Gu Nanfeng was a little surprised that Gu Shen agreed so readily.

“Actually, Madam had instructions before her departure.”

Gu Shen quickly smiled and said, “The promotion of the Act is directly related to the future fate of the Dadu District. In this matter… Hua Zhi will certainly spare no effort to help. If she wasn’t willing to help, why would she send someone to Nagano?”

Lu Nanjin is Madam’s younger sister.

And for someone like Zhong Gui, who knows most of Hua Zhi’s secrets… if they’re useless, the best way to deal with them is to kill them!

“That’s true…”

Gu Nanfeng nodded.

“In a few days, I will also meet with the Old Master alone.” His voice was slightly low, with a hint of worry.

Neither Luo Yu nor Gu Nanfeng called him by name.

Because that Old Master… his seniority was truly too high. Even when Mr. Gu Changzhi saw him, he had to respectfully address him as Uncle.

Gu Shen thought for a moment and asked, “I heard that the Old Master’s personality is very…彪悍 (biao han – bold and forthright)?”

Gu Nanfeng nodded and said, “If he wasn’t 彪悍 (biao han), how could he suppress the demons and monsters from all directions?”

“I will persuade him during this meeting.”

The young master took a deep breath.

“The New and Old conflict eight years ago has already exhausted the Gu family. The current ‘peace’ has not been easy to come by. The five major families are all biding their time, and because of the Fire Seed, the Gu family has been firmly in the lead for decades… The other four families are waiting for a chance to turn the tables. They can’t wait to see the Gu family have another civil war.” Gu Nanfeng said, “Especially the Bai family.”

Bai Chen and Bai Xiu, with their “invincible” demeanor, emerged out of nowhere, providing the Bai family with enough confidence for the past twenty years.

“I don’t want the peace to be broken.”

“But I don’t want… after the Act is passed, East Continent to usher in endless strife.”

The wind swept through the mountains.

The mist-concealing cloak fluttered in the wind. Gu Nanfeng stood on the mountainside, looking out at the snow-covered Forbidden City to the south, and said calmly, “At that time, no one will be able to stay out of it. Everyone will be a loser, and the Gu family… will be no exception!”

Therefore… even if it would provoke conflict.

He must push for this negotiation.

Gu Shen listened silently.

At this juncture, he only needed to be a good “chess piece.”

…

…

“Lord Cast Snow, I have delivered your original message to Gukasteel Fortress.”

A video was projected in front of the desk.

“I have now returned to Dragonbone Fortress. But if you order it, I can guarantee to bring Lin Lin back to Advance City within twelve hours…”

The man wearing a black tengu mask spoke seriously.

It was more like a request.

Listening to his words… he was not afraid of the source energy cannons set up at Gukasteel, nor did he care about the thirteen squadron leaders that Lin Lin mentioned. As long as he received an order, he would definitely be able to complete the task.

“No need.”

Duke Cast Snow got up from his desk and came to the閣樓 (ge lou – attic) terrace. In the distance was the bustling Advance City. In the circular city, soldiers, civilians, merchants, mechanical drivers, and androids lived together. As far as the eye could see, there were lively markets with stalls and source energy airships soaring high in the sky.

Just like the city’s name.

Advance City.

This was a giant city that was constantly advancing… The entire city was like a gluttonous mouth, rapidly advancing in the torrent, greedily devouring the cutting-edge achievements of technological research, and frantically absorbing the transcendental derivative civilization. “I have never underestimated your determination.”

Cast Snow smiled, “But some things cannot be done with just enough determination… If Lin Lin is unwilling, you can’t bring him back from Gukasteel.”

The tengu projected from the desk was slightly stunned.

“Lord…”

When he stepped into the territory of Gukasteel, he had already used his mental power to check the turrets set up on the giant wall, the distribution of personnel, and the simplest route of action. If he took action… it would indeed be difficult, but how could the operation fail?

“I know what you’re thinking. Those source energy cannons at Gukasteel are indeed nothing to you.”

The tengu could see it.

The Lord seemed to be in a very good mood today.

“You underestimated yourself, and you also underestimated Lin Lin.” Duke Cast Snow leaned against the railing, took a deep breath of the fresh air above Advance City, and smiled, “He is a very special person… This is why, for so many years, I have only sent people to deliver messages, and have never really ordered him to return. I hope he can understand the good intentions of Advance City.”

“For children who leave home to work hard, we always have to give some affirmation, some encouragement…”

Duke Cast Snow’s eyes were gentle, like a wave of green water, and he asked with a smile, “Apart from the Lin family, how many nobles born with a silver spoon are willing to abandon their crowns and truly treat power as dung… and go to protect the front line of their homeland?”

He looked at the silent tengu mask, shrugged and smiled, “Okay… 021 also counts as one. But there are too few people like that, aren’t there? The heroes who go out will always have a day of fatigue, and the homeland is a haven from the storm. 021 chose to return to Nagano, what will the adjutant under the Gukasteel Brigadier choose?”

The tengu’s eyes were blank.

He didn’t know what Duke Cast Snow was talking about…

“Six hours ago, airship number gb096 took off from above Gukasteel and flew back in the direction of Zhengyi…”

The man leaning against the railing looked past the study and towards the closed wooden door, and smiled, “According to the speed of the third-generation source energy airship, it takes five hours and forty-three minutes to reach Advance City from Gukasteel.”

“If it’s just passing through, without stopping, then for me… today is still a pleasant day, just a little bland.”

Duke Cast Snow said softly, “If gb096 hovers in the Advance City ring, then calculating the time, he should have arrived by now.”

The tengu was stunned.

The next moment.

There were two rude knocks on the door outside.

“Dong! Dong!”

If the wooden door wasn’t opened very quickly, it seemed like the knocking sound wouldn’t stop.

The moment the wooden door opened, a Labrador dog rushed in. It opened its “bloody mouth” and pounced towards the suave man leaning against the railing in the study.

Just seeing this scene in the projection made the tengu’s heart skip a beat.

He knew very well the “bullying the weak and fearing the strong” nature of this vicious dog, and he knew even better the perverted hobby of Gukasteel Fortress to “greet Duke Cast Snow.”

Duke Cast Snow, who had been leaning against the railing all along, facing the study, had a faint smile on his face.

The wind was blowing behind him.

The quill placed on the desk, its feathers swaying and spreading.

From the desk, a pile of documents rustled, and the white paper on top flew out, most of it was snow-white, only stained with a few lightly sketched black ink marks, and it floated towards the vicious dog that was pouncing over.

And the next moment.

The snorting sound of the vicious dog stopped abruptly.

The white paper landed.

The wind rose again.

The white paper with a picture of a vicious dog fluttered back into Duke Cast Snow’s hand, its weight seemed to be slightly… heavier than before.

He looked at the young man outside the study door and said with a smile, “Brigadier Zhengyi’s promising subordinate, it’s a wonderful day to see you.”

“I don’t think so.”

Lin Lin wore sunglasses and said indifferently, “Seeing you is just terrible.”