Chapter: Chapter 105: This is a Declaration of War
Chapter 105: This is a Declaration of War
The subsequent plot unfolded much like “Beauty and the Beast.” The enraged landlord’s son, leading his forced laborers up the mountain, was soundly thrashed by Karl the Bloodhoof Warrior. Karl then rescued Belle and her father, leaving the landlord’s son bound and gagged.
The story continued with Karl bringing his father-in-law and his young sweetheart back to the mountain. On a stormy night, the man and the Minotaur bared their hearts to each other, eventually leading a happy, uninhibited, and increasingly deep life together on the mountain.
The play concluded there.
There was actually more to the story, intended to further develop the image of the Minotaur Warriors. For instance, they would help villagers resist monster invasions or drive away tyrannical imperial tax collectors. However, time was limited that day, so the performance didn’t continue.
In many ways, the play was riddled with plot holes. The human girl Belle seemed blind to Karl’s massive physique, hooves, and other features. The Scheming Frog initially expected criticism for these flaws, but as he scanned the audience, he noticed that everyone, except the King of Winter who remained calmly seated, including the little maid beside him, was engrossed in the play. Some of the more emotional girls were even moved to tears.
The Scheming Frog clenched his fist in secret. He knew he had succeeded. Gou Fugui, standing beside him, couldn’t hide his excitement; they exchanged a knowing smile, their bromance radiating.
“Clap, clap, clap—”
After a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted.
“That was brilliant! A play based on a storybook, what a genius idea!”
“Belle, I love you! Miss Elena, I love you!”
“Oh, my goodness, I don’t know why, but I suddenly have a craving to fall in love with a majestic Bloodhoof Warrior. Look at their powerful physiques, absolutely captivating!”
“Will you perform again? When is the next show? I’ll definitely be there to support you!”
The plaza was a cacophony of noise. The actors could only make out a few of the closest voices, the rest lost in the din, but it was more than enough to overwhelm them with joy.
Elena, in particular, had never experienced such a wonderful feeling. The corners of her lips curved upwards involuntarily. Instead of fear, she felt more confident and composed, as if she were born for this very moment.
Seeing that the time was right, the Scheming Frog and Gou Fugui immediately gave instructions to the soldiers behind them. Soon, a group of children carrying flowers ascended the makeshift stage. These flowers were presented to every actor, even Karl. He squatted down, lowering his head, as a human child tucked a flower behind his ear. It smelled fragrant, carrying a hint of home.
Karl had expected his monstrous appearance to frighten the child, but he found the child’s gaze filled with admiration instead. “I want to be a strong warrior like you when I grow up, using my sharp battle axe to protect my woman.”
“That’s a good ambition, but first, you need to grow up.”
“Yes, Mr. Minotaur, I’ll grow up quickly. And, your horns are so cool!”
Hearing this, Karl grinned. He suddenly liked this feeling. This feeling was akin to how he felt when he first saw the Magic Cannon. Perhaps performing in plays was also an interesting thing, not as detestable to a Minotaur as he’d thought. The tight-fitting burlap tunic he wore also felt surprisingly well-fitting, perfectly showcasing his sturdy build. In short, everything was satisfactory.
After the conferral of titles and the play concluded, Xi Wei returned to Winter City with his entourage of maids. Along the way, the girls, who had never seen a play before, continued to chatter and discuss it excitedly. Connie, flapping her wings as she flew, couldn’t help but join in, nearly crashing into the clock tower.
It proved that influencing the townsfolk’s thoughts through entertainment was highly effective. Back when he lived on Blue Star, singers and stars could incite massive online wars with just a few words or a single social media post. Entertainment was a sharp sword for influencing public opinion. If used skillfully, and protected by powerful military force, the influence of nobles and racial discrimination throughout the Winter Kingdom could be gradually resolved.
Xi Wei observed all of this. He eagerly anticipated how far the Scheming Frog would go. As a king, there was no need to personally handle every single matter; it was too exhausting. Pulling the strings from behind the scenes and only making an appearance when necessary was the correct approach.
For a long time, Xi Wei had acted as a nanny in the development and construction of Winter City, still transitioning from the role of a lord to that of a king. Through the event orchestrated by the Scheming Frog, Xi Wei felt he could gradually loosen his grip on managing such minor affairs. His focus should shift towards finding divine artifacts, nurturing the maid corps, and promoting their rapid awakening.
That night, in Winter City, Xi Wei, after a day’s journey, did not lie down to rest. He was at his desk, perusing intelligence reports from Alence. The Andor Empire had formed an alliance with the Orcs. They intended to jointly confront the Naga sea tribe. The Orcish army had already reached the border of the Andor Empire, exchanging various supplies. It was clear that the King of Andor, driven to desperation by the Naga, must have offered the Orcs considerable benefits to persuade the brutal Orcs to temporarily set aside their prejudice against humans and form an allied force.
Alence’s intelligence work was thorough. He not only listed the supplies the King of Andor had given the Orcs but also meticulously noted the quantity of each item. The list was over a meter long, featuring a dazzling array of goods, from basic foodstuffs to expensive materials.
Xi Wei looked at the list and felt a pang of bitterness. “Why didn’t this King of Andor seek an alliance with me, a human king, instead of the Orcs? Isn’t that looking down on me, the King of Winter?” He thought, “Perhaps in the eyes of the King of Andor, I, Xi Wei Jinshi, am not even as good as an Orc.”
“This is provocation! This is a declaration of war!” Xi Wei saw the burning war spirit of the King of Andor in this list. However, he couldn’t defeat the King of Andor yet. But it didn’t matter; the Winter Kingdom lacked nothing in terms of land, only supplies. Therefore, he just needed to seize those supplies… Not only seize them but frame another country for it, to avoid the Andor Empire, the strongest on the North Continent, coming after him, the humble King of Winter.
Who should he frame? Xi Wei pondered, flipping through the intelligence reports in his hand. Suddenly, a sheepskin scroll caught his eye. “The Third Prince of the Orc Royal Court returns from conquering the Eye of the Demon, seeking to usurp the throne? The main force is Dragon Riders?”
“Good heavens, Keke…” In the dimly lit room, the strange, cackling laughter of the King of Winter echoed.
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