After Ye Xi returned to his room, Enjou and Nabelin arrived before him.
"Greetings, My King!"
"Greetings, Lord Ye Xi!"
The two knelt on one knee, incredibly respectful.
Ye Xi nodded and said, "Rise."
Enjou and Nabelin stood up.
"My King, you summoned your subordinates here; do you have any instructions?"
"Mn, there is something I need you to do."
Actually, it was just the matter of training personnel to use transport tools. Whether it was trucks or trains, they all needed drivers.
If he were to recruit people now and train them from scratch, there was no telling how long it would take for them to learn. By the time they mastered it, the opportunity would be long gone.
So, he decided to utilize the [Bestow] skill to train a batch of people from the Abyss Order.
With the example of Enjou, it was sufficient proof that the [Bestow] skill could increase a person's intelligence. He didn't need to raise everyone to the level of Enjou and Nabelin; leveling them up by a few dozen levels would suffice.
As long as these people had enough brainpower to learn things quickly, mastering the techniques in a day or two would be no problem.
Hearing Ye Xi's words, Enjou thought it was about the task assigned in the morning and hurriedly reported to Ye Xi: "Subordinate has already selected the new members for the Royal Guard and the Maid Corps!"
"Mn... Eh!?"
Royal Guard?
Maid Corps!?
Huh?
When did this happen!?
Ye Xi looked bewildered, his mind full of question marks.
'Could it be that I have a clone that gave them orders!?'
That couldn't be! He had absolutely no recollection of it!
Ye Xi feigned calm, coughed dryly, and asked, "Cough, Enjou, when did I entrust this matter to you?"
Hearing this questioning tone, Enjou was instantly frightened into a cold sweat and hurriedly knelt on the ground.
"You gave the order this morning! It is this subordinate's incompetence that wasted My King's time!"
He thought his selection speed was already fast, but he hadn't expected Ye Xi's requirements to be even faster! This made him feel he had failed his master's trust.
However, Ye Xi was still recalling what he had said this morning.
He remembered that he had only said he wanted a few hands.
How did it turn into a Royal Guard and a Maid Corps!?
And where did this Maid Corps come from!?
Forget it, this matter wasn't important.
He waved his hand and said, "Rise. You and Nabelin did well."
"Yes! Thank you, My Lord, for your mercy!"
Enjou lamented repeatedly in his heart: What a benevolent master, to actually tolerate a subordinate's mistakes!
"Next is an urgent mission."
"I plan to conduct commercial trade with Liyue, and I need..."
He roughly explained the plan for laying train tracks and building roads. Then he mentioned the drivers for the transport tools, asking Enjou to find some smart people to do this job.
The more Enjou listened, the more shocked he became, repeatedly praising Ye Xi's intellect deep in his heart.
"...Subordinate obeys! My Lord, please rest assured, this subordinate will gather the manpower at the fastest speed!"
"Mn, you may withdraw."
After giving the instructions, Ye Xi also felt relieved. Entrusting this matter to Enjou should not lead to any problems.
Enjou and Nabelin left Sumeru and returned to the homeland of Khaenri'ah.
Along the way, Enjou couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"What a brilliant King! How could he have such wise ideas!"
"Perfect! Truly perfect!"
"That Lord is truly the most perfect existence in the world!"
Nabelin was filled with confusion upon hearing this. Seeing that Enjou understood it alone, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws. She also wanted to appreciate Ye Xi's perfection!
So she couldn't help but ask, "Enjou, why didn't I understand?"
"Could it be that Lord Ye Xi's words have a deeper meaning behind them?"
"Of course!" Enjou answered without thinking.
"I don't quite understand. Can you explain it to me?"
Seeing Nabelin bent on seeking an answer, Enjou pushed up his glasses and asked back, "What was the mission Lord Ye Xi gave us?"
"Uh..."
Nabelin thought for a moment and hurriedly said, "To select some drivers who use transport tools!"
"Correct!"
"But do you think that is the only meaning My King wanted to convey?"
Nabelin racked her brains for a long time but ultimately shook her head and gave up. "Can you stop keeping me in suspense!"
"Heh."
"My Lord's wisdom is profound and far-reaching; it is normal that you do not understand."
Enjou smiled and got straight to the point: "My King's intention is extremely obvious! He wants to establish Khaenri'ah's Intelligence Department—!"
Nabelin: ???
"Intelligence—!"
"As expected of my Master!"
"Enjou, explain in detail, how did you figure that out!"
"Why can't I figure out the connection at all!"
Although Nabelin didn't understand yet, the idea of an Intelligence Department was already shocking enough! Therefore, she already admired Ye Xi incomparably in her heart!
Enjou put on a profound expression and analyzed: "First, let's establish one point: My Lord wants to unify the four nations. Then, before ruling, what preparations must we make?"
Nabelin was just a swordswoman and didn't understand strategy, so she could only shake her head.
"Of course, it is intelligence research!"
"Only by knowing the intelligence of the four nations will unifying them be incomparably simple."
Hearing this, Nabelin revealed a look of sudden realization.
Enjou sighed: "But the problem is, our current intelligence agency's conditions are extremely poor!"
"All intelligence personnel can only turtle up inside strongholds, like rats in a sewer!"
"During the day, we dare not appear before the world!"
"At night, we have to act sneakily again!"
"This kind of low-level reconnaissance efficiency undoubtedly hinders the revival of our nation!"
Nabelin felt this deeply as well. Let alone intelligence personnel, even they, the enforcer swordsmen, could only act secretly. It could even be said that for months on end, they didn't even see the sunlight!
With their appearances, if they showed up outside, they would immediately be crusaded against by Adventurers!
She had had enough of these days long ago! Now that she could restore her human appearance, she had only one desire: to stroll through the city in human form. Over these hundreds of years, she had long forgotten what normal human society looked like!
Enjou continued, "We ought to come under the sunlight!"
"That Lord has conveyed this meaning before!"
"And today's mission is precisely an important step for that Lord to realize this point!"
"Nabelin, think about it. If the drivers of these transport tools are all our people, what will they do every day?"
Hearing this question, Nabelin subconsciously said, "Drive the tools, transport goods."
"That is merely surface-level work!"
"The true essence is that they can openly roam through Sumeru, Liyue, and Mondstadt!"
"Who could imagine that they, as drivers, are our Khaenri'ah's great warriors!"
As soon as these words came out, Nabelin's eyes instantly lit up, and she nodded hurriedly. "Right, right! It is so! This way, exchanging intelligence becomes justifiable and effortless!"
"Hmph, do you think it's just that?"
"There's more!?"
"Of course!"
Light reflected off Enjou's lenses, his face full of worship as he said, "Besides intelligence work, we can also transport armies in large quantities!"
"The train lines are planned by us, manufactured by us, and driven by us!"
"If there happens to be an extra train, who would notice?"
"This single train could easily transport our warriors to any stronghold within the three nations!"
"Fast, and extremely safe!"
Now, Nabelin's eyes were filled with shock. She worshipped Ye Xi so much, worshipped him to a fanatical degree!
Enjou, however, sighed slightly. "Even so, I have only understood this much."
"What we understand is merely two or three layers, while that Lord is already at the tenth layer! The twentieth layer! Waiting for us!"
"Alright, no time to daze out. Hurry up and establish the Intelligence Department, then present it to Lord Ye Xi!"
Nabelin nodded. "Yes!"
Regarding Enjou and Nabelin's wild interpretations, Ye Xi was completely unaware at this moment.
Currently, he was explaining the unexpected situation that occurred in the project to Keqing.
"Azhdaha!?"
Keqing immediately took it seriously upon hearing the name.
She knew a little about the legends of Azhdaha.
According to ancient records, Azhdaha was an evil dragon born underground in ancient times, who once guarded Liyue together with Rex Lapis.
Later, the Dragon King suddenly vanished without a trace. Some said the Dragon King lost his power and fell into a deep sleep; others said the Dragon King disagreed with the Lord of Geo and was sealed by him.
There were all kinds of theories. In short, no one knew where Azhdaha went or where he was sleeping.
She hadn't expected to hear this name from Ye Xi.
"In other words, Azhdaha's approximate location is right at the dwelling place of the Adepti?"
Ye Xi nodded. "Correct. A long time ago, Azhdaha was sealed by the Lord of Geo and the Adepti. Later, the Adepti often went to reinforce the guard."
"For these thousands of years, the Jueyun Karst area has been peaceful and quiet, so Azhdaha has also been sleeping all along."
"If we build roads, the noise from passing vehicles when the time comes will inevitably disturb Azhdaha."
Hearing Ye Xi's words, Keqing's small face was full of solemnity.
That was a Dragon King from ancient times; his strength was definitely extraordinary! Even if his strength was inferior to the Vortex Demon God Osial, it certainly wouldn't be much worse.
And that was the result of underestimating Azhdaha to the greatest extent.
If one were to scrutinize it carefully, it was hard to say!
If the Rex Lapis of that year became friends with Azhdaha because he valued its power... then what did Osial, who was easily sealed by Rex Lapis with stone spears, count for?
Presumably, Azhdaha's power was abnormally strong, capable of completely crushing Osial. That would be reasonable!
If that were the case, how could they match Azhdaha?
Fighting one Osial took so much effort, let alone Azhdaha!
"...Master Ye Xi, why don't we discuss this with Ningguang!"
"We can mobilize the Millelith and the Guizhong Ballistas."
"I worry that once we disturb Azhdaha, it will cause a great disaster!"
Honestly, Keqing was truly worried that after Azhdaha woke up, he would endanger Liyue Harbor! If that happened, everything would be finished.
Ye Xi smiled and waved his hand. "Relax, I can handle this matter."
"Eh?! But..."
Keqing's heart was full of unease.
She knew Ye Xi's mechanism technique was very powerful and his intellect was surpassing. She had also heard Dehya and Alusha say that Ye Xi was very strong.
The problem was, that was Azhdaha!
Seeing Ye Xi's confident appearance, she couldn't say much more. After all, it was already too late now. They had to go early tomorrow morning; she didn't have time to rush back to Liyue, nor could she ask Ye Xi to send her back.
She could only pray now that the trouble could be resolved smoothly tomorrow!
Evening.
Through the afternoon's efforts, Ye Xi successfully utilized the [Bestow] skill to upgrade the few people Enjou brought.
These people's average level was around fifty-five, and all of them could hide their power and return to a normal human appearance.
After obtaining powerful strength, without exception, these people prostrated themselves at Ye Xi's feet, constantly praising and sighing.
"Oh King! My Master whom I will serve all my life, thank you for giving me the chance to turn back into a human!"
"I am willing to dedicate everything to Your Majesty!"
"My power will all be used by you!"
"..."
Ye Xi nodded, extremely satisfied. "Next, your task is to learn to drive vehicles and be responsible for the subsequent cargo transportation."
"I have already handed the detailed matters to Enjou; he will arrange you all."
"Also, note one point: try to wear glasses to cover your eyes and avoid exposing your identities."
The star-shaped pupils unique to Khaenri'ahns were an extremely obvious mark. Although five hundred years had passed and people who knew of Khaenri'ah were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, there would inevitably be some special cases.
If those special cases discovered they were Khaenri'ahns, it would certainly trigger quite a few unnecessary troubles.
These drivers lowered their heads in assent one after another.
"Enjou, you arrange it."
"As you command!"
Enjou came before everyone and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, you are the elites of the Khaenri'ah Kingdom! The people with the smartest minds!"
"You are the first generation backbone of the glory-filled Intelligence Department!"
"Future intelligence gathering work is your most important work goal!"
As soon as these words came out, the crowd was roused!
"Yes! Lord Enjou!"
"We swear to keep the secrets to the death and transmit the most accurate intelligence back to the Kingdom Headquarters!"
"That's right, even if we fall into enemy hands, we will absolutely not loosen our tongues!"
"It is our honor to be trusted by His Majesty!"
However, Ye Xi, standing at the side, was confused.
"Intelligence..."
"Eh—!?"
[Forced Calm]
Ye Xi instantly recovered rational thinking.
Although he didn't know how this ordinary driver position turned into an Intelligence Department, this proposal was indeed quite good.
Using the identity of transport tool drivers to conduct intelligence transactions secretly... it could simply be said to be killing two birds with one stone.
But the problem was, what intelligence needed to be collected?
For him, he knew all the important intelligence; there was no necessity to collect any.
But, since Enjou and the others were so enthusiastic, then he might as well go with the flow.
Who knows, maybe there would be unexpected gains in the future?
Before long, Enjou arranged the subsequent study plan.
The promise was that the training could be completed within two days.
This way, the speed was just right. When the time came, they would first complete the fruit and ore transactions.
Seeing the work distribution completed, Ye Xi waved his hand and sent them back.
Leaving him alone in the room, thinking for a long time.
He didn't understand—what exactly was going on in that guy Enjou's brain?
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