"I don’t think you have the capability to lead the Ark Kingdom to greatness!"

The Duke’s daughter’s tone carried no ridicule or disdain, as if she were merely stating a fact she believed.

The foundational conditions of the Ark Kingdom were truly outstanding, to the point that, in her eyes, Lord Lin Lan’s lax manner of managing the citizens was entirely a waste of resources.

As the most outstanding noble offspring of the New Empire, Margaret was a natural leader.

The warning from the Blood Vulture Lord towards his eldest daughter instead stirred up her competitive spirit.

If the roles were reversed, if I possessed the resources of Ash Soil and the Sun Legion, I too could eliminate the local nobility, conquer the Blood Plague and the Alliance Legion, and perhaps do even better!

By then, those bloodsuckers from the Alliance Chamber of Commerce would only be fit to kneel down and lick my boots!

I’m not afraid of any ’Seagull’!

Margaret stared intently into the young man’s eyes as if trying to find a trace of cowardice within him.

"How you view my abilities is your freedom."

Yet even when his abilities were questioned, Lord Lin Lan still maintained a polite smile.

"As for who should lead the partnership, there’s no need for us to make hasty decisions before getting to know each other better."

He said calmly: "You can stay in Seagull City for a while, get to know all the details of the Ark Kingdom. I believe the citizens of the Ark Kingdom won’t let you down."

Lin Lan remained gentle in demeanor.

The opportunity to take advantage of the Empire was here! First, keep them steady; a bird in the hand can’t be allowed to fly away.

"Count Margaret, I also agree with Lord Lin Lan’s suggestion."

At this moment, Count Elio, standing behind the woman, proactively joined the conversation, scrutinizing the gray-haired youth in front of him, a hint of caution flashing in his eyes.

Though Count Margaret is exceptionally talented, she is ultimately a proud and aloof child. But this even ’younger’ Ark Leader in front of them, who knows what old entity crawled out of the Deep Sea...

Interestingly, neither Elio nor Osguta had informed the inexperienced Duke’s daughter about the various strange details of Lord Lin Lan.

After all, they have always been people of the Frost Falcon Duke, and the Blood Vulture Duke’s coercive message delivery, using military orders to have his daughter snatch the prize halfway, had stirred some discontent.

Elio suddenly caught Lin Lan’s gaze.

Just as Osguta described, deep and hollow, those smiling eyes seemed to see through him entirely.

The other seemed particularly interested in the mechanical arm behind him...

His heart shivered, and he spoke solemnly towards the Duke’s daughter: "Being patient doesn’t harm us. The Empire’s craftsmen also need time to adapt to the foreign environment."

Margaret slightly frowned but ultimately chose to yield.

"I can give you the opportunity to showcase yourselves, but the Empire’s patience is limited."

She stood up, looking the Ark Leader directly in the eyes: "I will keep my eye on you."

Though the Duke’s daughter seemed somewhat aggressive, this was the most amicable stance the high aristocracy of the New Empire could present when facing the kings of small island nations on the sea...

The Ark Kingdom was, after all, the first sea kingdom qualified to cooperate with the New Empire.

For other small countries, their kings would only have the path of doing their utmost to curry favor with the Empire, to avoid facing those merciless mechanical soldiers and the relentless bitter cold.

Lin Lan nodded with a smile.

"Bai, the Empire’s envoys have traveled a long way; arrange for them to rest first."

He clapped his hands lightly, and the next second, the door opened, and a perfectly-featured white-haired maid bowed slightly.

She said expressionlessly: "Please follow me, dear guests."

Seeing the figure at the door, Margaret and Elio’s eyes immediately flashed with deep astonishment. The two exchanged a glance involuntarily, then nonchalantly looked away.

The two said nothing and quickly followed the maid’s steps.

The large office room returned to silence once more.

Although the initial meeting was rather brief, Lin Lan roughly grasped the subtle dynamics within the Empire’s delegation.

As he had anticipated, the two Counts were plainly not on the same page; Miss Margaret was the envoy sent by Blood Vulture, while the man named Elio stood with Frost Falcon.

Interesting...

Since the partner had shifted from Frost Falcon to Blood Vulture, Lin Lan naturally wouldn’t be cordial to that old man from the Empire who had previously shown malice toward the Ark.

Lin Lan stepped into the Mechanical Dream, skillfully setting up a private chat channel via a gaming machine, and added the player ’Blood Vulture’ to it.

Seagull: 「ヽ(￣▽￣)ﾉ」

Blood Vulture: 「Hmp! I don’t want to communicate with you!」

Blood Vulture: 「Angry emoji」

’Blood Vulture has exited the private chat channel.’

Lin Lan: ...

This old man inexplicably gave him a tsundere feeling.

·

"Esteemed guests, the master has specially prepared a brand new accommodation building for you."

Bai led the two Empire envoys to face a new tall building. The bionic girl first stepped into the exquisitely shaped building, her tone never showing the slightest fluctuation.

Margaret and Elio’s expressions grew increasingly odd, and neither made any reply.

Bai led them to stand in the corridor, continuing her stiff, meticulous introduction: "You can freely choose a room that you like..."

Margaret couldn’t hold back her inner impulses anymore; she suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the maid’s body from behind, her hands exploring down from the other’s face.

Her eyes slowly widened; that hard texture was all too familiar...

"We were not mistaken."

Margaret’s mouth slightly agape, she glanced at Elio, lowered her voice, and whispered a word: "Prophet."

Elio’s pupils contracted.

From this moment on, things like Ark Coin and the Sun Legion were no longer important...

Since the Mad Emperor was assassinated on the throne, the Empire hadn’t unearthed any new ’Prophets’ from the Deep Sea Gray Realm. Most Prophets were now deeply slumbering, and such rare sages of the Ancient Century are dwindling in number.

This was a matter of state affairs! The reason for the Ark Kingdom’s rise was right before them!

Margaret’s breathing gradually became rapid; that Lin Lan Lord actually had a Prophet, who held endless knowledge, serving as a mere servant! Was his head broken?!

The proud Duke’s daughter glanced around like a thief, exerted her arms, trying to drag the delicate girl into the nearest room.

However, the bionic girl in her embrace didn’t move a bit.

Elio: ...

"Esteemed guest?" Bai tilted her head: "What are you doing?"

"Listen to me, Bai."

Margaret’s tone turned unprecedentedly gentle. She clung tightly to the girl in her arms: "The Ark Leader isn’t worth your loyalty, come with us to the Empire..."

"What do you intend to do to Bai?! Let her go immediately!"

The next second, a sharp cry suddenly echoed beside the two Empire nobles’ ears, Margaret turned her head,

There stood a short witch holding a peculiar golden cube. She peered out from the wall, looking fierce: "I knew you Empire folks were up to no good!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Interesting... I didn’t manage to detect your tracking."

Elio squinted his eyes, his gaze turning dangerous: "So this is the mind-shielding ability of a witch? No wonder you can block the sea’s sight..."

However, Lucia didn’t care about the other’s dissatisfaction. She jogged over, pulling Bai’s hand.

"Bai, your mission is complete, let’s go!"

The blond witch glared ferociously at the long-legged figure before her.

This lot, just arriving, was already trying to do this or that to Bai, utterly shameless!