Alibuda Chronicles Part 1: Volume 9, Chapter 8

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Chapter Eight: The King's Secret Order

. Rekindling my old feelings with Sister Yueying was a truly heartwarming thing. According to her, life in the Golden Flower Federation, while enjoyable, often brought a sense of loneliness.

"How could this be? Sister, you always manage to quickly become familiar with people. Everyone in Sara, from nobles to commoners, likes you. Isn't that true in the Golden Flower Federation?"

"Little brother, you're older now. Perhaps you understand some things. Everything in the world has two sides. When someone gets along well with everyone, it often means… they don't have anyone they can truly confide in."

Hey, twelve years have passed, and things have indeed changed. Although Yueying's gentle smile remained unchanged, I saw a subtle message behind it. After all, I was no longer a six-year-old boy.

Although she was the First Lady of the Golden Flower Federation, Yueying didn't participate in politics. So, in the following days, while high-ranking officials held gatherings to discuss matters, she toured around Sara City. At this time, the choice of security personnel became crucial.

Leng Linglan seemed to be struggling with her feelings. She wanted to spend more time with her long-lost sister, but her strong sense of career ultimately prevented her from giving up the opportunity to participate in the negotiations and influence national policy, and thus abandon her mission to protect her sister. In this situation, I naturally became the first choice for protection. Although it seemed a bit odd for a grown man like me to lead a team alongside the First Lady of a neighboring country, adding the composed Mao Yan'an made it perfect.

The uncle was a very pragmatic man and naturally wouldn't stop me from using the facilities. Most of the time, he was with the guards, who, unaware of his background, already worshipped him like a chivalrous hero. Whenever he calmly boasted about some non-existent martial achievements, not only the guards but even Yueying's personal maidservant couldn't help but listen intently.

While Mao Yan'an drew everyone's attention, I took a walk with Yueying, enjoying the scenery and exchanging intimate laughter. I had no ill intentions; at least at this moment, I simply wanted to bring a smile to the face of this motherly and sisterly relative, and let her feel the warmth of her homeland.

Inevitably, when I devoted all my time and attention to Yueying, I naturally neglected Zhizhi and Axue. Fortunately, one was fasting and bathing, and the other was forced by me to concentrate on cultivation, so they wouldn't bother me, especially Axue. Although I had her get used to wearing a mask, it would still be troublesome if she encountered Sister Yueying.

While we spent our days chatting and laughing, the secret talks between the envoys of various countries were also underway.

In the morning, they discussed the existing trade agreements and various disputes, hoping to reach a consensus and conclude a treaty as soon as possible. For a long time, people had waged wars for various reasons, causing the construction and economy of various countries to stagnate. Although some people enjoyed it, most people were fed up. Rather than continuing these indecisive border wars, it would be better to gain ten years to recuperate and build up strength, and then wipe out the troublesome neighboring countries in one fell swoop.

People's unity often requires a powerful enemy, so in the afternoon, the high-ranking officials of various countries discussed how to prevent the Black Dragon Society from growing too powerful. I didn't want to attend these discussions, but unfortunately, I was the hero who exposed the Black Dragon Society's conspiracy, so I was often called in for consultation.

To help my sister, the Dragon Girl, as the only witness, I criticized the Black Dragon Society mercilessly, accusing them of all sorts of evil deeds and exaggerating their strength to twice its original extent, hoping that the participating countries would eradicate the Black Dragon Society as soon as possible.

"Kurosawa Kazuo

is treacherous. I've heard that the Black Dragon Society has recently been recruiting soldiers in the East China Sea and has repeatedly started wars. If we don't take precautions soon, it will surely become a scourge to the entire land in the future," Ryan Buffett said agitatedly, his long golden hair, like a lion's mane, radiating waves of anger, letting everyone know his hatred for the Black Dragon Society.

Many of the participating countries were landlocked and lacked a clear understanding of the Black Dragon Society. This necessitated the intelligence gathering of several major powers and coastal nations with prior contact with the society, who provided information on the enemy's strength. The information brought by the Copenhagen ambassador, who arrived in Sarawak today, effectively broke the deadlock of the previous days.

From the discussions among the attendees, I gained a better understanding of the Black Dragon Society's power. Mao Yan'an had previously mentioned that the Black Dragon King had nine Sea God Generals commanding the fleet. However, before the Lunar New Year, Fang Qingshu had aided the resistance fleet in the East China Sea, slaying twelve Black Dragon Society generals, including three Sea Generals. Afterwards, the Black Dragon King promoted two of his subordinates to fill the vacancy, and a female general filled the remaining one.

This female general, of unknown origin, possessed martial arts skills surpassing the other eight, confirmed to have level six strength. She wielded a white bone demon whip, her attacks both ruthless and vicious. Any ship she rammed was slaughtered, leaving the sea a blood-red mess, littered with severed limbs. Her terrifying methods quickly made her infamous throughout the East China Sea.

The ambassador of Copenhagen, a small country on the east coast, spoke with fear and indignation, "This witch has broken the old rules and attacked our ships. In three months, nine fleets, totaling eighty-seven ships, have sunk under her attacks."

In the past, the Black Dragon Society had a secret agreement with the coastal countries: they would not touch the ships of those countries in the waters surrounding their territorial waters, and the spoils of their plunder would be shared proportionally with those countries. In return, the navies of those countries would turn a blind eye to the Black Dragon Society's raiding warships.

This secret agreement allowed the Black Dragon Society to grow rapidly. Once it possessed enough power to rival major powers, it broke the agreement, and these small and medium-sized countries were powerless to resist, only regretting their past actions of nurturing a tiger.

Condemnation was no longer meaningful; this conference was, to some extent, intended to confront and resolve these problems, and find a way to suppress the Black Dragon Society.

“Experts don’t just appear out of nowhere. Where does the Black Dragon Society get so many talents? In the last ten years, there have been very few female martial artists at the sixth level on the continent. Could it be that the Black Dragon Society has run out of talent and sent those two humanoid avatars to command the fleet?”

The elf representative from Solancia raised this question, which was also the common thought of everyone present. I saw a flash of heroic spirit in Leng Linglan’s eyes, but her face showed an arrogant expression. She had developed a competitive spirit towards these two female rivals who were also among the Seven Beauties.

However, this question was immediately dismissed, because according to intelligence from various countries, Ghostly Evening was a girl in her teens, and Drunken Immortal Lotus was not yet twenty-five years old, but the mysterious female general was a mature and alluring young woman. The age difference didn’t make sense. Besides, the Black Dragon Society shouldn’t have fallen so low that it had to send its intelligence chief to command the fleet.

"Have you tried to contact Marshal Li? She's been winning several battles recently, suppressing the Black Dragon Society's arrogance considerably."

"Marshal Li's resistance has inflicted significant damage on the Black Dragon Society. In over ten battles this year, they've probably wiped out one of their fleets. So the Black Dragon King has reorganized, concentrating manpower into eight fleets, while the ninth fleet assigned to that witch… is composed of the Undead Legion."

"What?!"

Everyone was utterly shocked, especially the representative of Ishtar, whose face was extremely grim. This news meant that the technology that had been a secret weapon of the Ishtar military for centuries had finally been successfully researched by the second force, or… leaked out.

For black magicians who make their living from necromancy and evil power, controlling spirits, commanding zombies, and summoning lifeless undead creatures are essential skills. Which skilled wizard doesn't keep a few zombies and ghosts around? I know several famous figures in the wizarding world who even dig up graves to create beautiful corpse prostitutes for their own sexual gratification.

If this is the case for ordinary wizards, it goes without saying that necromancers specializing in this art are even more so. Any practitioner of the six-color magic system must reach the fifth level of cultivation to be officially recognized as a mage and leave the apprenticeship stage. A fifth-level necromancer can control roughly dozens to a hundred spirits; if they are undead creatures like zombies or skeletons, the number might be even higher.

However, to be truly effective in the midst of a massive battle, dozens or hundreds of zombies and skeletons are not very useful. At least a thousand are needed to be tactically effective; in other words, dozens of wizards are required to control them from behind.

The problem is that even in a large country like Alibuda, after rigorous screening, there are only a few dozen wizards with fifth-level cultivation, specializing in black magic, and serving in the military. This is even more true for smaller countries. Considering the cost, it's more efficient to form a special team dedicated to casting powerful, long-range spells rather than having them control an undead legion.

The Golden Flower Federation boasts unparalleled national strength, but the Temple of Light doesn't actively promote black magic, so their military's black magic mages aren't much stronger than ours. Looking across the land, only the Black Magic Nation of Ishtar surpasses all others in this regard. Ishtar's wizards, inheriting the wisdom of their ancestors and possessing abundant experimental materials, are treated with great respect by the state, meticulously studying black magic. Generation after generation, each generation produces several sixth- or even seventh-level great spirit wizards.

With magical artifacts and personal cultivation, a sixth-level wizard can command hundreds to thousands of undead creatures. A single mage like this would be enough to play a significant role on the battlefield. It's no wonder that when the Ishtar cavalry conquered various countries, wizards were always the commanders. Although Blood Nightmare proved with his own life that no amount of divine magic could save a person from misfortune, the Myriad Soul Banner he created still demonstrates Ishtar's exceptional magical skills.

However, ever since the Black Dragon King established his dominance in the East Sea, the Ishtar wizards have been unable to maintain their title as the "strongest" in black magic, considering it a great disgrace. Now, the appearance of the Undead Legion in the East Sea proves once again that Kurosawa Kazuo is not only exceptionally skilled personally, but also intends to create a black magic organization that surpasses Ishtar.

Considering the significance of this message, dozens of different pairs of eyes—worried, mocking, or gloating—were all focused on the Ishtar envoy.

"May I ask your Excellency, what is the size of that fleet?"

Ishtar's representative asked, feigning casualness. Despite the well-ventilated room, beads of sweat on his pale forehead betrayed his true feelings.

"It's impossible to count, as most are composed of undead, plus zombies, skeletons… estimated to be no less than ten thousand."

This answer utterly shattered Ishtar's representative's hopes, causing him to slump into his chair. The faces of the assembled envoys also turned ashen, as if a dozen kings had all died simultaneously.

A legion of ten thousand undead soldiers—how much magic power would it take to control them? It would require cultivation levels of at least the seventh level, perhaps even the five strongest. The Black Dragon King wouldn't likely lead an army himself; therefore, a second powerful wizard must have appeared in the Black Dragon Society.

This news, enough to reshape the power structure of the land, changed the atmosphere of the entire meeting.

A thought flashed through my mind, recalling the colossal warriors used by the snake race in Youli. Logically, this should be an Ishtar military secret. If I revealed it, the Ishtar people's expressions would be even more interesting. However, revealing this might get me into trouble, and since I don't intend to face the Zoroastrian assassins, there's no need to cause trouble.

The Ishtar representative was pale, muttering something to himself. I heard the sound clearly, but because I don't understand Ishtar, I didn't understand its meaning. When he recovered from his near-fainting expression, he tremblingly requested a recess, promising that within three days, a truly decisive envoy would arrive in Sara to determine Ishtar's position.

Ryan Buffett began to ponder, seemingly lost in thought, unable to make a decision; Leng Linglan's expression was solemn as she whispered instructions to her female subordinates behind her. These interesting reactions all fell on my attention, but I didn't sense any danger, only a feeling... that things would get interesting.

The Purple Narcissus, hailed as the most beautiful of the seven flowers, was finally about to make her official appearance. Just what kind of beauty and charm did she possess? Just thinking about it was exciting.

His Majesty King Leng Qiji of Alibuda, as everyone knows, has no sons, only three beautiful daughters, each with their own unique charm. After his death, how the throne will be passed on is unknown.

Based on bloodline and ability, Leng Linglan is undoubtedly the rightful heir, especially since everyone can see her strong desire to succeed him. In Alibuda's history, there have been empresses who ruled, so a woman taking the throne isn't too surprising.

However, His Majesty's distrust of women's abilities is well-known, and a considerable number of civil and military officials oppose female rule. Therefore, Leng Linglan's path to the throne is not as smooth as imagined.

The people, of course, support a princess-general with both literary and military talents, strong practical abilities, and who has repeatedly brought glory to the country, to take the throne—at least it's better than those incompetent nobles. Naturally, if Leng Linglan were to ascend the throne, she would implement reforms to elevate the status of women. Not only would she abolish brothels and brothels within Alibuda, but she might even explicitly prohibit concubinage. This would offend all the wealthy and powerful, so who would support such a woman on the throne?

Faced with these unfavorable factors, Leng Linglan worked even harder, striving for opportunities to prove herself and achieve undisputed merit. This peace talks were an opportunity she absolutely could not afford to make a mistake.

Because of this, although I knew that Sister Yueying and I shared a deep sisterly bond, Leng Linglan had been busy visiting dignitaries from various countries these past few days and had little time to visit her long-lost elder sister.

That morning, after finishing her meeting with the Solancia envoy, Leng Linglan rushed to visit her sister. Seeing Yueying and me chatting and laughing, she paused slightly, then openly revealed her disgust.

Arguing with her and gaining a verbal advantage would have been easy for me, but it would also have been the stupidest and most pointless thing to do. Besides, I didn't want to spoil Sister Yueying's mood, so I immediately excused myself and left to the side.

"Where are you going?"

Leng Linglan asked as I passed by, as if she wanted to find fault with me. I replied calmly, "With the Second Princess here, her divine skills are invincible, and all villains will flee in terror. Why should others interfere? Let this humble servant have a chance to slack off, and you and the Eldest Princess can chat at your leisure."

I didn't address her as "First Lady" as required by custom, but rather as "Eldest Princess," which subtly implied my dissatisfaction with the royal family's attitude. Leng Linglan noticed this, her expression changed, and she was about to lash out, but I had already turned and left.

Leng Linglan didn't stay long, which made me deeply saddened by the lack of kinship among the royal family. Leng Linglan and Yueying's relationship wasn't bad; however, for this second princess, who was just as capable as any man, she simply had "more important things" to do. At least... this was much better than His Majesty the King. Since Yueying's return, apart from public appearances, her father hadn't had any contact with his eldest daughter.

Yueying, who disliked being in a luxurious carriage, politely declined the escort of the guards and sat under a large banyan tree by the roadside, casually wiping her sweat and seeking shade. Seeing me approach, she smiled gently.

"You're back. Actually, you could rest more... It must be tiring following this old woman around all day, right?"

"What are you talking about, sister? You're joking again. How can you be old?"

"I really am old. I'm already twenty-eight; I can't compare to young girls anymore."

People who maintain a cheerful disposition usually look very young, and time had left almost no trace on Yueying's face. Approaching thirty, her delicate face and radiant skin resembled wild cherry blossoms in early spring, slender and delicate, capturing the most brilliant moment of spring. The irresistible urge to protect and cherish her made her seem like a young girl not yet twenty.

Yueying was hailed as the most beautiful of the Four Heavenly Maidens, a title she truly deserved. The captivating feeling I had when I saw her smile surpassed even that of the Dragon Maiden and the Heavenly River Snow Maiden. Although I had never seen the Phoenix Heavenly Maiden, I was certain that there was no other celestial being in the world who could compare to Yueying.

“Sister, you look like you’re only eighteen or nineteen. Most women would envy you. If you really want to reduce our burden, then come to places like this less often. It’s crowded and the environment is complicated; it’s very difficult to protect you.”

Before she got married, Yueying wasn’t used to staying in the palace all the time. She would come out every day and take me to play among the common people, listen to their stories, and play with the children. This personality remained unchanged twelve years later. When President Ryan attended a meeting, she didn’t want to stay in the residence alone. She always liked to go out and wander around, neither riding in a carriage nor having her guards clear the way.

“I have hands and feet. Why should I ride in a carriage? Daytime is when the people work and are active. There’s no reason to sacrifice their convenience to accommodate my personal time.”

Yueying had been away from the country for twelve years. Most of the royal guards in Alibuda were unaware of the princess’s personality. When they tried to curry favor with her in the same way they usually did when receiving important people, they were immediately met with a cold shoulder.

The approachable Yueying enjoyed great popularity among the people. However, for those who served as her guards, the mere thought of how many treacherous villains might lurk among the crowds, brushing past her, made their hearts pound with anxiety.

Fortunately, Yueying's understanding nature reduced the difficulty of our work. Considering our position, she changed into simple clothes when she went for a walk, simply sitting under a tree by the roadside, watching the passersby come and go, appreciating the true charm of Sara.

"By the way, sister, I heard that Her Highness the Third Princess is studying at the Palace of Light. Have you seen her?"

Taking the opportunity, I asked about Xingmei's whereabouts. I only knew that she had been sent to the Cihang Jingdian to receive the education befitting a royal daughter, but her actual location was unknown. Logically, Xingmei should have been sent to the Golden Finch Federation to seek refuge with my sister, but Yueying gave me an unexpected answer.

The training at the Temple of Light isn't just about studying and practicing at the main temple; it also includes mandatory field training. Those who value martial arts must live as heroes incognito or serve as international police officers like those in Japan. Those who will take on political duties upon returning home are assigned to administrative units for two months before being transferred to another. As for Xingmei, she's joined a mobile medical team, heading to some remote border region to perform medical work.

From this information, it seems Xingmei and I won't have a chance to meet for a while. I also need to pretend nothing's wrong in front of Yueying and not let her know about Xingmei and me. Although Yueying and Xingmei aren't born of the same mother, she dotes on this little sister, and I don't want to upset her over something like this.

“Sister, you’re so strange. Other ladies are busy attending social events and balls, but you, the First Lady, are neglecting the President and running off to enjoy yourself?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t often attend banquets in the Golden Flower Federation either. Every time I attend a banquet, I spend half a day getting ready, and in the end, my hair is heavy, and I feel heavy and tired. Besides, I feel out of place talking to the people there. I… don’t really like those kinds of occasions.”

Yueying smiled slightly and said, “Politics is Ryan’s stage. I’m by his side, and all I have to do is nod and smile. Sigh, if I could, who would want to live that kind of life? I’ve always thought that in the future, I want to build a small wooden house by a mirror-like lake, surrounded by a large field of lavender and lilies, so that there will be fragrance in all four seasons. When it snows in winter, I’ll light the fireplace and sew clothes and embroider shoes for my beloved man…”

Her voice was very soft, and towards the end, it was as if she were talking in a dream. Yueying seemed to be describing her own dream, her consciousness completely detached from reality.

"Ah, sorry, I got lost in thought. You can look, but please don't laugh at me."

Yueying's absent-minded expression vanished in an instant, followed by her usual smile. When that sweet smile returned, the earlier strangeness seemed to have completely disappeared.

I doubted my eyes, but Yueying looked really odd, especially her ethereal expression. It reminded me of the occasional melancholy look she'd shown these past few days, a look of loneliness and solitude.

It made no sense. Yueying was born into royalty, pampered and cherished from birth. Nobles and commoners alike adored her. She was not only stunningly beautiful and flawlessly elegant, but also the First Lady of the Golden Flower Federation. Her husband was heroic and powerful, and their marriage was deeply devoted. In some ways, she was practically a goddess descended to earth, the envy of countless women.

But why did Yueying, who should be surrounded by happiness, occasionally show such an expression? Could it be... that, like many aristocratic and political figures, Ryan Buffett was simply focused on his career, neglecting his family and thus abandoning his beloved wife, leaving Sister Yueying to live a lonely and miserable life for over a decade?

Thinking about the implications, I suddenly felt uneasy, and an urge to do something surged fiercely in my chest.

Unlike in the past, this time I wasn't worried about my close sister like I would a family member; it was simply a feeling of protectiveness towards a woman. I felt that if a man had such a woman as his wife but couldn't give her happiness, such a man should die.

Of course, I had never felt this protectiveness towards women before, so my feelings now were complex. Besides the tenderness and affection, a stronger possessive desire almost immediately filled my mind. Without thinking, I reached out, almost touching Yueying's snowy shoulder.

However, reason timely suppressed my desire, allowing me to withdraw my hand in time, avoiding an action that would put both of us in an awkward situation, and preventing her from noticing my inappropriateness.

Twelve years have passed, and many things have changed. Compared to before, I can do many more things, but acting rashly without first understanding the situation will only lead to regrets. For now, I should suppress these desires...

I quietly glanced at Yueying's profile, admiring her beautiful face, using this to calm the turmoil in my chest, and put on a harmless smile.

Alas, after all... I'm no longer a child.

After completing the mission that day, I took Yueying back to the residence in the evening, and then handled some official business. It was already very late when I got home. I was just thinking about whether to release my pent-up desires in Xue's pink buttocks tonight when I was suddenly stopped.

Being taken to the palace by guards directly under His Majesty the King in the middle of the night to receive a secret mission was a very strange thing, especially since this time I didn't even have to wait outside; I was taken directly to the royal study to meet the King, who was waiting there alone.

His Majesty the King didn't explain why he summoned me so late at night. He simply chatted casually, asking if I had been in contact with my father, how I was doing, and mentioning that although my grandfather and the late king were ruler and subject, they were close friends. He also said he was friends with my eccentric father and told me not to be reserved, to treat him as an uncle from a long-standing

family. He then praised my hard work and achievements, saying that he was very pleased that his old friend had such a son, and that Alibuda had such a wise minister. Although these words were ordinary, the feeling of an "uncle" I hadn't spoken to for over ten years suddenly having a casual chat with me was extremely eerie. I couldn't help but secretly glance out the window, worried that the old scene of someone throwing a cup and then five hundred axemen rushing in to dismember me would unfold.

Perhaps because my expression was so unsightly, after praising my extraordinary courage, His Majesty the King finally revealed his divine will.

"John, though you are young, I know you are the most loyal and righteous man in our country. Your loyalty to the royal family and your courage and benevolence are unmatched. Today, I have a matter weighing on my mind, and I wonder who can shoulder this heavy responsibility and share my burden?"

Sigh... You're glaring at me as you speak, how could I possibly recommend Uncle Oren? If I refuse here, there will be more than five hundred executioners rushing out.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I am unworthy of such praise. My life's purpose has been to serve the country with utmost loyalty and to share Your Majesty's burdens. If there is any task I can accomplish, it would be my greatest honor."

“Well said. John Farrell, I have a secret mission for you.”

His Majesty the King’s voice suddenly softened, as if he were speaking with great sorrow.

“My eldest daughter, Leng Yueying, is my precious darling. I recently received news that her marriage has been arranged by the wrong person. That Ryan Buffett is a heartless scoundrel, causing her immense suffering. I am deeply grieved. Now I entrust you with this task: by any means necessary, you must rescue Princess Yueying.”

“Ah?”

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