Chapter 118 - Tina's Big News

There was no medicine for regret in the world.

Just like how time could not be reversed, if possible, Weir hoped that today’s matter would develop in another way.

For example, he could not be so greedy and impatient. Even if he wanted to attack, he should carefully inform the people nearby and not brazenly attack to monopolize the reward.

For example, he could be more cautious and suspicious. Even if the bounty notice and the joint statement of the nobles said that according to the testimony of the survivors and witnesses, the murderer did not have powerful supernatural powers, but was proficient in alchemical machinery. He could destroy Glory Sand by relying on strategy and tactics, not pure strength, that terrifying battle result was still real. He should be more careful against an enemy of this level.

For example, he could have not provoked this person and only pretended not to see it.

However, there were no ifs. There were only choices and results.

In the end, he was seriously injured. The other party was like a demon god, covered in divine light, stepping on death, and came to his side with a calm smile that made him collapse.

Weir begged loudly, “Please spare me! I have money! I can buy my life! I can even be your slave! As long as you spare me, I’ll definitely repay you!”

Kang De did not comment. He stabbed the sword into the ground, took out his pistol, and squatted.

“I want to ask you a few questions.” He said.

Weir nodded crazily and said hopefully, “If I answer, can you let me go?”

Kang De said seriously, “If I answer that I can, but kill you when you think you’re about to be free, you’ll experience the ecstasy after escaping death and feel despair at the end of it. It must be extremely painful. This is called playing with people’s hearts. I won’t do it. After all, you only deserve to die and don’t deserve that kind of torture. I’ve always been reasonable in my actions. That’s a separate matter, so my answer is no.”

Weir begged, “No, no, please. I don’t want to die. I have money. I’ll repay you…”

“No, thank you.”

Kang De waved his gun. “I don’t want you to run to a certain big shot on the way and say innocent, cute, and naive words like, ‘My lord, come here quickly. I’ll lead the way. If you give me 60 silver coins and the title of a knight’s attendant, I’ll bring you to him’.”

Weir said sadly, “Lord, no, I won’t do this. I swear…”

“This involves a very awkward point.”

Kang De raised his pistol and knocked on his helmet. “The key problem is that I don’t believe you, you humans, or your oath. I only believe one thing about you humans—I believe that you won’t be able to speak after you die.”

“This is the most basic trust I have in you otherworlders.”

He turned around and looked at the corpses on the ground, “There are more than 20 decent people. It’s not easy to cultivate such skills. It’s only because of you who exposed my whereabouts and even brought them to capture and kill me. Then, I can only kill them one by one. In the end, these blood debts have to be blamed on you.”

He held the pistol and pointed it at Weir’s head, again and again.

“Friend, you caused your companions to die and forced me to kill again. My hands are stained with blood. It can be said to be a grave sin. Do you still want to live?”

Weir begged, “Lord, Lord, no matter what…”

Kang De pressed the muzzle and shot through Weir’s thigh.

The mercenary leader was about to scream when Kang De’s left hand opened. The heavy and hard gauntlet pressed down on half of Weir’s face and grabbed his head to stop him from screaming and wailing.

Looking at the other party’s terrified and painful eyes, his tone was still calm, “Brother, you have to understand. I’m telling you so much not because I’m talkative, nor because I’m reasonable and easy to talk to. As for me, I just want to relieve my emotions. I’ve just seamlessly changed from a law-abiding young man to an efficient murderer. I’m under a lot of pressure, so I have to counsel myself.”

“I hope this won’t make you have the wrong idea that you’ll be spared as long as you beg me nicely. If there is, I’m very sorry and tell you something…”

He suddenly exerted strength with his left hand and looked down. Although he was still wearing a helmet, his cold gaze still transmitted endless coldness that was reflected in Weir’s heart.

“—Stop talking nonsense.”

“Okay?”

The strong and cunning mercenary leader was actually frightened to tears.

His head moved slightly, very quickly, like a child.

After a long time, another gunshot sounded.

Another sad and pitiful soul left this world.

“Life is like grass. In the blink of an eye, it’s gone with the wind.”

Kang De put away his gun and picked up his weapon. The dead had been searched and found some money and a few low-level magic items. That was all.

After all, this was only a slightly famous mercenary team in the nearby area.

Weir was not telling the truth from the beginning. Although they were a mercenary team, they were not ordered to investigate clues because mercenaries were people who lived in the black-and-white world. If there was a serious mission, they would do a serious mission. If not… they would do something indecent.

For example, now that the Goode family had fallen, many vultures were waiting to eat their fill. Apart from the nobles who yearned to obtain this port that contained business opportunities and wealth, many wild dogs were also rummaging through the ruins of the Glory Sand. For example, Weir’s team. He firmly believed that the secret treasure of the Goode family was hidden in Glory Sand.

Moreover, he led the team to search and dig here for a long time until they encountered Kang De.

“People die for wealth, and birds die for food. This is an ancient Chinese saying. In the modern world, it’s already very, very difficult to encounter an example that confirms this sentence, but the other world has always been like this.”

Kang De closed Weir’s eyes, then pressed his hand to his head.

“Rest in peace. May there be fewer people like you in this other world.”

Extraction, activate.

This ability could also be used to destroy evidence.

His mental network spread out. The dead human body slowly turned ethereal and shattered until it completely disappeared.

If he extracted a living person, he would definitely encounter a huge resistance. It would bring Kang De great mental pain and burden because this process could be said to be extremely cruel. He peeled open the other party’s body and soul inch by bloody inch and shattered them, examining everything about him like a god.

However, there was no additional burden in extracting the dead.

It was as if he was extracting a piece of meat, but he would obtain the corresponding elements.

It would not touch the other party’s memories, nor could he obtain the other party’s proudest skill…

Was the key factor determining the difference between the process and the outcome the soul?

Weir’s corpse disappeared, and a large number of elements floated in Kang De’s vision.

He still chose the largest and most eye-catching one.

The name of this element was…

Human.

After dealing with all the corpses, Kang De left the ruins of the Glory Sand Manor.

He left this place that changed everything.

“In the future, after I succeed and establish my career, if I have the authority and ability to control this place, I want to build a memorial here.”

He flicked the hilt of his sword behind him. “You’d better pray that your portrait is at home. Otherwise, you can only use the ones I saved. Hahahahahaha…”

Kang De left the manor and looked down at the town and dock.

This place had gradually recovered its vitality. The temporary management formed by the officials of the capital and the surrounding nobles maintained the most basic order. Although it was Samuel’s territory, it was also the Empire’s territory. Before finding a new heir to the Samuel family, the Empire had the right to temporarily manage this place.

“Fortunately, the limelight has already passed… A few powerful investigation teams have already evacuated, and most of the others have lost interest. Only a small figure like Weir is still persevering.”

Kang De muttered, “Otherwise, I’ll be captured as soon as I come.”

His tone sounded both happy and worried.

“It’s actually been dozens of days…”

Weir was a small figure, but he was a mercenary after all. He was knowledgeable and relatively well-informed, so he could roughly tell some relatively widespread gossip and public information.

Otherwise, if he captured a farmer or citizen, he would probably not be able to speak properly.

For example, in the novel, the protagonist transmigrated to a deserted village and was taken in by an old man. The old man smoked a pipe and told him what empire this was. Orcs were in the north, elves were in the south, and there was war in the east. Swordsmen were divided into nine ranks. Unless he was a transmigrator’s guide, that was pure nonsense. What a joke. Transportation and communication were so backward and primitive. If he knew about the matters in the surrounding villages, he would be the All-knowing Scholar. How could he know the Great Swordsman of the Dragon Kingdom of the Orc Empire?

“It’s been dozens of days…”

He slowly exhaled again and digested this news.

Although he was mentally prepared, he still felt a little complicated after hearing this.

This news was both good and bad.

The benefit was that a few days had passed in the other world, but only a day had passed on Earth. This was very convenient for his actions in the other world and he would not be too out of touch with Earth. He could even think of a way to hide it from his parents.

As for the bad news…

It had been dozens of days since he killed Lost and returned to Earth.

Worry flashed through his eyes.

“Tina…”

He said in a low voice, “I blocked the curse artifact for Sword Saint Snowfall. She has her aunt’s protection and will definitely be safe. However, she’s worried that the knight and I will definitely return to search, so she probably saw it…”

“And now, she…”

Kang De recalled Weir’s words.

“I’ve only heard a lot of scattered news. Someone said that there’s going to be a war. Goethe is fighting the elves. As the suzerain of Goethe, the Empire should negotiate and interfere, or even directly send troops to help it.”

“However, someone said that the Empire won’t send troops and conspired with the elves to sell Goethe.”

After all, Weir was only a small figure. How could a small mercenary living at the bottom of the Empire know about the matters of the country and the schemes and confrontations of the politicians?

However, there was something he really knew.

“Princess Tina Tedrell from Goethe announced the despicable actions of a certain noble in the upper echelons of the Empire who tried to reach a private agreement with the elves and betrayed Goethe, causing chaos in the Empire.”

“She declared that it was meaningless to go to the capital and would instead invite danger to herself. She announced that she was about to return to Goethe. Even if Goethe was destroyed by the elves, she was willing to die in her hometown and be destroyed with her country. Before that, she had to fight for Goethe.”

“She made speeches one by one, accusing the elves of causing a bloody battle in Goethe. She also accused a despicable big shot of the Empire of colluding with the elves and betraying fellow humans for its own benefit.”

“She appealed to all Goethe people who have settled in the Empire to stand up and defend their homeland. She also invited all brave people who were willing to fight for justice to join her. The Duchy of Goethe would do its best to thank all our friends who have helped, be it titles, land, or wealth.”

Hearing Weir’s description, Kang De was worried and heartbroken.

After Tina rushed back to Glory Sand, she saw the axe he had left behind and the cursed blade in Lost’s hand. It was probably very easy to guess the so-called “truth”.

However, she probably did not even have the time to be sad or cry.

That night, he felt the same pain as Tina.

He had lost as much.

Now, he was not the only one who was forced to grow in the face of a helpless fate.

“However, I still obtained peace in the end…”

Kang De muttered to himself, “As for your peace… let me give it to you, Tina.”

According to Weir, there seemed to be mesmerization magic in that beautiful and strong princess. It attracted people’s gazes and made them involuntarily believe and admire her.

She almost magically pulled up a team of followers and led them to speak city by city. She recruited them, managed them, trained them, and tempered them.

It was said that just like her powerful speech, her methods and determination were also contrary to her weak appearance. She had once killed 37 spies and villains in a day. It was not a rough execution, but a public announcement of their crimes, listing all the evidence and making a speech after the execution. Not only did this killing not shake the morale of the army, but it also made the followers even more fanatical.

It was as if this famous princess who was once famous for her talent and beauty had only hidden the sharpness and decisiveness under her beautiful appearance. Now, her sword was unsheathed.

Later on, it was even said that many large Chambers of Commerce, rich people, and even nobles admired and respected her decisiveness and bravery. They provided support both openly and secretly, from weapons to rations, from mercenaries to guards.

A trace of worry flashed through Kang De’s eyes.

As a modern person, he believed in logic and not emotions. With his experience and historical view, how could the nobles and businessmen be moved by justice and axiom, and how could they lose their minds because of Tina’s speech and provide supplies and assistance to the crumbling Goethe?

There must be an intrinsic reason.

For example, the huge… benefits that could move these leeches.

Only realistic and huge benefits could make the greedy nobles and merchants take the risk of offending the elves to help Goethe… However, could Goethe take out such a huge benefit?

When Kang De thought of this, he felt deeply uneasy.

Perhaps it was just his intuition… He kept feeling that Tina had created something earth-shattering.

He felt that he should rush to Tina’s side as soon as possible… That weak girl was forcing herself at this moment, pretending to be strong as she interacted with a group of greedy and ulterior motives.

He had to quickly help her.

At the same time, west of the Dara Mountain Range, in the Pearl City of Garin, in the center of an endless huge camp, Princess Tina’s noble and holy tent stood tall. The guards on all sides guarded loyally, stopping all the thieves and protecting their holy princess.

“There are three more today.”

In the tent, Tina sat at the table.

She was wearing a black gauze dress. From that day on, she had begun to wear black to show her widowhood. Princess Tina of Goethe had lost her lover.

The princess wrote three new names on a long list.

Count Nicol Eddie, 3,000 shares.

Sir Carly Voss, 1,500 shares.

Viscount Winifred George, 2,000 shares.

She looked at the long list and smiled in satisfaction.

“You’ll destroy the entire Tedrell family.”

Her aunt’s voice sounded from behind. Even the powerful and fearless Sword Saint Snowfall was shocked when she sensed all her niece’s plans.

“Relying on this army and their help to defeat the elves, what then? If they can’t get what they want, how can Goethe endure such anger?”

Tina did not turn around, still laughing softly.

“Aunt, if we don’t do this, Tedrell will go down soon. Goethe can’t last long against the elves unless we take action. As for winning, I have another plan…”

Sword Saint Snowfall’s tone became heavier, “If you fail, our family will…”

“If I fail.”

Tina turned to look at her aunt. She was smiling, but her eyes were calm.

“If I fail, the Tedrell family will be completely annihilated in history. The dignified Seven Heroes family can’t be destroyed by a silent conspiracy. If that day really comes…”

She picked up the long list with a beautiful smile.

“Then let’s use this grand end as a memorial and leave eternal wounds for the Empire, the elves, and even this land as a sacrifice to the Tedrell family.”

She chuckled and said, “Aunt, don’t worry, I’m not crazy. I’m already prepared. If we can’t save the family, we’ll let everyone who’s involved… die without a burial place.”

Such murderous words.

However, the girl’s eyes were very gentle.

She had just met those nobles and successfully obtained investment and support.

As long as she understood human hearts and human nature, she could easily play with them.

Even important figures who had been in power for a long time would be as stupid as pigs when they were bewitched by greed.

—Kang De, you’re still the best.

No matter when or where, he was always like himself.

She packed up the name list, passed a new page, and opened the inkstone at the side.

The princess’s followers all knew that at this time every day, it was homework time. Her Highness had to learn the Eastern language and knowledge to commemorate the person who had once walked into her heart.

The girl held a pen and dipped it in ink. The tip of the pen hung in the air as she wrote.

…

Kang De, I really miss you.

I’ve been thinking about you these past few days and everything you’ve said to me. From casual conversation to conversation, I discovered that you’re really very powerful. A very ordinary sentence contains the principle of thinking deeply and gaining something.

Just like what I’ve been doing these past few days.

Originally, I did not know how to make speeches, recruit, manage, and control. However, slowly, I thought of the things we had usually chatted about. I could do it bit by bit.

Just like now.

I’ve already done very, very well.

Moreover, I also obtained some inspiration from our previous conversation.

You said that was the method of a brilliant liar.

I shouldn’t have used it.

However, this is for Goethe, so I can’t care less.

You’ve said it before, right? The person who steals property is called a thief, and the person who steals the country is called the king. Then what do you think my current actions are called?

In short, I’ve done what I have to do.

There are many results to show.

If I had your help, I’d have done better…

What a pity.

However, there’s nothing to pity.

Soon, I’ll accompany you.

Right, what was the name of the scam you mentioned? Oh, I remember.

The tip of the pen landed lightly on the end of the pen.

A phrase unknown to this world was written on the paper.

Ponzi scheme.

…