150: Chapter 150 The Moves of Britain and America

Only Britain and the USA remained.

It was Britain's turn to play the 'seeking worthy order' in their hand.

[Officer], [Benevolent Elder], and [Ranger]—Britain's favorability with these three Famous Scholars was absolutely at the top, and any choice would allow them to obtain the corresponding type of Heroic Spirit from that Famous Scholar.

The only difference was that playing a piece on [Officer] or [Benevolent Elder] would have no impact on the Dragon Kingdom, whereas playing a piece on [Ranger] would cause the Dragon Kingdom to lose the possibility of obtaining a Heroic Spirit from [Ranger], since the Dragon Kingdom's ranking with [Ranger] was one place below Britain's.

The British Strategist's choice could potentially determine the Dragon Kingdom's fate in the first act!

Chen Aoyun and the other three stared intently at the British Strategist's movements.

Without the slightest hesitation or consideration, the British Strategist walked straight toward [Ranger]'s avatar.

“Hey, the first act doesn't just end once you select a Heroic Spirit. You still need them to fight the calamity afterward.

The Heroic Spirit type recommended by the Famous Scholar [Ranger] is 'Outlaw'. Does your Britain have a suitable Heroic Spirit of this type?

If not, you might as well choose the other two and leave [Ranger] to my Dragon Kingdom. In exchange for this concession, you can even obtain a 'Famous Scholar's Gift' item from our Dragon Kingdom!”

In his soul state, Fan Ling called out to the British Strategist urgently and sincerely.

His words made perfect sense; the Heroic Spirit type recommended by the Famous Scholar [Ranger] was indeed not the optimal choice for the British.

Moreover, by not choosing [Ranger], they could still obtain a 'Famous Scholar's Gift' from the Dragon Kingdom.

Chen Aoyun had sworn an oath in the name of a Strategist that the Dragon Kingdom would provide a 'Famous Scholar's Gift' as a reward for any cooperation in building friendships with the Famous Scholars.

Such a proposal, beneficial to both the Dragon Kingdom and Britain, was completely ignored by the British.

The British didn't even mention the agreed-upon trade. Walking up to the avatar of the Famous Scholar [Ranger], he simply reached out and sent the seeking worthy order from his palm into the avatar.

Having done this, the British Strategist ignored the still-shouting Fan Ling, turned to Sakura Country's Saku Kenichi, and said,

“I have done what you asked me to do. Don't forget your promise!”

Saku Kenichi replied, “Rest assured, I have also sworn an oath in the name of a Strategist. The benefits promised to Britain will be delivered after this Game of National Destiny ends.”

Having received Saku Kenichi's assurance, the British Strategist said no more. After giving Chen Aoyun, who was not far away, a meaningful look, he retreated to the edge of the compass.

This look from the British Strategist was caught by Fan Ling. Fan Ling looked at him in confusion, then turned to look at Chen Aoyun beside him, as if asking what the look meant. However, Chen Aoyun was also completely baffled, quietly shaking his head to indicate he had no idea what that inexplicable look signified.

“Could it be that the British wanted both the benefits promised by the Sakura Country people and those promised by Chen Aoyun, so they first carried out the Sakura Country people's instructions and then planned to find a way to cooperate with the Dragon Kingdom?”

Fan Ling let his thoughts wander as his gaze drifted back and forth between Chen Aoyun and the British Strategist.

At this moment, the last Strategist to play a seeking worthy order besides the Dragon Kingdom stepped onto the compass.

It was the USA's Strategist.

The USA also had three Famous Scholars they could play their pieces on:

[Maritime Merchant], [Academy Director], and [Abbot].

The Dragon Kingdom's favorability rankings with both the [Academy Director] and the [Abbot] were at the very bottom.

But with the [Maritime Merchant], the Dragon Kingdom ranked third, which was higher than Prussia, who had already played a piece on the [Maritime Merchant] (due to censorship reasons, Prussia will be used instead of Germany in the following text).

As long as the USA did not play on the [Maritime Merchant], the Dragon Kingdom, playing last, could place a piece there, squeeze out Prussia's piece, and obtain a Heroic Spirit!

This was why Chen Aoyun had insisted on targeting both [Ranger] and [Maritime Merchant] earlier. With one more highly-ranked Famous Scholar, the Dragon Kingdom would have an extra chance to obtain a Heroic Spirit slot.

Perhaps.

Not every country would care about the meager scraps promised by Sakura Country, especially for the USA, which possessed the strongest overall power on the Blue Star in the New Era.

The USA's Strategist stepped onto the compass with what he thought was a dashing stride.

Chen Aoyun was staring at him, Saku Kenichi of Sakura Country was staring at him, Prussia's Strategist was also staring at him, and viewers worldwide had locked their cameras onto him.

The USA had once used a Heritage Item, a T0-grade item that was completely useless except for allowing their own Strategist to freely manifest any ideal style they wanted during games on the Star Chessboard.

This item, which only served for posing, had no practical use and seemed unworthy of its T0 rating. However, its effect was permanent once used, allowing them to change their attire at will even in games where item usage was banned. In this light, its T0 designation did not seem so undeserved.

At this moment, the USA's Strategist used the power of that T0 item to transform himself into a Western cowboy outfit.

Looking at the direction of his steps, he was heading toward the [Maritime Merchant], whom the Dragon Kingdom was most reluctant to lose.

This caused Fan Ling and the others' faces to turn as pale as ash.

“It's over, it's over, it's completely over this time.

The USA is going to choose the [Maritime Merchant]!

If the USA chooses the [Maritime Merchant], what will our Dragon Kingdom do?”

Just when everyone thought this 'cowboy' from the USA was about to play his piece on the [Maritime Merchant],

the cowboy suddenly made a sharp ninety-degree turn!

His target was not the [Maritime Merchant], but the Famous Scholar [Academy Director]!

Was he really going to play his seeking worthy order on the [Academy Director]?

If he played on the [Academy Director], wouldn't that leave the [Maritime Merchant] open for the Dragon Kingdom?

The USA was indeed the strongest country on the Blue Star today, but the benefits promised by Sakura Country already exceeded the Game of National Destiny rewards themselves, and no country would mind having a deeper heritage.

Was the USA doing this to show off its peerless spirit on the Blue Star?

Or was the USA intentionally undermining Sakura Country?

Weren't the USA and Sakura Country on quite good terms?

Although Sakura Country was arrogant, they understood international relations very well. They spared no effort to exploit and threaten weaker nations, while doing everything they could to curry favor with strong nations like a watchdog.

Hadn't the USA always enjoyed being flattered by Sakura Country?

Why were they suddenly undermining Sakura Country now?

Turning ninety degrees, he walked forward, stood still, and played his seeking worthy order.

In the end, this cowboy from the USA really did send his seeking worthy order into the [Academy Director]'s avatar!

He turned to Chen Aoyun with a smile,

“I didn't choose the [Maritime Merchant]. Does this count as cooperating with your Dragon Kingdom?

You owe me a 'Famous Scholar's Gift'. I prefer the [Craftsman]'s blades.”

There were three Famous Scholars who did not recommend Heroic Spirits but instead provided 'Famous Scholar's Gifts'.

The [Beast Tamer]'s gift was a 'mount' from the stables.

The [Bride-to-be]'s gift was her 'dowry'.

The [Craftsman]'s gift was a 'famous blade'.

Facing the demand of the USA's cowboy, Chen Aoyun did not respond, only locking eyes with him.

The USA's cowboy seemed to read something in Chen Aoyun's eyes, and then said something that most viewers watching the live stream could not quite understand,

“Rather than keeping it, you might as well give it to my USA.

Whether you give it or not, you'd better think carefully about your next move.”

Was he threatening Chen Aoyun to hand over a 'Famous Scholar's Gift'?

But why threaten?

Hadn't Chen Aoyun already sworn in the name of a Strategist that the Dragon Kingdom would definitely give a 'Famous Scholar's Gift' to the country that cooperated the most to help the Dragon Kingdom obtain the Famous Scholars' true friendship?

Wasn't such a threat completely redundant?