Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Both groups entered the banquet hall together, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Lin Sixing and his companion did not spot Lin Fu among them, exchanging puzzled glances.

Everyone was well aware of whom the banquet was really for.

How could the protagonist not be present?

The people from the Fourth Army were together with those from the Ninth.

The absence of Lin Fu caused many eyes to flicker.

It was at this moment that the Crown Prince arrived at the banquet.

Lin Sixing and his companion were invited by the Crown Prince, and they approached to pay their respects.

However, the Crown Prince headed straight for the members of the Fourth Regiment.

...If they weren't mistaken, the person whom the Crown Prince approached was a classmate who had been on good terms with Lin Fu during the Desert Star competition... also the heir to the Harvey family.

The couple exchanged glances, curious if the Crown Prince would erupt in anger the next second.

Lin Fu had torn off the royal family's face and thrown it to the ground for all to trample upon, and it would not be surprising if the Crown Prince lost his temper on the spot at the banquet.

There were many others just like the couple.

The Crown Prince and the representatives of the Fourth Army became the focal point of the entire banquet.

The Crown Prince revealed a smile.

Dressed in a platinum suit, he greeted Albert with the utmost politeness, as if completely unaware of the recent developments on the star network.

"Lord Harvey, long time no see."

Having said that, he turned to look at Cheng Jiu: "General Cheng, it's been a long time since we last met."

Albert nodded, "Your Highness, I heard you were recently with the First Regiment. How did you find the time to return for the banquet?"

The Crown Prince smiled nonchalantly, "Because this banquet is held in honor of Major Lin. Speaking of which, why haven't I seen Major Lin?"

Albert's gaze was inquisitive as he stared at the Crown Prince, the azure of his eyes twinkling, "A minor issue with his psychic energy, he needs rest. I trust Your Highness wouldn't mind me attending the banquet in place of my superior?"

The Crown Prince looked at him in surprise, "Ill? Is it serious? Has a doctor been consulted? There are several skilled imperial physicians in the palace, perhaps we could have them take a look?"

From the side, Cheng Jiu interjected with a smile, "Your Highness is overly concerned. The medics of the Fourth Regiment are surely no less competent than the palace physicians. And if all else fails, there are always the medics from the Ninth Regiment."

The Crown Prince was at a loss for words.

The competence of the Fourth Regiment's medics was debatable, but the Ninth Regiment's medics nearly included the best doctors in the entire interstellar community.

Having the Ninth Regiment's medics intervene would make calling for imperial physicians seem like a farce.

Cheng Jiu's eyes curved in a smile, the amber of his gaze veiled in the gray shadows, rendering the smile somewhat insincere.

He said, "I wonder if Your Highness has seen the comments on the star network lately? Such as the disclaimers?"

Simon Constantine's expression collapsed instantly.

He forced a smile, "Of course, I intend to apologize to Major Lin... But I also want him to know that my intentions were genuine, albeit a bit impulsive. I should have consulted his opinion before acting rashly and causing him trouble; that was my mistake."

The amusement in Cheng Jiu's eyes seemed to fade a touch.

Light-colored pupils felt cold, and as the amusement waned, a sense of oppression began to rise.

"If the Empire truly has Major Lin's interests at heart, it's not just Your Highness who should show concern. If everyone acted like you, I fear Major Lin would be too busy quashing rumors to find time for the battlefield."

The Crown Prince's fist clenched abruptly.

Cheng Jiu's lips curled higher, and he strode further into the banquet hall, casually picking up a glass of wine from a server's tray.

Albert and the others did not hesitate to follow suit and leave.

Before departing, they cast a glance at Simon Constantine, a trace of mockery barely perceptible in their eyes.

Simon stood there, taking a deep breath.

He tilted his head slightly upward, observing the shadow of a camera reflected on the crystal chandelier hanging from the great hall's dome, exhaling a breath.

Stubborn, aren't we?

Unable to attend even a banquet, it seems Lin Fan is truly ill, bedridden and immobile.

That bastard from the Harvey family is utterly worthless. If it weren't for Cheng Jiu's watchful eyes tonight, I could have made him slip up more... What a pity.

But no matter, as long as Lin Fan falls, everything will be up for discussion.

Without Lin Fan, the Fourth Regiment is nothing but loose sand.

However, I mustn't act now.

Lin Fan is still of use.

I need to devise a way to wring out the last ounce of value from Lin Fan before letting him die.

Simon Constantine lowered his head, quickly leaving the hall through the crowd, his lips slowly curling into a satisfied smile.

……

In a corner, neglected by the guests, Lin Sixing and Luo Qirui witnessed everything.

They watched as the Crown Prince, verbally cornered by Cheng Jiu, turned pale yet restrained his anger, even repeatedly expressing his feelings for Lin Fan.

They were no fools; whether these feelings were genuine was debatable.

What mattered most was Lin Fan's status.

The current Lin Fan was significant enough to make the Crown Prince swallow his pride, the commander of the Ninth Regiment to offer support, and the head of the Harvey family to attend in his stead.

Such status and identity—if not for the earlier folly, the Lin family might now be on par with the royal house.

Instead, they were as they are now, barely invited to royal banquets and relegated to cold seats in the corners.

The disparity in status was stark and hard to accept.

The more they looked at what was within reach, the more they craved it and the more they regretted.

They had to find a way to bring Lin Fan back to the Lin family!

……

After the banquet, Albert and his two companions returned to the manor.

The manor belonging to Cheng Jiu.

True to his word, he had brought Lin Fan to see the manor, and now it belonged to Lin Fan.

The property covered a vast area, making it the temporary base for the Fourth Army.

...As for their original base, Lin Fan had no intention of giving it up.

Since the royal family and the council had taken over the original base, he would have to make them provide a better location.

Tang Qian removed his coat and draped it over the sofa: "I saw your parents at the banquet tonight."

Lin Fan was reading a book in the middle of the sofa.

He was nestled in a corner, legs crossed on the sofa, cradling the book.

At these words, he looked up from his book: "They went to the palace banquet? Invited by Simon Constantine?"

Albert: "It seems so. But Simon Constantine wasn't sincere. They were neglected in a corner, hardly a way to show admiration for you."

Tang Qian's expression was cold: "If he truly loved and admired, what he should do is not invite Lin Fan's parents over, but to clear up the poisoning incident from the past and send the Lin family to prison."

Lin Fan placed a bookmark in the pages, closed the book, and set it on the shelf: "I'll look into it. It's late; rest up. There's much to do tomorrow."

Cheng Jiu stood at the door, watching the three leave.

Tang Qian looked back at Cheng Jiu before leaving, but Albert pulled him away by the head.

After the three had left, the door closed behind them.

Cheng Jiu removed his military cap, unbuttoning the top two buttons, and leaned against the back of the sofa where Lin Fan was: "How's your recovery today?"

Lying on the sofa, Lin Fan could look directly into Cheng Jiu's eyes as he turned his head.

With his arm as a pillow, a black panther appeared on his legs.

Crouched atop his knees, the animal bowed its head to lick the fur of its foreleg, its round ears twitching. Its tail swayed leisurely behind, draping over the edge of the sofa.