The King of Black Fog

This was his most pressing concern.

Based on the current intelligence, the only way to complete the main mission was to pilot an Imperial Mecha.

Wen Carol turned her head and looked straight at Li Changzhou.

"The Empress's appointment," she said, "that's how the Imperial Mecha is authenticated."

"Appointment?"

Fingerprint, retina?

Or some kind of system permissions and all that messy stuff?

It would be great if Wang Donghua were here, Li Changzhou thought.

"Is that so?" he asked Beia Triss for confirmation.

Beia Triss was in a state of panic, her entire body cold, as if a snake was slithering over her skin.

"Beia, Beia."

Li Qianxia called out twice before Beia Triss seemed to snap back to reality, as if startled.

Her lips had turned purple, and she looked pitiful.

"Carol said that the Imperial Mecha's authentication method is the Empress's appointment. I want to know if that's the case?" Li Changzhou asked as if nothing had happened.

The survival of the Duchy truly had nothing to do with him.

It seemed to take a while for his voice to reach Beia Triss's ears, and she slowly answered, "I don't know, it's top secret."

Li Changzhou wasn't disappointed; not knowing was only to be expected.

Just like the major powers on Earth, even if a successor was clearly identified, they wouldn't be given the nuclear weapon codes in advance.

The Imperial Mecha, the National Guardian Divine Machine, was more precious than nuclear weapons, and naturally, the secret was known only to the ruler.

"Anything else you want to ask?" Li Changzhou asked the other four.

Li Qianxia and Turquoise Pool had nothing to ask.

Yang Qinglan said, "We need to leave here quickly. She might have already sent out the news of her exposure through some means—"

"What will happen to my parents?" Beia Triss suddenly demanded of Wen Carol as if she had just heard Li Changzhou's words.

Wen Carol looked into her eyes and said firmly, "Your father will certainly die; your mother might live if you want to save your citizens and soldiers, minimize their casualties, you must also keep yourself alive and obediently go to the Imperial Capital to become Di'en's wife."

Beia Triss seemed to be nailed in place.

She was powerles, her complexion ghastly pale, but still sat straight, like a specimen, living as if dead, dead as if living.

Li Qianxia reached out and gently wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

"Any more questions?" Li Changzhou spoke again.

After waiting three seconds, he said, "Let's get out of the car."

The five of them got out of the car.

"It's fine to enjoy a drive, but don't do anything bad next time," Li Changzhou said to Wen Carol before leaving.

"Do you really intend to let me go?" Wen Carol seemed a bit incredulous.

She had spoken so frankly, not because she believed his promise, but because she was prepared for death and, facing absolute power, it didn't matter if her secret was exposed.

"The main reason is, I'm a man who keeps his promises; the secondary reason is, killing you or not killing you, there's no harm, but also no benefit," Li Changzhou said.

Li Changzhou turned to leave.

"You can consider joining me," Wen Carol said from the driver's seat, addressing them, "At least no one on the road will harm you."

"No thank you."

"Are you planning to go back to the Duchy? To go to your death?"

Li Changzhou did not reply.

"Zhou Weisi! I'll remember you, and if I catch you, I'll let you go once!"

"Thank you!"

"Last piece of advice—I'm telling you, your Mecha driving is terrible. You should give up the mission soon and go back to operating an excavator!"

"Hey, did you hear that? She says I'm suited to operating an excavator!"

"Shut up."

Moving quickly into the darkness, the five of them started to move swiftly.

The cold triple moons hung in the sky, like the eyes of three beings, no matter how fast they ran or how covertly they moved, every time they looked up, those three gazes were always upon them.

"Did you really let her go? You didn't secretly poison her?" Turquoise Pool suddenly asked.

"Or else?" Li Changzhou replied.

With a cold snort, Turquoise Pool said, "If I had known, I would have finished her off with a palm strike before leaving. She dared to deceive me!"

"Please be more direct next time. I said to let someone go, but you don't have to."

With a glare, Turquoise Pool retorted, "How could I not give you face in front of outsiders?"

"...If you really think we're in this together, then don't say things that undermine our unity, right, Miss Yang?"

"Find a place to get undressed." Yang Qinglan's gaze remained vigilant of their surroundings.

"This... isn't it a bit too soon? Three, no, five, no, that's wrong, four people together..."

Before Turquoise Pool could figure out the correct number, Li Changzhou spoke, "Do you suspect there's something wrong with the clothes she gave us?"

Yang Qinglan nodded, "We disappeared for six hours yesterday. If it were me, I'd definitely find a way to figure out why and install new trackers—Carol's deception is a countermeasure, keeping us under surveillance."

"But," Li Changzhou hesitated, "what will we wear if we take them off?"

"You walk in front."

"Agreed!" Turquoise Pool immediately smiled, as if she could hear the sound of drooling for a feast.

"No, this, I... I get bashful if people look at my butt."

"Then cut the chatter and find a place to change," Yang Qinglan possibly had meant to say this from the beginning.

The three exchanged tense banter while discussing how to shake off their pursuers.

Li Qianxia carried Beia Triss on her back, softly consoling her.

During the earlier repair, Turquoise Pool had memorized the surroundings and knew where they could change clothes.

A place resembling a racetrack.

Unexpectedly, the place was now packed with people, filled with roaring, shouting, and excitement permeating every space.