I built the Black Tower City in Sumeru.

Chapter 128 The negotiation between the Divine Child and the Heart Sea: Nasita saw through everything.

(The previous text has been revised; Xin Hai's tough declaration has been changed to submitting a negotiation request, as the former doesn't fit the character's persona.)

(c)

Unbeknownst to them, they had broken through Farusan's attack.

Chen Bo picked up a piece of toast with jam spread on it, and the encrypted communication bracelet on his wrist suddenly vibrated.

It's Shinko's phone call.

"You guys eat first, I'm going back to my room to take this call."

After saying that, Chen Bo went into the bedroom alone, locked the door, and lightly tapped the call button.

The holographic projection unfolded, and the figure of Yae no Miko was projected in the center of the room.

Today, the chief priest of Narukami Taisha Shrine has changed back into her elaborate and formal red and white shrine maiden attire, arms crossed and face covered with a frosty mask.

She skipped the pleasantries and went straight to questioning him.

"Great inventor, your service is very thoughtful. Early this morning, that deep-sea fish on Haizhi Island used the radar network you airdropped to lock onto the floating telescope I sent over and made a negotiation request."

"After all, you equipped Xin Hai with a corresponding weapon system, giving it the ability to shoot down the floating cannons I deployed above Hai Zhi Island."

The divine child took a step forward, and the oppressive feeling of the holographic projection was right in front of Chen Bo's face.

"Tell me the truth, did you do this on purpose?"

Being verbally abused early in the morning didn't faze Chen Bo at all. He skillfully switched to his rigid, dull, and socially awkward engineer mode, spreading his hands and rolling his eyes to show the innocence and aversion to trouble of a pure tech geek.

"Lord Kuji, you're wronging me. As a researcher who values ​​efficiency, the worst thing I can do is reinvent the wheel."

Chen Bo rubbed the back of his head, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Shipping to Haiqi Island is time-sensitive, so out of laziness, I simply copied the equipment I gave you and packed it up for Xin Hai."

"Of course, due to the limited capacity of the rocket, the number of devices given to Xin Hai is far less than the number given to you."

Chen Bo has shipped goods to Shenzi several times. After acquiring new technologies, he has replenished Shenzi's equipment. Shenzi's equipment is equivalent to the quantity of four rockets, which is indeed more than Xin Hai's.

The divine child was so choked by this shameless excuse that her chest ached.

They sponsored the project themselves, but ended up being blamed for the weapons being used against them, giving Haiqi Island direct air superiority over the area. This greatly displeased Fox, who was used to being in control of the overall situation.

"Stop trying to fool me!" The Divine Child pointed a finger at Chen Bo's forehead from a distance. "Hurry up and use your administrator privileges to disable all the offensive modules and space-based firepower on those devices in the Heart Sea."

Chen Bo shook his head repeatedly, looking every bit like a stubborn old man who sticks to his principles.

"That won't do. Business is all about the spirit of contracts. Once the goods are sold, they're gone. Xin Hai is using this equipment to catch the Fool's Clan's spies."

"In case there's no time to send troops to stop it at a critical moment, activating the weapons can come in handy."

He even lowered his voice and muttered something very quietly.

"When you urgently requested the addition of a no-fly zone last night, you didn't tell me that weapons were forbidden."

This statement completely ignited the fox's tail.

Chen Bo didn't give her a chance to retaliate and pressed his advantage.

"Furthermore, Divine Child, back then you didn't want to personally help Haizhi Island with the dirty and tiring work of investigating undercover agents, and you wanted to be lazy, so you asked me to provide equipment support for Xinhai, right? You even said that she owed you a big favor."

The divine child opened her mouth, but her usually eloquent tongue was momentarily speechless, and she didn't know how to refute him.

Indeed, she didn't want to spend all her time watching surveillance footage to help Haigi Island catch spies, since she had outsourced the creation of the fake God's Eye to Ayaka Kamisato.

I'm very busy myself. Narukami Taisha has many affairs to handle, and I also have to review Yaedo's light novels.

Despite being in the wrong, this great demon, who had lived for hundreds of years, possessed an incredibly sharp intuition.

The goddess narrowed her long, fox-like eyes slightly, a scrutinizing light gleaming in her pupils. She sized up the seemingly honest young man in the picture, then suddenly launched into a highly aggressive probing attack.

"Tell me honestly, have you ever spied on me? After all, it's all your equipment."

Chen Bo remained calm and sent over a "Detailed List of Work Tasks for Last Month" that was dozens of pages long and densely formatted.

"Over the past thirty days, I have analyzed the ancient ruins guards, organized the new knowledge documents from the Order of the Church over the past two years, manufactured a massive number of capture mechs, cleared countless ruins guards, and built super armor. I have slept less than four hours a day. I guarantee that I have never done anything like this before."

The Divine Child stared at the dozens of pages of work content that were flipping through the pages. After carefully reading one page, he had to admit that Chen Bo was still busier.

Some potential suspicions were also dispelled, such as the idea that Chen Bo deliberately provoked trouble, then secretly watched him and Xin Hai fight, using him as a source of amusement.

Such an incredible workload, and such a focused work attitude.

Even the God Child had to admit that Chen Bo was very likely just a pure technical nerd obsessed with scientific research, completely ignorant of intrigue and power struggles, let alone scheming and plotting.

Currently, isn't all of Chen Bo's ideas about directly solving difficulties through technology?

"I suppose I misunderstood you." The divine child's tone softened, and she resumed her demeanor as a great demon: "You little brat, you dare to act wildly? Watch me take you down."

Communication was cut off.

Chen Bo stretched lazily without any hesitation. He casually sent a text message to the Divine Child, explaining that the Fools' known methods in Inazuma had all been specifically countered by this system.

I hope to have a happy holiday, and I will actively respond when the other party comes up with new tricks.

The divine child replied that there was no problem.

Naxi Da's image popped up in front of Chen Bo.

"Chen Bo, the work log you showed to Shenzi is real, and you did not spy on Shenzi's daily life through the backstage."

"However, I remember that when you were planning the equipment for the Heart Sea, the first set of printed blueprints you submitted didn't include any weapon modules, out of laziness."

Nasita tilted her head and said, word by word, "Last night, the Divine Child called via holographic communication late at night, requesting you to set Narukami Island as an absolute no-fly zone at the system's core. Three minutes after that call ended, you impulsively submitted the blueprints for the weapon and radar modules to the printer."

Naxida saw through it.

He had not hidden any of his secrets from Nasita, so it was no surprise that they were exposed.

Sometimes, the person who understands you best is your personal assistant.

Chen Bo scratched the back of his head and said, "Hehe, it was really a sudden inspiration. I gave Xin Hai a weapon system, thinking that maybe something funny would happen."

"However, upon further reflection, the weapon system is indeed necessary. What if we discover that the Fools are about to do something bad, and there's no time to send troops to stop them?"

Edge of Haegeishima Island.

The air was thick with moisture, and the sea breeze carried a strong, salty smell as it swept by. The waves relentlessly pounded against the dark gray reefs.

Here, the first round of negotiations between Umijima and Narukamima is taking place.

On one side is the living goddess Kokoro Mikoto of Umiji Island, and on the other side is the projection of Yae no Miko.

The two were separated by an entire stretch of sea, yet neither of them spoke first.

Xin Hai stood straight, with the rocket debris that had just been unloaded behind him and the air defense radar control console of Luna 2 already activated beside him.

On the radar display screen, the divine child's floating telescopes had all been marked.

Xin Hai broke the silence first. Her voice was calm and her pace was neither fast nor slow, showing the composure of someone in a superior position.

"Lord Yaegami, I request that all the floating telescopes deployed over the island of Kaiju be removed within a limited time."

"Haigee Island desires equal respect."

The goddess replied with a smile, "Oh dear, Lady Coral Palace came to see me so early. I thought it was something of great importance."

"Those floating telescopes are essentially guarding your Haiqi Island for free. You know perfectly well how many spies of the Fools are lurking on the island. I'm kindly protecting your home, and instead of thanking me, you want to kick me out?"

She tilted her head, looking aggrieved.

"Lord Coral Palace, one should not be ungrateful."

Xin Hai's expression remained unchanged.

She knew this rhetoric all too well. This "I'm doing this for your own good" logic was all too common at the negotiating table; essentially, it meant, "I'm taking advantage of you, and you still have to thank me."

"I appreciate Yae no Kyouji's kindness."

Xin Hai took a step forward, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"However, starting today, Haizhi Island has independent security capabilities. We have everything we need: high-altitude surveillance telescopes, eavesdropping equipment, capture mechs, and air defense radar."

She raised her chin.

"Haigi Island can handle things like catching undercover agents on its own."

"But Lord Chief, have you cleaned up the corrupt officials in the Heavenly Territory and the Surveying Office? Instead of worrying about the domestic affairs of our Haiji Island, you should sweep your own yard first."

The corruption among the officials in charge of imperial decrees and those in charge of decrees is indeed very serious.

They are no longer loyal to the country, nor to General Thunder.

I am also collecting evidence myself.

This matter is indeed one of the most troublesome messes she's dealing with right now.

Even a great demon who has lived for hundreds of years would feel uncomfortable if a junior pointed out his sore spot to his face.

But a divine child is, after all, a divine child.

She quickly put on a smile again.

"It seems that Lord Coral Palace has gained a lot more confidence after getting the new toy."

The divine child put away the gohei, crossed his arms over his chest, and his tone turned cold.

"Then let me tell you something practical."

"The equipment you have consists of only one rocket, one set of space-based cannons, fifteen floating telescopes, and ten capture mechs."

The divine child reported each item one by one, with the data accurate to the single digit.

Xin Hai's pupils contracted slightly—this woman knew exactly how much merchandise he had received, and the entire process of receiving the goods was under the watchful eye of the Divine Child.

The feeling of being secretly watched is really uncomfortable.

"And the equipment I have in my hand," the Divine Child held up four fingers, "is the equipment for four rockets."

Later, with the advent of new technologies, Chen Bo also reissued a lot of equipment to Shenzi.

"My firepower is several times that of yours. Even in air combat, after destroying your aerial weapons, I'll still have plenty left."

She took a step forward, and the projected image zoomed in, the exquisite fox face almost touching her heart.

"After the battle, your space-based cannons will be destroyed, and all your telescopes will be wiped out. What will you use to capture the Fools? Fishing nets?"

'

Xin Hai remained silent.

Her hands hung at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.

What the divine child said is true.

It's a pure numerical crushing victory; there's no room for trickery.

Indeed, he had no trump cards to play.

Moon 2 stood behind Xin Hai, quietly observing the game between the two.

She didn't interrupt, but her mental database had already completed the simulation—the conclusion was the same as what the Divine Child had said: the chances of Haiji Island winning were less than eight percent.

In this situation, can Xin Hai still turn the tide?

Seeing that Xin Hai remained silent, the Divine Child pressed his advantage.

"not to mention."

Her tone became more serious.

"Lord Coral Palace, have you considered this? Umijima Island has already indirectly posed a substantial threat to Narukami Island."

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"You want me to remove the surveillance?" The Divine Child shook his head. "If I remove it, and one day you suddenly decide to lead troops to launch a surprise attack on Narukami Island, I won't even have time to warn you."

"Therefore, the surveillance will not be removed."

Not a single one.

This is a dead end.

Xin Hai stood on the reef, the sea breeze making her hair a little messy.

But she could not order the firing.

This batch of equipment was manufactured by that inventor overnight. It was intended to save Haiji Island, not to be used for internal conflict with the Divine Child.

Every piece of equipment lost means one less piece of protection for Haizhi Island.

Xin Hai closed his eyes briefly.

As the art of war says: the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities.

A head-on confrontation is the worst possible strategy.

Since the forces are not equal, let's try a different path.

Xin Hai reopened her eyes, and this time, the sharpness in them had largely subsided. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her voice softened.

"Lord Yae-no-miya, you are right."

The divine child raised an eyebrow.

She hadn't expected Xin Hai to suddenly give in.

This isn't right.

But Xin Hai didn't give her much time to think.

"What bad intentions could I possibly have?"

Xin Hai lowered his head, his voice filled with exhaustion. This exhaustion was real; he hadn't slept all night, worrying about the supplies, flight routes, undercover agents, and the waiting for equipment on Haizhi Island.

I have dark circles under my eyes. It's okay when I'm excited, but I look very tired once I relax.

"Every day, all I think about is how to make sure everyone has food, how to ensure the wounded have access to medicine, and how to prevent fishing boats from being seized by the Shogunate army when they go out to sea."

"I will not start a war casually."

She raised her head and looked directly into the goddess's eyes.

"The lives of the people of Haizhi Island matter too. Who wants to fight if they can survive?"

The divine child did not respond.

She gazed silently into the depths of her heart. With her experience, the Divine Child could naturally discern how much sincerity and how much performance were behind those words.

It's very true, but it has a ulterior motive.

The exhaustion was real, and so was the helplessness. But choosing to speak out at this particular time was itself a negotiation strategy.

Show the enemy weakness.

interesting.

Xin Hai continued, "Furthermore, Lord Gong Si, have you considered that if our two families continue to be so wary and mutually destructive, who will ultimately be the happiest?"

"The Fools."

When those two words came out of Shinkai's mouth, Shinko's eyelids twitched.

"They'd love for us to fight," Xin Hai said, his words quickening. "The fiercer the battle between Narukami Island and Umiji Island, the more they..."

The darker the place, the safer it is. While we're wasting each other's energy watching each other, nobody else is watching them. Lord Kōji isn't unaware of this.

The divine child remained silent for a few seconds.

She admitted that Xin Hai was right.

There is absolutely no need for me to be at odds with my inner world.

But while they acknowledge it, the matter of removing the surveillance cameras still needs further consideration.

Xin Hai: "So, I have a suggestion."

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