Through the viewing window, the cobbled street outside was visible, where the heavy sounds of marching feet could be heard approaching. One had to look up to truly see the figure coming; he stood over three meters tall, his thick thighs and arms more solid than our waists.

Elena watched intently and remarked, "So there really are prehistoric giants."

The Dragon Girl replied, "That's not even the tallest. When we first arrived on Earth, the tallest giants reached five meters. But with the current increase in atmospheric pressure and gravity—far greater than 2 billion years ago—this giant race can no longer adapt to the environment. They are nearly extinct."

I inquired, "Were these giants brought back from 'Mercury' by your ancestors?"

The Dragon Girl shook her head. "Actually, they were originally a human lineage that left Earth. They achieved better development on 'Mercury,' but who would have thought that upon returning to Earth these past few centuries, their very stature has become a burden, leading them to the brink of exiting the evolutionary stage."

It seemed these giants must have been the prehistoric humans who left such a profound impression on the indigenous tribes of Africa. The ancient cave paintings describing their dissection of the natives were likely attempts at genetic work. Humanity sometimes has to sacrifice many species for survival; it is often a matter of necessity.

I asked the Dragon Girl, "Are there many giants in this city? Their houses are certainly very tall; I thought it was merely a display of the city's wealth."

The Dragon Girl nodded. "I only know from my brother's national records that the giants are relatively concentrated here—perhaps about a thousand. According to the map, there's a nuclear power plant not far from here, built by the shipowner Haas of Yanshan. This area falls within his territory; all the gold and jade mined here are his property."

I inwardly spat, thinking, Haas this, Haas that. Ultimately, all property on Earth will be mine. They shouldn't think they could act with impunity six thousand years ago. If they push me, I'll flatten them.

Elena, exhausted from half a day of bumpy riding on horseback, retired early to my bed after dinner. She was accustomed to the sexual openness of primitive society and showed no hesitation regarding others' views on our relationship; I even felt she was deliberately emphasizing her closeness to me in front of the Dragon Girl.

To trade for more food, we requested one large room instead of separate ones. Since it was an open era, anyone could do as they pleased without interference. In such a situation, wasting resources on sleeping separately wasn't worthwhile; filling our stomachs was the priority.

After dinner, Xiaoke went ahead to scout the path for the next day’s journey. The Dragon Girl was unwilling to sleep and sat waiting for her return under the lamplight. I initially kept her company beneath the six-thousand-year-old electric light, but soon I grew drowsy and went to bed, only to be gently shaken awake by the Dragon Girl.

"Dragon Emissary, Dragon Emissary, wake up."

Elena was nestled in my arms. I carefully moved her aside before getting out of bed to ask, "What is it, Dragon Girl?" The Dragon Girl said, "Xiaoke is back. She brought back some bad news."

"What?" A shock went through my heart.

"Kang Hui is back in the city. Xiaoke saw City Lord Ye personally welcome him in."

My mind cleared instantly. "What is he doing here? Could he have discovered our whereabouts?"

The Dragon Girl replied, "Probably not. I didn't see any large contingent of troops. Perhaps he is here for another reason."

I declared, "That pretty boy showing up means nothing good. I've encountered him once before; his fighting skills aren't much. I slapped him, and he didn't even get a chance to strike back."

The Dragon Girl said, "I've met Kang Hui twice, just exchanging greetings. I don't know his true skill, but my brother claims he is the most formidable person in the Taihao Kingdom. Why he was slapped by the Dragon Emissary and didn't retaliate is indeed baffling."

I reasoned, "Logically, Kang Hui should be Gonggong Shi, and his abilities should be formidable. I'm also puzzled why he acted like a fool. Do you think the one I saw was a cloned body double? Theoretically, shouldn't a clone be identical to the original?"

The Dragon Girl nodded. "Yes, I think the possibility you mentioned, Dragon Emissary, is quite high."

I asked the Dragon Girl, "Does the Dragon Girl have any interest in knowing why Kang Hui is meeting with City Lord Ye?"

The Dragon Girl responded, "Of course, I want to know."

"Very well, we'll sneak into the city tonight and see just what this Kang Hui is capable of."

The Dragon Girl also grew excited. "Great! That's what I was hoping for. Kang Hui is hailed as the top master of the Taihao Kingdom; I want to see how he managed to lose to the Dragon Emissary."

Confident in my ability to reach supersonic speeds, I naturally didn't take Kang Hui seriously. I said, "Let's go."

The Dragon Girl agreed. "Good, just the two of us. Let's not alert the others."

I couldn't have asked for anything better; being alone with the Dragon Girl was something I dreamed of. However, Xiaoke was watching nearby. The Dragon Girl spent a good deal of time explaining things to dissuade her doubts and arranged for Xiaoke to stay behind and protect everyone.

The two of them stealthily slipped out of the 'inn.' The Dragon Girl asked softly, "Dragon Emissary, do you need to carry me again? My speed is hardly worth mentioning."

I crouched down. "Of course. It is my honor to run errands for the Princess. Not many in this world have carried a princess."

The Dragon Girl climbed onto my back. Her soft chest pressed against my body, making my heart race. Her sweet, clear voice sounded from behind me: "You are the first."

Following Xiaoke's directions, I carried the Dragon Girl to the largest building in the city—a four-story, semi-enclosed inner city made of stone, with four massive gates already closed. The tower above was over twenty meters high, patrolled by giant warriors.

The Dragon Girl whispered to me, "According to my brother, apart from flying saucers, Haas's most formidable subordinates are these giant warriors. They are incredibly brave and possess astonishing stamina. That’s why my brother sent me to persuade Haas to send troops to help Taihao quell the rebellion."

I responded, "If that's the case, I fear Kang Hui's purpose here is not pure either. Nine times out of ten, he's after these giants. Now, it's not just us vying for troops; the rebels are also seeking manpower."

The Dragon Girl leaned close to my ear. "So, the Dragon Emissary wants us to unite the primitive people and all possible allied beastmen, right? The Dragon Emissary, you are so far-sighted; I admire you so much."

I felt a strange, ticklish sensation spreading from my ear to my heart, making me desperately want to scratch myself. This beautiful princess was making me feel dizzy with desire.

Composing myself, I said, "Hold tight. We need to get onto the city wall."

The Dragon Girl hugged me tightly, her grip even more formidable than Elena's four-clawed embrace. I couldn't resist reaching back with my hand and giving the Princess's rear a gentle squeeze. My hands, renowned for touching the finest feminine curves, had finally reached the pinnacle of perfection—it was worth the journey just for this.

With a few leaps, we were on the battlements. Dodging the patrolling giant soldiers, the two of us quietly descended. Below, the scene was brightly lit; it seemed City Lord Ye was hosting a grand banquet. Kang Hui was quite a figure; his arrival would certainly not be met with neglect.

The roof tiles were not the common kind we were used to, but rather something pressed from an unknown material resembling fiberglass, incredibly sturdy. The Dragon Girl and I quietly lifted a few pieces and peered down through the gap.