Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

"Is it ugly?"

"It's not ugly."

"What about this?"

"A little."

"What about this one?"

"It's alright."

In the meeting room of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce, Kang De's laptop was connected to his phone. He transmitted the video he had taken earlier to the computer and used the video editing software to replay it frame by frame.

Leona and the gorilla watched with interest from the side, but Hong San was a little afraid.

This was because he was not sure if Kang De had once filmed him crying. If it was a replay like now, even he would feel quite embarrassed.

He sighed. "Your Highness, is this necessary?"

"Yes, find an angle and the ugliest screenshot to save and print. Frame it and give it to him at a suitable opportunity. It will definitely have a surprisingly good effect."

As Kang De spoke, he even smiled at himself. "If necessary in the future, this photo will be the headline of the newspaper."

As the saying went, one picture at the beginning made up the news.

Such a political figure was a member of the royal family with an extremely high reputation. If such a thing happened on such a political occasion, it would be too serious. No one cared why he cried, only that he cried. Moreover, the news was still on Kang De's side.

The media and the public would also choose the more eye-catching saying.

Therefore, the truth was meaningless. This carefully chosen photo of Duke Tagris crying might have an unexpectedly huge effect at some point because no one would care about the truth.

Everyone would only feel that he was embarrassing himself, the royal family, and the country. He would even become the laughingstock of various countries. Even his own citizens would feel discouraged and embarrassed.

Perhaps in many years, it would even become a popular meme.

"That's all!"

Kang De chose and chose. In the end, he confirmed a few. He intercepted them and saved them. After going through them one by one, he snorted, "This sissy doesn't look very ugly when he cries."

The gorilla narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "That's because he hasn't been hit harder. Slap his face a few times and see if he can still cry like this."

For some reason, after seeing Tagris, the gorilla seemed to be hostile to him.

"How violent."

Leona muttered, then looked at it a few times with a strange expression, "I've also heard of Duke Tagris of Tiling. Why is he a person who cries at the drop of a hat… Moreover, he doesn't look male at all. Could it be that all his heroic temperament has been given to the Elven Empress?"

When Kang De heard this, he looked at Hong San.

Then, he asked as if nothing had happened, "Why? You mean that the Elven Empress is a male elf?"

Leona thought for a moment and understood what Kang De meant, "No, after all, they're from the Elven royal family. They have all the etiquette and guidance they should have. They're definitely not a barbarian sitting on the throne, holding a wine barrel in one hand and a cow leg in the other. I'm talking about heroic. At the very least, under such circumstances, even if the Elven Empress doesn't draw her sword and slash you, she'll righteously refute and berate you."

Kang De's phone recorded the entire process. Leona was speechless when she saw it. Even now that she thought about it, she still felt that it was f*cking ridiculous and funny.

Who would have thought that Duke Tiling and Prince Consort Kang De's first meeting would be like this?

Fortunately, it was an informal meeting that was not officially recognized. If this happened during the formal negotiation, the emcee of the Elven Royal Family present could commit suicide on the spot.

The silver-haired girl rolled her eyes and complained, "You dare to curse, and he dares to cry."

Kang De smiled and looked at Tagris' frozen face on the screen. His eyes became even more meaningful. He asked, "How much do you know about this Duke Tiling?"

Leona shook her head and said, "Not much. It's only information that a relatively well-informed noble family with a higher status can obtain… In other words, what the Elven royal family wants the outside world to see."

"In the eyes of the outside world, Lord Tagris' whereabouts are mysterious and he's willing to be calm. He never stands under the sunlight and enjoys the honor and power of the royal family. Instead, he lives in the tower and studies magic, develops magic potions, and studies plants. He silently supports the Empress and the country behind them and helps the Twilight Dynasty with his extraordinary magic talent. He's a mysterious, tolerant, friendly, kind, and wise person."

The girl shook her head repeatedly, looking disillusioned.

"In fact, if not for the fact that Master Elandir's identity is the most reliable proof, I would have suspected that this Duke is pretending. I didn't expect Duke Tiling to actually have this personality. No wonder he hides in the Summer Tower all day. He looks too introverted and weak… Sigh, rumors are the most trustworthy in the world."

At this point, Leona looked at Kang De and curled her lips, "Just like you. After the process of the Valentine Battle and that speech spread, the outside world spread it to you like a demigod. They said that you're a powerful Saint with wisdom and love. If not for the fact that I've seen you slash around with an axe and curse, I would f*cking believe it. Tsk, I wonder what you big shots are like in private."

According to Kang De's usual habit of bickering with Leona, he should refute sarcastically now that he did not expect her to be so uncouth either… However, he did not.

Kang De nodded happily.

Looking at Duke Tagris' tear-stained face in the photo, he chuckled, "You're right. I don't know what it's like in private."

"…Hmm?" Leona was not used to it. "You've changed today? Hey, what's so good about him? This is a male elf. What are you staring at?"

Kang De smiled. "I'm thinking that this is really too interesting if my guess is true."

Leona raised her eyebrows and said, "What guess?"

"It's hard to say now. I have to confirm it again."

Kang De moved the mouse and opened the previous photo with the photoshop file. "Hong San, send someone to tell him that I want to treat this Duke to a meal tonight."

Hong San bowed and said, "Yes."

Immediately after, he asked, "What if the other party doesn't come? For example, say that Duke Tagris is not feeling well and wants to rest for a night. We'll talk tomorrow—he might still use this method to show off."

Kang De smiled sinisterly, "He's not coming? Let's play the recording of this sentence around the embassy first. If he doesn't come, print out the ugly photos and send them over. If he doesn't come, I'll turn this video into a demonic song."

He immediately demonstrated, "You bad, bad, bad human!"

Then, he laughed out loud.

The corners of Hong San's eyes twitched.

Perhaps he was thinking too much. When he thought of how his crying appearance might have been recorded by His Highness, he was always suspicious and felt that His Highness was saying these to him.

However, on the other hand, although he did not understand what a "demonic song" was, Hong San also understood Kang De's meaning and felt extremely impressed by his endless thoughts and methods.

—This lord can always come up with some new tricks.

He retracted his curious gaze from Duke Tagris's crying face, which was gradually becoming ugly on the screen. Then, he took a few steps back, turned around, and went out, restraining his thoughts.

Such a magical thing was unprecedented.

The palm-sized black strange object could record time, store images, record an image, emit light, and make timed sounds. It could even transcribe words into it. It was simply like the legendary immortal supreme treasure. It could even use other larger strange objects to modify the images…

Hong San could almost think of other uses.

Education classes, work demonstrations, martial arts inheritance, and intelligence investigation.

Since the face on the image could be tampered with, he could tamper with more things.

For example, two people who would never stand together, a certain person who could not do something was doing something… and so on.

When he thought of this, Hong San took a deep breath and temporarily extinguished this thought.

Now was not the time to talk about this.

Duke Tagris's shadow flashed through his mind.

This was the matter at hand.

He knew what Kang De was guessing.

He also knew why Kang De did not tell Leona…

"This is very interesting."

When he thought of Prince Kang De's usual performance, even someone as loyal and intelligent as Hong San could not help but have the thought of watching fun. He wanted to see what Prince Kang De could do.

"But if that's the case…"

As Hong San walked, he muttered to himself, "What's this person doing here?"

The duty of a strategist was to guess. He had to guess the lord, the enemy, and all the dangers and variables.

Now, the variables were increasing and the potential danger was increasing.

After leaving the main building of the Chamber of Commerce, he nodded and greeted the people nearby. Hong San instructed the servants to prepare the carriage. He looked at the sunset and slowly exhaled.

His Highness was brave, his equipment was exquisite, his superpower was exquisite, and he was born with divine strength. Moreover, he had the destructive power to destroy the enemy, but in terms of personal combat strength, he was far from a top expert.

Valentine's peak combat strength was only the Crimson Queen. There were not many people who could be called powerful. If the worst happened, Hong San could not be sure if the Crimson Queen could buy enough time for His Highness to escape…

This was one of Kang De's greatest disadvantages. He could not always place his safety on the fear of others.

Especially the current situation, it deepened Hong San's worry.

'Perhaps I should…'

Hong San said in a low voice, "Master…"

He clenched his fists as if he had made up his mind.

The carriage slowly drove over. Hong San thanked the coachman, then got into the carriage and went to visit the elf envoy.

He had to do everything and grasp every potential danger.

As a strategist, he had to plan all the problems for his lord, guard against all danger, and rope in all his strength.

…