The only thing worth celebrating is that Prince Nolan adjusted the plan—he didn’t reveal his name right away, but kept their disaster relief under a mysterious benefactor persona. That left them in a position to attack or retreat as the situation changed.
Ninth Royal Uncle really scored an accidental win—he meant to plot quietly first, but ended up sparing them from embarrassment.
Thinking this, Serena felt a bit better: "Felix Fuller caught us off guard, but at least our secrecy held. The situation isn’t hopeless—we lost resources, but our reputation remains unscathed."
Still, it’s hard not to feel a bit unwilling!
We put in so much manpower, resources, and money—just one step from success—only for the Emperor to snatch all the glory. It’s like making wedding clothes for someone else, utterly nauseating.
"This is the only thing worth celebrating." Inside and outside Feng Manor, everyone was their own, with shadow guards on duty day and night. The two spoke freely, only omitting a few key words.
"If we’d started publicizing early, we’d look like clowns—no matter how much we did, under the Emperor’s halo, it’s just a footnote." Serena gave a self-deprecating laugh. All those weeks of scheming, and in the end, Felix Fuller’s one Heaven-sacrifice trumped it all.
A sign from the gods—mere mortals like us can’t fight it. Even if we know the truth, even if we speak out, who would believe us…
So, what’s your plan now? Will disaster relief continue? Although we’re helping the people, all our effort just props up the Emperor—frustrating, but quitting halfway isn’t right either.
Vincent Su shook his head: "I’m planning to ship the rest of the grain to Southern Lyn and Northlyn. We’ll get a better return there and maybe recover some losses. Eastlyn’s disaster is already easing, and with the Emperor’s latest move, everyone’s united—so we’ll just have to quietly bow out."
"But just leaving like this—I really can’t accept it," Serena said angrily.
We poured in real gold and silver, saved actual lives, and what did the Emperor and Felix Fuller do? Staged a ritual, said a few words, and stole all the credit. It’s infuriating.
So, what’s your plan now? Vincent Su asked, just as unwilling. He’d decided to move the grain last night, thinking it was a counterattack against the Emperor—but now?
Even if it’s a counterattack, it’s weak and failed—we have no choice but to withdraw.
Serena’s eyes flashed slyly. She gave Vincent a crooked smile. "Vincent, isn’t the mysterious relief provider identity completely useless to us now?"
Vincent Su agreed, "It’s useless now, and I doubt it’ll matter in the future. No matter how much the relief provider does, it can’t compare to the Emperor’s miracle. If we bring it up, we’re just asking for trouble."
If you don’t get the expected results, you just put a yoke on your own neck—why bother? Fame brings obligations. Prince Nolan originally kept his identity secret for this reason.
If you put yourself in the role of a great benefactor, you’ll have to stand up every time there’s a disaster—or be branded a hypocrite and drowned in public scorn.
Serena proposed, "If it’s useless to us, then let’s hand the title to Felix Fuller. Keep the disaster relief going in Eastlyn, and let the workers quietly spread the word that the mysterious master is a reclusive noble from the Fuller clan."
Vincent Su mused, "Wouldn’t that give him a shot at the top?" He knew the reputation of a great benefactor was a heavy burden, but it was also the best calling card—instantly boosting Felix Fuller’s status.
"Go ahead," Nolan said. The mirrors aren’t all that useful—better to turn them into silver.
Right now, what we need most is money.
"I’ll get right on it. I swear I’ll earn back what we lost this time," Vincent Su vowed. We may have lost on the battlefield, but we’ll make it back in business—otherwise, I’ll never forgive myself.
"Mm. And notify Storm Cloud Bu: ten days from now, I’ll personally visit Skyvault Palace Sect," Nolan dropped another bombshell.
Since we have to avoid the Emperor’s spotlight, we’ll stay far away. If we can’t attack head-on, we’ll target Skyvault Palace Sect instead. Isn’t the Emperor in league with them? I want to see if, while he’s busy polishing his divine image, he can still protect his allies.
Once Skyvault Palace Sect is gone, there’s still Night City. No rush—I can take my time…
If the east is dark, the west can still blaze. Nolan has never been one to sit and wait—if one path is blocked, he’ll find another.
"Oh… I almost forgot. Ninth Royal Uncle told me to remind you to close the free clinic. Once it’s shut, the officials will naturally step in to handle the disaster victims." Vincent Su said, smacking his forehead in regret.
Good thing Serena understood too. With the Emperor riding high, the smart move is to keep a low profile—competing for credit is suicide. If you go head-to-head with him now, you’ll lose your skin if not your life.
It’s passive, it’s suffocating, but there’s no choice. You only get one life, and the Emperor’s got all the momentum. If we charge ahead out of pride, we’re done for.
Afterward, Vincent Su relayed Serena’s proposal to Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan. He’d expected Nolan to refuse, but instead, Nolan thought it over and agreed: "Do as Serena suggested. We’ll help the Emperor and push Felix Fuller onto a divine pedestal."
Yes, a divine pedestal!
Only gods belong on a divine pedestal. Mortals might be fired up at first, but after a while, it gets lonely and unstable.
"But what if there’s no disaster for ten, eight years? Wouldn’t Felix Fuller be getting a free ride?" Vincent Su grumbled. The Emperor’s brilliant move was all thanks to Felix—if it weren’t for Felix’s miracle, they wouldn’t be so passive now.
"Nobody gets a free ride in this world. If there’s no disaster, we’ll manufacture one. There’s no shortage of poor and suffering people. Once Serena and the Su family finish their trial, we’ll use our charity funds to help the needy, hand it all to Felix Fuller, and make sure he becomes a world-renowned benefactor." Nolan added, not only agreeing with Serena’s plan but raising the stakes.
"Are we really helping Felix Fuller? Will the Emperor buy it?" Vincent Su asked, confused.
"We’re helping him, but also shackling him. If you’re dealing with a ‘god,’ you have to use divine means. Felix Fuller wants his clan restored and the Divine Temple rebuilt, with imperial support. To get there, he’ll have to advise the Emperor and become his trusted strategist." Serena explained.
Felix Fuller doesn’t have any real power—he can only rely on the throne. What we’re doing is giving him the reputation of a great benefactor, tying him down with expectations, but also giving him a chance to build his own network. Still, don’t forget: Felix met Serena and me first. That alone means the Emperor will always see him as an outsider—useful, but never fully trusted.
No matter how strong the Divine Temple is, it still needs imperial backing. Without the throne, even a god has nowhere to shine. Felix Fuller is just another courtier selling his skills to the imperial family.
"Fine. We’ve already lost so much, what’s a little more? I’ll bet on this." Serena’s gamble: Felix Fuller won’t be able to bear the pressure of being seen as a ‘god.’ In this world, only the Emperor can carry that weight.
"Huh? Are we really helping Felix Fuller? Will the Emperor believe it?" Vincent Su was genuinely confused now.
"We’re helping him, but also tying him down. If you’re going to deal with a ‘god,’ you have to use godly methods. Felix Fuller’s goal is to restore his clan to the Nine Provinces Realm, rebuild the Divine Temple, and get imperial support. To do that, he has to offer strategies to the Emperor and become his trusted adviser." Serena explained.
Felix Fuller doesn’t have much power himself. He can only rely on the throne. What we’re doing now is giving him the reputation of a great benefactor, using it to bind him, but also giving him a chance to build his own influence. And don’t forget: Felix met Serena and me first. That alone means the Emperor will always see him as an outsider—useful, but never fully trusted.
No matter how strong the Divine Temple gets, it still needs imperial power behind it. Without the throne, even a god has nowhere to go. Felix Fuller is just another official trying to sell his skills to the imperial family.
"Fine, whatever. We’ve already lost so much, what’s a little more? I’ll take the gamble." Serena was betting Felix Fuller wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure of being seen as a ‘god.’ In this world, only the Emperor can bear that kind of reputation.
The Emperor is suspicious by nature. He might trust Felix Fuller once, but never a hundred times.
"Alright." Vincent Su admitted. "I’m not as farsighted as Serena or Ninth Royal Uncle—I just can’t stop thinking about the money we lost."
Vincent Su wore a bitter face. Nolan didn’t even need to ask to know what was bothering him. After a moment, Nolan said, "If you need silver, just sell off those mirrors."
"We can sell the mirrors?" Vincent Su perked up instantly.
Vincent Su knew the mirrors’ value. Once they hit the market, they’d sweep through the noblewomen’s circles—no matter how expensive, they’d all want one. And those ladies never lack money.
"Go ahead." Nolan said. The mirrors aren’t all that useful—better to turn them into silver.
Right now, what we need most is money.
"I’ll get right on it. I swear I’ll earn back what we lost this time." Vincent Su vowed. We may have lost on the battlefield, but we’ll make it back in business—otherwise, I’ll never forgive myself.
"Mm. And notify Storm Cloud Bu: ten days from now, I’ll personally visit Skyvault Palace Sect." Nolan dropped another bombshell.
Since we have to avoid the Emperor’s spotlight, we’ll stay far away. If we can’t attack head-on, we’ll target Skyvault Palace Sect instead. Isn’t the Emperor in league with them? I want to see if, while he’s busy polishing his divine image, he can still protect his allies.
Once Skyvault Palace Sect is gone, there’s still Night City. No rush—I can take my time…
If the east is dark, the west can still blaze. Nolan has never been one to sit and wait—if one path is blocked, he’ll find another.