ALSACW – Chapter 113

Imperial Capital Star, A-District, Spartacus Headquarters.

This headquarters building was specially constructed after the Spartacus organization transitioned from an underground to an above-ground entity. It resembled a giant mirror, with a black border framing its outer edge and a main body constructed from silver building materials. Inside, people processed information from various branches across the Empire’s planets while dispatching directives from headquarters.

Tang Jianshen and Tang Jianxi looked up at the building. After a few seconds, Tang Jianshen said, “It’s not as big as Tang Group’s.”

Tang Jianxi’s face instantly darkened. She gritted her teeth and whispered, “I already agreed to listen to you within Spartacus from now on, and I even agreed to call you ‘brother’ in public. What more do you want?”

Why is he always so passive-aggressive? Tang Jianshen is so annoying!

Tang Jianshen glanced at her in surprise and replied flatly, “You’re too sensitive. I was just stating a fact.”

The building was indeed not as large as Tang Group’s—only about a tenth of its size.

Of course, with his intelligence, Tang Jianshen naturally knew the effect this statement would have on Tang Jianxi. In fact, he had said it on purpose.

He had recently discovered a new little hobby. While not as thrilling as being in a relationship, it was far more reliable—teasing his little sister.

Given that he only had one little sister, this hobby’s other name was “teasing Tang Jianxi.” Tang Jianshen felt a little regretful. His life before had been too tense, always afraid that others would discover he wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t qualified to be the Tang family heir, or that he was a strange omega who loved other omegas. But in reality, none of that was necessary. He was very strong; there was no need to doubt that.

Even if he wasn’t actually as strong as he appeared, it didn’t matter. After all, he had Tang Ji to clean up his messes and a little sister who would help him while grumbling the whole time.

So, he should relax a little, extricate himself from their tense sibling relationship, and then watch his sister remain trapped in it. Teasing her from time to time and seeing her get flustered was much simpler than trying to persuade her with logic and data like he used to.

All it took was a subtle act of playing pitiful.

Although Tang Jianxi wouldn’t admit it, her every little movement screamed of her guilt toward Tang Jianshen. Luring the heir of a powerful monopoly away to do charity work—only a blood sister would do something like that.

Just like now. After Tang Jianshen’s disingenuous explanation, Tang Jianxi clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and said, “Brother, let’s go inside.”

“Mm,” Tang Jianshen replied, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, though he kept his expression neutral.

Tang Jianxi took another breath but maintained the proper decorum of a younger sister. Aside from her slightly quickened breathing, the clash between the siblings left no visible trace on her.

Tang Jianshen and Tang Jianxi, along with their entourage of bodyguards and assistants, went up to the fifteenth floor, where Clarence was already waiting.

He was dressed in a gold-embroidered royal uniform today, his slender figure tightly wrapped in silvery-white fabric. His brilliant blond hair cascaded down like a waterfall. He stood at the end of the path, gazing at Tang Jianshen from a distance.

Tang Jianshen didn’t look at him, his head turned to speak with Tang Jianxi. Today’s outcome was basically a foregone conclusion. Within Spartacus, aside from the radical faction under Clarence’s control, the remaining moderate faction was entirely under Tang Jianxi. She had relied on her thick skin and their sibling bond to beg him to come. Clarence had been bought off. After today, Spartacus would have a new leader and, consequently, a new direction. It would lead its omega rights ideology and its followers to leave their mark on the world, one step at a time.

The fifteenth floor was where Spartacus held its general assemblies. Not only were there many circles of chairs, but the space above was also filled with stable G3 screens for receiving signals from the leaders of other branches.

However, before today, no one except the confidants of Tang Jianxi and Clarence knew the true purpose of this assembly. Many had arrived in a state of confusion. After all, the last time a meeting of this scale had been convened was to confirm the plan to openly cooperate with the A-Virtue faction.

So what was this one for?

A falling-out with the A-Virtue faction?

But the omegas quickly glanced at the Tang siblings. This didn’t look like a falling-out with the A-Virtue faction. It felt more like a marriage alliance.

The assembly began at the designated time. Tang Jianxi and Tang Jianshen sat in the row closest to the podium, listening to Clarence speak eloquently. He truly had a leader’s charisma, stirring the emotions of the omegas in the room with just a few words. When he spoke of the neglect and oppression omegas had suffered in the past, a few of them were even moved to tears.

Tang Jianshen glanced briefly at those few omegas and noticed they were all his sister’s staunchest subordinates. He then shot his melancholic-looking sister a meaningful look.

Perhaps Tang Jianxi’s extraordinary courage stemmed from her extraordinary naivety. In his heart, Tang Jianshen found an answer to a question that had long puzzled him.

After speaking of the past, it was time to speak of the future. Clarence paused for a moment, casting a subtle glance in Tang Jianshen’s direction. He took a breath, then put on a smile. “I believe my royal status has prevented me from leading Spartacus toward a brighter future. It’s undeniable that as a prince, my very presence imbues Spartacus with an excessive political nature. This makes the development of Spartacus exceptionally difficult and goes against my original intention for founding it.”

“Just as every child must leave their elders to achieve true growth, Spartacus has developed to a point where it is ready for independence. I will be stepping down as the leader of Spartacus, and I recommend Mr. Tang Jianshen to be the next leader. I trust you are all familiar with him—he is an outstanding omega, in every respect.”

“Of course, the final decision still rests with all of you. Mr. Tang Jianshen will run for election alongside the two deputy leaders. The one with the most votes will become the next leader of Spartacus.”

The fifteenth floor erupted in an uproar. The news was far too sudden; there had been no warning whatsoever before it just… happened.

Many people didn’t even grasp the meaning behind Clarence’s words.

Marco, also sitting in the front row, gave a mocking smile. Without a doubt, Clarence had made a deal with the Tang siblings. He was truly a flexible chameleon. Just a short while ago, he had arranged an assassination, yet now he could shake hands and make peace with righteous indignation, as if nothing had ever happened.

But had nothing really happened?

Marco stood up and walked toward Tang Jianxi. This was in line with procedure, as the candidates were supposed to go on stage together, and he and the Tang siblings were both candidates.

Tang Jianxi gave Marco a slight nod, but he didn’t respond. He took a step forward, crossing the conventional social distance. Tang Jianxi frowned in confusion, but before she could ask what was going on, Marco spoke first. “That assassination was personally arranged by Clarence.”

Tang Jianxi’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Clarence lied to you. The reason your alpha almost died wasn’t because he failed to control his subordinates, or because he failed to foster a healthy atmosphere in Spartacus.”

“He just wanted Yun Chuji dead.”

Marco’s voice was low and hoarse, like a bone flute inadvertently sounded by the wind, his words carrying a chilling air.

“You have no proof,” Tang Jianxi retorted, feigning calmness even as her heart faltered. She knew it was possible.

But Marco stepped back, gave an enigmatic smile, and said, “I will soon.”

Then, he walked toward the person he had once revered most.

And now, they had completed their perfect mutual betrayal.

After a long series of meaningless procedures, Marco looked at the stark vote count on the large screen and twisted his lips into a smirk. It was just as that person had said: once someone starts betraying, they never stop.

You can never seek loyalty or friendship from a politician. The only thing you can get from them is personal gain.

So, since he took what should have been mine and gave it to someone else as a gift, I can only take it back myself.

Marco gave a long bow to his brothers and sisters in the audience. He had lost to Tang Jianshen by a ten percent margin, all because Clarence had deliberately kept him in the dark. He knew he would not accept this result.

He knew full well that he would not accept this result.

Marco straightened up and strode out. No one dared to stop him. Even Clarence’s subordinates were too dazed to say what they were supposed to: “Sir, His Highness is looking for you.”

The red-haired omega got into his hovercar and made a call. “I accept your terms.”

“Excellent. A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Davis. I hope you aren’t too heartbroken. After all, you’ll need to focus your energy on making someone else heartbroken.”

Marco was silent for a moment, then grunted in affirmation.

Meanwhile, Tang Jianxi, having achieved her goal, was not as relieved as she had imagined she would be. She struggled to look at the smiling man—he who had once been her senior and mentor, the omega she respected most aside from her grandmother.

How could he do something like this?

Tang Jianxi told herself, Go ask him. You’ll know once you ask.

But she didn’t. Instead, she took a step back. That man was talking with her brother, looking as cordial as ever. Her brother, too, maintained his social etiquette. The two of them exchanged pleasantries, dealing with the people in the room.

Tang Jianxi suddenly felt the urge to vomit.

Was this the result she had wanted?

Bribing this… possible true culprit for the sake of peace?

Tang Jianxi rushed to the restroom and finally threw up.

She thought, I will go ask. But before that, I have to see Yun Chuji.

More than ever before, she wanted to see her.

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