Lucia held Bai’s hand without looking back as they left the residence of the two Imperial Counts.
Margaret didn’t stop them; she just stared blankly at the figure of the bionic girl until she disappeared into the crowd.
Her gaze suddenly flickered as she looked at the man beside her.
"Count Elio, we absolutely cannot miss this opportunity."
Margaret lowered her voice: "Find the right chance to use your ability and treasures to control Ark’s ’Prophet Humanoid.’ Lord Lin Lan won’t dare do anything to us, and we can compensate him generously later..."
Looking at the endlessly chattering Duke’s Daughter, Elio felt slightly amused.
This kid is truly the offspring of that old Blood Vulture; born a predator, already plotting to snatch things openly without even starting negotiations?
"I won’t do that."
Elio slowly shook his head.
He would not damage his relationship with Lord Lin Lan or hand the Prophet Humanoid over to Blood Vulture Duke.
"Elio! Everything I want to do is for the Empire."
Margaret urged: "You should understand, the new Empire is an inseparable whole, and under the Duke’s military orders, we should unite without distinction."
Unite without distinction?
Elio carefully observed her eyes.
It seems this child has been influenced by the Raven Duke, exuding confidence and arrogance with eyes full of an admirable romantic belief.
But Elio remained unmoved.
The organ that pumped his blood had long been replaced by more precise and efficient chanical structures, and his heart had turned as hard as iron.
Reality is not a child’s ga of pretend; Elio knew well that the young one before him was nothing but a handy tool for the Blood Vulture Duke.
Sadly, even she herself wasn’t aware of this.
"Countess Margaret, I’ve been cooperating with you from the beginning; my warship is at your disposal under military command, and even control of the chanical soldiers has been handed to you."
Elio chuckled, spreading the chanical arms behind him: "I’ve lowered my stance as much as possible; what more do you want?"
Margaret’s expression faltered.
"And you must understand one thing."
Elio’s smile faded, and he spoke word by word: "I’m not your subordinate, girl. As an Imperial Count, I also have the right to make my own judgnt about the current situation."
Margaret fell silent.
She indeed had the power to take over his legion and could even command Elio’s soldiers to attack Ark Island, but she had no standing to interfere with the choices of a noble of equal rank.
Moreover, the Count Elio before her was a relic who had survived since the ti of the Mad Emperor.
"I advise you to calm down, Countess Margaret."
Elio spoke lightly: "You now remind of a little girl who has seen a toy she fancies."
Without turning back, he stepped into the nearest empty room and closed the door behind him.
Margaret frowned.
She didn’t get angry over his words but entered the adjacent elegant room in silence.
The high-rise and the room’s facilities were familiar yet foreign, much like the residence built under the guidance of the ’Prophet’ from mory, a setting where only nobles in the Empire could reside.
However, Margaret had not stayed in such a room for a very long ti...
The Duke’s eldest daughter had been traveling at sea for an extended period; she removed her boots, quickly unfastened her tight-fitting clothing, and all her undergarnts imdiately emitted hot steam.
She walked into the shower by mory.
The mirror reflected a body marked with scar healing traces, and Margaret turned on the faucet; hot water instantly flowed down her slender body, eliciting a light, contented sigh.
She began to ticulously review everything that had happened today, starting from the mont she took control of her colleague’s warship under military orders.
It was only then Margaret belatedly realized that Osguta had never thoroughly reported the important details about Ark Kingdom to her.
She was completely oblivious to Lord Lin Lan’s past.
Undoubtedly, this was the instruction of that cunning Count Elio.
Her father knew little as well; her initial orders rely instructed her to rapidly gather resources, intercept Count Elio’s warship, and then use those resources to maximize the Empire’s gains...
It gradually dawned on her that Count Elio, under Lord Frost Falcon, was already doing this; why did her father still need to send her ahead, using human lives to deliver ssages?
Perhaps... her father rely wanted to prevent Lord Frost Falcon from successfully implenting the plan...
Margaret knew Lord Frost Falcon and Blood Vulture had never been on good terms, but she hadn’t expected their open and covert strife to affect the Empire’s progress...
Why?
Margaret dried her hair and sat alone on the soft bed.
Suddenly, she felt a bit weary; ever since she left the Raven Duke’s domain in the far north, she seed to have plunged into the mire of power construction.
The inferiors feared her, the superiors exploited her, and her peers, due to her title as the ’Duke’s Daughter,’ kept a respectful distance.
Margaret hugged her long knees, and the face of the white-haired maid suddenly popped into her mind.
For so reason, an irrepressible wave of intense yearning surged within her.
It was the first ti Margaret had gotten so close to a living ’Prophet Humanoid.’
"Bai..." she murmured to herself.
She had to admit, she was deeply captivated by those pure, immaculate eyes; beneath the bold and proud exterior lay a heart lonely and longing for understanding.
A little girl who saw a toy she fancied?
Count Elio, that old monster pretending to be young, didn’t understand her at all! Margaret bit her lower lip.
She suddenly thought of Lord Lin Lan.
Rembering that face younger than hers, Margaret’s discontent toward the Ark Leader gradually faded, replaced by intense curiosity.
Various emotions clashed within the Duke’s Daughter, and she stood, a confident look returning to her heroic and beautiful face.
Self-conflict was aningless.
She wanted to prove herself; she also had the capability to prove herself to the two Dukes and that old guy, Elio!
Margaret picked up her clothes, intending to have a detailed conversation with Lord Lin Lan, but the next second, her cheeks flushed.
She then noticed the unspeakable sll from her sweat-soaked underwear and long boots...
This trip had been too rushed; as soon as she received her father’s military orders, she dashed toward Ark Kingdom with the Black Dream warship.
She hadn’t brought any attendants, so she didn’t even have a change of clothes.
Forget it... better wash up first...
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