Four Split Personalities

Out of courtesy, Motan had not sought confirmation from Ji Xiaoge, merely maintaining their relationship as "online friends" without overstepping any boundaries.

...

As for the Violet Empire, the Lord’s Allied Forces, which were crusading against the Marshall Family, had passed through Housaiyin Territory. They had deliberately controlled their speed and arrived at the eastern boundary of Marshal Territory, where they were currently encamped and reorganizing, awaiting the distant elite troops of the Crystal Wolf and Simon Family, as well as the Fire Claw Territory’s forces, which needed to take a detour to join the main army.

For some reason, once this unprecedented joint crusade began, their assembly speed was eerily fast, with no signs of sluggishness whatsoever.

On the day Bafi Marshall fled, Emperor Clive, under Shu’s suggestion, convened the great lords, instructing them to notify their territories to prepare for war immediately and to muster several battle groups that could assemble at the fastest speed, ordering the Simon, Crystal Wolf, and Duntis Families north of Sālāmù’ēn to depart as soon as their battle groups were assembled to meet with the Violet royal guard at the highest speed.

Three days later, on the third day of the Song of the Moon as per the game time, the Violet royal guard, reinforced by two legions from the Duntis Family, left at full speed. Emperor Clive Bresen himself led the campaign, while Crown Prince Rebo Bresen stayed behind to oversee the realm. Of course, "overseeing" really just meant keeping an eye on the Violet Family’s territory, but he had considerable authority nonetheless.

On the same day, the Black Sun duo, after a brief meeting with Shu, who also stayed in the capital, set off to catch up with the main army and successfully joined them that evening, switching their mounts from warhorses to carriages (Double Leaf rode in a carriage from the Fire Claw Territory, while Motan rode in one generously provided by Duke Baroka).

Until this day, the Lord’s Allied Forces, continually reinforced by elite battle groups from various territories, or the Crusading Army, had reached the border of Marshal Territory. The more distant forces of Simon, Crystal Wolf, and Fire Claw were also about to arrive shortly.

It had to be said that such a hurricane-like plan of action was not something that could be casually devised. If it were claimed that the second prince, who first brought the plan to the emperor, had not made thorough preparations beforehand, nobody would believe it.

The roaming prince, who was usually silent and discreet, not only proposed the entire plan but also accurately listed the fastest assembling forces, their combined combat strength, and their objective movement speeds of each family. Although the accuracy wasn’t perfect and it was no high-level secret, collecting this intelligence while rarely leaving the capital still shocked figures like Duke Hussein and Duke Duntis.

The second prince was certainly no simple character...

Almost everyone had made such an assessment, yet it was already too late to react now. For after Bafi Marshall was clapped in irons and Shu Bresen exposed his initial fangs, the situation had completely spiraled out of control.

So whether they were willing or not, the lords had no choice but to temporarily accept and cooperate with these arrangements.

Because Shu was right, and the judgment was just.

Thus, in the Holy Calendar Year 9571, on the seventh day of the Song of the Moon, at the edge of Marshal Territory of the Violet Empire, the allied army encroached!

Just like that, these two days’ events were briefly glossed over~

...

Game Time PM17:19

Marshal Territory, Eastern Border, Lord’s Allied Forces Encampment

Although it was also an encampment, this location was completely different from the previous allied encampment in Misha County. If the previous could be metaphorically described as a "train with hard seats," then the encampment of the Violet Empire’s Lord’s Allied Forces had to be at least "economy class on a plane," with the core areas for the great lords being no less than "business class," and the Violet royal district, which also served as the temporary command center, naturally qualifying as "first class."

What did this mean?

To put it simply, the command tent where Motan used to work had an area of about fifteen square meters, surrounded by three low-rank magic barriers with the functions of keeping out the cold, blocking wind, and insulating sound; whereas the temporary lodging for Emperor Clive tonight was a bunker created by dozens of high-level Zijing Guard spellcasters, covering about five hundred square meters, with three floors, including a conference room, reception, rest area, guard zone, storage room, Magic Power pool, several bedrooms, two kitchens, a small garden, and sixteen layers of continuous high-intensity, high-level magic barriers operating day and night.

This was despite the fact that Emperor Clive did not care much for formalism.

As for the camps of other lords, they were not much inferior. Even in the worst conditions, like those of Fire Claw, the tent where Double Leaf stayed was lavishly equipped with space expansion magic, boasting a complete set of amenities including a bathroom and a library.

"How extravagant~"

Motan leaned back on a soft recliner, gently swaying a wine glass that glowed enticingly under the Magic Crystal Lamp, and smiled at the elderly man before him, "This is my first experience of such luxurious ’camping.’"

The personal Housekeeper of Duke Crystal Wolf, Deku, filled Motan’s glass with red wine and chuckled, "Mr. Dabus, you jest. With your abilities, if you wished, riches and status would be easily within your reach. The absence of such experience in the past only proves that you are a noble spirit indifferent to fame and fortune."

"I dare not accept such undue praise."

Motan sipped the bittersweet wine and smiled modestly, "I am certainly no sage. Meeting the prince is merely a stroke of good fortune, nothing to boast of. On the other hand, it’s truly admirable how Lady Emily, at her young age, is able to shoulder the entire Crystal Wolf Clan."

Deku also smiled modestly, his eyes filled with barely concealed pride, "The mistress would be very happy to hear you say that, sir. Without a doubt, she has held you and Lady Double Leaf in high regard from the start."

"Heh..."

Motan let out an enigmatic chuckle and raised his glass to Deku, "You really are tireless, Mr. Housekeeper."

The latter blinked, slightly perplexed, "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is there’s no need for you to beat around the bush trying to recruit us. Neither I nor Lady Double Leaf are the types to work for someone else." Motan raised an eyebrow, leisurely continuing, "Despite many areas in need of growth, I’m afraid Lady Emily sees things more clearly than you do, which is why she has never attempted anything of the sort."

Deku fell silent for a few seconds, then bent slightly forward, "You are right."

"I can tell, you are really protective of Lady Emily and have always acted in her best interest."

Motan shook his head softly, "But sometimes, we should give the young ones more chances, shouldn’t we? Otherwise, they’ll never leave the nest."

Deku furrowed his brow in confusion, "You mean..."

"What he means is that some decisions should be left to me."

The current Duchess of the Crystal Wolf Clan, Emily Wolff Christo, with her ice-blue hair and dressed in her ceremonial robes, strode in from the entrance of the elemental structure, snickering, "Like the decision to fully join the cause of the Second Prince."

Walking by her side, Double Leaf added with a beaming smile, "Or perhaps even marry him directly, since you fancy girls. Why not make things clear and then play the game of political marriage~"

"I just haven’t met the right man yet."

Emily glanced at Double Leaf with a touch of red on her cheeks, laughing softly while drawing her shoulder closer, "So when would you like to go on another date with me?"

"How about after she’s had her date with me?"

Motan stood up and bowed to Emily, grinning, "My apologies for interrupting, Your Grace."

Deku also promptly bowed to them, "Welcome back, mistress, Lady Double Leaf."

"This isn’t exactly a formal occasion, Uncle Deku, don’t be so stiff."

Emily shook the old housekeeper’s arm a few times, then turned to look at Motan, who was all smiles, "What is there to talk about?"

"Didn’t you mention it just now? Like the decision to... fully join the cause of the Second Prince."

Motan’s smile was exceptionally radiant.

"Oh? And the benefits?"

"The throne of the queen is offered with both hands, and the Crystal Wolf Clan will flourish for all eternity."

Chapter 526: The End