Chapter 003: Constantine's Troubles

Constantine did not know the origin of the enormous pattern on his back; he only knew that this strange magical array had been engraved when he was a child. He had once inquired with the old butler, who might have known something, but the answer he received was vague: "It was a magical array drawn by a great mage to protect the young master from certain curses. The specific effects are known only to the master." Unsurprisingly, the duke never provided the young man with any answers regarding this matter.

The memory of a very effective massage technique did not alleviate his headache. The young man felt a strange buzzing beginning to emerge in his mind, as if many slender, brightly colored ribbons were drilling into his brain from a source of light. With each ribbon that entered, a buzzing sound echoed in his mind, and countless fragments flashed in his consciousness, gradually forming a blurred image. In that indistinct image, there was only a vague semblance of a face—though in fact, it bore no resemblance to a human face whatsoever. Yet for some reason, he was certain that he was seeing a face. For there were a pair of golden eyes embedded there, and within those eyes, which sparkled like golden glass, were elongated pupils that belonged to no human, resembling those of some ferocious beast, instilling fear.

The only thing I know is that, looking at it this way... the unfortunate one is still me... The boy in the water murmured to himself, his brow twitching, as if he wanted to smile, but after a few tremors at the corners of his mouth, he ultimately let out a sigh of despair. "But a fiancée of the same age as myself? I must say, there is indeed a somewhat wicked allure to it..."

This is undoubtedly a luxurious indulgence; in fact, even among the nobility, there are not many who partake in such bathing pleasures. However, the youth who is half-reclining against the sturdy wooden tub seems to be experiencing nothing of the sort.

Gaodefuri · Fuluoyi · Leierfu, the fourth emperor of Phoenix, indeed possessed far-sighted wisdom, a wisdom that allowed the Phoenix Empire to navigate the dangers of potential disintegration following its sudden rise to power... It is said that conquering a realm is easy, but maintaining a throne is difficult; in this regard... Constantine believed he was far superior to the warlike His Majesty the Third. It is said that conquering a realm is easy, but maintaining a throne is difficult; in this regard... Constantine believed he was far superior to the warlike His Majesty the Third. Even those lofty deities would likely not perform better than he did

A gentle warmth began to emerge from behind, slowly climbing up along the spine, dissolving the steel needles in his mind. That comforting sensation made Konstantin involuntarily let out a soft moan

However, the young man named Constantine was very clear that reality could never be as beautiful as the legends. In the boy's memory, very few of the so-called princes in history found happiness; instead, most ended in tragedy. Although Constantine did not have a deep understanding of European history, he did not recall any particularly beautiful marriages.

Perhaps it is precisely because of those memories

Only from a great distance can one observe that each line forming this pattern is not merely a simple line, but rather intricate textures resembling blooming flowers—or rather, these fine lines, imbued with a peculiar rhythm, resemble some form of runes. The exquisite details are almost beyond the discernment of the human eye. Although they are merely etched on the not-so-broad back of a young boy, the sheer number of them is sufficient to evoke admiration from every observer. These fine lines, imbued with a peculiar rhythm, resemble some form of runes, and the exquisite details are almost beyond the discernment of the human eye. Although they are merely etched on the not-so-broad back of a young boy, the sheer number of them is sufficient to evoke admiration from every observer.

Although the array that has been etched on his back since he can remember has never shown any reaction, the young man is certain that this object has a significant influence. The most direct evidence is that he cannot recall how this array came to be— as a dimensional traveler, he even vaguely remembers his feelings in the womb, so this array, which was etched years after his birth, should also be in his memory.

Assimilated by the representative of Phoenix, the legendary phoenix.

warlord

The Connolly-Veiss family, a conundrum that has lingered in the royal heart for over four hundred years

Certainly, Konstantin, who has received a systematic and comprehensive education and takes pride in his intellect, does not possess the same narcissistic tendencies as that figure from mythology who fell in love with his own reflection.

Damn it! The young man cursed under his breath, feeling as if thousands of fine steel needles were incessantly piercing in and out of his skull... That pain quickly transformed into an indescribable agony

Gazing at the warm water's surface, where white mist rises, his blue-gray pupils appear somewhat distracted... It seems he is contemplating some issue, and this expression reveals a wisdom that only adults possess. The kind of dullness and stiffness has long since vanished—if this gaze were to be noticed by the noble viscount, it is evident that he would not regard this little fellow as someone whose mind has suffered any damage, and it might even be questionable whether he would classify him as an ordinary child.

On Earth, the gap in strength between individuals does not widen significantly. Although there are often tales of heroes who can take on a hundred foes, these are merely legends. A person capable of fending off the assault of a dozen strong men is already considered a martial arts master. There are also legends of superhumans, but in reality, they can only perform minor tricks like telekinesis or hypnosis. However, in this world, a highly skilled warrior can indeed take on a hundred opponents, and a proficient wizard can traverse the heavens and the earth, moving mountains and parting seas. The rise and fall of fortunes often hinge on one or two individuals, while the rest are mostly cannon fodder.

Regarding the status of his family, Constantine was well aware. However, in his view, the strategies employed by those lofty sovereigns were not particularly successful. After a century of blood and fire, the Connolly family had developed into a powerful and pure fighting force. The strength of the barbarians had not shattered it; rather, it had made this sword even sharper and deadlier. At this point, the Connolly family was no longer merely an army of a nation, but had become a semi-independent entity nominally affiliated with Phoenix. Indeed, in the memory of the youth, there was a term that could accurately describe its state.

This time, what one must face is also a part of this plan... However, it is somewhat strange that among the rumors received by the youth, this secret plan, which cannot be concealed from anyone, seems to have been terminated, as the efforts of several generations have proven to yield minimal results. Yet, it appears that the current sovereign on the throne has not completely extinguished the ambition for such endeavors.

Every generation of monarchs in the Phoenix Dynasty does not underestimate the dangers posed by this sword. Each monarch must rely on this family while constantly being on guard against them. How to manage the relationship with the Connolly family is a mandatory lesson for every emperor before ascending the throne

Whether it is the exalted emperor or the noble ministers, they profoundly understand the deeper meaning of politics... That is balance. And the only means they possess is the barrenness of the West

His Majesty the Emperor is probably exceptionally pleased to have such a good target... a firstborn of an armed group that does not excel in military might, and coincidentally, he is an idiot... Undoubtedly, a very easy-to-control puppet... However, what exactly is that old man thinking, to bring him to the forefront after hiding him for over a decade? ... It seems like an ordinary political marriage, but it does not appear to be so... However, what exactly is that old man thinking, to bring him to the forefront after hiding him for over a decade? ... It seems like an ordinary political marriage, but it does not appear to be so... A trivial matter.

Once the darkness before dawn has passed, light will shine upon the earth

However, after enduring more than ten days of torment, Konstantin finally discovered the underlying pattern

However, for some unknown reason, on the way to Haydn, this ailment, which had not been of much concern, suddenly worsened and gradually became unusually regular. The face that appeared in the illusion became even clearer... At times, Konstantin felt as if someone was shouting at him... This annoying symptom severely disrupted his sleep, and the dark circles under his eyes were merely a free accessory... If it weren't for the occasional warm sensation coming from behind, which somewhat alleviated this pain, the young man might even doubt that he was going insane... This annoying symptom severely disrupted his sleep, and the dark circles under his eyes were merely a free accessory... If it weren't for the occasional warm sensation coming from behind, which somewhat alleviated this pain, the young man might even doubt that he was going insane...

However, this fragile balance is now gradually being disrupted

Constantine shook his head, putting an end to his futile thoughts. The roaring fireplace made the indoor temperature warm as in midsummer, so he left the warm bath and went to the bedroom adjacent to the bathroom, where he paused in front of a large dressing mirror with a smooth silvered surface. Another identical mirror was positioned at a ninety-degree angle on the opposite side.

However, the only one able to witness this scene is the young man standing in front of the mirror. He deftly turns his arm, his fingers slowly gliding over the intricate runes, as if he is sensing the delicate texture and direction. Yet, if someone were to stand before him, they would notice that the corners of his mouth are subtly and unnaturally twitching.

How should this be said? As the saying goes, women can be categorized into two types: those who marry and those who do not. Men can be divided into two types as well: those who willingly marry and those who are forced to marry

Thick water vapor wafted through this room connected to the bedroom; however, due to the unusually large space, the humidity did not obstruct the line of sight. Instead, it combined with the underlying black marble tiles to imbue the entire room with an air of nobility. Yet, within this seemingly opulent room, there were no other decorations or furniture, only a massive wooden tub adorned with gold paint and a small iron rack holding several pristine white towels.

The youth's thoughts began to tremble

If the griffons' expedition fails, the orc army will undoubtedly be unstoppable. However, if the orc side is excessively weakened, then the West Territory in Connolly's hands will become a unleashed beast, and at that time, they may be ten times more terrifying than the orcs. Only by maintaining balance can the griffon knights serve as a solid barrier between them and the orcs, allowing the Phoenix to enjoy a peaceful life forever

Every member of the Sun's Angle tribe begins their education from a young age, amidst the blood-soaked battlegrounds of life and death, surrounded by the countless heroic deeds and teachings of martyrs, and the glorious historical honors of their family. The indomitable spirit of the Griffins is gradually forged in such an environment, a spirit that unites every member of the Connolly-Veiss family. They are resilient, they are loyal, they are brave, they are skilled in battle, and they revere blood and sacrifice

However, the news of this marriage is by no means a trivial matter as mentioned by Duke Connolly, but rather an event that concerns the stability of the entire nation

The successors of the great emperor could only watch everything unfold. They were in a state of panic, they cursed, but they had to find more effective and lethal methods to prevent this ferocious beast from escaping its cage

Of course, perhaps I will unleash my inner universe along with books, and then I will be invincible in the world

Then, give up? Absolutely not

In fact, over the past century, they have employed every means to mix the bloodlines of the nobility, the lordly aristocracy, and even the royal lineage into the Connolly family. As long as these women of foreign blood give birth to legitimate heirs for the griffins, then in the future, or rather, several generations later, the Connolly family will gradually undergo a transformation in both bloodline and mindset. Their connections with all the nobles will become the noose that disassembles the griffins, ultimately leading to this fierce beast being scattered, shredded, and eventually consumed. As long as these women of foreign blood give birth to legitimate heirs for the griffins, then in the future, or rather, several generations later, the Connolly family will gradually undergo a transformation in both bloodline and mindset. Their connections with all the nobles will become the noose that disassembles the griffins, ultimately leading to this fierce beast being scattered, shredded, and eventually consumed.

Once a day, as long as one finds a way to evoke this feeling and then endures it, at least one will not have to bear this feeling for the rest of the day.

However, this is clearly a joke he has played on himself

Military operations were thwarted, bribery was rejected, provocation was ignored, and corruption... wealth flowed in without outflow, instead becoming a form of indirect funding...

However, we must say that the nobility has truly underestimated Connolly V. After decades of management, the emperor and his advisors have finally come to the reluctant realization that these once infallible methods have now lost their effectiveness

As the vortex dissipated between his fingers, it felt as if he were lost in a haze of emptiness. Constantine murmured softly, "Memory is like water in the palm of your hand; whether you spread your fingers or grip tightly, it will ultimately flow away drop by drop through your fingers..."

Clearly, the noble viscount of the empire is very inaccurate in his judgment of people, both regarding the duke's intentions and concerning his son, that seemingly somewhat dull-witted thirteen-year-old boy. In terms of the intricacies of such a political marriage, the frail young man, as the prospective groom, possesses a far more acute and profound understanding on various levels.

Three hundred years have passed, healing the wounds of the griffins. Three hundred years have allowed the Connolly family, through the efforts of over ten generations, to finally secure the necessary living space for humanity on the wasteland. Four hundred years have seen the Governor of the Western Frontier and his Western Army, through their blood, acquire the two largest provinces of the empire, encompassing nearly half of the empire's territory—territory that does not accept any control from the Phoenix Empire, a completely free land of the griffins. The Governor of the Western Frontier and his Western Army, through their blood, have acquired the two largest provinces of the empire, encompassing nearly half of the empire's territory—territory that does not accept any control from the Phoenix Empire, a completely free land of the griffins

The young man lowered his head wearily, gazing at the somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar face reflected in the water. The ripples on the surface and the steam rendered that face indistinct... Only a pair of eyes embedded in the pale visage appeared somewhat clear, those light blue pupils resembling sharply reflective smoky crystal lenses.

The pain intensified! The corners of the boy's mouth twitched, and his hands and feet involuntarily tightened. He tried to think of something else to alleviate the suffering, but that piercing sensation left his mind blank...! ... The surrounding water remained warm, yet he seemed to feel his body temperature plummeting!

In this background, which is somewhat reminiscent of medieval Europe, but exists in a world where myths and legends coexist, the primary force at play is that of the gods

Thirteen years have passed since my birth into this world, and my previous life, devoid of any special significance, has left no substantial legacy. However, the bustling streets, towering buildings, televisions, computers, and the internet, along with various books, have never faded from my mind in the slightest. Most of these have become meaningless, yet they remain an invaluable spiritual wealth.

The poor little creature had once witnessed, after a lengthy incantation, a mage under the command of his current father summon a meteor that descended from the sky—this meteorite, which devastated vast areas of vegetation, undoubtedly proclaimed to this planar traveler that in this world, heroes are the true creators of history

Grains of sand fell one by one from the hourglass, and after a long yet fleeting few seconds, a hint of relaxation finally appeared on the boy's face

Since applying external force is not feasible, let us change our perspective... Wisdom may vary in degree, yet the mindset of emperors remains unchanged. "To stop boiling water, one simply needs to remove the fire from beneath the pot." After several generations of heartfelt contemplation and experimentation, they finally arrived at the ultimate answer, aided by the ancient wisdom passed down from the Far East.

This statement is probably not entirely correct; some matters, I fear, cannot be diminished in memory even by the power of death. Regarding this, the youth named Konstantin has already gained considerable understanding.

Perhaps, in fact, this enormous pattern... or rather, the magic circle, is the primary cause of the headache I am experiencing

The deities here are nothing like the ethereal beings he remembered. In the face of those wondrous magic and divine arts, and even the miracles occasionally manifested by the deities, the power of gunpowder seems to hold little significance—indeed, it is said that substances similar to gunpowder have already appeared in the lands managed by the dwarves, and even simplified versions of firearms are in use. However, they do not play a significant role in the development of the world as they did in the history he is familiar with. It is said that substances similar to gunpowder have already appeared in the lands managed by the dwarves, and even simplified versions of firearms are in use. However, they do not play a significant role in the development of the world as they did in the history he is familiar with

Neither to be forcibly suppressed nor to show weakness... a warlord

Fortunately, no time has been added... After a long while, the young man let out a sigh and stretched his weary body. He cast his gaze towards the hourglass on the side, then revealed a slightly relieved expression

This strange psychological symptom that torments him is not innate

Three hundred years later, his influence has finally come to an end

Every knight of the Griffin Knights possesses the abilities of a high-level warrior, and during the period of Raelph, the officially registered knights had already swelled to five thousand. Connolly Viss boasts the strongest combat power on the continent, yet he finds it difficult to satisfy his hunger. Consequently, the high-ranking officials of the empire, tightening the supply lines, constantly exploit so-called "political factors" to suppress the western frontier. Every proactive strike by the Griffins is met with their constraints.

Constantine gently pressed his thumbs against his temples, waves of pain crashing against his nerves like the tide. Yet the young man forced himself to think—years of experience had taught him that if he relaxed at this moment, not only would the pain not subside, but the headache would multiply in intensity, enough to drive one to madness. Only by continuously engaging his mind could he combat this effect. The young man forced himself to think—years of experience had taught him that if he relaxed at this moment, not only would the pain not subside, but the headache would multiply in intensity, enough to drive one to madness. Only by continuously engaging his mind could he combat this effect

A quarter of an hour slipped by swiftly, and at the other end of the long corridor, in a room as spacious as the duke's study, the young man murmured to himself

The youth's back was fair and delicate, revealing a hint of healthy red under the midday light. However, on this skin, which was entirely befitting of his noble title, two other colors outlined an abstract pattern—fine traces delineated bright lines, arranged as if measured by a ruler, forming the shape of a hexagram. This was not the common red or dark blue-black of tattoos, but a metallic grayish hue that shimmered with specks of silver in the sunlight. Surrounding this hexagram, dozens of twisted and deformed strange characters combined to form a faint circular shape. The dark brown characters appeared as if they were dried bloodstains, but if one focused on them, it became apparent that these characters seemed to be subtly writhing, as if beneath the purplish exterior, tiny serpents were hidden within the youth's body, struggling to escape the confines of his skin.

He is merely a person after all... and not some deity on this continent... His wisdom can only, and indeed only affects an era at best...

Thus, in military affairs, the nobles resorted to their most adept methods—buying off, sowing discord, bribery, and so on—spare no effort in their relentless assault on the western frontier

At that time, he felt proud of his memory. However, upon realizing that he had been granted a precious opportunity for reincarnation, he felt somewhat frustrated—if he had known he would end up in such circumstances, why didn't he make an effort to remember some useful things? For instance, the extraction of explosives; at the very least, he should have remembered the method for obtaining saltpeter. Now, this thought has faded considerably compared to when he first arrived in this esteemed place—over time, as he lived in this unknown world, he discovered that those things were not entirely necessary.

In the western region, when he was in the villa where he grew up, this feeling would sometimes visit him. However, at that time, it seemed merely a mischievous little visitor, arriving with a barely perceptible flutter of the heart, ... followed by a moment of confusion before vanishing without a trace. Only when he entered a dream or during certain moments of mental disorientation would that annoying sting manifest in his nerves

Each emperor of Phoenix silently executes this seemingly flawless long-term plan, ensuring that even if he cannot control this regional governor, he will cultivate a faction within the family that is loyal to him. Every member of the royal family will drive a nail into the Connolly family forever. Such a Connolly family will not achieve much. Whether through internal control or division, every member of the royal family will drive a nail into the Connolly family forever. Such a Connolly family will not achieve much.

To marry a princess is considered the utmost happiness in the legends of those wandering minstrels, typically awarded to the valiant hero who has vanquished great evil. In this era, the newly wealthy are often shattered by the adage "wealth does not last beyond three generations," while the new nobility tirelessly struggles within the vortex of the unspoken rule that "a noble requires five generations to manage." To receive the favor of a royal blood relative is enough to bring them happiness until death, leaving no regrets.

After a while, the young man draped a long shirt over his body, concealing the enormous pattern. He muttered to himself in a self-deprecating tone.

In this world that subverts all common knowledge, he is compelled to force himself to accept the rationality of this system. He later even wonders whether the magic that gradually declined in the Middle Ages in his past life might be the precursor to chemistry and physics, and whether religion can be interpreted as science that has yet to be validated

The blood color on Konstantin's face had completely faded! His originally pale complexion now revealed a hint of deep blue! ... The veins on his hands gripping the edge of the bathtub were bulging ... ... indicating the immense pain he was enduring ... ...

The young man murmured softly to himself, striving to concentrate his mental energy even more... Political marriages, recorded for thousands of years in the Western Continent, have become as numerous as the stars in the sky. Even a union between a princess and the son of a duke is not considered shocking news. In fact, since the founding of Phoenix, dozens of princesses have become duchesses, and even some less favored illegitimate princesses have become the wives or concubines of marquises and earls, which is also not newsworthy.

The young man shook his head, bringing an end to this series of analyses. The pain in his head grew increasingly intense, making it difficult for him to shift his focus. Yet, he still attempted to concentrate. From experience, this was the only appropriate method.