The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

Qiao Yelan's voice was completely calm.

Anatoly will not react when I go to Alexandria.

Anatoly would find himself ridiculous when he went to Yegor's side.

Now, Anatoly should be starting to have some suspicions.

"With these people following us, should we go back to the guesthouse first?"

"No, let them come with us. We're going to a place they would never even imagine."

Qiao Yelan revealed a cold smile.

"We are going to visit Grand Duke Nicholas's residence."

Chapter Fifty Nicholas

[Nikola? If you go to him now, will he see you?]

"Why shouldn't he see me? He's your equal. As your top henchman, I'm just going to pay my respects to him. Why shouldn't he see me?"

[...Could you perhaps watch fewer gangster movies like "Dragon Gate"?]

Qiao Yelan closed his eyes to rest.

So he really will see you?

"Honestly, your memory is so bad I'm starting to wonder if you're even immortal—what's the relationship between Vladimir and Grand Prince Nicholas?"

[Dude—oh, so he knows you?]

"I played a crucial role in helping the emperor rise to power back then, how could he not recognize me?"

Kosichek fell silent again.

After holding back for a while, she finally couldn't help but speak up.

Speaking of which, that old judge asked me to mobilize the troops for cooperation. Do I actually need to give the order?

Qiao Yelan was a little puzzled. Why was this person so eager to help him today?

"It would be better if it were available, but it's okay if it's not, it depends on whether you want it or not."

If I say I'm willing, can we consider this part of the transaction?

Waiting for me here.

"Sure—but the question is, what do you want in return for me?"

I want to get your backup plan in Chernobog.

“I’ve said it before, revenge is my business. You can interfere if you want, or just watch from the sidelines if you don’t—or do you want to save Marquis Boris’s life?”

[I was going to kill him anyway, but I wanted to stay in Chernobog for the time being. It's closest to Lungmen, and I can get firsthand information there. However, I didn't have many connections there to begin with, and they were all wiped out before.]

Qiao Yelan shook her head.

[It's just a backup plan, is my request too much?]

"It's not that it's excessive, it's that you can't use that backup plan."

"Impossible! It's just an intelligence network, I can share it with you at worst."

Qiao Yelan was helpless.

"I really can't give it to you, and you really can't use it anyway. In other words, wouldn't it be enough if I shared the Lungmen intelligence with you?"

[Really not working?]

"It really doesn't work."

"Then please arrange a place for me in Chernobog, okay?"

"Neither."

[Hey! That's going too far! I came here to support you according to your plan, and you won't even give me a safe house?]

"Tsk, so annoying. Why do you insist on going to Chernobog? I'll save you a spot in Kazdel, okay? It's closer to Lungmen. If you suddenly get the urge, you can even possess one or two Sarkaz and go on a trip to Lungmen."

Qiao Yelan tried to soothe the bargaining pet with a headache.

[...So mysterious?]

“It’s not mysterious, it’s that something bad would have happened if you had gone there—you can’t beat him, he can sense you, and that guy has no feelings for Ursus anymore.”

【? 】

【...】

[Could it be Hellagur?]

"Yes, that's him. I told you he works as a security guard at the hospital. Babel Tower supports an underground clinic for infected people in Chernobog, where the girl he's raising is receiving treatment, and he himself is there too."

Qiao Yelan sighed.

"Because of his special status and power, and because I am an equal trading partner like you, it can be considered a backup plan, but he will not actively get involved in the actions of the Tower of Babel."

"Alright, I'll go back and send a message to my men to relocate to another base in Kazdel, is that alright?"

"Sure, but a little later, after we've met with Nikolai."

Are you worried he might harm you?

"Yes—it's been so long since we last met, so long that this guy has started colluding with the nobles. I can't figure out what he's thinking now, so I can only play it by ear."

You actually have moments where you can improvise?

Kosiché was somewhat surprised.

I thought you always had a backup plan.

"What I mean is that Nikolai's attitude and reaction are random, and I need to choose my plan based on this randomness."

Qiao Yelan retorted slowly and deliberately.

"...Sometimes you really provoke a punch with your words."

"Thank you for the compliment."

[But seriously, you told that guy named Yegor that even without anyone's support, you could come up with a plan to oppose him—that plan wouldn't be to lead me in a raid and kill Grand Duke Nicholas, would it?]

Kosich's words really made Qiao Yelan laugh.

"If that's the case, and I can probably kill him, how am I supposed to get out alive?"

[Let me think... I can temporarily control Nikolai's body, so I'll pretend you've taken him hostage, then throw his body away once we're far away.]

"Then how could a civil official, confined to a wheelchair and powerless, possibly hold a duke, a veteran military officer, hostage?"

Qiao Yelan suppressed a laugh and asked.

"Was he threatening to kill me with my wheelchair?"

"Is this wheelchair really just a wheelchair?"

"Not really. I remember Kal'tsit telling me that this thing can theoretically go over 120 miles per hour, but it's easy to fall apart, so it's best not to use it as a means of transportation."

【? 】

[Is this a wheelchair?!]

"Hmm... how can it not count?"

Calling this a wheelchair is like calling you human—do you even consider yourself human?

"If by 'humanity' you mean those who can devise a plan to slaughter and enslave an entire class of their own to fund their own extravagant lifestyle, then I can only say—"

"I think I am."

-----------------------------------------------

Just as Qiao Yelan had said, Grand Duke Nicholas had no reason to turn him away. Qiao Yelan handed over his visiting card, and the servants inside quickly came out to invite him into the mansion.

When Grand Duke Nicholas entered the room and saw this so-called chief administrator, he immediately stopped in his tracks.

He didn't even have time to hide the shock on his face from the waiter.

"...Go, push him to my study."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The waiter suppressed his doubts, walked to Qiao Yelan's side, and pushed him to catch up with the Grand Duke's pace, heading towards Nicholas's study.

"All of you, leave. Pass on my orders: no one is to approach my study."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When Nikolai sat down opposite Qiao Yelan again, he finally had time to carefully observe the man in front of him.

"You really haven't changed at all—you've even gotten younger."

“But your changes are significant—not just in age, but also in your political stance.”

Nikolai didn't speak; he just looked at Qiao Yelan and sighed deeply.

He was the most esteemed Grand Duke of the Empire and the only Imperial Marshal. This old man, who always presented himself as dignified and resolute in front of others, now had only endless weariness on his face.