Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I’ve Worried Myself Sick Over This World

"The ringleader spearheading this change, the one who ordered the destruction and pollution of the Magic Forest, is Calvin, along with his supporters."

Sugar Witch Bev said after a moment’s thought.

"If we could get rid of him for good, the situation would improve dramatically."

Hearing this, Wang Xi suspected it wasn’t that simple.

’For Calvin to wield so much influence, he must have the support of the Deer Royal Family. There’s a whole group of people who benefit from this arrangement.’

’Getting rid of him won’t be easy.’

Just then, Pinocchio spoke up hesitantly.

"This Calvin you all keep mentioning..."

He glanced around at the group.

"Is his name Calvin Planck?"

"That’s right," Bev nodded. "He’s supposedly the second prince of the Clockwork Kingdom. He brought advanced technology from across the sea, which is how he won the Human Queen’s favor... You know him?"

Pinocchio looked surprised and nodded.

"Of course I do!"

His brow furrowed as he continued.

"But he’s no prince. He was just a poor kid who could barely afford to go to school... My father took him in and treated him like a student. But the guy repaid kindness with malice, stealing my father’s research materials before disappearing three years ago."

"I can’t believe he fled here, fabricated a new identity, and used that technology as a bargaining chip to win the royal family’s support and stir up all this conflict."

"He’s rotten to the core!"

Pinocchio clenched his fists, his face filled with disgust.

Upon hearing this, everyone was rather surprised to learn the Crown Prince Consort’s true identity.

An idea struck Wang Xi, and his eyebrows shot up.

He turned to the golden-haired Sugar Witch in her pink dress and asked:

"Miss Bev, what was the relationship between the Magic Forest and the Stag Kingdom like before Calvin showed up?"

"Neither good nor bad, I suppose."

Bev took a sip of wine, a wistful look on her face.

"We stayed out of each other’s way, for the most part. It was relatively peaceful. We were wary of the Ice and Snow Queen, so we made sure our Demons didn’t harm people. And they, in turn, didn’t dare to encroach on the Magic Forest because of us sisters and the other Monster Lords."

Wang Xi grew thoughtful and asked another question.

"So, what do you know about Queen Xianna?"

"I’ve heard she’s a kind and benevolent queen. And quite young, only in her early twenties,"

Bev replied.

"Her father, the previous king of the Stag Kingdom, Frank Jin, passed away two years ago. Sianna Jin was only nineteen when she inherited the throne and put on the crown."

Hearing this, Wang Xi fell into contemplation.

He pieced the information together, and an answer began to form in his mind. As long as Queen Xianna herself didn’t want to destroy the Magic Forest, the problem would be much easier to solve.

"Pinocchio, what kind of research materials did Calvin steal from your father?"

The boy was confused as to why Gai was asking, but he answered truthfully:

"Some weapon blueprints, and the initial concept for a ’Mechanical Puppet Legion’."

’Mechanical Puppet Legion...’

Wang Xi’s eyes narrowed.

"So, this ’Mechanical Puppet Legion’ must have backdoors and failsafes, right?"

"Of course," Pinocchio nodded. "In my father’s original design, a code of conduct and multiple levels of clearance were supposed to be embedded in each Mechanical Doll."

"And what about you?"

Wang Xi pressed on.

"Pinocchio, do you also have that code of conduct and multi-level clearance?"

The boy, however, shook his head.

"I’m an exception. As the first Mechanical Doll my father ever created, he didn’t place any restrictions on me... But that’s precisely why I angered the Elder Council."

"Those people tried to force my father to destroy me, but he couldn’t do it. Instead, he secretly sent me away from the Clockwork Kingdom... I’ve been wandering ever since, and that’s how I ended up here."

After learning Pinocchio’s history, Wang Xi nodded. He thought for a moment, then addressed the Witches in a serious tone:

"A man like Calvin is pathologically greedy, ambitious, and has no moral compass. He’s definitely holding something back from the Deer Royal Family."

"My ladies, I have a theory."

"He faked his identity, used his technology as leverage to marry Queen Xianna... I suspect his goal isn’t just weapons reform. It’s highly likely he wants to build his own private Mechanical Puppet Legion to seize complete control of the Stag Kingdom."

"And the Magic Forest is the perfect catalyst. He can paint you all as a powerful enemy threatening the Kingdom, stirring up fear among the royal family and the ministers. This would make the Queen and other leaders even more dependent on him."

Bev nodded in agreement.

She then sighed.

"Truthfully, if there were a better way to bring down Calvin, we wouldn’t want to go to war with the Kingdom..."

"But as time goes on, the pollution and destruction in the Magic Forest will only get worse. Our home is being destroyed, the Demons are dying... What will become of our future?"

A smile appeared on Bev’s face, which was flushed from the bitter wine. She spoke softly to Wang Xi:

"Fortunately, we met you, Mr. Jai. You may be human, but you’re willing to speak up for us."

"After hearing your analysis, I have an idea. But it might require you to take a risk, Mr. Jai..."

"Please, Miss Bev, go on."

Wang Xi replied courteously.

The witch in the pink dress nodded and spoke softly:

"Mr. Jai, your original plan was to use a Demon Hunting commission to get close to Minister Ando, and through him, reach Queen Xianna... But I believe that will be very difficult."

"That’s true."

Wang Xi smiled wryly.

He wasn’t confident about it in the first place; he was just planning to give it a shot. Simply completing one Demon Hunting commission would hardly be enough to convince Ando to introduce him to the Queen.

"So, you need a new identity."

Bev said with a smile.

"A status that would allow you to speak with the Queen as an equal."

"Miss Bev, you mean..."

Wang Xi caught on and finished her thought.

"You want me to act as your messenger and deliver a warning to the Queen from the Magic Forest?"

"You’re a quick study, Mr. Jai,"

Bev said, beaming.

But a flash of coldness crossed her eyes.

"But not a warning. A declaration of war!"

’A declaration of war...’

Wang Xi felt a massive headache coming on.

’I’m just the messenger! They’ll probably brand me a human traitor on the spot and kill me just to vent their anger... Besides, wouldn’t that just escalate the conflict and play right into Calvin’s hands?!’

"I’m confident that with your eloquence, Mr. Jai, you can persuade Queen Xianna to cease her assault on the Magic Forest,"

Bev said with a charming smile.

Wang Xi’s face stiffened.

’Me?’

’Persuade the Queen?’

’You’ve got to be kidding me.’

’That’s like asking me to walk into the lion’s den! I’m dead either way. The only difference is whether I get beaten to death with a club or get carved into one myself...’

’Can we be a little more realistic here?’

’Threatening to declare war isn’t going to work on its own!’

Wang Xi fell silent, deep in thought again.

In a way, his goals didn’t conflict with the Witches’. In fact, they were mostly aligned.

Because Calvin was the obstacle for both of them.

’But to completely resolve the troubles in the Magic Forest, and to solve my own curse problem, everything revolves around one key person: Queen Xianna.’

A glint appeared in Wang Xi’s eyes.

’Only by making her see Calvin’s true colors, and making her realize that the Magic Forest has no intention of harming the Kingdom, can this conflict possibly be resolved.’

It was as if he was looking down upon the standoff between the Stag Kingdom and the Magic Forest, and at the same time, seeing the Ice and Snow Queen and the Witches facing off from afar.

And his arrival was like a bridge, connecting the two opposing sides. As a human, he was stepping into the middle of this impending war.

’Success or failure...’

’...will decide the fate of the thousands of people in the Royal Capital and the countless Demons in the forest.’

"Mr. Jai."

Just then, Lillian, who had been eating quietly, looked up at him with her placid blue eyes.

"You’re the only human willing to help us, and the only one we trust... Our time is running out. Once Queen Xianna marries Calvin, then no matter what happens, I will light the great fire."

"When that time comes, I hope you’ll take care of yourself."

Her cool voice carried a hint of apology.

Wang Xi sighed internally.

’I’m worrying myself sick over this world!’

But then he had another thought. ’If I succeed, the rewards will be enormous... Not only will I save thousands of lives on both sides, but I’ll also earn the goodwill of both leaderships, and an immeasurable reward to my Legend Level!’

"Alright, I understand."

He looked at everyone present and said in a resolute voice.

"I’ll do everything I can."

"Mr. Jai."

Seeing that he had agreed, Bev smiled and waved her hand. Amidst a dreamlike cloud of colorful powdered sugar, a small, parchment-sealed booklet appeared on the table.

"This is a ledger I found in a Silver Refining Workshop using my Magic. It contains evidence of corruption between Coinage Officer Dick and Minister Ando."

"It might not be much, but I hope it can be of some small help."

Wang Xi picked up the booklet, somewhat surprised.

After a quick look through it, a smile touched his lips.

"No, this might be more useful than you think." He put the ledger away and smiled. "Thank you."

...

...

Perhaps because Wang Xi had become their "representative," the atmosphere in the Candy House grew more cheerful.

Even the usually cold Lillian showed a hint of a smile. It was brief, but Wang Xi caught it.

Even the boisterous Sofia, who harbored a deep hatred for humans, seemed to find Wang Xi a little less disagreeable.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Xi suddenly spoke up, smiling at everyone.

"This is the most unforgettable dinner of my life. A fantastical scene, fine wine and food, and with such lovely Witches for company..."

Before he could finish, Pinocchio cut in.

"Gai, what about me?"

Wang Xi shot him a look. ’I hadn’t even finished my wind-up, and he’s already interrupting me.’

He had no choice but to add:

"And of course, the righteous Pinocchio, the dutiful Mr. Igor, and the adorable Sugar Mushroom Girls."

The blond Wolf Housekeeper remained expressionless, standing behind Sofia like a statue. The group of Sugar Mushroom Girls waved their short little arms, overjoyed.

"So—"

Wang Xi raised his voice.

He looked at everyone around the table and said, in a coaxing tone:

"Why don’t we play a little game to liven things up?"

"A little game?"

The three Witches all turned to look at the dark-haired young man, a mixture of doubt and curiosity in their eyes.

"The name of this little game is, uh... Hero vs..."

Wang Xi thought for a moment, then made something up on the spot.

"Hero vs. Witch."

"So, Mr. Jai, you want to play the Hero and take us sisters on?"

Bev looked at him, a half-smile on her face.

Sofia, at the side, scoffed mockingly.

"You? You’re weaker than a goblin! I could kill you with a single punch!"

"In a contest of strength, I’d naturally be no match for you,"

Wang Xi ignored the foul-mouthed little brat’s taunt, maintaining an elegant smile.

"But we can compete in other areas."

As he spoke, he raised his wine glass toward the witch in the pink dress with a flirtatious hint in his eyes.

"Miss Bev, how about we go first? We could have a drinking contest..."

"Hehe." The Sugar Witch giggled, covering her mouth. Her eyes were alluring. "Didn’t you say you weren’t much of a drinker, Mr. Jai?"

"Which is why I’m hoping you’ll go easy on me, Miss Bev."

Wang Xi took the initiative and filled both their glasses.

Bev’s interest was piqued.

"Alright. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to drink to my heart’s content. Since I have you for company today, Mr. Jai, I’ll play this game with you."

At her words, Wang Xi’s smile widened.

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