at the same time.

Across the ocean, a free federation.

Inside an extremely luxurious top-tier manor, a grand banquet, gathering the Federation's top nobles and high-ranking professionals, is underway, accompanied by melodious classical symphonic music.

The air was filled with the tobacco aroma of top-quality cigars and the fragrance of expensive perfumes.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a haute couture tuxedo and exuding an air of refinement, stood quietly at the edge of the banquet hall, holding a glass of deep red wine.

He smiled gently, looking at the elegantly dressed men and women in the dance floor, indulging in pleasure, but his eyes regarded them as a group of livestock about to be slaughtered.

"Mr. Duan, don't you feel bored here all by yourself?"

A stunning blonde woman in a deep V-neck evening gown swayed as she walked over.

Her eyes burned with ardent admiration as she boldly reached out her hand to this charming Eastern man.

"Would I have the honor of inviting you to dance with me?"

This beautiful lady is the daughter of a renowned tycoon in the Free Federation, and is also an S-class wind-type professional. Countless young talents are lining up to win her favor.

However, the middle-aged man merely turned his head and glanced at her.

"Excuse me, beautiful lady."

Mr. Duan's voice was warm and magnetic, but his words kept people at a distance.

"I have some personal matters to attend to, so I apologize for not being able to help you."

After saying that, he ignored the stiff expression on the lady's face, nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to walk out of the noisy banquet hall.

After walking through the long corridor, Mr. Duan arrived at a deserted corner of the terrace.

The night breeze ruffled his neatly styled hair.

He put down his wine glass, took out a specially made, antique-looking telephone from his pocket without any signal markings, and dialed a number.

The phone was answered after only one ring.

"Sir." A deep and respectful voice came from the other end of the phone, accompanied by the rumble of a huge machine in the background.

"Hmm." Mr. Duan gazed at the brightly lit and bustling night scene of the Free Federation in the distance and said, "Recently, I plan to return to Great Xia."

Upon hearing this, the person on the other end of the phone paused for a moment, their tone puzzled.

"Sir, are you returning to Great Xia?"

"But... the big plan here is about to officially begin! The key points in various locations have all been set up. If you're not at headquarters at this time, what if something unexpected happens..."

"What could possibly go wrong?" Mr. Duan chuckled.

His laughter was soft, yet it exuded an air of confidence that he was in control of everything.

"The plan can be carried out normally."

“Even if I’m not here, there won’t be any major problems.” Mr. Duan raised his hand and caught a leaf that had been blown down by the night wind. With a gentle flick of his fingertips, the leaf turned into fine powder and drifted away in the wind.

"As for the Free Federation..."

Mr. Duan raised his head, his gaze fixed on the tallest and most sacred building in the city, a mocking glint in his eyes.

"That guy living in God's Kingdom won't interfere. He's too busy taking care of himself right now."

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for two seconds, then replied in a deep voice:

"Yes, sir, I understand."

"I wish you a safe and successful trip to Daxia."

Cherry Blossom Country, Nagato Port.

Inside the temporary supreme command headquarters of the Great Xia Dynasty.

A huge holographic tactical sand table radiated a dark blue light in the center of the long table, with red and blue dots marking both sides' positions.

Although the cataclysmic sacrificial ritual in Tokyo has been completely shattered, and the strongest SSS-rank ancestor of the Sakura Kingdom, Kujo Naruya, has been killed, this massive war that has swept across the two countries has not yet come to a complete end.

Although the high-level command system of the Sakura Kingdom has collapsed, there are still a few brainwashed remnants of high-ranking legions on its eastern and northern defense lines, who are making a desperate last stand by relying on the treacherous terrain and the remaining defensive formations.

Inside the command post, a dozen high-ranking generals of the Great Xia Dynasty, all bearing the rank of general, were gathered around a sand table, engaged in a heated debate with flushed faces.

"Bang!"

General Ma, known for his fiery temper, slammed his hand heavily on the edge of the sand table, causing the virtual dots to flicker violently. His eyes were bloodshot and red, and he roared in a rough voice, "What are you waiting for?! That old bastard Kujo Hiroharu is dead, now it's time to kick a dog when it's down!"

“Old Ma, calm down!” Another General Qi, with graying temples, retorted with a frown: “Although Kujo Hiroharu is dead, the remnants of the Okibun Komo and the Kujo family still have considerable fighting power. A forced attack would cause us huge losses.”

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

"We must proceed cautiously and steadily, first cutting off their water and energy supplies."

"Bullshit! Once they catch their breath, who knows what kind of weird rituals those lunatics will pull off!"

Inside the command post, the two factions of generals, one advocating war and the other stability, argued heatedly, their faces flushed and spittle flying. Since Marshal Zhao Qingcang's death, although a decisive victory had been achieved, cleaning up the mess had left these veteran generals overwhelmed with headaches.

"Squeak—"

Just as the argument was raging in the hall, the heavy alloy doors of the command center were suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Everyone instinctively stopped arguing and turned their heads in unison.

Acting Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Chen Huaishuo walked into the hall with a smile.

Behind him were a young ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) man and a young woman.

The two young people were quite different. The man had striking features, a tall and straight posture, and wore a slightly oversized military overcoat. He exuded an air of authority without being angry. The woman, on the other hand, wore an elegant long dress. She was stunningly beautiful, with a gentle temperament, yet she radiated a breathtakingly vibrant energy.

The generals were taken aback at first.

What level of military conference is this?

Even Chen Huaishuo shouldn't just bring in two unfamiliar young people, right?

"General Chen, who are these two?" General Ma frowned his thick eyebrows and looked at the young man.

For some reason, his heart skipped a beat when he saw this young man in his early twenties.

Why does this kid's face and his posture look so familiar?

Not only General Ma, but the other veterans present also showed suspicious expressions.

This young man's face looks so familiar!

It seems like I've seen it somewhere before, but upon closer inspection, I can't quite place it.

Faced with the puzzled, inquisitive, and even wary gazes of the crowd, Chen Huaishuo did not immediately begin to introduce himself. Instead, he took a half step back, yielding the seat of honor, and revealed a mysterious smile.

Just then, the young man moved.

He strode up to the holographic sand table, quickly scanned the enemy and friendly positions marked on it, then looked up and shouted, "Hahahaha—!"

A burst of hearty laughter echoed through the command post, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Old Ma, Old Ma! How many times have I told you? You can't fight a war by just focusing on these few inches of land in front of you!" The young man pointed his long, slender fingers heavily at several spots on the sand table, his tone authoritative and filled with familiar reprimand: "A direct assault? Do you have several heads to fill the complex array that the Kujo family has been building for over a hundred years?!"