Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Simon Constantine, confident of his position, said: "Father, you worry too much. He is nothing but an abandoned clan member of the Lin family, someone even a second-rate family wouldn't want. If we investigate, we'll find he's merely a commoner. It's his fortune to marry into the royal family. If he wasn't so well-regarded among the commoners, I wouldn't even consider him."

"Rest assured, Cheng Jiu is about to take over the command of the Ninth Legion, he wouldn't dare conflict with the royal family over a mere guide at such a crucial time. As long as the guide agrees, there will be no issue."

Mentioning Lin Fu, his smile turned scornful: "Such a minor guide, I understand him all too well. Tomorrow is the celebration ceremony, and at the banquet, I will propose to him in front of everyone. He will surely be overjoyed and accept. He has never been favored in the Lin family since childhood, he has no resistance to such romantic pursuits."

Convinced by his certainty, the Emperor pondered for a while: "Very well, his reputation among the commoners could indeed be beneficial for the royal family. Marrying him into the royal family would be advantageous. Proceed as you see fit."

Simon Constantine's face lit up with pleasure, and he nodded in acknowledgment: "Yes, Father."

Nowadays, the major noble families would never marry their children into the royal family, which puts the royal family in a rather awkward position. But he was also unwilling to marry a commoner.

A guide like Lin Fu, who lacks familial protection yet possesses status through his own abilities, is extremely rare. Once he's in hand, the future throne will undoubtedly be his.

Unless one of my brothers has the incredible luck of encountering another such guide in a short time, or some noble family has a lapse in judgment and sends their child to the royal family.

But such possibilities are minuscule.

He left the imperial palace in high spirits, instructing his personal guard to investigate Lin Fu's preferences.

*

Unbeknownst to Lin Fu, he had become the subject of someone's scrutiny.

Seated cross-legged on the sofa, he browsed through the data on his hard drive.

It contained recent parliamentary activities, detailed data on Hwangxing, and information on military school students who participated in the Hwangxing Tournament, including their family backgrounds and marital relations up to three generations. The information was exceedingly comprehensive.

Several individuals from the Royal Military Academy had substantial connections with the parliament.

The parliament had some ties to the royal family as well.

The relationships were incredibly intricate.

Lin Fu fiddled with his ring and suddenly produced an energy stone the size of a fist.

The high-purity energy stone was as clear as a droplet, its deep blue hue reminiscent of the starry night sky.

Holding the stone in his hand, he tossed it lightly and asked the system, "To what extent has my psychic energy recovered?"

System: [Approaching moderate levels. The host's psychic energy is somewhat abnormal, and it is currently under observation.]

"Abnormal?" He recalled a time when touching his mech would cause unbearable headaches and even vomiting blood. "Is it an anomaly in the psychic energy itself, or due to toxins?"

System: [Further observation is underway; the specifics are unclear. However, please rest assured, host. The recovery of your psychic energy has entered a stable phase. It won’t affect usage or pose a health risk.]

The system didn't seem inclined to explain any further.

Lin Fu massaged his temples, deciding to take things one step at a time.

In any case, his situation couldn't be worse than when he had first arrived here.

……

Both the celebration ceremony and the evening banquet were to be broadcasted live to the entire nation.

The high-altitude cameras have become even more miniature, so small that they would likely go unnoticed without close attention.

The contingent from Artemis Military Academy participating in the Hwangxing Tournament took their seats in the hall, which buzzed with a lively crowd. Representatives of major noble families and some military delegates sat in the elevated seats, with the Emperor at the center.

Cheng Jiu occupied a seat among the military delegates, representing the Ninth Legion.

Hui Shi Academy took their seats next to Artemis Military Academy.

The scene somewhat resembled that of the previous school celebration tournament.

The difference was that Artemis and Hui Shi Academy were no longer as antagonistic as before, lacking the previous intensity.

Were it not for the distinct uniforms distinguishing the two groups, one might mistake them for members of the same military academy.

Their friendliness was overdone, leaving observers puzzled.

Lin Fu leaned back in his chair, his eyes lowered to the light-brain device displaying an introduction to the Fourth Legion.

Suddenly, he felt a gaze upon him and looked up in that direction, towards the high seats occupied by influential leaders.

Expecting Cheng Jiu, he was surprised to lock eyes with a stranger instead.

The man was clad in white, adorned with meticulous golden embroidery, reminiscent of the Royal Military Academy's uniform. Even from a distance, his features were discernible; he was a handsome young man with green eyes slightly curved in a gentle, kind smile directed at Lin Fu.

Lin Fu cast a brief glance, and Albert, sensing something, followed his gaze. In a low voice, he introduced, "That's Crown Prince Simon Constance, a favorite in front of the Emperor."

Lin Fu, lacking interest, quickly returned his focus to the light-brain, continuing his research.

Albert, on the other hand, gave Simon Constance a few more glances, noting his gentle demeanor. After a moment, a subtle shadow of gloom emerged in his eyes, almost imperceptible.

Once everyone was seated, the ceremony officially commenced with speeches from various leaders.

This segment was traditionally unpopular, with attendees slouching in their chairs, uninterested, only looking up to applaud and respond when required.

Soon, it was time for the awarding ceremony.

The ten individuals who received the energy cores stepped forward in turn.

At last, everyone's spirits were lifted, their attention focused, curious to see which members from other military schools received the energy cores.

Yan Yan rose to his feet, patted Lin Fu and another senior student on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go."

Lin Fu nodded and followed.

From the seats of the Royal Military Academy in the distance, everyone watched Artemis's direction with envy, especially upon seeing three of them stand up at once; they couldn't help but want to pounce on them and devour them.

The people of Artemis remained indifferent.

If you don't have the ability to hold onto it, what can you do?

Several leaders also stood up in succession, responsible for awarding them with medals of honor and military ranks.

Cheng Jiu, with a smile, stood still in front of Lin Fu.

Lin Fu glanced up at him and saluted, "Commodore!"

Cheng Jiu's smile deepened. He took a medal from the tray held by a robot, pinned it on Lin Fu's collar while leaning in close, and whispered, "It sounds better if you call me 'brother.'"

A vein pulsed at Lin Fu's temple as he bowed his head for Cheng Jiu to hang the ribbon and affix the rank of Captain.

Patting his shoulder, Cheng Jiu took a half step back, his tone full of satisfaction, "Captain Lin, do well."

Seeing Cheng Jiu finally acting properly, Lin Fu responded rigidly, "Yes, sir!"

Returning to his own seat, the Emperor tilted his head slightly, smiling as he asked Cheng Jiu, "Commodore Cheng seems to have a good relationship with Captain Lin. Are you planning to recruit him into the Ninth Legion?"

Cheng Jiu's smile was even more genuine, "That naturally depends on his choice. If he comes to the Ninth Legion, I will welcome him with open arms."

The Emperor nodded, "The Ninth Legion is indeed a good place."

However, Cheng Jiu didn't follow up on the Emperor's words, lounging back in his chair, chin propped up, watching Lin Fu return to the Artemis team.

The celebration ceremony ended quickly. Not all military academy students who participated in the Wasteland Race could join the banquet, only the ten Captains who were awarded could attend.

Of course, some were exceptions, like young lords and ladies born into great families, who could accompany their parents.

Albert, as the head of a top family, didn't need to consider such things at all; he could go if he wished.

He informed Lin Fu and left the team to return home for a while, planning to attend the banquet later with his mother and sister.

As Lin Fu watched him leave, he was suddenly stopped by Jing Cun just before boarding the hover car.

Jing Cun handed over a neatly wrapped box, stumbling over the address, "Lin... Captain, this is from the Commodore for you."

Lin Fu took it, "What is it?"

Jing Cun replied, "Better to see for yourself. I must report back now, goodbye."

Lin Fu carried the box into the car, wondering what trick Cheng Jiu was playing this time.

Both Tang Qian and Zhou Si were curious, albeit in different ways.

Zhou Si's curiosity was pure, while Tang Qian's was tinged with displeasure, "What is Commodore Cheng up to now?"

With others in the car, Lin Fu stowed the box away in a storage compartment, "We'll see when we get back."

Tang Qian, of course, would not go against Lin Fu's wishes and immediately nodded.

Yet, his wariness towards Commodore Cheng grew even more intense.

He felt that Cheng Jiu harbored ill intentions towards Lin Fu, a suspicion he'd held since their first encounter on Monroe Star.

Back in his room, Lin Fu opened the box to find a set of formal attire.

A suit as white as snow.

He lifted it, noting the size closely matched his own.

Lin Fu: "..."

He couldn't fathom why Cheng Jiu would think of this.

Attending the celebratory banquet, of course, he would wear Artemis's uniform, not a suit.

He placed the garment back in the box, storing it away to return to Cheng Jiu later that evening.

*

The venue for the banquet was the imperial palace.

Accompanied by Carl, Lin Fu and his companions entered the palace.

Midway, they encountered Albert and his mother and sister.

With a beaming smile, he led his mother and sister over to introduce them one by one.

When it was Lin Fu's turn, Albert wrapped an arm around his shoulder: "Mom, sis, this is my best friend."

Albert's mother, sporting the same platinum hair as him, exuded a gentle and calm demeanor unlike Albert's fiery exuberance. Her eyes slid over Lin Fu and Albert's faces, her smile soft and warm, "You've told me about him many times already."

Then, extending her hand to Lin Fu, she said, "I've watched your broadcast, you're a remarkable young man. Thank you for looking after Albert all this time."

Lin Fu shook her hand politely, "It's a pleasure, ma'am. We're friends; he's taken care of me just as much. You needn't be so formal."

The sister, trailing behind, shared her mother's elegance. She smiled at Lin Fu, extending her hand, "Pleased to meet you. If you don't mind, call me 'sister' just like Albert does."

Lin Fu agreed promptly, "Nice to meet you, sister."

Avril Harvey's smile grew even warmer as she looked at Albert, "Will you walk with him? Then mom and I will head inside first?"

Albert waved, "I'll come find you and mom in a bit."

The two women nodded with a smile and walked away, arm in arm.

Lin Fu turned and asked in a low voice, "Why aren't you going in with your mother and sister?"

Albert grinned, "My mother and sister are the lady and young miss of the Harvey family; no one dares to mess with them. But it's different for you. As the head of the Harvey family, shouldn't I be here to support you?"

Lin Fu couldn't help but chuckle.

The group entered the grand hall, which was already bustling with people.

Beneath the brilliant lights, prominent figures, rarely seen, mingled and conversed.

Lin Fu looked up, catching sight of minuscule cameras floating in the air.

The cameras on the barren planet required size to stabilize their flight direction and minimize interference, but those at the banquet obviously didn't need such stability. The smaller and less noticeable, the better, allowing the common folk to get a close-up view of the real aristocratic lifestyle.

At the banquet, Carl had his own social circle and left the four youngsters to their own devices.

As long as they didn't cause any trouble, he wouldn't intervene.

Albert, dragging Lin Fu along, roamed the banquet, casually lifting two glasses of wine from a waiter's tray and handing one to Lin Fu, "You've never drunk before, have you? Want to try? You're about to become a proper soldier; how can you have never tasted wine?"

Lin Fu accepted the glass.

Of course, he had drunk before.

In the slums amidst war, alcohol was a treasure, and he had learned to drink in the company of many at a very young age.

However, Lin Fu had indeed never drunk here.

He tentatively sipped, finding it not much different from the liquor in his previous world.

Albert also took a sip and asked expectantly, "How is it? Do you like it?"

Lin Fu was about to answer when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone with a glass heading their way.

Albert turned around and saw Simon Constans approaching.

With a genial smile, Simon greeted Albert, "Mr. Harvey."

Albert quickly returned the smile, raising his glass, "What brings the Crown Prince to me?"

Simon Constans shook his head, "You misunderstand, I'm here for your friend, Captain Lin."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Lin Fu, his eyes gentle, "May I have the honor of making your acquaintance?"

Lin Fu's eyes flickered, quickly suppressing his emotions, and he extended his glass in a gesture of goodwill, "Of course, it would be my pleasure."

Simon Constans's gaze on Lin Fu softened further, almost as if he harbored a deep, inextricable affection for him.

He suggested, "This is your first visit to the palace, Captain Lin? Perhaps I could give you a tour?"

Lin Fu exchanged a glance with Albert and responded with a smile, "That would be very kind of you, Your Highness."

Setting down his glass, Lin Fu stepped out of the banquet hall.

Albert finished his drink in one gulp and followed.

The trio walked through the quiet corridors of the palace, away from the crowd.

Simon Constans lowered his head, half his face shrouded in shadow under the lighting, concealing his eyes.

He cast a veiled glance at Albert, brimming with interest, cursing inwardly at this waste of a new Harvey family head.

He can't even read basic social cues.

His invitation was meant for Lin Fu; what is this fool doing following along, hindering his actions?

Lin Fu surveyed the surroundings; the palace's architecture was merely more luxurious, nothing impressive. What intrigued him was the intent of this crown prince.

To have him specifically called out, what could possibly be in the gourd he's selling?

The crown prince spoke softly and intimately as he introduced the history of various buildings along the way, occasionally inquiring about Lin Fu's current state. After circling the palace with the three of them, and with half the banquet time elapsed, he gently asked, "Captain Lin, have you decided which legion you would like to join?"

Lin Fu replied nonchalantly, "Perhaps the Fourth Legion?"

What sane person would choose the Fourth Legion?

Simon Constantine felt that Lin Fu was unwilling to speak the truth to him. He chuckled softly, his tone indulgent, "Even if you lie, you should consider it carefully. Captain Lin, are you thinking of joining the Ninth Legion?"

Lin Fu was so annoyed by his tone that he got goosebumps all over his back, and he responded with a stiff face, "No."

The tone of resistance was picked up by the crown prince, who felt a twinge of joy in his heart.

It seems the relationship between Lin Fu and Cheng Jiu wasn't as good as they thought.

In that case, he could make his move later.

Even though he's a guide, his abilities are commendable. Having him join the First Legion in the future would be a valuable asset.

As he schemed in his heart, the entrance to the banquet hall appeared diagonally in front.

The joy on his face was almost too much to contain.

Perfectly timed, there was a camera positioned above the door, ready to capture the upcoming scene clearly.

As they entered the grand doors, illuminated by the brilliant lights, Simon Constantine suddenly turned around, took out a bunch of flowers from his storage device, and handed them to Lin Fu.

He gazed into Lin Fu's eyes, his expression extremely tender, "My words might be presumptuous, but I find it unbearable to restrain myself. Captain Lin, from the moment I saw you, I couldn't control my love for you. I've been following everything about you. Would you accept my love and be with me? If you agree, whatever you desire, I will present it to you with both hands."

His expression was sincere, his tone devout, and his words even somewhat humble.

The audience watching the live broadcast went wild!

They stared dazedly at the scene before them: the sentinel, handsome and affectionate; the guide, lean and pleasantly cool. The contrast between light and shadow in their standing positions made for a particularly pleasing visual.

"Oh my goodness, what a sensational scene!!!"

"A prince proposing in public!!! I'm fainting!!! I ship this couple so hard!!!"

"Those eyes are brimming with affection, I'm envious, I'm envious, wuuu, I also want such a wonderful boyfriend!!"

"Say yes!!! Hurry up!!! Please say yes!!!"

"Babe, say yes to him!!! Quick, quick, quick!!!"

"Ahhh, just say yes!!! You won't find a better boyfriend than this, babe!!!"

The screen was flooded with comments urging, "Say yes to him."

Simon Constantine's cybernetic brain flickered, a faint light emanating from his sleeve. His heart grew more certain of his success.

This was the prearranged signal: if the public reaction was favorable, his subordinates would send a signal.

As he expected, in such a situation, who could refuse the honor of a prince?

He looked at Lin Fu, waiting for his response, barely able to contain the triumph and glee brimming in his eyes.

Albert's face turned ugly in an instant.

Before he could speak, Lin Fu took a half step back, his smile gentle, "Your Highness, I apologize, but I cannot accept. Also, you've had a bit too much to drink; please rest."

Simon Constantine doubted he had heard correctly: "Wha-, what?"

Lin Fu said to the guards not far away, "Your Highness is intoxicated, please take him to rest."

The guards hesitated, unsure whether they should step forward.

He stood there, stunned for a long moment, never expecting Lin Fu to refuse.

Squeezing the words through clenched teeth, "It seems, I may have had a bit too much. Come, help me to my chambers to rest."

The guards hurried forward to support him as he left.

The shock in the barrage was no less than Simon Constantine's own.

"Explosive!!!"

"Rejected!? Rejected!? He actually rejected him!!? I can't believe it!! How could my ship sink right at the start!!!"

"Babe, such a good match slipped through your fingers, wuuu!"

"Oh my, the Crown Prince must be so heartbroken! He can barely walk straight. He didn't seem drunk before!"

"Girlfriend fans rejoice!!! Little Fu is still ours!!!"

"Boyfriend fans celebrate too!!! Little Fu is still ours!!!"

"I can't handle this, my secondhand embarrassment is through the roof, it's so cringeworthy!! How humiliating!!"

Lin Fu, as if nothing had happened, turned his head to Albert, "Shall we continue our stroll?"

Albert was stunned for a few seconds before regaining his composure and revealing a bright smile, "Let's go for a drink!"

Unfortunately, before they could enter the venue, a voice from the shadows of the trees behind them called out, "Wait a moment, Harvey family head, may I borrow a moment of your time?"

Cheng Jiu leaned against the tree trunk, one leg casually bent, hands in his pockets, his smile extending to his eyes.

His amber eyes glinted with light, yet masked in shadow, they held an inexplicable mystery.

Albert glanced at Lin Fu and, after receiving a nod, went ahead to find his mother and sister.

Lin Fu looked up to find that not a single camera remained above; they had all been redirected away.

He approached Cheng Jiu.

Cheng Jiu straightened up and turned towards a more secluded area, with Lin Fu following behind.

He caught the scent of alcohol and asked, "Have you been drinking quite a bit?"

A huff escaped Cheng Jiu's nose, "Sigh, it's so hard to hear you call me 'brother'."

Lin Fu: "..."

Seeing Lin Fu remain silent, Cheng Jiu continued, "I just saw the Crown Prince proposing to you."

Lin Fu's brows twitched upon hearing this, "It wasn't a proposal."

Cheng Jiu, as if conceding, said, "Alright, alright. It wasn't. But why didn't you accept it?"

Lin Fu countered, "Why should I have accepted?"

Cheng Jiu suddenly sighed, "True, someone like him isn't your type."

"What is your type then? Tell me, maybe your brother can find someone suitable for you?"

Lin Fu realized Cheng Jiu was more inebriated than he thought. He had foolishly believed Cheng Jiu had something important to say and had followed him.

"Brother," he said, resigned, "Are you done? If you're satisfied, go back. Let Colonel Jing take you home. This place..."

Cheng Jiu suddenly stopped walking, and Lin Fu, who was speaking, almost bumped into the back of his head. He looked up to ask what was wrong, but his face was suddenly enveloped in a shadow.

Hot, rough palms covered his cheeks, fingers gently exploring his facial contours with an indescribable tenderness.

Lips moist with the scent of liquor pressed against his, and Lin Fu tasted the alcohol.

He was paralyzed, looking up, momentarily forgetting how to react.

It lasted maybe half a minute, perhaps even less, before Lin Fu violently pushed Cheng Jiu away, delivering an unreserved slap to his face that echoed crisply.

Furious, Lin Fu glared, his teeth nearly grinding with the intensity of his anger, "Are you sober now?"

Cheng Jiu, touching the cheek that had been slapped, saw the fury in the eyes of the little guide in front of him, looking as though he wished to leap up and bite a chunk out of him.

He whispered, "I'm awake."

Lin Fu, suppressing his rage, spat out, "Since you're awake, roll back on your own!" With that, he turned and strode away.

Cheng Jiu caught his arm, "Wait, I really did have something to talk to you about."

Lin Fu shook off his arm and scoffed, "When you figure out how to explain what just happened, then we can talk about other things!"

In a moment, he was gone without a trace.

Cheng Jiu stood there, dazed for a long while, took a few steps in the direction Lin Fu had left, then thought better of it and walked the other way, his lips curving into an uncontrollable smile.

Fingers resting against the lower lip, the mind was filled with the lingering sensation of the recent touch.

Minutes later, Cheng Jiu encountered several high-ranking officers of the legion.

Among the group, almost all were of general rank, with a few colonels interspersed.

Upon seeing Cheng Jiu, they greeted him warmly.

Someone, under the light, caught a glimpse of the half-shadowed face of Cheng Jiu and asked in surprise, "What happened to your face, Major General?"

Cheng Jiu touched the slap mark on his face, unfazed, and said, "An honorable wound."

An honorable wound?

A group of generals, perplexed, wondered what kind of 'honorable wound' it was.

Cheng Jiu, with a smile, had no intention of explaining.