"Huh?"
Hearing Wei Yenwu's question, Talulah fell into deep thought.
Wasn't she here just to inspect the site of cooperation?
If not for an inspection, then why else would she come to Lungmen?
The Holy Terra Empire had no plans for expansion in the short term. After all, swallowing three countries in just a few months—starting from nothing more than a ducal territory—inevitably required time to strengthen cohesion among the populations of those nations. At the very least, the people needed some breathing room.
Talulah wasn't the kind of war criminal who felt physically uncomfortable if she didn't start a war every day. As long as An Xora didn't demand it, she actually leaned more toward peaceful development.
Unfortunately, that was what she thought.
Everyone else didn't believe it at all.
Given the Holy Terra Empire's conduct before its founding, saying that Talulah loved peace—could you even keep a straight face while saying that?
In any case, among all the countries and factions on Terra that knew of Talulah's trip to Lungmen, their upper echelons unanimously believed that this Red Dragon Emperor must be plotting something.
On the very day Talulah confirmed her itinerary to Lungmen, the Yan court was already on edge. The True Lung herself wore a stiff, expressionless face the entire time, and no one knew just how much "anger" was brewing beneath that cold exterior.
At this moment, inside the special vehicle carrying Talulah and the others, silence reigned.
Beads of sweat, as large as beans, streamed down Wei Yenwu's face like rain. Only heaven knew what kind of resolve it had taken for him to dare point out Talulah's "conspiracy" in such a situation.
Right now, Wei Yenwu could only pray that his earlier speculation was correct—that during the years Talulah had been taken away by Koschei, although her methods had grown colder and bloodier, she was still, at her core, a kind child who would remember old ties and refrain from laying hands on Lungmen.
That was precisely why Wei Yenwu had chosen to raise this issue proactively—at a moment when only himself, Talulah, and her closest confidants were present.
Even knowing that Talulah might have designs of her own, Wei Yenwu dared not entertain even the slightest thought of direct confrontation. All he could do was plead in this roundabout manner, hoping Talulah would show mercy to Lungmen.
But the problem was—
Talulah really was just here to inspect the work.
At most, she was also indulging in a bit of nostalgia, revisiting old places.
She was literally just strolling around.
And yet, with an outsider like Wei Yenwu present, she couldn't very well ask her external brain—An Xora—how to handle this.
So she could only try to placate this long-unseen elder first.
"Uncle, you're joking," Talulah said gently. "I really did come to Lungmen this time just to inspect the work, and also to see how the city has developed and changed over the years."
"If I had to name any other purpose… it would probably be to visit you and Auntie. We haven't seen each other in many years. I've missed you both quite a lot…"
"I–is that so? In that case, I've already prepared a banquet at the Governor's Office. I'll be sure to have a good, long talk with Your Majesty then."
Seeing that Talulah showed no intention of flipping the table on the spot, Wei Yenwu finally let out a sigh of relief.
If she was still willing to acknowledge their former relationship, that meant Talulah still remembered at least a bit of old affection. With that, the heavy stone hanging in his chest could finally be lowered—halfway, at least.
As for why only halfway?
Because after so many years navigating Yan's political circles, Wei Yenwu understood one thing very clearly:
You cannot trust a politician's promises.
Talulah might not be a politician by nature—but she was now an emperor.
From the perspective of someone in power, her current soothing words could very well be a temporary expedient. One moment, everyone could be laughing and chatting over dinner; the next, it could turn into a bloodbath of blades and axes.
Thus, for Lungmen's safety, Wei Yenwu wanted to add more layers of insurance.
But he no longer dared to probe Talulah further.
Even if Talulah was still treating him with the respect due to an elder, that didn't mean he could treat her casually as a junior in return.
As the Emperor of an empire, Talulah's dignity no longer represented just herself. For a mere Governor of Lungmen to show disrespect to an imperial emperor—at the small end, it would mean he'd clearly lost his sense of hierarchy; at the large end, it would be Yan openly slighting the authority of the Holy Terra Empire.
So, unable to continue working on Talulah herself, Wei Yenwu shifted his gaze toward An Xora and Lappland in the back seat.
The fact that these two had been personally invited by Talulah to ride together strongly suggested they were trusted confidants. However, from Wei Yenwu's observations, the true confidant was only An Xora.
As for the white-haired Lupo—though the aura she exuded gave him a sense of danger—judging by her attitude, she seemed more like this man's confidant rather than Talulah's.
In other words, a subordinate of a subordinate.
Coincidentally, An Xora had stood right beside Talulah during the Ursus coronation ceremony, which further confirmed his status.
At that moment, an idea struck Wei Yenwu.
He decided to take the indirect route.
If he couldn't probe Talulah for the time being, then he'd work on An Xora instead!
As long as he could obtain this man's support, Lungmen's safety would be far more secure.
As for how to win that support?
On that front, Wei Yenwu believed he had experience. It was nothing more than offering benefits—bribes, to put it bluntly.
Lungmen lacked many things, but money was not one of them. Wei Yenwu had plenty of sugar-coated shells and assorted methods at his disposal.
Completely unaware of why Wei Yenwu's gaze had suddenly grown so intense, An Xora followed along as the convoy toured several of Lungmen's major districts. Afterward, Wei Yenwu led everyone to the Governor's Office for the banquet that had long been prepared.
After several rounds of wine and once the meal was finished, An Xora left Talulah behind to reminisce with Wei Yenwu and Wen Yue as a couple, while he himself departed the Governor's Office with Lappland.
He wasn't worried about Talulah encountering any danger.
With her current strength, even a Royal Court Grand Duke would have to kneel. Unless a giant beast suddenly popped into existence in Lungmen, even if something did happen, the one in danger probably wouldn't be Talulah—but someone else.
"Alright, make a few preparations," An Xora said to Lappland once they'd left the Governor's Office. "Next, I'm taking you somewhere."
"A place where your strength can be taken even further."
With that, he opened the system interface and selected the traversal function, opening a portal.
"Let's go."
Without giving Lappland a chance to ask questions, An Xora stepped straight into the portal. Seeing this, although she felt a hint of caution toward the sudden development, Lappland followed him immediately.
The next second, the world spun.
When she opened her eyes again, Lappland realized she seemed to be standing inside a massive research facility.
"Welcome to a new world," An Xora said. "Consider yourself fortunate."
"You should be the only person on all of Terra who has ever left their own world and successfully arrived in another."
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