Alibuda Chronicles Part 2: Volume 1, Chapter 7

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Chapter Seven: Who is the Winner

? Who was the biggest winner in the war against the Southern Barbarians? This wasn't a question I hadn't considered before. As I left the Southern Barbarians, reflecting on the entire event, many turning points suddenly became clear, and I found the answer.

Sister Dragon Girl was indeed a woman of great talent in governance and military affairs; every step she took was aimed at maximizing the interests of her resistance army. Initially, I couldn't understand why Sister Dragon Girl would abandon her heavy military duties and troops to travel thousands of miles to the Southern Barbarians to help, given the resistance army's difficult situation in the East Sea. Such behavior might be acceptable as chivalry, but if it were a general commanding an army, I would feel deep sorrow for her soldiers.

The upheaval in the Southern Barbarians resulted in the collapse of the Snake Clan, the severe weakening of the three major beast clans, and the near extinction of the Feathered Clan—none of these could be considered winners. However, in the end, Sister Dragon Girl's resistance force unexpectedly gained a fresh force, and even an air force capable of fighting ten men single-handedly in naval battles.

It's not hard to imagine that when the Feathered Clan arrived in the East Sea and joined the Dragon Girl's resistance army, they would dominate the battlefield. On the vast sea, the Feathered Clan, capable of flight, would be the nemesis of the Black Dragon Society's fleet, greatly aiding the Dragon Girl's war effort.

So, did the Dragon Girl initially intend to force the Feathered Clan to leave the Southern Barbarians and serve her? I think not. Her expectations were probably half and half, depending on the situation. The Feathered Clan borrowed metal from her, and she lent it; but after that, she didn't do anything more. If the Feathered Clan could safely weather this calamity, she would return to the East Sea; if not, she would step in to clean up the mess.

The resistance army and the Feathered Clan were located in completely different parts of the world, with no prior contact or moral obligation. There was nothing to criticize about her actions, whether from a moral or legal standpoint. However, when I finally understood the whole story and realized these things, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly at myself.

Surprisingly, I wasn't angry, not even a trace of rage. Why was that? Although I was surprised myself, I think I know the reason.

Honestly, I've never cared much about morality or righteousness, but there's one thing I do have that's good: I never deny responsibility after losing. Whenever I cheat or betray someone, I can't help but think to myself, "Who taught you to be so blind? Whose fault is it?" Although this is just an excuse to comfort myself, when I become the one being cheated, I only blame myself for not seeing through it sooner, and I don't harbor any hatred.

I've been taken advantage of by this older man more than once or twice, but each time my anger quickly dissipates. We all make a living by stealing and cheating anyway. Today he schemes against me, tomorrow I'll scheme against him; this kind of thing happens repeatedly among us. And Mao Yan'an's old tricks of fooling me sometimes become my own methods for fooling others. In this respect, he's truly a good teacher. In short, there's no such thing as a complete loss until the very end; you never know who the winner will be. I believe that one day I can get my revenge.

Similarly, I deeply admire Sister Long Nu's planning for the entire Southern Barbarian incident. I also deeply feel that such wisdom and courage are truly worthy of being called the Dragon Princess, the head of the Seven Beauties, and she is someone worthy of admiration.

However, in front of that mountain palace, before her, with that expectant expression, what she said to me so earnestly—was it truly sincere?

Ah, I really can't tell…

I was so engrossed in thinking that even one of the ministers beside me couldn't help but ask.

"General Farrell, what are you laughing at?"

"Oh, nothing much, just that yesterday my godmother's dog bit my aunt's cat. The cat and dog got into a fight, and then they invited my cousin's lion to go to a brothel together."

"What...what kind of talk is that?"

"I'm secretly practicing Ishtar slang for defense reasons."

"Oh! Impressive, impressive indeed."

So, when a nation is about to perish, there are bound to be monsters. Those stupid fools who can't even recognize my lousy lie and still offer their admiration, yet they wear high-ranking official robes, how can this country have a future? I'm genuinely worried for that cold, stinky bitch.

The meeting didn't make much progress, but it was indeed slowly moving towards the ideal. The elves of Solancia and the dwarf envoys of Rosea had, in principle, agreed to form an international organization, but outwardly they were still making excuses, hoping to gain greater benefits through under-the-table deals.

After the meeting, I was secretly invited to the Golden Flower Inn. Ryan dismissed everyone and was discussing the matter with Mao Yan'an, so I asked him about it.

"Solancia wants Zhizhi to go back with them. What do those Rosetta dwarves want? Surely they don't want us to give them defense equipment or agree to some humiliating trade terms?"

In my mind, the under-the-table deals between major powers must involve things like arms sales, trade tariffs, and territorial agreements. If we don't take advantage of the other side's need to resolve these age-old problems that can't be solved through tabletop diplomacy, how can we get such a good opportunity again unless we start a war? For

example, Rosetta has been arguing with Alibuda for over a decade over the tariffs imposed on caravans in our country. They should have brought this up as a bargaining chip to force us to make concessions. However, when I raised this question, Ryan and Mao Yan'an, who were talking, were taken aback, and then burst into laughter in unison.

"What's so funny?"

"No, John, you're very clever. I heard you've done a lot of research on the situations of various countries for this conference. However, you don't understand the under-the-table deals between major powers."

Since there were no other people around, Ryan's attitude was peaceful and friendly. He explained to me that the Rosetta dwarves' secret exchange terms weren't tariffs or territorial treaties, but rather a list of items they wanted the Plantagenet Federation to find. Even more surprisingly, Rosetta didn't want everything on the list, but any two items, or even just one item.

Of course, with such lenient terms, it wasn't hard to guess how rare the items on that list were.

"Teacher Mao, you've traveled the world and are a renowned figure in the Tracker industry. In your opinion, the items on this list..."

"This won't do, cross this out too... The dwarves of Rosetta are really asking for the moon. The list is incredibly long, ninety percent of them are S-grade treasures, like this statue... Thirteen Beautiful Summoners, go ask your brother, if he finds it I'll give you my head. Just cross it out... Ugh, they even have SS-grade mythical items! If we could find that, we would have already flattened their plateau. What's there to negotiate then?"

Seeing Mao Yan'an shaking his head as he looked down the list, I vaguely understood, but I still couldn't quite understand why a great nation like Rosetta would offer treasures as a condition. Had the traditionally straightforward and simple dwarves also been tainted by human extravagance, using the pleasures and desires of royalty and nobility to neglect important national affairs?

Treasures that reach S-rank are almost all extremely precious items that cannot be mass-produced, cannot be bought or sold with money, and are lost forever once broken. They are indeed rare and valuable, and could be used as family heirlooms. However, no matter how useful or precious they are, they should not be used as a bargaining chip in matters of military or national importance. Excessive indulgence in rare

and precious items will inevitably lead to the downfall of a nation. "Of course, it's not that simple. While this is true to a large extent, not every king and minister of a country is so incompetent and foolish."

Ryan's words were pointed, but I understood this point and agreed wholeheartedly, so I did not show any anger as a subject, but instead secretly smiled with the uncle.

"These treasures are extremely rare. Some are indeed missing, while others are protected by exotic beasts or natural barriers. Unless we send out experts of the level of the five strongest, or use the power of a nation to forcibly seize them, it is impossible to take them. To avoid heavy casualties in her country, Rosetta's request for us to retrieve them is understandable."

"But what can you do with it after you get it? Does King Rosetta want to become the greatest warrior among the dwarves? Or does he want to make his personal sexual prowess unparalleled?"

"No, no matter what kind of treasure it is, using it on a small group of people is a depraved act. But what if you see it as a kind of research?"

"Research?" "

Yes, John. If a certain technology of Alibuda—perhaps military, perhaps medical, or perhaps agricultural—is developed into a crucial technology that could affect the entire country or even the whole land, and encounters difficulties despite spending a great deal of manpower, time, and resources, and then you find a record in the ancient texts that a certain treasure can achieve some of the effects required for this research, then as a researcher, wouldn't you want to take such a treasure and study it?"

Of course, if the research is successful and the technology is completed, it would be a momentous event that could affect the entire country or even the whole land. If it happens militarily, it might even overturn the current balance of power among nations. No wonder Rosetta disregarded important treaties and used these treasures for underhanded transactions.

Later, Mao Yan'an explained to me that the Trackers' impact on the entire land was far more profound than it appeared on the surface. This is why Trackers often rose to high positions due to their merits, such as Hui Xiuchu's ability to befriend and be highly valued by Ryan, and the Farrell family's prominence in Alibuda… all because of this.

"Your grandfather, Lant Farrell, was a leading hero among the Trackers. The mysteries and treasures he unraveled could fill several thick volumes of legendary tales."

Ryan and Mao Yan'an seemed to both hope that I would follow in my grandfather's footsteps and continue the Trackers' adventures. However, for now, I only wanted to repay Ryan's favor and bring this meeting to a successful conclusion.

"What about these things? Are we really going to go looking for them? Regardless of the dangers, it probably won't take three to five months to find them all."

"No need… just wait five more days, no, three days will be enough. After three days, Solancia and the dwarves will agree to sign. At that point, whether we find everything on this list or not will no longer be the point."

Ryan spoke with considerable confidence, as if he had some secret weapon to use. I glanced at Mao Yan'an and saw that he also looked bewildered, wondering why Ryan was so confident. After all, the two of us were still outsiders to the Golden Flower Federation. Although we offered our opinions, much classified information would still remain unknown to us; it must have been discussed privately by Ryan and his staff.

“Solancia and Rosetta aren’t a problem, but Ishtar…”

A look of worry crossed Ryan’s face when he mentioned this biggest opposing force, but it quickly turned into a smile. “I won’t think about it too much. Sometimes we should leave things to fate. Let’s just let nature take its course. I’m preparing a grand banquet, inviting dignitaries from various countries to celebrate. Professor Mao, could you please help me design the banquet’s etiquette and procedures? John, this is, after all , Alibuda, so I’ll leave the security and guard duties to you.”

It was impossible not to be surprised. Ryan was so confident, even preparing a victory banquet. The secret weapon he held must be extraordinary. But what could it be?

That day, when Mao Yan’an and I left the inn and were on patrol, we encountered an Ishtar convoy. Narcissa was among them.

Meeting her made me uneasy. I didn’t know how much she knew about the events of the previous day through the Corpse Gu worms, but meeting her here was better than a direct confrontation in the conference hall.

After a brief exchange, Narcissus subtly mocked our powerful magic, implying that we had broken her corpse-devouring spell, but cautioned us against complacency, as she had even more formidable methods to come. From her tone, both Uncle and I concluded that Narcissus hadn't received any information from the corpse-devouring insects; her appearance today was merely a ploy to exert psychological pressure.

Exchanging a glance, Uncle and I both saw a hint of relief in each other's eyes, a sense of having escaped unscathed. Then, a sudden thought struck me: transactions are based on supply and demand. If treasures can be traded, then shouldn't intelligence and secrets be too?

Narcissus wanted answers from me, so wouldn't I be a valuable commodity to her, holding this secret? If successful, perhaps I could persuade her to agree to this military alliance.

A desire to prove myself, to see what I could do, drove me to act. Narcissus, skilled and daring, wasn't afraid to speak with me alone, but the outcome was disappointing.

"Oh? If Ishtar agrees to this meeting, you'll tell me how the Farrell family obtained the secrets of dark magic? Is that a bargaining chip? Do you really think I'd bargain with you?"

"Only you know the answer. If this matter weren't important, you wouldn't be so fixated on me at this crucial moment." Her

attitude was arrogant, but I wasn't entirely sure if this witch would accept my conditions, or if she'd turn on me on the spot. Fortunately, it was broad daylight, and there were many witnesses nearby. Even if things escalated, she wouldn't dare to kill me rashly.

"Ha, how naive you are. Do you think I don't know? Your dark magic all comes from Blood Nightmare. I don't know what kind of notes or secrets fell into your hands after his death... That old ghost Blood Nightmare, even in death he left trouble for the country. When we get back, we'll definitely have to dispose of his corpse."

Narcissus said bitterly, but I wasn't too surprised. After all, it was obvious that Blood Nightmare's belongings would end up with the murderer after his death. The people of Ishtar didn't think of it at first, but if they thought about it more deeply, how could they not guess? So I raised an eyebrow and seized the opportunity to make a proposal.

"Blood Nightmare was a great spirit wizard of Ishtar. His notes not only contained important secret magic, but also some original spells that even Ishtar probably didn't know. I don't believe you're not interested."

Ninety-nine percent of wizards who practice dark magic are selfish and need to keep a few tricks up their sleeves to prevent being ambushed. To say that Blood Nightmare would share his research with the wizards of Ishtar without reservation, I simply don't believe it.

"Interested, huh? But you've already seen it, and you probably even copied it several times. Even if you're willing to return it, I'll kill everyone who's seen it. What right do you have to negotiate with me? Besides, one copy of Blood Nightmare Old Ghost's record isn't enough to make Ishtar and the Golden Finch compromise, unless..."

"Unless what?"

I was overjoyed. I wasn't afraid of her harsh conditions, I was afraid she wouldn't set any. As long as Narcissa was willing to state her conditions, Ryan and the others would find a way to meet them. I just needed to find a way to break through that barrier. However, Narcissa made a request that surprised me.

"For Ishtar to compromise with the Golden Finch, Blood Nightmare isn't enough. Unless it's your Farrell family's Xuanwu True Skill. If you can reveal the incantation and techniques, and let us learn it successfully and get confirmation, then what's wrong with agreeing to your request?" You're

crazy. If everyone in your family has mastered the Xuanwu True Skill, will I still be able to walk and talk? I'll be killed to silence them long ago.

Moreover, just mentioning the Xuanwu True Skill makes me know my expression must be terrible, because another problem, like a leech, will inevitably follow.

"Heh, we're quite interested, aren't we? Why is it that the young master of the prestigious Farrell family doesn't know any martial arts at all? Could it be… hehe, let me tell you, we're already investigating everything about you."

"Oh? The dignified Ishtar witch is doing the work of a paparazzi? How do you plan to investigate? Spying on me while I bathe or use the toilet? Let me tell you, this is Alibuda, after all. If you try anything reckless, be careful tonight your bed at the inn is moved, and your idiot subordinate ends up sleeping in our prison. That would be a real shame for Ishtar."

"It's a waste that the Blood Nightmare's Notebook has fallen into the hands of someone like you. Do wizards need to go out to investigate someone's background? I swear in the name of the Demon God of Ishtar, everything about you, everything you've done, your likes, dislikes, and fears, will be laid bare under our sorcery. You can start looking forward to that day."

This wasn't an ordinary investigation. If a large group of mages were mobilized to conduct an all-encompassing investigation, the extent to which they could achieve it would be beyond the wildest dreams of an outsider. I didn't doubt Narcissus's threat, but I couldn't easily back down.

Fortunately, Mao Yan'an's timely cough saved both of us from danger. The reason I was talking to Narcissus on the main street was because I was afraid she would suddenly launch an attack and I would die mysteriously in the shadows. However, we were still enemies, and if we just stood there talking without actually fighting, I feared that if it dragged on too long, rumors would spread tomorrow that I was planning to betray my country and defect to Ishtar.

Narcissa clearly shared the same concerns, fearing that if she talked to me for too long, rumors would spread that she was "abandoning darkness for light." Given her status as a witch in Ishtar, there would be no shortage of jealous and envious people. Even in ordinary courts, there are power struggles involving spreading rumors and causing trouble. If it were someone from Ishtar, wouldn't they desperately try

to kick her while she was down? "However, my dear nephew, what that witch said does make some sense. The Xuanwu True Skill of the Farrell family is invincible in the world. If you possessed the Xuanwu True Skill, why would you take that witch seriously today? Just push her down and fight her in the street. How majestic and enjoyable would that be? Don't you think so?"

"You become a peerless master just to push people down and fight them in the street?"

Shaking off Narcissa and walking side by side with me on the street, the uncle was like a very annoying fly, saying irritating things in my ear and repeatedly reminding me of what made me extremely unhappy.

"I think I've already said it, my body is very weak, and my constitution is different from ordinary people. I can't practice martial arts, so I absolutely cannot be a Xuanwu pimp."

Mao Yan'an stroked his chin, suspiciously saying, "Weak constitution? Really? I see you, my dear nephew, spending every night in bed, moaning and groaning, even laughing to yourself. Is that what you call weak?"

"I... I want you to meddle? You can hide away and paint your ghostly art, or go masturbate when you have time. Don't bother me, damn it, you look like a treacherous minister, don't come here pretending to be kind."

Like shooing away a dog, I pushed Mao Yan'an aside, too lazy to listen to his nonsense anymore. Mao Yan'an didn't take my insults seriously, slipped aside, and a moment later poked his head out as if playing a prank. Although he didn't make a sound, I could tell what he was going to say from his lip movements.

"My dear nephew, many people care about you..."

Looking at him, he really was... so noisy.

I couldn't be bothered to delve into this unpleasant issue anymore, as I already had too many troubles weighing on my mind. The intimidation from the Ishtar people alone was enough to overwhelm me. During my negotiation with Narcissus, the memory stone I kept hidden in my chest remained unresponsive, proving that Narcissus hadn't used any dark magic on me. However, what she might do after returning to the inn was unpredictable.

Besides this witch, another female demon was also a major concern. Phoenix's words last night carried a sinister undertone; who knew what she might be plotting in secret? These two black-faced, black-hearted females were giving me a real headache.

Putting aside these troubles, it was time to find some fun to forget them. I had just left the Golden Bird inn, and it would be impolite to go back; while the snow soup was delicious and had a nourishing milk flavor, it was already part of the main meal, so there was no need to drink it separately; therefore, I only had one goal.

The elves of Solancia demanded that Leng Linglan bring Zhizhi Lonia back to her country. The negotiating envoys were politely turned away by Leng Linglan. These elves, all cold and arrogant creatures, surprisingly returned twice after being refused once, expressing the same intention, indicating the gravity of the matter. Leng Linglan, determined not to release her, hid Zhizhi for safety reasons, lest she be caught in the crossfire of some terrorist attack, which would be disastrous.

Leng Linglan kept her hiding a secret not only from foreigners but also from her own people. Merchants on Yunyang Street were worried about not being able to find Zhizhi to commission their products. Normally, I wouldn't have been able to do anything, but as the head of security, I used my authority to investigate and discovered that Zhizhi was being hidden in a manor outside Sara City, a military property where a new kiln had recently been built.

The officer who reported the investigation results to me was also complaining that the security personnel at the various countries' post stations were already stretched thin, and the Second Princess was still sending troops to protect one of her own staff clerks—it was truly inconsiderate of her subordinates.

"There's nothing I can do, she's a princess after all, she has a high opinion of herself, and you know, I've heard Her Highness has some strange fetishes..."

I chuckled and nudged the officer with my elbow. He gave a knowing, lewd smile, having been reminded of the rumors about the Second Princess and the beautiful young female officer beside her being in a lesbian relationship. This was a rumor that was bound to arise in the male-dominated military world. I believed that rumors would stop with the wise, but I was happy to help fuel the flames.

"But it's really tiring. I just received intelligence that the Black Dragon Society might send people to cause trouble, so the security work is getting heavier, and now the Second Princess has assigned me another task."

The Black Dragon Society might interfere with this meeting—that was a given, but it was all just speculation. When did it become actual intelligence? I pressed for details and learned that intelligence from the Golden Flower Alliance had indicated that the Black Dragon Society might have dispatched a special operations force to infiltrate Sara and carry out a terrorist attack.

At that moment, I couldn't help but recall what Mao Yan'an had told me. The Golden Flower Federation was the core of the talks, and Alibuda was the host country, so the highest leaders of both countries were on the table and couldn't deny their involvement. However, the situation was more uncertain for the other three countries.

"The decisions made at the meeting are all very important. To ensure swift action, someone of considerable influence is needed to respond quickly. Rosetta, Solancia, and Ishtar—the people currently on the table might not be the highest-ranking members of the delegation. To exaggerate a bit… even if the highest leaders of the five major powers have secretly gathered in Sara, it wouldn't be surprising."

And if a terrorist attack were to occur, eliminating the leaders of the five major powers at once, plunging the entire land into a dark period of chaos, that would be a glorious achievement worthy of eternal renown for a terrorist!

"By the way, give the order that anyone wearing ninja attire on the streets during this period be arrested immediately. If they resist, kill them without mercy; especially that petite female ninja with a 34F bust, she's particularly dangerous, make sure she's killed... How about this, you draw her as a wanted poster based on my description, print as many as possible, and plaster them all over every corner of Sara City."

"But, this image doesn't have a real face, how can I..."

"Whose rank is higher, yours or mine? If there's no face, just draw a mask, just draw her breasts, and label it 'The Evil Female Lecher Ghost Xi.'"

The Black Dragon Society's ninja army is unparalleled in the world; using this method to arrest someone is a miracle, but if I really need to give orders, what else can I say besides this special instruction?

"Oh, right, there's one more important thing."

"Yes, is there anything else you need, Commander Wan?"

"Check which workshop is responsible for receiving the military order to mass-produce these bounty posters. Remind them not to forget the proper respect due to us soldiers who have defended our country and rendered great service."

"Ah...yes, Commander Wan, you are truly a compassionate and understanding officer. I salute you on behalf of all my brothers."

"Of course. When you send me my copy, remember to salute again."

Because this situation keeps happening, I personally really like working in the military, civil service, or education sectors. No matter how bad the economy is, such a stable and high-paying job is, in some ways, much better than being a tracker.

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