Chapter 70

Chapter 70

The current situation in the empire appeared peaceful on the surface, but secret rivalries were constantly unfolding behind closed doors.

Yale was not deeply involved in these affairs, but he had kept himself informed of the progress.

Due to his support and the fact that the First Prince had amassed considerable power over the past five years, the plan was progressing smoothly.

For him, there had been a string of good news over the past half-month. However, it was likely that Cano was now in a desperate situation.

Soon, Yale received an email from the Hybrids' Association, informing him that he needed to fulfill his duties as a noble hybrid and provide psychological counseling to a disturbed female insectoid in a state of unrest.

Xi Ze, who had initially intended to accompany him, looked apologetic after receiving a communication.

"Sorry, my lord, there's been an issue over there that requires my immediate attention..."

Yale took the coat that 015 offered, unfolded it, and draped it over himself. Upon hearing this, he nodded understandingly. "Alright, go ahead first. Take care."

At the intersection, the two hovercars parted ways.

One vehicle sped towards a renowned structure in the neighboring district, while the other took a detour towards the central palace.

The Insect Guardians Association had been fully prepared for his arrival. Upon the hovercar's entry into a specially constructed track, law enforcement was stationed along both sides of the road to ensure security.

"Your Highness, good day."

The worker insect bowed as it opened the car door, stepping back respectfully to give way for the Insect Guardians Association's president, facilitating a more dignified welcome for the S-Class male insect's royal presence.

As Yale stepped out of the vehicle, he lifted his gaze to see a middle-aged male insect standing before him. The insect was dressed with meticulous formality, exuding an aura quite distinct from the noble males he had encountered at the banquet.

"Your Highness, I am the president of the Insect Guardians Association. You may call me Kade."

The middle-aged insect extended his hand for a respectful handshake.

"Let's proceed directly inside. We can talk as we walk."

Yale waved off the president's intention for an elaborate welcome ceremony and got straight to the point, leading the way forward.

"Very well, this way, please."

Transcending the spacious atrium and navigating through several corridors, one arrives at the exclusive floor designated for Alpha-class male insects.

Yale's gaze shifted subtly, catching a glimpse of a nearby decompression chamber scene.

In the meditation chamber, two insects were present - one sitting, one kneeling. Through the glass, one could recognize the seated insect as a young male, his face slightly familiar, with his eyes closed and an air of impatience upon him.

On the ground, the trembling female insectoid was in a dire state. His neck and limbs were bound with intricately designed restraints, seemingly to prevent excessive stimulation during the process, which could provoke him into harming the male insectoid.

Yale took a closer look at the male insect before scouring his memory for the creature's name.

—Vito, the embodiment of the emerging nobility, as Xi Ze puts it.

The young male drone happened to open his eyes just then. Upon seeing him, he didn't seem surprised, probably having known of his arrival beforehand. However, with his hands full, he could only nod apologetically as a greeting.

"Your Majesty, your decompression chamber is this way."

The Association President waited until he tore his gaze away before speaking, gesturing towards the spacious conference room beside them. He then whispered an explanation.

"Assistance assignments are matched according to rank, with higher ranks bearing greater responsibility and encountering more emotionally unstable, verge-of-rage female insects. An A-rated male insect is tasked with fifty such interventions per month."

The so-called random allocation of counseling spots is actually mostly manipulated through secret auctions by those wealthy and influential insects, who pay exorbitant sums for them. The underhanded dealings in this process run deep.

"Some military omegas have to accumulate all their military merits over decades just to secure a single chance to ensure they don't meet a violent end due to their rut."

Xi Ze's expression was somewhat grim as he explained, likely because he had witnessed such occurrences too often and was powerless to change the chaos.

On this side, the Guild President deliberated and didn't directly disclose the extent of Yale's mission.

"Given your uniqueness, the Association is considering letting you start with a trial period, after which we will determine the specific workload based on your performance. How does that sound to you?"

Noticing a hint of displeasure on Yale's face, the Association President cleared his throat and explicitly stated the unspoken rule that everyone was aware of.

"You need not worry about doing work in vain. The association only takes a one percent cut from the fees the female insects pay for counseling slots. The majority of the earnings will be yours."

The young male insect made an ambiguous sound, his excessively handsome face as cold as ice, hiding his true thoughts behind an impenetrable veil.

With a determined heart, he waved to the work insect guarding outside the door, signaling to start calling out numbers. "Just do what you can, and there is no need to feel pressured about how much you can channel."

Yale settled onto the solitary sofa in the counseling room, his fingers tapping idly on the armrest as he watched the side door of the session room open.

A military omega, his identity tag absent, was dressed in a dark daily military uniform, his features unfamiliar, suggesting he did not belong to any of the four major armies.

He stood upright with his back straight, yet a hint of restraint was still discernible, likely the non-noble military male mentioned by Xi Ze who had exchanged all his military merits for a single opportunity of relief.

The military omega appeared relatively young, yet there were traces of weariness etched around his eyes, a testament to the hardships and harsh environments he had endured over time.

Exactly like the calluses and scars on Xi Ze's hands.

He bowed deeply, addressing the other respectfully, "Your Majesty."

Yale acknowledged the response, only then realizing that the Association President hadn't enlightened him on the method of spatial telepathy. A fleeting look of confusion graced his features.

The counseling room fell into an eerie silence. The Guild President was momentarily perplexed until their gaze met with the male insectoid, and understanding dawned upon them.

Yet, before he could approach to elaborate on the specifics, Vito, who had somehow leaned against the door, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty."

Vito wore a warm smile, discreetly observing the male insect before him. He initiated a polite bow and asked, "May I have your permission to give a demonstration, Your Majesty?"

"Very well." Yale cast him a swift glance, lifting his chin slightly. "Then this is yours."

Vito chuckled and gestured for the flustered military omega to fasten the shackles properly. "It begins, Your Highness, remember to watch closely."

After confirming everything was in order, he raised his hand and released a surge of mental energy, which condensed into a thread and pierced directly into the mind of the opposite military omega.

"Ahh... Hhhaaa!"

Seemingly enduring immense pain, the omega's muscles instantly tensed, causing the shackles to rattle violently. Glittering lights flickered along their surface, adjusting the constriction according to the increasing force exerted.

Yale observed clearly that Vito was leveraging his higher mental power rank to forcefully intrude into the drone's mental landscape, mercilessly scouring and cleansing the psychic mire within.

"Wait, something doesn't seem right here..."

Vito muttered, sensing that his mental energy had penetrated deeper, where an anomaly caused his brows to furrow in concern.

As time passed, his expression grew increasingly solemn.

"Crunch... Hiss... Click..."

The opposing soldier had already partially transformed into a creature, with hard, probing limbs piercing through his military uniform, twitching grotesquely.

"No way."

Vito withdrew his mental energy, shaking his head.

"His mental landscape is almost completely fragmented. The effect of mental guidance would be minimal... There's barely any hope for recovery left."

A fractured mental landscape came with immense pain. Vito couldn't fathom how this soldier had endured such excruciating torment to arrive here undetected by any of the creatures.

"So severe?"

Yale put down his hand, his expression turning somber.

Upon sensing the end of the mental guidance, the restrains automatically released. The soldier swayed unsteadily before regaining balance. He forced a bitter smile, his voice raspy and strained.

"Yes, that's why I wanted to take a chance, to see if there was still hope. But now it seems... never mind."

Vito clicked his tongue, feeling somewhat uneasy. However, he had seen many soldiers in similar conditions and had long since become emotionally detached. He simply turned to Yale and spoke.

"Has Your Majesty seen my technique clearly? It's very simple, feel free to try it out. You've already signed a liability waiver with those female soldiers... Alright, next one in."

Yale didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the somewhat defeated figure of the military female as a fleeting thought suddenly struck him.

He almost forgot that there was likely a significant difference in price between an S-class and an A-class spot.

This military female might have emptied his coffers to secure this opportunity, only for Yale to inadvertently pass it on to Vito – a terrible loss.

Moreover, the military female's mental landscape was severely damaged, and she could soon experience a mental power upheaval. If her issue wasn't fully resolved during this visit, she might never get another chance for treatment.

"Return."

Yale suddenly spoke up, disregarding the surprised looks from Vito and the guild leader. "I'm tired of waiting; just come at me and let me test my skills."

The military omega paused for a moment, his back stiffening. Upon realizing what was happening, he immediately scurried back, as if fearing that Yale might change his mind. He picked up the chain from the ground and prepared to bind himself again.

"No need to bind him, just proceed with the assimilation process."

Yale vocally intervened, not awaiting any insectoid's comprehension, and promptly raised his hand to unleash his psionic energy.

A rustling sound echoed.

Invisible mental vibrations surged forth, akin to the surging tides of an abundant ocean relentlessly pounding against a unique barrier, only to ricochet back, creating a subtle echo deep within the mind.

Aside from the mental pressure at the ball, this was the first time Vito had experienced Yale's spiritual power up close, and for a moment, he felt almost suffocated.

"!!!"

His expression froze entirely, and he involuntarily took a few steps back, colliding with the equally rigid Association President.

"..."

Yale reached out, his fingers gently closing—

That overflowing spirit energy instantly permeated into the soldier alpha's mental landscape, not allowing even the slightest ripple to escape.

"Ahh...!"

The process had begun. The soldier alpha, unable to put on his restrains in time, instinctively crossed his arms behind his back, preparing to endure the impending agony.

Yet that wave was warm and soothing, like an endless sunlit ocean that effortlessly smoothed over all pain, leaving one unable to resist sinking into its embrace.

The military omega stood rigidly in place, but his facial tension gradually eased.

"The situation is indeed quite grim..."

Yale murmured, his fingers tightening after probing the chaotic mental landscape.

Those swirling mental energies condensed into pure energy, meticulously filling and repairing the deep chasms.

—The nearly lifeless wasteland thirstily absorbed the energy, frantically fostering new vitality.

"..."

After ensuring that the released mental energy had been completely absorbed, Yale withdrew his hand, his expression and tone both incredibly calm. "It's done."

Vito, who had long regained his composure, had witnessed the entire process with his own eyes. Before he could marvel at Yale's exquisite control over mental power, he was stunned by those two simple words.

"Done? What's done... Your Excellency fixed that shattered mental landscape?!"

The military omega stood there stiffly, neither going berserk nor showing any signs of pain. He seemed to have gone numb, and it didn't appear as if he was recovering at all.

Vito, unconvinced, released his mental energy, infiltrating the omega's mental landscape for a thorough scan. The more he probed, the more astonished he became. "Those cracks... they've actually vanished...?"

The Association President also released his mental energy, searching meticulously.

Having served as the Association President for many years, he had a basic understanding of various extraordinary phenomena. After pondering for a long while, he muttered in disbelief, "Could His Highness's mental energy... possess healing abilities?"

Every high-ranking alpha's mental energy possessed some attributes, albeit weak and barely useful for assistance.

This was the first time he had witnessed such a potent, healing-type mental energy – an unparalleled and invaluable asset in the entire empire.

"Uhh..."

Exposed to two invading mental energies, the military omega winced in discomfort, forcibly pulled out of his blissful state.

"My... mental landscape... Your Highness?!"

He shook his head, turned inward to examine his own mental landscape, and his expression shifted from astonishment to realization, then to profound gratitude.

The military drone's eyes shimmered with tears, his face flushed to the extreme, leaving him almost speechless. Eventually, he managed to give Yale an extremely heartfelt salute.

"Alright, you may leave now. Call in the next one."

A hint of a smile finally appeared on Yale's face. He nodded in return, his gaze shifting to the two drones beside him who were still in a daze.

"I believe I've got the hang of it, thanks to your guidance... President, how many spots have been opened up for this round?"

The initial competition for these positions likely wouldn't be overly intense.

Given his unclear strength but distinct allegiance, many nobles were still observing, waiting to assess the actual benefits based on the situation.

He needed to demonstrate some capability to gain more leverage.

Recalling Xi Ze's mention of recent power shifts, Yale pondered for a moment and decided to go all out in his pretense—

"Bring in a few drones at once, let me see if I can handle multiple ones simultaneously."

*

"Last night, Your Majesty was suddenly attacked. He was stabbed in the chest, resulting in severe bleeding. He only pulled through the danger zone in the early hours of the morning. The news was quickly suppressed."

Bai Lang sat in the driver's seat, describing the situation as he remotely transmitted the data he received from Augsburg to the Marshal.

"The assassin self-immolated the moment they were discovered, using a newly developed explosive. There was nothing left but ashes, blown away by the wind, so their true identity remains unknown."

Xi Ze opened his optical computer screen, scrolling through images of the assassination scene. A crease involuntarily formed between his brows as he seemed deep in thought.

His gaze lingered on one photo for a long time, and with a hint of realization dawning on him, he chuckled before closing his computer.

"This incident should work in our favor. Let's move at full speed and not let this rare opportunity slip away."

The hovercar, fully charged, streaked through the sky along the celestial trajectory towards the opulent palace.

Elite soldiers had already secured the palace, ensuring that not even a fly could enter. After passing through numerous layers of screening, Xi Ze finally stepped into the palace.

"What's going on here..."

"How can Your Highnesses next door not sense anything at all? This assassination attempt is truly suspicious..."

In the outer hall, ministers who had been dismissed were standing around, discussing the incident with either grim faces or concealed schadenfreude, creating a somewhat noisy atmosphere.

Upon seeing him enter, the chatter suddenly fell silent for a moment. Xi Ze ignored it and walked straight into the inner chamber.

"Oh, who's this now?"

Kano, leaning against the wall, spotted the incoming military omega at once. He raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Can't wait to see the crime scene?"

Xi Ze's gaze roughly swept over the insects in the hall, meeting Kano's malicious stare without pause before shifting his attention to the Second Prince standing in a corner.

This blatant disregard momentarily distorted Kano's face, but the thought of soon being able to trample that calm and arrogant expression underfoot made him laugh again.

"The Emperor called for you just now."

The Emperor's personal attendant, standing guard at the entrance of the sleeping chambers, jogged over and whispered the royal command.

"I understand."

Xi Ze wasn't surprised. Following the attendant, he quickly reached Augustus who stood by the door.

After exchanging a secretive glance with the female insect, Xi Ze confirmed his guess and calmly brushed past him, entering the heavily guarded bedroom.

The heavy door slammed shut behind him, casting the room into a dimmer light. Taking a few steps forward, he heard a hoarse cough coming from behind the curtains.

"Your Majesty."

Stopping at a respectful distance from the bed, Xi Ze bowed but didn't speak further.

This old man, who seemed to have spent his life being manipulated by power struggles, had actually been on the throne for almost a century and was far from the incompetent ruler critics portrayed him as.

He was skilled in palace intrigue and had survived countless assassination attempts and power grabs.

Someone as clumsy as this assassin wouldn't escape his notice—the one he had indulged and spoiled the most, Felix.

After a long while, the coughing ceased, plunging the entire bedroom into a heavy silence.

"You have... this token."

An aged hand emerged from beneath the snowy white curtains, dropping a token onto the ground.

Engraved on it was a distinctive symbol, one that seemed eerily familiar.

Xi Ze's pupils constricted slightly as he silently bent down to pick up the token.

"Go, Admiral Monte. You have been granted the utmost permission."

Perhaps faced with life and death, the elder finally saw the consequences of his indulgence, or perhaps there had never been much affection to begin with—

He had finally wavered in his neutrality, determined to eradicate the cancer festering within the empire.

"Thank you for your contributions to the empire all these years. I'm also sorry that I couldn't persist in investigating that battle, letting the empire's light be wasted for five years..."

The aged voice came from behind the curtains, carrying the marks of time and sounding sluggish and weak due to severe injuries. It failed to convey the gratitude and regret that should have been expressed.

Xi Ze smiled abruptly.

Whether it was to tell him or himself, he muttered,

"Soon, everything will come to an end."

No matter how arduous this battle was, there would be a time when it concluded. After stumbling in the darkness for years, they had finally glimpsed the dawn of victory.

Blood could cleanse past disgraces and forge a brand new empire. The lingering gloom would dissipate, and the radiance of glory would once again illuminate this land.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. This empire will flourish under the wise rule of a just king."

Xi Ze spoke with a calm, unwavering tone.

There was a moment of silence behind the curtain before a fit of heart-wrenching coughs erupted, followed by muffled words.

"I know, Augustus has great potential. He will surely become a wise monarch, better than I ever was..."

He had never paid attention to Augustus throughout his upbringing, but now he couldn't deny that his own heir possessed the qualities of a great ruler.

It was unclear whether it was out of resentment or some other emotion.

"Your Majesty, please rest. I won't disturb you further."

With his back to the monarch, the military male voice remained calm as he directly pushed open the door and left without any trace of reluctance in his actions.

...

When Xi Ze returned to the main chamber, most of the insects who had been present earlier were still there, all looking at him with varied expressions.

Felix's assassination attempt hadn't been disclosed to any of the insects, and he likely didn't know that he had been discovered. The incompetent fool was only proficient in messing things up.

"You were too hasty. Even if you aimed to seize power, it should be done gradually. Do you really think it's that easy to assassinate and then ascend to the throne?"

Cano looked at him with a mocking smile, disdainfully scanning the male insect from head to toe. "But I didn't expect you to actually turn things around."

"I think you should thank me. Without those sufferings, how could you have become who you are now?"

He shrugged, dedicated to humiliating and provoking the male insect before him, even though he never received the desired reaction.

"How would you have shed your unrealistic naivety and become a qualified, sharp blade without experiencing betrayal?"

This time, Xi Ze abruptly lifted his gaze and chuckled softly. "Your head injury has healed so quickly?"

The veiled reference immediately reminded Jarno of the excruciating pain from his fractured skull, causing his expression to contort.

"What are you smirking about?! Do you really think an S-Class male insectoid will always be on your side? Does he know how lowly and despicable you looked when you were trampled in the mud? You wonder if he'll find you repulsive and wish to discard you like trash..."

Xi Ze ignored his curses and turned to Duke Lance, who had remained silent throughout. His voice was deep and resonant as he said, "Long time no see."

The gentle-looking female insectoid lifted his eyes. Their nearly identical golden orbs met for a moment before he averted his gaze first.

"It's been a long time, Xierze."

Yet, Xi Ze wasn't there to catch up with his affectionate male parent in a nostalgic manner; he essentially declared it openly.

"The feeling of having all those years of business ventures uprooted must be unpleasant. Perhaps I won't even need to do it all myself; the Duke's Mansion might already be on its last legs, drowning in a sea of debt."

Lance's gaze sharpened as he lifted his eyes to meet the military omega before him, only then realizing that Xi Ze's attention had never wavered.

"Do you truly believe that I would be forever trapped in that ethereal longing, unable to escape for my entire life?"

Xi Ze gazed at the side profile of the male insect before him, only to find that the familiar contours and lines had blurred, even becoming unfamiliar.

"I shouldn't have brought you into this world, or I should have strangled you right after birth. Back then, I was too soft-hearted. I shouldn't have abandoned you on that garbage planet; I should have cast you off my mecha."

Lance smiled gently, his entire face radiating warmth, yet he spat out venomous words without any mercy, attempting to wound the child he believed would never grow up.

"The one damned and deserving of punishment has never been me. For chronically abusing and abandoning an underage pup decades ago, you should've been locked away in an interstellar prison."

The military male before him suddenly smiled, but it wasn't the resentment or dissatisfaction Lance had anticipated. Instead, it was a resolute and serene expression that made Lance abruptly feel uneasy.

That image of a helpless pup, who would tug on his father's sleeve to please him, had vanished entirely. What remained was an unprecedented strength and maturity.

—He had even attained the happiness he sought, breaking free from the cage of false love that Lance had once constructed, hoping to forever bind those pure white wings.

Xi Ze lowered his gaze, meeting Lance's eyes, and spoke with each word deliberate.

"I will no longer beg for your love, Father, no, Duke Lance. From now on, there will be no place for the Duke's Mansion within the royal family and the nobility."

"Take care of yourself."

In that fleeting moment of passing by, he uttered those four words before striding directly out of the palace gates.

Bang!

The heavy palace doors closed with a resounding thud behind him, while before his eyes stretched a vast expanse of warm golden sunlight, blindingly radiant and flowing endlessly, seemingly melting everything in its path.

Whenever he encountered such beautiful weather, Xi Ze would recall a certain figure.

Suddenly, he yearned to see Yale.

*

On the other side, Yale had finally completed the mental guidance for all fifty female insects, finishing within thirty minutes.

This had almost stunned every male insect in the Hive Association, as well as some noble males who had come out of curiosity.

At this moment, all the insects present gazed at the male insect inside the guidance room with a faint sense of reverence, creating an atmosphere of silence.

Yale withdrew the last vestige of his mental energy from the female insect's mental landscape, massaging his slightly numb fingers and assessing the remaining amount of his mental strength.

Hmm, still abundant. Guiding so many female insects in one go didn't seem particularly challenging.

He completely ignored the insects peering through the glass and looked at the Association President. "That's all, right?"

"No, no more."

The Association President stumbled over his words but quickly added, "After this, we'll transfer the auction quota fee and assets to your name..."

Yale nodded nonchalantly, clearly not taking it too seriously. "Then this session is concluded. My household insects said they're here to pick me up, so I'll be on my way."

He walked towards the door. The surrounding insects instinctively parted to make a path, watching their Sovereign leave in near silence.

Vito finally regained his composure but suddenly paled, hurrying to catch up.

"Your Majesty!"

Yale turned around and saw the male insect standing behind him, looking hesitant as if he wanted to say something. "What's wrong?"

"You... Just now, I noticed that your mental energy seemed a bit unstable. You shouldn't use it so excessively next time to avoid any accidents."

During the mental guidance session, the sunlight filtering through the glass had illuminated the male insect, making him seem to glow with a golden aura, even his edges appearing to be dusted with golden fur.

For some inexplicable reason, Vito couldn't help but feel a momentary palpitation, as if he sensed the male insectoid's life force was silently draining away, as if he might vanish from this world in the next second.

Yale was taken aback, unsure why he would say such a thing, but still, he accepted the concern. "Alright, thank you for the reminder."

Noticing a hovering vehicle stopping outside, he hastily bid farewell and turned to step into the vast golden sunlight beyond the door.