Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Time swiftly advanced to the day of childbirth.

With a belly as big as a watermelon, Lu Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, he could unload his burden!

The Dog Emperor's expression was grave, as if facing an imminent enemy attack. He appeared far more nervous than when he had been in labor.

Lu Wei couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought you were the one giving birth."

The Dog Emperor held his hand, which was abnormally cold. "It's still better not to be pregnant."

Lu Wei: "Didn't they say the painless childbirth capsule would make the entire process pain-free?"

The hospital had a birthing pod, also known as a childbirth capsule. Expectant fathers and mothers were required to lie inside it throughout the procedure.

On Emperor Star, with its highly advanced technology, they had invented a birthing chamber that allowed expectant fathers to undergo the entire process painlessly – it was said to employ a harmless nerve-numbing technique.

Moreover, the birthing capsules are incredibly robust and secure, ensuring a nearly perfect success rate for offspring production.

It was precisely because of this that Lu Wei felt slightly relieved he had transmigrated to the Emperor Star.

Emperor Wo nestled against his shoulder, saying, "It doesn't matter."

Of course, the production of Spicy Chili Peppers would proceed regardless of its popularity.

Lu Wei was admitted into the facility.

As soon as he lay down, a gentle AI voice sounded:

"Mr. Lu, please relax. The Birthing Capsule is equipped with the most advanced obstetric technology, capable of gently blocking nerve pain signals without any irritation. All you need to do is lie here and follow the informational prompts, and your delivery will be completed smoothly. Thank you for your contribution to Emperor Star."

"The hypnotic signal we are emitting now will enable you to fall into a deep sleep quickly. The technology of the Birthing Capsule allows you to maintain brain activity during slumber, enabling you to give birth in your dreams for a comfortable birthing experience."

Lu Wei was guided by the AI's voice.

The presence of the cumbersome, bulging pregnancy seemed to fade in comparison.

He soon succumbed to slumber.

Once the birthing capsule was fully sealed, a nurse standing by furrowed her brow, her eyes gleaming with determination.

It was about to begin.

She had to fulfill the task assigned to her by the elders.

Once the capsule started operating, she would transmit it through the conduit.

---

In the dead of night.

The thrilling prelude was just starting to crescendo.

Those who coveted what was inside also received word from the front line.

——It's time for the birth.

Their branch's plan had its roots in their ancestors' blueprint.

Royal births were already difficult to begin with. If a pregnancy did occur, they would devise ways to bring the child into the world.

Thus, they had secretly developed a device that connected to medical facilities, allowing them to channel a birthing pod through this passage.

The expectant father in labor wouldn't sense a thing.

Afterward, they would eliminate the infant with direct royal lineage.

This device could only be used once before it would inevitably be discovered and destroyed by the royal family.

Hence, utmost caution was required.

The day of delivery would be the opportune moment.

They had finally arrived.

Every moment mattered at this point.

Throughout the night, many found it impossible to sleep.

Outside the transit passage.

The subsidiaries were waiting outside for their rendezvous.

They had invested great effort in order to seize the opportunity to deliver the capsule during childbirth.

However, this took longer than they had anticipated.

"Is it feasible, or not?"

Do you realize the amount of time and energy we've invested for this day? Even the reigning sovereign of today would not be able to perceive it.

Indeed, they have been at it for centuries.

All their efforts had led to this moment.

For the success of this plan, they couldn't afford to fail!

"There's news!"

"What is it?"

"It's a success!"

Soon, they received word of the operation's success.

Smiles bloomed on every face.

—the birthing capsules had been smuggled out!

All that remained was to crack the capsules open and eliminate both the adults and the young ones.

Their era as a branch family would then dawn!

The Birthing Capsule was an Emperor Star's highly advanced invention, which could essentially ensure painless childbirth for mothers.

Moreover, the process was impervious to any external interference.

The king had been waiting outside for him all along.

It was a double layer of assurance.

But even the most meticulous plans could have loopholes.

In truth, this wasn't an issue with the royal family.

They wouldn't have known that the branch family's plan had been in motion for a long time.

The device could only be used once.

And now, it finally found its purpose.

They had to eliminate His Majesty's child, or else the throne would pass to their branch family.

The once-suppressed branches could now revive their glory!

However, the king had detected their movements much quicker than they had anticipated.

Huo Jin was waiting outside the chamber door.

The birthing process prioritized comfort over speed, making the wait seem endless.

"Your Majesty!" someone whispered softly beside him.

The king opened his eyes, revealing their deep, dark depths.

"..."

---

The capsule carrying the expectant father was transported away.

Old Luo, with the capsule in tow, had already steered the starship into outer space.

Activating the starship would render them untouchable once they reached outer space.

They had to inspect everything with utmost urgency, wasting not a single moment.

As long as the birth was still in progress, they could destroy that infant.

The most crucial responsibility fell upon the esteemed Old Luo.

He trusted no one but himself.

Old Luo's eyes dimmed. "God has bestowed some fortune upon the Hoes. Now, it's our turn to put an end to it."

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself.

That child had to be dealt with.

Yet, there were words displayed on the birthing pod where the person lay, illuminated in glaring red.

"The delivery process has concluded."

Old Luo's heart, filled with joy, turned to ashes in an instant.

In disbelief, Old Luo exclaimed, "What about the child!"

His hands trembled, seized by the magnitude of this one, perhaps last, chance in a century. His teeth chattered as he repeated, "What about the child!"

As long as the child was alive, they had not lost.

The subordinate on communication conveyed a tone of utter despair, "The child... has been relocated. They're no longer in the incubation pod."

He had been safely settled elsewhere.

Old Luo roared in anger, "He reacted so swiftly! When did he move the infant?"

His subordinate took a deep breath, "There's still a chance. If we take that young man hostage, considering how much the Emperor dotes on him, we might be able to negotiate for the baby's release."

Indeed.

The young man who had just given birth was still on their starship, lying in a birthing pod.

Based on his subordinate's speculation, if they proposed a one-for-one exchange, the monarch would likely agree.

Though it was humiliating, it would at least achieve their goal.

Old Luo found the idea absurd and chuckled despite his anger. "How do you plan to use him as a hostage?"

Subordinate: "He won't be able to ignore this person's safety."

At the peak of his frustration, Old Luo laughed again. "Do you know that interstellar birthing pods have the most advanced security technology? None of us could forcefully breach it without harming the person inside."

Subordinate: "Then... what if we threaten to throw the birthing pod into outer space if he doesn't hand over the child?"

Old Luo: "That would be equivalent to directly giving them back the pod! Birthing pods are small spacecraft equipped with navigation systems. Wouldn't throwing it out just play right into their hands?"

"..."

In other words, the capsule was utterly useless in their hands...

By the time Old Luo finished his brief statement, they had been surrounded by the Emperor Star's Imperial Guard fleet.

This was a royal military force; there was no chance for them to break through their encirclement.

The subordinate's voice trembled with anxiety, "They've surrounded us, what should we do, Old Luo!"

Old Luo knew that he had reached a dead end.

He had exhausted all his resources to get here, only to be cornered in the end.

Old Luo gritted his teeth, clenching them audibly.

With no alternatives left, he could only remove the birthing capsule.

He needed to pilot the spaceship out immediately.

As long as Lu Wei was still alive, there was a possibility. After all, they just wanted the child dead; exchanging the adult wouldn't be a loss either.

With his teeth gritted, Old Luo clearly had no other choice left: "Let's offer them the larger one in exchange for the smaller one! Let's see if they're open to negotiation!"

"Old Luo, Huo Jin is currently in a towering rage. If he were to hear our suggestion, he would surely tear us apart!"

Appearances might suggest they still had an escape route, but in reality, they were out of options.

There was no way they would abandon Lu Wei over there, and in the neighboring galaxy...

But their priority was the infant; Lu Wei was of no significance to them!

Lu Wei stirred awake, dazed, from within the cryo-pod.

Gazing out the window, all he could see was a surreal, dazzling landscape.

"..."

He was no longer on Emperor Star; instead, he was in space!

Lu Wei attempted to sit up for a clearer view, but his legs felt weak and unyielding to his commands.

Most importantly, there was a significant weight pressing down on his abdomen.

"The delivery is in progress. Please, expectant father, maintain your position and avoid unnecessary movements to prevent any adverse effects on the process!"

His stomach still felt incredibly uncomfortable.

Blinded by the laser, Lu Wei was oblivious to what was happening.

It wasn't until the pod announced the commencement of the second delivery that he realized the situation at hand—

He wasn't carrying just one life within him, but two!

No wonder his belly had grown so large, resembling someone six months pregnant after only three.

Carrying twins would naturally result in a much larger pregnancy bump, wouldn't it?!!

That was merely the first; the other one within his womb had yet to emerge.

The Birthing Capsule had made an erroneous judgment as well. It had just displayed "Delivery Complete," but now it switched back to the green "Delivery in Progress."

Lu Wei didn't have time to ponder where he was or where that newborn had been taken.

The Birthing Capsule forced him onto his back and began blocking out the pain signals in his brain.

He could only close his eyes.

No one was aware that the delivery process was still ongoing.

Old Luo, despite carrying this Birthing Capsule, was already stretched thin and had neither the time nor energy to attend to Lu Wei.

"Old Luo, our starship is surrounded by Huo Jin and his men! These are his Royal Guards, trained by him personally. We stand no chance."

Old Luo's teeth gritted tightly. They still had Lu Wei in their hands.

But so what?

The child is already in the royal family's hands.

Moreover, the birthing capsule is under the Empire's ultra-secure encryption. They can't open it, and if they throw it out, the safety measures will activate, rendering it impossible to harm Lu Wei even a single finger.

Using him as a hostage is out of the question.

Despair oozed from the subordinate's voice, indicating that all options had been exhausted. "Old Luo, please give us orders quickly! The surrounding areas are all Emperor Star's affiliated planets. His Majesty has issued an order to lock down the region. If we land, we'll be arrested on the spot!"

Looking out at the vast expanse of the stellar universe, a hint of confusion clouded Old Luo's eyes.

Was their century-long plan finally destined to crumble during his generation?

"No, it can't be!"

There must be a way, there simply must be!

After passing through a streak of light, a wild idea suddenly struck Old Luo.

He grinned widely. "Does Huo Jin think he can control everything? No, of course not."

The tone was neurotic, tinged with madness at the end.

It sent a chill down the spine of his subordinate in communication, who then asked, "Is there still a way out?"

Old Luo sneered. "There's no way anymore."

"..."

Old Luo burst into laughter. "But how could I possibly let them off easy? He's pushed me to this point. Even if I die, I won't let him have an easy time either!"

The subordinate panicked. "What do you plan to do?"

Old Luo changed course. "Doesn't he care? Whatever he cares about, I'll destroy it even more! Even if our plan fails, I'll still take a chunk out of him!"

"That place is—"

"The Omnidirectional Halo!"

A newly discovered category of halo was found during the Great Conquest era.

Should one collide with this halo, they would be randomly transported to an unknown coordinate, possibly even outside their own galaxy.

No one knew if one could survive entering it; the journey through space might tear their body apart into fragments.

Moreover, Old Luo possessed a subsystem from a royal side branch, and though his genetic ailment wasn't as severe as that of the main lineage, he still had underlying health issues.

Crashing into the Omnidirectional Halo would exacerbate his condition. Not to mention the spatial tearing, the worsening illness alone would guarantee his demise!

His subordinate urgently cried out, "Do you intend to pilot the starship into the Omnidirectional Halo? You'll surely die!"

Old Luo's smile twisted into a malevolent grin. "I'm already an old man, anyway. Death will come sooner or later. Isn't it a two-birds-with-one-stone solution to drag that arrogant brat Huo Jin down to hell with me before I go?"

Old Luo wasn't just talking; he genuinely steered the starship straight towards the Omnidirectional Halo.

Without this randomly appearing halo today, they would have been utterly defeated.

Even without knowing about the traps set up by their predecessors, Huo Jin had pushed them into a desperate situation.

The child had long been relocated.

And they couldn't move the birthing pod.

If not for this unexpected turn of events, not only would their secret device be exposed, their lives would be in peril as well. The entire clan could be eradicated under the pretense of dealing with the issue!

"Old Luo! The branch family still needs you!! We can still negotiate with His Majesty, there might still be a chance to survive!"

Old Luo sneered. "Negotiate? That's merely prolonging our suffering! The child has already been born. Nothing we do now can alter the outcome. Whether I'm here or not, it makes no difference."

The branch family was ultimately unable to reach that position of power.

By choosing death today, he hoped to bring unbearable pain to Huo Jin, which would be some consolation.

The Omnidirectional Halo was created randomly.

And now, for it to appear right before him, wasn't it a sign from the heavens?

Seems like God also wanted him to make a contribution to their branch before he died.

With his remaining days already numbered, it made little difference whether he faced death straightforwardly or tried to avoid it. Might as well die alongside that favored young man.

One can imagine that the current emperor's countenance would be quite pleasing to behold.

With Old Luo at the helm, the starship plunged head-on into the depths of the halo, his voice echoing loudly, "Let's die together!!"

The starship plunged breathtakingly into a dazzling halo.

In an instant, it vanished.

"Old Luo!"

But there was no response.

It was too late.

The starship had collided with the Omnidirectional Halo.

Entering it would mean being randomly transported to any planet, potentially one located millions or even billions of light-years away from Emperor Star.

Once there, it would be near impossible to locate them again.

That starship vanished into thin air.

Not a single trace was left behind, as if it had never existed in the first place.

No one knew if anyone could survive entering that random teleportation aura.

But for Old Luo, death was certain. The mere passage through the light ribbon had its toll, let alone crashing straight into its depths.

A child had already been taken away, leading them to believe that the plan had failed.

Unbeknownst to them, the pregnant man inside the capsule still carried another life within him.