Chapter 92: The Engagement

Chapter 92: The Engagement

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Ludwig finally regained his composure, his eyes slightly lowered as he scoffed, "Who told you that? Amber?"

He knew that Duke Bach had been worried about his marriage and would never easily dissolve the engagement unless Amber had taken the initiative to propose it.

Why? Just because of what he said today?

Duke Bach wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. "It doesn't matter who said it. I just feel that you two aren't quite suitable for each other. Dissolving the engagement might be better for both parties."

Ludwig's voice was icy, with a barely perceptible hint of mockery if one listened closely. "You've certainly woken up early. But whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. I've already had two engagements broken off, so a third time won't make much difference."

With that, he cut off the communication, threw the terminal aside with force, and turned over to close his eyes, preparing to go back to sleep. However, his heaving chest and trembling eyelashes betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Anger isn't always explosive; it can also be brooding and dark, like magma flowing beneath a volcano, hidden deep within the mountain, not easily seen, but destined to erupt someday.

Although Duke Bach loved Ludwig dearly, in front of the vast family, any insect could only become a pawn exchanged for benefits. It was Duke Bach who had insisted on setting the engagement, and now it was they who wanted to dissolve it. Ludwig felt like a clown on a tightrope, manipulated by them from beginning to end.

When large families dissolve engagements, they need to publish an explanatory statement to the public. Before long, the news of the Laiyi Family and the Klinz Family dissolving their engagement hit the newspapers and the internet, causing a stir in the city.

Amber had been paying attention to the interstellar network dynamics during this period. He was taken aback when he suddenly discovered the news of the dissolved engagement on the top trending topics of the interstellar network. He clicked on the message and saw only a brief official letter, below which were tens of thousands of netizen comments, some surprised, others gloating, arguing like a pot of boiling water:

"My goodness, what am I seeing? Is General Ludwig finally going to break off his engagement with that good-for-nothing?!"

"I must say this is a foolish decision. After missing out on that third-class star male insect, he may not find another fiancé."

"Only incapable female insects like you can't find male insects. General Ludwig is the imperial gem, the heir of the Laiyi Family. He has male insects flocking to him at the snap of his fingers."

"Tsk, a female insect rejected three times in Heiz City, truly unique. General Ludwig seems to have become rarer than male insects."

"It's better to dissolve the engagement sooner rather than later, or he might be killed and have to return to the embrace of the Insect God."

Although Ludwig was a national idol, there were naturally those who praised him and those who smeared him. The Laiyi Family's political enemies were not few. In this world where male insects were supreme, a female insect's reputation was paramount. The "stain" of being rejected three times was enough for those haters to launch a frenzied attack online, resulting in a bloody storm.

Even Amber's interstellar network account was flooded with many insects looking for a show. His fans skyrocketed to three hundred thousand in just half a month, all urging him to come forward and explain.

Explain? Explain what? He didn't break off the engagement.

Amber couldn't help feeling somewhat perplexed. He got dressed and went downstairs, only to see Grandpa Fernan sitting on the living room sofa reading the newspaper. It was hard to imagine that the insect race still hadn't abandoned such ancient paper news.

Amber walked up to him and asked straightforwardly, "Grandpa, did General Ludwig take the initiative to break off the engagement?"

Fernan frowned upon hearing this and closed the newspaper. "It doesn't matter. We'll leave Heiz City and return to Prudon Star after some time. You shouldn't bother General Ludwig again because of the broken engagement, understand?"

Amber smiled upon hearing this. Although he knew the old man meant well, having his plans suddenly disrupted was still somewhat tricky. He said with interest, "You took the initiative to break off the engagement with Duke Bach, didn't you?"

Fernan paused. He always felt that Amber's character had changed a lot since that night when he was drunk and Ludwig sent him home. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just a guess."

Amber shrugged with a smile. The living room sunlight passed through his fingertips, casting a layer of pale golden luster over his slender hands. "Regardless of whether it's for General Ludwig's sake or for my own, I hope you consult me before making any decisions next time. After all, I'm already an adult insect."

"And, I plan to find a job in Heiz City. I currently have no intention of returning to Prudon Star. If you really want to go back, I will pay your living expenses regularly."

He showed no anger, his attitude could even be described as calm, but if one felt carefully, there was no warmth at all. It was like a calm person doing something that should be done, only considering interests, without factoring in family ties.

Upon hearing this, Fernan's face turned ugly for a moment. He stood up abruptly from the sofa, his voice barely concealing his anger. "Amber, why do you insist on staying here? The capital is too deep for you. You can't compete with those nobles. From the day you arrived in Heiz City, countless misfortunes have happened. Haven't you realized yet?!"

Fernan gritted his teeth and reminded him, "General Ludwig can protect himself if something happens to him, but you can't!"

Amber didn't expect that Fernan would be the one to see things most clearly in the end. He could only say that old ginger was indeed spicy. Unfortunately, he still had to find that assassin and would never return to Prudon Star.

Amber's mysterious black eyes turned a light brown under the sun's rays, allowing insects to clearly see the ambition hidden inside, a trait bestowed by his imperial identity. "Grandpa, precisely because of this, we need to stand higher, not let ourselves sink into the dust. Isn't that right?"

Fernan was startled. "You..."

But Amber slowly stepped back with a smile. "I have something to do and need to go out. The reporters outside should have dispersed. Don't wait for me for dinner today."

There's nothing money can't do in this world. If there is, it's simply not enough. These past few days, Amber hadn't been idle while staying at home. Instead, he had anonymously gone online and spent a high price to hire a private detective, sending the photo of the waiter from the bar for investigation. It proved that the money was well spent. Today, he finally got results—

"This female insect is named White Vichy. She used to be a temporary employee at the Bolandun Auction House and quit a few days ago. Her whereabouts are unknown. However, I can give you an extra piece of information. The snake tattoo on her wrist is the slave mark of the Saint Teran Arena. You might find something if you go there."

Amber frowned, feeling he had been ripped off a lot of money. "Mr. Private Detective, your workload seems a bit too easy?"

The private detective had valid reasons. "Hey buddy, I'd be happy to continue investigating for you, but that kind of place isn't somewhere any insect can enter. If I could get in, I wouldn't be working as a private detective here to make a living. Believe me, you're not losing out. Other private detectives couldn't access the military database to identify this insect's information for you."

Amber raised an eyebrow and countered, "Military database?"

The private detective chuckled, his voice smug. "Detective work is my side job. I have a regular job in the military. What can I say, I need to save up more money to find a male insect in the future. Gotta live and earn a living. Come to me if you need anything else. I'll give you a twenty percent discount~"

With the memory over, Amber slowly exhaled, stopping a flying car on the roadside to head to the Saint Teran Arena.

The Saint Teran Arena was located on the outskirts of Heiz City—of course, this didn't mean it was poor and couldn't hold its own. On the contrary, due to its vast size and special operating nature, it was surrounded by military camps, with strict security.

"Sorry, sir, the area ahead is a search zone. Unregistered flying cars can't enter."

Outside the arena, there were countless undulating white carved flower pillars, each topped with a round plate, resembling lotus leaves scattered across a pond. The driver stopped the flying car on one of the plates and pointed to a nearby door. "Go down the light elevator from here to reach the entrance of the arena directly. But I have to warn you, it's dangerous for a male insect to come here alone. Don't you have a female monarch accompanying you?"

The driver uncle was chubby, around fifty years old, a bug of dad generation. Seeing Amber's handsome face in the rearview mirror, he silently sighed inwardly, unable to understand why the other party would come to such a dangerous place.

"Thank you, I'll be careful."

After paying the fare, Amber got off the flying car and entered through the door to take the light elevator downstairs. To avoid drawing attention today, he deliberately wore a low-key long coat, the collar slightly raised, covering the lower half of his face. However, his tall figure and aloof demeanor still attracted many gazes as he entered the venue.

The waiter guarding the door couldn't tell for a moment whether Amber was a male or female insect. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Excuse me, sir, please show me your membership card. Only members can enter the arena."

Hearing this, Amber was taken aback for a moment. He had rushed out today and hadn't had time to investigate the situation in advance. However, the information about this arena on the interstellar network was scarce, like a forbidden gray area. "Where can I get a membership card?"

The waiter explained, "As long as you bet on matches in the outer field for ten consecutive days and your total spending reaches one million star coins, you can apply for a membership card."

Ten days, one million star coins—both conditions were as daunting as scaling the heavens for Amber at present. No wonder the private detective had said that this wasn't a place where any bug could enter.

Amber furrowed his brows, about to ask something, when an astonished voice suddenly sounded from behind him—

"Sir Amber?"

Turning at the sound, he saw a group of elegantly dressed bugs appear at the entrance of the venue, the leader of which was none other than the Third Prince, followed by the plump butler Hatti and several unfamiliar faces of the Imperial Capital's nobility.

A flicker of surprise flashed across Amber's eyes, but out of politeness, he stepped forward to greet them. "Your Highness, what a coincidence."

The Third Prince's gaze fell upon Amber, always carrying an indescribable intensity. He smiled broadly. "I heard today is the anniversary celebration of the Saint Teran Colosseum. Sir Amber, have you also been invited?"

"Pfft—"

One of the male bugs behind the Third Prince couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Your Highness, if Sir Amber had been invited, how could he possibly be stopped by the attendants outside? Unless Lieutenant General Ludwig was accompanying him... Oh, sorry, I forgot that your engagement has been annulled."

He paid no attention to another group of figures appearing at the entrance behind him. The leading female bug bore a resemblance to the Third Prince—it was the Fourth Prince, Zach. Behind him stood not only friends and guards, but also a familiar figure in military attire.

Ludwig watched the scene from a distance, his eyes narrowing slightly. The familiar bug could sense his foul mood. His voice was deep, his rose-colored thin lips parting to utter words as sharp as knives: "Jerrin's foul mouth really deserves to be torn apart by bullets—"

His black military boots shifted slightly, as if preparing to intervene, but the Fourth Prince, Zach, quickly stopped him, whispering a reminder. "Ludwig, there's no need to start a conflict with them. You've already had enough scandals recently; don't give them any leverage to make things worse."

More importantly,

"You've already annulled your engagement."

Lieutenant General Lushti also advised, "Ludwig, it's getting late. Let's go inside."

They didn't want Ludwig to get involved. Without waiting for his response, they half-pulled, half-dragged him into the inner venue.

The Third Prince clearly hadn't expected the noble male bug behind him to be so disrespectful, but it was inappropriate to reprimand him in public. He frowned imperceptibly for a moment before quickly restoring his warm smile. "Sir Amber, please forgive Jerrin's rudeness. He was just making a joke. If you don't mind, you can come in with us."

Amber glanced at the male bug who was brimming with hostility towards him. He had no interest in analyzing such petty jealous squabbles. He smiled politely at the Third Prince and declined gracefully. "This is my first time here, and I'm not very clear on the rules. I apologize for Jerrin's amusement. However, I always believe in fate. If I can't get in, then it's simply not meant to be. Thank you for your kindness."

But if they kept meeting, could anyone say it wasn't fate?

Amber glanced at the familiar figure entering the venue, a hint of an indescribable emotion flashing through his eyes. He pulled out his Star Citizen ID from his jacket pocket and handed it to the attendant. His slender, bony fingers held the thin card, as if it contained infinite power. His voice was low, and he uttered a sentence calmly:

"Thank you, sign me up for the competition."

Since he couldn't get a membership card, he might as well enter as a contestant.