"Huh? A Chen, you're not going to be one? If Rimuru isn't going to be one, I want to! An emperor is so majestic!"
Milim, who had just come through the Dimensional Gate and was sitting in the back seat, excitedly raised her hand and shouted.
"Hmph, I won't let you be one!"
Hearing Rimuru's words, Milim pouted, a wronged expression on her face.
Pointing at Rimuru, she said:
"If you don't let me be the emperor of the Monster Country Federation, I'll just build a new Monster Country Federation myself!"
Screech… The Humvee, which was driving at full speed, suddenly came to a screeching halt by Zhong Chen.
"Waaahhhhh!"
Ramiris, who was holding a lollipop, was directly flung out by inertia.
"A Chen, what are you doing?"
Rimuru looked at Zhong Chen, who had suddenly braked, with a puzzled expression.
Zhong Chen ignored Rimuru, instead turning around and placing a helmet on Milim's small head.
"Huh?"
Milim blinked her cute eyes, tilting her head, and looked at Zhong Chen with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing, I just feel like you'll be safer this way."
After speaking, Zhong Chen restarted the car and continued to move forward.
Behind his car, a seemingly endless convoy also began to move again.
"Hmph, Milim, if you dare to create a new Monster Country Federation, I'll have Sakuya stop your desserts!"
"Huh? How can you be like that? That's too cunning! I won't do it, I won't do it."
As soon as Milim heard that she wouldn't have any more desserts, she immediately started to back down.
"Hmph hmph, a mere Milim still wants to contend with me!"
Just as Zhong Chen was driving at high speed, a figure suddenly stood at the very back of the Humvee.
"Souei, is something the matter?"
Zhong Chen asked without turning his head.
"Lord Chen, Dr. Vegapunk has a new report. Would you like to see it?"
Souei explained respectfully.
"No need, just tell me directly."
"Yes, Dr. Vegapunk reports that the first frigate has been completed, and the remaining ships are also being built at an accelerated pace."
Upon hearing Souei's report, Zhong Chen's first thought was that he could now go search for the Hyacinth.
He couldn't help but compare the empire of this world with the Monster Country Federation.
Hmm, the opponent's strength is as humble as ants, while our strength is like that of gods.
Very good, very good indeed!
PS: Here, I'll explain what the Hyacinth is. This is an initial event for the Human Federation in the game Stellaris. War criminals who have played Stellaris should be very familiar with it.
"Frigate? A Chen, doesn't the navy have quite a few frigates? Is it worth a separate report?"
Rimuru asked with a puzzled expression, while Zhong Chen chuckled, speaking mysteriously:
"Rimuru, do you remember when I said I would give you a huge surprise?"
"I remember, but then there was no news. Is this the surprise? Isn't it just a frigate?"
Rimuru recalled how Zhong Chen had suddenly burst into laughter like he was having a fit, and then mysteriously told him he would give him a surprise later.
"This isn't an ordinary frigate; this is a frigate loaded with a jump drive! The big golden guy next door is practically crying with envy!"
"Space battleship!!!"
Rimuru stood up in shock. It was a good thing this was an open-top Humvee, otherwise, his little head would have suffered greatly.
"That's right!"
"Wow! A Chen, you're amazing! You can even create a space battleship! I want to go to space to play, take me!"
Although Rimuru's current strength allows him to freely traverse the universe on his own.
But who doesn't have a dream of commanding a cosmic fleet and conquering the star seas?
Especially a former shut-in girl.
"Alright, alright, I'll take you to play when we get back."
"Hehe, A Chen, don't you forget."
The convoy continued to move towards the empire amidst their casual chatter.
Meanwhile, on the grass by the roadside, a little fairy holding a lollipop sat on the grass with a bewildered expression, watching the military trucks continuously drive past her.
How did I get here?
Where are Zhong Chen? Where is Milim? Where is Rimuru? Where have they all gone!!!
..."Who exactly are you people? Why are you kidnapping the two of us? We have nothing."
Ieyasu and Sayo, their heads wrapped in white cloths, looked fearfully at the people eating barbecue in front of them.
"I say, Ace, your grilling skills are quite good. You're truly worthy of having worked at Miss Kochou Shinobu's barbecue restaurant."
Former Rear Admiral Drake took a bite of the barbecue and couldn't help but praise.
"Eating can't shut your mouth. Who wants to work at that hateful woman's shop?"
Ace shuddered at the thought of his extreme exploitation.
"You truly don't know how good you have it. So many people want to work there but don't get the chance."
"That's Miss Kochou Shinobu, and her sister is Secretary-General Kanae Kocho. It's said that both sisters have an unclear relationship with Lord Chen!"
Drake said mysteriously to Ace.
"Drake, that's no secret. Secretary-General Kanae is Lord Chen's woman to begin with."
"Any old-timer in the Monster Country Federation knows that. It's just Miss Kochou Shinobu that's hard to say."
A Goblin warrior, who was on the mission with them, spat out a bone and said.
"But I heard that Lady Testarossa, the Director of Foreign Affairs, has been pursuing Lord Chen recently!"
"Wow, really? No way!"
Ieyasu and Sayo, seeing that the others were completely ignoring them, couldn't help but speak up again:
"Are you even listening to us?"
"We heard you. The two of you just stay quiet. When the time comes, we'll naturally let you go. Here, have a couple of bites first."
After Ace finished speaking, he threw a chicken leg to each of them and casually burned off the ropes binding their hands.
Receiving the chicken legs, the two could only resign themselves to fate, considering the strength of the group.
Tatsumi, I hope you don't get targeted by these people.
At this moment, Tatsumi looked at the lavish meal in front of him and bowed gratefully to the family, thanking them:
"Thank you very much for this time!"
"Hehe, this is all Aria's doing. She just likes to bring people like you home. I really can't do anything with her."
Hearing her mother's teasing, Aria pouted shyly and said:
"Mom!"
"Hehe, alright, Mom won't say anything more."
At this moment, Aria's father showed a kind smile and asked:
"Do you want to make a name for yourself in the army and then save your hometown village?"
"Yes."
"But I'll tell you, although the empire's interior is peaceful, this country is surrounded on three sides by foreign races…"
Aria's father explained the current situation of the empire in detail to Tatsumi, finally promising to use his connections in the army to help Tatsumi.
Tatsumi also expressed his gratitude excitedly and promised to protect Aria.
Time quickly moved to the latter half of the night. At this moment, on the rooftop of this noble mansion, several figures were coldly watching the patrolling guards below.