I've Become the King of Villains in the Game-Chapter 740 - 461: The Truth About the Occupied Area_2

"This is a 4375 red wine, which has a history of forty-five years by now... When I was young, I had it made, and now only a few bottles remain. If it weren’t for your visit today, I might have been unwilling to drink it until the day I died."

The general lifted his glass and jokingly explained the origin of the red wine.

"I’m flattered by the General’s regard," said Chen Lun.

Chen Lun also raised his glass and gently clinked it with the other’s. Although he did not like drinking, he knew how to read the room, fearing he might get kicked out on the spot if he refused this drink.

"Frankly speaking, Jack, I really don’t like your constantly humble remarks..."

General Vance took a sip of his wine and shook his head as he pointed at him.

"To put it precisely, I extremely dislike those hypocritical people... Do you know what I tell my subordinates about Congressman Klamm and Congressman Labeil?"

These two congressmen that he mentioned are senior congressmen in the Six States Parliament, essentially high officials who assist the Royal Family in coordinating affairs across the region.

Chen Lun grinned, leaned back on the sofa, and cooperatively asked:

"What do you say?"

"One’s a made-up old salted fish, the other’s a greased smelly shoe," said General Vance, cursing unabashedly.

"The things they’ve done behind the scenes are disgusting enough to fill a thick book, but outwardly they still act like saints... If it weren’t for my wish to keep fighting for the Empire, I would’ve long shoved a firearm up both their asses to clear their bowels."

Chen Lun couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

After a few more drinks, the atmosphere became even warmer.

Suddenly, the rapid footsteps of two girls, one older and one younger, about fourteen or fifteen years old, laughing and talking, came down the stairs, but they seemed to suddenly see something in the living room, stopping abruptly with their hands over their mouths, their expressions incredulous.

Immediately, the two turned around, their faces blushing as they went back upstairs.

Muttering exclamations like "Oh my God" and "By the Sun," Chen Lun, with his keen hearing, caught the older girl saying, "Pasha, how could there be such a handsome man in the world?"

Chen Lun found it amusing but didn’t pay much attention.

"Jack, I forgot to introduce them to you, those are my two daughters, the older one is Gulirents, sixteen years old, studying at the Closter Art Academy. The younger one, Pasha, is fourteen, and is planning to apply to the Royal Military Academy..."

General Vance’s face showed a loving expression as he spoke.

"Daughters?" Chen Lun was somewhat surprised.

Given General Vance appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, he had assumed the girls were his granddaughters.

"Yes, it’s also a blessing from the Sun God that I had daughters late in my life..."

General Vance seemed to recall something, sighing.

"I once had three sons who, like me, chose to join the military... But they tragically died in the ’Overseas Landing War’ twelve years ago."

"The Overseas Landing War... was it about Mist Island?"

Chen Lun remembered Mrs. Caroline, whose husband and son had also died in that war, and even Viscount Pompey had taken part, though nearly all his subordinates were wiped out, sacrificing themselves on that strange land.

"Yes, Mist Island..."

General Vance struggled to utter the word.

"It’s a dreadful place, where the Empire paid a heavy price for its impatience for quick success; till today, the Royal Family hasn’t considered another expedition overseas... Let’s not talk about this; let’s discuss something else."

He seemed somewhat resistant to the subject, taking a sip of red wine before he spoke.

Chen Lun silently nodded.

But his mind grew curious about this piece of history and the barely-known "Mist Island"... He planned to delve deeper into it if the opportunity arose.

Noticing the somewhat gloomy General Vance, he steered the conversation towards the Western War.

"I heard there have been massacres in the occupied territories; do you know about this?" Chen Lun asked.

General Vance suddenly looked up at Chen Lun.

He was silent for a moment, then said sternly:

"That was not a massacre, Jack."

"Is there something hidden?"

Chen Lun discerned something from the general’s reaction and asked softly.

General Vance looked back at his wife, who was busy in the kitchen, before he solemnly said to Chen Lun,

"It’s best not to let this information spread as it involves the Prince."

Chen Lun’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. He nodded in agreement and watched the general, waiting for him to continue.

"The Prince ordered a series of secret experiments in the occupied territories, having the local civilians take a drug called ’Light Seed,’ which is an upgraded version of ’Mystical Agent.’ If successful, it would not only enable ordinary people to become low-level Transcendents of the Solar System without the need for knowledge or experience but also dramatically reduce the failure rate."

General Vance drank the last of the wine in his glass, reflecting deeply,

"I can fully understand the Prince’s actions; he longs to make his mark and catch the attention of our King... If the Royal Family could easily command an army formed by Solar System Transcendents, then every corner of the world would be within easy reach."

’A Transcendent Army... The Light Seed Project?’

Chen Lun’s frown deepened.

In his memory, there was no such plot in his previous life!

’Is it another variable caused by the butterfly effect?’

Chen Lun put down his drink and said with implication,

"General, do you think this move is beneficial to the Empire?"

"It’s hard to say."

General Vance shook his head.

"Once the Transcendent Army really forms, it would definitely be a qualitative boost to the military power of the Empire, but once it surpasses a certain threshold, it might become uncontrollable... This would be a tremendous test for the Royal Family and even for the whole Empire."

He extended a finger and said gravely,

"Imagine, if such a drug really existed, one that could make people Transcendents without the need for Supernatural Knowledge or accumulation and with a negligible failure rate, countless nobles and rich merchants would risk execution to desperately scramble for it..."

"Yes, who could resist the temptation of power, health, and longevity?"

Chen Lun exclaimed.

The path to becoming a god is a journey of transcendence. Those who embark on this path possess physical and strength superior to mortals and, after evolving into higher beings, would even gain a significantly extended lifespan, which is the greatest attraction for ordinary people.

At the beginning of the Empire, hundreds and thousands of years were spent suppressing nobles and merchants, making countless families’ transcendent inheritances extinct. Should such a drug emerge, it would cause dreadful unrest once again.

Chen Lun realized the gravity of this matter. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

He guessed that if the public became aware, numerous supporters and opponents would emerge like bamboo shoots after rain, striking violently at each other... and Prince Dazlert, who facilitated this affair, would become the center of the storm.

Even though the Sun Royal Family held supreme power within the Tresor Empire, there were those fearless of death who might take extreme measures.

"General, do you think it’s possible that this is a strategy by the Prince to counteract the turbulence in the Spirit World... After all, with the increasing severity of the dark end’s insect tide diffusion, having such a Transcendent army might be able to contain the situation."

Chen Lun suddenly thought of something and asked this.

General Vance was momentarily startled.

He immediately furrowed his brows, sinking into thought.

After a moment.

"It’s not impossible..."

General Vance said gravely.

"But I cannot fathom the Prince’s thoughts."

Just then, the general’s wife had finished preparing lunch and urged them to come and eat, prompting Chen Lun and General Vance to temporarily pause their discussion.

"Let’s set aside this topic for now and try Sela’s cooking. I’ve enjoyed her stew for over thirty years and never tired of it; you’ll like it,"

said the general as he stood up, smiling.

Chen Lun also indicated his anticipation.

Mrs. Cone shouted upstairs twice, and two vibrant and somewhat shy young girls came downstairs and joined their parents and the handsome yet unfamiliar guest for the meal.