Chapter 45: What are you getting so fired up about with such a pathetic statement?!

Chapter 45 What Are You Even Getting Worked Up Over Such a Pathetic Speech For?!

In the end, Xiao Chuzao had little stickers on his face and a clear plastic card with the flag of the Saint Cas Empire clipped to his head, toddling along beside An Ya and Fei Man.

He looked around curiously, his little flag card bouncing constantly with his movements.

Small and plump, dressed by his doting family like a chubby little penguin, with pink lips and white teeth, and soft, fluffy black hair beneath which lay a pair of warm, honey-brown eyes—even ignoring his identity as a member of the Crown Clan, he was an unbelievably cute kid.

The fluttering Saint Cas flag on his head drew the attention of countless Saint Casians.

—Oh my gosh, he’s just too adorable!!

“What kind of little angel is that?”

The Saint Casian reporter, originally assigned to interview residents participating in the various negotiations and stalls, was streaming live nationwide.

As she adjusted her microphone, she suddenly noticed the little penguin-like toddler walking not far away.

She couldn’t look away.

“He’s just too cute, isn’t he?”

The cameraman behind her instinctively adjusted the lens toward the child, but only managed to capture a brief glimpse before the reporter suddenly remembered.

“Wait, don’t point the camera at them!—is that… Her Royal Highness Fei Man and Her Royal Highness An Ya?”

Footage of the Crown Clan’s monarch and their royal highnesses was restricted in Saint Cas, requiring special permission for recording and broadcasting, especially for live streams, which demanded multiple layers of approval.

Though they stopped in time, the camera had already caught a fleeting shot.

The reporter and cameraman glanced at the live feed comments.

The previously sparse comments exploded the moment the Crown Clan’s royal highnesses appeared.

“OMG!! HER ROYAL HIGHNESS FEI MAN!!!”

“That was Her Royal Highness An Ya! An Ya just flashed by!”

“Isn’t this public event coverage? Oh my god, does that mean there’s a chance to run into the Crown Clan’s royal highnesses at this event? I’m gonna kill my boss—why isn’t he more ambitious?! We were *this* close to representing our industry at this international summit!!!”

“Huh? Wasn’t there a little kid standing next to the two royal highnesses? AHHHH, I’m so jealous! Is he the child of some minister? Or maybe an outstanding role model’s kid—already living the dream at such a young age! This is what so many Saint Casians wish for!”

Of course, there had been precedents.

Some outstanding individuals in their fields could get to meet the monarch.

“But that little one is just too cute!!! Oh my god, where did such an adorable baby come from?”

The Crown Clan’s history wasn’t just common knowledge among Saint Casians. When the Crown Clan’s home planet was destroyed and the first of their kind faced extinction, the entire alliance of nations and rogue planets knew—the impact was too massive, nearly causing a catastrophe.

So the idea that the Crown Clan could have a new Little Highness was something everyone understood to be impossible.

No one even considered that Xiao Chuzao might be a Crown Clan child.

The reporter and cameraman were breaking out in a cold sweat.

Fei Man had noticed the camera the moment it turned their way, instinctively blocking the child—but not before he was shown on camera for a split second.

Then she approached.

The tall Crown Clan woman’s striking eyes held a charm distinct from ordinary Saint Cas residents. She gave the livestream a quick glance before looking at the little reporter and her crew, who seemed on the verge of tears.

After a quick tap on her communicator, she lifted her gaze—steady and reassuring.

"Just be more careful next time. Don’t dwell on it—just focus on your work."

"Y-yes, Your Highness!"

The reporter stammered, face flushing red with excitement.

Fei Man returned to where Xiao Chuzao was tucked behind An Ya. The little one popped his head out as soon as she neared.

"Auntie."

Fei Man knelt and tousled the cub’s soft hair.

"It’s alright."

The cub scrunched his eyes shut at the pat.

Before Fei Man could respond, a trembling, exhilarated voice interrupted:

"Y-Your Highness! Y-you’ve always been my inspiration and guiding light! F-for the Crown’s glory!"

Fei Man turned, straightening.

"Uncle Wen, Auntie Wen!"

Xiao Chuzao also raised his hand, wrapped up like a dumpling, happily greeting Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu as they approached.

The Wens nearly blurted out "Little Highness" but caught themselves. Wen Qingyu, ever the steadier sibling, gazed at Fei Man with stars practically sparkling in her eyes. Still, they both bowed respectfully, if a bit awkwardly, to Fei Man and An Ya.

Royal guards blended into the surroundings, maintaining a silent perimeter.

The cub was still obsessed with planting potatoes ever since they left home. The bag of seeds had been stored away by Mori, waiting for the right temperature.

The Wens were some of the cub’s only friends outside court since arriving in this world.

Amos had assigned them to accompany the little one around the exhibition.

Initially, they’d been stiff in the presence of An Ya and Fei Man.

But they soon warmed up, chatting eagerly about their purpose here.

After the Saint Cas Empire’s starship returned, the entire mineral planet chain had bolstered its defenses, cracking down on thieves roaming the system. This time, they were representing the mineral planet chain to discuss cooperation with neighboring nations and alliances.

The cub just nodded blankly, responding with a dazed "Oh, oh."

His cluelessly cute expression made Wen Qingyu gleefully pinch her brother’s thigh.

Wen Qingfeng yelped, leaping a foot in the air.

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He groaned weakly.

"Sis, why me? Why always me?"

Before Their Highnesses, he had to maintain some semblance of dignity!

Wen Qingyu withdrew her hand and answered in a hushed voice.

"Oh, sorry—I was too excited. The Little Highness is just too cute, and I couldn’t control myself. I had to do something to calm down."

Wen Qingfeng: *...So you pinch me?*

In front of the citizens, An Ya and Fei Man usually appeared composed and calm. They were well aware that they were the backbone of the Saint Cas Empire. Additionally, being of the Longlived race, they had witnessed and encountered too much in their lives. Rarely did they show prolonged enthusiasm for anything beyond battle, and seldom were they surprised by anything—well, except for Xiao Chuzao removing his crown's halo, which somewhat defied the Crown Clan's biological norms.

You couldn't blame them for being surprised.

Only the little one was seeing these things for the first time—whether it was the moving miniature starship or the various beautiful handicrafts. His eyes widened with wonder, perfectly illustrating the phrase "too much to take in."

An Ya and Fei Man followed closely behind, quietly buying whatever the child pointed at.

"Hey there, little one—"

Then Xiao Chuzao heard an exceptionally gentle voice.

The little one immediately lifted his head and looked toward the source.

It was a small stall adorned with the vibrant flag of Saint Cas. Behind the counter sat a wheelchair-bound woman.

She appeared to be middle-aged, her kind eyes crinkled with a smile. She first glanced at An Ya and Fei Man, who were watching the little one intently from a short distance away, then leveraged her exoskeleton's support to stand up and handed a beautiful little badge to the child.

"Here, it comes with stickers and clips. How could we forget this?"

This was one of the rare instances where the little one interacted with a stranger.

Xiao Chuzao’s eyes widened as he looked first at the woman before him, then at the badge in her hand. The child hesitated warily—he had been tricked before.

But now, the once-vulnerable child had changed.

An Ya and Fei Man were only a few steps away. Xiao Chuzao timidly reached out and accepted the badge.

Then he looked up at her again.

Xiao Chuzao was bundled up like a little package by his doting father, his lower face wrapped in a scarf. From a distance, only his bright, large eyes were visible. Up close, one could see his precious, well-behaved face.

Chu Zao heard the woman before him gasp softly: "Oh my, you're precious."

Whose sweet child is this?

Xiao Chuzao blinked his eyes.

With strangers, he was growing bolder.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh, it's nothing at all."

The woman waved off his thanks.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"We Saint Casians are family, and besides, you're just too adorable."

The little cub got praised by a stranger.

His big eyes lit up, then he asked softly, "Auntie, can Zao Zao have two more?"

He glanced at the badge, then looked back at An Ya and Fei Man following behind.

The Saint Casian before him didn't quite understand Xiao Chuzao's relationship with Princess An Ya and Princess Fei Man, but instinctively following his gaze, she froze for a moment: "Are these for Princess Fei Man and Princess An Ya?"

The cub nodded eagerly.

"Lemme find two really good ones for you, wait a moment—"

She got all flustered.

Behind them, An Ya and Fei Man kept watching. Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu got called to some mining meeting midway, so after accompanying the little one for half the outing, they had to bail.

An Ya: "Zao Zao's doing okay with people."

They had previously considered how to gradually help the skittish cub interact with others. Xiao Chuzao was wary of strangers and kinda iffy about meeting them. His different attitude toward the Crown Clan was because he had been ostracized due to their traits, so to him, they represented belonging.

But this Saint Cas Empire was gonna end up with Xiao Chuzao—it was only a matter of time.

Fei Man deadpanned: "Uh-huh."

So! Freaking! Cute!

"Second Brother's watching him like a hawk now."

An Ya cracked his knuckles.

He looked curiously at Fei Man: "What's going through that head of yours?"

"I want to compete with Brother Amos for the little one."

Fei Man dropped this bombshell.

An Ya: ...?

Wait, you serious?!

He watched as his sister, keeping a straight face, clenched her fist.

"What kinda sister wouldn't want to steal her brother's child? I've been planning this for a long time—"

An Ya was stunned: "You've got some nerve..."

He knew Fei Man had always been a wild card. As a child, she'd repeatedly tried to trick Amos, and even after being scolded, she never learned. Now, she was even more—

Fei Man cut him off: "Just wait. In my next life, I'll become Brother Amos's elder and snatch the little one from him! Now? Right now, of course, I'm just daydreaming."

An Ya: ...

Why you getting all hyped up over such a cowardly idea?!

You made it sound like you were starting a coup! Meanwhile, not far away, the little one came scampering over.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He held a badge in his little hand, his big eyes shining brightly.

Though there were many other nations and races at the event, every Saint Cas resident who saw him greeted and cooed over how cute he was.

Xiao Chuzao felt a different kind of belonging—not just because the Saint Cas Empire had the Crown Clan.

"Auntie, Uncle—"

The little one handed them the badges.

His small wings were tucked away, but they already pictured them wagging eagerly behind him.

"Zao Zao got some for you too."

An Ya took it, still flustered after being hit with Xiao Chuzao’s blunt cuteness earlier that morning.

Meanwhile, Fei Man crouched down, accepted the badge, pulled him into a half-hug, and pinned it onto his clothes, staring at his plush, pale cheeks.

So cute—

Seeing no one was looking, Fei Man smoothly pecked his cheek.

Both the little one and An Ya slowly widened their eyes.

Fei Man was unfazed.

What was one more kiss?

She. Was. Committed!

"You’re so adorable, Zao Zao."

Xiao Chuzao, wary and ready to dodge: Kiss fiend, but she’s praising him.

"The meeting over there should wrap up soon. Top leaders from all nations and species will come out, and a crowd will form. Let’s go over later too."

To see Daddy?

The little one nodded.

Fei Man’s words distracted him.

Then she stood and took Xiao Chuzao’s hand.

An Ya watched the whole sequence dumbfounded.

Was he wrong earlier? Should… he learn from this?

With kisses, maybe?

*

Hesitantly, his gaze hovered over the kid’s squishable cheek.

Elsewhere.

The cross-nation, cross-species summit was underway.

Most of the meeting had passed, with delegates butting heads and trading blame over recent events. Yet in this region, nobody messed with Saint Cas. The Bael Union’s homeworld had sent Barney, their President’s son.

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

As another Longlived race among the star systems, the Spirit Eye Clan, much like the Crown Clan, possesses a vast organization, yet the details are entirely different.

The Spirit Eye Clan lacks the formidable combat prowess of the Crown Clan. Their mental powers bear some similarity to those of the Grail Clan, granting them a keen sense of danger. Their expanded mental awareness acts like their eyes, revealing everything around them.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuan of the Bael Union Revolutionary Army was the most noticeable one in the entire meeting.

He consistently proclaimed himself the rising power in the galaxy, who’ll bring a new order to the stars.

Amos couldn’t be bothered to look up, remaining silent.

Nations and races around, regardless of size—even those who believed the Crown Clan was at its end—wouldn’t dare show it openly, nor directly oppose them. Following Amos’ lead, none engaged with Lin Yuan’s provocations.

Being ignored like this, Lin Yuan’s eyes darkened. Thinking of the drug hidden in his coat—one that could trigger Amos’s rage—he sneered.

What’s so great about the Crown Clan?

A Longlived race with no future, twisting in pain from the corruption, losing reason, and sliding toward extinction even in stable regions—who knows how much longer they’ll last? And yet, they still act all high and mighty here.

Originally, he had intended to destroy the Spirit Eye Clan, but after interactions, Lin Yuan found himself despising the Crown Clan even more.

"Alright, let’s not bring up the star systems divided by heavy contamination zones anymore. Who knows if any other civilizations remain beyond? The ones we once communicated with have likely perished by now—it’s been centuries. Our priority should be addressing the spread of corruption."

"Shouldn’t we first deal with the endless waves of the Aberrant Beast Legion? They’ve begun organized tactical campaigns. Ordinary nations and races can’t handle them all at once."

"No, we must resolve the energy crisis first—"

With countless issues piling up, they couldn’t agree on a final agreement, though some other cooperative negotiations proceeded smoothly.

"Time’s almost up."

Lin Yuan interrupted the neutral planet’s moderator overseeing the proceedings, smiling at Amos.

"Your Majesty of Saint Cas, our Bael Revolutionary Union has recently developed new combat mechs. It’s long been said that the Saint Cas Empire leads the galaxy in technological advancement. I invite you and the other leaders to witness it."

Frey, seated nearby, glanced at Amos.

Amos lazily lifted his eyelids, finally looking at Lin Yuan properly.

After a pause, he smirked.

His stern, cold features carried a trace of mockery—

Amos had a seriously dark side. His indifference wasn’t due to a cold personality; he genuinely looked down on those around him.

Just as the Hymn Organization described the arrogance of the Crown Clan—Amos was the most arrogant among them.

Even in this meeting, the confrontations bored him, turning up no trace of the Hymn Organization’s involvement.

Until now.

*

"Then let’s go."

In another star system.

"What’s wrong with the Bael Union now?!"

Finn paced back and forth in the starship’s command center. He grabbed his head in frustration, smoothing his beard. "Forget the things they’ve planted—just their setup alone is like some messed-up obstacle course! One after another! Where’s our other fleet? Push spatial jumps to the limit and get to the heavily contaminated zone ASAP! Check if that recording’s legit, and don’t let the Hymn Organization beat us there—argh! Why can’t we contact Saint Cas? We’re only able to talk to ourselves!"

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

The adjutant, who had previously promised they could return to Saint Cas in three days, was now too afraid to speak and finally muttered,

"Your Highness Finn, the troops stationed on the rogue planet outside still seem to belong to the Boer Revolutionary Army. They seem to be on some kind of mission and are mobilizing."

Finn snorted and waved his hand dismissively.

"Blast them to hell!"

How many times does this make now?

Aren't we almost at the neutral planet for the multinational and multiracial conference?!

*

Why do we keep stumbling into the stationed territories of the Boer Revolutionary Alliance?!

The interstellar livestream kept rolling.

Leaders from various nations and races had already appeared, with Lin Yuan leading the way, enthusiastically introducing their "so-called" new technology to those around him.

An Ya and Fei Man, along with Xiao Chuzao, watched the broadcast from outside for a while before deciding there were too many livestream cameras in the area and moved to another exit.

Not many people were there, and once the meeting concluded, they would leave from this side.

Xiao Chuzao was lifted by Fei Man onto a high platform to sit—a quiet corner unlikely to draw attention.

This time, Fei Man and An Ya had learned their lesson and placed several soft cushions beneath the little one.

The platform was high up, and Xiao Chuzao's short legs dangled, kicking back and forth as he kept looking eagerly toward the entrance.

"Will Ba Ba come out soon? That's the lady who just gave Zao Zao the badge over there!"

"Yeah."

An Ya nodded, glancing in that direction.

"Brother Amos will be out soon."

Both An Ya and Fei Man were closely watching the situation.

They had expected some trouble during the meeting.

But nothing happened.

That was a bit strange—or perhaps it hadn't started yet?

After all, this meeting wasn't scheduled for just today.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuan checked the time and received a message from his subordinate.

All the troops stationed nearby should have moved by now. Though there was no response, according to Lin Yuan's earlier orders, all units were to maintain radio silence. By now, they should have arrived. This time, they would cleanly capture Barney of the Spirit Eye Clan and ultimately seize control of the entire Bael Union.

As he looked at Amos and Frey standing nearby, along with the various live broadcast devices set up not far away, a glint of malice flickered in his eyes.

He smiled at Amos. "Your Majesty Amos, how are you enjoying this conference?"

Arrogantly, he continued, "In the end, longlived races will all fade into history—like the Spirit Eye Clan... and of course, the Crown Clan. If your crown were to shatter and your psychic energy were to go berserk in front of everyone, do you think—"

Amos shot him a glance.

Is this guy out of his mind?

Amos didn't hesitate in the slightest.

This tyrant's reputation wasn't unearned.

Before anyone nearby could react,

Blood sprayed everywhere.

Lin Yuan wasn't helpless—he stumbled back over thirty feet, the canister he'd just opened falling from his arms. Amos caught it on his sword tip and snapped the lid shut, but traces of reddish-brown gas had already begun to spread.

Gripping his wounded arm, Lin Yuan spotted the distant shadows approaching the horizon—what appeared to be a massive fleet. He smirked and scrambled into the new mech suit he'd invited everyone to see.

Amos and Frey had no idea what the gas did. After a brief pause, they heard Lin Yuan's sinister, arrogant voice: "King Amos, can't you feel your psychic energy slipping?"

Amos: ...?

I feel fine.

"No use resisting. A trace is all it takes. You'll prove to everyone that the Crown Clan is a ticking time bomb in the galaxy—one we must unite against. Including your own subjects. Surely you haven't forgotten the last time you were contaminated? This place is already surrounded by my forces. This planet, the nearby star clusters—I know you've made preparations, but it's too late. I only want—Barney. The others don't interest me. As for the Crown Clan, they're just collateral."

Lin Yuan seemed lost in his fantasy as his mech rose into the air. He spread his arms, watching the hidden revolutionary forces begin to encircle the crowd. Armed with specialized weapons, they outmatched other nations and species.

"The Hymn Organization truly is capable."

He gloated—their weapons, neutral-planet perks, all of it—

Amos just stared, letting him rant.

"Lock down the area and seal the skies. The Hymn Organization might still be nearby."

Amos issued the order: "Eliminate them."

For now, Amos drew his Psychic Sword—the hilt of which bore several tiny teeth marks from Xiao Chuzao.

"Clear the field."

Lin Yuan sensed something was wrong: "Why isn't it working?!"

Their whole plan relied on Amos's crown breaking and the ensuing chaos.

In the distant sky, a Hymn Organization lieutenant who'd been silently observing the scene quickly input escape coordinates and muttered, "Moron."

From his vantage point, he could see the truth earlier—that wasn't the Boer Revolutionary Army lurking near the star clusters, ready to seize Barney amid Saint Cas's chaos.

Those ships bore the unmistakable insignia—the San Cas Third Army!!

*

Noticing the commotion, the kid who'd been sitting high up scrambled to his feet. Wrapped like a burrito, he wobbled like a roly-poly.

He tugged at his hat to clear his vision and adjusted his scarf.

The little one widened his eyes, looking around.

"Aunt An? Uncle? What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just trash."

An Ya glanced around dismissively.

Fei Man acknowledged and was about to step out from the corner when she caught a glimpse—

In the blink of an eye, the little one was now clutching a gleaming golden bow.

Fei Man froze.

The memory of being hit by an arrow flashed through her mind.

This place was a mess—

Fei Man seized the child's hand—

Love and peace?

No way, no way.