V2: Chapter 153: Plan Ahead of Schedule
“......”
“No!”
Liang Lin forcefully shook off the other person's hand.
This girl was trying to trick me again; she always brought up sex.
“People are panicking lately.”
“Several noble families are now just empty shells; it's really making people uneasy.”
“Sigh, why do some nobles have such a stupid idea, insisting on colluding with other empires?”
“Who knows? They have enough wealth they could never finish in several lifetimes.”
“Probably because you can never have too much money.”
Recently, Doris has been keeping a close eye on Gael. Although the king has repeatedly asked Gael to go out and see Liang Di, Doris has had Gael feign illness and avoid it.
"Gael, listen to me, don't go out now. Let's wait until this storm passes."
Doris felt she should act quickly. She feared something might happen to Gael. If Liang Di could poison her son once, she could do it again. Besides overthrowing the king, she also had to be wary of the Langwendi family; she was overwhelmed.
Now there was a dilemma: her chances of defeating Liang Di were extremely low, unless… she used the power of that mysterious creature on the beach. But that would plunge the entire world into chaos, putting everyone in danger, including her son. Her son wasn't a monster, and even monsters would fight each other. Until she figured out how to properly utilize the power of the tentacles monster, she absolutely couldn't let anything from the beach in.
However, if she followed Liang Di's lead and dealt with the king first, after the king fell, Liang Di and Octaville might very well seize the throne, and her son wouldn't be able to ascend it.
That is my son's dream.
Doris clenched her fists silently. Moreover, once Gael ascended the throne, she could explore far more and parasitize more humans, turning them into puppets.
So, should she prioritize the king, or deal with the Langwendi family first?
Just then, a thought flashed through Doris's mind.
Parasitization.
That's right, parasitization.
Some high-level tentacle monsters possess their own consciousness. She only needed to find a monster that could work for her, a monster she could control, and parasitize the king's mind. However, such monsters were hard to find, and she couldn't choose one that was particularly powerful. Doris felt she had little chance of success.
Huff.
This was too difficult.
Besides, even if she found one on the beach, how would she transport it to the city? Was she supposed to let the king stroll along the beach himself? That was impossible. That old man, while he claimed not to believe in such things, was actually terrified of them and wouldn't go near them at all.
The king was aware of all the secrets, including the Magic Tower and the world beyond the city walls. However, as the ruler of a nation, he wouldn't reveal these unsettling matters, fearing that some dark-hearted madman might cause trouble at the seaside and actually breach the walls—that would be a huge problem.
Although the king had never seen the monster at the seaside and occasionally questioned its existence, it was, after all, a rule passed down from his ancestors, and it was always good to abide by it. Even though in recent years, more and more nobles had demanded the demolition of the city walls for easier transportation, the king hesitated repeatedly and ultimately did not agree to their proposals.
Before giving birth to Gael, Doris had secretly urged the king to demolish the walls, but after Gael's birth and as he grew older, she never mentioned it again.
Thus, this ruthless woman had a weakness.
Doris had sent Miranda to the seaside to see how likely it was that the monster, after parasitizing her, could escape. But now it seems the chances are quite slim. Even if they escape, they'll encounter the people from the Magic Tower; those persistent magicians are everywhere.
Thinking of this, her head felt a little throbbing. Doris sighed, sat down in a chair, and lost all interest in tending to the vibrant roses in the vase.
"Mother."
Gael pushed open the door and entered the room. "Mother, Father asked me to write to Miss Liang Di again."
The mention of Liang Di made Doris angry.
"What do you think your relationship with the young lady of the Langwendi family is now?" She said this entirely out of spite.
However, her tone was flat and emotionless, and with her head down, Gael couldn't see her expression. Therefore, unaware that his mother was angry, he answered truthfully.
"I feel that Miss Langwendi has fallen for me."
"Ha—!"
Doris laughed in exasperation. She slammed her hand on the table, stood up, her eyes gleaming with a shrewd light, and glared at her son with exasperation. "Who gave you the confidence to think Miss Langwendi likes you?"
Doris knew perfectly well that Liang Di wouldn't like her son.
"Please, Gael, wake up! I've told you before, Miss Langwendi isn't a good person, and she won't like you. Your contact with her was forced upon you by the King. Do you understand? Don't develop any feelings for her, not even a tiny bit! Can you understand what I'm saying?!"
Having never seen his mother so angry before, Gael, though unsure what had happened, immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I've always followed your instructions. I've never developed any feelings for Miss Langwendi. Everything I've done was at Father's behest."
"Hmph~"
Doris sighed, her eyes gleaming.
“Gael, do you really want to be king?”
Gael’s shoulders hunched, like a quail, and he stammered, “I… I… this is something Father should decide.”
Doris waved her hand dismissively.
“Gael, I’m asking you. I’m your mother. Can’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”
Under Doris’s repeated encouragement and insistence, Gael closed his eyes tightly, clenched his fists, and whispered, “I want to be king!”
He truly wanted to be king, not because his parents hoped he would become a great man, but because he himself wanted to be king.
“I understand.”
Doris smiled.
“That’s enough. Mom will help you.”
“Gael, do you love your mother more, or your father?”
Gael answered without hesitation, “I love you, Mother.”
Doris felt a warmth spread around her. A mother’s love for her child, and a child’s love for their mother, are always the most selfless. She beckoned Gael over.
Gael obediently went over.
Doris stood up. Her head only reached Gael's shoulder; despite being his mother, she appeared so petite and delicate. She gently hugged her son, resting her face on Gael's shoulder.
"I love you too, son."
Doris didn't often call Gael "son"; she always called him by his full name, never changing.
Gael's body stiffened abruptly. He didn't understand why his mother was suddenly so sentimental, clinging to his waist so tightly. But her hands still rested on her shoulders, just as when he was an infant, his arms encircling his mother's neck.
"Mom, are you feeling unwell?"
"No." Doris shook her head. "I support your dream, and I will definitely help you achieve it."
After Gael left, Doris first summoned the spies she had placed within the Magic Tower, and then several of her dogs from the noble circles. However, these two groups were summoned separately. The nobles were on the outermost layer; they were unaware of the Magic Tower's existence, and Doris didn't want them to know, as it would make them harder to manipulate later.
Two spies from within the Magic Tower approached first.
"Your Highness."
"Hmm, please make yourselves at home." Doris regained her elegant demeanor. "What have Octaville and Hilary been up to lately? Are they still investigating those tentacle incidents in the remote mountain villages?"
"Yes." One of the spies nodded. "Octaville is often out and about, spending very little time in the Magic Tower. She's mostly out investigating, going to the border and some very remote villages."
"Heh~"
Doris took a sip of tea, the reflection in the cup appearing somewhat eerie.
"Then let her keep busy. The busier she is, the better; the more opportunities she gives us."
That's right, the tentacle attacks in the remote villages and on the border were all Doris's doing. Find some low-level tentacle cubs and have the traitor risk their life to send them to various locations, creating chaos and putting pressure on the Magic Tower. As the Tower Master, Octaville will definitely be out investigating; as long as her attention is diverted, that's fine.
Doris's greatest fear is Octaville. Although they've never fought, she's currently at the pinnacle of magic, an object of admiration for countless magicians. If she were to fight her, she would have virtually no chance of winning.
"While she's away, contact our people in the Seaside Magic Tower and tell them I have a new task for them."
Just two months ago, a traitor also infiltrated the Seaside Magic Tower.
There were a total of eight traitors in the Magic Tower. Three have been discovered and killed, leaving five. Three are at the Magic Tower headquarters, and with two more planted in the Seaside Magic Tower, it will be very convenient for her to carry out her tasks.
"Have them help me find high-level tentacles."
The traitor gasped.
"Your Highness, this mission is far too dangerous, I think..."
"Hmm?"
Doris coldly glanced at the speaker, instantly creating an atmosphere of pressure. Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of the two men.
"Am I that stupid? Knowing you'd be sending yourselves to your deaths, would I really send you to do something so foolish? No, don't worry, you are my most loyal subordinates. How could I bear to let you go to your deaths?" Doris smiled slightly, alluring and seductive, making the two traitors stare wide-eyed.
This was probably a slap followed by a sweet treat.
"Of course, I have my own plan, and I will give you something that can save your lives."
Doris wasn't telling the truth. That thing wasn't 100% effective; if those two made a foolish mistake, they would probably lose their lives. But Doris didn't say it aloud; she was afraid the two traitors in the seaside magic tower would back down and slow down their work.
Time was of the essence.
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