“Cloudtop Rainbow,” Todd said in a nostalgic tone, looking at the swirling liquid in his glass.
Cumberland first looked at the beer bottle in his hand, then at the small mug in Todd's hand, and asked curiously, "Your Majesty, what kind of wine is in your glass?"
Todd said, "My drink is called 'Relief from Worries'."
"Relieve Worries?" Cumberland chuckled. "I've never heard of such a wine before."
Todd pushed the small ear cup in his hand toward Cumberland and said with ill intent, "Why don't you give it a try?"
Cumberland looked at the small, exquisite cup, nonchalantly downed the clear liquid inside in one gulp, and then coughed loudly, his face turning red, slamming his fist on the table as he exclaimed, "This is the strongest liquor I've ever drunk!"
Todd rattled off the list on his fingers as if he knew it by heart: "Vodka, Erguotou, Tahiti... and a few drops of chili oil. This stuff was something a bunch of guys made up when they were bored, all for the thrill."
Emerson watched as Todd poured himself another drink and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, is something on your mind?"
Looking at the clear liquid in his glass, Todd suddenly asked the two old men in front of him, "Tell me the truth, what are the chances of victory for Muxi City against the Ayub Empire in the south?"
Todd's blunt question made Emerson clear his throat somewhat uncomfortably.
The latter and Cumberland exchanged a glance and remained silent.
“This isn’t a council chamber, and there are no other people around, so don’t worry about your words having a negative impact on others.” Todd twirled his glass with his finger and said calmly, “So, don’t hold back. Speak your mind.”
After a moment of silence, Emerson spoke first: "Actually, we missed the best opportunity. Last autumn, the war in the south had just ended, and the Ayyubid Empire was at its most chaotic and weakest. If we had used diplomatic means or economic pressure to amplify the internal contradictions of the empire during that time, we might have been able to provoke a fatal civil war."
Cumberland continued, "Actually, there's another opportunity, and that's the Battle of the Holy City. If the Holy City's defenders can see through Saladin's strategic intentions, or receive reinforcements, the Ayyubid Empire might already be on its way to retreat..."
Todd sighed softly, "After all that, you still haven't answered my question..."
Emerson put down his wine glass: "Your Majesty, for centuries, the biggest reason why the Southern Empire has been unable to advance north has been internal strife. Religious factions, tribal chiefs, racial divisions, ethnic conflicts... Although the Southern Empire is economically developed and militarily powerful, it has been hampered by its own weaknesses... until the appearance of one person..."
Todd said in a deep voice, "Saladin."
Cumberland frowned, stroked his beard, and said with a headache, "The Southern Empire has the advantage of guns and cannons, and Muxi City has alien legions. If the two are compared on the same scale, it is impossible to tell who is superior. But the problem is that Muxi City has a major disadvantage, which is its troop strength."
Cumberland took a sip of beer and continued, "The total strength of Twilight City, excluding the peasant soldiers who have no fighting ability, is less than three thousand men. The alien knights who are truly the main force number only three hundred. Facing the army of one hundred thousand from the Southern Empire, this force can only sustain a local war. Moreover, to be honest, I wouldn't care at all if I were facing any general from the Southern Empire... But, there is one emperor, Saladin, whom I can't quite figure out."
Todd nodded slightly, picked up the "Relief from Worries" on the table, and took a small sip.
The pungent alcohol rushed into his mouth, but it couldn't dispel the gloom of the future.
Todd, along with the kingdom's prime minister and supreme military commander, discussed the kingdom's future in a bar while drinking bitter beverages. After several rounds of drinks, his head grew heavier, but his mind gradually cleared.
Returning to his palace from the soul space, Todd looked at himself in the mirror, slowly closed his eyes, removed the crown from his head, and placed it on the table.
Although the spring night outside the window was warm and pleasant, a silent sigh echoed in the cold palace, lingering for a long time.
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