Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âPuti! Have you thought of something?â Luo Qiongcang leaned forward inquisitively.
The other core members of the royal family sat upright in their seats as well, ears pricked up.
Since the betrothal contest plans were decided, Luo Puti had been devising plans and drawing up her strategy behind the scenes. Both the first and second tasks were her ideas which had produced effective results with very clear and well-defined intentions.
On that account, her opinions were taken seriously and highly regarded.
âI donât have a solution yet⦠But, the situation is not as bad as you think!â Luo Puti said. âThe first task earned us a lot of Earth-God grade materials. We were able to use this month to convert them into interstellar weapons enough for 100,000 men!â
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. Luo Putiâs plan had indeed worked very well in their favor!
Luo Puti continued, âAs for the second task, our goal was to incite opposition between the competitors and the Tenshou-Royal Dome alliance! According to our intel, when Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiao were hunting for the Giant Barbarian Tiger, they were interrupted by Tenshou and Royal Dome soldiers and had sustained pretty serious injuries! Their sifu is a core elder of Heaven Dominating Faction! He will definitely avenge his beloved disciples! For the third and also final task, I am setting a forty-five-day time limit so that we can contact Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiaoâs sifu and invite him to exact retribution with us! Getting this core elderâs support on top of the Fengs and Yuns assistance will surely boost our combat force!â
After finishing her speech, Luo Puti received looks of approval and commendation.
She was not finished, however, and continued saying, âOne final thing though â Helian Tulong! During the second task, no one from either Tenshou or Royal Dome dared to cross him! This tells us that the Helian Family is extremely powerful! Making Helian Tulong the Fuma will entitle us to the Helian Familyâs aid! Even if a war is to break out, we would at least have a chance!â
âMake Helian Tulong the Fuma?â Luo Shanhe looked confused. âBut the third task has not even been announced or completed yet. What if he loses?â
âDonât worry!â Luo Puti replied. âThe third task is for the contestants to present a betrothal gift that will win my heart! This is a very subjective assignment. I just need to say that Helian Tulongâs gift moved me and heâll be crowned the winner!â
Luo Shanhe praised, âLuo Puti, that is a very well-rounded plan! It seems I was worried for nothing!â
Luo Qiongchang, however, did not share his brotherâs excitement. âWhat about that Tenshou spy?â
âHe probably wonât be back!â Luo Shanhe replied. âAccording to the reports, he left the ten-thousand mountains only a few days into the second task! Thereâs no way he couldâve captured a Giant Barbaric Tiger!â
âThatâs trueâ¦â Luo Qiongcang nodded but heaved a sigh. âHow unfortunate. The Giant Barbaric Tiger is made up of treasures! If that spy could bring one back, we can exchange it for even more interstellar weapons!â
âI think heâll come back!â Luo Puti remarked. âThat Royal Dome spy Ximen Shuoxue didnât capture a tiger. Heâll be eliminated from the competition! That Tenshou spy is their last pawn. They wonât let him give up that easily!â
Luo Shanhe frowned. âYou mean that Tenshou will find a way to help that spy to get a Giant Barbarian Tiger?â
âItâs very likely!â Luo Puti nodded. âSince thereâs only one final task left, the Tenshou will want their spy to stay in the competition to beat Helian Tulong!â
âThat can be easily taken care of!â Luo Qiongcang expressed. âIf that Tenshou spy dares to come back, I will kill him myself! Then he wonât be able to join the final round!â
âNo! Donât!â Luo Puti shook her head. âI will decide the winner for the final round! Helian Tulong will win! We cannot kill that spy so Tenshou will still think they have a chance at winning the third round! If we kill that spy, weâll startle the enemy and they might retaliate and attack!â
Luo Qiongcang inhaled sharply. âThat is a very rational thought! If it werenât for you, I wouldnât have even thought of that!â
Luo Puti answered lovingly, âFather, youâve spent half your life in battle. Youâre used the direct manner of solving problems. Itâs only understandable that youâre not used to these kinds of labyrinthine plans!â
âThatâs true! All these fighting and warring has muddled my old brain!â Luo Qiongcang smiled. âWe are so fortunate, though! The heavens have taken care of us and our ancestors have protected us when they allowed you to return to me! As long as you are here, things will take a turn for the better!â
Luo Puti merely nodded. An empty look in her eyes and a deadpan look accompanied her pretty face where delight should have been.
Luo Qiongcang waved his hand and announced, âEveryone, you may be dismissed. Weâll do as Luo Puti proposed!â
The people left the meeting room assured by Luo Putiâs sound analysis and steady plan.
When everyone had left, the Emperor turned to his daughter, a solemn expression on his face. âPuti, you did very well. You were able to dispel the core membersâ fears with a few words! If the plan goes well, weâll be able to survive this tribulationâ¦â
âThat is my dutyâ¦â Luo Putiâs tone was sharp and chilly, showing no delight whatsoever at the idea of the plan succeeding.
Luo Qiongcang sighed deeply. âI know that this must be difficult for you⦠this being so unfair and allâ¦â
âItâs nothing! This is the path that Iâve chosen!â Luo Puti said icily. âFor the sake of the 13 billion innocent citizens of Saint Duke! For the hundreds of Saint Dukeâs Luo Family members! For the sake of my foster parents, Luo Bin and Lin Xue! No matter how unfair it is to me, it is still worth it!â
âMm⦠Itâs good that you have straightened it out with yourselfâ¦â Luo Qiongcang sighed again. âItâs late. Go back to your room and rest! After collecting the Giant Barbarian Tiger, weâll need to go to Apocalypse Starfield to exchange them for weapons! We also need to contact the Feng Family and the Yun Family, as well as their Heaven Domination Factionâs core elder⦠For the next 45 days, weâre going to be really busy and very tiredâ¦â
âI knowâ¦â Luo Puti nodded somberly before leaving the room.
She had just stepped out of the meeting room when a red spider crawled out of her pocket, and climbed up her shoulders.
âLittle Hong⦠There are only forty-five days leftâ¦â Luo Putiâs tone was heavy and burdened. The icy coolness on her face melted away exposing barren exhaustion and loneliness.
âArrgggh! For the 80,002th time, my name is not Little Hong!â The little spider gestured angrily. After he calmed down, he pondered while asking, â45 days to what? Complete your sentence!â
Luo Puti did not understand the creature so she said nothing else and dragged herself back to her room.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
â¦
The second morning.
Chen Xiaobei arrived early at Saint Dukeâs palace. After flashing his Bridal Token, he was immediately escorted inside.