Chapter 55: The Admiral’s Mood is Terrible

Chapter 55: The Admiral's Mood is Terrible

Sylvie this time sent 1 A-class starship and 2 B-class starships to Luo Ri Star, an imposing display of military power.

This setup didn’t look like a friendly visit; it seemed more like she was here for revenge.

And indeed, she was here to cause trouble for Luo Ri Star.

"My child, Tataru, suddenly fell into a coma, and afterward, Planet Sha signed an unequal treaty with Luo Ri Star; there must be something fishy going on with Luo Ri Star," she sobbed. "You have to help me, and help my child get justice."

Sylvie had a very classic damsel-in-distress appearance.

Her long black wavy hair reached her waist, and her large purple eyes, like cat pupils, made her look pitifully adorable with their slightly drooping corners.

Her face was filled with worry, her complexion pale, and her slender, delicate fingers gripped her clothes.

It seemed like she would faint at any moment.

Standing next to Sylvie, Erik gently stroked her fluffy, fragrant long hair.

"Don't worry, cousin, I'll help you get justice.

But cousin, you know, it's not easy for me to leave. This time, helping you punish Luo Ri Star, you'll have to give me a reward."

Sylvie looked pitifully fragile, with tears just about to fall from the corners of her eyes. "Of course. I have no one else to rely on except you, and I will definitely reward you."

Erik kissed the end of her hair. "Then thank you for your generosity, cousin."

Greedily, he took another deep breath of her scent.

Sylvie clutched her clothes, her fingertips turning white from the force.

In a place unseen by Erik, her expression was fierce and cold.

The starship's AI announcement sounded:

"Planetary defense system detected, please obtain landing permission before proceeding."

Erik had to let go of Sylvie, feeling puzzled. "But Luo Ri Star is just a border planet, how did they set up a planetary defense system?"

After thinking for a moment, Erik figured it out.

"I’ve heard rumors about the Luo Ri Star governor and Spirit Runes Master ANKEN having a questionable relationship. With that in mind, it's no surprise Luo Ri Star has a planetary defense system."

Simon, ANKEN's agent, although tight-lipped, left a traceable route with his cargo ships.

Every time Simon traded Spirit Runes, he would stop by Luo Ri Star. After so many times, people started to speculate.

Moreover, the Water Runes currently used by Planet Sha could only be the work of ANKEN.

So, ANKEN and the Luo Ri Star governor must have some deep ties.

Erik sent the landing request, his expression filled with disdain. "I'd like to see what's so special about Luo Ri Star that it could catch ANKEN's eye."

Thirty minutes later, the landing request was approved.

Sylvie, along with Erik and 20 elite Spirit Warriors, landed on the newly built Star Transport Station on Luo Ri Star.

The station had only been operational for a week, and the surrounding facilities and staff were still being set up, equipped with only the most basic AI navigation system.

The towering building was eerily empty inside.

"Figures. Just like everything else on this border planet—nothing but a facade. This orbital station is deserted, not a soul in sight. It looks like they're scraping by," Erik sneered.

Erik looked out the window again and saw that the area around the orbital station was empty. Nothing but endless stretches of flat road. Not even a patrol robot was in sight.

"Just another backwater border planet. It's such a waste for you, my dear cousin, to visit a place like this."

As he walked, Erik continued to grumble, "They didn’t even bother to send a welcoming party or a single guard. Is the Luo Ri Star governor not taking us seriously?

I’ll teach him a lesson when I get my hands on him."

Sylvie followed silently behind Erik, her expression unreadable.

Her fingers, hanging by her side, trembled slightly.

Following the guidance of the AI robot holding a sign, they arrived at the reception hall of the orbital station.

The cold white room only contained basic tables and chairs, giving off a chilly and deserted atmosphere.

Erik snorted in contempt, thinking: What a pitiful display.

Cang Cheng sat at the head of the table, with Philip and six White Mask Guards standing behind him.

A faint smile was on his face, appearing innocent and harmless.

Cang Cheng spoke the official greeting, "Welcome, distinguished guests, from afar."

When Erik saw Cang Cheng, he was slightly stunned.

He had heard that the Luo Ri Star governor was the neglected fifth prince, and now seeing him in person, he certainly lived up to the title of a mere figurehead, beautiful yet fragile.

The rumors about ANKEN being under some kind of spell from Luo Ri seemed to have some truth to them.

"Is this how you show hospitality on Luo Ri Star? Making us stay in this cramped meeting room, who do you think you're looking down on?" Erik challenged directly.

Cang Cheng did not respond.

His long black eyelashes fluttered, as if he had been frightened.

Erik mused, "What a useless figurehead."

Philip spoke on Cang Cheng's behalf, "May I ask, Marquise Hilvie and Viscount Erik, what brings you to Luo Ri Star?"

Embroidered with the belief that Cang Cheng was weak, Erik slammed his hand on the table with a 'thud.'

"Four months ago, Luo Ri Star signed a cooperation treaty with Planet Sha.

We have confirmed that these treaties were signed when the Tataru governor was not in a clear state of mind. As relatives of the Tataru governor, we have the right to demand that Luo Ri Star prove the fairness of this treaty.

Otherwise..."

Erik gave a signal with his eyes, and the 20 elite Awakened took up combat stances, weapons in hand.

If Cang Cheng refused, they would use armed force to make him comply.

Erik showed no concern that he was threatening the Luo Ri Star governor, the fifth prince of the Canglan Star Region.

The fifth prince had no power or influence and was a useless individual who couldn't awaken. He didn’t deserve any respect.

Frankly, even if Erik left Cang Cheng half-dead here today, no one would bat an eye.

Erik was very confident and certain.

Cang Cheng’s pure black eyes remained calm, his expression unchanged, as if nothing could frighten him.

In reality, he just found the situation somewhat amusing.

Look, there’s a dog barking.

Cang Cheng turned his gaze, the corners of his eyes slightly raised as if he were smiling.

He remained composed, his expression innocent and unbothered.

"Philip, what is the punishment for insubordination under the law?"

Philip: "Life imprisonment. But given that you are a prince of the Canglan Star Region, you have the right to execute them on the spot."

Cang Cheng’s gaze swept over Erik. "Erik, did you hear that?"

Erik found it absurd.

Cang Cheng, a powerless and uninfluential fifth prince—why should he treat me like I’m beneath him?

Shouldn’t he be quaking in fear and begging for mercy in front of me?

Is Cang Cheng out of his mind?

Erik sneered arrogantly. "Cang Cheng, you don’t have the power to judge me for insubordination. After all, you’re just a useless commoner.

You should kneel and apologize to me."

Cang Cheng chuckled, his eyes curved into crescents.

Cang Cheng found it amusing—probably because he hadn’t encountered someone so self-righteous in months.

Erik shouted, "What are you laughing at? Do you look down on me?"

"I’m laughing because you’ve made my day."

As Cang Cheng spoke, he nodded slightly to Philip.

Philip understood. He pressed a button, and suddenly the walls of the reception room extended numerous gun barrels, aimed at the 20-man elite squad.

In swift motions, precision tranquilizer darts stabbed into the necks of the elite squad, and within a second, they all collapsed.

At the same time, a floating screen that suddenly appeared in the room began synchronously displaying the view above the Luo Ri Star.

The usually hidden planetary weapons around the planet unfolded their menacing jaws.

White electromagnetic interference cannons struck Hiveel's three battleships like meteors.

The battleships' operating systems were disrupted, the signal lights flickered a few times, and then went dark.

They fell into slumber.

Those three behemoths were now nothing more than heaps of useless scrap.

All of Erik's reliances had been neutralized by Cang Cheng, effortlessly, as if it were child's play.

The reception room was deathly silent.

Erik's heart raced, and he swallowed repeatedly, panic rising.

"Impossible, this can't be real. You're bluffing, right?"

Erik's eyes widened in disbelief.

He never expected that the people he brought would be taken down by Cang Cheng in a single second.

Nor did he expect that the planetary defense system of Luo Ri would be on par with a Class-A planet.

How could this be!

Wasn't Cang Cheng just a nobody?

Wasn't Luo Ri just a border planet?

How could he have done all this?

As Erik was struck with shock, a cold gun barrel was pressed against his temple.

A 'click' sounded as the safety was pulled off.

Erik turned his stiff body, only to see his usually fragile and submissive cousin, Sylvie, her face cold and filled with hatred. "Goodbye, my cousin."

The gunshot rang out, and Erik fell to the ground.

His eyes were wide open, unable to rest.

Erik couldn't believe he was being killed by Sylvie, someone he could always control.

Why?

How could Sylvie kill him?

But he would never get an answer.

Sylvie tucked the gun back under her wide skirt.

After straightening her clothes, she bowed to Cang Cheng. "Good afternoon, Your Highness."

Cang Cheng was surprised; the supposedly perfect bride turned out to be surprisingly ruthless.

"Good shot, Duchess Sylvie."

"Flattered, Your Highness Cang Cheng."

After a moment of thought, Sylvie made a decision.

"Prince Cang Cheng, I wish to make a deal with you."

Cang Cheng tapped his finger on the table, the corners of his mouth curling into a half-smile.

The heavy silence weighed heavily on Sylvie, but this woman, who was rumored to be weak and indecisive, held Cang Cheng's gaze steadfastly.

She was extremely resolute, having staked everything on this journey.

After a long while, Cang Cheng chuckled, "Let's hear it."

Hearing Cang Cheng speak, Sylvie let out a sigh of relief.

This legendary useless fifth prince exerted as much pressure on her as her strict grandfather.

Sylvie organized her words, "I am willing to offer all my loyal subjects and wealth in exchange for your help to fight for the inheritance rights.

My stepmother raised me to be a useless trophy bride, and my relatives are after the inheritance from my husband and my family.

But they forgot that the power and glory they now possess were built on the blood of my mother and grandfather.

I want to strip them of everything."

The once-fragile flower had transformed into something far darker. Cang Cheng found her intriguing.

He neither agreed nor disagreed, as if he was evaluating.

Cang Cheng: "What do you need me to do?"

Sylvie said, "Please lend me ANKEN's army."

Cang Cheng blinked, looking utterly confused.

Huh...?

ANKEN's army?

Since when did he have an army?

"It was ANKEN who helped you with Tataru's mysterious coma and the treaty between Planet Sha and Luo Ri, right?!

ANKEN commanded his army to break through Sha Star's defense system, subdue the elite squad in the upper district, and then ANKEN provided clean water in the lower district to win the hearts of the people, successfully overthrowing Tataru's rule."

Sylvie's reasoning was highly logical. Sha Star's armed forces numbered nearly ten thousand, and suppressing the upper district of Sha Star was no easy task.

So Sylvie deduced that ANKEN must have his own military force.

But in reality, the 'army' she referred to was just Cang Cheng, Mù Xīng, and Ming Bai providing remote support.

Sylvie lowered her head, "Please lend me ANKEN's influence. My relatives are about to go on vacation, and I will ensure they never return.

I am willing to sign a lifelong indenture contract with you."

Since ANKEN granted the Wind Spirit Runes, awakened individuals across the galaxy had been praising these runes.

ANKEN's reputation had soared, even surpassing that of some important senators in certain star domains.

Sylvie wanted to use ANKEN's abilities to gain power for herself.

And the key figure in all of this was Luo Ri's governor, Cang Cheng.

Thus, Sylvie had come here under the pretext of investigating Luo Ri, but in reality, she was planning her grand revenge.

She was done being a pawn in others' games.

Cang Cheng wasn't interested in conquering the stars, but he was very interested in Sylvie's wealth.

"What does your property include?"

"The governance rights to a Class B planet, 2.5 billion in liquid assets, and fixed assets including a chain of hotels worth about 13 billion. Five Class A warships, twenty Class B warships..."

"My family still owns about 20 billion in assets, including an unregistered weapons manufacturing plant."

The more Sylvie talked, the wider Cang Cheng's smile grew.

With such vast resources and a fleet of warships, he desperately needed them now.

These things, he was determined to claim.

Cang Cheng called Ming Bai through the lightbrain.

Using the space transmission device, Ming Bai arrived in the reception room in just two minutes.

Without sparing a glance at the unconscious people on the floor, he approached Cang Cheng and paid his respects. "My lord."

"This is Sylvie, Tataru's mother. She wants to seize the inheritance rights."

Cang Cheng briefly introduced her. "You will accompany her on this trip, bring Cang Ye along."

A few months ago, Cang Cheng would have left the planet himself to finalize this transaction, as he had no one he could trust.

But after several months, Luo Ri Star had transformed beyond recognition.

Ming Bai had manufactured a squad of mechanical soldiers, each capable of unconditional self-detonation, with energy equivalent to the damage of A-class attack Spirit Runes.

Cang Cheng no longer needed to be personally present.

Ming Bai's gaze lingered on Sylvie for a moment, a cold light flickering in his eyes before he looked away.

The AI assistant provided the correct information:

"Name: Sylvie Sara

Awakening Level: Class C

Danger Level: Class D

Evaluation: Not to be feared."

For a moment, Sylvie felt as though she had glimpsed something deeper.

Ming Bai accepted the mission; he was eager to test the wide-range destructive weapons and the long-distance heavy cannons.

This mission would be the perfect opportunity to test these weapons!

*

Canglan Star Region Main Planet, Highest Research Institute

High-grade Ward

A man with silver-white hair stood tall in a dark military uniform, his pale blue eyes as clear as the sky but as cold as ice.

His posture was rigid, his presence commanding, inspiring awe in all who saw him.

Holding a neural interface in his hand, he opened a video titled "I Was Defeated by ANKEN Again."

His gaze settled on the figure wearing the White Mask, and for a brief moment, the frost in his eyes thawed slightly.

Knock knock——

The sound of knocking echoed.

"Come in."

He swiftly turned off the holo-computer.

Qin Yan, with his red hair, entered the ward and saluted sharply.

"General, you've received discharge permission. You can leave the hospital today."

General Hilmeth had been in a coma for three months after being severely injured in the last Star Region Spirit Runes battle.

He regained consciousness three months ago but was still unable to move on his own, so he spent another three months recovering, finally getting his body back in shape.

However, due to lingering effects, Hilmeth can't overuse his mental energy for the next six months, or it could cause a dangerous overload.

Qin Yan looked at Hilmeth.

It seemed that after the general's severe injury healed, there was some change in him. He didn't seem as cold as before and appeared more human.

Thankfully, the general's okay. If anything had happened to him, I would've blown that damn Central Weapon Manufacturing Bureau sky-high.

The general discovered that someone had leaked the weapon data of the Canglan Star Region to another star region, which led to the tactical layout of the Canglan Star Region being seen through during the last Spirit Runes battle, resulting in the general's severe injury and coma.

That traitor! Whoever leaked our data deserves to be punished.

"Qin Yan."

Hilmeth's voice was cold.

"Rein in your expression."

Qin Yan instantly retracted his fierce expression, transforming into a clear-eyed lieutenant general.

"Yes, General."

"Any recent developments in the Canglan Star Region?"

"Oh, right. The C-20 Summit is about to be held, and we've all received invitations. Both Feng He and Fu Huai were called back by their families to prepare for the summit, so they couldn't come to pick you up today.

General, will you attend the summit?"

Hilmeth recalled the list and, upon finding a familiar name, nodded.

"I'll go."

"It's great that you're going, General. The military department asked me to prepare a speech.

I’m good at fighting, but public speaking? That’s like asking me to die slowly. It's great that you're going."

Hilmeth opened his mouth. "That's some ambition."

Qin Yan smiled. "That's all the ambition I have, General. I just hope you don't mind me."

"Is there anything else?"

"Oh, right. Do you know about the Spirit Runes Master ANKEN? He's a hot topic among the Awakened nowadays and is almost as famous as you are."

Hilmeth’s lips twitched, but he quickly smoothed them out.

"Is that so?"

"He created a brand-new system of Nature Spirit Runes; it’s truly eye-opening. I wasn’t careful and ended up getting my neck slit..."

As Qin Yan spoke, he suddenly felt like he had lost face in front of Hilmeth.

A General losing to a Spirit Rune Master wasn’t exactly glorious.

He cautiously observed Hilmeth’s expression and only continued when he saw that the other’s face remained unchanged.

"Now, a lot of Spirit Rune Masters are picking up his system, and the arena is buzzing with new ideas. I think the folks at the research institute need to get on board with these Nature Spirit Runes, or they’ll be left in the dust."

Hilmeth frowned slightly. "No one is researching it?"

"Well..."

Qin Yan shrugged. "But you know, most of the budget goes to the weapons division, leaving next to nothing for the research institute. Even if they want to research it, they don’t have the money.

In my opinion, that traitorous weapons division doesn’t need so much funding, yet they still ask our military for money.

If they had the funds, shouldn’t they focus on rooting out traitors instead of just asking for more money without doing anything?"

"I understand."

For a moment, Qin Yan was confused about what Hilmeth meant by 'I understand.'

But whatever the boss says is right; he’ll follow the boss.

"By the way, Boss, a few days ago, ANKEN totally wiped the floor with me. You should see how ruthless a Spirit Rune Master can get when they’re serious. Do you think our military should also introduce the Nature Spirit Runes?"

Hilmeth’s steps halted. "You were matched against ANKEN in a ranked match?"

Qin Yan laughed heartily. "I’ve added ANKEN as a friend. He thinks I’m quite durable, so he often asks me to help test his runes. We’ve become quite familiar over time."

Hilmeth’s hand by his side tightened.

Qin Yan: "But ANKEN is really built like a Spirit Rune Master. His thin frame, it feels like I could snap him if I used a little force."

A coldness settled over Hilmeth’s blue eyes.

Qin Yan: "By the way, wasn’t he duo-queuing with a very strong Black Mask before? Recently, Black Mask has been missing.

So I curiously asked ANKEN, where’s Black Mask? He said the next one will be better.

Could it be that ANKEN got dumped by a jerk?

Boss, maybe you could help ANKEN figure out who this jerk is? This guy is probably from the military too..."

Before Qin Yan could finish, he noticed Hilmeth’s expression darken.

The tension in the air was thick, like the calm before a storm.

Qin Yan swallowed hard.

"Boss... you, are you feeling unwell again?"

"Qin Yan."

"Here."

"Later, when we enter the training arena, we’ll focus on some serious combat training."

Hilmeth’s face paled at the prospect.

Going up against Admiral Hilmeth would surely leave him battered and bruised, given the admiral's reputation. Wasn’t this bound to end in disaster?

But Hilmeth didn’t dare to object, so he lowered his head and replied, "Yes, sir."