The kingdom plays chess.
On the chessboard are all pieces.
To be drawn into it without truly understanding the inside story, even with a strong backing, one would only be torn apart by the blades of the two countries.
What Chen Yu possessed was a city-state.
Compared to the two countries, it was as insignificant as a drop in the ocean.
He had to be cautious.
When one could stay out of it, why jump in? A noble man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Even if not for himself, but for the people in the city, he dared not interfere.
He was not qualified!
An abrupt appearance might even affect the Batou Free Federation's plans.
The gains would not outweigh the losses.
"I never expected that Sister Liuyue's arranged marriage would be with someone from the Fourth Kingdom," Roni said, tilting her chin and with disbelief in her eyes, as they left. "The Fourth Kingdom, in the Beast Empire, possesses resources and power comparable to the preceding three kingdoms. It will not be easy for the Batou Free Federation to break free from the Fourth Kingdom; the Fourth Kingdom will not let it go easily."
"Huh?"
Black Bean, his mind full of how to snatch the bride, widened his eyes like saucers. He rushed to Roni, staring at her with his dark, beady eyes for a long time.
"According to you, my plan to snatch the bride is hopeless?"
"Hard to say," Roni blinked and instinctively looked at Chen Yu, shrugging. "At least I think it's quite difficult. Perhaps Brother Batian has other methods?"
Black Bean said nothing, but immediately turned his head and looked at Chen Yu with hope.
At this moment—
Chen Yu was his savior.
He couldn't accept Liuyue being with someone else. This was the first time in his many years as a cat that he had fallen in love. He couldn't bear to be defeated before his love had even begun.
"Nine chances out of ten."
Unexpectedly, the difficulty Roni saw changed direction with Chen Yu.
"Boss, you mean..." Black Bean's expression gradually showed a hint of joy. Chen Yu silently looked at him and sighed sadly, patting his shoulder. "Before that, I have something I need to clarify with you. Do you truly love Liuyue, love her to the extreme?"
"Yes!"
"Then, if she uses you, will you resent her for it?"
"Uses me?" For some reason, a deep confusion appeared in Black Bean's eyes. "Boss, what do you mean? Why would Liuyue use me?"
"Just tell me, will you resent her?"
Black Bean, clenching his fists, did not answer immediately but considered it very seriously and carefully for a long time.
"No."
The moment he made his decision and looked up, Chen Yu saw unwavering determination in his eyes, a determination that even Chen Yu found somewhat shocking.
Chen Yu hadn't expected such sincere affection.
He was also envious of the shock.
Life is short, and it is truly difficult to meet a soulmate willing to give everything for you, especially as one gets older.
The more one thinks, the more one calculates gains and losses.
The pursuit of love fades.
"Boss, I'm serious." Perhaps because Black Bean knew he was unreliable before, he was afraid Chen Yu would think his decision was too hasty and emphasized it again. "I am willing to be used by her, as long as it doesn't affect you. If I can help her, I think it's all worth it."
"That's enough."
Chen Yu smiled and patted Black Bean's shoulders heavily twice.
"If you think like this, your matter with Liuyue has a nine out of ten chance of success. Your engagement will likely be settled within three hours. Afterward, it will depend on yourself."
"Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Upon receiving Chen Yu's affirmation, Black Bean grinned foolishly, while Chen Yu silently watched his receding figure.
What is love in this world, that it makes life and death dependent on it?
He's quite a love-struck fool.
Chen Yu smiled slightly, and the little demon trotted up with its hands behind its back.
"In the end, aren't you still going to get involved?" The little demon pursed its lips and pouted. "I thought you were going to withdraw earlier, wanting to avoid this situation, but I didn't expect you to jump into it. If you intervene now, you will truly be bound to the Batou Free Federation, and the Tatou Kingdom will have no recourse."
"I will definitely enter the game."
Chen Yu stretched lazily and whispered with a concentrated gaze.
"Where in this world is there true non-involvement or peaceful seclusion? Isn't the world's operation composed of one game after another?"
"Since you think so, why didn't you intervene just now?"
"The timing was not right."
Even when entering a game, one must master the timing. This is like charging into a team fight versus maneuvering and waiting for an opportunity.
What was the situation just now? The Fourth Kingdom was coercing the high-ranking officials of Hezhen to come forward.
What was Chen Yu doing by interfering?
Did he represent Hezhen, or was he just a nosy commoner? If it was the former, how would Hezhen explain it? If it was the latter, what right did he have to meddle in the affairs of the Fourth Kingdom?
He needed a catalyst, a reason to enter this game legitimately.
And, to let the Fourth Kingdom know his identity!
His entry into the game required not a reckless intervention when the other party was unfamiliar with him. He wanted them to be wary of him after knowing his identity.
This would be the optimal point.
He could be a chess piece.
At least he couldn't be a pawn that could be discarded at will.
"Really, living like an old fossil." The little demon pouted and shook its head, reaching out to pinch Chen Yu's face. "I'm really curious if you're really 20 years old, or if you're wearing a mask. Perhaps you're already old and frail behind it, or maybe you're an ancient monster who has lived for hundreds of years. How can the peers in the cave be enough for you to play with?"
"So, aren't we playing high-stakes games now?" Chen Yu spread his hands.
Since the establishment of the city-state, his circle of contact was no longer the survivors in the caves. He had gradually begun to interact with the top elites of various countries.
Perhaps, they had never met.
But the game had not stopped.
It was fortunate, at least for now, that he hadn't felt too much pressure. He was handling it with ease.
"Hey, Brother Batian, look there..." Suddenly, Roni gestured towards a high platform not far away. "Isn't that Nuo Yi standing next to the youth holding the binoculars?"
"It really is. It seems that Hezhen is indeed doing this deliberately."
Chen Yu squinted and looked closely. Confirming that it was indeed Nuo Yi standing there, he grinned. But in the next second, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared. He stared intently at the person holding the binoculars next to Nuo Yi for a long time, his lips moving, and he exclaimed excitedly.
"Su Zhan!"
The startled exclamation caused the youth holding the binoculars to tremble. He fumbled to catch the binoculars and then glared around.
"Who the hell is calling me? Stand out, and I'll blast you to death with my cannon!"