May the god of ambiguous probabilities, endlessly conflicting about future life… be with you!

-Charles Darwin-

Despite their individual complaints, the attendees of the ball descended the stairs made of thin air by the royal butlers.

Queen Victoria, having changed into a comfortable tea gown, sat by the window of the adjacent reception room watching the scene before moving to the music room.

“…Has it already been 13 years?”

She recalled the day she first enjoyed an afternoon tea party with guests in the garden of Buckingham Palace.

A sunny afternoon where half the sky was shaded by clouds, providing shade.

The sunlight was bright but not hot.

The gathering named the Royal Garden Party was a new event initiated by Victoria’s directive.

For the first time in Buckingham Palace’s history, an outdoor afternoon tea party enjoying tea, snacks, and conversation was quite unusual considering the trends of the time.

However, this unfamiliar experience indeed attracted the attention of renowned martial artists and distinguished guests.

Thus came the early summer afternoon of June 22, 1868.

Invited dignitaries from various fields filled the vast garden, and the party began.

‘Today, enjoy a beautiful day in the garden of the Queen. She is your Queen.’

There were two types of tea tents set up in the wide garden.

One was a tall conical tent supported by high poles, and the other was a long rectangular tent.

Each tea tent was a place where tea was brewed and simple snacks and food were prepared and served to the guests.

Under the canopy, there were cold brewed teas, warm elixir teas, and the finest foods Buckingham could offer.

Anna Russell, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, inventor of the afternoon tea, closest friend of the Sword Queen, and faithful advisor.

Her taste for only the best was conveyed to the Queen and evolved over time, greatly influencing Great Britain’s food culture.

Queen Victoria, renowned as a gourmet, generously offered tea and tea foods prepared not only by skilled chefs at the Forbidden Palace but also by renowned foreign experts and confectionery companies for this reason.

The fortunate invitees filled their bellies with precious elixirs and immersed themselves in breathing exercises and conversation.

By the end of the gathering, many had reached a higher level of achievement.

“Her Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

“I pledge loyalty to the supreme of Great Britain.”

“May the Sword Queen watch over the empire forever.”

Sincere oaths of loyalty followed one after another.

“We wish to maintain friendly relations with Great Britain in the future.”

Diplomats insisted on contacting their home countries to maintain close cooperative relations with Great Britain.

Queen Victoria was a superhuman with flawless ruling ability and Kung-Fu mastery leading a vast empire.

Also, she had a party people side, enjoying meals and snacks tirelessly until 3 a.m. when balls were held.

Party People Victoria’s unique pride was more evident at gatherings she hosted herself than when attending others’ parties.

Parties held at Buckingham Palace or her villa were unmatched in scale and splendor.

It was said to be a splendid standing party befitting the reputation of the British Royal Palace.

The first Royal Garden Party held in the summer of 1868 also received lavish praise from domestic and foreign dignitaries, which pleased the queen.

Renowned martial artists of Europe visited London instead of the still chaotic United States shortly after the Civil War ended, and the British royal family and government forged close ties with them, strengthening Great Britain’s influence.

The party was not merely a place to eat, drink, and enjoy.

At the social gatherings held at Buckingham Palace, beneath the surface where the British Intelligence Butler Agency eagerly listens, information flows, and dignitaries from various countries exchange messages or hold secret talks.

Providing a venue for influential people to gather elevates the host’s status infinitely, as proven by the European Murim Union meetings held by the neutral Alpine Wu-tang Clan and their famed Sea Sword DMZ.

Victoria’s true purpose was to dominate the party to protect Great Britain’s position amid the ever-changing European Murim landscape.

Despite the open media repeatedly criticizing the lavish parties, she remained unshaken for this reason.

“I do not regret it.”

For the interest of the nation, she would use any means necessary.

Even if it provoked public backlash, absolutely.

The Sword Queen’s conviction was not fragile enough to be shaken by a few newspaper articles.

Taking responsibility means such things.

Before wearing the crown of Great Britain, the Sword Queen had resolved to accept the consequences and aftermath of her choices.

However, there is no case in this world where a carefully crafted plan proceeds smoothly to the end.

Three years ago, an unexpected variable interfered with Victoria’s plan to continuously expand political influence through social gatherings.

“If only it weren’t for those riffraff from the American continent…!”

-Grind-

The sound of grinding teeth echoed in the quiet room.

“Ahem.”

Knowing no one was listening, Victoria, perhaps embarrassed by showing emotion, opened her fan to cover her face.

It was a great relief that the seat she was sitting in could not be viewed by others.

A hundred years had passed since the United States, once a colony of Great Britain, had risen as a respectable nation.

Even Victoria, who wielded absolute power and Kung-Fu as ruler of Great Britain, knew that condemning all residents of a country was reckless and harmful to national interests.

“Sigh…”

Slowly regulating her breath and calming her emotions, Victoria recalled again.

Three years ago.

An invitation arrived from Washington, United States, in April 1878.

…Omission… The White House invites Her Majesty Queen Victoria of Great Britain to the Easter Tomb-Sweeping Day1 Egg Roll event.

The letter, delivered in a diplomatic pouch, was arrogantly and rudely written, befitting a country without royal or foundational roots.

The invitation was sent by the then White House owner Rutherford B. Hayes2 and his wife, First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes.

“Winning the election by just one vote and getting so arrogant.”

Though she had no intention to interfere in foreign politics, Queen Victoria had long noted that a significant number of African Americans in the southern United States were born with natural Kung-Fu talent.

She also recognized that due to racial discrimination, they could not access Kung-Fu and thus could not realize their potential.

A country foolish enough to waste outstanding Kung-Fil talents as slaves.

Watching the United States begin to change after the Civil War was a somewhat enjoyable experience.

For this reason, the queen favored the Republican Party, which supported emancipation, more than the Democratic Party, which showed lukewarm attitudes toward slavery.

However, apart from that, President Hayes, who won the election by only one vote against the Democratic candidate, appeared incompetent to her.

“Despite that, he dared to challenge my party.”

The problem was that the Easter Tomb-Sweeping Day event initiated by White House owner Hayes unexpectedly received good reviews and attracted the attention of the European Murim elites and renowned masters.

The Easter Tomb-Sweeping Day is the greatest holiday celebrated in any Christian nation, commemorating Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection three days later, sharing the joy.

Until the early 16th century, this holiday was simply called Easter. The new name was given for a simple reason.

Because it commemorates the resurrection (復活) of Jesus.

And because the empty tomb of the ascended Son of God is joyfully tidied, it aligns with the first-generation martial artists’ tradition of Tomb-Sweeping Day (掃墓節), also called the Qingming Festival (淸明節), hence the name Easter Tomb-Sweeping Day.

And White House owner Hayes held an event where he ‘randomly’ invited young promising martial artists and prodigies of the United States to distribute various medicinal elixirs.

Named Egg Roll.

Besides meaning rolling eggs, in the Midfield language it could be translated as “Piss Off,” making it a crude name.

However, Egg Roll was undoubtedly a bold event typical of the United States, where leaders are chosen by election.

“…There was something to learn after all.”

Young martial artists of all races and skin colors, regardless of clan or school, gathered in the White House garden had the chance to find eggs of the Ancient Brahma Chicken.

The Brahma Chicken was a breed improved from chickens brought from the Midfield in the early 19th century and loved throughout the United States.

And the Ancient Brahma Chicken was the pinnacle of spiritual chickens, born from free-range Brahma Chickens absorbing the vast North American continent’s earth energy and natural qi from dragon veins.

Among those invited to the White House by lottery, those who obtained an Ancient Brahma Chicken egg gained strong internal energy beyond birth and environment barriers.

A redistribution of opportunities befitting a nation based on equality.

Among the Big Names participating, those with progressive ideas praised the bright future of the United States.

It was natural that opinions began comparing Victoria’s Royal Garden Party, which provided medicinal tea and snacks to a limited few, with the White House’s Easter Tomb-Sweeping Day Egg Roll.

The Sword Queen could not tolerate this.

The Royal Garden Party held in Buckingham Palace’s garden was not a simple social gathering.

For those yet to reach lofty levels, the garden party where the queen generously shared medicinal elixirs was itself a chance to achieve a higher level as martial artists.

The White House’s bold attempt, which claimed to distribute opportunities equally, was a great shock to Victoria.

“Only thorough meritocracy and equality of opportunity can make Great Britain stronger.”

The resolution quickly led to action.

The parliament began budgeting to support Sunday Kung-Fu Schools run by churches nationwide to give opportunities even to lower classes who had no access to Kung-Fu.

The criteria for invitations to the royal martial ball were also set solely based on individual achievements, not lineage or affiliation.

Only those who proved their own qualifications could gain new power at the British Royal Palace.

In verifying those achievements, Victoria demanded at least minimal courtesy but had no intention to discriminate against anyone.

Whether of humble birth or noble lineage.

Whether like Handel, who came from another country hoping to live on British soil.

Or even a disciple of someone who brought her disgrace.

Known as the grandmother of Europe, the Sword Queen was a vast vessel ready to embrace anyone qualified without discrimination.

“Show me quickly.”

The martial artists descending into the garden.

Watching the Little Heavenly Demon Sherlock Holmes, Victoria murmured.

“What you can do.”

The Queen’s curiosity toward him was growing.

----------------------------------------

Martial artists lined up orderly and descended into the garden.

Checking their faces, I moved to the tea tent and received a teacup.

“Please drink the first cup immediately.”

Like the others, I followed the attendant’s instructions, emptied the cup, then stepped outside the tent to await further orders.

The tea party held in the royal garden, the Royal Garden Party.

Though held at least ten times a year, the royal ball’s garden party was especially notable for a simple reason.

Unlike the tea party in the Music Room, this standing tea party outdoors was a battlefield where the use of Kung-Fu was unrestricted.

Since it was outdoors, even if one attacked others, there was no restraint from the Special Maid Corps, allowing attendees to freely consume medicinal elixirs including inner core sandwiches.

Of course, that’s only after you knock down other martial artists who sought to improve their internal energy.

“It has begun.”

The medicinal tea I just drank began to slowly manifest its effects.

-Go go go go go…!!

Not long after breakfast, extreme hunger and thirst began to overwhelm me.

This was the direct reason why the royal ball’s Royal Garden Party was called the Hunger Game.

I wanted to immediately grab the tea foods and medicinal tea prepared in the tea tents, but snatching them before the signal would be considered rude and result in immediate expulsion.

One must wait for the gong to sound once before moving to be recognized as a courteous martial artist.

“There are more than a few things to be careful about.”

Starting the Hunger Game does not solve the problems.

The black tea and snacks prepared under the canopy of the Horn of Plenty tent often contain randomly selected medicinal elixirs.

Naturally, this means that without knowing the proper method of ingestion, they are of no help.

Some even possess both medicinal and poisonous properties, and failure to detoxify can lead to hospitalization.

Yet, the only reason I left the safe place to descend into the dangerous garden was one.

“During the Hunger Game, consuming medicinal elixirs hidden outside the tea tents is allowed.”

Long ago, my master told me.

Though most visitors do not know, there is a secret that supreme medicinal elixirs are hidden throughout the English Royal Palace’s garden.

And to know this and not act is foolish.

What I aim for is a rare spiritual creature hinted at by the small scale fragment found at the palace entrance.

“Then, from now on, the Royal Garden Party begins!”

-Bang!

The moment the muscular butler struck the gong, I dashed in the opposite direction of the tea tents.

Thanks to the opening of my minor meridians, I detected the presence of ‘that spiritual creature’ swiftly moving hidden in the grass.

“This energy is definitely—”

-Rustle!!

I saw a blue gleam pass through the grass.

Without a doubt.

‘It’s that snake.’

-Swoosh!

I immediately used my lightness skill to run and reached out to the bushes, but.

-Boom!

With a deafening explosion, a middle-aged man appeared and snatched the target before me.

“I alone in the world have the right to take this creature!”

“Who do you think you are…!”

I immediately threw a punch releasing a fist wind, but another explosion repelled my trick.

The pure white snake with blue eyes.

The one holding the Blue Eyes White Snake was a very familiar figure—

“If you want it, prove it with strength! Duel me right now!”

It was Alfred Nobel.

1. TL/N: Tomb-Sweeping Day aka Qingming is a holiday when Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors. ️

2. TL/N: 19th president of the United States 1877-1887 ️