They don't want me to try anymore.

With the help of various external aid sources and the support of the people of Connaught, you continue to implement your established strategy.

The National Protection Army continued to grow, expanding to nearly 1,500 men, and their numbers and fighting spirit far exceeded those of Jero's lackeys.

Most of the lower-ranking soldiers and sheriffs are unwilling to fight you and are sending you protection money. Many of the mayors and town heads appointed by Gerald are also secretly trying to curry favor with you and begging for peace.

In a sense, all Geralt can still control are the capital and the port.

Although Jero indulged in pleasure and making money all day long, he was not unaware of this trend. However, the only method he knew was to seek help from imperial forces such as Standard Fruit and the Dulles family.

[Standard Fruit delivered another batch of weapons, but nearly half of them ended up in your hands this month.]

As for the mercenaries hired by the Dulles family and the garrison troops sent by the Empire under the guise of protection, they returned empty-handed due to your own formidable strength and Luvia's covert cooperation.

Richard nodded in satisfaction.

This means we've gained a comprehensive advantage.

It's time to get down to something really big!

At this time, Jero's brother, in an attempt to seize a seaside mansion, accidentally discovered and captured members of the National Guard who were making a deal with the mansion's owner.

This was a rare piece of good news for Geralt. He imprisoned the man in the royal prison and announced that he would publicly hang him to deter the lawless rebels.

Well, just when you're feeling sleepy, someone brings you a pillow.

After thinking it over, Richard decided not to go directly to rescue the people.

Such a grand publicity campaign is clearly a trap.

As the saying goes, one should control others rather than be controlled by them. Rather than buying someone else's shaken Coke and getting sprayed in the face, Richard prefers to go to the convenience store and squeeze instant noodles.

After all, the Wolf family is quite large...

The day after Gerald announced his intention to intimidate you, you led your men into the Wolf family manor, forcefully defeated all the guards, and kidnapped Wolf's mother, wife, and two children.

Meanwhile, you also learned where Zoe was being held captive, broke in, and rescued her.

Like Katyusha, the little girl hugged you tightly upon seeing you, sobbing uncontrollably and apologizing repeatedly. You quickly comforted her, assuring her that the Wolf family's betrayal had nothing to do with her and that you would never blame her.

This is the truth.

Richard had long understood that many nobles in Connaught had close ties with the Empire and would become collaborators if the situation turned against them, even those like Wolf who had close ties with the royal family.

Zoe was too young, and after his disappearance, she was unable to withstand the pressure from her family.

Rather, Richard was already deeply moved by Zoe's unwavering support, even to the point of being placed under house arrest on charges of hysteria.

Once Zoe has calmed down, have her sent back to the base and taken good care of. Then, turn around and seize most of the estate's valuables, returning home laden with spoils.

You wrote several identical letters and had your men deliver them to Geralt.

The following morning, Gero found the same letter in his bathroom, on his breakfast table, and on his office desk. It said he needed to exchange four hostages for one of his, plunging him into immense anger and fear.

He clearly realized that taking his life would be incredibly easy for you, so that very night, he sheepishly let your men go.

You kept your promise and returned all the Wolfs except Zoe.

But just as Geralt was racking his brains over these matters, you had Katyusha secretly lead a small team to infiltrate Connaught Palace.

They brought your father, King Henry II of Connaught, back to the Guard headquarters. An examination revealed he was under a sleeping spell and was very weak, but not dead.

With that, all worries vanished.

Richard achieved an initial victory in the recapture of his homeland.

He was certain that if he revealed his identity now, he could drive away Gerald, who had become a caged bird, and regain control of Connaught.

...To be honest, his identity is about to be exposed now. After all, Alice has made a public appearance in Vanderbilt, and rumors of his return have been circulating in the streets of Connaught, which has changed the situation drastically.

The problem is that even if he does this, it will only return everything to what it was four years ago. He will have a hard time getting back the profits that have already been swallowed up by the Empire and Standard Fruit.

He needs to wait for the right opportunity...

[Luvia has sent you news that the Emperor is dead. She helped the First Prince return to the North ahead of schedule, where he is now in a standoff with the Second Prince in the South. A civil war is likely to break out within a few months.]

Oh open!

Speak of married women and Cao Cao arrives!

[On that day, you led the National Protection Army to the city gates, summoned the Great Black Dragon, stood on its back, and formally announced your return.]

The entire city erupted in deafening cheers.

Chapter 138 The King Comes to See the King

Today is destined to be a day that all Connaught employees will never forget.

"Prince Richard is back!"

Surrounded by your people, you returned to the palace, easily arrested Geralt and his cronies, and reclaimed all power throughout the kingdom.

[Subsequently, you announced the abrogation of all unequal treaties signed between Connaught and the Empire from decades ago to the present, and also organized the army to forcibly nationalize the assets of companies such as Standard Fruit.]

You initiated a trial for the traitors of the past four years. Everyone thought you would execute them all, but you exercised great restraint and leniency, punishing only the ringleaders and adhering to the law for the rest.

You have appeased all the various factions within the country and firmly secured your position as the "King" of Connaught.

[To the north, the Empire vehemently condemns you, calling you a bandit and executioner who perpetrated a massacre, and proclaims that they will send troops south to eradicate your evil forces...]

Whatever, curse me all you want. Everyone knows who the robber is.

Richard remained calm about this.

He was convinced that the empire, now on the brink of civil war, had no power to cause him any trouble.

On the contrary, he wanted to cause trouble for the Empire.

At the end of the month, Luvia openly and honestly approached you, Shi.

With the civil war approaching, she had essentially broken ties with the faction of the Second Prince within the empire, and no longer concealed her intentions.

Meanwhile, Veronica and Luvia also arrived at your palace.

Despite the four-year delay, Veronica has now become a powerful figure at sea. Luvia, on the other hand, recently assassinated her uncle and reached a compromise with several other factions within the country, barely managing to ascend the throne.

Yes, as expected of Her Highness the Princess and Captain, they managed to turn the tide!

Although their individual strengths are weaker than their peak strength in previous simulations, it's still better than nothing.

They came to see you together to discuss how to deal with the Imperial Civil War.

Hmm, I guessed it.

But the three of you together...

Richard began to doubt the sturdiness of his own palace.

Seemingly sensing your predicament, Alice softly asked, "Did we come at the wrong time?"

No, no, no, you've come at just the right time!

Richard quickly made his simulated self put on a serious face and earnestly deny it.

Putting aside all the messy stuff, to be serious, the civil war was indeed an opportunity they had to seize.

Based on past simulation experience, once the civil war ends with the second prince's victory, the scenario will immediately shift to the empire conquering the world.

At that point, whether the weakened versions of Vanderbilt, Divine Grace Island, and Connaught can withstand the onslaught will be a real question.

Therefore, they should make a plan and act in unison.

At the start of the discussion, Veronica suggested that everyone should immediately gather forces and intervene in the Empire's civil war.

Tsk tsk, very straightforward, very pirate-like.

But Richard had some reservations about this.

From a rational perspective, the empire is not so corrupt that it would collapse at the slightest touch and lose the hearts of the people. However, he and his allies are currently weakened versions of themselves. With such power, the success rate of intervening in someone else's civil war is hard to say.

The conservative faction in the empire was already weak, and the eldest prince was not very capable. If their addition caused ordinary empires to unite against the enemy and thus support the second prince's side, wouldn't that be a case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead?

Moreover, no matter how easygoing the conservatives are, they are still a group of proud imperialists who might not be willing to accept help from foreigners.

Richard recalled the history of Russia and Turkey in his previous life, where they were intervened by the great powers and then fought back to defeat their enemies. He did not agree to Veronica's plan.

Of course, it is still necessary to provide material assistance to the conservatives without directly sending troops.

Your discussion on the first day didn't make much progress.

[At night, as everyone prepared to rest, Veronica asked you in front of the other two girls if you wanted to go out to admire the moon tonight, earning her eye-rolls from Alice and Luvia...]

Richard had a premonition that he would likely have a sleepless night.

So what if we can't sleep? Unity is the most important thing right now!

So you guys, don't argue over me!

You sacrificed a great deal tonight for world peace...

The next day, you learned the latest news: the two factions within the Empire had completely broken apart, and war had broken out.

To demonstrate his resolve, the second prince arrived at his palace inside the Hamburg fortress in the north and commanded his army to march straight towards his own brother.

In the same month, Queen Sofia of Via declared that the eldest prince was the rightful heir and that she would send troops to participate in the imperial civil war.

Wait.