How did I not know I was this impressive?
Faust's wish was merely to become a local overlord; that would have been enough.
Even though Mephistopheles would buzz in his ear every day, claiming he had never seen a son of man as excessively greedy as the Prince of Qingxi, Faust truly didn't know where his greed lay. He didn't want to become a god or a buddha, nor did he expect to unify the world. Was it not enough to be drunk in the laps of beauties and awake with world-conquering power?
It was a truly baffling evaluation.
"Well, at least that is what Lady Lian says. Since it came from Lady Lian, I can only believe it."
Charlotte said it as if it were common sense. The princess leaned back against the soft sofa, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Lady Lian fears no mortal. Only that 【dragonslayer hero】 controlled by fate is truly difficult to deal with. His existence is for the sole purpose of slaying dragons... damn it!"
Every evil dragon recorded in history, no matter how arrogant, overbearing, or invincible in the world, was ultimately subjugated by a 【brave one】 without exception.
As members of the imperial royal family, descendants of a dragonslayer hero themselves, they naturally knew the inside story. Those mystery traits of their ancestors were practically tailor-made for slaying dragons. No matter how powerful a dragon was, they would have to kneel before dragon-specific attacks such as the 【dragon-slaying sword】, 【dragon-breaking strike】, and 【dragon-slaying technique】.
【Hmm... a brave one. Heh, to be honest, the wheel of destiny usually doesn't write a "brave one" into a script. It's quite a boring fate-star—pure invincibility and mission. As far as a script is concerned, it's severely substandard.】
Mephistopheles offered a sharp critique of the brave one, stating bluntly:
【The brave one fate-star is essentially the intervention of the wheel of destiny. Ordinary adventures and great feats can already be completed by the heroes among the son of man. A brave one is only born when existing conditions are insufficient for a correction.】
I see, a deus ex machina, the great hand of fate!
Faust rested his chin on his hand, thinking for a moment before asking, "Has the 【brave one】 already been born?"
"According to Lady Lian's view, a dragonslayer hero will appear within a few years at the latest. Perhaps one has already been born by now. Time is running out."
Charlotte tilted her head and smiled at Faust.
"Prince of Qingxi, tell me, do you have the courage and confidence to resolve the brave one who threatens Lady Lian within these few years?"
Faust spread his hands. "Who can say for sure what the future holds? However—"
The Prince of Qingxi changed his tone, speaking decisively.
"I haven't read many books, but I remember one thing my father once said: Sailing against the current, fight until there are no regrets!"
Even knowing the strength of a 【brave one】—a literal protagonist walking among men—Faust felt no fear.
You're right, a 【brave one】 is indeed the best in the world.
But a 【witch】 is the very sky itself.
If we're talking about suppression of status, could a 【brave one】 possibly overrule a 【witch】? Perhaps I am merely a supporting character in the script, but as long as I can bask in the aura of the witches' feast... Faust was curious to see whose priority was higher.
Charlotte did not know where Faust's confidence came from, but seeing the Prince of Qingxi so calm and composed, she couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Actually, before coming here, I didn't hold much hope. The matter of confronting a brave one cannot rely on others; we can only handle it ourselves. But now it seems I might be able to place some trust in you."
The imperial princess stood up, brushing her apricot-yellow hair behind her back. Her simple, travel-worn attire did nothing to hinder her elegance and radiance.
"Since you have promised to help the Empire solve this trouble, we have no more demands for this alliance. Next are your requirements, Prince of Qingxi. What do you wish to obtain from the Empire, or how do you need the Empire to help you?"
"That's quite a lot. Let's talk back at the palace."
Faust also stood up, and the group left the café, walking through the late-night streets of the royal capital.
"As I said before, I need sufficient support."
Faust felt the night wind on his face and pulled up his collar. "Since advanced weapons carry curses, we can forget those. But other production lines and professional talents—I need them all, as many as possible."
"Resources are never a problem."
Charlotte stated frankly, "Transportation is the difficulty."
It had been emphasized many times that the productivity of this fairy tale world was quite exaggerated—so much so that even with a backward production relationship like the feudal manor system, everyone could live a life without worrying about food or clothing.
Although the Second Empire couldn't compare to the Radiant Dynasty at its peak, they certainly had no worries regarding supplies.
"The Empire is not connected to the Qingxi Kingdom. Such a remote small kingdom requires passing through many places to reach. We aren't afraid of the loss or the cost, it's just... our geopolitical environment, ha, as you know, we cannot conduct trade openly. If we are to ensure secrecy, the scale of what we can transport will be quite limited."
"I will solve the problem of the transport route later; there's no need to rush. The key thing I want to ask is one more matter."
Faust instinctively wanted to make his fellow Qingxi people a bit wealthier, but he didn't expect to develop enough in a short time to participate in a major war.
After learning the truth about the fairy tale world, he no longer focused his efforts on conventional methods of supremacy.
Farming? Climbing the tech tree?
A waste of effort. You could spend half your life working yourself to the bone, weaving alliances and calculating schemes, only to be stepped on like a pebble and killed because you were written into the ascension script of some hero. Who could you even argue with then?
Just thinking about how he almost met such a pathetic end made Faust's blood pressure spike.
In such a world, if one wanted to achieve hegemony, there was only one path—go to the stage!
Present a drama of absolute madness, absolute beauty, and absolute intoxication to the wheel of destiny!
If you can win thunderous applause and flowers as red as a sea of blood, you will naturally receive the gifts of fate!
Charlotte maintained a proper smile. "Ask away, as long as it is something I know."
Faust whispered softly, "That fairy of yours... how exactly did she undergo dragonfall?"
"!!"
Charlotte's glazed eyes widened instantly. Then, she looked deeply into the man's handsome, flawless face.
"Prince of Qingxi, why are you asking this?"
Faust pressed a hand to his chest and said with mock sincerity:
"To be honest, if Qingxi could have the protection of a true dragon, only then would this alliance be considered equal. I believe that in this world, yours is not the only fairy with the intention of undergoing dragonfall. If I can find one..."
Before he could finish, Charlotte raised her eyebrows and interrupted him.
"How naive! Most fairies in this world are loyal prisoners of fate! They have long since turned into heartless, bloodless machines! Furthermore, the more ancient a fairy is, the more indifferent they become, viewing humans as mere blades of grass!"
"Only Lady Lian, as the youngest fairy, has yet to be tainted by that decaying aura!"
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