Chapter 1070 940: Type 77 Rifle and the Succession to the Throne

Bang!

With the sound of gunfire, a streak of flame shot across, and a gray shadow leapt from the grass before falling heavily to the ground.

It was a plump gray rabbit, hit precisely between the eyes by a bullet, its fur unharmed.

"Haha, how about that? If I weren't the Queen, I'd definitely be the Kingdom's top marksman!"

Liweina gently blew at the nonexistent smoke from the gun barrel and turned back to give Aiven a triumphant smile.

Having ruled this country for 30 years, Her Majesty the Queen styled her brilliant golden-red hair into an exquisite bun on top of her head, adorned with a relatively simple Platinum Crown.

She wore a fiery red off-shoulder dress that lacked any monarchical dignity, her fair feet clad in intricate golden openwork high heels.

Emerging from beneath the dress, a jade-like calf bore a winding golden-blue rose vine that extended from her smooth, fair back into a spectacularly vivid cluster of blooming roses.

Beside her, Aiven, who was also holding a rifle, stuck to his eternal ensemble of shirt and trousers paired with long military boots.

"Hehe..."

Upon hearing Her Majesty's unabashed self-praise, he raised his head to see if any boastful clouds were drifting by, only to be playfully smacked by Liweina.

Indeed, should a Divine Creature standing at the apex of the mortal food chain fail to achieve perfect accuracy, it would be quite embarrassing.

This was the royal hunting ground annexed to St. James's Palace, and the esteemed monarchs were evidently engaged in... well, shooting.

"But honestly, the improved 77-style rifle feels remarkably good. I doubt there's a better rifle on the international arms market right now."

Liweina raised the high-end, custom-made firearm in her hand, almost like an artwork, and offered her knowledgeable appraisal.

"Of course, I personally participated in the design of this rifle. The 77-style will remain relevant even a hundred years from now."

Produced by the Vulcan Metals Company, the 77-style rifle was not the first modern rifle equipped by the Tulip military, but it was, by far, the most exceptional.

It featured a rotating bolt-action and box detachable magazine, enabling quick bullet loading with a ten-round capacity, far surpassing the five-round limit of other firearms.

Operation Mode: Single-shot manual; Weight: 8.8 pounds; Overall Length: 1130 millimeters.

Caliber: 7.7 millimeters; Ammo: 7.7mm rifle bullet (hence the name "77-style rifle"); Magazine Capacity: 5 rounds/clip (double-clip design totaling ten rounds); Bullet Initial Speed: 738 meters per second; Range: 1100 meters.

Using this rifle, an excellent shooter could fire twenty rounds a minute.

Compared to the flintlock guns from forty years ago, when Aiven first awakened his memory, it was like a tractor transforming into a Ferrari—immensely exhilarating.

The 77-style was currently equipped only by a select few elite units in Tulip, and even the bootleg versions were hard to come by on the market, though to them, it was merely a toy.

Aiven raised his gun and shot down a collar dove flying amidst the woods, casually asking:

"By the way, the Pope visited yesterday. What did he say to you?"

"Saint Field? What else could it be? It's been 220 years; of course he came to discuss matters regarding royal succession."

Liweina nonchalantly explained, effortlessly shooting down a great tit with a flick.

The current Pope of the Black Iron Cross Church was no longer Saint Brucolin of the past, but a young man only fifty years old, named Saint Field.

Indeed.

Through the passage of time, even by mere seniority, Liweina and Aiven had now qualified to refer to him as a young man.

In fact, except for within the Tulip Alliance itself, all the monarchs of the seven nations, save for Aiven, had gradually transitioned into the younger generation of Liweina's kin.

After all, by conventional wisdom, Liweina, who ascended the throne as the Second Princess at 35 years old in the Sea Origin Calendar year 189, was indeed approaching the retirement age by 220.

Yet now, whether in mentality or physical status, Liweina was younger than ever before.

Aside from a touch of increasingly alluring maturity, she remained outwardly a youthful and vibrant 18-year-old girl, and surprisingly, she would maintain this state permanently.

What's that saying?

Men are creatures of fidelity; at 18, they fancy 18-year-old girls; at 28, they fancy 18-year-old girls; ...reaching 88, they still fancy 18-year-old girls.

Perfectly ideal! Cough cough...

Having long been acquainted with some insider information from frequent visits like going home to the Goddess Divine Country, Aiven merely chuckled:

"No longer needing Kristin to shoulder the responsibility, that little one as keen on freedom as Princess Stephanie is probably ecstatic?"

In reality, Aiven's goddaughter was already twenty-four years old this year, with a decent aptitude across various faculties, yet her temperament mirrored that of her biological mother perfectly.

Since ascending to the rank of Great Knight, she had followed Anita tirelessly, contributing to the exploration of the Broken Star Sea.

"That carefree little brat yearns for boundlessness, but it's tough on me; perhaps I must sustain this enormous Tulip Alliance until the arrival of the Era Catastrophe."

Pope Saint Field visited Liweina not to prepare her for abdication, but rather to steer the Tulip Alliance, the grand vessel, through her authority as a Titled Knight and the prestige brought by her remarkable achievements.

Previously, it was about fearing stagnant societal progress; now, such concerns had long dissipated. Confronted with the perceivable threat of the Evil God Group, how could a fledgling ruler stabilize the situation?

After all, Liweina had already become a Divine Creature, requiring no concern over a wise monarch's typical ailment—senility at old age—utilizing her capabilities thoroughly.

"I may not be a Magical Transcendent, unable to offer substantial martial aid, but I am confident in handling worldly affairs."

Despite witnessing Olivia and others rising to Tier 5 and entering the divine realm one by one, Liweina harbors no envy.

Since accepting Aiven's Divinity, her body and mind have been completely transformed by Aiven's power; she can be considered reshaped entirely in Aiven's image, and in the most thorough manner.

Concerning the realm of Mysticism, Liweina is closer to Him, the God of All Things Fertile, than any of Aiven's beloved or followers.

No matter how vast the distance, as long as she prays sincerely, her voice reaches Aiven, even across thousands of light-years on alien planets.

This subtle status has greatly satisfied Her Majesty the Queen.

Furthermore, the secular world is precisely the domain where she excels best.

Especially now, as the standoff between the two major military groups has been fully established.

[International Democratic Alliance]: Northern Atlant, Lowland Republic, Golden Palm Federation, part of the Heimar Cultural Circle.

[Monarch's Shield]: Phaletis, Galliot Duchy, among the seven Tulip Alliance nations, Heimar Kingdom, Hilus Empire...

Aiven even predicted through political and economic principles: with capitalism entering the imperialism era, a war for interest ownership will inevitably break out in this world someday.

The only territory still outside the organization is the Sak Empire, claiming the third strongest military nation.

With two Titled Knights, two Legendary Battleships, and an industrial foundation not much inferior to Tulip, it has emerged as the critical third pole outside the two major military groups.

In circumstances where Demigods do not intervene, both factions are eager to win them over, with the minimum aim being to prevent them from aligning with the opposing camp.

...

Southern Continent, capital of the Sak Empire colony, Saint Louis City.

Having just tidied herself up as if departing on a long journey, Princess Diana gently furrowed her brows, unfolding a Spirit Realm communication just delivered by a Messenger from the Curse School.

Confronted with this first letter actively issued by the school in over a decade, her expression clearly turned hesitant.

When she deciphered the code on the message, she seemed to have been stung by a scorpion.

Hiss—!

Her emotions too stirred, magic power from her fingertips instantly shattered it into fragments.

Outside, Prince Clement's concerned inquiry came:

"Dear, what's wrong? Haven't you changed your clothes yet? We should start our journey back to attend the Crown Prince's succession ceremony."

Uncertain if she should be called "Phanes" or "Diana" at this moment, the Princess suppressed the turmoil within her and replied:

"It's fine, I'll be right there."