“Hee hee~”
“Hee hee hee~”
By the campfire, Hei Dou, with a grin, stared at the flames, chuckling uncontrollably as if possessed.
“He should be alright, right?”
Loni tilted her head, glancing at Hei Dou.
Ever since Liu Yue and the others had left, Hei Dou had been grinning foolishly, and nearly a quarter of an hour had passed without any sign of him stopping.
“He’s doing great.”
Chen Yu, his expression weary, glanced at Hei Dou. After a moment, he raised his hand and slapped the back of his head.
“Whoa, my bad!” Hei Dou, who had been grinning foolishly, flinched violently. Seeing that it was Chen Yu who had hit him, his face immediately showed an expression that could almost be described as infatuation. “Boss, we’re heading to the Batu Federation soon. Liu Yue should be taking care of us during this period, right?”
“Look at you, so pathetic.”
Chen Yu pouted indifferently.
Was it that big of a deal?
Seeing a woman, and he was completely captivated. After all, Hei Dou was a subordinate of Chen Yu, the dignified second city lord behind the scenes of the Free City-States.
He was so smitten with Commander Liu Yue that it was as if he had been drugged.
“Heh, you don’t understand.” Hei Dou placed his hand over his chest, gazing at the burning campfire. “This, is love.”
“I love your mother’s rice cakes!” Chen Yu shouted.
Then he thought about it. When love takes hold, it truly can be all-consuming. Hei Dou’s current state was that of first sight infatuation, so it was understandable that he would be so enamored.
Given this, Chen Yu decided not to bother him further.
From the current situation, Chen Yu had pretty much exhausted all his options with the Tatu Kingdom. He was now tied to the Elton family, which made him a thorn in the kingdom’s side.
He estimated that his certification was likely doomed.
Despite knowing the outcome, Chen Yu would still make a trip to the Tatu Kingdom. Unless it was absolutely unavoidable, he still didn’t want to sever ties with the Tatu Kingdom.
Even with the Batu Federation and the Tatu Kingdom on the brink of war.
After all,
Even if war broke out, it was still unclear who would emerge victorious between the two sides.
Before the Tatu Kingdom completely fell, Chen Yu’s city-state was still within the Tatu Kingdom’s jurisdiction. Therefore, based on its geographical location, the Tatu Kingdom remained his first choice.
As for the future, he would decide then.
However, secretly, Chen Yu would definitely increase his contact with the Batu Federation. Between the Tatu Kingdom and the Batu Federation, Chen Yu believed he had greater prospects for development in the latter.
This inevitably meant he would have to deal with Liu Yue and the others.
If Hei Dou could truly win the heart of the beauty, it would allow his relationship with the Batu Federation to become much closer.
“Ah, so the direction you were talking about striving for was for Hei Dou to fall for that commander?” Loni asked, a smile in her eyes. “That is indeed a direction to strive for.”
“And it’s very challenging.”
“Love, sometimes it’s like that. Some things happen naturally, while others require a desperate fight. No matter which it is, it’s worth pursuing with all your might, isn’t it?”
“Whoa!”
Seeing Loni’s charming smile, Chen Yu’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“You’re quite insightful. It seems our esteemed Miss Loni has had a deep, unforgettable, and eternal love before? That’s understandable, falling in love usually happens around fifteen or sixteen. Miss Loni must have experienced it.”
“I’m afraid I have to disappoint you, but no.”
Loni spread her hands helplessly, a hint of regret in her expression.
“So far, I haven’t met anyone who makes me feel the urge to fight desperately, even if it means flying into a moth to a flame. Besides, you know my circle; there aren’t many good catches there.”
“You see that very clearly in this regard.”
“Of course.” Loni smiled, “When it comes to marriage, one must consider it carefully. I’ve always thought that if I never meet that person, I’d rather remain alone for life than settle for just anyone, or have my family arrange a marriage that ruins my life.”
“You have your thoughts.”
“Mr. Chen, may we ask a question?” Suddenly, one of the assassins dispatched by Fuhua stepped forward. “Are we really going to leave the Tatu Kingdom with people from the Batu Federation?”
The assassins’ expressions were filled with deep concern.
Chen Yu understood their thoughts.
The Tatu Kingdom was the stronghold of the Elton family. The Elton family had the capability to resolve any troubles encountered here.
If they were to leave the Tatu Kingdom and go to the Batu Federation,
Although the Elton family had some influence in other kingdoms, it was incomparable to that in the Tatu Kingdom. Moreover, going to the Batu Kingdom meant being on their territory. At that time, if the people of the Batu Kingdom truly wanted to do anything to them, they would be powerless to resist.
For example, using Loni Elton as leverage.
Demanding that the Elton family provide resources and money for her ransom.
At this point, the Elton family would have no choice but to let the Batu Federation have its way, with no ability to resist at all. They would have to give as much as they demanded.
“Speaking of which, I actually have a doubt.”
Loni walked up, pursing her lips, and whispered.
“Is it possible that Liu Yue and the others intentionally want to take us, or rather me, to the Batu Federation? I’m not saying I’m famous, but if they want to investigate my identity, a few messages on their wristwatches would be enough to confirm it. They wouldn’t need to go to such lengths to bring us to the Batu Federation.”
“Then tell me your thoughts,” Chen Yu said with an amused smile.
“I’m wondering if there’s a possibility that they actually want to bind our Elton family to the Batu Federation through this!” Loni said with a grave expression. “Among the many captives from the City Lord’s mansion this time, only we were treated as honored guests. I believe these matters will surely reach the Tatu Kingdom’s royal family. Will the royal family then conclude that our Elton family truly has ties with the Batu Federation, and that the Elton family… is already a family of the Batu Federation?”
Listening to Loni’s series of analyses, Chen Yu smiled with relief.
Perhaps, she was indeed right.
The purpose of Liu Yue and the others bringing Chen Yu and his group to the Batu Federation was primarily to make a statement to the Tatu Kingdom’s royal family.
The royal family would be enraged.
They would launch a campaign against the Elton family.
Thus, the Elton family’s equipment would have to be sold to the Batu Federation.
When the issue escalated to an international level, the underlying motives would become complex. No one would know if everything was as Chen Yu and Loni thought.
However, the current situation was clear.
They had no choice!
At this point, a choice had to be made between the Tatu Kingdom and the Batu Federation, and Chen Yu’s heart leaned more towards the Batu Federation, which had fewer conflicts with them.
Regardless of what the Tatu Kingdom’s royal family thought, the Batu Federation—
They had to go!
Chen Yu was also curious to see what the kingdom governed by a beastman-dominated empire would be like. Would it be as decadent as the Tatu Kingdom governed by a human empire, or would it be full of hope and vitality?