"You don't need to ask about these matters for now. When everything comes to the surface, you will naturally understand," Yang Yi waved his hand at Fatty Lin, then turned to Tian Cong and asked, "Since the British Royal Family wants to use Nangong San and the others, they must have sent people over as well, right?" "Yes, they have a reception tonight." "Where?" "The Heaven's Palace Grand Hotel." "Oh?

How many of them are there?" Yang Yi felt things were getting more interesting—not just Nangong San and his group, but the British Royal Family as well. "The British Royal Family has only sent three people, but they are all masters, at least Earl level," Tian Cong replied.

"Earls?" Upon hearing this, Yang Yi's expression grew grave. He knew that in Britain, there were individuals with extraordinary martial prowess, whose skills were considered equivalent to those of the ability users (Yinengzhe).

Strictly speaking, however, the art of abilities (Yineng) was completely evolved from the Five Elements arts. But those British ability users were influenced by the Eastern ability arts, meaning they had taken something that wasn't theirs and given it a different name: Magic.

In 27th century Britain, after transforming Eastern ability arts into their own brand of Magic, they vigorously cultivated a corps of agents proficient in Magic, who thenceforth served the British Royal Family. And these Magic users, just like the ability users, had distinct ranks: Lord, Viscount, Earl, Marquis, Duke, and King—differentiated by these power levels.

Similarly, in the United States, their martial arts were also adapted from ability arts, also possessing a graded distinction: Knight, Silver Knight, Gold Knight, Cardinal, and Pope. The fact that Britain could casually dispatch several Earl-level individuals to Shanghai—what did that imply?

Even if Yang Yi could disregard the three Earl-level figures, he could not ignore the British Royal Family's machinations. "It seems I thought too simply of this.

While Nangong San and his group are being exploited, I suspect the British Royal Family has some deeper conspiracy in the background," Yang Yi frowned. One riddle solved, yet another immediately surfaced; this situation was indeed growing increasingly complex.

"Dragon Lord, if you wish to uncover their conspiracy, perhaps I should monitor things there tonight?" Ashura asked Yang Yi. "Yes.

Report back everything they say and do tonight, word for word." Yang Yi nodded. "Understood!" Ashura accepted the command.

"How is the investigation into the Fudan military training proceeding?" Hearing this, Tian Cong’s expression darkened. He immediately knelt to plead guilty, "Dragon Lord, forgive my incompetence; I failed to uncover the root cause of this matter." "Ay, get up.

Stop kneeling at every turn, and don't wait for my judgment on every issue. This isn't ancient times, nor is it the era of imperial edicts.

You've been out here for so long; why haven't you shed these outdated habits?" Yang Yi irritably helped Tian Cong up and waved his hand toward Liu Dao Lun Hui and the others. Hearing Yang Yi's words, Liu Dao Lun Hui and the others flushed deeply.

Indeed, after being out for so long, such ceremony was quite antiquated in the 21st century. They wanted to change, but couldn't shake it off—perhaps it was ingrained, a part of their very nature.

"If the military training matter can't be solved, let it be; it's bound to be connected to Nangong San and his group anyway." Yang Yi paused, a strange look crossing his lips, and said, "How about this: Ren Li, E Gui, and Liu Chu, the three of you will begin monitoring the movements of the Xuanyuan, Gongsun, and Shangguan families starting tomorrow. Report immediately if you notice anything untoward." "Yes, Dragon Lord." "Tian Cong and Di Yu, you two will stay close to me in secret; I'll have tasks for you later." Yang Yi instructed.

"Yes!" "Things are developing strangely. It seems I must first settle the matters involving the Eight Great Families; otherwise, the northern offensive will be difficult to proceed with," Yang Yi said to himself, sitting back on the sofa and taking a deep breath.

Fatty Lin and Ye Xiao Hou exchanged glances, showing bewildered understanding, though neither spoke. Nighttime: At the Heaven's Palace Grand Hotel in Shanghai.

This was a five-star hotel, equipped with restaurants, entertainment, private rooms, and karaoke facilities. Inside one of the private rooms, three middle-aged men sat with solemn expressions, each holding a briefcase.

Their eyes were distant, and a unique aura radiated from them. "DA, when did you arrange for those three to arrive?

It's already nine o'clock, and we still haven't seen him," said one middle-aged man, DE, the youngest and third-ranked among the three. "I don't know...

They haven't arrived yet, and there’s nothing I can do," the middle-aged man called DA maintained his posture; this was the Harred that Ximen Ling had mentioned. "I detest tardiness the most," stated DB, the second man among them.

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the private room swung open, and three young men walked in: clearly Nangong San, Ximen Ling, and Tang Shen. "I'm sorry...

we ran into traffic congestion on the way, which is why we are late." Nangong San offered an apology immediately upon entering, shook hands with the men, and invited, "Please, let's sit down and talk." "Mr. Nangong, next time, please don't use such a poor excuse to fob us off," DB stated immediately after sitting down, showing he truly disliked tardiness and was quite particular.

"Heh, my apologies." Nangong San inwardly sneered. Everyone present understood the situation, so Ximen Ling and Tang Shen remained silent, letting the foreigner vent for a moment.

"Mr. Nangong, the purpose of our meeting is to convey my King's decree: we are here to present you with another batch of high-grade Six Carats to signify our friendly cooperative relationship," DA said seriously to Nangong San.

"Oh? What a coincidence.

I happen to be in need of it. Well then, when you return, please convey my sincere thanks to your King on behalf of Nangong San," Nangong San said with a feigned casual smile, though he understood the situation clearly.

There's an old saying: no one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a purpose, and wealth and status are not obtained without merit. Why would they offer such high-grade Six Carats drug if they didn't need a favor?

"...No problem. However, our King has also entrusted us with a task that requires the support and cooperation of Mr.

Nangong and your people," DA nodded. Upon hearing this, Nangong San immediately muttered inwardly, As expected.

He thought this, but he couldn't let the other party know. Thus, Nangong San smiled subtly, "I wonder what kind of support and cooperation Mr.

DA requires from you this time?" "Then I'll be direct. Due to political considerations, our King needs to eliminate a high-ranking official in your Huaxia.

We only require Mr. Nangong to send some people to offer support," DA stated.

"A high-ranking official? How high?

Is he in Shanghai?" Nangong San's brow furrowed upon hearing DA's words. "Yes, he is in Shanghai now.

He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We cannot disclose too much detail; I ask for Mr.

Nangong's understanding." "Mm, I can help you with this. But how many men do you need to borrow from me?" Nangong San didn't seem overly concerned; the Huaxia Ministry of Foreign Affairs had so many personnel; losing one or two wouldn't cause any major issue.

But Nangong San was mistaken. Coincidentally, that Minister of Foreign Affairs was precisely the mastermind who had recently strongly opposed the circulation of major Huaxia industries in Britain and had vehemently argued against the incident where a young British wastrel abused Chinese citizens under British protection a short while ago.

"We only need to borrow thirty men from Mr. Nangong." "Oh?

That many?" "I apologize, Mr. Nangong.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is accompanied by several masters, so we require your support." "Mm!" Nangong San pretended to deliberate for a moment, then nodded, stood up, and shook DA's hand. "Fine, I will lend them to you." "We thank you so much, Mr.

Nangong." "You're welcome, we are 'friends,' aren't we?" "Haha, yes, we are friends." The group exchanged flattering words, inwardly despising one another, yet maintaining sickeningly false smiles. "Minister of Foreign Affairs?

Could it be..." From near the ventilation shaft, a person frowned, muttering to himself. He watched until they had all left before jumping down.

He mumbled, "Minister of Foreign Affairs?... This matter is too serious; I must report it to the Dragon Lord immediately." In the blink of an eye, Ashura returned to the small villa and relayed everything to Yang Yi.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs?" Yang Yi murmured, then sank into deep thought. He had already harbored suspicions about the sudden military training, and now, receiving this news abruptly, it made Yang Yi fully realize that this training was definitely not simple.

It was likely a conspiracy far greater than the one involving Nangong San and his crew. "Investigate!

Check immediately. Find the whereabouts of that Minister of Foreign Affairs and search out all his relevant data!" "Yes!" Ashura responded.

Yang Yi's brow furrowed tighter; the events unfolding made it impossible to imagine what the military training tomorrow would bring.