Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Nie Bing saw Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce)'s appearance and smiled.

"Mr. Sean, are you not used to it?"

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) looked embarrassed, then said, "President, it is indeed..."

Nie Bing said wearily, "I always have to appear tougher outside, otherwise it's hard to convince people..."

"Now that I have my own space all the time, I can't always be the only one putting on this..."

Xiao Ce's heart skipped a beat when he heard Nie Bing's words.

Seeing Nie Bing's state, I wondered if she was planning some kind of honey trap.

However, after observing for a moment, Xiao Ce smiled at Nie Bing and nodded, "Indeed, the president seems to be a bit younger than me..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Nie Bing glanced at Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce).

"Indeed, I am only twenty-six years old this year."

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) nodded after hearing Nie Bing's words, and said with some surprise, "Then the president really is young..."

Although Sean Aurelius is Kate's Ninth Master, he is also brothers with Cassivs, who is a middle-aged man.

However, this Sean Aurelius is actually not very old, only about twenty-nine years old.

Because Sean Aurelius was Ux's son born late in life, there was a significant age difference between him and Cassivs and the others.

Looking at Nie Bing's state at this moment, Xiao Ce had no idea what she was up to.

I guess they're trying to play the emotional card...

Just as Xiao Ce was lost in thought, Nie Bing asked him, "Mr. Sean, how old are you this year?"

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) replied respectfully, "President, I am twenty-nine years old, a few years older than you..."

Nie Bing nodded lazily, "We're the same age... Young people are definitely smarter; those old folks from the families have such fixed minds..."

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) gave an awkward smile, unsure of Nie Bing's intentions, and simply continued, "President, it's just that everyone has their own strengths. We young people are quick-witted and active. Those of us who are older are more mature and stable... From different perspectives, everyone has their advantages..."

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce) words, Nie Bing looked at him meaningfully.

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) looked slightly embarrassed as Nie Bing stared at him, then said to Nie Bing, "President, what's wrong? Do you think what I said was wrong?"

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce's) words, Nie Bing smiled and waved her hand, then looked at his tense expression. "Sean, don't be nervous, don't be so tense... I didn't mean anything by it, this is a private conversation, you don't need to be so nervous, we're just chatting... just like friends chatting..."

Upon hearing Nie Bing's words, Xiao Ce feigned an even more apprehensive expression, quickly waving his hands and saying, "I wouldn't dare... I wouldn't dare... Guild Master, I wouldn't dare..."

Seeing this, Nie Bing smiled and said, "There's nothing I'm afraid of... relax..."

Xiao Ce naturally continued to perform. In fact, after Xiao Ce transmigrated, the thing he did most was act.

He's still the best actor...

So, seeing his increasingly awkward and uneasy demeanor, Nie Bing smiled gently and waved her hand, saying, "Alright, I won't follow along... the more I talk to you, the more nervous you get..."

"You know, I just laughed. What was I laughing at?"

Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile, then said to Nie Bing, "President, are you laughing at me for being hypocritical? For speaking so slickly? For being so watertight?"

Hearing him say that, Nie Bing smiled, then nodded, then shook her head: "Yes and no..."

Seeing Nie Bing's words, Xiao Ce became even more puzzled and asked, "President, what do you mean?"

Nie Bing smiled at Xiao Ce and then said, "Actually, I was going to say that I saw the shadow of an 'old friend' in you... but seeing how awkward you are, it's completely different..."

Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile, naturally knowing who Nie Bing was referring to as her old friend...

However, Xiao Ce naturally decided to continue pretending to be ignorant...

Seeing that Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) didn't speak, Nie Bing continued, "Aren't you curious?"

Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile, then said, "My father taught us from a young age not to be curious about things we shouldn't be curious about, because curiosity killed the cat... Besides, I probably don't even know your old friend, so is my curiosity pointless...?"

Nie Bing laughed again after hearing what he said.

"Your answer is quite similar," Nie Bing said, pausing before continuing, "Actually, you know this old friend of mine..."

Xiao Ce now understood and could no longer pretend to be ignorant.

Then he turned to Nie Bing and asked, "Is it Xiao Ce?"

Nie Bing was somewhat surprised that Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) had guessed it; "You're very smart?"

Xiao Ce gave a bitter smile, then said to Nie Bing, "Lord Nie Bing, this doesn't seem to have anything to do with intelligence... After all, the only person I know, and you know, is this Xiao Ce."

After hearing his words, Nie Bing smiled and nodded, "Haha, that's true..."

Then, Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, "President, but isn't that a bit too much of an exaggeration...? I'm not that powerful... If I were as powerful as that East Asian Lord... then..."

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce's) words, Nie Bing smiled and then said, "Don't underestimate yourself. You know, there are so many people among the twelve families, so why did I still choose you?"

After hearing Nie Bing's words, Xiao Ce shook his head: "I really don't know..."

Without further ado, Nie Bing said directly to Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce), "It's because I see Xiao Ce's shadow in you... You're a smart man..."

Xiao Ce gave Nie Bing an awkward smile: "Thank you for your kind offer, President..."

Nie Bing smiled, then said to Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce), "Mr. Sean, I see that you have a lot of insight into what happened in Lingas City. Could you give me some advice on what we should do next?"

Xiao Ce looked at Nie Bing awkwardly and said, "Guild Leader, didn't you already have a plan? That is to first occupy the entire city of Lingas, and then form an alliance..."

Seeing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce) words, Nie Bing smiled and then said, "Mr. Sean, you still don't trust me enough... You didn't tell me the truth... Don't you know these things are all empty rhetoric? I need you to tell me the truth..."

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) smiled at Nie Bing and then said, "President, are you sure you want me to speak? However, my suggestions might be somewhat immature..."

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce's) words, Nie Bing smiled and said, "How could that be... It's nothing serious, and even if you're wrong, I won't blame you..."

Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) said to Nie Bing, "President, then I shall dare to speak..."

Nie Bing nodded, then said to Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce), "Sean, do you know why I called you here?"

Xiao Ce smiled at Nie Bing and then said, "Didn't you come here wanting me to give you some advice?"

Nie Bing nodded, then replied to Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce): "Yes and no... If you do well, I can make you the chief advisor of our entire Illuminati."

Xiao Ce asked Nie Bing with a puzzled look, "An advisor to the Illuminati? What kind of position is that...?"

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce's) words, Nie Bing said seriously, "It's about being a strategist. Simply put, once you're confirmed for this position, your status will be second only to me and the Bishop. Even the two vice presidents will have to listen to you..."

Xiao Ce saw that Nie Bing was making a pretty big promise... but since it was just a promise, he figured it was worth it.

It would be impolite not to answer, so he gave a response.

With an excited expression on his face, he then said to Nie Bing, "President, this...this...I'm afraid I can't take on this responsibility...Whether it's my ability or my qualifications...I'm afraid..."

Just then, seeing Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) say this, Nie Bing smiled slightly and said, "If I say you can handle it, then you can handle it... there's no doubt about it... of course, I also need to consider your abilities. For example, I'm only 26 years old, but His Holiness the Bishop thinks highly of me, so naturally I can shoulder the responsibility of the president..."

"And I think highly of you... so you are certainly capable of shouldering the responsibility I've been entrusted with by you..."

Seeing this, Xiao Ce nodded solemnly and said, "Alright... Guild Master, I'll give it a try... But before I give you advice, I still need to know some information... so that I can plan correctly..."

Seeing this, Nie Bing nodded: "Okay, what do you want to ask?"

As Nie Bing spoke, she looked at Sean Aurelius (Xiao Ce) with a serious expression.

Xiao Ce then asked Nie Bing, "President, first of all, I need to know how much power you have at your disposal?"

Before Nie Bing could add anything, Xiao Ce spoke up to her, saying, "President, I'm referring to the power you can mobilize, not the power that the twelve families can deploy."

Seeing this, Nie Bing asked Xiao Ce, "Oh? Is there any difference between these?"

Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, "Of course, there are many differences here... Actually, Guild Master, you should know that while the soldiers provided by the countries behind those twelve families are usable, their primary function in the early stages of organizing them is to bolster their influence..."

"Because these individuals have only recently come together, and although they are led by the Illuminati, they lack cohesion... If they win a battle, it's fine, but if they suffer a defeat... the consequences will be unimaginable... morale will collapse..."

"Therefore, I think it's better for us to handle the initial stages ourselves and build confidence... So, in this regard, I'd like to know about our capabilities and situation on this side..."

"Because I believe courage and confidence are built up gradually, honed through victories. After all, an elite army isn't created overnight..."

After hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce) words, Nie Bing nodded and then expressed his approval.

"Mr. Sean, have you really never led troops before?"

Xiao Ce smiled at this moment, then said to Nie Bing, "President, there's something I'm not sure if I should say... I think I understand now why you think I'm like Xiao Ce..."

Upon hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce) response, Nie Bing asked with a look of surprise, "Oh? Why?"

Xiao Ce looked slightly embarrassed: "I don't know if this is against the rules? Lord Nie Bing, could you please forgive me?"

Upon hearing his words, Nie Bing immediately became wary and then asked Sean (Xiao Ce), "Tell me first... Could it be that you've met Xiao Ce before?"

Upon hearing Nie Bing's words, Xiao Ce smiled and quickly waved his hand, then said, "No...no...no...no, how could that be? I just bought some books from East Asia through our channels, including some military treatises like 'Xiao Ce's Art of War' and 'Xiao Ce's Thirty-Six Stratagems.' These books are all translated versions..."

"I don't know much about Xiao Ce, but looking at those books, I definitely felt I benefited greatly..."

Upon hearing Sean Aurelius's (Xiao Ce) words, Nie Bing's tense emotions immediately relaxed...

"Sean, don't scare me. You're making it sound so serious. I thought you'd met him...read his books? Oh, I see...that makes sense. No wonder your behavior and way of speaking are so similar to Xiao Ce's. Did you learn all that from those books?"

Xiao Ce nodded upon hearing this.