Meanwhile.

Across the ocean, the Freedom Federation.

Inside an extremely luxurious top-tier manor, a grand banquet gathering the Federation's top dignitaries and high-tier Classer was taking place amidst melodious classical symphony music.

The air was filled with the tobacco scent of top-tier cigars and the fragrance of expensive perfume.

A middle-aged man wearing a custom-made tailcoat and possessing an elegant demeanor was holding a glass of crimson red wine, quietly standing at the edge of the banquet hall.

He smiled gently, watching the richly dressed and indulging men and women in the dance floor, yet his gaze regarded them as a herd of livestock soon to be led to the slaughterhouse.

"Mr. Duan, don't you feel bored being here all by yourself?"

A blonde lady wearing a deep V-neck evening gown and possessing extreme beauty walked over with a swaying posture.

Her eyes held burning admiration, and she boldly reached out her hand to this charming Oriental man.

"I wonder if I have the honor to invite you to dance a song with me?"

This beautiful lady was a renowned conglomerate heiress of the Freedom Federation, and herself an S-rank Wind-attribute Classer, with countless young talents lining up just to win her favor.

However, the middle-aged man merely turned his head slightly and glanced at her.

"Apologies, beautiful lady."

Mr. Duan's voice was warm and magnetic, but the words he spoke kept people a thousand miles away.

"I still have some private matters to handle, so I must decline your kind intention."

With that, he ignored the stiff expression on the lady's face, nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to walk out of the noisy banquet hall.

Passing through the long corridor, Mr. Duan came to an empty terrace corner.

The night breeze blew through his neatly groomed hair.

He put down his wine glass, pulled out a specially made phone with a primitive design and no signal indicators from his bosom, and dialed a number.

The phone rang only once before it was answered.

"Sir." From the other end of the phone came a low and respectful voice, and the roar of huge machinery operating could also be heard in the background.

"Hmm." Mr. Duan looked at the brightly lit and bustling night view of the Freedom Federation in the distance and spoke, "Recently, I am planning to make a trip back to Daxia."

Hearing this, the person on the other end of the phone froze for a moment, their tone puzzled.

"Sir, you are returning to Daxia?"

"However... the grand plan here is about to officially begin! The nodes everywhere have already been deployed. If you are not holding down the fort at headquarters at this time, in case any accidents happen..."

"What accidents could happen?" Mr. Duan chuckled softly.

His laughter was very light, yet it exuded the confidence of being in control of everything.

"The plan can just be executed normally."

"Even if I am not around, there won't be any major problems." Mr. Duan raised his hand, catching a leaf blown down by the night breeze, and gently twirled it between his fingertips, turning the leaf into fine powder that drifted away with the wind.

"As for the Freedom Federation side..."

Mr. Duan raised his head, his gaze looking towards the direction of the tallest and most sacred building in this city, a look of mockery flashing across his eyes.

"That fellow living in the Divine Kingdom will not intervene. He is currently overwhelmed with his own troubles."

The person on the other end of the phone fell silent for two seconds, then responded in a deep voice:

"Yes, Sir, this subordinate understands."

"I wish you a smooth trip to Daxia."

Sakura Country, Nagato Port.

Inside the Daxia Temporary Supreme Command Headquarters.

The huge holographic tactical sandbox in the center of the long table emitted a deep blue glow, densely marking the red and blue light points of both enemy and friendly forces on it.

Although the world-destroying sacrificial ritual in Tokyo City had been completely shattered, and Sakura Country's strongest SSS-rank Old Ancestor Kujo Naruya had also been executed, this grand war sweeping across the two countries still had not come to a complete close.

Although Sakura Country's high-level command System had collapsed, along its eastern and northern defense lines, there were still several brainwashed remnant high-tier legions relying on the treacherous terrain and surviving defensive Formation to make a crazy last-ditch resistance.

Inside the command headquarters, a dozen Daxia Advanced generals carrying star-inlaid epaulets were surrounding the sandbox, fiercely arguing with red faces.

"Bang!"

General Ma, who had the most fiery temper, slapped the edge of the sandbox heavily, shaking the virtual light points violently. His eyes were red and bloodshot, and he roared in a rough voice: "What else is there to hesitate about?! Kujo Koji that old fellow is already dead, we should beat the stray dog right now!"

"Old Ma, calm down!" Another grey-templed General Qi frowned and retorted: "Although Kujo Koji is dead now, Chong Wenguma and the remnant forces of the Kujo Family still possess relatively strong combat power. A forced attack would also cause us massive casualties."

"Then what do you say we should do?!"

"We must steady-step by steady-step, first cutting off their water and energy supply lines."

"Bullshit! Once they catch their breath, who knows what crooked ritual those madmen will pull off!"

Inside the command headquarters, the two factions of generals advocating for battle and stability argued until their faces were red and spittle flew everywhere. Ever since Marshal Zhao Qingcang had fallen, although a decisive victory had been achieved, the cleanup work of this mess left this group of old generals overwhelmed.

"Creak—"

Just as the argument inside the hall was reaching a boiling point, the thick alloy door of the command headquarters was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Everyone instinctively stopped arguing and turned their heads in unison.

Acting General Commander Chen Huaishu smiled as he walked into the hall.

Behind him, two young people, a man and a woman, were following closely.

Among these two young people, the man had sword-like brows and star-like eyes, an upright posture, and wore a slightly oversized military overcoat, his brows and eyes carrying an inherent majesty; the woman wore a simple and elegant long dress, with a country-toppling appearance and a gentle temperament, yet exuding a heart-palpitating, boundless vitality.

The generals were stunned for a moment.

What level of military meeting was this?

Even Chen Huaishu couldn't just casually bring two unfamiliar young people in, right?

"General Chen, who are these two?" General Ma frowned his rugged brows and looked at the young man.

For some reason, when he saw this twenty-something young man, his heart skipped a beat.

This kid's brows and eyes, that standing posture, why did they look somewhat familiar?

Not only General Ma, but the other old generals present also showed suspicious expressions.

This young man's facial features were too familiar!

It seemed like they had seen him somewhere before, but upon careful thought, they couldn't match the name.

Facing everyone's doubtful, probing, and even vigilant gazes, Chen Huaishu did not introduce them right away. Instead, he took half a step back, yielding the main seat and revealing a hint of a mysterious smile.

Right at this moment, that young man moved.

He strode over to the holographic sandbox, quickly scanned the enemy and friendly postures marked on it, and then raised his head, laughing loudly: "Hahahahaha—"

A bold and hearty burst of laughter echoed inside the command headquarters, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Old Ma, oh Old Ma! How many times have I told you, fighting a war shouldn't just focus on these few inches right in front of you!" The young man extended his slender fingers and heavily pointed at several locations on the sandbox, his tone majestic and carrying a familiar scolding: "Forced attack? How many heads do you have to fill into the compound Formation that the Kujo Family has operated for over a hundred years?!"