Tang Jianshen stared at the report, reading the final line over and over. “Fraternal relationship?”
Clarence gave a bitter smile. “Honestly, our royal family is quite impressive. Alphas, betas, omegas… it seems we can all climb to the very top.”
Tang Jianshen’s meticulousness was evident in every aspect of his being. Even now, when it felt like the world was about to end, he could rebut with a clear head, “That’s because you were born at the very top.”
“And every generation of your family has many children.”
Clarence was speechless. He knew Tang Jianshen had a knack for judging the matter, not the person, but because of their past romance and falling out, he’d never really had a chance to experience it. The sudden jab stunned him, and the sharp retort diluted much of his tense thoughts. A smile touched his lips, and he seemed to regain a bit of his former roguish charm. “That’s true. A brilliant background certainly makes many things much more convenient. Though I hate to admit it, I know that my status as a prince has brought far more advantages than disadvantages in my life.”
Tang Jianshen watched him thoughtfully for a moment before asking, “Then why did you betray it?”
Clarence switched off the glaring light screen, relaxed, and leaned back. “I didn’t betray the royal family,” he said faintly. “I betrayed the alphas within the royal family. Strictly speaking, they are the ones who truly betrayed the royal family. They were the first to violate the family rules, believing themselves to be the sole authority, gradually encroaching on others’ space to live. I think this trend among the Empire’s alphas probably started with the Hall family.”
Then, Clarence’s tone shifted. “However, Mr. Tang, although I don’t know how far things have progressed, we should act as quickly as possible, no matter what. So, have you made your decision? If you’re still clinging to your suspicions, then I’ll have to find another way.”
Tang Jianshen remained as unhurried as ever, as if not even the shadow of war could shake him. He lifted his gaze and softly pointed out the flaw in Clarence’s grand speech, which could almost be considered the pinnacle of his selflessness. “It doesn’t add up.”
“What doesn’t add up? I’ve put the gene test report right in front of you. There’s no reason for me to fabricate such a huge lie. It does me no good. What are you still suspicious of? I really don’t understand what else there is to doubt.”
“It’s this gene test report that doesn’t add up. This report is detailed and powerful. It’s enough to make my grandmother wary of the starship deal you mentioned all over again. In other words, you wouldn’t have to pay any price to convince her. In fact, contacting my grandmother through me is a waste of time in itself.” Tang Jianshen looked at Clarence, his eyes calm. “Clarence, you are still using me. Using my identity as the leader of Spartacus. Or to put it more directly, you’re still placing a bet. You don’t want to betray your mother too brazenly. At least, you don’t want her to be able to see your betrayal after she wins.”
This time, Clarence was stunned for even longer. Then he let out a laugh, which turned into a full-throated roar of laughter. After several minutes, he covered his face and rubbed his stiff muscles. “It seems I miscalculated. Ah, I really should have gone to Tang Jianxi. If it were her, she might have already been frantically contacting the Marshal by now.”
“But she would have beaten you up before making the call,” Tang Jianshen said.
Clarence deeply agreed. “Yes, that’s very likely. When I was at the military academy two years ago, that omega named Winona challenged me every day. She beat me up pretty badly. I think if you added up all the injuries I got from her, it probably wouldn’t be much less than what Yun Chuji suffered.”
Tang Jianshen was not swayed by his complaint. “But that’s not enough. You almost really killed Yun Chuji.”
The atmosphere turned cold. Clarence sat up straight from the backrest and asked seriously, “Are you sure you want to threaten me with something like that? The starship handover could happen at any moment.”
“Perhaps you haven’t realized it, but I’m more inclined to believe you’re deliberately ignoring it. After all, based on what you just said, you’re the one threatening others with this matter. Of course, I’m threatening you too, but it’s not really a threat. I forgot to tell you, after you left, I changed the security system in this building. Now, the highest security clearance isn’t about turning this room into an impenetrable fortress, but about recording everything inside with the most advanced surveillance equipment.”
“My sister and my grandmother taught me a lesson: offense is the best defense. It seems very useful now.”
Clarence exhaled, his expression grave. He thought to himself, how could he have ever imagined cooperating with a Tang? These people were all lunatics.
“Jianshen, you still managed to beat me up in your own way.”
Tang Jianshen didn’t deny it. His dark eyes were saturated with the light from the chandelier, clear and bright within, like a priceless black pearl.
“You shouldn’t have touched my family.”
Being outmaneuvered didn’t seem to anger Clarence too much. At least, judging by Tang Jianshen’s tone, the important matter wouldn’t be delayed. The outcome wasn’t irreparably bad. He had just habitually tried to cover all his bases, not expecting Tang Jianshen to use the opportunity to stab him. It was a different kind of pain, but it was still quite unpleasant.
This feeling of a firm stance was truly unsettling.
“So, can you contact your grandmother now, Mr. Tang?”
With no need for pretense, Clarence’s attitude visibly became much more casual. Tang Jianshen gave him a faint glance. What he hadn’t mentioned earlier was that Clarence had a habit of curling his little finger whenever he was trying to coax someone.
It seemed that three years in the military hadn’t changed the man’s fundamental nature much at all.
“I can’t reach her. I just tried.”
Now Clarence fully understood the depth of Tang Jianshen’s precautions against him. Although using a personal terminal could be hidden from others, displayed only on the user’s retina, there were always subtle tells in one’s movements and expression. Yet he had been sitting face-to-face with Tang Jianshen and hadn’t noticed a thing. And then there was this security system, which was clearly aimed at him.
Tsk.
“I need to remind you, we’re comrades in the same trench now. Mr. Tang, you went to great lengths to force me to pick a side, and now that you’ve succeeded, you’re tossing me aside like a used account. Isn’t that a bit improper?”
Though his words were accusatory, Clarence’s expression was calm, his gaze even relaxed, as if he were just bantering with an old friend.
Tang Jianshen felt little about it. Many people, after disliking something, would subconsciously find fault with it, as if such useless gestures could somehow compensate for their former affection. Tang Jianshen wasn’t like that. He just felt nothing, plus a little annoyance.
How did I never notice he talked so much before?
Tang Jianshen ignored his jab and said directly, “I’ve contacted Tang Jianxi and the others. They’re vacationing on Golden Phoenix Star. Logically, Grandmother should be on Golden Phoenix Star recently. If she’s not, then going there to get the Omega Legion ready is always the right move.”
“…Were you really just chatting with me?”
Tang Jianshen blinked, ignoring the question. “Tang Jianxi and the others have already gone to find people. We should get moving too. As you said, there’s not much time. We need to figure out how far along these things have progressed.”
Tsk.
This Tang Jianshen guy is nasty in a league of his own.
Golden Phoenix Star.
Yun Chuji and Tang Jianxi emerged from the depths of the forest sea, got into a hovercar, and headed for the station.
At the same time, they kept trying to contact Chu Meng. It was useless; there was no reply. The communication base stations of the ABO era would never have a signal issue. The only possibility was that Chu Meng had turned off her terminal herself, or she was in a place where the signal was blocked.
There weren’t many such places in the Empire. The only one that fit the current situation was a starship with its highest security protocols activated.
During this period, the starship could not move, and the people inside could not contact the outside world.
Generally, this protocol was only activated during a starship handover.
Yun Chuji contacted Gu Yun and learned that Chu Meng had left on a business trip three days ago. She hadn’t specified a return date before she left.
They didn’t know where the three parties—A, B, and O—were conducting the handover. They were like headless flies, completely helpless.
So, Yun Chuji told Gu Yun the news she had received. “This is the situation. The royal family’s connection with the betas runs much deeper than Grandmother thought. This isn’t a reasonable agreement, but the result of a deliberate plot by the royal family. If we let this happen, something very serious could occur.”
At that moment, Yun Chuji thought of Yun Xuan.
She paused, then added, “And it could be even worse than the worst-case scenario we can imagine.”
If Elder Brother’s shadow is behind this.
Gu Yun said, “I’m heading to the barracks right now. A few of the major generals there are my former students. I think I should be able to get a word in. By the way, do you have any proof?”
Yun Chuji sent Gu Yun the test report Tang Jianshen had forwarded to them.
Gu Yun was silent for a moment, then sneered, “Ophelia, that cunning old bitch. Just as I thought, she’s loved playing these deliberately mysterious games since she was young!”
Gu Yun’s disrespect for the reigning empress was indeed a bit surprising to Yun Chuji, but she didn’t refute it. Firstly, this wasn’t her monarch, and secondly, the empress’s actions were truly inhuman.
Sending her own child away and having him marry his own cousin—such a thing would make people’s jaws drop even in the open-minded ABO era.
Gu Yun then hung up abruptly. Tang Jianxi was still trying to contact Chu Meng.
But it was still a fruitless effort.
She could only install a small program to keep redialing, just in case. Beyond that, she didn’t know what else she could do.
“Was this Yun Xuan’s doing?”
Tang Jianxi had heard Yun Chuji talk about Yun Xuan’s abnormality. Her guess was that Yun Xuan wanted to start a war, and now, it seemed a war was imminent.
Yun Chuji nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Jianxi, you go find Grandmother Gu Yun. I’m returning to the Imperial Capital Star immediately.”
Tang Jianxi grabbed her hand. The hovercar was moving fast. They hadn’t opened the windows, and the air inside the car felt heavy and stagnant.
“I’ll go with you.”
Yun Chuji turned to look at her and explained earnestly, “This might just be a false alarm, just my wild imagination. I’m only going to verify it. Nothing will happen.”
Tang Jianxi still insisted, “Then I’ll go with you too.”
“Jianxi, you should be doing more important things.”
“No. If, as you say, Yun Xuan’s shadow is behind this, then finding him is the most important thing. If this is all just the royal family’s design, then there’s no use for me to stay on Golden Phoenix Star. I have no power, no army. I only have you, and you could be in danger.”
Yun Chuji’s lips pressed into a tight line. She suddenly said with regret, “I shouldn’t have refused to have a child before.”
If she had, perhaps she could have used the excuse of pregnancy and not being able to travel to stop Tang Jianxi.
Tang Jianxi moved her hand down, their fingers intertwining like a lock with no key. She let out a soft, scoffing laugh, having guessed Yun Chuji’s intention but dismissing it. Instead, with a madness and abandon befitting the approaching apocalypse, she said, “I’d follow you even if I were running around with a big belly.”
At this, Yun Chuji was speechless. She sighed, then kissed Tang Jianxi’s forehead and said softly, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
