While Cody recovered, Lin Yao remained continuously at his side. Whether it was casual conversation or the discussion of state affairs, he overheard much of it.
Known as the God of War, Cody was naturally not one to retreat over a single defeat.
The soldiers of Onassis had fought for years; they were seasoned, well-trained, and hardened by war. The battlefield adaptability of men living on the edge of a blade was easily a hundred times superior to those living in an idyllic paradise. Venus, as fate would have it, was precisely such a beautiful nation.
Handsome men, beautiful women, stunning landscapes. It was said that every street in Venus was built with exquisite artistic flair. Though it possessed a large population and formidable defense mechanisms, once that outer shield was breached, the kingdom would be like a shucked clam—entirely defenseless.
Using the Sound-Transmission Stones, Cody summoned fresh troops from the royal capital, and their discussions focused entirely on how to breach those defenses.
Against such dense showers of arrows, boiling oil, and falling logs, attempting to fill the gap with human lives would demand a catastrophic toll.
“Your Highness, you ought to rest,” Lin Yao urged, watching Cody repeatedly simulate tactics before the candlelight, his brows furrowed in deep thought. “Overexerting yourself will do your recovery no good.”
“I know,” Cody tossed his quill aside, letting out a soft tsk as he chuckled. “I was overly impatient. Come here, Yao. It is time for us to rest.”
Lin Yao’s hands stiffened mid-motion, feeling like a fool who had dug a hole only to fall right into it.
Because of his injuries, the man had refrained from taking him completely. Yet the nighttime intimacy expected of lovers was not diminished in the slightest. If Lin Yao resisted or struggled, Cody would shamelessly use his wound reopening as an excuse, forcing the youth to yield submissively.
Draped in his priestly robes, Lin Yao looked pure and sacred. Yet beneath those flowing garments—stretching from his neck down to his arms—his skin was covered in subtle bite marks and lingering traces of affection.
“Your Highness, if this continues, these marks will never fade,” Lin Yao pulled his collar tight, averting his gaze from the man resting over him.
Though they had not taken the final step, the sensation of being utterly consumed at any given moment left his heart trembling and disoriented. It felt as though he were walking perpetually along the edge of a cliff—unaware of when he might fall, dangerous yet exhilarating.
“Then let them never fade,” Cody stroked his slender neck, the skin beneath his palm feeling like warm, smooth jade—a constant reminder of how exquisite this body would be once fully possessed.
Yet the treasure in his arms remained unwilling.
Considering Lin Yao’s position, Cody understood his concerns. If he were to perish in battle, a priest stripped of divine power would have no means of self-protection.
Furthermore, without an official title or status, it was only natural for the youth to worry. Cody offered compromises, yet his desire for intimacy never ceased; he wished only to press the youth into his very bones to quench that insatiable craving.
“Be a good boy. Otherwise—” Cody chuckled against his ear, “I might not be able to hold back from devouring you one of these days.”
A tangle of lips and breath, followed by a restful night’s sleep.
The evolution of weaponry was always accelerated by warfare. When Lin Yao caught sight of an early prototype of a catapult, he almost suspected another traveler had arrived in this world.
However, the regulations of the World Maintenance Division clearly stated that two task force members would never be deployed to the same world simultaneously, preventing mutual interference.
Lin Yao commanded his system: ［Scan this world to verify if there are any wild travelers present.］
Though System 1325 was a bit silly and naive, its operational capabilities were quite reliable. After running a check, it rushed back eagerly: ［Reporting to Host, no wild travelers detected!］
With no wild travelers, it meant this siege weapon was entirely Cody’s own invention.
Though the volley of arrows from Venus was dense, their range was ultimately limited. If one possessed a weapon capable of outranging bows and arrows, the outcome of the battle would be entirely rewritten.
Following the creation of the catapult, Cody even built siege towers based on the same concept.
Amidst songs of blood and fire, the very city that had once brought him humiliation was finally breached by his army.
That city was merely a vassal territory of Venus. If the conquest continued, Venus would have no strength left to resist.
In warfare, total destruction was inevitably paired with surrender.
When the royal banner atop the capital of Venus was replaced by fluttering white flags of surrender, their military campaign reached a successful conclusion.
Onassis could not possibly reduce every foreign citizen on this land to slavery, as that would leave countless cities completely deserted.
Under the terms of capitulation, while the citizens of a surrendered nation held a status lower than those of Onassis, they were not subjected to slavery—provided they paid their annual tribute without fail.
As the troops marched into the city, Lin Yao had the privilege of witnessing its splendor: fountains, sculptures, and neatly arranged roofs. Beautiful maidens dressed in fine attire and sheer veils bowed their heads, demonstrating their submission and respect toward the occupying force.
All of this reminded Lin Yao of scenes from the former Chade Royal Court, where people had once sung, danced, and lived joyful, peaceful lives.
“If you truly do not wish to attend the banquet, rest well here,” Cody patted his shoulder gently.
This banquet served as both an invitation and a surrender—a formal gathering to negotiate the terms of annual tribute. Lin Yao’s presence was not required, and if he preferred not to go, he certainly didn’t have to.
After ten years of continuous warfare, Venus was the final kingdom. Subduing this nation signaled that Onassis was about to usher in an era of absolute unification over this vast land.
Even as a storm of emotions surged within his chest, almost beyond containment, Lin Yao wanted to witness this grand outcome with his own eyes.
“I wish to go,” Lin Yao rose, reaching up to adjust the circlet on Cody’s forehead. The prince was already strikingly handsome, and in his brand-new armor paired with a gem-studded headband, he looked exceptionally mesmerizing.
Lin Yao wanted to witness his most glorious moment.
“Very well, I will take you with me,” Cody caught his wrist, pulling him into his chest for a brief embrace.
Golden wine vessels sparkled as dancers performed before the court. Cody was escorted to the seat of honor, receiving the crown removed by the King of Venus.
Lin Yao sat just below him, watching him sit imperiously upon that throne. Even without wearing the crown, he was a natural ruler of men.
“To demonstrate the sincerity of Venus, I am willing to offer my daughter, Elina. She is the fairest flower of Venus, and only Prince Cody is worthy—” The king’s praises sounded almost like a poetic recitative, only to be interrupted by Cody’s smooth voice.
“Then have her sent to the royal capital alongside the first shipment of tribute,” Cody turned his gaze toward Lin Yao sitting below, meeting the youth’s tender, affectionate eyes, and smiled faintly. “I can only accept your surrender on behalf of my Royal Father. Beyond that, I am merely a prince.”
The beauty of Venus’s women was legendary across the land, and the “fairest flower” of Venus was undoubtedly breathtaking. Had it been in the past, Cody would have gladly enjoyed such a prize.
He had wanted the vastest territories on earth, the highest status, the most precious treasures, and the most beautiful person in the world.
Such had been his ambition. Yet even he had not anticipated that his final desire would be rewritten because of one person.
His Royal Father possessed countless women, yet Cody held no desire to possess anyone other than his little priest.
A beautiful woman was merely a symbol of status, not a true desire of his heart.
The King of Venus faltered for a moment, yet he showed no embarrassment. Instead, he smoothly praised another matter: “Prince Cody is indeed a filial son. Your virtue is worthy of praise from all subjects.”
A portion of the army remained behind to garrison the city while the rest began the journey home. On the return march, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter than when they had set out.
“Ngh. Your Highness, someone outside will hear us.” Lin Yao’s voice trembled uncontrollably. The man behind him acted as though a floodgate had been opened—aside from eating and sleeping, he spent all his time teasing and harassing him.
“Then keep your voice down, Yao, so no one hears,” Cody toyed with the youth’s delicate earlobe from behind, looking as though he would never tire of it. “Yao, when will you agree to become my consort? Shall I submit a formal petition to Royal Father the moment we return?”
“However, will Princess Elina not be sent to Onassis as well?” Lin Yao leaned against Cody’s arms, trying his best to sit upright.
Although the King of Venus had temporarily put aside the idea of offering his daughter directly to Cody, sending her to the capital meant a political marriage with one of Onasiss’s princes. And the match he favored most was clearly Cody himself.
Elina—a name signifying nobility and beauty. The “fairest flower of Venus” was no mere casual praise from her father, but a figure of longing in the hearts of citizens across every kingdom. In the recitations of traveling bards, she was hailed as the incarnation of a goddess, born to embody perfection. Rumor claimed she possessed hair like spun gold, a countenance like morning clouds, and skin like fallen snow—destined to belong only to the most heroic of champions.
Regrettably, though countless heroes and kings had sought an audience, none had won the favor of this goddess. Now, she was to choose a husband from among the three princes of Onassis—a rumor that had somehow swept through the entire realm.
Even within the royal capital of Onassis, such talk was everywhere.
“I will not marry her.” That was what Cody had promised him.
Gazing through the carriage window at the cheering crowds and lively discussions of the citizens outside, Lin Yao rested his chin on his hand, looking subtly bored.
“Only Prince Cody is worthy of Princess Elina!”
Such was the prevailing sentiment among the citizens of the realm.
［I don’t care how beautiful that princess is, Host is still the most gorgeous!］ System 1325 quietly offered its comfort to Lin Yao. ［Cody won’t fall for her, so don’t worry, Host!］
Lin Yao let out a light chuckle: ［What do I have to worry about?］
When a state sought vassalage under a greater power, political marriage was an indispensable condition. No matter how exquisite the flower, it was bound to be sacrificed on the altar of statecraft. Beauty could serve as a formidable weapon, but it could just as easily invite catastrophe. He truly had nothing to worry about.
Upon Cody’s triumphant return, even the King of Onassis stepped out in person to welcome the army. Clad in ornate royal robes and crowned with a gleaming golden circlet, the king retained a handsome countenance; yet the wrinkles on his face and the belly he could no longer pull in—no matter how deeply he drew his breath—left him looking thoroughly unremarkable when standing beside his three sons.