Chapter 80 - 400 Million
Chapter 80: 400 Million
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She understood what Kang De meant.
He forced the proud knight to apologize to the lowly Hong San in their eyes. To these knights, it was really a huge humiliation. They could not do anything to Kang De, but they could vent their anger on Hong San.
When Kang De left the Glory Sand Viscounty, Hong San would definitely lose his backer. Without Kang De’s protection, he would return to his original state and become a lowly person that everyone despised and could bully.
At that time, even if Knight Glenn wanted to vent his anger, Viscount Samuel would not stop him.
At the thought of this, Tina was shocked and felt pity.
She looked at the calm Kang De and stammered, “Why… why?”
Kang De said indifferently, “Even if I don’t force that fool to apologize to Hong San, I have to make him lower his head to me. That person can’t do anything to me and has to vent his anger on the weak. Hong San still can’t escape this calamity. Or rather, do you think I should swallow my anger and calmly accept his disdain?”
Tina sighed. “Of course not.”
She did not have the right to ask Kang De to do anything. She only sighed at the chaotic disputes in the world.
“In the end, all phenomena in the world have their source and cause.”
Kang De said softly, “Elves are praised. Their culture radiates to the continent. Humans are proud to speak the Elven language and pursue the Elven culture. What’s the reason? It’s because their country is powerful and suppresses the world.”
“When I heard you talk about Cathay, I felt a sense of yearning and admiration. It’s far in the east, mysterious, and abundant. Silk and porcelain are all precious treasures in the world. Moreover, martial arts came from the east, causing the development of the battle aura and becoming the source of strength for the continent’s warriors. Logically speaking, Viscount Samuel should treat Hong San as an honored guest and invite him to teach martial arts and train soldiers. Why do the knights of the Glory Sand Viscounty see him as a joke? Why is Hong San willing to lower himself and rather live in the soil?”
He said faintly, “I think even if Cathay falls into the flames of war, it’s still far away. Even if the news comes, the perception and attitude of the people of the Empire won’t change so quickly, right?”
Kang De’s question made Tina fall into deep thought.
The princess was very smart.
A moment later, she thought of the only reasonable explanation. “You mean…”
Kang De slowly said, “If a person doesn’t love himself, others won’t respect him. I think most of the reason why Hong San is like this in the Glory Sand Viscounty is that he despises himself and can’t blame others.”
Tina said softly, “Most of the reason?”
Kang De said, “I saw that the outfit Hong San is wearing is different from the continent. It’s an Eastern outfit, but from the cloth, it’s locally produced. It should have been deliberately made in the Cathayan style, and he also keeps an Eastern hairstyle. From the looks of it, it’s not that he misses his home country, but that someone likes him to dress like this.”
The princess’s expression changed slightly.
Kang De narrowed his eyes, “The elves are powerful and suppress the human countries. The elves are a noble upper-class race. They are elegant, knowledgeable, and beautiful. If I’m an imperial noble and an elf is willing to serve me as a servant, my vanity will definitely be greatly satisfied. I can’t wait to show off to the entire country that I have an elf servant. I definitely won’t let her wear human clothes.”
“I want to see her wearing traditional elf clothes, maintaining an arrogant posture, and serving me diligently every day…” He looked at Tina, “It’s like the entire Twilight Dynasty is crawling at my feet.”
At this point, Kang De smiled faintly, “Viscount Samuel is really a wonderful person.”
The more pleasant he became and spoke frankly, the more nervous Tina became.
She whispered, “Kang De, you…”
“Don’t worry.”
He smiled. “I’ve said it before. I won’t drag you down. I know what I’m doing. We’re friends. You have an even more important mission and have to work with this viscount. I won’t act rashly.”
“Moreover, I don’t feel angry or humiliated, because Hong San is not my compatriot. It’s his own business that Viscount Samuel enjoys such things. As long as he doesn’t provoke me, I can’t be bothered with this.”
Tina was slightly relieved.
However, she was still a little uneasy.
On the island, Kang De was very easy to talk to. He did not have any airs or arrogance, which made her roughly understand his temper. He would treat someone the way they treated him.
It was very easy to deal with, but it was also very difficult at times.
This was because not only was this world polite and humble, but it was also arrogant.
For example, at the dock today, he had been mocked and ridiculed by Knight Glenn for no reason, so he returned the favor on the spot. He did not attack or expand the situation. He only relied on his words and the influence of Goethe and the viscount to rub Knight Glen’s face on the ground in public.
This simple matter could tell Kang De’s style and logic of revenge.
—If you mock me, I’ll embarrass you.
Tina thought of the battle on the Holy Seal Islands again. When Kang De determined that he would be in danger after the elves went ashore, he did not hesitate to set up a plan to use the Goethe to kill nearly 500 elves on the Wayne Wings without leaving any future trouble.
He had completely offended Knight Glenn in the matter at the docks just now, causing the other knights to lose face and even the viscount’s face… According to the precautionary methods Kang De had displayed earlier, who knew what he was thinking and planning?
She felt a… headache.
Tina sighed. “Kang De, I don’t want to interfere and criticize your actions, but I still have to advise you. If you want to take action, please discuss it with me. We’re friends.”
Kang De smiled. “Got it.”
His smile was a little perfunctory, especially since Tina had experienced Kang De’s madness on the Holy Seal Islands. On the surface, he said calmly, “I have a plan”, but in fact, his plan was either to kill, set fire, trigger explosions, or let the knight kill and set fire.
Due to all kinds of precedents, Tina was worried, afraid that Kang De was brewing some big news again.
Hearing Kang De agree so readily, but it seemed to be perfunctory, the princess asked, “Then can you tell me what your plans are for that Hong San?”
“Sure.”
The topic returned to the beginning.
Kang De snapped his fingers, “The source of the conflict is that the knights’ disdainful and mocking mentality has implicated me, making me very unhappy. The source of everything is Hong San’s self-deprecating attitude.”
Tina could not help but defend him, “His country is in ruins and he’s in a foreign place. Perhaps he just wants to survive. Perhaps no one taught him how to strengthen his self-esteem… Kang De, Father told me that only a small number of people in this world are born noble and don’t know the hardships of the people. The nobles can live without worry and be high and mighty, but they can’t mock others with their own standards, because some people do their best just to live.”
Kang De nodded and praised, “Your father is not bad.”
Tina glared at him. ‘Who praises my father like that?’
Kang De continued, “I understand, and I understand. He might have his difficulties. He has his own reasons for becoming like this, but this is meaningless, because what happened in the past has already happened. We can’t change it, and neither can anyone. However, the present is different, and the future is different.”
He said to Tina frankly, “You asked me what I want to do. I want to change his current situation. It’s not only because he has black hair and yellow skin like me. That’s not important. What’s important is that I can’t stand it.”
“I can’t stand someone living like a dog in a humble manner. I can’t stand someone who can wantonly mock and insult another person. Since I can’t stand it and have the ability to change, why don’t I do it? Tina, if I have to turn a blind eye to something I can’t stand on the first day I come to the continent, what will happen in the future?”
Tina was stunned, then sighed softly, “There’s more than Hong San in this world. It’s not only the Cathayans who are treated unfairly on the continent. There are countless such things. Even Goethe has many.”
Kang De asked, “Is it more than 400 million?”
Tina was stunned. “Huh?”
Kang De said indifferently, “That’s not much.”
He ignored the stunned princess and said, “Hong San doesn’t understand the principle of not kneeling casually. It’s fine, I’ll teach him! He doesn’t understand that knees aren’t meant for kneel. It’s fine, I’ll tell him! Hong San doesn’t know how to change his situation. It’s fine, I’ll show him the way! He doesn’t know what it means to truly live. It’s fine, I’ll tell him how to live!”
Kang De leaned forward and looked at Tina in an aggressive manner.
He was firm.
“After I tell him, if he’s still unwilling to change and is still willing to lower himself and still prefer to live in the soil, it doesn’t matter. He can stay and be humiliated and taken revenge by that stupid knight. This is the reason why I set up this predicament!”
“Why? Do you think I’m interfering in his life?”
Kang De said coldly, “If he’s willing to be manipulated by his current life and be treated as a toy and a joke by these Empire people, then it’s fine for me to manipulate him, right?”
Knight Cleveland coughed outside.
Kang De suddenly returned to his senses and saw Tina’s complicated expression.
“…I’m sorry, I’m a little agitated,” he said. “Believe me, there’s no problem.”
Tina looked at Kang De as if she wanted to say something, but she only sighed softly, not knowing where to start.
The interior of the carriage became awkward. Kang De opened the window.
He first saw Hong San, who was not far behind the carriage.
As if on reflex, the Cathayan revealed an obedient and smart smile. Like a dog, he was about to run to his master. Kang De only waved his hand and stopped.
The convoy had already left the port area and was walking towards the core town of the Glory Sand Viscounty, the Glory Sand Town. It was rich because of business and had already entered the township. Pedestrians could be seen along the way.
There were farmers carrying empty baskets and leading livestock. The livestock was carrying large bundles of firewood on their backs. He might have to exchange for something in town. There were also women carrying baskets on their heads and food in them. They were holding chickens in their arms and leaving the town. There were sausage shops on the street with large strings of sausages hanging. The shopkeeper was shouting to sell. Along the way, there was a wine shop, a shoe shop, a tavern, and a tailor shop. This bustling town was running. When people saw the viscount’s convoy, they watched in awe.
When they saw Kang De looking out, they were shocked.
Kang De smiled at them kindly, so they smiled and bowed to him.
The convoy headed north until they arrived at the manor of the Glory Sand Viscount.
When it was Kang De’s turn to get out of the carriage, Hong San rushed up.
He humbly stretched out his hand. “Master, let me help you.”
It was not Kang De’s turn to be nosy. He waved his hand impatiently, but this action seemed to have been misunderstood by Hong San as agreement. He seemed to have obtained a huge honor and eagerly reached out to help him.
Their hands were placed together.
Kang De immediately felt a hidden force emitting from Hong San’s body and probing his body. Moreover, it retracted at a touch, as if it was an illusion.
He glanced at Hong San.
The other party’s expression was as usual, very respectful, and there was a fawning smile on his face.