Douluo: I founded the mecha tribe and I am the king of mecha battles!

Chapter 249 Beauty Under the Moon
Chen Zhou inhaled the faint fragrance wafting from a strand of Gu Yue's hair beside him, his gaze still as deep and unfathomable as the starry sky. He gently raised his hand and tucked a stray strand of Gu Yue's hair behind her ear, the movement of his fingertips as subtle as brushing against a thin wisp of cloud, almost imperceptible, yet carrying an irresistible tenderness. Gu Yue's purple eyes trembled slightly, but she did not look away.

"Of course he does."

Chen Zhou chuckled softly, a laugh that carried a hint of amusement and a touch of coldness. "But what Dai Tianling cares about has never been the truth."

"The Star Luo Empire is like a skeleton in a tomb. If it weren't for the instability within the Sun Moon Federation, the Dou Ling Empire and the Star Luo Empire would never have been taken seriously by the Sun Moon Federation."

"So this is the only chance he'll ever have to see it!"

"The advanced soul-guided technology provided by our Beast Machine Merchant Guild, and the long-awaited victory, have made the entire Star Luo Empire excited."

"If the Dai family does not wish for the destruction of their nation and the extinction of their race, they can only drink poison to quench their thirst and bury their rationality in the abyss of desire."

"It's ridiculous."

"Knowing the outcome yet still rushing forward without hesitation—that's the most captivating aspect of humanity."

The moonlight outside the window was like water, spilling onto the office floor and casting intertwined shadows of the two people.

Looking at Gu Yue so close to him, Chen Zhou had no romantic thoughts in his heart. His eyes were clear, filled only with appreciation for "beauty".

The night was deep and still, the moonlight like a ribbon pouring down from the sky, passing through the clear glass and spreading throughout the room. The figure sitting on the sofa was revealed in this cool, silvery light.

Her hair was as black as ink, cascading like flowing water over her shoulders, making her skin appear even whiter than snow. Her purple eyes were deep and unfathomable, sparkling with starlight as she glanced around, their cool demeanor carrying a hint of imperceptible authority. Although she wore a standard secretary's uniform, the sharply tailored suit and skirt hugging her slender figure, her overall aura was like the clouds above the heavens, untouched by the mundane world.

The moonlight brushed across her brows, making her face appear even more ethereal, like a celestial being descended to earth. She simply sat quietly, her fingertips lightly resting on her knees, her expression serene, revealing neither joy nor anger. Yet, in that instant when she slightly raised her eyes, ripples seemed to spread across the still waters of a deep pool, commanding respect and deference.

Outside the window, leaves rustled, and a subtle fragrance drifted in the air. She remained silent, yet seemed to take in all the light filling the room, even the cool moonlight becoming a mere backdrop. Occasionally, a night breeze would drift through the cracks in the window, ruffling a few stray strands of hair at her temples, making her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

This scene is just like the poem's description: "The bright moon shines on the recluse, its clear light illuminating her jade-like bones." She was originally a silver dragon in human form, and even though she hid in the mortal world, her inherent nobility shone like a pearl in the dark night, its brilliance impossible to conceal.

The ancients were right; looking at beautiful women can indeed bring joy.

Unlike Chen Zou, who was watching her with great interest, Gu Yue remained silent for a long time, her fingertips gently tracing the texture of the leather sofa. She suddenly realized that all her previous plans, in the eyes of this man, were perhaps nothing more than a child's sandbox game. She spoke softly, "So, the Douling Empire and the Xingluo Empire were just pawns in your plan?"

Chen Zhou shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the neon-lit night sky outside the window. The lights of Donghai City and the soul-guided searchlights of the Federation army in the distance intertwined, like a silent rehearsal for war. He murmured, "Casualties? No. They're more like... moths that willingly leap into the fire."

"A campfire?" Gu Yue frowned.

"Yes."

Chen Zhou flicked his finger, and a holographic map of the Douluo Continent appeared in the void. The territories of the three major powers were marked with different colored halos, while the territory of the Beast Machine Merchant Guild covered most of the East Sea like a spider web, even penetrating into the core areas of the Federation and the two great empires. He continued, "Star Luo and Dou Ling are desperately craving a victory. They desperately need this illusion that the Sun and Moon Federation is not invincible to maintain their precarious rule within their countries."

“But this victory will only bring deeper despair,” Gu Yue added involuntarily.

Chen Zhou laughed: "That's right. But so what? Haven't we seen countless instances of self-deception throughout history?"

"They hypnotize themselves, believing they can turn Tiger Demon Heaven and Golden Claw God into swords in their hands, unaware that the hilts of these two swords are always in my hands." "As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses its tree to perch on. How could Tiger Demon Heaven and Golden Claw God, with their great talents, possibly be controlled by two self-hypnotizing fools who are drinking poison to quench their thirst?"

Gu Yue's purple eyes narrowed slightly. She suddenly realized that the outcome of this war had been predetermined even before it began—the "victory" of Xingluo and Douling was merely a poisonous seed deliberately planted by Chen Zhou. And now, this seed had taken root and sprouted under the influence of the desires of the two countries' leaders, ultimately dragging their empires into an even deeper quagmire.

"What about the Sun and Moon Federation?"

She couldn't help but ask, "The Federation has suffered such a huge loss, are we just going to let it go like this?"

Chen Zhou's gaze shifted to the Federation's territory on the light screen, especially the west coast that had just been reclaimed. He said indifferently, "The Federation? Ha... They are the most ridiculous party."

"We are experts in civil wars, but amateurs in foreign wars."

Chen Zhou slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the city that belonged to him. "The Federation's upper echelons have long been rotten. Behind the checks and balances of the parliament is the open and covert struggle between various forces. The establishment of the Temple of War was originally intended to restrain and counter the huge number of top-level combat forces hidden in the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy. But in fact, most of the members of the Temple of War have intricate connections with Shrek Academy."

"The Tang Clan's technology is only shared by the generation that has been phased out. The Spirit Pagoda is even more high above, sitting on the clouds and looking down on all living beings, accumulating wealth and waiting for its opportunity to strike."

"So, you even plotted against the Federation?" Gu Yue narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Do not."

Chen Zhou turned around, his dark eyes as deep as an abyss. "I just gave them a push. I never created the Federation's problems; I just... accelerated its decay."

Gu Yue fell into deep thought. She suddenly realized that Chen Zhou's chess game was far more complex than she had imagined. He was not only manipulating war, but also manipulating people's hearts. The greed of Xingluo and Douling, the corruption of the Federation, and even the pride of the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy—all the weaknesses of all forces had become pawns in his hands.

But most importantly
These moves were child's play for Chen Zhou, executed with ease and grace.
Gu Yue also stood up, her long, ink-black hair accentuating her noble and elegant demeanor.

She walked slowly to Chen Zhou's side, gazing at the dazzling lights outside the window, her purple eyes reflecting the prosperity of this city that never sleeps.

　Bonus chapter details for tomorrow:
　　No extra chapter will be added due to insufficient popularity (258/310).

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　　Twelve chapters are still owed, plus three basic chapters, for a total of fifteen chapters.

　　Group number: 300527487
　　The popularity has dropped significantly in the past two days, from 430 to 360, and from 360 to 250 today. If the popularity continues to stay around 250, the author will have no choice but to stop the trend of updating frequently and start thinking about and writing a new book.

　　This book was written out of love, but if I really can't earn some pocket money, I will have to give up writing about the subsequent novels like The Throne of Gods and focus on finishing Douluo Continent before starting a new one.

　　I am very grateful for everyone's support along the way. The author has seen it all, so there is no need for readers who have been following the story to provide any help. The author has a job and a decent salary, so please be prepared.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)