Chapter 2626: Chapter 1763: Interlude (MUJICA Has Now Been Officially Reduced to Fanfiction)
For Duanmu Huai, the current situation is quite frustrating.
Extremely frustrating.
Imagine that you’ve prepared everything for today’s test, feeling confident and ready to go all out, and suddenly, you’re told the test is postponed indefinitely, with no specific date. That kind of disappointment and speechlessness... truly leaves you speechless.
What’s worse is that now we have to come up with a new plan.
In fact, Duanmu Huai had considered directly using the extinction order to destroy that planet, expanding the scale of the Eye of Fear, and then dragging the Insect Swarm into the battle. But after much contemplation, he ultimately gave up. The Insect Swarm killing Demons wouldn’t bring any replenishment, and forcing a conflict between the Insect Swarm and Subspace wouldn’t have any benefits. In the best-case scenario, this Leviathan Fleet would be annihilated by Chaos, and that would be it.
In the worst-case scenario, the Insect Swarm would turn around and attack the Tribunal... that would be a classic case of being too clever for one’s own good.
According to Aikute’s scouting, the Insect Swarm has already landed on that planet, just as Duanmu Huai anticipated. The entire planet has now become a grand melee. Green Skins, Space Undead, and the Insect Swarm are at war incessantly. The Chaos Fleet, after paying a heavy price, has retreated back to the Eye of Fear in a sorry state.
As for the Titanium Clan? They’re likely long dead.
Replan, mobilize fleets, and build more warships. Accelerate the transportation of resources and the manufacturing of Ether Synchronous Engine components... Duanmu Huai is now overwhelmed. He is hopeful that the battle here can conclude quickly, but it seems that whether it’s the Green Skins, Space Undead, or the Insect Swarm, there’s still a long way to go.
"Sigh..."
Sitting at the desk, Duanmu Huai stared at the screen while pondering the next strategy.
Admittedly, this is not his forte, but the Tribunal’s direction has already been set. Hei Chuan Chi Yin has a profound understanding of his mindset; this is a protracted war. It’s not that failing to accomplish things now would mean the end of the world, but Duanmu Huai still hopes for an early decisive battle—he prefers sooner rather than later.
Procrastination is the worst.
"Knock knock knock."
Just as Duanmu Huai was calculating the next course of action, there was a knock on the door. Duanmu Huai looked up to see An Haqi peering in through the door, staring at him.
"What’s up?"
"Hmm? Nothing, really, just saw it’s so late, and Mr. Knight, you haven’t slept, so I came to check. Oh, and to report, the supplies for the Planet Fortress are all in place, ready for action at any time."
"Hmm... Thank you, I know."
Duanmu Huai nodded and then sighed silently.
Seeing Duanmu Huai in this state, An Haqi blinked and walked in.
"What’s wrong, Mr. Knight?"
"No, I just thought of something from the other world, how should I say this... I think I understand what it means now."
"Hmm?"
"No, I mean, my original plan was to stay in that world for a thousand years."
"A thousand years? That long?"
"Yeah..."
Duanmu Huai leaned back in his chair and sighed silently. He now understood why the GM always hinted that he’d best stay for a thousand years. Because time, for deities, is truly a strategic resource. Just like now, what if the Insect Race, Green Skins, and Space Undead battle on that planet for thirty or fifty years?
Regular deities would just let them fight; after all, deities have long lifespans, and their plans span centuries. A few decades pass in the blink of an eye for them.
However, Duanmu Huai still has a human mindset, and in his view, a thousand years is rather too long, and he’s not one to enjoy wasting time.
"Forget it; talking about it now is meaningless. By the way, Ann."
Duanmu Huai shook his head, shifting the topic. It’s still related to his personality; he’s the kind of person who can’t stay idle. Perhaps some people, if longevity permits, really could sit quietly for a thousand years, but for Duanmu Huai, being idle for over a decade is already unsettling.
Spending a thousand years like that would be like being in prison.
"What do you think about love?"
"Eh?"
Admittedly, Duanmu Huai’s question caught Ann completely off guard. She widened her eyes and looked at Duanmu Huai in surprise.
"Mr. Knight, how did you suddenly think of this?"
"No, I just wondered... is the relationship between us considered love? Or not?"
"Pfft."
Hearing Duanmu Huai’s answer, Ann was momentarily stunned and then burst into soft laughter.
"Hahaha, I never expected to hear such words from you, Mr. Knight. Previously, when I heard Miss Chi Yin say you acted in love films, I didn’t believe it, but now it seems it’s true. I’d love to see it, but unfortunately, Miss Chi Yin didn’t bring it along. So, Mr. Knight, do you have any here? Let me see what your love scenes look like."
"What’s with that, can’t I?"
Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes.
"Mr. Knight, what made you think of that question?"
"Because, you see, love in novels and movies is always dramatic, and it feels different from our mode of interaction."
"Yes."
Hearing this, Ann nodded in agreement.
"I used to fantasize about a Dragon Slayer arriving on a white horse to marry me. But in reality... well, at least Mr. Knight isn’t riding a white horse. So what? Where’s the problem?"
"I think... "
Duanmu Huai fell silent for a moment, then looked at Ann again.
"I can’t put you first."
"?"
"You see, isn’t this how love is described? Two people love each other, seeing each other as the most important existence, above all else. But for me, you are indeed important, yet the Tribunal and humans are even more important. If I need to make a choice, I would sacrifice you to ensure the survival of the Tribunal, so I really doubt whether this counts as love."
"... ... ... ..."
However, facing Duanmu Huai’s answer, Ann looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"I thought Mr. Knight was talking about something, but didn’t expect it to be this kind of thing?"
"This kind of thing?"
"Yeah, this kind of thing, we knew about it when we started following Mr. Knight. If you were the type who was gentle and kind, sweet-talking to deceive us, maybe I’d be a little hurt. But we’ve been with you for so long, who doesn’t know that Mr. Knight is this kind of person."
"Hmm... ... ..."
"I’m the same, as a princess, I must first strive for enough benefits for Manaria; Greiya is like that too. Would I betray my country, my people, my parents for love? I can’t imagine such a self."
"That’s indeed the case."
Duanmu Huai couldn’t help but recall the predetermined future he saw when he first went to Manaria with a Soul Shard. Although Ann and Greiya had a great relationship, ultimately when the two countries went to war, they did not shy away but led their people to fight fiercely on the frontline.
Indeed, in the previous reality, Ann took her role as a princess seriously and fulfilled her duties diligently.
At this moment, Duanmu Huai suddenly felt a warm sensation on his cheeks. Snapping back to reality, he saw Ann standing in front of him, reaching out to stroke his face.
"I never thought Mr. Knight would worry about such things, like a child, quite cute."
"Isn’t it okay? I have a fragile heart too."
Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes.
"Of course, it’s fine, but... hahaha, being so sentimental over such matters is so unlike Mr. Knight. You won’t cry watching those romance movies, right?"
"No, not really, but I think I should properly explain it to you all. Even if you know, hearing me say it is entirely different from your internal assumptions, right?"
"That’s indeed the case, but it makes me very happy."
Ann stared at Duanmu Huai, her bright eyes unwavering.
"Mr. Knight seriously considering our affairs is enough for me. If Mr. Knight said the world doesn’t matter as much as I do, and only I am first in your heart, then I would wonder if Mr. Knight had changed, since this isn’t like the man I know who issues an Extinction order at the drop of a hat."
"You’re talking as if I’m some sort of killer..."
Looking at Ann, Duanmu Huai couldn’t help but feel touched. In his eyes, Ann had always been a lively, cheerful girl, but he hadn’t expected her to have such a mature side.
"So, should I call Greiya here now?"
"What are you calling her for?"
"For Mr. Knight to express his feelings to Greiya too, like you did to me just now. Then I can take advantage of the situation and push her down!"
"??? Wait a minute, shouldn’t it be me?"
"I push down Greiya, Mr. Knight pushes down me, isn’t that equivalent to Mr. Knight pushing down Greiya?"
Ann raised her little fist.
"Moreover, facing Mr. Knight, Greiya would definitely be very nervous. So, I need to let her relax first, then you can proceed..."
"... ... ... ... What’s with the sudden topic change?"
"Eh? Because that’s the vibe now, right? Generally, in novels or movies, after the protagonists express their heartfelt feelings, they hug to confirm each other’s intentions!"
"Even in movies, there isn’t a scene where the female lead suddenly rushes out to pull someone else in to join, right?"
"Okay, I understand what to do now, I’ll work hard next time!"
What do you plan to do next time?
Seeing Ann’s cheerful smile, Duanmu Huai was speechless, but the inner slight gloominess he felt relaxed considerably.
"So, should I call Greiya over?"
"Let’s leave it for today."
Looking at Ann giggling and staring at him in front of him, Duanmu Huai shook his head. Just as Ann had said earlier, the atmosphere was indeed pretty good before, but with Ann’s words, Duanmu Huai felt that calling Greiya over now would make the atmosphere too weird.
"I’ll find time to talk to her next time."
"Hopefully it won’t be a thousand years later."
"Rest assured, it definitely won’t be that long."
