92: Chapter 92 The Last Hour

With over forty 'Li-Du Poems' serving as Prophecies, the Sakura Country people had completely lost the trail of Zhao Hongxiu and Fan Ling.

Unable to find these two, the Sakura Country people didn't think it was worth going to where Zhao Tianming and Li Gaoyuan were, as it was not only far away but also in an area where they didn't believe any useful resources would spawn.

Consequently, that [Cavalry +7] chess piece completely abandoned the containment of the Dragon Country.

In truth, it made no difference whether the Sakura Country people withdrew or not.

Thus, three days passed.

Zhao Hongxiu, who had been wandering in the Central Area, now held two [Emperor] cards, four [General] cards, five [Powerful Minister] cards, and five [Aristocrat] cards.

The two [Emperor] cards could grant a +1 star increase to the 'Transcendental Buff';

The four [General] cards, five [Powerful Minister] cards, and five [Aristocrat] cards—every four cards granted +1 star, with the excess being invalid—could collectively grant a +3 star increase to the 'Transcendental Buff'.

In total, the resources and identities Zhao Hongxiu had obtained over these five days could provide a +4 star buff.

Compared to Fan Ling's haul, this was a bit low. Fan Ling, in the Farmland Area, had found 84 [Farmer] cards all at once. Since every 12 [Farmer] identity cards granted +1 star, this provided a +7 star Transcendental Buff.

Moreover, the resources invested in Zhao Hongxiu were not insignificant, ranging from 'Li-Du Poems' to [Seven In, Seven Out].

Although more resources were invested in her than in Fan Ling, the harvest was less; however, Chen Aoyun knew the accounts couldn't be calculated that way.

The identity cards Zhao Hongxiu obtained were useful to the Dragon Country and also to the Sakura Country; having a few more here meant the others had a few less in their hands.

The countdown to the final battle of the Heroic Spirits had begun, with less than an hour remaining.

Having just tallied the gains of Zhao Hongxiu and Fan Ling, Chen Aoyun received a communication request from the Ottoman [Strategist].

Since they were allies, Chen Aoyun accepted the call without a second thought.

The projection of the Ottoman [Strategist] appeared before Chen Aoyun.

"The decisive moment for the Heroic Spirits is almost here. What's the situation on your end? How many stars have you managed to get in total?"

Chen Aoyun spread out all the identity cards in his hand and displayed them openly, "Counting up to now, there is an 11-star buff."

There were only a few gold and silver cards, but there were quite a lot of [Farmer] cards. Chen Aoyun did not hide anything and revealed the matter of the 'Commoner Emperor'.

"Commoner Emperor? [Farmer] cards can be used too? Your Huaxia Civilization really leaves one speechless. But this is a good thing, a good thing indeed. Do you still remember our agreement?"

Chen Aoyun replied, "Rest assured, I haven't forgotten. Our agreement: a defensive and offensive alliance, with resources concentrated on the side with the advantage. Whichever side has the greater advantage, the other party will transfer their own buff to them. Using your [Strategist] ability. The agreement is bound by the alliance oath; neither you nor I can go back on it!"

The Ottoman [Strategist] laughed, "Good that you remember, good that you remember. You only have 11 stars, which is far less than mine. When the time comes to transfer the buff, be straightforward. Giving it voluntarily and having it taken by the oath yield the same result, but if I am forced to use the oath to take your buff, it is you who will be undignified. Not to mention the lack of dignity, the party forced to give it might even be judged as a potential contract breaker; it's not worth it."

Seeing that Chen Aoyun did not speak, the Ottoman [Strategist] chuckled and said, "Rest assured, once you transfer the buff to me, I will, as agreed, eliminate Sakura Country first and then you. That way, I am first, you are second, and it works out for both of us."

Chen Aoyun did not take the bait but instead asked, "Are you that confident? How many stars do you have in your hand? And how many does Sakura Country have?"

The Ottoman [Strategist] also took out all his identity cards and said happily, "Ottoman and Sakura Country don't have any Commoner Emperor; the usable identity resources are about the same. Sakura Country has a Lv13 Roleplayer who is very troublesome. Every time we compete for resources, I suffer a little loss. In total, I might have a few fewer stars in Transcendental Buffs than Sakura Country. I have a total of +20 stars of resources in my hand, and I estimate Sakura Country won't exceed 30. Let's assume they have 30. Once you transfer the buff to me, my 20 + your 11 = 31. On the contrary, we can surpass the Sakura Country people!"

Did Ottoman have 20 stars? Chen Aoyun lowered his eyes and glanced at the cards in his hand again, forcing a straight face, seemingly holding back laughter, and said nothing.

The Ottoman [Strategist] Adar stared at Chen Aoyun, "Are you laughing? What's so funny? Is it because I can eliminate Sakura Country first, so your Dragon Country will be second? Hey, don't smile like that, don't twitch the corner of your mouth. I'm scared~"

Until the end of the conversation, the Ottoman [Strategist] Adar did not see through what Chen Aoyun's suppressed smile actually meant.

He could only console himself by saying that Chen Aoyun was laughing because he could reach second place, which had nothing to do with him, and it wasn't a smile indicating he was planning to trick him.

Before leaving, Adar scanned the cards in Chen Aoyun's hand over and over again.

They were all trash cards. Not to mention his own Heroic Spirits, they were identities that probably no Heroic Spirit of the Emperor type in the whole world could use: [Cook], [Herdsman], [Watchman], [Monk], [Beggar]... and so on and so forth. There were all sorts of messy identity cards, he didn't even spare identities like [Street Loafer].

"You don't have any weird habits, do you? Like a collection obsession?" Adar asked before leaving, staring at the cards in Chen Aoyun's hand.

"A little, but I think it's a good habit." Chen Aoyun replied very seriously.

Pouting and fiddling with his hairstyle, Adar ended the conversation.

The intelligence Adar provided was very useful, but the alliance oath reached between the two sides earlier was even more useful!

"The [Strategist]'s ability is truly wondrous; it can even achieve this kind of buff transfer. I wonder what kind of [Strategist] ability I will obtain after I upgrade once this Game of National Destiny ends."

The acquisition of [Strategist] abilities is not like [Roleplayer].

Roleplayers can choose their own [Professional Path], controlling the direction of their ability types—whether it's combat-oriented, support-oriented, or, like Li Gaoyuan, following the [Planner Path] focusing on certain plot-related abilities.

[Strategist] abilities are completely random. Like Adar, he possesses the ability to merge his side's buffs together.

In the alliance oath, it was not Chen Aoyun handing the cards in his hand to Adar.

The [Farmer] identity card can only be used by the Dragon Country, which possesses the Commoner Emperor. Giving the card to Adar is useless. It must be that after using the [Farmer] identity to buff [Zhu Yuanzhang], that portion of the buff's power is transferred to the Ottoman Emperor [Heroic Spirit].

This kind of transfer relies on Adar's [Strategist] ability!

Chen Aoyun fiddled with the cards in his hand, "I just don't know, an hour from now, who will be transferring to whom..."

Suddenly, Chen Aoyun remembered that loop, "[I have saved the game]... Could that also be a type of [Strategist] skill?"