Chapter 49

Chapter 49

On Planet K, where Danjiao was undergoing training.

A cub and an eagle walked together, attracting much attention.

Lu Lan returned to the residence prepared for them by their team leader.

The teacher had specifically instructed them that many of the young contestants here were either wealthy or from influential backgrounds, and they couldn't afford to provoke them.

They were to behave well and not cause trouble.

Danjiao led the Eagle-Eyed Hawk back, feeling slightly guilty: This shouldn't count as causing trouble, right?

The little cub allowed the Eagle-Eyed Hawk's claws to grasp onto his backpack strap, returning with the bird in tow like this.

The cub warned, "Don't make any noise later, I'm going to sneak in."

—Referring to sneaking into the dormitory through a hole.

Danjiao's plan was indeed commendable, and Gyrfalcon cooperated by obediently lying on Pang Qiu's back.

A childish, domineering voice rang from behind them:

"What's on your back?"

The burrowing came to a halt.

Danjiao turned around and stood up.

Shaking off the dust from his clothes, he whispered, "Shh!"

Danjiao held out a finger in a hushing gesture.

The child reached out to touch the eagle. "Is this an eagle? Can I take a look?"

Danjiao tried to hide the Gyrfalcon behind his backpack. "No, you can't. Uncle Scarface said it's very fierce."

The child crossed his arms and chuckled. "He wouldn't even dare peck at you. Would he dare to peck at me? My father is a general on Sohma Hekh planet, he has an A-grade gene."

Actually, Danjiao had no idea if his words would have any effect.

All he knew was that Judgy Eagle's expression was undoubtedly aimed at provoking him.

Danjiao gestured to the eagle, urging it to calm down obediently.

Seeing how submissive Judgy Eagle was, the child confidently approached and stroked its eye. "Why is one of your eyes still blind?"

Judgy Eagle had a fiery temper. Perhaps its wound was touched painfully, causing it to let out a piercing cry towards the sky.

Its sharp beak immediately pecked at the child.

Danjiao had initially thought that the child was quite brave, but after being pecked, the kid burst into tears. "Ahh wuwuwu!"

Danjiao was at a loss, using his clothes to wipe away the child's tears. "Don't cry. Danjiao has been pecked before too; it won't hurt in a while."

Wh-Who said it wouldn't hurt??

It hurt like hell! That beak was sharp and piercing, as if it were going to pierce through flesh.

It hurts so much!

The child cried, wiping away tears and snot, pushing Danjiao away disdainfully. "Don't touch me with your dirty clothes!"

Danjiao scolded the vulture-eyed eagle. "You can peck at Danjiao all you want, but you can't peck at other delicate children like that, understand?!"

The vulture-eyed eagle obediently rubbed against Pang Qiu's belly, showing that it had understood.

It was as well-behaved as a domesticated pet.

The child's crying stopped. "I'm the only son of General Shumahe from Planet Shumahe. Do you understand? You're the one who's delicate!"

Danjiao whispered softly, "Look, we won't be able to afford to compensate for this later!"

The vulture-eyed eagle looked pitiful.

It was the child who had provoked it first.

The child continued, "Give me that eagle. I'll cook it and eat it!"

Danjiao shook his head. "No can do."

"You... Do you know who my father is? He could easily deal with someone like you, a powerless peasant, do you understand?"

Danjiao didn't mind it himself, but he didn't want to involve his father.

Thus, he obediently fell silent.

Seeing his reaction, the child became even more certain of their assumption.

This dirty fellow was indeed an ordinary peasant.

The child spoke haughtily, "My father is a general. Dealing with someone like you would be as simple as lifting a finger!"

Danjiao was stunned!

Pang Qiu didn't apologize but instead ran away with the eagle-eyed vulture in his arms.

Behind him came the child's frustrated curses.

...

The nightly routine call took place.

It was a three-dimensional communication.

His father's handsome face appeared on the screen.

Lu Wei raised an eyebrow.

Normally, he would be all smiles when seen, and if not, it meant he was guilty.

Lu Wei crossed his arms. "You've caused trouble."

Danjiao denied, "Nope."

Lu Wei called his name calmly, "Lu Lan."

Upon hearing his father's voice, Danjiao felt his eyes welling up. "Mm."

Danjiao turned his head and blinked, "I found an eagle, it wants to come home with me."

No one knows a child better than their father.

Lu Wei narrowed his eyes, "What kind of eagle is it?"

Danjiao aimed his bracelet at the vulture-eyed eagle.

It was majestic, yet one of its eyes was blind.

It didn't seem like an ordinary creature one could easily encounter.

Lu Wei said, "Found it on the road? Lu Lan, do you think your dad's an idiot?"

Danjiao wiped his tears with his chubby hands, "Dad, it pecked someone, that person said they'd put us in jail."

Lu Wei asked, "What happened to your forehead?"

Danjiao replied, "That person hit me."

Lu Wei: "Tell Father the whole story."

Having learned the full account, Lu Wei instructed his child with authority—

"Fight back next time!"

Danjiao lifted his head, still looking bewildered.

Doting Father repeated himself: "Next time, fight back if they provoke you!"

Danjiao rubbed his eyes. "But he said their family is very powerful."

But Father was different. He had raised Danjiao single-handedly, sacrificing and saving for their livelihood. If Father were to suffer because of someone else, Danjiao would also feel hurt.

Fiery Pepper balled up his sleeves. "Your father is a black belt in Skillet Fighting! One hit, one kill! How powerful can their family be? Don't you know that you're a prestigious McDonald's member, a Vinyl Noble?"

Danjiao wasn't usually prone to tears, but hearing his father's voice made him feel unjustly wronged.

"Does he think my Brother Danjiao has no one backing him up? So brazen!" Fiery Pepper fumed. "I'll buy a ticket right now. I'll be there tomorrow. If anyone dares bully my Brother Danjiao!"

Danjiao sniffled. "Daddy, am I a burden? If I cause trouble, will you abandon me?"

Lu Wei was surprised that Danjiao knew this term.

"Who told you that?"

Danjiao pondered. Everyone in the attic said so, mentioning how it was difficult for single fathers to raise children.

They said that if not for him, Lu Wei wouldn't have to live in such a terrible place.

Lu Wei asked, "Is that why you didn't dare to fight back?"

Danjiao nodded and then shook his head. "He said his father was a general, and he had a title, so he could do whatever he wanted with me."

Lu Wei's anger flared. "I'm still an emperor, and you're my crown prince."

Danjiao's mood improved, and the corners of his lips lifted into a charming smile. "Daddy is the emperor of frozen food, and Danjiao is the scavenging crown prince."

Lu Wei: "..."

Son.

Let's drop this subject.

Coughing, Lu Wei continued his lesson, "If it's not Danjiao's fault, you should retaliate twice as hard, without enduring any injustice. Do you understand? A child shouldn't always bear things alone without telling their father. That's not right."

Danjiao nodded earnestly.

Lu Wei asked, "What should you do if something happens next time?"

Danjiao replied in a childish voice, "Tell Father first."

"No, hit back first."

"Okay."

Father would always be on his side.

Even if he had truly caused trouble, it would be the same.

After ending the three-dimensional call, Danjiao's mood cheered up again.

He happily drifted into dreamland with the thought that his father would come the next day.

---

On Emperor Star.

Following the young master's suggestion, they didn't rush over but instead sought the opinion of the opposing chef first.

As a result, Lu Wei received another call from the interviewer.

Right after disconnecting from Little Fatty Pang's communication, the next one connected seamlessly.

The caller told him to go to Emperor Star.

Lu Wei: ???

On a planet light-years away from him.

He must be out of his mind to go.

Lu Wei promptly replied, "Not going."

Normally, the interviewer wouldn't persist under normal circumstances.

Because the other party had been decisive when arranging the payment and accommodations two days ago, not insisting on his physical presence and allowing for a direct shipment instead.

But today, they seemed particularly insistent, still asking. They even offered an exceptionally generous condition, ten times more than what was previously given.

Lu Wei: "Shit."

This money wasn't something to joke about.

But his child was participating in a competition, so it was definitely impossible to go there anytime soon.

After some deliberation, Lu Wei replied, "I can go next month. Will I be working as a full-time chef for you then?"

The interviewer promptly replied, "Yes, a full-time chef. But Mr. Lu, you'll be a bit late next month. How about tomorrow? The employer here is rather eager."

Lu Wei: "Isn't your employer okay with delivery?"

The interviewer thought to himself: His employer might be fine with it, but his employer's employer definitely isn't. How could His Majesty tolerate someone defying his orders?

Now he was stuck in a dilemma.

What if he accidentally offended the chef while trying to persuade him?

The interviewer said earnestly, "Well, um... Mr. Lu, please agree. We can still give you an extra two or three days to pack your things."

Lu Wei: ????

Lu Wei: "Why does that sound like I'm in a desperate situation?"

The interviewer had received instructions from the princess to respectfully invite the chef over and ensure he was treated with dignity.

After all, she was the one who facilitated this connection, so she was determined to convince the chef immediately. If persuasion failed, His Majesty would send someone to escort the chef personally.

In that case, their role as intermediaries was truly thankless, inexplicably offending the chef guest they had their eyes on.

What kind of temperament did Lu Wei have? Could he be intimidated by others?

"I don't think so. What's the problem? Are you hiring a chef or a personal secretary? Didn't you initially say that flexibility to work locally was agreed upon?"

The interviewer wore an expression of distress: "Yes…"

After Lu Wei rejected the offer, it was only natural that the princess regent would learn of it, and subsequently, the king would as well.

They offered to take the initiative and try persuading him again.

Of course, the outcome was a failed attempt at communication, with the chef unwilling to come over.

However, they managed to extract from the chef that he was currently on planet K.

...

In the distant Emperor Star, the interviewer, Enli, wore a pained mask in front of the young prince.

Emperor of the Emperor Star has never been one to mince words, and with a wave of his hand, he ordered troops to be sent to Planet K to retrieve the individual in question by force.

Gently pinching the plump cheeks of Pang Qiu, the Emperor said, "See, Huo Nian, this is the power of communication."

Interviewer Enli, whose attempt at communication had failed: "..."

The Emperor had already given the order for capture, and it was clear that military intervention would be necessary for a successful apprehension.

The Emperor lectured, "Do you understand? This is how problems should be resolved."

The young prince nodded earnestly, "Mm-hmm."

Interviewer Enli thought to himself, unsure of how to express it, but feeling that this method of upbringing wasn't quite right.

However, he dared not even breathe loudly, standing firmly in place with a focused gaze, observing his own nose and keeping his mind centered.

The young prince pondered for a moment before asking, "Father, can I come along too?"

With his chubby, rosy cheeks and an unusually serious expression on his face, the young prince's request was sincere.

The king narrowed his eyes. "You want to go?"

Pang Qiu nodded seriously. "I also want to go to Planet K."

"Why?"

The little prince rubbed his face with his chubby hands. "Father, since we're inviting them, I think it would show more sincerity if I went myself."

Enli was touched, wiping away tears. Even though His Majesty didn't act like a human, their little prince was still very polite.

But now, at only two and a half years old, he might be corrupted if he continued being influenced by the king. Sigh.

His Majesty yawned. "As the crown prince of Emperor Star, you can have anything you want. It would be faster to just capture the person directly."

The little prince blinked. "I want to go."

Staring at him for a while, the king clicked his tongue. "Just like your mother. You've been here for mere months and you're already on familiar terms with the attendants."

When mentioning the queen, his expression darkened, and his tone was ambiguous, making it hard to tell if it was good or bad.

Well, His Majesty had given his approval, but the adjutant would have to accompany him.

Of course, the adjutant was more than willing. Wouldn't it be safer to travel with the courteous and quiet Young Prince instead of staying by His Majesty's side? Ever since the loss of the Fiery Pepper, His Majesty had become even more irrational – anyone who approached could meet a tragic end.

—Except for the young one with the Fiery Pepper genes.

If you asked the adjutant if he was willing, he'd promptly start packing without hesitation.

Taking the trouble-free Young Prince on a trip was like being on vacation; it was that relaxed.

Thus, the adjutant set off with the Young Prince aboard a starship.

Their destination was Planet K, home to a renowned chef.

---

Recently, the pirate crew had caught wind of some news.

His Majesty of Emperor Star had set his sights on their possessions.

A ring.

They were rather vexed about getting rid of it.

Supposedly, the scarred man had swindled it from a child.

The leader of the hunting group said, "Something you can't sell is useless."

Although, based on the description, the child was from a common family, and the ring was an accidental find.

Since it had been polished into a ring, it indicated that it already had an owner.

If they were to put it up for sale directly on the Star Network, there was a high chance the owner would spot it.

Then, if they came seeking revenge, it would be the end.

This object represented power and status.

Those who could tell its value dared not accept it, while those who couldn't were disdainful of wanting it.

They could only bitterly release the news and see who would be willing to purchase it.

Scarred Man: "Since His Majesty of Emperor Star has expressed his interest, why don't we sell it to him? Firstly, whoever gets it won't dare to cause him trouble. Secondly, we can't get rid of this item anyway, so having someone take it off our hands is for the best."

Boss: "Do you think I don't know that? But have you thought about who that person is? If he's unhappy, neither you nor I will keep our heads. How can we continue doing business?"

Scarred Man had only heard rumors but had never met the emperor. He replied, "Fortune favors the brave."

Boss's eyes widened: "I'm not going. You go yourself."

Scarred Man was unconcerned: "Boss, why are you being so cautious? If we miss this opportunity, there won't be another buyer for this ring in the future."

Boss: "You..."

A young calf is fearless.

He had seen the emperor before and did not wish to meet him again.

"I'll definitely go," he said.

The scarred man aimed to profit from Emperor Star and thus presented himself on a swift cruiser bound for that destination.

His journey was unimpeded all the way.

Upon learning that he was a "guest" of His Majesty, all attendants greeted him with warm smiles, allowing him passage without hindrance.

The scarred man found it far less intimidating than he had imagined; everyone seemed quite polite toward him.

An attendant led him all the way into the grand hall.

The gilded splendor left him awestruck.

Before his eyes stood the rumored Emperor himself.

The scarred man dared not raise his head, instead bowing respectfully. "We bring this humble offering to Your Majesty, hoping that you might consider establishing a trade route with Aha."

They presented a delicate little box.

Emperor Star's ruler yawned indolently, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

The servants were accustomed to seeing all sorts of treasures and did not approach.

This left the scarred man in an awkward position, unable to back down. He steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, this is a crystal that appears only once in a thousand years. It's said that its growth conditions are extremely stringent, and even with wealth, one might not be able to acquire it. Hence, I bring it as a tribute to Your Majesty."

The emperor played with the jade in his hand, simply responding with an "Oh."

The scarred man was envious; that small piece could buy a whole small planet, yet Emperor Star's ruler was using it as a toy.

Only then did the servant take over the small box.

The scarred man said, "Please have a look, Your Majesty."

He opened the box.

Inside was the Eternity Blue Crystal ring he had "exchanged" from Danjiao.

The scarred man continued, "This blue crystal surfaces only once every millennium. Without a special encounter, it's impossible to come across it. Moreover, it's a contract crystal. Upon completion of the contractual vow, the stone will emit a dazzling glow."

His eyelids twitched fiercely.

The Emperor opened his eyes.

He gazed at the delicate ring.

It was indeed his ring.

Fixing his dark pupils on him, the Emperor asked, "Where did you get this ring?"

Seeing that he had piqued the Emperor's interest, the man with the scar felt a surge of delight. "I came across it during my travels. I helped out a species, and in return, they gifted me this crystal. Then, I had it crafted into a ring."

The scarred man was an accomplished liar, spinning tales seamlessly.

Deception was an innate skill etched into their souls. He was confident in his ability to cover his tracks perfectly, leaving no trace for anyone to detect.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor let out a cryptic laugh.

Repeating the man's words, the Emperor said, "Oh, they gave it to you."

The scarred man sensed a chilling tone in the Emperor's voice, making his entire body shiver. He almost knelt down on the spot but managed to maintain his composure and continued, "Yes, I'm a traveling hunter. Whenever I visit other planets, I usually bring some gifts. This time, I brought seeds that were suitable for growth to a desert planet, and as a result, plants flourished there. To express their gratitude, they presented me with this precious crystal."

The Emperor held his chin, his tone seemingly intrigued, though his pupils grew even darker. "Try it on."

Scarred Man: "..."

He was unsure what the Emperor meant by that.

But he absolutely could not wear it.

Firstly, the size was inappropriate, and secondly, the ring wouldn't glow.

The Emperor nonchalantly said, "I've heard that once the contractor wears this stone, it will emit dazzling light."

He hadn't expected the Emperor of Emperor Star to have actually heard of this.

Indeed, when its owner wore this stone, it would shine a thousand times brighter than any ordinary gemstone.

Upon removal, it would lose its luster and appear dull, causing many who couldn't recognize its value to dismiss it as scrap metal.

Scarred Man: "..."

"Try it on."

The man with the scar was indeed willing to try, but this wasn't his. He had obtained it from a young child through deception.

No matter how he wore it, the ring wouldn't emit any light.

The Emperor's pupils grew darker than before, as if heavy shadows were swirling within, almost condensing into tangible substance.

Veins bulged prominently on his hand.

He exuded an oppressive aura that was terrifying enough to make one kneel on the spot. It was an innate pressure that came with being at the pinnacle of genetics, and he made no effort to conceal it.

Not only the man with the scar, but everyone else remained silent as well.

The atmosphere grew even more terrifying than before.

The man with the scar took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Since this ring has been offered to His Majesty, it already belongs to him."

The emperor chuckled.

The tone was cold, more of a prelude to an impending eruption of anger than a genuine laugh.

He supported his chin with one hand while casually gesturing with the other to a servant.

With this simple "bring it here" signal, the scarred man caught sight of the ring on the emperor's ring finger.

That ring on His Majesty's ring finger—

It was silver in color, with a blue gemstone embedded in the center. The stone refracted light, emitting a dazzling glow.

The light was clear and beautiful, instantly revealing that the material was of considerable value.

More importantly, it was identical to the one he had just presented as tribute.

Identical?

How could it possibly be identical?

The scarred man instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

There were only two possibilities.

First, the ring in his hand was a counterfeit. Imitating royal rings and circulating replicas in the market was a common occurrence.

However, the scarred man knew that the blue crystal he held was genuine.

So, that possibility was ruled out.

That left only one other explanation—

The ring he currently held matched the one His Majesty wore.

The scarred man lifted his head in a daze, locking eyes with the Emperor of Emperor Star.

His Majesty seemed to have had a poor rest, as his eyes were bloodshot, revealing a palpable aura of aggression.

The attendant respectfully took the exquisite box and presented it to the Emperor.

The Emperor stroked the ring while smiling. "It's not mine."

At these words, the scarred man heaved a sigh of relief. He felt as if he had just survived a calamity and was filled with gratitude.

If it wasn't the Emperor's, then it couldn't be a matching ring.

However, the Emperor's next sentence plunged the scarred man's heart into despair.

"After all, I gave it to my Queen three years ago."

Scarred Man:??

Queen?

It was true that there were rumors in nearby galaxies about how much the Emperor loved his Queen and was searching for her after she went missing, but those were merely casual conversations over meals.

The scarred man attempted to speak several times, but no words came out.

The Emperor lifted his eyelids. "In other words, you've assisted my Queen in the past, and this is what she gave you?"

Aside from the Emperor's voice, not a single soul in the grand hall dared to speak, leaving only the uneven breathing sounds filling the air.

The scarred man didn't dare to respond; he was on the verge of fainting.

"Emperor, Emperor, I don't know the Queen, nor have I ever seen her," he stammered.

The Emperor smiled and asked, "Then where did this ring come from?"

Silence.

How could the scarred man have known that the ring he stole belonged to someone he couldn't afford to offend? If he had foreseen his current predicament, he would never have bothered with that little brat.

"Speak."

The Emperor approached him, towering above, "Where did you get this ring?"

The scarred man's legs trembled, his voice quivering, "What I said earlier about traveling to the planet to help the villagers, that was a lie... I got this ring in the Z galaxy."

The Emperor's voice held a restrained madness, "Who, and how did you obtain it?"

"I, I hunted an Eagle Eye out in space, so I thought I'd exchange it for some funds at the nearest Treasure House related to the latest play. Who knew that after landing on a nearby planet, I would encounter a child outside the Treasure House. The child was dressed simply and didn't seem to come from an affluent family, so I only gave him a glance before entering the Treasure House..."

The attendant smiled and prompted, "Just answer His Majesty's questions."

The scarred man swallowed hard. "A child. I traded the Eagle Eye with him."

"A child?"

The scarred man dared not elaborate and answered precisely what he was asked. "A boy who looked to be about two or three years old. He had this ring in a wooden box. I caught sight of it and offered to trade with him."

The monarch's pupils darkened. "Not a young man in his twenties with short hair?"

The scarred man shook his head.

Too nervous to articulate himself clearly, he could only respond instinctively.

"There can't be any mistake. It was a very young child."

"I don't recall which planet in the Z galaxy it was, but the child was wearing rather ordinary attire."

The emperor rose to his feet. "Prepare the starship."

The scarred man dared not utter a word. The emperor's expression clearly conveyed his intent to eliminate him.

Who could have known that in his attempt to swindle a child's ring, he had stumbled upon a steel wall!

The subordinate promptly organized the boarding of the starship in an orderly manner.

The emperor turned to him. "You're coming too."

Scarred Man: "I... I recall visiting Planet E, Planet P, Pasla Star, and... K Planet."

The more he spoke, the more disoriented he became. Coupled with the numerous scams and thefts, he couldn't recall which planet the child had fallen for his trick.

Huo Jin's eyes darkened. "If it weren't for the need for you to identify the person, it would be more convenient for you to go with your head on a platter."

The rumors were not exaggerated in the slightest.

The Emperor of Emperor Star was truly terrifying.

The man with the scar only regretted his past self for deceiving that innocent child for the ring.

It didn't matter that he couldn't fully profit from the theft; now, he had attracted the attention of Emperor Star's sovereign.

With a curved corner of his mouth, the sovereign's eyes, however, held no mirth: "We'll search one by one. You'd better pray we find them."

The attendant released his grip, looking down at him with superiority.

The scarred man seized the opportunity to catch his breath.

Observing the Emperor, who didn't even have time to change clothes before descending to give commands.

No matter how the ring ended up there.

There would always be clues in the Z-star system.