Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 441 The Conquered Bayoneta and Su Li's Escape Operation
Mrs. Bayonetta's feelings at this moment were undoubtedly closely connected with Su Li's. This unexpected encounter was like throwing lava into a dead, frozen lake, instantly igniting a desire she had never imagined and dragging her into an unprecedented vortex of senses.

She sank into the soft mattress, her body limp, like snow completely melted by the warm sun, every inch of her skin exuding a languid softness. This feeling was so unfamiliar that it made her heart pound.

For the past thirty years, she had lived on a carefully maintained surface of ice, elegant, restrained, yet cold and aloof. For her, intimacy in marriage was merely fulfilling an obligation, a ritual to maintain appearances. She had never felt any ripples within it; her body was like slumbering frozen earth, never anticipating spring. She thought that was everything—until last night's curse-induced storm, until the upheaval brought by the man beside her now.

It turns out that the body can sense such vibrant life force.

An indescribable warm current flowed through her limbs and bones, making her consciousness somewhat hazy. The mental shock was even more intense.

She turned her head slightly, looking at Su Li beside her who was meditating with his eyes closed. It was this young and powerful body that allowed her to experience a completely new world that none of her previous thirty years of marriage could match.

A truly relaxed, languid smile spread across her lips. Her eyes still held a trace of moisture, but the confusion was gone, replaced by a serene contentment. She sighed softly, burying her slightly flushed cheeks back into the warmth of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent.

It turned out that this was a feeling she had never truly known before. It wasn't a cold obligation, nor an empty procedure, but a vivid and captivating experience.

The past thirty years felt like a wasted life. But this one night was worth all those years of a pale marriage. The warmth and languor of complete satisfaction deep within her body, like the softest velvet, enveloped her layer by layer, plunging her into an unprecedented bliss.

However, in this dark and desperate world, all good things are destined to be fleeting; what truly matters is how to survive in this dark world and cope with all kinds of challenges.

While she was still reveling in the afterglow, Su Li confirmed that she had recovered, so he kissed the top of her head. Although the beautiful woman, covered in fragrant sweat, was captivating, he dared not neglect his business.

After all, winning over this beauty and indulging in pleasure would mean endless troubles to come. Even leaving Maleiburg would be a matter that required careful planning.

He calmly said, "Next, we're going to put on a good show. We'll wrap this up perfectly and clean up this mess."

Bayonetta sighed contentedly, nuzzling her cheek against Su Li's sweaty neck like a cat finding its most comfortable spot, greedily absorbing the reassuring scent and warmth emanating from him. The languid warmth of complete satisfaction enveloped her, making her want to immerse herself in this small space, forgetting the coldness and scheming of the outside world.

Su Li's calm words were like a pebble thrown into a warm pool, creating ripples. She slightly opened her hazy eyes, a hint of reluctance at being disturbed, but more so a sense of knowing "it's finally here." Of course, she knew that dawn was breaking, the sweet dream should end, and the trouble had only just begun. But... this embrace was too warm, this feeling too wonderful, she really couldn't bear to leave.

"Hmm?" she responded with a heavy nasal tone, pressing her body even closer to him, as if that would allow her to hold onto that tenderness a little longer. Her slender fingers unconsciously traced circles on his firm chest, feeling the powerful beating of his heart.

Su Li looked down at her lingering gaze, his eyes deep and filled with a barely perceptible tenderness, but his tone remained clear and articulate: "We need you to 'disappear' from the parliament building."

Bayonetta's fingers paused for a moment. She understood the essence of the plan perfectly—to divert trouble and let the council and the city lord's mansion fight amongst themselves. Her rationality instantly kicked in, and her brain raced through the plan's feasibility, details, and risks. As a descendant of the Moon Priestess and the city lord's wife, this composure and shrewdness were ingrained in her very being.

After her disappearance, the City Lord's Mansion will inevitably decline in the coming period of time, and will be restricted or even abolished by the Council. A large amount of its interests and power will be eroded by the Council.

Once the city lord returns from the Great Expedition, he will have to rebuild the weakened city lord's mansion. At this time, he is overwhelmed with worries. Restoring strength, fighting for interests, and consolidating the position of the city lord's mansion are his top priorities! He has no time to care about the life or death of a woman and a pretty face.

After so many years of marriage, Bayonetta knew Joachim von Gorge all too well. He was a man who pursued power and strength to the extreme and was fanatical, with no feelings or desires whatsoever. He wouldn't care whether she disappeared or died.

“I’m familiar with the interior of the Capitol,” she said, her voice still hoarse from the event, but with a touch of coldness. “There are secret meeting rooms downstairs, convenient for those senators to discuss some shady dealings. They can shield against all kinds of energy and fluctuations, making it very easy to hide and create the illusion of an ‘accidental’ disappearance. Help me arrange a meeting with Senator Zovie, and tell her I want to negotiate with her. Then, during a break in the guard patrols… you and Hilde make a scene and help me leave.”

She spoke clearly and logically, her eyes sharp, as if she had transformed back into the aloof and shrewd lady. However, this composure lasted only a moment.

When she finished recounting the last detail and looked up at Su Li, her aloof exterior instantly melted away. She abruptly reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled, carrying an unprecedented clinginess and anxiety:

“Su Li…the plan is good…but…” She paused, raised her head, and her eyes, which were once brimming with languid spring water, were now covered with a layer of fragile mist, like a little girl afraid of being abandoned, “You wouldn’t…after you’ve used me, this ‘disappeared’ pawn, you’re going to abandon me and run away, would you?”

Her fingers gripped the muscles of his back tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white. "Like...like a bastard who sleeps around and runs away?" She even used colloquialisms, completely out of place for her aristocratic status, yet vividly expressing her intense unease at that moment.

This feeling of gain and loss came so suddenly, yet so real. In the past thirty years, she had never relied on anyone so much, never given her heart and soul so completely. The extreme torment of last night's curse and the overwhelming pleasure Su Li was giving her now, a pleasure that shattered her understanding of existence, were like two extremes, completely destroying all her past emotional barriers. She was no longer the city lord's wife who could calmly weigh the pros and cons; she was more like Juliet, experiencing love for the first time, her heart and eyes only for her lover, afraid of losing everything.

"I don't want to go back to being the city lord's wife!" she declared urgently, with a do-or-die determination. "Those burdens, those shackles, those hypocritical masks... I've had enough!"

She tilted her head back, her gaze fixed intently on Su Li, burning with a longing for freedom and... for the man before her. "Take me away, Su Li! Leave Maleburg, leave this godforsaken place! We... we'll find somewhere no one knows us, and elope like... like Romeo and Juliet!" Her voice trembled with anticipation, completely disregarding the tragic ending of this classic story.

At this moment, her romantic instincts overcame all rational planning. She didn't care about the trap in the parliament building, nor the wrath of the city lord's mansion; she only cared whether Su Li would appear by her side as promised after she had "disappeared," taking her far away to pursue the sweetness she had just tasted, a sweetness that made her soul tremble.

Su Li looked at the woman in his arms, whom he had just completely conquered, yet who was now displaying a striking contrast—on one hand, the Moon Priestess calmly analyzing her plans; on the other, a clingy kitten, anxious and yearning to elope. This stark contrast possessed a unique charm and… a sense of reality.

He chuckled softly, never imagining he would one day experience Western-style love, like Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose. He raised his hand, his rough fingertips gently wiping away the tears welling up in the corner of her eyes from her anxiety, a gesture filled with affectionate tenderness.

“Fool,” his voice was deep and resolute, carrying an undeniable promise, “I went through so much trouble to pull you out of the abyss, and…” He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over her shoulders and neck covered in hickeys, a hint of playful suggestion in his eyes, “…and 'slept with' you so thoroughly. How could I possibly bear to abandon such a precious 'trophy'?”

Bayonetta's cheeks flushed as he stared at her, but upon hearing the words "trophy," she felt not annoyed, but rather a strong sense of satisfaction at being possessed, and the fingers gripping his back loosened slightly.

"The 'disappearance' of the parliament building is just the prelude to our new life." Su Li's eyes became serious and sharp, filled with the confidence of someone in control. "I will provide you with a perfect-grade halfling cloak that will allow you to vanish without a trace in an instant, so that even guards standing close by cannot detect your presence. Then I will pin your disappearance on the parliament, creating the illusion of a murder. I believe this will convince the city lord's mansion."

After all, the council has always had this motive—to eliminate the city lord's mansion and get rid of Bayonetta. If this were to get out, most people wouldn't be surprised. They would only sigh at how disgraceful the council was, actually taking action within its own ranks.

However, throughout history, most so-called power struggles have actually followed this pattern: inviting someone to dinner, then turning on them and beheading them at the banquet. The more classic the reversal, the simpler and more unadorned it is.

To be honest, the scheme to make Mrs. Bayonetta disappear from Parliament was not a particularly brilliant move; it was just a simple frame-up.

However, despite the simplicity of this scheme, Su Li was still very confident of its great success because of two very favorable factors. First, neither the council nor Lord Joachim von Gorger of Maleiburg would have imagined that Lady Bayonita would be seduced by Su Li! To paraphrase a famous saying, she had spent 10 years with Joachim von Gorger, but it wasn't as enjoyable as these two days with Su Li. In particular, the curse of lust greatly amplified this intense impact and stark contrast, making Lady Bayonita like a lovestruck woman, willingly submitting to Su Li's manipulation.

Originally, Su Li still needed to win over Lady Bayonetta himself, as this would easily arouse the hostility of Lord Joachim von Gorge of Maleburg. After all, if someone openly steals his woman, even if he wants to save face, he would have to be furious for the sake of his beloved!

But the Maleiburg Council actually handed this woman over to Su Li on their own initiative! So Su Li took the initiative to clear himself of suspicion. They couldn't very well tell Joachim von Gorge that they had drugged Madame Bayonetta and sent her to Su Li.

Their initial calculation was that if Lady Bayonetta, such a noble and aloof woman, were raped by Su Li, she would most likely perish along with him. Even if they didn't perish together, the two sides would be at loggerheads.

However, unexpectedly, the combined effects of Lady Bayonetta's Priestess of the Moon bloodline and the Sorcerer's curse led to an unforeseen turn of events.

Of course, the most important factor for success was undoubtedly the second point: Joachim von Gorger and the city lord's mansion would certainly be more inclined to believe that the person was murdered by the council. Even if that wasn't the case, Joachim von Gorger would still characterize the outcome as such.

Whether to fight the Maleiburg Parliament, which is nearby and has a major conflict of interest, or to fight Hessenberg, which is far away, has no interests and only suffers losses, the choice is obvious even with your eyes closed!
If he listened to the so-called 'truth' from the council and led his troops all the way to Hessen Territory to fight Su Li to the death, let alone whether he could win, even if he did, would he be able to return? I'm afraid that the moment his troops set off, the council members would be able to gleefully undermine all his foundations.

Unless Joachim von Gorge was a romantic like King You of Zhou, who loved beauty more than his kingdom, he would never have made such a foolish choice.

So Su Li lowered his head, his forehead touching Bayonetta's, their noses meeting, their warm breaths mingling: "Believe me, Bayonetta. You've been marked by me, you're mine now. I'll take you to the ends of the earth. Elope? That's too easy for them. We'll make them lose the ability to track us forever in the chaos, and then... go live the life that truly belongs to us."

These words, almost like a vow, acted as the most effective reassurance, slowly soothing all of Bayonetta's anxieties. The tears in her eyes dissipated, replaced by a bright light and a deep sense of dependence. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, and whispered, "Yes! I believe you!"

That girlish anxiety and uncertainty was replaced by a sweet sense of security. For this promise and the future she longed for, she was willing to play her part in the "disappearance" scene at the parliament building. Once the act was over, she could completely surrender to his embrace and embark on a new life free of constraints. At this moment, her heart was filled with anticipation for the future and her attachment to Su Li; that touch of aristocratic scheming was merely a necessary tool to realize this dream.

Su Li quickly had preparations completed. Lady Bayonetta was to first leave the Black Forest Merchant Guild's headquarters invisibly. If her first appearance was at the Black Forest Merchant Guild and she was seen entering and leaving the place disheveled, with a body as alluring as a young woman who had just finished her sexual encounter, then everything would be unclear!
Bayonetta's legs were weak when she left, and it was Hilde who helped her out of the room and then personally escorted her back to the city lord's mansion.

This was all thanks to the grand spectacle Su Li made when he entered the city. Because he needed to establish his authority in the city, no one dared to stop his troops wherever they went. The city guards cleared the streets in advance, and a large number of knights rampaged through the city, passing by the residences of the officials of the Imperial Elector Council, the Parliament Building of Maleburg, and the city lord's mansion.

No one suspected that they were there specifically to deliver someone; everyone thought they had come to show off their power again, and had even managed to slap the City Lord's Mansion in the face!
The guards of the city lord's mansion gritted their teeth, wishing they could rush up and fight the knights of the Black Forest Territory, which further reinforced this stereotype.

After daybreak, Hilde returned to Su Li's room, her body covered in dew.

Su Li immediately asked, "How did it go? Was it successful?"

Her handsome face was full of composure as she replied with a faint smile, "It went very smoothly. Lady Bayonetta has safely returned to the Lord's mansion without alerting anyone. The guards of the Lord's mansion were indeed enraged by our daytime 'patrol,' and their attention was entirely focused on the 'arrogance' of our knights. No one noticed that there was a lady of the house who had quietly slipped back in the darkness."

Su Li stood by the window, the morning light outlining his figure, making him appear even more upright than before, his chosen-god aura fully displayed. He nodded slightly: "Thank you for your hard work, Hilde. How is she?"

“Weak, her legs are terribly weak, but she is conscious.” Hilde told the truth: “You can rest assured about the city lord’s mansion for now. Next, the council building is the key stage.”

Hilde walked to the table, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it down in one gulp, dispelling the fatigue of the night: "The core of the plan has been laid out. As agreed, Lady Bayonetta will request an urgent private meeting with Senator Zovie under the pretext of 'questioning the source of the curse.' That woman Zovie is greedy and self-righteous, thinking she has everything under control, and will never refuse this opportunity for a 'final showdown.' The secret meeting room has excellent shielding, making it the ideal location to create a 'perfect disappearance.'"

She paused, then continued, "But... my lord, this plan is ultimately a double-edged sword. If it succeeds, the council and the city lord's mansion will inevitably break off relations completely, and the chaos in Maleburg will escalate immediately. We... I'm afraid we'll have to prepare for our evacuation in advance. We originally intended to use this visit to gather some information and rest, but unexpectedly..."

"I never expected the council to hand us such a generous gift, along with a huge problem and an...unexpected ally." Su Li turned around, a playful smile on his lips. "Chaos isn't a bad thing, Hilder. The muddier the waters, the better our chances of swimming safely. As for leaving early..."

His gaze swept across the city outside the window, which was beginning to awaken. "Just what I wanted. This is not a place I can stay for long."

Just then, Hilder's gaze fell entirely on Su Li. Her keen senses instantly detected the difference. Su Li before her possessed a restrained yet unfathomable aura, standing there like a volcano poised to erupt at any moment, or a profound starry sky. It was a qualitative change! A leap in the level of life!

Her eyes widened in surprise, the empty cup in her hand nearly slipping from her grasp. Her voice was filled with astonishment: "My lord! Your...your power...this aura..." She looked Su Li up and down in disbelief, feeling the invisible pressure emanating from him. "Chosen One?! You...you've broken through to the Chosen One rank?!"

This is simply unbelievable! The Chosen One rank is a threshold that countless powerful individuals strive for their entire lives but can never reach! Although Su Li's strength had already reached the Champion level, he was still at least two ranks away from the Chosen One rank. Yet, in just one night... he successfully broke through!

Hilde instantly thought of Lady Bayonetta's unique and powerful bloodline as a moon priestess, and the violent and strange energy fluctuations in the room last night. She gasped, "Is...is it because of Lady Bayonetta? Her moonlight power...is so terrifying?! Directly helped you cross that insurmountable barrier?!"

Although she knew the Moon Priestess possessed extraordinary bloodline, witnessing Su Li's overnight ascension to the legendary Chosen rank was still incredibly impactful. It exceeded her understanding of power enhancement.

Su Li had nothing to hide from Hilder. He stretched out his hand, palm up, and a wisp of extremely pure red light, containing terrifying power fluctuations, danced and coiled at his fingertips like a living thing, causing subtle ripples in the surrounding space. Feeling the unprecedentedly powerful force surging within him, he smiled and said, "It's the power of her bloodline origin, unimaginably vast and pure. During the process of lifting the curse, this moonlight, like a tide, helped me break through the final barrier."

He gazed at the power dancing at his fingertips, his eyes deep: "This is indeed an unexpected delight. The power of the chosen one... is even stronger than anticipated."

He never imagined that he could catch up with Hilder's level! This was a leap forward, a milestone.

Hilder stared at the enhanced bloodline power, her shock lingering for a long time. Overnight, the lord had not only thwarted the council's deadly conspiracy and subdued a Moon Priestess with a sensitive identity but immense potential, but her own strength had also leaped to the Chosen rank! What was originally thought to be a "relaxing trip" to gather information had unexpectedly turned into such a thrilling and incredibly rewarding turning point!
She took a deep breath, suppressing her turbulent emotions, and her eyes regained their firmness and sharpness: "Congratulations, Lord! Chosen rank... This is truly a blessing upon our territory! With you here, those clowns in the council are no longer a threat. Now, I will fully cooperate to ensure that Lady Bayonetta's 'disappearance' plan in the council building goes smoothly. As for Senator Zoe, I will immediately 'remind' her to keep her appointment." Her tone was filled with confidence in Su Li's power and a calm preparedness for the impending storm.

Su Li withdrew his power, and the chilling pressure subsided as well. "Go, Hilder. Let this show... begin on time. Fortress. Once Bayonetta's arrangements are complete, we'll immediately prepare for our evacuation. The moment the council negotiations conclude, that's when we'll set off."

"Understood!" Hilde immediately composed herself, regaining her capable demeanor. "I'll arrange the evacuation route and backup personnel right away. Make sure the operation goes smoothly." Su Li's promotion was an unexpected bonus, but the most important thing now was to execute the dangerous plan at hand.

His gaze also turned towards the Parliament building, cold and calculating. He would be the one to stir up the winds of change on the chessboard of Maleiburg.

(End of this chapter)