I am on the Ark, a succubus, pure and innocent.

"Take my grandmother Ulrich for example. She made vows of chastity to nine men and seven women throughout her life. When did she ever keep them? But my grandmother Catherine still loved her."

"It won't hurt me to be talked about, as long as I get the benefits, it doesn't matter."

"..."

Lin Yuxia slapped her forehead, speechless... This palace secret was truly explosive. But thinking about it, it made sense; didn't they bring that little rascal home every day?

If the grandson is like this, how can the grandmother be any better?

...

3:23 AM

"Xiaoyue, wake up, we're here."

The calls mixed with gentle pats pulled Bai Yue from her sleep. She slowly opened her sleepy eyes, looked at Lin Yuxia kneeling on the back seat and patting her, and said in a soft voice:

"Where...where are we?"

so cute!

His sweet and obedient voice immediately captivated Lin Yuxia's heart, making her want to give him a big kiss to express her love. Hey... it doesn't seem like a bad idea. He's not a stranger, so what's wrong with a kiss?

Lin Yuxia leaned forward, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear with her right hand, and lightly kissed his lips with a soft "smack," chuckling softly:

"They've arrived outside Chernobog and just reached their target location. Chen is organizing people, working overtime with the Rhodes Island staff to move things into the city."

"Froststar's father is quite capable. He sent you boxes and boxes of treasures and even gave you a few heads, saying it was to thank you for issuing them entry permits. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy."

"Ah woo~"

Bai Yue yawned, sat up from Rosemary's lap, and gently lifted her to the seat, thoughtfully using her tail to make a headrest for her.

After doing all this, he got out of the car with Lin Yuxia's help, closed the car door behind him, and said in a low voice, "It wasn't me. I didn't sign the document for him. It was stamped with Charlotte's seal, which Witt specifically left for me."

Lin Yuxia took his hand and made him lean against her, and said with a smile, "Yes, yes, Yue'er didn't do anything."

"But that old man is really awkward. If he wanted to care about Frostnova, he could have just said so. Instead, he brought a few heads to scare you, like a child playing a prank."

Bai Yue held her hand tightly, her eyes slightly closed, and laughed as if in a dream: "Hehe, shameless old child."

The lights shining down from Chernobog in the distance were incredibly bright, like lighthouses, illuminating the surrounding area as if it were daytime.

Many people busied themselves on the ground, loading the mountains of treasures into carts before heading into the city, their destination the Earl's mansion, where a treasury had already been established.

One by one, treasures were swallowed up by the city, and infected people were registered and given medicine. Their faces showed a long-lost ease, and even their tear ducts seemed unusually relaxed.

It kept flowing.

Suddenly, Frostnova, accompanied by a shield guard, rushed to Bai Yue's side without stopping, her face flushed with excitement.

Bai Yue was a little confused: "What's wrong? What's making you so happy?"

"arms!"

Froststar gestured excitedly, "My dad accidentally discovered a code used by the Ursus army a hundred years ago, and found a huge amount of it here—no, it's beyond just a lot, it's everywhere!"

"..."

Bai Yue was a little confused. She exchanged a glance with Lin Yuxia and asked hesitantly, "Is it possible... that this is their smuggling warehouse?"

Lin Yuxia was also a little confused. No way, what a coincidence?

The Shield Guard confirmed their suspicions: "After the captain opened the armory, we caught a nobleman's steward inside. He was a spineless coward. He said this was a temporary warehouse for the Third Army."

"We originally intended to destroy them, but since you're here, we'll let you handle them. Consider it payment for the food, clothing, and shelter we provided to the infected people. Is that acceptable to you?"

Oh wow, what a stroke of good luck!

Bai Yue smiled with delight: "Of course! The reconstruction of Chernobog desperately needs military support. Your surprise is just in time."

"Ah That's good."

The shield guard nodded, then said in a low voice, "There's one more thing."

"Go on," Bai Yue said, listening attentively.

The shield guard scratched his head: "It's that... Recently, we've killed quite a few nobles around here using the entry permits you gave us. A couple of days ago, we caught one who had slipped through the net. He said that this matter has been reported to Saint-Germain Castle, and an arrest warrant has been issued."

"I'm afraid we have to move; it's not safe for us to stay here any longer."

"Hey, you mean this?"

Bai Yue said nonchalantly, "It's alright. I'm the one who's suppressing bandits. You can stay here as long as you want. Just be careful of the nobles' private soldiers. No regular troops will come to surround and wipe you out."

"really?"

"Have you forgotten who issued your entry permits? In this area, my words are equivalent to official statements. Even if they disagree, they can only keep quiet about it openly."

"Oh, then we're relieved. I'll go back and tell the captain."

Chapter 161 The Regretful Sucker Hostage

Two days later.

The intersection of the mobile city of Gordes and the mobile city of Chernobog.

Huge construction machinery lifted the containers piled up here onto construction vehicles, and the vehicles lined up to form a long queue, efficiently hauling the containers away.

Not far away, on a temporary platform.

Bai Yue gazed at the bustling scene in the distance and smiled at the crowd behind her, "Hey, Marquis of Grod, and gentlemen, aren't you touched that I'm accepting some gifts from you?"

The group cautiously glanced at Bozokasti standing behind them, watching his monstrous Originium arm slowly twist his halberd, and immediately shook their heads:

"Don't dare to move."

"Hmm? Not moved?"

Bai Yue turned around and raised an eyebrow, saying, "So, do you have any complaints about my hospitality? It's alright, feel free to speak your mind. I'm a very democratic person and good at listening to opinions."

Is it true?

A young nobleman stepped forward, but before he could say anything, with a 'thud,' a long sword pierced through his chest. He looked down at the blood-stained blade, wanting to say something, but blood overflowed from his mouth and nose, silencing his last words.

Bai Yue looked at the nobleman whose chest had been pierced by a Sarkaz warrior, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth and said, "Oh dear, I forgot, these Sarkaz warriors under my command aren't very obedient, especially they don't like others giving me advice."

"I'm so sorry, I'll definitely punish them severely when I get back."

"..."

Looking at the familiar Ursus-style longsword in the hands of the Sarkaz warrior, Marquis Gorod felt as if he was about to find peace.

He was furious, furious at himself for being such an idiot for calling this plague god over! So what if he doesn't have anyone protecting him? He could just make a living off it. Why was he so reluctant to part with this worthless thing?

Damn it, this is really bad. I felt something was off when I looked at the flight path of Chernobog's core city two days ago. Holy crap, how did he find the armory?!

That's all.

The worst part is that I was stupid enough to believe his promise. Damn it, why?! Why did I get lured into the farewell party he suggested?! And I stupidly brought out all the noble families in the city.

*Ursus profanity*, well, now look what happened, this untrustworthy little Deng has caught us all in one fell swoop.

His face was grim, but he held onto a sliver of hope as he said, "Your Highness, this isn't what you said before. You made a promise." He looked at the mountain of containers opposite him and said urgently, "Look, we've fulfilled our promise to you, but why are you..."

He said no more; he knew he couldn't say anything more, or he would be forcing the other man to kill him.

At this point, all we can do is pray that this heartless little Deng will have a change of heart.

Bai Yue nodded slowly, admitting, "That's right, Marquis, I did make a promise, but given the current situation, well..."

"Do you remember what our agreement was? Come on, tell us, so everyone can hear it."

Marquis Gorod murmured, “You promised that as long as our various families contribute to your city, you will guarantee to use intercity trade to cover our safe arrival in Kazimierz with our property to receive political asylum.”

“We have kept our promise and provided you with financial assistance and these rare resources free of charge. You see, we have done everything we were supposed to do.”

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

Bai Yue clapped, still acknowledging his statement: "That's right, Marquis, I did make that promise, and I'm very pleased that you kept it, but..."

He drew out his words and smiled slightly, "My lord, in this day and age, promises are no longer maintained by faith; equal terms are the foundation of promises."

“There is an old saying in Yan: ‘Times change.’ Now that I have found the weapons you have hidden, and you have come to my ‘Feast at Hongmen,’ it means that you have completely lost all your chips.”

"Marquis, I really have a hard time finding a reason to let you go. Can you give me one?"

"reason..."

Marquis Gordes stared blankly, wondering what reason could possibly justify this cold-blooded little Deng, who showed no martial ethics whatsoever, letting them off the hook?

As he said, he had already taken away their bargaining chips, namely the arms. The size and combat power gap between the mobile cities had also been leveled because these noble patriarchs had participated in this trap.

Not only that, the monster sorceress named Frostnova also led so many Sarkaz warriors into her mobile city. Under her terrifying power, it's easy to imagine what kind of mess the private army, now without its leader, would make of them.

We can't win, we simply can't win!

The fate of this city for the next few days, or even months, will be entirely at the mercy of this prince, like fish on a chopping board, powerless to resist.

The question now is no longer about preserving assets and getting to Kazimierz; in the current situation, simply saving one's life would be a success!

Seeing that he couldn't speak for a long time, Bai Yue looked bored. She conjured a bone pen in her hand, wrote incantations in the air, and shot it directly at the corpse of the nobleman who had just been pierced through the chest by a blade.

The bright silver incantation struck the corpse, instantly turning it into blood.

Bai Yue wrote another line of incantation, drew a drop of blood from afar to her front, and with a touch of the pen tip, the blood shot back into the pool of blood. In an instant, it took root and sprouted like a seed.

Blood-red thorns grew from the pool of blood, spreading up the legs and bodies of many nobles.

Looking at this strangely beautiful scene, Bai Yue coldly said to Marquis Grodde, "You have about three minutes before these thorns strangle you. Have you thought about what you're going to say?"

Horrible, absolutely terrifying!

Marquis Gorod felt the thorns piercing his flesh, drawing blood and nourishing his body—a foreign sensation that instantly shattered his defenses. He shouted:

“Your Highness, I am willing to give you half… no, all, all my property. I also have a secret Originium ingot warehouse, a private account in Kazimir with a lot of money, and… please spare me,”

Not only him, but other nobles who felt the life-or-death crisis also offered their own prices.

"..."

The conditions they offered were so numerous that Bai Yue couldn't keep up, but he was certain that these people were all rare suckers. So he quickly withdrew the thorns and called to the Sarkaz warrior beside him:

"Take them to the city and treat them well. Hmm... Invite their families over as well, give them a notebook and have them write down what they say. Have Froststar find everything she can in the city, one by one. Do you understand?"

A group of Sarkaz lads stood at attention.

"Yes, Your Highness! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

Bai Yue, still uneasy, ordered the group again: *Follow them to Chernobog*

Still not reassured, he smiled at Bozhuokasti and said, "Please escort them. If any of them try to run away, don't hesitate to ask."

"Humph."

Despite his dissatisfaction with his orders, Bozocasti stepped forward and stood behind the nobles, keeping a close eye on them.

These are all golden hostages!

Chapter 162 Life is truly as lonely as snow.

For seven whole days, the Sarkaz warriors unearthed the wealth belonging to the nobles in Gorod City and transported it all to Chernobog amidst the bewildered gazes of the city's citizens.

For seven whole days, the wealth transported into the Earl's mansion could not be more aptly described by the phrase "tripods and cauldrons, jade and precious stones, gold nuggets and pearls, scattered and cascading" from the Ode to the Epang Palace.

......

*The heavy sound of the door closing*

*Sound of gears turning*

*Mechanical card silence*

Her fair, delicate hand pulled out the massive brass key, covering it with transparent ice crystals that completely sealed the keyhole and prevented the massive brass compass from being turned in a short time.

After doing all this, she turned around, extinguished the candle, and walked into the dark passageway.

......

The basement of the Earl's mansion's main building.

Unlike the traditional cramped and stuffy basement, this place is brightly lit, and the soft light makes the chalk-white walls look like they are piled with gold.

It also illuminated the magnificent murals above.