My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 101

After being helped into the car by soldiers in civilian clothes and having his seatbelt fastened, Yang Hao closed his eyes and pondered deeply the words his best friend had said.

[And have you heard? Colombia seems to be planning to target Casimir!]

...This—it didn't sound like a baseless rumor; rather, it sounded like a very real, big piece of news. Ever since the mistaken assassination attempt that resulted in the harm done to his head maid, Yang Hao immediately understood that the Colombians were indeed planning something terrifying to do to him.

However, their assassination attempt failed. After the assassination failed, if that Lady K still wanted to do something to him, then all she could do was interfere with Ursus's protection of him in a more direct way.

But here's the problem: if Colombia wants to declare war on Ursus directly and then use... let's assume they have something similar... to crush the Ursus army with their high-tech weaponry—then Casimir, sandwiched between Colombia and Ursus, is their biggest obstacle.

If Casimir is actually in cahoots with Colombia, then it's a win-win situation for them. But the question is, what if Casimir is actually in cahoots with Ursus? While this sounds ridiculous, even Yang Hao himself thinks it's impossible... the question is, what if that one in ten thousand chance just happens to be true?

Columbia doesn't dare to gamble! That Lord K is so suspicious that he would even kill me in Columbia's cradle if he went to Ursus... So they don't dare to gamble. They would rather fight a few battles with Casimir than gamble that Casimir will side with them, or gamble on the slim possibility that Casimir will side with Ursus.

"...Thank you for your hard work. Please get some rest, leave the rest to me."

"But, Head Maid, the master..."

"Yes, I know what he's been doing outside—don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Yes."

So it's possible that the Colombian madman plans to launch a war against Casimir first, and then, after occupying Casimir, make war plans based on Casimir's border with Ursus... But then again, no matter how terrible Casimir is, is it really a country that Colombia can actually fight?

Yang Hao thought to himself, "This shouldn't be happening!" Although he had previously said that Ursus crushing Kazimir was as easy as kicking a collapsing wall, he was comparing it to Ursus!

The military strength comparison between Ursus and Colombia is like comparing a muscular fitness instructor to a skinny stick – a huge disparity in strength! But thinking about it that way, it makes even more sense, doesn't it? Why would Colombia...

Ouch..

There's no use overthinking it. After all, every country has its own little secrets. Ursus has Koschei, the immortal black serpent, assisting its rise to power, and Columbia might have some strange things of its own too! However, Yang Hao optimistically believes it's no big deal. After all, some of the Deepsea Hunters are now on his side. Once these humanoid Gundams reach a certain scale, wouldn't it be a piece of cake to wipe out Columbia?

That's what he thought. But after he finished his deep thought, he realized that the person helping him walk towards the palace had changed from a soldier to Monica.

"Mo..."

“Sir, you’ve had too much to drink, so please refrain from speaking for now,” Monica said helplessly, supporting Yang Hao while wiping the grease from his face with the white glove on her right hand. She looked after him with concern, and after confirming he wasn’t incoherent from drinking, she relaxed for a moment. “When we get back, let me help you clean yourself properly. Sigh, although I personally don’t mean to…interfere with your social life, sir? Next time, could you please let me know before you drink so much?”

Oh dear, would I dare? I haven't forgotten—oh? It's already been discovered?

Next time, I'll just tell Monica...

He nodded, realizing that although he was mentally alert, his head felt incredibly heavy. He smiled wryly and told Monica that if Koschche got angry tonight, she'd have to help him out...

“Lord Kosiché will definitely be a little angry, but don’t worry, he’ll calm himself down.” Monica simply smiled at this. She helped Yang Hao to the bathroom next to the bedroom, and after he had taken off all his clothes in the dressing room, she hesitated for a moment before changing out of her cumbersome long robe and maid’s outfit into clothes that would be more convenient for helping him bathe in the bathroom.

Monica then helped the naked Yang Hao to the bathroom, where she was surprised to find Lord Koschche soaking in the tub as well.

"Ah, Monica—I thought you were doing something wrong. I called you several times but you didn't come." Kosiche turned around and looked Yang Hao, who reeked of alcohol, and said. "And darling, are you already like this? Hmm, may I ask, darling, are you still conscious?"

"...Let's just leave it at that."

Yang Hao nodded reluctantly, and then Monica led him into the warm water.

Soaking in the hot water, he felt more comfortable than ever before. His body was out of control because of the excessive drinking, but so what if it was? The loyal head maid would still serve him well; what did he have to worry about?

For a moment, he really wanted to just close his eyes and get some sleep... but then he thought, oh dear, how can I go to sleep so early? My wife is asking if I'm awake, she must want to discuss something! How can I be the kind of man who says no at such a crucial moment?

So he shook his head violently in the water, then splashed hot water all over his face, even wetting Monica's clothes who was about to wash his hair, causing her to scream. After that, he managed to regain some control of his body from the alcohol.

"So, what's going on?"

Although he was still very tired, the stimulation from Monica rubbing his head gave Yang Hao an optimistic feeling that he could hold on until Kosic finished speaking.

Facing Yang Hao, who, though tired, was willing to listen to her work, Kosichelle first closed her eyes and smiled. Then, she shifted her position, sitting close to him, and began to recount her work in the audience hall that afternoon, what she had seen and heard, and the deal proposed by Captain Glamorgan...

The relationship between the officer and the diplomat resembles that of a prison guard and a prisoner.

Kosicche's unease and frustration with an independent city ruled by the military.

And, as Captain Glamorgan mentioned, the plan that "Colombia intends to do something to Casimir."

"Glamorgan? Uh..."

"What's wrong? Do you know him?"

"No, I was just thinking about my hometown, there's a place called Glamorgan, where many earls died."

"Hehe. I'd really like to hear about your hometown. If you have time, please tell me about it—but what do you think of them now?"

"...Actually, I've received similar news..."

Yang Hao relayed what his best friend Jack had told him to Koschche. Later, when Monica rinsed the foam off his hair with hot water and started washing his body, the couple were surprised to find that there was actually some kind of connection between the two events.

Jack's best friend said, "Colombia might go to war with Casimir," and Captain Glamorgan's proposed intelligence deal was exactly what "Colombia plans to do to Casimir."

The topic of war goes without saying, and it's naturally related to military matters. The intelligence-related categories in the catalog brought by Captain Glamorgan are also related to military affairs.

Jack's best friend said this secret intelligence came from a recruit in the current United City who was not rigorously trained, could only be used barely, and was not trustworthy. Koschie also noticed that, in addition to the guards brought by the diplomatic team who were "more like military police than soldiers," some of her Serpent Scales who had returned from fieldwork and were resting also said that the vast majority of the "elite" in the United City were military police with combat experience.

"Hmm...it does seem to be related, but we can't be sure if it's related to the military, can we?"

"So we have to be careful. Sigh, if it weren't for the fact that the Serpent Scales were going to Saint-Germain to scout out a safe route for you, I would have liked to send them to United City to gather intelligence first."

"Shouldn't we be able to handle this ourselves?"

"I think so. I can handle it."

Kosicie leaned on Yang Hao's shoulder, using it as a pillow. Seeing how exhausted his wife was, Yang Hao smiled and said he would work with her tomorrow—because he also needed to figure out what was going on.

Chapter 216

On the morning of June 21, when Yang Hao and Kosiché arrived at the audience hall to work, he noticed that the guests from the United City had not yet arrived.

“They won’t arrive until around 11 a.m. today,” Kosiche said, taking her seat on her husband’s throne. “Because they have some business to attend to—they’re under military rule now, and diplomats have far too little say.”

"I'm not sure what would happen if diplomats had too little say and the military had too much say?"

"Like this..."

Kosiché explained to Yang Hao the downsides of military rule—such as the extremely slow speed of administrative management, and so on. She listed many disadvantages, but the only certainty was that military rule would prioritize the collective interests of the nation over individual interests.

"Even so, it's incredibly inefficient. They want to know about almost everything—it's like someone without your abilities trying to confirm every detail of the Duchy of Kosiché, wanting to have it all under their control."

"I'm going crazy..."

"So that's it. The United City's military wants to control everything related to United City, and they can't even entrust diplomatic matters to trustworthy diplomats—their diplomats are clearly just temporarily transferred from other places. I can already imagine how busy we'll be here soon."

"why?"

"Because we have to trade with them, don't we? They've become chaotic, so our trade here also has to be temporarily suspended. Sigh..."

My wife sighed softly, but her expression didn't change much. It seemed she just thought the situation was so-so and nothing to worry about.

Yang Hao trusted his wife's expression completely. He muttered, "If it's not worth worrying about, then so be it," as he fell into deep thought. While he pondered, Koschich, who had been watching his focused profile, smiled and gently placed his hand on the back of Yang Hao's hand.

He was thinking about the next deal with United City.

Colombia's major move is extremely advantageous for the Duchy of Koschei and even the Ursus Empire. After all, it's well known that while the enemy of my enemy isn't necessarily my friend, he is at least a "stranger" who can be used. Now, with Colombia potentially launching a war against Casimir, if the Ursus Empire... no, if the Duchy of Koschei could appear like a "messenger of God" and send troops to Casimir just as it's about to be destroyed, surely the rulers of Casimir would be moved to tears of gratitude?

While for capitalists, the fall of a nation is merely a matter of their company's location changing its name, for ordinary people and governments, the Ursus Empire and the Duchy of Koschei would be their saviors. Even for the Kazimir Knights, who had previously clashed with Ursus, no matter how much they disliked the Ursus people, the harsh reality was that Ursus had saved their nation.

As long as he can gain the initial gratitude of the people and some of the conquering knights, it is not impossible for Yang Hao to gradually dye the entire Kazimierz in the color of the Duke of Kosichè, and even eventually make it his private domain... More importantly, doing so will greatly disgust that Lord K. Just thinking about Lord K's furious and crazy scene makes Yang Hao very happy. He is happy to do it regardless of whether there is any benefit!

However, if there's any profit to be made, it's best to try and maximize it. Sigh, I just don't know if Koschche will support me in doing this?

Thinking of this, Yang Hao gently raised his hand, pinched Kosich's slender hand between his fingers, and then turned to the black snake, who had been staring at him for who knows how long, and said:

"Cosice, what do you think? If we can obtain decisive evidence and intelligence, how about we discuss with His Majesty the Emperor whether we can intervene in Colombia and Casimir after the civil war is over?"

"Heh? What are you planning to do? I have some ideas too, but Ursus doesn't have the resources to annex a country after the civil war, you know?" Kosiché chuckled, speaking a few words to the air beside him before Monica appeared from behind the empty tiles, carrying a drink. "After all, a civil war is a devastating blow... Or do you have a better method?"

"Actually, we don't need to manage it completely. We can build a vassal state, gradually introduce our own characteristics, and then annex it when the time is right."

"How to do it exactly?"

"Is such that..."

Taking the drink Monica offered, and noticing the unusual perfume she was wearing, Yang Hao smiled thoughtfully and praised her beauty while explaining his thoughts to Koschche.

His idea didn't require much explanation, but Kosicche frowned and asked important details and questions from time to time—and answering these questions would take quite some time.

The couple chatted until almost 11 a.m. During this time, no one came to disturb them in the audience hall. After this important conversation, Koschich first expressed his approval of Yang Hao's bold idea, but then some necessary concerns arose.

“Darling, we don’t yet know how much control your abilities have over [vassals], or rather... [allies],” Kosichä said with some concern. After finishing her drink, her tail wriggled restlessly, then suddenly swung off the armrest and gently wrapped around his left hand. “So I’m very worried about the control aspect. After the civil war, the Empire certainly won’t have time to do anything with vassal states, or those Kazimir states that haven’t fully submitted. If you have to work so hard then... I really don’t think that’s good.”

"Huh? But Koschche, aren't you exhausted yourself too?"

"But my dear, you've given so much. It's far beyond what I, and the Ursus Empire, can give you right now. I worry that you might unknowingly shoulder an excessive burden in the future, and eventually let yourself fall apart step by step... Although I know that you will eventually become an immortal standing on the same level as me, if possible, I also hope that you can be happier while you are still a short-lived being, okay?"

She gently pinched her husband's cheek, about to say something, when a waiter burst in to announce that the diplomatic corps of the United City was requesting an audience.

Chapter 217

When Captain Glamorgan and his diplomatic team arrived at the Duchy of Koschei and the audience hall of the ducal palace, he immediately noticed the man sitting with the Duke of Koschei.

Last time I came, that throne was empty. This time, the one sitting there must be the esteemed husband of the Duke of Kosice!

Captain Glamorgan's eyes darted around. If he remembered correctly, Duke Kosiché's husband was a legendary figure in the Ursus Empire.

It is said that this man was a manager from the Haier Brothers Company in their United City. After a period of peace, one day he suddenly left United City and disappeared in Columbia. According to various sources, he seemed to have run away to Ursus, to the territory of a duke, and became someone's husband.

At first, everyone had some doubts, but now it seems... it really is true. And for some reason, he himself has become a wanted criminal in Columbia... Although Columbia's affairs have almost no connection with United City anymore, this is still something to be aware of.

With this in mind, Captain Glamorgan already had an idea of ​​what to do next. He first bowed slightly to the two distinguished officials as usual, and after inquiring about the duke's name as per custom, he confirmed that the man was the supervisor he was looking for.

Captain Glamorgan wondered if Huang Datang, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, actually possessed the corresponding abilities. He was unsure, but now he had to secure benefits for United City and for the city itself.

...... ......

On the other hand, not long after the normal diplomatic talks began, Yang Hao, whose mind was wandering, noticed that the diplomats from United City arrived around 11 a.m. Did they eat before coming over?

It wasn't that Yang Hao meant any disrespect or impoliteness; he was simply genuinely curious why United City would hold such an important discussion in such an awkward, in-between situation.

'I guess something's wrong on their end?' he murmured in a very low voice as his wife spoke. The unseen head maid stood behind him, massaging him while reminding him of the importance of the occasion. 'Sigh, I know the occasion… but I still feel very confused.'

"Then, sir, would you please speak with Lord Koschche later?" The head maid sighed helplessly, then gently pinched his ear with a hand invisible to humans in the mirror world before continuing to serve the two sirs.

Hearing this, Yang Hao shrugged, a gesture unseen by outsiders. Kosic was busy, and he couldn't easily interrupt, so after thinking it over, he could only ponder why the people from United City had chosen such an awkward time to come.

Kosiché previously suggested that their slow pace might be due to some "business" issues. But thinking about it carefully, if it were purely "business matters," it shouldn't have taken this long to arrive, right? Not to mention, as a diplomat, Captain Glamorgan should have his own schedule.

Could it be that the United City has become so short of experienced politicians—more precisely, those who are experienced and have influence—that it has to resort to having Captain Glamorgan handle some business matters? If so, then the United City's current manpower shortage is something that can be exploited.

Besides that, what other problems does the United City have that it can exploit?

"Then, our normal business dealings end here. Beyond that, would you like to sign a cooperation agreement with my duchy? For a period of five years?"

"Yes, sir. We wish to enter into a mutually beneficial trade agreement with you, but before that, we must first ascertain the details of that secret intelligence."

"Secret intelligence...Excuse my bluntness, but we in Ursus also have our own thoughts on Columbia and Casimir's [actions]. Unless it's intelligence of a certain importance, I don't think I need to exchange anything for it."

"I believe you will value this important intelligence. However, in return, we also hope to trade more with you."

"...Speak freely."

Yang Hao pondered thoughtfully, believing that there were more important problems to be solved in the United City than the shortage of manpower.

But what was that? He frowned, suddenly realizing something—given the aggressive nature of Lord K of Columbia, it was fortunate that United City was able to escape Columbia.

But the problem is that Lady K even dared to send assassins to Ursus just to kill me, an ordinary person who married into the Duke's family... Wouldn't she send more secret police, or even the army, to bring the United City to justice and bring them back to Columbia for trial?

Thinking about it that way, it's actually quite possible! After all, no matter how much the United City calls itself an independent city, in the eyes of the major powers outside, it's still a part of Colombia... In other words, if Colombia were to bring the United City to justice, it would have an absolute ideological advantage, both morally and otherwise. Right now, the United City is probably looking for someone who can "protect" them, even if it's just a verbal declaration of willingness... Otherwise, Colombia's sword will forever hang over their heads, leaving them with no peace.

In this situation, Captain Glamorgan, as a diplomat and military officer, naturally had to juggle business, military, and diplomacy, and even had to delay diplomatic meetings to relieve pressure on other tasks... But even so, they still insisted that the secret intelligence was an important item "worthy of Duke Cosice's attention"—presumably, it was the decisive evidence that Colombia might launch a war against Casimir, as his close friend had suggested.

But even if he figured it out, it wouldn't work without evidence... His Majesty the Emperor wouldn't send troops to profit from the Ursus Civil War just because of his few words... Yang Hao had to obtain that evidence; he absolutely had to.

Just as he was thinking this, a new event popped up in front of him.

However, this event is different from the previous ones by the word "super".

[Super Event: The Secret of Columbia]

The two kings of the Dukedom of Kosichè, through their experience and the inside information brought by their close friend, "guessed" the big news that Columbia might launch a war against Kazimir. However, even though he knew about this, without evidence, His Majesty the Emperor of Ursus would not approve his plan.

So he needed to get this crucial information from Captain Glamorgan—but then again, the problems within United City were clearly more extensive than he'd imagined. Their diplomat, Captain Glamorgan, even had to prioritize settling a mess of commercial affairs before engaging in diplomatic work. That was perhaps something to watch out for.

Furthermore, the United City faces a series of problems: manpower shortages, lack of military strength, and a stagnant commercial economy due to its separation from Colombia. They attempted to print a new currency to maintain economic operations, but how could the currency of an independent city lacking support be recognized by neighboring countries and other cities? They desperately needed to find someone to "back them up," urgently.

'I just hope his asking price isn't too high.'

This seems to be a new category of "event". Not only because the background color of this event is a strange blue-black, but also because Yang Hao noticed that the possible "effects" of this event were not written out.