Nobita's Time Heist

"In other words..." Looking at Snemis, who was resting on the table but still had a furrowed brow, Nobita's eyes almost spit fire, "These bastards not only didn't play a positive role, but they were also dragging us down, is that a fair assessment?"

“After you arrive, everything will change for the better. However…” Jinglu changed the subject, stood up, grasped Daxiong’s hands, and said with great earnestness, “Right now, it’s not the time to completely turn against them. I will explain to Snemis when he wakes up. Earl Jinguo still has six hundred elite guards under his command, and if you include the private soldiers that the nobles took with them when they fled, there are nearly two thousand people in total. These people are powerful and domineering in the city, and Snemis can’t do anything about them for the time being.”

"If they find out that you can also provide these scarce military supplies, they might try to kill you to prevent you from forming an alliance with Snimis! So, when Earl King arrives, don't be too tough. Take a step back for now, lower your head a little, and we can discuss things further once things have calmed down."

"right?"

Strangely enough, Jinglu didn't know why, but even though they weren't close, she seemed to be convinced from the bottom of her heart that Da Xiong would definitely stand on their side.

Actually, it's not the same. What if Earl Golden Fruit offers a condition that Snimis couldn't? If someone is just a simple outsider, they would definitely think that following the Earl would be more promising, so why would they necessarily help them?

Where does this unfounded trust come from?

……

Nobita nodded silently.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Waaaaaah!!"

A loud bugle call came from outside the window, making the glass vibrate.

"The Guardian of the entire Kingdom of Lumilia, Lord of the Golden Crown City, Earl Golden Fruit Izganda, Lord of Celtalin in the Valley, has come to attend the military conference!"

The clatter of hooves and the billowing dust hinted at an ominous atmosphere.

"Those guys, while Jatos was out setting up fortifications outside the city..." Jinglu realized the situation was dire. Previous conflicts had mostly been at the stage of political maneuvering. Round after round of cards were pushed forward, and Snemis would subtly push them back, creating a dynamic equilibrium.

Now, seemingly sensing the impending upheaval, the old nobles, represented by Jin Guo, have taken the initiative to surround the entire library with their private armies.

A palace coup seemed inevitable.

"Come on, don't worry, Shizuka, I'll protect you." Nobita straightened his clothes, gave her a reassuring smile, and made a firm promise, "I'll protect you both."

"..."

"Have I seen you somewhere before?"—Before she could ask the question that had been weighing on her mind for so long, the wooden door was pushed open.

Earl Golden Fruit, bearing a long list of titles, strolled slowly into the room, surrounded by a crowd.

Chapter 407: I am just an insignificant swordsman!

What does "prestige" mean?

Surrounded by a retinue of admirers, he stood out like a crane among chickens among the many nobles who didn't manage their physiques very well.

This decisive and efficient old man exuded an indescribable aura of authority, from the slight furrow between his brows to his tall and upright posture. Even simply standing there, draped in a red robe, he could become the focus of the entire world, and no one could ignore him.

Da Xiong just sat there, showing no intention of getting up, and didn't even look at him directly, as if the person who walked in was just an insignificant old man who could be seen anywhere.

“I heard that Snemis has been suffering from illness due to overwork, and after much thought, I felt uneasy about it, so I came to visit him.” Count Jinguo’s eyes flashed with a hint of contempt. After taking his seat, he tapped the ground with his wooden cane, not looking at Da Xiong, but instead giving Jing Lu a half-smile. “Right now, the war is still unsettled, and the great plan for the revival of the Kingdom of Lumilia still depends on Snemis’s governing abilities. He can’t afford to neglect his health.”

"You agree, right, Commander Jinglu?"

“You’re absolutely right.” With their troops practically besieging him, Jinglu could only temporarily lower her head to avoid further chaos. “Without the supplies, provisions, and manpower you’ve provided, the war wouldn’t have lasted this long. Snemis told me this morning that he wanted to award your soldiers medals for their bravery on the battlefield. He often lamented to me that he’s shouldered too much honor that doesn’t belong to him. The nobles who have fueled this war are the true leaders, while he’s merely an accountant at best.”

Upon hearing this, the faces of the nobles who had come to demand an explanation seemed to soften.

Although Jin Guo didn't show it on his face, his expression relaxed slightly. He clasped his hands together, like a lion in hunting mode, and leaned his upper body forward slightly. "Snemis is too modest. When it comes to allocating resources and assigning manpower, we old bones can't do it. It's not a matter of honor or disgrace. Everyone is working hard for the continuation of the kingdom."

"Speaking of which, I do have a genuine question that I hope to answer with Snemis's opinion. However, since Captain Jinglu is here, it's the same to ask you for advice..."

He paused for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over her turning incredibly cold. "This morning, I received a tip that someone was distributing supplies that didn't belong 'inside' the military. These included food, medicine, and drinking water of unknown origin—all things that suddenly appeared without any inspection. My informant reported this to me, and we held an emergency meeting. Everyone present took this matter very seriously."

Listen to this phrase, "within our own ranks." It's practically telling Jinglu outright that you're not on our side.

Nobita has pretty much figured it out. The city is mainly divided into two distinct forces: one side is represented by Snimis and Jatos, who are the people who really want to resolve the war and control the city's operations; the other side is represented by Golden Fruit, who represent the interests of all the old and new nobles of the Kingdom of Lumilia and want to achieve a balance of power with Snimis.

The two sides are mutually opposed and hinder each other, leaving almost no room for negotiation. It is foreseeable that once the war ends and Snemis is no longer of any use, he will be immediately eliminated by these guys.

"..." Jinglu naturally understood this meaning as well, and her expression immediately turned serious. She didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Everything that goes into a soldier's stomach needs to be carefully examined. I don't need to elaborate on that, do I? In fact, when we sent this portion of the food for testing, we found some unknown substance in it. According to the experts, it may cause some kind of hidden harm to the soldier's body."

"??!" Jinglu immediately realized what he was about to do, her face turned ashen, and she bit her lip tightly.

My worst fears have come true.

What is meant by "latent harm"? This term can be used in any situation. Even if I eat a fish and a fishbone cuts my throat, I can still say it's a latent harm. This is a baseless accusation; these scoundrels are even willing to cut off our already limited supplies in this way to attack Snemis!

Even now, can the desire to fight each other still not subside?

“This is no joke. Soldiers are our most valuable resource for victory. Every soldier requires a lot of time and effort to train before they can go to the battlefield... As a swordsmanship instructor, I believe you should understand this.” King Fruit continued to ramble on, “It’s shocking that such a problem has occurred under Snemis’s rule.”

"However, he has always been very professional in the past, and there has never been a precedent for this. In addition, he is now bedridden, so I am more inclined to believe that this was an unintentional mistake, a harmless error, rather than a deliberate one. As long as he is willing to apologize for it when he wakes up, we can let it go and not dwell on the intricacies of the matter."

"As long as he is willing to hand over the source of this minor chaos to us to handle."

Jin Guo finally revealed his true intentions, extending his right hand and gently tapping the table twice with his calloused knuckles, making a thumping sound.

“We have received reliable evidence that the person who distributed the supplies is still under Snemis’s control. As long as we hand him over, everything will be fine.”

"Commander Jinglu, someone as principled as you wouldn't favor this scoundrel with unknown origins and malicious intentions, would you?"

……

“It has nothing to do with him. The person you're looking for is me.” Da Xiong finally broke his silence, glancing at him sideways as if he didn't care about Jin Guo at all.

"Heh... Is that so? I didn't know it was you." At this point, Golden Fruit finally lowered her head and looked at him with the same eyes that looked at prey, and said sarcastically, "So, do you have anything to say in your words and deeds? Lumilia is an enlightened kingdom. Even the guilty will be given a chance to defend themselves."

Soldiers clad in heavy armor and fully armed burst through the door, cracking the flimsy wooden floorboards as they surrounded Da Xiong, clearly intending to eliminate him on the spot.

"Please wait a moment, Earl Jingguo!" Jinglu hadn't expected the situation to deteriorate so drastically in just a few minutes. She bit her lip, trying to make one last effort, "There must be some misunderstanding here. This person isn't a spy, he..."

“I’m very disappointed.” Da Xiong met Jinguo’s questioning in a very calm tone. “I’m very disappointed with all of this. If I had known it would be like this, it might have been better to let you die under Odorom’s wrath.”

These words sounded somewhat incomprehensible to people of this era; few even knew who Odorom was. Therefore, Da Xiong only received waves of contemptuous sneers in return.

Only Jin Guo's expression changed slightly.

"Odorom... the Demon Emperor? That's an ancient myth from five hundred years ago. Why bring it up all of a sudden?" A hint of wariness flashed in his lion-like eyes. "May I ask who you are...?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"boom----!!!"

The silver sword swept across, and with a semi-circular slash, all the spears were cut in half.

With a thud, Da Xiong slammed the silver sword down on the ground, casually shaving off a corner of the table. He looked at Jin Guo, his eyes blazing with undisguised anger and disappointment. This single action stunned everyone present; no one dared to draw their sword, no one dared to challenge the indomitable presence hidden within that silver sword light.

"My name is Nobinia."

"As you said... he is an insignificant swordsman."

Chapter 408: A Critique of Weapons!

Silver sword. Silver armor. Silver cloak.

As if enveloped in a shimmering silver light, the near-perfect silver swordsman stood before the crowd, head bowed slightly, radiating an imposing aura. After drawing his silver sword, the remaining armor emerged from the glimmer of light, confidently covering Nobita's body, and thoughtfully adjusted to perfectly fit his current proportions.

The air seemed to freeze.

The nobles who had initially stood behind Earl Jinguo, seemingly offering their support, scattered like birds and beasts, keeping a distance of five or six meters from him. In an instant, they went from being loyal followers of Earl Jinguo to saying, "We're not acquainted," quickly severing their ties. It cannot be denied that this was realistic and selfish, but the more despicable and shameless a person is, the longer they often survive in all sorts of open and covert struggles.

“Nobinia… Silver Swordsman…” Jinglu was still in shock, her eyes filled with intense disbelief as she looked at him.

The legend of the Silver Swordsman and the Three Dream Swordsmen has been passed down through generations in the land of the Kingdom of Lumilia.

To this day, most people regard it as a legend, but a small group still firmly believes that these events actually happened, and Jinglu is one of them. Her Lumilia Palace Style swordsmanship is said to have been invented by the Silver Swordsman, and because of this, she has always held an inexplicable expectation for this mythical figure.

She believes that many people share this expectation, as if there is a guardian angel watching over every corner of the country.

At this moment, there is no difference between dreams and reality; the Silver Swordsman has truly arrived.

He stood right in front of her. Although he wasn't as tall and imposing as she had imagined, his gentleness and thoughtfulness towards his companions, and his fierceness and ruthlessness towards his enemies, were exactly as she had imagined.

Do you need me to prove it to you?

"No...no need..." For the first time in his many encounters with others, the elderly Earl of Golden Fruit felt a bit sweaty.

When dealing with politicians, you can use incentives and threats to coerce or entice them, or you can use various laws and regulations to restrict them.

Do these petty tricks still make a difference when facing a mythical figure?

One sword strike and your weapon is broken. If pushed to the limit, and they unleash their fury, charging in and out of the demon army seven times, those few soldiers are nothing more than slicing through butter. When their sword is at your neck, a wise person will never fight back. Life is the only card Jin Guo can keep on the table. And as long as you stay on the table, fortune will turn, and there's always a chance to win back.

"I apologize, Silver Swordsman Nobinia. We were far too rude before." He immediately stood up and bowed, choosing the safest route of admitting defeat. "We didn't know you would come here in person. After all, five hundred years have passed, and you..."

"Just because I don't show up, does that mean you can take it for granted that you can exploit those who have made contributions?!" Da Xiong was completely unconvinced; in fact, he was currently burning with rage. Few people could truly make him angry, and the situation before him was one of them.

"Please believe me, there must be some misunderstanding here. We know we lack the ability, and all the resources in the city are managed by Snemis. Our original intention was to let the talented do the appropriate work, so please..."

"【Honest Taro】--!!" Nobita never liked wasting his breath on meaningless conversations. He reached into his pocket and took out a doll that wasn't very cute and looked a bit silly.

(Honest Taro: Similar to "Truth or Dare Tape," it's a tool that forces you to tell the truth. By placing the doll on your shoulder, it compels the user to tell the truth at all times.)

Jin Guo sensed something was wrong and tried to retreat, but Da Xiong pressed the silver sword against his shoulder. Having already tested its sharpness, he dared not make any further moves. If the sword were to deviate even slightly, a single strike could easily sever his arm.

With a "thud," Honest Taro was gently placed on Kingo's shoulder.

"...First, use some words to calm him down. After this period, quickly gather troops and coordinate the supplies."

With a sharp "snap," Jin Guo bit off her own tongue without batting an eye, forcefully ending the interrogation. However, seeing the hint of surprise flash in Da Xiong's eyes, Jin Guo seemed to completely forget the pain, a smile appearing on her lips.

Evened out.

Just as his opponent suddenly disrupted his rhythm, he disrupted the opponent's rhythm in the same way.

……

"Something terrible has happened! Lord Snemis, something terrible has occurred!" Just as tensions were about to break out, a messenger rushed in and shouted, "The squad that set up the fortifications on the city wall has been ambushed by dragons. Lord Jatos is in dire straits and requests reinforcements from the city immediately!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"How many enemies are attacking this time?" Jinglu was the first to grab her sword and asked in a deep voice.

"There are roughly six hundred to nine hundred of them, attacking from the front. Two-legged wyverns that can shoot fireballs have appeared in the air, harassing us from four directions. Lord Jatos has already led his troops into the unfinished fortifications. We can only take temporary cover; it's not a long-term solution!"

Da Xiong glanced at Earl Jinguo, and seeing that he didn't seem inclined to take on the task, he spoke up, "...Do you have any weapons here that can shoot down dragons from a distance?"

"..." The messenger was somewhat surprised. Seeing that Jin Guo, who should have been the highest-ranking leader, remained silent while a stranger was issuing orders, he made a rough judgment and quickly replied, "There are specialized crossbows on the city walls called 'Scorpion Tail Needles,' which can fire arrows made of black iron. Once they hit, they can pierce through the body of a dragon, but... they are powerless against larger dragon species."

"Alright, let's prepare that thing then." Da Xiong nodded, turned around, and instructed like an old woman, "Jing Lu will stay here and wait for Xiao Fu to wake up. Tell him what happened here. Also, tell him to stop drinking. There are many things to deal with next, and he needs to keep a clear head."

"Leave Gian's side to me."

"Are you... are you going alone?" Jinglu found it a little funny the moment she asked the question.

At this moment, if we can't even trust the legendary Silver Swordsmen who repelled the demon army and slew Odorom, who else should we trust? These flashy young masters in their fine armor who have never even been on a battlefield?

Da Xiong smiled, nodded at her, put the bamboo dragonfly on his helmet, and looked ready to take off and kill the enemy.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Nobinia." Kingo bowed slightly, swallowing the blood from his broken tongue with utmost sincerity and humility, and asked vaguely, "Senemis is still resting, and you are not here. Should the command of internal affairs in this capital be handed over to Captain Jinglu? As far as I know, she is very reliable and is someone who can be entrusted with trust in such a crisis."

"..." Nobita silently scrutinized him. He himself did not realize that this behavior of observing others through the reflection of his glasses was becoming more and more like Gendo Ikari.

"Tekkaski (a homophone for 'Dekisugi')."

"Leave it to Tekkaski."

Chapter 409: The Three-Piece Backstab Strategy: Smile on the Face, Prepare Quickly, Strike Ruthlessly

"How could it be Tekaski? Tradition! Where have all the fine traditions of the Kingdom of Lumilia gone?!"

"This is utter recklessness! That brute, relying on the sword in his hand, has started doing whatever he wants. He has no idea what kind of harm this behavior will cause us!"

"In the end, I think the Silver Swordsman is just a fabrication. If he really is the Silver Swordsman from mythology, why did he only appear like a savior after the Crimson God had conquered the last city? Wasn't it all to seize power?"

"That's right, this fame-seeking fellow isn't a Silver Swordsman at all. In my opinion, he's one of Snemis, Jinglu, and Jatos's gang. These guys want to overthrow the higher-ups and weed us all out! They deliberately chose Tekaski, who has no title whatsoever, to extend an olive branch to everyone in the city—as long as you show them goodwill, even without a title, you can join their ranks."

"That must be it! Otherwise, why would such important national affairs be entrusted to a mere copyist..."

……

Just as the nobles looked like a group of mourners

As they chattered and complained incessantly like sparrows, Tekkaski happened to come around the corner and bumped into them. Both sides were stunned for a few seconds. The aristocratic group made no attempt to hide their hatred and disgust for him, feeling that this guy who was about to become a new noble must have been the one to interfere and block their bright future.

Dressed in a black robe, Tekasky did not overstep his bounds. He stopped and bowed respectfully to them before leaving.

“Lord Kingfruit, look, letting a mere copyist take charge of the whole affair.” A nobleman approached Kingfruit and lowered his voice. “As far as I know, Tekaski was once Snemis’s copyist, and he is completely on Snemis’s side. This man is indeed quite capable. Once he takes power, I’m afraid… we will never have a chance to turn things around.”

“Right now, the Silver Swordsman is not inside the city, and Jatos is trapped outside the city walls, his fate unknown. Their fighting force is at most Jinglu and a few loyal guards. On our side, we still have two thousand heavily armored soldiers.”

"For us, this is the best opportunity to take action!"