"Your Excellency, Duke Mrlak..." Grefenhart the 17th rubbed his tear-stained eyes and nose. Although he was consumed by rage and grief, no matter how hard he tried, his face couldn't muster the dignity and majesty befitting an emperor, instead resembling that of an overexcited child. "And the vengeance for Archbishop Ronis, I will make this murderer pay the price! And the Death Spirit Association, I will write to the Ecclesiastical Court demanding their support, the Imperial Army of a hundred thousand, will definitely flatten that...that... valley into dust!"

  Xiao Yi secretly sighed. Without guessing the outcome, using the country's strength to attack Diya Valley, whether it can be attacked or not is a temporary argument about combat power, the key is that this kind of thing is fundamentally impossible. Using the country's strength to carry out an expedition that will not have any actual political benefits, even slightly rational ministers would not agree with such impulsiveness.

  And even if everyone were as outraged and grief-stricken as the young Emperor, this would still only be a plan. Except for barbarian nomads, war is merely the last resort of politics and strategy; according to what I heard from Sandru and Asa, almost every necromancer in Tiel has a significant position in human society. They can easily influence a country's political environment, economic situation, and diplomatic situation, and make any war plan against them stillborn. And without Ronis, the bishop, no one else has the ability, influence, determination, or courage to gather all forces to deal with them.

  Moreover, she knew that all of this was actually caused by her father's own hands, and she absolutely could not let the entire nation pay a mysterious price for her father's guilt.

  The young emperor took a deep breath, calming down his emotions, and looked at Xiao Yi saying: "You indeed did not disappoint me. I knew it all along, you absolutely wouldn't have any collusion with the Dead Spirit Association."

  "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." Xiaoyi replied with a bow.

  "Colonel Roland has already told me everything that happened before and after. I didn't expect the Duke and you to be so meticulous, willing to suffer humiliation and imprisonment just to lure out the traitor. Unfortunately, it ultimately ended in failure, not only failing to bring the culprit to justice but also implicating the Duke... Colonel Roland has already spoken to me about this, and the late Duke Mlak's last wish was for you to inherit his title and position. Although there is no precedent for this in the Empire, it is the Duke's will, and all of you ministers have always praised your abilities, with Colonel Roland representing the military ministers supporting you, so I think there should be no problem. With someone as capable as you assisting in governance, not only do I feel more at ease, but I'm sure the late Duke would also be comforted."

  Finally, the young emperor with tearful eyes comforted Xi in a soothing tone. "I heard that your husband also passed away in an accident... I can see that you are a very strong person, and your tears are flowing inward. Don't be too sad. Rest assured, the soul of the Duke will definitely go to heaven, and the murderer will eventually receive justice."

  "Yes." Xiaoyi replied with a bowed head, calm and subdued, seemingly indeed as the Emperor had expected, a strong person who hid her sorrow in her heart. In fact, deep down inside, she herself did not know whether to cry or laugh.

  On her way out of the palace, two or three officials who had come to pay their respects to the emperor caught sight of her and bowed deeply, addressing her as "Your Excellency the Duke" or "Your Excellency the Chancellor". She smiled and responded with a dignity befitting these titles.

  Although it was just a small rumor that leaked out from somewhere, everyone knew that with the support of the military ministers and the trust and favor of the Emperor, his sister was likely to become an imperial concubine. The key was that she was as shrewd and capable as her father, and the position of prime minister was already a done deal. Even the palace guards looked at her with admiration and adoration in their eyes.

  A twenty-year-old female prime minister, unprecedented in the history of the entire continent, probably also the last. This is what she inherited from her father. Xiao Yi secretly smiled wryly to herself, with no sense of accomplishment, but more responsibility and pressure. This was not a kind of luck.

  The palace gate, where a carriage was waiting for her.

  The carriage was exquisite and luxurious, the horses were also four of the best in a thousand. Even the coachman driving the carriage had a lean and strong physique, with his waist straight as a pen. Even if the golden palace was right next to him, he didn't even glance at it, only staring blankly ahead, holding the reins, as if he lived solely for the sake of driving. The quality of the people under the Duke's house was well-known throughout the kingdom.

  Xiao Yi got on the carriage. The driver shook the reins, and the four fine horses started at the same time, pulling the carriage forward quickly but steadily. Before long, they returned to the Duke's Mansion.

  The Duke of Marluk was assassinated only two days ago, but everything in the ducal palace has returned to normal. The good quality of the lower-ranking servants and the strict requirements that the duke had always maintained did not make them depressed due to the change of their master. Although Emperor Grefenhart XVII had intended to hold a grand funeral for Duke Marluk, who was a model for the country and the people, the duke's two daughters refused the emperor's kindness. The funeral was very quiet, low-key, and swift, even a bit secretive, without any extra rituals, continuing the duke's style of seeking efficiency in everything.

  As soon as Xiaoyi got off the horse carriage, a servant came to report: "Miss, Colonel Roland and the ministers have delivered the documents, which have all been sent to your study. Also, a priest from the Magic Academy has arrived, saying that he has confidential matters to discuss with you."

  "Alright. Call him to the study." Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment, nodded and walked towards the study.

  The study was still the same one that belonged to the Duke. This was where the Duke handled his affairs, a secret place surrounded by three empty rooms on purpose, without even windows, and no one would approach here unless it was an emergency. Xiao Yi walked into the study, saw the piles of documents on the desk, sighed, and sat down in front of the desk.

  A young pastor also came into the study under the guidance of the servant. The servant turned and left. The pastor closed the door behind him.

  "How is it? Is everything going smoothly in the palace?" The pastor took off his mask, revealing Asa's slightly thin and clearly outlined face.

  "Oh? I've been at the Magic Academy for the past two days, and to be honest, I'm not very clear about his arrangements. What kind of story is it?" Asa walked up to the desk.

  "A thrilling story of a great duke's family and an infiltrating undead cult spy. Reasonably connecting the current situation with everything that happened before, using many knightly episodes... Just after the vampire appeared in the hunting ground, the duke suspected the priest due to some accidental discoveries and secretly investigated. After many thrilling mind games, it was discovered that he might be a spy sent by the undead cult to infiltrate the church. Unfortunately, all of this was just reasonable suspicion, and evidence could not be caught. As with all twists and turns, the spy fell in love with the duke's daughter..." Xiaoyi looked at Asa with a hint of a smile. "However, this duke's lady had devout faith and firm will, and was not tempted by evil. At that time, the spy finally revealed his true face. It turned out that the vampire was his accomplice, and he eliminated the vampire to save the emperor just to get close to Archbishop Ronis. The spy assassinated the archbishop and escaped. The duke regretted it and vowed to bring the spy to justice. So he and his daughter performed a realistic trick, trying to use the spy's love for the duke's lady to capture him. Everything went smoothly, but unfortunately, at the last moment, the spy killed the duke and escaped. The duke left a will to his daughter before dying, hoping she could take over his work and continue to serve the empire. That's about it."

  Asa was stunned for half a day, and finally let out a long sigh. A strange and bitter smile appeared on his face: "It's indeed a good story... Is this really something that Captain Roland came up with?"

  "How is that possible." Xiao Yi also chuckled. "It was Captain Roland who entrusted it to my sister."

  "Is it her? No wonder." Asa smiled wryly and nodded slightly.

  "And besides, if she were to tell Your Majesty such a story, it would certainly be much more effective than if Colonel Roland and I were to say it."

  "The Emperor's new clothes are completely believed by that little kid? I think there will be flaws if examined carefully."

  "Men conquer the world, women conquer men." Xiaoyi smiled slightly. "These are words my sister said she read in a book."

  "A man who can be conquered is not a real man." Asa smiled and shook his head. "Whether it's by a woman or whatever."

  "So what is a real man?" Xiao Yi smiled and looked at him.

  "I don't know either." Asa shrugged his shoulders.

  "But at least we don't need His Majesty to be a real man, as long as he believes it's fine. For someone like him, rather than wasting his energy on figuring out the facts, he'd rather follow his emotions and accept such a story. As long as he believes, with Colonel Roland's help, everything will be under control."

  "Do others believe it?"

  Xiao Yi smiled. "Others? Who? The other ministers? His Majesty has already believed, they still dare not believe? Colonel Roland is obviously also on my side, they are not fools, know what to believe and what not to believe. As for the common people, they originally would not go to distinguish what complex cause and effect, they only need to simply know what is good people, what is bad people that's all. So everything is fine, just waiting for the ceremony and formalities a few days later, I will fully formally inherit my father's dukedom and prime minister position. This is Colonel Roland's entrusted matter, asking me to stand in my father's position again to stabilize the situation. I also think this is my responsibility."

  A Sa stuck out his tongue and looked at Xiao Yi up and down again. "Then aren't you the Grand Chancellor of the Empire? And a Duke... probably also considered one person under, ten thousand people above?"

  "It's so exhausting." Xiao Yi sighed. "His Majesty said that in order to prevent you, this evil guy, from coming to bother me again, he instructed the Holy Knights to strengthen their protection of me from now on."

  And so it was. The empire's most capable, youngest, and most beautiful prime minister had thus grandly and magnificently stepped onto the stage of history. Asa recalled stories he had heard before, and books he had read, which seemed to always have a similar phrase to express that something big had happened that would impact the future. "It will probably be written in books like this too."

  Then, at the same time, it will be written: The most dangerous and highest bounty criminal on the mainland has escaped from the capital. From then on, all mercenary organizations and bounty hunters on the continent will go crazy for this person. Entering an era of hunting and killing. Xiao Yi smiled and sighed again. "Actually, this is really unfair to you. All the crimes have to be borne by you alone, assassinating a famous bishop in the history of the mainland, assassinating a diligent prime minister who works hard for the country and the people. In the future... maybe you will become a great sinner who is cursed by everyone."

  "Let them scold, let them scold. Anyway, I won't be short of flesh on my body." Asa smiled faintly and raised the mask in his hand. "Not only will it not decrease, but more of this kind of thing will appear. From now on, we'll have to wear things peeled from dead people's faces at all times."

  Although Captain Roland had promised to help him clear his name at the right time, even the most naive person could see that this was almost impossible. The prime minister would not risk exposing the entire country and the emperor just to clear one person's name.

  Xiao Yi walked up to Asa's side, reached out and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. She whispered softly, "I'm sorry."

  A Sa smiled and said, "This is strange, when did you have any grievances against me? I do these things just because I want to do them myself." He gently lifted Xiao Yi's forehead and kissed her lightly, sighing. "Since everything here has been arranged, I can leave with peace of mind. Actually, I came to find you today to say goodbye."

  Xiao Yi looked up at him in surprise and asked: "So soon? You... aren't staying for two more days?"

  "General Ge Ru has sent word to hurry me, saying that if I don't go he'll come directly on the Double-Footed Flying Dragon to catch me. Unfortunately, for the past two days I've been caught up by that old man Shan De Lu and haven't had time to properly accompany you."

  Shandru is now an unremarkable pastor at the Magic Academy through Roland's arrangement. For the past two days, he has been lecturing Asa on magic-related matters day and night after calling him to the academy. Asa asked him why he still wanted to stay in the academy, Shandru sighed and said: "Since Ronnie is dead, I must not leave either. We are actually staying here to guard something. Otherwise, he might have become a Pope by now."

  "What thing? What thing?" Asa asked.

  "Anyway, it's none of your business, so don't go around asking questions." He paused and frowned. "And although this matter seems to have been settled for now, I still feel like something is off, so I definitely can't leave. Since you're going to the Beastman City, you need to make haste now. For the next two days, don't sleep, and memorize what I'm telling you...

  Then for the next two days, Asa hardly slept at all. Sandru first scolded him for using corpse poison in the execution ground, and when he found out that Asa had used almost all his magical power to repeatedly catalyze the toxin on three corpses dug up from their graves, he told him not to use this magic again in the future, lest it lose face for necromancy. Then he lectured him day and night on how to operate corpses, how to apply limb magic, and other knowledge, making his head spin. It wasn't until a messenger came to the Magic Academy to find him early this morning that he was finally freed from Sandru's grasp.

  "Why must you go to Ou Fu?" asked Xiao Yi.

  "In fact, the lord of Sedros was opposed to my return at that time. Fortunately, Lord Porukan, who was once the local official of Brakada, and General Gru were willing to help me, so I managed to negotiate with them, as long as they helped me, I would wholeheartedly assist Eufor's work for a year. Although things didn't go as we expected, after all, promises must be kept. Moreover, there was no need for me to worry about being wanted."

  "So what about a year later? What are you going to do after helping Ou Fu finish his work?"

  "It's time for me to travel around the world. This has been a long-held wish of mine. Now that everything is basically settled, I can finally go with peace of mind."

  "So what about after you've traveled around the world?"

  "I don't know either....." Asa thought for a moment, then smiled at Xiao Yi. "I was thinking of bothering you for a while, Prime Minister."

  "It depends on whether I have time or not." Xiao Yi smiled lightly.

  "I'll wait until you're free...". Asa's voice grew softer and softer as he buried his head to kiss Xiao Yi.

  A hurried footsteps approached the study. The two of them quickly separated. Asa took out a mask and put it on.

  The officer of the Imperial Guard walked into the study, bowed to Xiao Yi and said in a urgent yet determined tone: "Duchess. According to reports, a two-legged flying dragon is circling above the imperial capital, it's very likely that the murderer from the other day has returned. We've already sent someone to inform the Holy Knights, I've also dispatched people to protect the ducal mansion, please don't worry, we will definitely catch...

  "I wouldn't worry about it naturally." Xiao Yi let out a cold snort.

  The officer of the Imperial Guard stared at the unattractive face of the Duchess in astonishment. In fact, anyone could have guessed that the fugitive with a bounty of 5,000 gold coins would not dare to approach the capital so brazenly, and Captain Roland had also warned them about this earlier. The official from the Ulf side would eventually come to explain the issue of the killer's double-footed dragon. This officer had also heard that the Duchess was about to inherit the Duke's title and the position of Prime Minister, and he came to express his loyalty in a hurry. But now it turned out like this, and he really didn't know how to flatter her properly.

  "There's no other way." The duchess let out a long sigh and said to the priest, "It seems that in this situation, we have no choice but to ask you to drive away this two-legged flying dragon."

  "Don't worry, miss. It may not take long." The pastor nodded. "Then I'll be off."

  "Be careful." The duchess said softly. "Goodbye."

  "Goodbye." The pastor replied softly and turned around to walk out.

  The duchess's gaze followed the pastor's back until he disappeared, then she sat down and let out a long sigh. Suddenly, she turned her head to look at the guards officer who was standing there in a daze, frowned and said coldly: "What are you still doing here? Do you want me to reward you?"

  "I dare not, I dare not. I beg to withdraw, I beg to withdraw." The Imperial Guard officer almost fled in escape. He was filled with regret for his thorough defeat this time.

  A large conference table was densely packed with crystal balls. Each crystal ball reflected a different scene. A dark-faced, curly-haired old man stood guard beside the conference table, his eyes full of bloodshot scanning each crystal ball.

  In the image of a crystal ball, the shadow of a two-legged flying dragon is swirling closer in the sky. In another crystal ball, a pastor rides out of the duke's mansion on horseback and rushes straight to the outskirts of the city.

  The old man's eyes lit up, and with a wave of his hand at the two crystal balls, the images inside became larger and clearer. He concentrated on them for a moment, thought for a moment, sighed, and muttered to himself: "Guarding the tree stump really works. I'll never make another bet with that little brat Inham again..."