Chapter 424.1: We Will Support You!

Soon after Ample Time successfully secured a substantial investment for the New Alliance from the Moonlike Group, Chu Guang, aboard the Heart of Steel to inspect operations in Fallen Leaf City, finally met the delegation from the Honey Badger Kingdom.

It was clear that those refugees from war were unaware that the Heart of Steel had been seized by the New Alliance. Their understanding of the New Alliance was still based on information from several months ago.

Thus, when they saw the formidable airship appear overhead, a group of guards almost panicked.

However, seeing the airship seemed to clarify some confusions in Somer's mind.

This airship was once General McClennan's ride.

There had been rumors that the king of the Falcon Kingdom had given a royal family member in marriage to an Army general. As it turned out... The member of the royal family was their queen!

As the airship slowed to a halt, Chu Guang inquired briefly over the communications channel about the delegation, then graciously invited the distant prince and princess aboard his airship.

Chu Guang also cleared Teresa to come aboard. Since assigning her to work in the refugee camp, two weeks had swiftly passed. He was curious about how she had adapted.

...

On the bridge of the airship...

Somer, who just got off the lift to step on the airship, was still acclimating to the altitude. His complexion was slightly pale, yet, as someone accustomed to high society, the seemingly young man managed a slight bow while keeping his composure.

"Good day, Mr. Administrator, I am Somer, the acting king of Honey Badger Kingdom. This is my younger sister, Afrni, the youngest daughter of the former king."

"Hello, Mr. Administrator, you can call me Afrni or Nini." The girl with curly hair also curtseyed, speaking in a crisp and pleasant voice.

Hearing the name of their kingdom, Chu Guang couldn’t help but think of the screaming beaver meme.

Yet, the two before him seemed fragile, hardly fitting the image of a real Honey Badger, who was either fighting, or getting ready to fight. Eventually, he greeted politely, "I am Chu Guang, the administrator of the New Alliance."

He introduced himself briefly before gesturing to Teresa that no further formality was needed.

Shooting the young prince and princess an interested look, he wondered how old they were. He couldn’t tell for sure, but they didn’t look that old.

Traveling through a warzone from Oasis No.3 was truly no small feat.

Just as he was about to say something, Afrni blinked and said crisply, "You don’t look anything like the administrator in the drawing."

"Drawing?" Chu Guang raised an eyebrow with interest.

"Yes!" Afrni nodded, pulling out a sketchbook from her embrace, "It contains stories about you."

Seeing the sketchbook, Somer immediately looked like he wanted to intervene by grabbing it. However, Afrni had already handed out the sketchbook and performed a bow. "This was bought from the market, I hope you won't hold it against us."

"Huh? Why would I?" Chu Guang laughed heartily, signaling to his guard captain to bring the sketchbook to him.

Someone had made him into a manga protagonist? Interesting.

Chu Guang opened the sketchbook, curious to see how the desert dwellers imagined him. However, the first page almost made him double over in laughter due to the bizarre artistic style.

Wait a fucking minute...

Which mother fucker drew this?

Why did they make me so ugly?!

Even though he expected that information about his looks would grow distorted, he didn’t think it would become so exaggerated!

Speaking of which...

When did I grow a beard?

Why wouldn’t I wear my helmet when fighting in my exoframe? How can they see my face when fighting?

Also... Who the fuck said I have 4 sons?

Chu Guang’s first instinct was that a piece of shit player had been spreading rumors about him.

The first suspect who came to mind was the unreliable asshole, Mosquito. The second was actually Tail.

But beyond the artistic style, the content was quite intriguing. It made him look like a superhero.

As Chu Guang tried to accept the ludicrous artwork and continued flipping through the sketchbook in interest, Somer glanced at his sister anxiously. He silently communicated with his eyes and lips.

“Are you crazy, why give him that sketchbook?"

"Calm down, you’re overthinking it. Think about it, he would find out from someone else eventually. It's better if we clear up any misunderstandings first."

Seeing his sister’s gentle yet resolute gaze, Somer took a deep breath and calmed down.

He admitted that the visual impact of the airship was overwhelming. He was actually getting a little nervous.

"Okay, but I was careless, I didn’t consider that the information distortion could be so severe. The administrator of the New Alliance is so young. Even if he has kids, they can’t be very old."

"It’s alright," Afrni blinked and spoke, "Whatever arrangements you make, I won’t mind."

Somer stared at his sister in astonishment.

That look was unmistakable; she was prepared to sacrifice herself.

Slowly closing his eyes, he clenched his fists, unable to bear to keep looking. Marrying Afrni to the administrator’s son was the best choice.

If the two were of similar age, by the time their children were adults, he would only be in his forties or fifties. Even if he abdicated the throne, he could still keep the power within the Honey Badger’s royal family.

By then, an aging administrator would be in his twilight years, and the New Alliance might be undergoing a tumultuous transition of power, inevitably too preoccupied to attend to vassal states.

Whether the New Alliance ultimately disintegrated or transitioned smoothly, the Honey Badger Kingdom royal family would be able to control their destiny. But what Somer didn’t anticipate was how young their leader was.

Whether marrying Afrni to the administrator of the New Alliance or to his possibly newly born son was definitely not a good idea. A leader in his prime was ambitious and energetic. Even if Somer lived longer, he had no confidence in being a match for him.

A man who could organize refugees into a formidable force and lead them to fight back against their oppressors was not as simple as he appeared. That fatherly smile hid an acuteness and decisiveness invisible to the ordinary eye.

He even began to suspect that his little schemes might have been seen through long ago.

That was probably why the administrator had invited him aboard the airship, possibly to demonstrate the New Alliance’s military strength and tell him that his tricks were useless.

Is this the ultimate warning?

What can I do?

Somer’s mind raced, struggling to remain composed as he thought of a way out.

As the New Alliance’s administrator finally finished flipping through the sketchbook and handed it back to his guard captain with a laugh, "This is indeed ridiculous. I didn’t even know I had four sons."

Somer bowed deeply in apology. "We failed to clarify the rumors. Once back in the oasis, I will issue an order to remove these books from the market!"

Chu Guang chuckled, "There’s no need for that, let them draw. If there are new editions, remember to send me a copy."

Chu Guang nodded to Lu Bei and returned the sketchbook to Princess Afrni. Then, looking at the handsome prince, he joked, "You see, I can’t fulfill your request. I can’t introduce your sister to someone who doesn’t exist. Even if I had children, I probably wouldn’t arrange their partners. They should learn how to get girls on their own.”

Somer was stunned, not quite understanding the administrator’s meaning. Or rather, he hadn’t expected such a response.

Was it a hint that the New Alliance didn’t need a vassal from a non-existent kingdom?