solely from its urban planning and construction, there are no mining-related buildings within Sigrani. It boasts a thriving tourism industry and vast intercity grasslands serving as pastures for ruddy shelducks. It is Terra's largest producer of ruddy milk, and the Great Dividing Range, located on the route to Sigrani, is a mountain range whose grandeur rivals that of the Loroc Mountains on the border of Colombia and Bolívar. The area receives abundant rainfall and offers stunning scenery.

Most of the nobles of Terra own their own holiday villas or aristocratic estates in Sigrani and the Great Dividing Range along its route. The Aslan royal family of Victoria, as one of the main controllers of the Rembito government, owns more than twenty estates in Sigrani. From majestic mountains to vast grasslands, from rural fields to tranquil lakesides, almost any beautiful scenery you can imagine will be accompanied by a spacious villa carved with lion heads.

After careful selection, Wayne opened a villa estate located in the Great Dividing Range mountains, relatively close to the Rabbit Mine (though the mountains are actually more than ten kilometers away from the mine), to the "Mountain Snow Ghost" mercenary group and SilverAsh as their temporary base. SilverAsh was very satisfied with the base. Although there was no constant snowstorm, the mountain environment still reminded him of his hometown, Kjerag. This environment was also more suitable for the Mountain Snow Ghosts to train in preparation for the arduous battles they would face in the snowy mountains in the future.

Even while on the plane, Nosis was already contemplating his strategy in Rembiton. He reminded SilverAsh:

“Enciodes, don’t let your guard down with Wayne. He’s not someone you can easily fool. When we were in the shop, just sitting across from him, I had a feeling that he and that woman next to him, Felin, could see right through me.”

SilverAsh chuckled at Nosis's warning. He knew his partner and close friend's personality; he was the type who trusted no one and suspected everyone. Crucially, sometimes he would misjudge the strength of both sides, placing himself and others on the same level of judgment, as was the case now:

“Nosis, you’re overthinking it. His Highness Wayne has no reason to use any underhanded tactics against me. Underhanded tactics are only effective if they reduce expenses compared to normal methods. But for Victoria, is it really that difficult to recruit a mercenary group? To put it more bluntly, for Victoria, which has already resolved its internal power struggles and is now united under one banner, is it really that difficult to control a Sherag?”

"I pride myself on having a sharp eye for people. Prince Wayne doesn't seem like a simple imperialist. I see the brilliance of an idealist in him."

Nohis frowned:

“I cannot stake Scherrag’s future on your so-called ‘idealist brilliance’.”

“Then you can lie on top of me. Trust my judgment,” SilverAsh said. “As for Lady Kal'tsit, Nosis, who do you think she is? Just a mere Mayor of Victoria?”

"To be able to serve as His Highness Wayne's agent, and seemingly have a relationship with him that goes beyond a superior-subordinate one, a relationship that is more equal and intimate, Ms. Kal'tsit is not as simple as you think. Although she is neither a hereditary noble nor a social celebrity, Terra has never lacked people who cannot be judged by ordinary standards. Nosis, you still have a lot to learn."

Nosis stared at SilverAsh's profile, falling into a brief silence. A few minutes later, seemingly having calmed down, he asked again:

"So, you're betting everything on Victoria? You think they'll kindly help Sherag and help you fulfill your wish?"

"Of course not. There is no such thing as gratitude without resentment on earth. Charitable aid is not the way I seek to lift Shelag out of backwardness and ignorance."

"So what do you plan to do?"

In response to Nosis's question, SilverAsh grinned, looked out the window at the azure sky and clouds, and said:

"Well, that's why there's a reason to go to Rembiton."

Chapter 85 Rembit is Prince Wayne's chessboard

Rembit, Sigraine.

The aircraft bearing the Victoria emblem had just landed at Sigrani Airport when tour guides and vendors swarmed around it like wolves smelling blood. To them, the people from Victoria were all big clients—generous spenders, and relatively polite—far superior to the stingy and foul-mouthed Ursus people. Earning a sum from a Victorian client could essentially guarantee a six-month livelihood.

But before the tour guides and vendors, holding various promotional signs and brochures, could even approach the aircraft's boarding gate, they were startled by the crowd emerging from it. Instead of well-dressed gentlemen or elegant ladies, they were a group of fully armed soldiers wearing strange masks, clad in armor, and wielding unusual weapons like axes and halberds.

Strange masks covered their entire heads, and their armor obscured their racial features, making it impossible for the merchants to discern the race of the soldiers who had emerged from the aircraft in unison and lined the steps. However, they were certain of at least two things: first, their attempt to make a profit was likely ruined; second, something serious was probably about to happen to Rembiton.

Silver Gray stepped out of the aircraft's cabin, his heavy black cloak fluttering in the cold airport wind. He leaned on a specially treated, sharp-tipped, jet-black cane that could be used as a magic staff, while his other hand gripped a weapon hidden behind his cloak. His face was icy, and his imposing presence made him seem like a noble young master from an ancient Victorian family.

Conversely, Nosis, following behind him, became nothing more than a supporting character, his imposing presence completely overshadowed, and even his overall presence diminished. Fortunately, Nosis didn't seem to care about such details, instead asking SilverAsh with slight confusion about his actions:

"Enciodes, such a high-profile appearance doesn't seem to conform to the code of conduct set by His Highness Wayne, does it?"

"His Highness Wayne's guiding principle is—to avoid being disturbed," Nosis replied calmly without turning his head as he walked down the steps from the plane. "And to avoid being disturbed, simply hiding isn't enough."

In SilverAsh's view, the reason Wayne gave him this task was to play a big game with him and to test his attitude.

He, Ensiodis Shivaesh, represents Kjerag, while Vayne represents Victoria. Rembito is the chessboard, on which Ursus, Letania, Kazimir, and Minos also play. His Highness Vayne cautioned him—that he didn't want to be disturbed—not by trying to avoid all risks and accidents from the outset, because risks don't disappear simply by avoiding them. The secret to avoiding disturbances is simple: sufficient strength.

Just as before entering the modern era, Kjerag was a completely isolated snowy land. This wasn't because Kjerag was particularly adept at hiding; in fact, thanks to the protection of Yeragand, the snowy land was spared from natural disasters. The Kjerag people didn't even have mobile cities; their cities were fixed in one place and gradually spread out. There was no question of hiding. Furthermore, Kjerag had never been invaded by countries like Victoria, Kazimierz, or Ursus before this because the snowy land had the mountains as its backing, blizzards as its weapon, a united people as its strength, and enough power that made other nations unwilling to expend their resources on this land.

But now, times have changed. SilverAsh is doing his utmost to tell all the people of Sherag that the snowy lands are no longer safe. During his studies in Victoria, he personally visited the Imperial Museum in Londinium. While his classmates were all captivated by the exquisite artifacts of the Gallo Empire, now history, and the violently aesthetic ruins of the former Londinium rulers, the Drak, SilverAsh lingered in the empty military museum, where a prototype of the steam-powered armor worn by the Victoria Royal Army's steam-armored troops during the Four Emperors' War a century ago was displayed. It was with this armor that Victoria defeated the once-invincible Gallo Empire in the Four Emperors' War, a war in which the four emperors of Letania, Ursus, Gaul, and Victoria participated, turning the once-powerful Gallo Empire, which considered its own language its universal language, into a laughable exhibit in a museum.

Now, Victoria's power is more than twice as strong as it was a century ago. Even disregarding Victoria, Ursus has gone through the Great Conquest and has become a powerful industrial nation and military empire. Letania has overthrown the Witch King and, under the dual rule of the two kings, has begun to catch up with the times. At this time, if Sherag stops moving forward and continues to pray that the mountains can protect its snowy homeland, it will only be able to catch up with the world in pain and blood after the enemy blasts open its gates with cannon fire.

“This is a grand strategy. Wayne has condescended to give me an equal opportunity to play against him, so we must seize this opportunity to show him the power of Snow Realm, to show him our determination, and to show him that Snow Realm can become a true nation under my leadership, without outside interference.”

SilverAsh calmly analyzed,

"A powerful yet understated entrance is like the central cannon in Yan Kingdom chess; although it can be defended with just one move..."

"But can it really boost our morale?" Nosis chuckled. He nodded, acknowledging SilverAsh's idea. However, just before leaving, he suddenly asked again:

"So you were looking at your phone the whole time on the plane, learning Chinese chess?"

SilverAsh shrugged: "It's less about learning and more about exploration. For example, I've discovered that proper chess doesn't seem to have the strange and unusual rules I used to play in casual games."

"What rules?" Nosis asked curiously.

"For example, [Royal Expedition] eliminates all enemy pieces, [All-Out Attack] moves all pieces forward one space, [Sowing Discord] turns all enemy pieces into your own, and so on."

Nosis's lips twitched, and he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. In the end, he didn't ask SilverAsh what kind of terrible game he was playing. He awkwardly changed the subject: "...Let's talk about going to the Rabbit Mine."

However, no sooner had Nosis spoken than an electronic voice, clearly altered by a voice changer, interrupted: "Are you two Mr. Enciodes and Mr. Nosis?"

Noxis and Ensiodis simultaneously conjured spells and cautiously looked up. At the airport exit, two Sarkaz people, standing out from the crowd, had been waiting at the security checkpoint for some time.

SilverAsh narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who are you?"

The red-haired Sarkaz snorted disdainfully, seemingly unapproachable and sulking. Beside her, a Sarkaz clad in heavy power armor, carrying an alloy warhammer, whose gender was indistinguishable, tiptoed and waved to the two, saying:

"I am Mudrock, and she is Surtr. We were sent by His Highness Wayne to pick us up at the airport!"

Chapter 86 It really feels good to have a home

January 21, 1093 (Terra Alpha), 10:00 AM. At Royal Westminster International Airport in Londinim, a luxurious aircraft is parked securely on the runway, awaiting its owner to board.

Vina turned down a cabinet meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The main topic of the meeting was whether to issue pensions to the nobles who were "brutally killed by the Deep Pool rebels" during the Great Purge. In Vina's view, this was not something that needed to be considered at all. The answer was simple - issue them, definitely issue them, why not issue them?

It's important to understand that the nobles who died in the Great Purge weren't just those with titles. Most nobles attended ceremonies with their families, and this purge directly led to the extinction of many noble families. According to Victorian noble laws, if a titled noble's main line died out, the title and property would revert to the Emperor. In other words, Vina promised to distribute the pension, and she did, but not in full. It was just a formality, transferring money from one hand to the other. But even this simple procedure, if publicized, would demonstrate both Her Majesty the Queen's benevolence and Victoria's wealth—gaining prestige without losing money. Why wouldn't she distribute it?

The fact that this matter required a cabinet meeting was simply to discuss whether the money should go into the national treasury or the private treasury. Vina wasn't short of money, so she made a slight concession: the money from the high-ranking nobles would be split 30/70, while the money from the lower-ranking nobles would go entirely to the national treasury. A consensus was reached before the meeting even started. Vina also got a few hours of free time to come to the airport to see Wayne off.

"Seeing someone off is weird, let's not use that word carelessly in the future." Wayne ruffled Vina's hair; the fluffy feel was always comforting. However, it seemed that Vina had neglected her hair care lately due to work stress. Wayne plucked a few strands, instantly turning Vina's previously happy expression stiff and pale. She covered her head, looking like something terrible had happened. Seeing this, Wayne immediately comforted her:

"It's nothing, it's just that you haven't been resting well lately. Take care of yourself and get some rest."

After saying that, Wayne turned to look at Kal'tsit and whispered in her ear:

"Kal'tsit, you know so much, why don't you recommend two conditioners to Vina?"

Kal'tsit rolled her eyes at Vayne, thinking to herself, "I've been cultivating immortality for over a hundred years, and I've already reached the Nascent Soul stage. I've even created an external avatar, mon3tr, and I'm invincible in Terra. How could I possibly be losing my hair?"

Oh well, what can I do when I know everything?

"I heard that the Shivaash family in Kjerag has a secret recipe for maintaining fur. You can ask SilverAsh when you have the chance. Why are you looking at me? I'm not losing my hair, I just happen to know it."

"You seem to know a great deal," Wayne thought to himself, though he dared not say it aloud, lest the old lynx fall into a state of baffling reverie about his past.

We finally managed to create a Kal'tsit who can talk and speak like a human, so we can't accidentally change her back.

While Kal'tsit and Wayne were whispering to each other, Theresa wasn't idle either. After wandering around the cabin, Theresa approached Vina and greeted her:

"Vina, you're here too. Finished your work?"

“I had a meeting, so I declined,” Vina replied, glancing at Wayne’s smiling figure with a somewhat helpless smile. “I’m my brother’s only family, so I have to see him off when he goes on a long trip.”

“Mr. Bruce promised to come with me. I’m sorry, but his holiday just ended and his injuries have only just healed. He should rest a little longer in Londinium,” Theresa said sincerely.

Vina shook her head: "No, an apology isn't necessary. I know my brother is a restless person. Look at all of Terra, which country's royal family like him, always running around the world and causing trouble? Most people in high positions prefer to stay in their fortresses, playing their own king games in front of the mirror. The rich and powerful think there's nothing new under the sun, nothing is interesting, and they lack interest. The poor and destitute are always preoccupied with basic needs, worrying about food and clothing, and have no time to think about poetry and distant places, harboring hatred for the earth. My brother is different; he's more interested in this rotten world than many others. So, even if Sister Theresa hadn't accompanied him to Rembiton, he would have embarked on this journey sooner or later. Because there are things there that interest him."

A clear light shone in Vina's eyes. For the first time in her life, she felt she had found the driving force that propelled her brother's actions. The word "goal" has many interpretations. On a small scale, it can mean pursuing selfish desires at the expense of others; on a larger scale, it can mean fulfilling a mission.

Theresa nodded in agreement: "But it's precisely because he does whatever he wants that we're able to stand here and talk to each other, isn't it?"

Vina looked away and smiled. "That's true. But I think that even if my brother hadn't found you, someone as capable and powerful as Sister Theresa could still have a happy future, right?"

Vina's pure words startled Theresa. She looked into Vina's eyes and suddenly revealed a bitter smile.

"Hmm...maybe."

Vina has grown up too fast. So much so that, without realizing it, Theresa subconsciously overlooked the fact that Vina is still just a young girl who has only recently come of age. Perhaps it's because Wayne's maturity has masked Vina's naivety, building a protective shield for her and preventing her from personally experiencing what a "man-eating land" truly is. Her abilities are sufficient, but her character still needs tempering.

This world isn't a place where ability, power, or being a good person guarantees a happy future. Compared to cunning and treachery, these three traits are like a light in the darkness, attracting countless lurking predators.

"But before dawn, someone has to light up the darkness a little."

Wayne patted Theresa on the shoulder, encouraging her.

Theresa was somewhat taken aback: "Mr. Bruce, do you know what I'm thinking?"

“Mental communication is always two-way; when you’re teasing me, I’m teasing you too.” Wayne said half a sentence, leaving the other half unsaid: “It’s just that when you tease me, it’s like using tweezers to pick up a strand of hair, but when I tease you, it’s like an excavator digging up your foundation.” If he hadn’t suddenly noticed Theresa’s inexplicable mood dip (his 'hand' that was petting the lion suddenly turned cold), Wayne wouldn’t have teased Theresa so casually.

"Alright, it's time to get on the aircraft. It will take at least ten hours to fly from Victoria to Rembiton. If we don't leave now, we won't arrive in Sigraine until midnight."

Wayne urged, turning around and waving to Vina:

"Bye-Bye!"

"Give me a call when you arrive at Rembiton. Remember to wear warm clothes if it gets cold. Your injury has just healed, so don't push yourself too hard. Use Originium Arts sparingly, eat plenty of food, and don't be picky..."

"Okay, okay!" Wayne nodded repeatedly, both amused and exasperated.

It feels like home, which is really nice.

Chapter 87 The Reasons for Surtr's Dissatisfaction

"This is the manor that His Highness Wayne has arranged for you all. It is about fifteen to sixteen kilometers away from the Rabbit Mine. However, there is a railway and a highway connecting the two, so the actual round trip will not take more than one to two hours."

After leading Silver Ash and the Snow Demon mercenary group to the villa built halfway up the mountain, Mudrock introduced them to Silver Ash and the others.

"After you've settled in, you can come down the mountain to find us. We'll take you to the excavation site in the Rabbit Mine. We're staying at a tourist resort at the foot of the mountain."

"Which household?" Nohis asked.

Surtr raised his head and said lavishly, "We've booked the whole place!"

Nosis's eyelids twitched. Surtr seemed incompatible with him; she always seemed irritable when he spoke to her. Even if Surtr had a normal temper, her personality was destined to make Nosis uncomfortable. Nosis was the kind of person who would use himself as a tool to achieve his goals. Surtr, on the other hand, valued those she respected, and sometimes, even if it meant disobeying orders, she would prioritize resolving her friends' problems.

Nohis adjusted his glasses and nodded, "I understand. It's to prevent spies mixed in with the tourists from monitoring our operations, right?"

Surtr didn't answer, but gave a cold "humph" before turning around and tugging at Mudrock's arm, trying to pull her away as well.

Mudrock gave the two an apologetic look, but unfortunately, it was hidden by his helmet, so Silver and Gray couldn't see anything. "Well then, you two, we'll be leaving now. If you have any questions, you can contact us through the communicator in the manor. Just call the number of the resort down the mountain. There's a brochure on the bedside table. Goodbye."

After saying that, she turned her head, pulled her thick, thigh-like gauntlets from Surtr's hand, and asked in confusion as she walked away: