Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

418 Hong San’s Intelligence

Hong San said, “On this premise, we have to take action and say it one by one.”

He spoke in a calm tone and looked reliable and steady.

The transformation was a flip from the inside out. It was a qualitative change that had accumulated. It melted his inferiority complex into confidence and reconstructed his wretchedness into an atmosphere. When the person called Hong San really recognized his life, path, and meaning, he faced his knowledge and talent over the years seriously because of this. It was like a dream in the mortal world, and he was a completely different person from before.

One by one, he spoke calmly.

“The most important threats now are not the elves who did not retreat, the current dragons, or even that powerful enemy from outer space…”

Kang De leaned against the back of the seat and chewed on the Bataan fruit, his eyes filled with smiles. He discovered that his frustration had already disappeared. Although the enemy and challenge still existed, they no longer made him feel troublesome and helpless.

Seeing his smile, Hong San was stunned. “Your Highness, did I say anything wrong?”

Kang De waved his hand and said, “No, I just feel that with you here to advise me, I’m confident.”

Hong San looked at him a few times. “Didn’t Your Highness discuss these things with others?”

Kang De shrugged. “Who should I tell?”

“Didn’t anyone say?”

Hong San was first surprised, then he thought for a moment and revealed an enlightened expression.

He nodded and said, “I see. The Crimson Lady is a loyal companion and partner and can become a good listener, but she can’t discuss and negotiate as a companion in strategy. His Highness Horus’s experience is limited. As for Princess Tina… I roughly understand.”

At this point, Hong San looked at Kang De and an inexplicable smile appeared on his face as if he had already seen through his nature.

Kang De said unhappily, “What are you laughing at?”

“This is not mockery, but a knowing smile.”

Hong San said, “Your Highness is unwilling to discuss such a problem with Princess Tina because the content of the discussion is the dilemma and danger you’re facing at this moment. In the end, these come from Goethe and originate from you helping Goethe and standing on their side, so you attracted the enemy’s prying and targeting.”

“If we discuss this problem with Princess Tina, I’m afraid it will increase her guilt. It’s precisely with such care and pity that you kept such a thing in your heart, right?”

“…”

Kang De leaned his elbow on the table and supported his chin. He glanced at Hong San from the corner of his eye. “Yes, am I very yasashi?”

“Yasashi… does it mean gentle and considerate?”

Hong San immediately deduced the meaning of this word, then smiled and said, “Indeed, from the moment I got to know Your Highness, you’ve displayed a shocking pity. You clearly come from a noble and extraordinary background, but you can realistically experience the pain of the people in the dirty mortal world and pity them. You’re angry for the injustice and sorrow they encountered and are willing to draw your sword for this anger.”

“You might think that this is very normal, but you’re only used to it. Just like how a fatuous ruler is born with a carefree life, you’ll think that the commoners are clothed and fed on meat. Saints are born with morals, so you’ll think that morals are normal. You’ll think that the world is polite, principled, and loyal… That’s actually not the case.”

“If morality is common and everyone has it, there won’t be any morality in the world at all.”

“It’s precisely because all living beings in this world are suffering and the world is unfair everywhere that the eminent monk wrote the scripture and the great scholar made a statement. The commoners look forward to it and yearn for the Saint to descend and eliminate injustice and evil…”

At this point, Hong San revealed a serious expression. He looked at Kang De and said seriously, “You’re that Saint.”

…After not seeing him for a few days, why were this guy’s bootlicking skills so strong?

However, humans were such a sad species. Even if they knew that it was flattery, they were still very happy. Just like how everyone knew that the auspicious words were only auspicious, they were happy to hear them.

Could it be that those incapable rulers did not know that the fawning ministers beside them were only incompetent and flattering? They knew, but these guys were all talented and spoke nicely. They really liked to be surrounded and coaxed by them.

Kang De could not help but smile.

However, Hong San continued, “However, such saint-like kindness and consideration can only attract colleagues, followers, and revered people. If it’s used on women who have a good impression of them equally, it’s very easy to mess things up. It’s precisely because of this that Your Highness has never understood the thoughts of women…”

“—In the end, it still turned into this problem!”

“No, Your Highness. What I mean is…”

Sunlight shone in through the window behind Kang De, illuminating Hong San’s face. A gentle smile appeared on the Cathayan’s face, “I’m here. I’m willing to resolve Your Highness’s worries.”

“…” Kang De trembled. “It’s a little mushy.”

Hong San shrugged like Kang De, “If those words just now were said by a beautiful and voluptuous woman, Your Highness is most likely already head over heels in love and willing to go through hell for her.”

“—Don’t make me sound so useless!”

“My master said that since ancient times, when young heroes with bright futures walk the martial world for the first time, they will always yearn to be chivalrous and famous in the world. They also yearn to encounter an unforgettable love in the martial world. After a thousand years, many fledgling young heroes have fallen in a daze. They have either been plucked by the ferocious demonic women of the Demon Cult or trapped by righteous women who are too old to marry. In the carefully composed script story, young heroes lack both identification and resistance.”

Hong San said seriously, “They’re just like Your Highness. They’re innocent and coquettish.”

“—Hey!”

“Your Highness, don’t worry. With me around, that dirty woman won’t be able to approach you.”

“In the end, are we starting to discuss such a problem now?”

“Then what should I say? Your Highness’s recent emotional life? When you heard me mention Princess Tina, your eyebrows raised and you revealed a proud expression. I’m afraid there’s some good news. Princess Tina must love Your Highness extremely and have a deep love for her. After all, who doesn’t love to be angry and only fight the Twilight army alone for a beauty? With Your Highness’s innocent and cunning personality, you must have bid your time and welcomed everyone, enjoying the hundred kinds of attacks Princess Tina took the initiative to launch…”

“—Are you monitoring me?”

“No, this is only a very normal deduction. After all, Hong San already knows Your Highness’s personality. However, Princess Tina’s attacks are like a rainbow, but the Crimson Lady is not fragile. She’s ignorant, so her jealousy is not small. On the one hand, Your Highness desires more, but you have to worry about the Crimson Lady’s thoughts. It must be very difficult…”

“Let’s talk about the Cathayan witch and heroine.”

Hong San laughed.

“What are you laughing at?”

“I only thought of something happy.” Hong San could not help but smile, “Your Highness is born with morals and is as compassionate as a Saint. You also have the weapons of a Saint. Such a hero is actually vexed and troubled for his love in private. It’s interesting to think about it. Looking at history, future generations should not know that a Saint is so cute.”

Kang De leaned on the table. “Speak human language…”

“It means that I have to plan a strategy and deal with the enemy’s expectations. I should help you resolve your worries. This is Hong San’s responsibility, but Your Highness is in charge. As an outsider, it’s not good for me to say anything.”

The strategist smiled and said, “However, we always understand the matters of men and women. Your Highness clearly doesn’t treat Princess Tina as one of us. This is not good. Sometimes, facing her side by side is better than unilaterally friendly protection.”

“You understand again.”

“It’s better than Your Highness.”

...

“Bullsh*t! How are you stronger than me?”

“Your Highness, I’ve slept with a prostitute.”

“…”

“And there are many.”

“…This is not considered experience!”

“Why not? Even a woman in this profession is still a woman.”

“That’s completely different, okay?! Isn’t that just paying?”

“Your Highness, please allow me to report.” Hong San chatted about the past and was actually very calm, “The fireworks woman uses her physical body as a commodity. She’s used to doing that. She lacks shame and a corner of her mind is missing. However, everything in the world lasts forever. If there’s a flaw in her heart, it means that she wants something. Even the fireworks woman has something she wants. I spent money to find prostitutes firstly because I’m hot-blooded and have my own desires. Secondly, it’s to verify the skills Master taught me…”

Kang De was shocked, jealous, and envious when he heard this. He shouted, “Your master even taught you bedroom techniques? Give me the secret manual!”

“…No, it’s a method to control people’s hearts.”

Hong San shook his head and said, “For example, it costs ten copper coins to hire the same woman every time, but the experience is like heaven and earth whether she cooperates or not. From her words and actions, and her expression, I can determine her personality, guess her experience, control her emotions, and seize her good impression. By just paying ten copper coins, I can get the experience of paying 30 coins…”

...

He concluded, “The fireworks woman is also a woman. There’s also joy, anger, sorrow, separation, and joy. There’s also daydreaming, weak times, and a flawed past… There’s no difference.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…Your Highness?”

“No…” Kang De said with a complicated expression, “I don’t know what to say.”

The topic inadvertently deviated here.

In the end, he turned back.

“The key to the problem now is not the dragons, the enemies from outer space, the Empire, or the elves…”

“What’s that?”

Hong San said seriously, “When will you marry Her Highness Tina?”

“…Stop joking.”

“This is not a joke, Your Highness.”

The strategist said seriously, “You’re now the hero of Goethe. You’re revered, treated politely, and valued, but that’s all. The Goethe people respect you like a god, but the army, mages, and subjects of Goethe don’t listen to your orders. You don’t have any authority, so there’s only one reason for this, and that’s that you haven’t settled your marriage status with Princess Tina and joined the power system of Goethe.”

“This led to a certain alienation and wandering. The Grand Duke and the nobles are polite enough to you, but you’re not one of us. The reverence is greater than intimacy. They can’t find your position in the Goethe power system, nor can they entrust authority and give authority. You didn’t care about this previously, but a new enemy has already appeared. You and Goethe should complement each other, but your will can’t directly drive the power of the country of Goethe…”

He slowed down his tone so that Kang De could think carefully, “We can only achieve our goal by affecting the Grand Duke. After all, there’s a layer between us. It’s inefficient and very unstable. When you conflict with the Grand Duke’s will, the power of Goethe will not be used by you…”

Hong San waited for a short while and continued, “In my opinion, if we want to resolve the next problem and challenge very well, we have to resolve this problem first and unite you and Goethe. Only then can we fight more efficiently with relevant interests. Otherwise, our differences and dissatisfaction will still grow.”

Kang De pinched the space between his eyebrows. He roughly understood what Hong San had said.

The strength of the country was huge, and the potential of the country was endless. If he wanted to fight the elves, the Empire, and even the enemies from outer space, he not only had to rely on technology and weapons from Earth, but he also had to use the strength of the country of Goethe. Just as Hong San had said, he had to become Goethe’s “owner”.

He sighed, “Marrying Tina for this… is a little strange. Moreover…”

Hong San continued, “Moreover, you’re afraid that the Crimson Lady will kill you and the Phoenix King will burn you to death? Moreover, you still have greedy and ugly ambitions in your heart. You want…”

“—Shut up!”

“Alright, I understand. Your Highness doesn’t want to marry Princess Tina immediately… This is not all a bad thing. Although marriage can integrate into Goethe and join the power system as soon as possible, this is a double-edged sword. The benefit is that you’ll immediately turn your contributions, strength, and the support of the people into actual power. The disadvantage is…”

Hong San said, “Power naturally has the characteristic of distortion and greed and will encourage the selfish desires of people. As a normal country, for hundreds of years, power has intertwined and twisted into an evil alliance of vested interests. If Your Highness joins, you’ll enjoy benefits and be controlled by it, burying hidden dangers of conflict…”

“So?”

“Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to start afresh. Since Your Highness is unwilling to mix your emotions with benefits and politics, let’s choose another path.”

Kang De changed his posture. “What’s the details?”

“You have to take it one step at a time. You have to complete the first step first.”

“What’s that?”

Hong San gave a thumbs up and said to Kang De, “You have to deal with Princess Tina first. Use your charm, beauty, initiative, and attack to make her fall head over heels for you and make her understand, agree, and even cooperate with this plan. After all, this path also needs the princess…”

“Yes… wait.”

“What?”

“I mean…” Kang De scratched his head.” Tina told me last night that she wanted to build an armed force that was independent of her father and only listened to her and me…”

“It’s actually like this?”

Hong San was surprised. “It’s been a few months since we last met. Princess Tina has actually become so decisive?”

“…Can’t she be mesmerized by my charm, beauty, initiative, and attack?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Your Highness, this is called answering without answering.”

At this moment, a sound came from outside and Tina arrived.