The Kingdom of Ice and Snow, the skies gray and overcast.

The makeshift airport, hurriedly established, still looked somewhat dilapidated. Surrounding the airport, however, stood a group of ceremonially dressed honor guards, craning their necks in anticipation.

The Kingdom of Ice and Snow extended its highest honors in response to the aid dispatched by Jade Country. The King of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, accompanied by members of the royal family and all the nation's dignitaries and nobility, had gathered at the airport, anxiously waiting.

This was aid that concerned the very fate of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow—a hope nurtured across countless days and nights over twelve years.

If during the first seven years the Kingdom of Ice and Snow could still tirelessly sustain itself, the last five years had been a struggle on the brink of annihilation. Countless moments of despair and innumerable brushes with death had instilled an obsession within the Kingdom of Ice and Snow.

Just once, if only a powerful nation could extend its full support, offering more than just material supplies, there was a chance for the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to survive.

Even at its most dire, the King of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow had beseeched the major nations in the lowliest of manners, proclaiming, "If you can save the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, you will be its God of Heaven, and henceforth the Kingdom of Ice and Snow will worship only you."

But... for five years, no major nation was willing to send an army of Star Martial Warriors to their aid; the Exotic Beasts of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow were too terrifying.

Who would have thought? It seemed the God of Destiny had not abandoned them. At their most desperate, those who had previously fled from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow returned through pre-arranged channels with news that made the people of the Kingdom feel as if they were hearing the hymns of heaven.

From the Star Martial Academy in Modu City of Jade Country, a student had successfully invented a method to manufacture a vaccine counteracting Star Martial Toxins. The long-standing helplessness against Star Martial Toxins was about to change.

While other nations were still trying to verify the veracity of this news, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was already seething with excitement and had immediately requested aid from Jade Country. After a two-month wait, the day had finally arrived.

King Cain had never felt an evening stretch as long as this one. In the span of just ten minutes, he had checked his watch nearly twenty times.

Why haven't they come? Why aren't they here yet?

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP—

The phone of Jade Country's ambassador to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow suddenly rang. Heze discreetly took out his mobile phone, and after just a glance, his expression turned grave.

"Hello, Prime Minister, I'm..."

Starting a decade ago, a hundred countries had successively withdrawn their embassies. Now, it turned out that only Jade Country remained. This fact alone made the Kingdom of Ice and Snow's regard for Jade Country far surpass that for others.

Because when the whole world had given up on the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, only Jade Country was still willing to treat it as a nation worthy of diplomatic relations, even if, in their hearts, they too believed it was a kingdom like a setting sun, soon to disappear.

"What? How is that possible... I understand... Yes! Yes!" Ambassador Heze's voice suddenly rose, his expression turning exceptionally solemn.

After hanging up the phone, King Cain looked at Heze with a tense face. "Ambassador Heze, has something unforeseen happened?"

Heze regarded King Cain with a scrutinizing gaze for several seconds. In those few seconds, King Cain felt a chilling dread, as if plunged into an ice cellar.

"The aid delegation from Jade Country's Modu Star Martial Academy, which took off from Modu City, encountered a missile attack en route to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

Though spoken softly and with an unnervingly steady tone, the words hit King Cain and the members of the royal family like a clap of thunder on a clear day.

Upon hearing the news, a few nobles even staggered unsteadily.

"What? How could this happen... Who wants to harm the Kingdom of Ice and Snow... How dare they? Which country did it?" Princess Aier, the legendary princess of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, asked urgently.

"The plane was attacked over the airspace of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow!"

Heze's words made everyone's faces change drastically again. King Cain's face instantly turned pale.

An attack over the airspace of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow meant it was not some other nation; the assault had originated from within the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. This meant that the Kingdom of Ice and Snow itself had destroyed its last hope.

"Respected King Cain, Jade Country needs your explanation. Why would our aid delegation be hit by a missile attack over the airspace of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow? Why, when we are risking our lives to help you selflessly, would we be attacked by your military?"

"I..." King Cain stood with his mouth agape, at that moment incapable of thought.

Why? I damn well want to know why too. This is the last hope for the Kingdom of Ice and Snow...

"Selfless? Hmph!" A discordant voice sounded. Heze immediately looked toward the source, locking eyes with Kester, King Cain's brother, who met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Now, I expect the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to immediately dispatch a search and rescue team. Save whoever can be saved. Secondly, I want the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to provide an explanation for this incident and a response that satisfies Jade Country."

"I..."

"King Cain!" Ambassador Heze, seeing the king still looking utterly bewildered, suddenly became furious, stepped forward, and shouted sternly.

In an instant, a figure flashed, appearing before King Cain. The radiant Princess Aier blocked Heze from approaching.

"Ambassador Heze, I will immediately lead the Royal Guard to conduct the search and rescue. Please, you must believe that the Kingdom of Ice and Snow would absolutely not launch an attack against Jade Country, much less attack the selfless individuals who came to aid us.

"They are our benefactors, our God! We have no reason to do such a thing."

"I want to believe you, but I trust the facts more!"

"Holing, notify the Royal Guard to assemble immediately!" Aier commanded loudly, turning her head.

"Yes—"

Princess Aier departed, but the commotion suddenly erupted. In those few short minutes, news of the missile attack on the aid delegation had spread like wildfire.

"Everyone, be quiet!" Prince Kester snapped, and the cacophonous buzz instantly vanished.

Ambassador Heze's gaze swept over Prince Kester again, a sharp gleam in his eyes. Although he had long known of Prince Kester's unparalleled influence, seeing it firsthand made him regard the prince with even greater caution. But what was that hint of hostility from him earlier all about?

King Cain came back to his senses and pulled out a handkerchief, continually wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Ambassador, please believe us, we would never attack the aid delegation. Without them, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow could be destroyed by Exotic Beasts at any moment. They are our hope..."

"I personally believe what you say, but the attack was indeed launched from within the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. I don't think any other country has the capability to do that."

"It was T! It must have been T! Ambassador, you know that the T organization has always tried to drag the Kingdom of Ice and Snow into hell. They are the incarnation of the devil—no, they *have become* devils."

"Even if it was T, why didn't you take precautions? You should have dealt with any potential threats before our aid delegation set off."

"Ambassador, you know our current situation. We can barely protect ourselves, let alone deal with T," Prince Kester replied, having restored order at the scene and approached King Cain's side.

"That's your problem. If you can't even guarantee the safety of the people coming to help you, how can you expect Jade Country to provide assistance?

"Do you know how important the people on that plane are to Jade Country? Even Princess Yu Ruoyun of Jade Country was on that plane. We offered the Kingdom of Ice and Snow our most sincere goodwill, but what we received in return was a ruthless missile strike..."

Sweat streamed down King Cain's face.

Even Prince Kester frowned. "Jade Country's Princess Yu Ruoyun? The one known as the Pearl of Jade Country?"

"Correct!"

Prince Kester's complexion turned deathly pale. Looking at Ambassador Heze, he gently placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply. "I had no idea Jade Country had shown such profound sincerity, sending even Princess Yu herself to assist us.

"We deeply apologize for what happened today. We will mobilize the entire nation's resources to search for survivors. May the God of Heaven keep Princess Yu safe and sound."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a clamor of surprise rose from behind him.

Prince Kester, a displeased expression on his face, turned to scold but was immediately stunned by the sight before him.

A plane, piercing through the thick clouds, was slowly approaching.

The airport in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was almost derelict, with only two or three planes arriving throughout the year. And today, at this time, only one plane was expected.

Almost instantly, countless eyes fixed on Ambassador Heze.

The intensity of their stares was such that even Heze, a man who had weathered countless storms, found it difficult to maintain his composure.

"Ambassador Heze? Were you joking with us just now? You said the aid delegation was attacked by missiles?" King Cain's expression was a complex mix of a desire to rage and the ecstatic relief of one who has narrowly escaped disaster.

"I don't think Jade Country would suddenly play such a joke on me." Heze, too, had only learned of the situation after receiving the call. "I need to make a call back to my country to inquire."

The plane slowly landed and came to a steady stop on the runway. Prince Kester quickly arranged for the honor guard to play welcoming music.

Ambassador Heze put away his phone and approached King Cain. "Your Majesty, I just inquired with my country. The plane was indeed attacked by missiles—twelve Punisher Missiles, to be exact. However, my country is unaware that the plane is safe. I too am puzzled as to how they managed to escape disaster."

"It's all right as long as they're safe. As long as they're safe."

After these several dramatic turns, King Cain's mind had lost most of its capacity for thought. He joined Heze in greeting the arrival of the aid delegation beside the plane.

The boarding stairs were gently lowered, and the students, led by their teachers, disembarked in an orderly fashion.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Enthusiastic cheers erupted, spoken in the language of Jade Country. Although delivered very awkwardly, the words were somewhat understandable.

But everyone disembarking from the plane wore a gloomy expression. Anyone who had nearly been shot down by missiles wouldn't be in a better mood.

"Hello, everyone. I am Ambassador Heze from the Jade Country Embassy to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow." Ambassador Heze stepped forward, shaking hands warmly with Captain Longya.

"Ambassador Heze, hello. I am Captain Longya, the leader of the delegation."

"Captain Longya, I heard you just encountered a missile attack? Is that true?"

"We nearly lost our lives. If not for the high skill level of the students we brought, we would have been lucky if even half of us had survived."

"Our country is already aware of the incident, and the Premier places great importance on it. The nation is immensely relieved that you are all safe. We have arranged accommodations for you. Let's discuss the details later."

"All right!"

Welcomed by the band and the honor guard, Wang Lan and the others boarded three buses. As for their luggage, personnel from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow naturally took responsibility for transporting it to their encampment.

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