"Where are you planning on taking the Princess?" The knight commander stepped forward to block the path before Princess Melia could speak.
Luo’er remained silent, coldly looking at him. Melia stepped forward, waved him away, and then said, "It’s my decision. You all wait here. If I don’t come back in time, proceed as we planned."
"Your Highness, please allow us to accompany you!" The commander pleaded, worry written all over his face.
"I said, follow the plan we agreed on. Did you not understand?" Melia frowned, her tone colder. Seeing her angered, the commander conceded and reluctantly stepped back.
"Sir Luo’er, I have some things to bring with you. May I bring a carriage?" After dismissing the commander, Melia turned again to Luo’er with a pleasant smile.
"Sure!" Luo’er nodded.
The knights brought a carriage, and after Luo’er inspected it, wooden boxes were loaded onto the vehicle in his presence. Then, Melia rolled up her sleeves and got onto the carriage.
"Can you drive it? Or would you prefer I drive the carriage while you ride on horseback?" Luo’er asked from the side, looking at her.
Melia looked up at Luo’er and smiled sweetly, mischievously asking, "Are you worried about me?"
"Uh..." Luo’er was taken aback by Melia’s question. Seeing the teasing light in her eyes, he faltered. Thankfully, Cheng Ziang coughed from the side, snapping him back, and he hastily excused himself on horseback.
"Listen, if anything happens to Princess Melia while she’s with you, I will not let you off the hook, no matter where you’re from," the commander warned them fiercely just before they left.
"There’s no need to worry, Commander," retorted Luo’er calmly. "Princess Melia is our guest, and we will make sure of her safety."
"Just remember, I do not make empty threats," The commander glared right back, unyielding in his stance.
The two men rode ahead while Melia followed with the carriage. Although she looked confident, they could see her movements were awkward; she must not have learnt this recently.
It’s strange that Princess Melia, rather than staying in Galan, travelled across the rebel-held area all the way to Yazhi City. What could she be thinking? Is she willing to compromise with Earth to end the conflict in Masya sooner?
But such a thought seemed unrealistic. To negotiate with Earth, Masya would have to send someone in charge. Dispatching Princess Melia, who is powerless in Masya, is a joke.
Cheng Ziang, seeing Luo’er’s worried expression, couldn’t resist commenting,"If Moumou saw you like that earlier, you’d certainly get an earful tonight."
"Huh..." Luo’er, caught off guard, quickly coughed to cover up his confusion, blushing slightly as he defensively said, "I’m just worried about us wasting time."
"Well, you’d better explain it to Moumou, not me," Cheng Ziang laughed.
"Don’t mess around when we get back!" Luo’er glared at him, figuring out that he was fooling around.
"What do you think Melia came to Yazhi City for?" Cheng Ziang asked, looking back at her out of curiosity.
Luo’er looked back at her, and then said seriously, "We can’t be sure whether she’s representing Masya or herself. If she’s representing Masya, it’s very likely related to the conflict. If she’s representing herself, I guess she wants our help in seizing power."
"She wants our help in seizing the throne from the crown prince of Masya?" Cheng Ziang asked, blinking in surprise.
"That’s just my speculation," Luo’er replied.
"Interference in internal affairs goes against our principles," Cheng Ziang pointed out.
"Are you being silly? The Five Principles are for Earth nations, not for Otherworld," Luo’er said, shrugging.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Cheng Ziang looked back again to find Melia smiling at him. He turned back to Luo’er, slightly embarrassed and suggested, "How about you go and make conversation with her?"
"Why should I go?" Luo’er turned him down.
"She seems to get along well with you; you can probably get more information out of her." Cheng Ziang said, winking at him suggestively.
"Forget it. The fact that she hasn’t manipulated me is already a good thing," Luo’er still refused.
"Okay, I won’t tell Moumou about the flirting between you and Melia," Cheng Ziang said, a half smile on his face.
"I really can’t stand you. Using this to threaten me?" Luo’er rolled his eyes at him, but he was wavering; it wasn’t so much about Tangmo, but he also had questions for Melia.
Luo’er shook his head without further acknowledging Cheng Ziang. He slowed his horse, allowing Melia’s carriage to catch up to him, then proceeded side by-side with her.
"It’s rare that you would seek me out," Melia greeted Luo’er with a cheerful smile.
"I just have a few questions for you," Luo’er replied.
"Go ahead, what do you want to ask?" Melia tilted her head to look at him.
"Uh." Seeing her straightforwardness, Luo’er was slightly taken aback.
"What’s wrong?" Melia tilted her head and asked.
"I thought you wanted some mutually beneficial exchange of information." Luo’er said.
"We had that exchange before because we were collaborators, now I’m treating you as a friend." Melia said with a smile.
Luo’er looked at her smile, unable to tell if Melia was being polite or sincere. However, in the face of her radiant smile, Luo’er felt a bit awkward. He turned his head aside and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I’m honored!"
Seeing his reaction, Melia lowered her head and uttered in a voice that only she could hear, "Luo’er, do you think that politicians don’t have feelings?"
"What?" Luo’er heard her murmur and turned to ask.
"Nothing, what would you like to ask me?" Melia continued to gaze up at him, a sweet smile still on her face.
"How on Earth did you make it to Yazhi City?" Luo’er couldn’t help but voice the question that was eating at him.
Hearing Luo’er’s question, Melia didn’t seem surprised, or more precisely, she had already guessed what he wanted to ask. She averted her gaze and stared ahead, saying somewhat gloomily, "I persuaded my father to let me form an army to confront the rebels. But I had nothing besides my knight corps and some of my own jewelry; no weapons, no troops. So I risked being arrested, crossing the rebel-held area to seek help in Yazhi City."
"Why did you come to us? Was it because we’ve worked together before?" Luo’er asked.
"I’ve researched Earth and have seen some reports about it. I know the current power divisions on Earth, who’s Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform." Melia said, staring into the distance.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Luo’er abruptly said.
"A very insightful conclusion." Melia said with a smile.
"So, you thought of reaching out to us for connection, to cooperate with our organization?" Luo’er asked.
"I know the current situation in Masya better than anyone. Why the rebels cannot be eliminated, I understand it better than anyone," Melia lowered her head and said, "Earth’s nations control everything. To defeat them, we have to seek Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform. Unfortunately, neither my father nor my brother sees this. No ministers in the court understand it either."
Seeing her somewhat downcast expression, Luo’er too fell silent. Suddenly, he spoke again, his words cryptic, "NATO, the largest military organization on Earth, with almost half of Earth’s military power."
"What?" Melia lifted her head, asking with a puzzled face.
"The power Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform." Luo’er replied.
"So, they’re controlling the rebels?" Melia asked.
"No, they’re just interfering in this war." Luo’er said.
"I’ve heard of them before, are you their enemy?" Melia asked, looking at him.
"No," Luo’er shook his head, then continued, "We’re simply competitors. Earth ended such open military confrontations decades ago, replacing them with cold confrontations between national groups."
"So, it seems like Masya is suppressing domestic rebellion, but in fact, we’re battling the most powerful military organization on Earth." Melia nodded and said, "It seems my previous views were all correct. It’s not possible to eliminate these rebels without external interventions."
"Do you know, " Melia smiled at Luo’er, "after you complete your mission, I plan to burn the intelligence I’ve given you."
Luo’er paused, then asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
He was surprised at Melia’s candidness, though he had previously speculated that she might refuse to honor their agreement.
"Because I believe you’re trustworthy." Melia said with a glowing smile.
Seeing her smile, Luo’er was momentarily at a loss for words. He seemed to hear Cheng Ziang’s strange laughter in the distance, so he quickly coughed and prepared to steer the horse away from Melia.
"I vaguely remember you asking me a new question in your letter but I didn’t answer it then." Melia’s next words immediately stopped Luo’er’s movements.
"Is this issue very important to you all?" Melia asked, looking at him.
Luo’er knew she was referring to the issue with the Masya Artillery Battalion, an issue that the UN Security Council had debated for a whole year, so how could it not be important. But as Melia was now bringing this up, she obviously wanted to gauge their reaction.
If she knew this issue mattered greatly to them, then she would definitely use it as a bargaining chip in any forthcoming negotiations. Melia’s behavior towards him was always a mix of genuine and feigned, but thankfully, Luo’er was quick-thinking.