While Li Xiao and Song Jin were busy discussing cookies, a fierce argument was taking place in the Danse Palace between Li Ji and Meng Jian.

Meng Jian explained with strained patience, “Who exactly leaked the personal information online is still under investigation. It couldn’t have been Tao-tao. No matter how immature he is, he wouldn’t do something like this!”

“Immature?” Li Ji looked at Meng Jian coldly. “Forming cliques, engaging in isolationism, publicly insulting the royal family, and acting recklessly just because he’s out of sight in Shengya! If your Meng family doesn’t know how to raise a child, bring him to the palace, and I’ll find someone to teach him personally.”

Meng Jian walked to the desk, his expression earnest. “Your Majesty, Tao-tao wouldn’t do these things. Someone must have been instigating it; this whole matter is very suspicious! It might even be a trap set by Shengya!”

Li Ji replied, “You certainly know how to clear your own name.”

Meng Jian urged, “Please, you must believe me. I will arrange for an investigation into this immediately!”

“No need, I already have people looking into it.” Li Ji’s face was grim as he added pointedly, “I want to see who has the audacity to provoke the authority of the royal family!”

Meng Jian lowered his gaze, his eyes flashing with a hidden ruthlessness, though his voice remained casual. “I heard Shengya has detained the Second Prince. Shouldn’t we negotiate and bring him back soon?”

“Naturally.” Li Ji took the teacup handed to him by Old Liu, glanced at Meng Jian, and asked coldly, “Or do you suggest we leave members of the Danse royal family under the threat of Shengya?”

Meng Jian’s expression softened slightly, and he bowed his head. “I will go make the arrangements and have the Second Prince brought back as soon as possible.”

As Meng Jian prepared to leave, Li Ji sipped his tea and added, “The other exchange students as well—bring them all back. Since Shengya has no sincerity in establishing diplomatic relations, there’s no point in keeping them there.”

Meng Jian frowned slightly. “But this is a rare opportunity—”

“A group of unruly wild kids—do you really think they can learn anything in an unregulated environment?” Li Ji set his teacup down with a light thud. “It’s easier to learn bad habits than good ones.”

Meng Jian wanted to argue further, but Li Ji had already made up his mind and dismissed him.

Walking out of the King’s office, Meng Jian’s expression immediately crumpled. This trip to Shengya had yielded no benefits and only brought more trouble, all because of Li Xiao.

There was still over half a month left until the suspension order expired. During this time, he had to avoid provoking Li Ji as much as possible to ensure the transition of power went smoothly.

Emerging from the Administration Hall, he ran into Yi Yongning. Meng Jian paused.

As they approached, Yi Yongning curled his lips into a smile. “I told you we should have recalled the kids earlier, but you insisted otherwise. Now look at the big mess we’re in.”

Meng Jian looked displeased. “If everyone were as conservative as you, Danse would have already regressed to the Stone Age.”

Facing the blunt mockery, Yi Yongning didn’t mind at all, retorting with a smile, “If everyone were as reckless as you, Danse would probably already be an abandoned mining zone for some foreign power.”

Meng Jian sneered, “Coward.”

Yi Yongning snapped back, “Old fart.”

The two exchanged profanities, deliberately shouldering into each other as they passed, and went their separate ways.

In the Shengya Palace, the formal attire felt restrictive and uncomfortable. Li Xiao prepared to wash up early, and as he took off his jacket, several red envelopes fell out of his pocket. He suddenly remembered receiving quite a few “greeting gifts” the night before.

“It wouldn’t be money, would it?” Li Xiao picked them up and opened one casually.

Song Jin leaned in curiously. “Maybe it’s coins or something—people usually give those to toddlers under five.”

Li Xiao: “…”

The opened red envelope didn’t contain coins or checks, but a slip of scratch paper with a string of numbers. Li Xiao opened several more; without exception, they were all communication codes. Those who gave the red envelopes were either high-ranking military officers or top government officials; these codes were worth far more than any check.

Li Xiao didn’t hesitate to save them all.

“Your uncles and aunts are very direct.”

Song Jin looked at him steadily, his voice cool. “What uncles and aunts? I’m the same generation as them. Are you itching for a beating again?”

Li Xiao: “…”

Forgot. Although the little lion was only in his teens, his seniority was high.

The next morning, Song Jin’s consciousness slowly returned. He opened his eyes to find himself in his own large bed, remembering he had stayed in the palace last night.

It was only seven in the morning. Song Jin sat up, ran a hand through his hair, threw on some clothes, and went to open Li Xiao’s door while yawning.

“Time to get up, old man.”

The guest room was empty. Song Jin pulled back the covers, feeling disappointed. He had hoped to see Li Xiao’s grumpy face after being forced awake. Where had this brat gone?

Going downstairs, he saw a servant tending to the flowers and asked, “Where is the guest?”

Servant: “He went to the No. 2 small kitchen early this morning.”

Song Jin didn’t even know where the No. 2 kitchen was and had to rely on 07’s scan to find the location.

“Your Highness.” Jiao Bai came in from outside. Seeing Song Jin in the corridor, he hurried over. “There’s been some progress regarding the construction company that built the Rubik’s Cube on N2533.”

“Let me see.”

Jiao Bai sent the investigation results to Song Jin’s terminal. Under 07’s operation, several virtual windows appeared in Song Jin’s field of vision, and his eyes immediately landed on the words “Fuxing Construction Group.”

Jiao Bai whispered as he walked alongside him, “This Fuxing Construction Group was founded 65 years ago and registered in the Tianqi Constellation, but it was deregulated 25 years ago. We’ve done extensive fieldwork and file searches, and we can only confirm that this company undertook the construction of the Rubik’s Cube 63 years ago, but the identity of the client is lost to history.”

Song Jin: “25 years ago?” The timing was subtle.

Jiao Bai nodded. “We checked the shareholders at the time. There was a woman named Wan Wen, whose husband was the nephew of Lin Quan.”

Song Jin paused, his face darkening. “This company was deregistered, not seized?”

Twenty-five years ago, when Lin Quan used the Super-O to seize power and was arrested, all relevant members of the Lin family were imprisoned, and a large amount of assets were seized.

Jiao Bai: “Checked. No, it wasn’t seized because it was under Wan Wen’s personal name and wasn’t involved in the schemes.”

Song Jin: “Continue investigating the company’s projects, from its inception to its deregistration. Find a reason to arrest this Wan Wen—I want to interrogate her personally.”

Jiao Bai: “Yes.”

Approaching the kitchen, the smell of milk filled the air. Song Jin’s thoughts were interrupted; he couldn’t remember a thing, his mind filled only with cookies, and his stomach growled uncontrollably.

Out of curiosity, Song Jin looked left and right. Seeing no one, he lowered his footsteps and crept over, peeking through the doorframe into the kitchen.

Li Xiao was wearing a black apron, his shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing slender, handsome forearms, as he squeezed batter into a mold with a piping bag.

Song Jin gripped the doorframe tightly, his eyes shining. This brat actually knows how to bake cookies?! That side profile is deadly—he could stare at it all day.

Li Xiao had heard the commotion long ago. Seeing the “little cat” hiding behind the door observing him, he originally intended to pretend he hadn’t noticed, but the cat’s gaze was too intense, and he couldn’t help but smile.

Li Xiao looked up and beckoned. “Since you’re here, come help.”

Song Jin walked over, acting nonchalant. “When did you get up? So early?”

Li Xiao: “Six. I saw you sleeping like a log, so I came over alone.”

Song Jin: “…” How did he not hear anyone entering the bedroom?

Li Xiao handed him the piping bag. “The rest is up to you. I’m going to see if the others are baked.”

Song Jin realized he had no idea how to do it and asked grumpily, “You said you’d make them for me to eat, so why do I have to do the work?”

Li Xiao smiled at him. “Doesn’t it taste better when you make it yourself?”

Song Jin: “…” No. It can’t possibly be good.

Looking at the shapes Li Xiao had squeezed, Song Jin thought it looked easy and felt eager to try.

“The Rubik’s Cube construction company has been found.” Li Xiao tied an apron for Song Jin.

“What other projects did this company take on?”

Suddenly embraced from behind, Song Jin tilted his head vigilantly, only to realize Li Xiao was just tying his apron.

“It’s dripping,” Li Xiao reminded him.

Song Jin hurriedly loosened his grip, clumsily moving a large glob of batter into the second mold, and cursed under his breath: “It’s all your fault for distracting me.”

Li Xiao pointed at the ugly globs in front. “Did I cause these too?”

Song Jin huffed, “It’s your batter that doesn’t adapt to my noble hands.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao: “You eat these globs yourself.”

Song Jin: “…”

Struggling to finish squeezing the batter, Song Jin felt his fingers stiffen—it was more exhausting than two hours of boxing. Li Xiao couldn’t bear to look, closing his eyes as he put the molds into the oven. He brought out the baked cookie sticks, and just as he placed them on the island, the little cat scurried over, following the scent.

Song Jin: “They look like the ones Brother Shi makes.”

Li Xiao said casually, “Aren’t teething sticks all shaped like this?”

Song Jin was about to nod when he suddenly realized something. “What teething sticks? Watch your wording.”

Li Xiao cooled the cookie sticks down. “The ones without sesame on this side are for adults; the ones with sesame on the other side are for kids.”

Just as he finished, Song Jin picked up a sesame-free one and defiantly took a bite. His pretty face immediately wrinkled into a bun.

“Cough, cough… Why is it spicy? Are you messing with me?”

“I told you, it’s for adults.” Li Xiao stifled a laugh, taking the cookie he’d thrown, and ate it happily.

The next moment, the sounds of a scuffle erupted in the kitchen.

A while later, a waiter came to serve breakfast. Song Jin had them move the meal to the small dining room next to the kitchen, then happily grabbed a jar and filled it with the cookie sticks while snacking on one.

Li Xiao watched, amused. “Guard your stash? Pack the adult-flavored ones, too.”

Song Jin said disdainfully, “Pack them yourself.”

Li Xiao sat by the island and sighed softly. “I worked hard all morning, and the person didn’t say a word of thanks and even beat me up. If I ever bake again, I’m a dog.”

Song Jin paused, putting both hands on the island and looking at Li Xiao, full of displeasure. “Threatening me?”

That counts as a threat? Li Xiao looked at the magnified face before him and asked leisurely, “Does what I make suit your taste?”

Song Jin, of course, wouldn’t admit it. Once he did, Li Xiao would certainly get ahead of himself and hold the cookies over him.

“Just so-so.” Despite his words, Song Jin took another jar and packed the spicy ones too.

At the dining table, Song Jin projected the data Jiao Bai had sent into the air.

Li Xiao quickly scanned it. “Products left over from the Lin Quan era?”

“Not sure.” Song Jin poured several spoons of sugar into his coffee. “It could also be a collaboration with people in Danse.”

Li Xiao: “Is Lin Quan still around?”

Song Jin sneered. “How could he be? He was executed eons ago. Those in his family are also mostly dead, and the remaining collateral branches have been under royal surveillance, behaving themselves all these years.”

Li Xiao was lost in thought. Song Jin’s point was clear: Lin Quan and the Lin family had lost the ability to stir up trouble. Therefore, the blood that appeared on the N2533 Rubik’s Cube was likely related to the people here in Danse. Did they hijack Lin Quan’s territory, or was there always a collaboration that continued even after Lin Quan’s downfall?

Li Xiao remembered the files on Song Yu. Was it really just a coincidence that Lin Quan first discovered the blood of the Bique tribe at a small hospital on the border that was invested in by the Lin family?

Song Jin studied Li Xiao’s expression. “Do you have any suspects?”

“There are only a few families with the ability to mobilize so many nobles to participate.” Li Xiao picked up his coffee cup, his eyes cold. “If we investigate them specifically, we’ll find clues.”

His terminal vibrated. Li Xiao swiped it open—it was a notification from the exchange student group chat.

【The Royal Family has issued an emergency document. All exchange students are to return to the Central Military Academy immediately and return to Danse at once.】

Li Xiao’s eyes fixed on the message, remembering the video call with his brother last night. His brother was never a decisive person, often wavering on decisions, but this time he had been unexpectedly firm.

“What?” Song Jin leaned forward, seeing the notification. “He’s in a rush. Afraid you’ll suffer a loss in Shengya?”

Li Xiao: “Do you think he’s concerned about me?”

Song Jin: “Isn’t he?”

Perhaps it was the case of “those involved are confused,” but Li Xiao could no longer discern his brother’s intentions. When he thought his brother still cared about him, all he received were repeated disappointments. Born into the royal family, even between brothers, interests and calculations were mixed in, complicating what should have been simple.

After breakfast, the two went to the main hall to see Rong Shi and Song Yu.

Elsewhere, Jiang Hao was annoyed to death by Da Bei.

After Li Xiao was arranged to stay, they naturally stayed behind, but they weren’t in the same place as Li Xiao. Da Bei had gone mad, knocking on every door looking for Li Xiao. After being brought back to his room, he muttered to himself until dawn. Jiang Hao had just fallen asleep when he was pushed awake again. After repeating this over a dozen times, he gave up and sat up playing games all night.

“You still have the mood to play games?” Da Bei looked like a zombie, his eyes bloodshot. “I don’t know how my brother is doing right now.”

Jiang Hao killed the final boss and said helplessly, “I know you’re anxious, but don’t rush things.”

Da Bei grabbed his hair. “I should have stopped them at all costs last night!”

Jiang Hao: “…”

A knock at the door sounded. Qian Can came to call them for dinner, and seeing their state, he was shocked. “Did you guys stay up cultivating immortality all night?!”

Da Bei stared with dead fish eyes at Qian Can. “Is my brother coming to eat with us?”

Qian Can shook his head. “I don’t know.”

On the way to the restaurant, students gathered and whispered.

“Haven’t you heard? Meng Tao got beaten up last night!”

“Beaten up at the Royal Academy?! What did he do?”

“Probably spouted nonsense online and triggered public outrage.”

“His character is really problematic. No matter what, he shouldn’t have said those things. Is he clueless?”

Jiang Hao overheard most of it. After ordering, he reported the matter to Li Xiao and asked how he was doing.

Li Xiao: 【I’m fine. Help me stall Da Bei.】

Jiang Hao: 【Yes.】

At the table, Qin Le asked Jiang Hao, “Were you notified to return to the country?”

Jiang Hao nodded. “You got the news too?”

Qin Le asked tentatively, “Why so sudden? Everything was fine before, wasn’t it?”

“Since when was it fine?” Da Bei’s tone was sharp. “Some people just love to stir up trouble every day, destroying the harmony among exchange students and provoking conflict between the two countries. Staying longer won’t bring anything good; we might as well go back early.”

Qin Le: “That’s just a few individuals. Most exchange students are very talented.”

Da Bei grew angrier as he spoke: “One bad apple spoils the bunch!”

Qin Le noted this, recalling the intelligence gathered since the previous night. The diplomats from both countries responsible for exchange student affairs had entered emergency negotiations, and the Central Military Academy had received notification that the Student Council needed to prepare for the return of the exchange students.

That afternoon, all students who attended the victory banquet were sent back to the Royal Academy.

Da Bei stood his ground, refusing to get on the bus. Seeing staff coming to urge him, he said anxiously, “My brother hasn’t returned yet. I have to wait for him!”

Staff: “He might have already taken another car back.”

Da Bei tried to contact Li Xiao, but the video call went unanswered, making him even more anxious. “I can’t reach Li Xiao. Which car did he take? Check for me!”

The staff checked with the back office and told Da Bei, “He returned early with Song Jin. They might be passing through a signal-shielded zone. Try contacting him again later?”

Jiang Hao came over to drag Da Bei onto the bus. “Go back first. It’s useless to howl here.”

Da Bei gritted his teeth and had no choice but to climb into the bus.

At the same time, Li Xiao was sitting in Song Jin’s car, entering a mountain area in the Shengwu District. After entering a small house at the foot of the mountain and taking the elevator down seven levels, the opened metal door revealed a cold, dark corridor, with a metal door every few meters on either side.

The black-clad beta guards led them down the corridor and stopped before one of the doors. As the terminal passed the sensor area, the metal door slowly opened, and a woman’s shrill scream immediately erupted from within.

“What is this place?! Let me out!”

“I just accidentally bumped into that old man! I’m willing to pay! Why are you locking me up?!”

Seeing the door open, Wan Wen froze. She saw a pair of straight, long legs step in, and as she looked up, she finally saw who it was.

“Who are you?” Wan Wen gripped the metal bars, feeling an instinctive fear.

Song Jin walked to the iron cage, looking down at the luxuriously dressed old woman. “Fuxing Construction Group. Do you remember this company?”

Wan Wen’s heart sank, and cold sweat erupted on her back. “Who the hell are you?! I just bumped into someone—why are you asking irrelevant questions?”

Song Jin waved a hand, signaling them to enter. “Bring the steel needles.”

Wan Wen’s expression changed drastically. She watched as the four men in black opened the cage, hauled her out, and pinned her to a chair. On the small table before her sat a full box of ten-centimeter steel needles.

“What do you want?!”

Just as she finished speaking, one of the men grabbed her hand, and a needle was driven into the tip of her index finger.

“Ah—!” Wan Wen shrieked, twisting her whole body in pain, tears and snot streaming down her face. Li Xiao frowned, his ears buzzing from the noise.

Song Jin asked blandly, “Remember now?”

Inside the cage, Wan Wen trembled violently, overcome by pain and fear. “I-it’s a company I invested in long ago, but it was deregistered ages ago!”

“Good, you remember.” Song Jin nodded methodically. “Hand over all the data from that company—all of it. If anything is missing, you get another needle.”

Wan Wen’s pupils dilated, and she shrieked, “That company was deregistered over twenty years ago! How could I possibly still have the data?!”

Song Jin lifted his chin. The men on either side grabbed Wan Wen’s hands and plunged needles into her fingertips without expression. Rending screams and the smell of blood filled the space.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Wan Wen’s voice was weak, her face congested and distorted beyond recognition. At Song Jin’s signal, the men stopped.

Wan Wen sobbed, “The old data was destroyed long ago, but I still have contact with a few of the staff.”

Following Wan Wen’s information, Song Jin sent his men to apprehend the people involved. Li Xiao hadn’t seen Song Jin’s ruthless side in a long while, which made him almost forget that this person was not easier to fool than Song Yu. Being cute was an accident; ruthlessness was his nature.

Li Xiao: “Is it okay to just arrest people like this? On what grounds?”

Song Jin kept his eyes on Wan Wen’s actions, saying coldly, “They committed treason. I’m already being merciful by not shooting them in the street.”

Hearing this, Wan Wen shivered violently, biting her lip and bowing her head, saying nothing more. Seeing this, Li Xiao and Song Jin exchanged a glance—it was immediately clear that Wan Wen knew more than she was letting on.

The Royal Secret Guard’s efficiency was extremely high; in less than an hour, they had brought back three people, and the other two, located on different planets, had also been detained. Among those brought in was the executive in charge of operations, who was now a major shareholder in another construction group.

Suddenly arrested at home, this eighty-year-old alpha was furious, ranting and raving for a lawyer all the way there. Song Jin casually tossed a steel needle. It grazed the old man’s face and embedded itself in the bars behind him. Feeling something flowing down his face, the old man wiped it, turned pale with fright, and his tone shifted instantly: “I’ll give you however much money you want! Please, let me go back!”

The old man was far more cowardly than Wan Wen. As soon as Song Jin asked, he spilled everything like a pouring bucket. Song Jin had a guard take notes, recording everything he said.

Because so much time had passed, the old man rambled as he remembered things: “44 years ago, I took on my second major project—to build a mobile floating building on N1926 in the Nanming Constellation…”

Li Xiao interrupted, “N1926? Are you sure?”

The old man nodded frantically, “Yes! I went on-site for a survey at the time. There were a lot of gangs there, the public management was a mess, and I was even blackmailed for 100,000—that was a month’s salary for me!”

Hearing him ramble, Li Xiao interrupted again: “Where was the building built, and who was the client?”

The old man reported the location without hesitation: “As for the client, hiss—it seems to be called Adesai? A trading company. The person who negotiated with me was from Danse, but I really can’t remember what they looked like. After all, it was over forty years ago.”

Li Xiao opened a blank page and wrote down “Adesai” to show the old man: “Is it these characters?”

The old man squinted for a long time and nodded: “Yes! That’s it!”

Li Xiao opened a search engine and searched for “Adesai Trading Company,” yielding millions of results.

Song Jin took a glance and asked the old man, “What else do you know about this company?”

The old man’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat, terrified that he would be killed for speaking too late. “Wait, let me think!”

But the more nervous he got, the less he could recall.

Li Xiao signaled for Song Jin to leave first. Pressing too hard wouldn’t get answers. The old man’s reaction was completely different from Wan Wen’s; he didn’t seem like someone who had participated in Lin Quan’s dirty deeds, and a normal line of questioning might be more appropriate.

Thinking of this, Song Jin left his men behind to continue questioning and followed Li Xiao out of the cells.

The terminal vibrated; Li Xiao swiped it open—it was Da Bei.

“Can’t drag this out any longer. I have to go back.” If he pushed things too far, his brother might take action.

Song Jin hummed lightly, “Your dog is certainly loyal.”

The two drove back to the Royal Academy. Outside the dormitory area, they saw a crowd of exchange students gathered near the garden from afar.

“Brother!”

Seeing Li Xiao, Da Bei ran over hurriedly. “Are you okay?!”

Li Xiao: “I drank too much last night and had a bit of a hangover; I only woke up at noon.”

Seeing Li Xiao’s healthy complexion and no injuries, Da Bei breathed a sigh of relief. “No wonder I kept sending you video calls and no one answered, you scared me to death.”

By the garden, Meng Tao, his arm in a sling, glared fiercely at Li Xiao. How is this person so damn resilient?! Clearly, the Shengya royal family had detained him last night—how was he sent back completely unscathed today?!

Li Xiao walked toward him, meeting his gaze. “Did you sneak in training while we were at the victory banquet? How did you end up like this?”

Some students around them couldn’t help but chuckle.

Meng Tao pulled a long face. “None of your business.”

Li Xiao smiled faintly, not minding. “I heard you told others last night that I’m a Danse Prince? I didn’t realize I had such a high status in your eyes?”

Meng Tao turned his gaze away, displeased. “I didn’t say that! Someone framed me!”

“Whether it was a frame-up will be clear once it’s investigated,” Song Jin interjected. “No matter how many camouflage programs they use, they’re nothing but trash before Mortis.”

Meng Tao sneered, “Who knows if your results are real or fake? For all we know, you’re the thieves crying ‘thief’!”

Song Jin: “Your network experts have arrived too. Who the thief is will be clear very soon.”

As he spoke, the terminals of all the exchange students vibrated. Li Xiao swiped it open; it was another notification.

【Correction: All exchange students at the Royal Academy need not return to the Central Military Academy. Immediately head to Hangar No. 3. Departure is at 5:00 PM sharp!】