“How is it this idiot again?!”

“Isn’t this the protagonist of that sex scandal that was trending?”

“He said he wants to kill someone? Is imperial law dead?!”

“Quick, arrest this criminal! @Military”

Song Ke saw the abusive comments in the live stream, his face alternating between green and pale. He subconsciously tried to hide from the screen, but quickly realized that it wasn’t the screen capturing the footage. Ordinary household robots usually had functional cameras, and now, he didn’t know which robot had been hacked, but the camera was precisely focused on him.

“Damn it! Song Yu, you motherf***er—” Song Ke looked around, kicked the nearest recycling robot, and seeing the footage still there, began to furiously smash things in the room.

Live stream comments—

“Is this person mentally unstable?”

“Looks like he has some serious illness.”

“This person looks only twenty-something, and can give orders to military officers, indicating a very high status. Which brother wants to dig him up?”

“His house doesn’t look like an ordinary family’s, and his surname is Song. I have a bold guess.”

“Even if he’s of unspeakable status, he shouldn’t be easily forgiven!”

“How do you all know who he is? Can someone explain?”

On the other side of the palace, Ji Ling stared at the live broadcast, his face grim. 

“They are very powerful,” Lin Jing whispered. 

“Making over a hundred million people witness this means that if anything happens to them, the military will bear all responsibility. At this point, those old guys in the military department, even if they don’t want to get involved, will have to step in to protect the military’s reputation.”

Just as he was speaking, Ji Ling suddenly dropped his teacup and stood up. “That imbecile!”

Lin Jing flinched, then glanced at the live broadcast and his eyes widened abruptly. “How could this happen?!” Why was Song Ke appearing in the live broadcast?!

“Get him over here!” Ji Ling raged, his highly aggressive pheromones released with his emotional fluctuations. He had sent five legions to set up an inescapable net, yet they couldn’t even harm them in the slightest. Not only that, but they also dragged Song Ke into it, and with a few small tricks, got the entire military to escort them. In this round, he was completely defeated.

The beta servant standing at the door quickly ran out after assenting. Upon smelling the pheromones, Lin Jing felt a stinging pain throughout his body and struggled to breathe. “Your, Your Highness, please don’t—cough, cough, cough—”

Ji Ling’s face was cold. After a long moment, he slowly withdrew his pheromones, a twisted smile curving his lips. “The days are long; we’ll play slowly—”

Inside the spaceship, Qin Luo felt uneasy. Exposing Song Ke was a direct provocation to the Queen. The journey back was still long, and he hoped no other problems would arise. But it seemed he was the only one worried—

“I knew these legions were biting like mad dogs,” Song Yu said, smiling at the screen. “Turns out, a mad dog was commanding them from behind.”

Rong Shi piloted the spaceship, his expressionless face cooperating: “Who is he?”

Song Yu tilted his head to look at him: “He’s my cheap elder brother, have you forgotten?”

Rong Shi: “Too different from you, can’t remember.”

Their casual chat made the live stream buzz. The audience’s guesses and the person’s own confirmation were two completely different things.

“Are military legions tools for certain people to harm others? Today truly shattered my worldview.”

“Is the military using our taxpayer money for these schemes?”

“Still no explanation, still no rescue sent! What is the military doing?!”

“Fortunately, Chairman Rong and Song Yu are strong! If it were ordinary people, they would have been blown to dust by now! Extremely disappointed with the military!”

At the same time, major media platforms began frantically suppressing the popularity after receiving orders from above, but unfortunately, too many people were participating in the discussion, and they couldn’t suppress it at all.

At the emergency meeting of the military headquarters, two of the three marshals were present. Qin Chi, wearing a general’s uniform, sat at the head of the table. Although over ninety years old, his aura was still formidable. He swept his gaze over Zhao Ji and Liu Jun on his left, commanding without anger: “Explain today’s events clearly to me.”

Zhao Wu was Zhao Ji’s nephew, and Liu De was Liu Jun’s grandson. Zhao Ji’s face was grim: “I’m not clear, I don’t know how to explain.”

Liu Jun gritted his teeth and reported in a low voice: “Liu De was merely following orders and is not at fault.”

Bang! Qin Chi’s palm slammed onto the table with a loud noise. “Attacking the royal family and still daring to say there’s no fault?!” Liu Jun lowered his head without speaking, but his gaze occasionally darted towards Lin Quan. In this meeting, only Lin Quan could sit on equal terms with Qin Chi.

“Now is not the time to assign blame,” Lin Quan said, sitting to Qin Chi’s left. His hands were clasped in front of him, his white hair neatly combed back, his expression relaxed. “The most important thing right now is to salvage the military’s reputation. We’ll have an announcement released on social media later to calm things down first.”

Qin Chi: “An officer leading a legion to attack a military academy and the royal family, and Elder Lin can so easily dismiss it?”

Lin Quan: “There are priorities. I believe the military’s reputation is above personal reputation.”

Qin Chi: “If you don’t hold them accountable, how will you write the announcement?”

Lin Quan: “The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. Those who maliciously disclose confidential military information will be severely punished.”

Those below exchanged subtle glances, all hearing the hidden meaning in that statement. The Liu and Zhao families were backed by the Lin family. 

It seemed Elder Lin had no intention of handing them over, and even wanted to hold Rong Shi and Qin Luo accountable in return. 

The law stipulated that no one was allowed to disclose confidential military information, which included technology, tactics, and equipment. 

Song Yu, being the Second Prince, certainly wouldn’t be held accountable, but Rong Shi and Qin Luo were different, especially Qin Luo, who was Elder Qin’s great-grandson. 

The Lin and Qin families had been at odds for a long time. Elder Qin wanted to use this to strike at the Zhao and Liu families, while Elder Lin wanted to use Qin Luo to strike at the Qin family. With gods fighting above, those below were silent, not daring to utter a sound.

“Bullshit!” Qin Chi swore. “If we release it like that, the military’s reputation will be completely ruined!”

Lin Quan: “If it weren’t for your great-grandson and some unsavory characters causing trouble, how would the military and royal family’s reputations be damaged?”

Qin Chi sneered: “Your ability to distort facts is growing by the day.”

Lin Quan: “If you have any objections to my decisions, why not submit them to His Majesty for final decision?”

But His Majesty was in a coma! Qin Chi gritted his teeth. In a blink, his anger hid in his eyes, his emotions already adjusted. “Alright. First, rescue them and bring them back to Capital Star. Afterwards, we await His Majesty’s orders, how about that?”

Lin Quan: “Agreed.”

Having tentatively settled on a plan, Qin Chi asked all attendees to vote. With two major figures having made up their minds, who else would dare to have an opinion? 

Just as they were about to vote, a holographic image of Qian Li, who had not appeared in the military for a long time, suddenly descended onto the seat to Qin Chi’s right. Qin Chi and Lin Quan led everyone in a military salute. Although they were all three marshals, Qian Li had been promoted earlier than the other two. Their ranks were equal, but his seniority was slightly higher than the other two.

After hearing the discussion results of the meeting from Qin Chi, Qian Li’s expression remained unchanged. 

“I have retired, and I will not express any opinions on other matters, but—”

 His gaze swept over Zhao Ji and Liu Jun, then rested on Lin Quan: “Rong Shi is a talent I favor. Anyone who dares to give him trouble, don’t blame my old man’s bad temper.” 

These words were practically pointing at Lin Quan’s nose and cursing him.

The Lin family had served in the military for generations, and after centuries of cultivation, their roots were vast and unshakeable. Lin Quan himself had sat in the marshal’s position for decades. Both Lin Quan and the Lin family held a status below only the Emperor in the Empire; no one dared to provoke them. Throughout the entire Empire, besides the Emperor, perhaps only Qian Li dared to speak to him like that.

Lin Quan straightened his back, his expression subtly changing, and he respectfully said: “Rong Shi is indeed excellent, but a good sapling growing in mud might grow crooked.” 

He openly compared Song Yu to mud, yet others dared not say anything.

Qian Li looked him directly in the eyes: “Therefore, as elders, we should create a good environment for these promising talents and not let them be gnawed by pests, don’t you agree?”

Lin Quan: “You are right.”

Qian Li’s gaze swept over all the attendees: “Since that’s the case, immediately dispatch troops to control the rebels, including Liu De and Zhao Wu. Not a single imperial pest shall be spared!” Everyone his gaze swept over felt a jolt of energy and stood up to salute. “Yes!”

Being branded as rebels with a single statement, Zhao Ji and Liu Jun panicked. What the hell was going on?! Qian Li hadn’t bothered with these matters for so many years; why would he suddenly intervene so forcefully? Did Rong Shi hold such a high position in his heart? Even though Qian Li was retired, he still outranked him, and Lin Quan’s face was grim.

“The matter hasn’t been investigated yet; calling them rebels is premature.”

Qian Li didn’t even give him a glance: “No matter the reason, daring to open fire on the royal family can be sentenced as a crime against national security. Military registration must be immediately revoked, and they shall never be re-employed, awaiting final judgment. You’ve been a marshal for so many years; don’t you even understand this basic legal knowledge?”

Lin Quan’s face darkened: “My apologies, I was confused.”

On the spaceship, Rong Shi checked the remaining energy and piloted the ship, playing with the six legions. In less than half an hour, using borrowed arrows, he had bombed the enemy into disarray, rendering them ineffective.

“These little brats don’t dare to fight anymore,” Qin Luo said, sitting in the safety seat and interacting with the live stream audience, shouting excitedly, “Come on! Weren’t you so tough just now?”

Rong Shi observed the battle, quickly flying towards the warp point as the enemy retreated. Just as they were about to enter the warp point, particle cannons bombarded them again. The small spaceship couldn’t withstand it, and Rong Shi could only spin and dodge.

Qin Luo: “Damn it! Are they ever going to quit?”

Seeing the warships regrouping in the surveillance footage, Song Yu frowned. “Are they going for an all-out fight?”

Rong Shi dodged while observing: “Looks like it.”

Within the legion, Zhao Wu checked the message from Zhao Ji, his eyes hardening. Now was when Song Yu had the fewest people around him; such a rare opportunity, if missed, might never come again. He was already exposed anyway, and stopping now wouldn’t lead to a good outcome. Might as well go all out. As long as the eldest prince successfully ascended the throne in the end, he would be a great hero!

“Full attack, blow up that spaceship at all costs!” 

The previously subsided bombardment began to intensify again. Rong Shi maneuvered the spaceship, continuously retreating, and soon only 30% of their energy remained. 

Even with his excellent skills, the spaceship couldn’t endure prolonged consumption. If they didn’t replenish energy in time, being blown to dust was only a matter of time. With 01 and 00, escaping wouldn’t be a big problem, but doing so would likely expose their existence. If 01 and 00 were to further control the enemy warships, they could find an opportunity to enter the warp point, or they could try that method, taking it one step at a time.

Just as Rong Shi was about to give orders to the two AIs, a particle cannon shot out from the center of the warp point, heading straight for the warship where Zhao Wu was located. 

Rong Shi and Song Yu looked at the surveillance footage. Two top-tier MAX811 warships flew out side-by-side, followed by dozens of medium-sized warships. After just one glance, Song Yu smiled. “An old acquaintance has arrived.”

Rong Shi’s terminal vibrated. He was slightly surprised, and his lips curved upwards: “Perfect timing.” A virtual window enlarged in mid-air, and Jin Dazhao appeared on the screen. He looked over, his expression serious: “I heard you’ve been bullied—”

---

Author’s Note:

Song Cat: Look, wife, those are the warships I bought. Aren’t they pretty?

Rong Bunny: Pretty, let’s take them home.

Song Cat: Okay.

Jin Dazhao: These are mine! #