Chapter 47: Wait, is that what we agreed on?

Chapter 47: Wait a Minute, Is This What We Agreed On?

This marked not only the first reappearance of a Little Crown Clan member in centuries, but also revealed Amos's offspring—a youngling of the mythical longlived race who, at an age still requiring protection, chose instead to shield others.

Here was the next Emperor of Saint Cas, acknowledged in Amos's embrace.

Many Saint Casians present recognized the child before them.

Though no live footage captured the moment, he had acted under the guardianship of Her Royal Highness An Ya and Her Royal Highness Fei Man.

None dared presume him a Little Crown Clan member, merely speculating he might be the cub of some high-ranking minister with exceptional service to the empire.

But now—

As elite warriors of their generation, Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu reacted swiftest, protecting others against the Boer Revolutionary Army's assault.

Having known the truth earlier than most, they were the first to salute.

"Young Highness!"

The Saint Casians behind them grew increasingly fervent. Under Amos's acknowledgment, in this battlefield heavy with the metallic tang of blood, the chanting swelled—

"Young Highness!"

"Young Highness!!"

"Young Highness Chu Zao!!!"

They called his name.

Little Chuzao, his golden Crown Clan halo glowing steadily above his head, swept amber eyes across the scene—first to Amos, then the crowd.

Amos adjusted his scarf, revealing soft, chubby cheeks rounded with baby fat.

Months under the Crown Clan's care had restored the child's health, leaving him rounder and cuter—so irresistible that Fei Man kept stealing kisses.

Soft as a sweet pudding, squishy and delightfully bouncy.

Unlike his usual habit of burrowing into Amos's arms, the child remained upright in the emperor's hold, his luminous halo bright as he surveyed the crowd.

Papa watched him; even Uncle Frey bowed in deference.

Little Chuzao's gaze traveled further.

An Ya and Fei Man flanked a stranger with a thick beard, pinning his arms with amused expressions. When he looked their way, they too saluted—no longer acting as family, but as Saint Cas Empire subjects.

As Crown Clan members, they honored the heir acknowledged by His Majesty Amos.

At the distant entrance stood Hale, his Psychic Weapon in hand, though none knew his origin. Bloodied as if from brutal combat, the scholarly-looking man observed the scene. His long-held gloom on this planet shifted subtly, complex emotions finally steadying into a stormless gaze—this was the moment he'd awaited. His Psychic Weapon dissipated as he inclined his head.

*—A salute to the future Emperor of Saint Cas.*

The cub who once hid from every challenge now understood—what Amos had long explained about a Crown Clan's duties and burdens.

No longer merely a self-reliant, formidable mythical race. Amidst such devotion and hope, they stood as the core and spirit of Saint Cas Empire.

The cheers of the Saint Casians present, the Crown Clan bowing their heads after displaying their overwhelming power, the countless starships of the San Cas Third Army hovering overhead, and the military moving in perfect order to take control—all of it showcased the might of an empire many had written off as a fading empire.

Beneath that sky, above the bloodshed.

It was utterly awe-inspiring.

The entire StarNet went wild.

From the moment Amos claimed Xiao Chuzao as his own.

The StarNet was nearly spammed with posts from the Saint Cas Empire.

In just over a dozen minutes, everyone was posting dozens of messages expressing their emotions on average.

The Saint Cas Empire was one of the major empires that built the StarNet. Instead of imposing restrictions, the administrators responsible for maintaining the network got swept up in the madness.

As a result, people from other planets saw nothing but the voices of Saint Casians.

"Have the Saint Casians gone mad? My goodness, they’re celebrating everywhere."

"They’ve always been kinda unhinged. Haven’t you noticed how strictly discussions about the Crown Clan are regulated on the StarNet? What you can find is basically just glowing praise—the management permissions for this are all under Saint Cas’s control."

"Saint Cas has always been obsessed with the Crown Clan, in a way I can’t comprehend. And if you say the Crown Clan’s crowns are gonna break, they’ll totally lose it. I’ve seen so many Saint Casians writing late-night emotional rants, as if they’d die for their Emperor and Highnesses if they were gone. It’s just too insane to understand."

"If you can’t understand, then don’t!!! Aaaaah, Little Highness!! We actually have a Little Highness too!!"

"It’s been centuries, right? This is the only one? Oh my god, oh my god, to witness this in our lifetime?"

"Little Highness looks so tiny, especially since Emperor Amos is so tall—it makes him seem extra, extra small. So adorable—I can’t take it, he’s just too adorable. Now I understand why my ancestors’ notes were mostly about the Little Highnesses growing up back then. Please, can we get more videos and photos of Little Highness in the future?!"

"Wahhh, the next ruler of Saint Cas—we finally have a successor."

"Those little curls just like Emperor Amos, the coronet pattern of the Dwight Family—I don’t get it, how can there be such an adorable yet handsome Little Highness in this world?"

"But wasn’t this reveal accidental? The Emperor and Highnesses must have had reasons for keeping Little Highness’s existence hidden at first. Is there danger? Actually, Little Highness didn’t even need to act—the Emperor and Highnesses were already moving. Nothing will go wrong, ugh, I’m freaking out."

"Little Highness didn’t know if his arrow would make a difference—he was supposed to be protected, but he still acted, like the Crown Clan from the old tales—aaaah, help, I’m so excited for next year’s National Day!"

A sinister farce had turned into a grand celebration for the Saint Cas Empire.

On the other end of the conspiracy, layers of nets closed around a frantic, fleeing big fish.

The base, perpetually drifting through space, had already successfully dismantled several starships of the Hymn Organization belonging to the Longlived race. The atmosphere was tense.

"He’s been caught. We’ve severed contact with him."

A cloaked member of the Hymn Organization tapped on the control panel atop the table.

"He has made outstanding contributions to the descent of the divine. The gods will witness this."

The man closed his eyes, raised his hand, and traced an obscure gesture over his chest—a symbol resembling some form of prayer.

"Impossible—this is absolutely impossible."

Elsewhere, a voice rang out in madness, accompanied by the sound of fists slamming against a table.

Before them played the StarNet livestream—Amos lifting Xiao Chuzao, declaring to all that this was his offspring, the future ruler of Saint Cas.

They simply couldn’t believe it.

"How could there be no effect at all?"

"It shouldn’t be like this. That special substance was confirmed to have entered Amos’s mental energy, right?"

"No mistake—all the footage is still intact—"

The Hymn Organization fell dead silent.

After a long pause, the figure seated at the head of the table spoke: "Tolerance and Generosity have fallen, and Mercy will soon follow—all because of the Crown Clan. We must designate the Crown Clan as the primary enemy obstructing our sacred rites, especially that strange youngling of theirs."

The Hymn Organization was a fanatical cult devoted to deities, with the Seven Virtues as its leaders and the Eight Knights as lesser bishops. In past conflicts with the Crown Clan, the Virtues of Tolerance and Generosity had already perished, and today, Mercy—one of the Eight Knights who had liaised with Lin Yuan—had been targeted by the Saint Cas Empire.

Their operations against the Crown Clan were countless, yet an aberrant child had emerged.

Mei Lun was moments from crown-shattering death, but that strange little one had forcibly pulled him back.

Now, the entire atmosphere surrounding the Crown Clan seemed different, and the only variable was Xiao Chuzao.

He adjusted the screen, freezing the image on the pudgy, doll-like face of the seemingly harmless child.

Chubby cheeks, gentle hair that made him look utterly harmless—this five-year-old, still in the midst of growing, had already become a grave threat.

"Previous studies suggested that while Crown Clan members without offspring possess formidable combat prowess, it is said that those with offspring are the true Crown Clan. Their young must indeed be of great importance to them."

"Not many of the long-lived races remain. Let’s cull the Spirit Eye Clan first."

"Though Lin Yuan was swiftly overpowered by Amos, the Bael Union fell predictably at this moment. Both the Bael Union and the Spirit Eye Clan will soon be history—another fragment of our holy rite’s design has fallen into place."

"But—the Saint Cas Empire’s livestream hasn’t ended. What are they planning?"

Indeed, the Saint Cas Empire’s livestream continued.

After the San Cas Third Army rapidly seized control of the sector, all Saint Casian journalists received instructions from the Crown Clan to keep the broadcast running.

They boarded the starship alongside the Crown Clan.

Meanwhile, Barney of the Spirit Eye Clan, sent by the Bael Union, was desperately rushing back, as the Bael Union had just officially announced its fall, with the President’s fate unknown.

This organization, also led by the long-lived race, collapsed in moments. Revolutionary forces, rebel armies, and other factions’ warships bombarded the region, and footage of their final occupation of the presidential palace appeared—though it was drowned out by the Saint Casians’ revelry.

The contrast between the two sides couldn’t be more stark.

However, unlike the expected wails of despair, the people of the Bael Union, who had lived relatively stable lives, celebrated the overthrow of their long-lived rulers outright.

The Spirit Eye Clan had given their all for the Bael Union—something the Saint Casians couldn’t fathom nor bothered to. Their focus remained glued to their livestream feeds.

Amos boarded the flagship of the Saint Cas Empire’s 9th Army.

The San Cas 9th Army reached their coordinates shortly after the Third Army.

Ye Ming saluted Amos and the other Crown Clan members.

"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses! Little Highness! The 10th Army has cast its dragnet, locking onto the fleeing starship of the Hymn Organization. It likely carries one of their Gang Leaders, who is now fleeing for his life. After realizing we’ve spotted him, he changed course and is heading toward the nearest tainted sector. However, their starship only excels in stealth—it isn’t jump-capable."

"Pursue."

Amos commanded coldly.

"Yes!"

Xiao Chuzao stood right beside Amos.

When Amos boarded the starship, he had let Xiao Chuzao down.

Surrounded by so many people and cameras, Xiao Chuzao was clearly uncomfortable, but in the end, the little one ended up having his hand held.

Xiao Chuzao’s small hand was held high, clasped within Amos’s large palm.

Thus, all the Saint Casians witnessed the Little Highness, bundled up like a ball, toddling alongside Amos, wobbling cutely.

The rest of the Crown Clan trailed close behind.

Whenever His Majesty Amos was around, the spotlight was always on him.

The starship’s AI lacked a suitable voice module, so it borrowed a temporary source installed on the ship to announce, *"As you command!"*

The starship, the crown jewel of Saint Casian engineering, began its pursuit at full speed.

Out of the cameras’ view.

Frey looked at his younger siblings beside him.

"Third Brother, if I’m not mistaken, we received orders to return to Saint Cas’s imperial capital almost a month ago, didn’t we?"

Fei Man looked completely baffled.

"Haha... haha..."

A young man with a thick beard obscuring half his face, only his bright eyes visible, radiated an air of unreliability. His military uniform wasn’t the standard-issue formal kind but rather a somewhat casual aristocratic style. He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ah, you know how things go! Let me show you our achievements over the past month. Hey, don’t act like we were slacking off! We wiped out countless Aberrant Beast Legion squads and even cleared out a whole safe zone! Plus, if we hadn’t been busting our asses taking out the Boer Revolutionary Army one by one, the neutral planets wouldn’t have been secured so quickly!"

"So?"

An Ya stared at him.

"Ah... so—"

Finn gave up.

"Alright, fine! Our stupid nav system crapped out again, and we got lost in space, okay? Huh? You just had to pry, huh? Feeling smart now?"

"Third Brother, how long have you been growing that beard? Looks like it’s grown even bushier. You gonna trim that mess?"

"Hey, don’t touch the beard."

Finn glared at An Ya in warning.

"This beard is my whole vibe!"

Finn, who had been somewhat jovial, turned his gaze toward Amos and Xiao Chuzao not far away.

His face fell instantly.

"So what’s really going on? I figured Brother Amos was just yanking my chain to hurry me back."

Wait, he was serious?

An actual... kid?

Here's the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He's still using a bow.

Finn felt a sense of familiarity.

"But that little bow isn't strong enough, and the overall performance is lacking. He needs more training."

Finn muttered to himself, then clutched his head.

"Aghhh, speaking of which, isn't Amos going to beat me up for coming back so late? Disappearing with an entire army for a month or something—"

He looked up with an extremely gloomy expression.

"Amos will kill me."

An Ya: "..."

Fei Man: "..."

No need to think so much about it.

"No need to beat you up," Fei Man said.

"We have a better solution."

"Huh?"

Finn looked at Fei Man.

He had only seen Xiao Chuzao's suddenly changed arrow and didn't yet know about the differences between the little cub and the Crown Clan.

Even An Ya, with her infamously bad temper, clasped her hands nervously: "Amen."

Frey couldn't help but chuckle.

Finn looked utterly confused.

Finn didn't quite understand what they were talking about. He turned and saw Hale sitting in the command center's lounge, injecting painkillers into his veins.

Clearly, today's events had forced Hale, who wasn't originally part of this operation, to move past what his broken body could handle. Regular painkillers couldn't control the spreading pain.

"Mr. Hale—"

Finn's expression was lost in his thick beard.

He glanced down at his communicator, hesitating but ultimately saying nothing.

Just wait a little longer.

Suddenly, he realized something.

"Huh? Wait a minute, did I forget to issue the next orders to the Third Army? Oh no—my communicator seems to be malfunctioning too! Fei Man, quick, let me use yours!"

Finn looked up blankly.

Meanwhile, the San Cas Third Army, which had already taken full control of the neutral planet, watched as Finn boarded the 9th Army's starship—including the general and Finn's adjutant.

The general and adjutant just stared...

Your Highness Finn—wait!! What about us? What's our next move?? You're just leaving without even turning back?

What the—?!

Meanwhile, the starship of Saint Cas's 9th Army streaked forward.

The targeted Hymn Organization vessel had already been reduced to scrap by cannon fire.

It limped to the border of the contaminated zone before crash-landing.

Saint Cas's 9th Army hunted it down relentlessly.

As the crippled ship lurched away, Amos had already led the group to the hatch.

As winds howled, Amos adjusted the scarf of the little one beside him.

"Hold on, kiddo—" he whispered.

He knelt to fix the child's scarf as a crown wreathed in dark light materialized above his head—cracked like burning embers. His pristine wings unfurled, shielding the little one briefly before he blurred out of view at impossible speed.

The reporters and cameramen stood gaping—

"My hands are shaking."

Hearing stories about the Crown Clan was nothing like seeing it.

That raw ferocity—no wonder Amos' expanded territories called him "the Tyrant."

"Oh god—"

"Roll cameras—now!"

Amos gripped his Psychic Sword.

With one thrust, the Hymn Organization's fleeing starship slammed into the ground.

Their gang leader, missing an arm, crawled from the cleaved cockpit.

His cloak fell away, revealing an ordinary face contorted in frenzy—behind him, a horde of Aberrant Beasts stirred.

This ragtag legion became Amos' slaughterhouse.

He carved through them without expression, pure fury in motion.

As beast limbs rained down, Amos stalked across the gore toward the gang leader.

"Got you."

Cameras followed Amos, dodging poorly as lenses got spattered with blood. Yet he stood untouched in the carnage, sword dripping scarlet—a scene frozen in terror.

"......"

The gang leader's face went blank. He gasped before snarling:

"...Heretics. Your Longlived kind are doomed by fate. The universe will devour you all."

"Is that so?"

Amos rammed his blade through the man's chest.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He raised his eyes, apparently seeing right through the camera to the remaining Hymn Organization members observing Amos.

"But it's always been your people who die."

It was true in the past, is now, and will remain so in the future.

This was the rage of a parent whose cub had been harmed.

The Hymn Organization had targeted his child.

The livestream froze on Amos's murderous glare.

This was a warning, making damn sure they knew the Crown Clan was formally declaring war.

Blood will run in rivers—no mercy, no surrender!

This time, the little one wasn't shielded from the sight. Xiao Chuzao's heart pounded wildly.

"Daddy's so awesome!"

He said softly.

The livestream had already cut off, and everyone was hauled off by the 9th Army, awaiting arrangements for their return.

Amos was going over cleanup ops with Ye Ming, the 9th Army commander—this was the first time the Crown Clan had openly flexed their power to all ill-intentioned forces.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chuzao was taken by Frey and the others to the med bay for a quick checkup.

"Damn, he's tiny!"

Finn, having already settled his Third Army, followed them to the med bay, walking circles around the kid—three times left, then three times right—eyes wide with curiosity as he reached out to poke and pinch.

Xiao Chuzao stared back at him—such a long beard, couldn't even see his face.

This guy... Third Uncle?

"This isn't fair."

An Ya grumbled nearby.

"Why doesn't Zao Zao throw things at him?"

Back in the day, An Ya had been pelted plenty by the little one—even getting hit by his halo.

But now Xiao Chuzao had mellowed out, no longer so easily startled.

Finn was completely getting the perks of arriving late and getting lost.

"So what's this checkup about? Why come to the med bay?"

Finn circled the little one a few more times before looking up at Frey and the others.

He hadn't caught what An Ya was muttering and stepped closer to them.

Watching as the little one, wrapped up like a dumpling, obediently raised and lowered his head when told, even chirping "thank you"—freakishly well-mannered, not what you'd expect from Crown Clan stock. He remembered how rebellious they all were as kids, raising hell and tearing up the place—now those were the days!

So— How the hell did Second Brother land a kid like this?

Finn couldn't wrap his head around it—it didn't add up.

And the most crucial point was—the Crown Clan actually had a cub!! Hahaha, who would've thought?!

"Second Brother picked him up from the habitat during that time—"

"Yeah—"

Finn glanced over, showing he was listening. He was smiling, but there was no real mirth behind it. He was the most unpredictable one in the Crown Clan, and most people preferred not to provoke him.

But just then, Amos returned, pushing open the infirmary door.

All the Crown Clan members inside looked over.

They saw Amos' cold expression, his brows still carrying traces of lingering fury.

Coincidentally, Amos' gaze landed on Finn, who remained as unreliable as ever. He cracked his knuckles—a sharp sound.

Finn froze, his smile stiffening. This wasn't good—

He swallowed hard and decided to get ahead of this—and take some others down with him.

"Ah, Brother Amos, I just heard—Fei Man and An Ya said you went through hell and back, yearning for new life in the Crown Clan, praying to the heavens, and finally brought back a cub from the habitat, right? What a hero!"

The little cub, who had been blinking and listening to the conversation, suddenly turned his head: "Wait, what?"

Xiao Chuzao had just shed his heavy clothes, and his tiny wings finally had more room to move. They had been flapping happily moments ago, but now they stilled. The air in the room grew dead silent.

An Ya: "......"

Fei Man: "......"

"Hold up—that's NOT what we said! We only mentioned one sentence, okay????"

Amos: "*Countless* hardships... *praying* to the heavens...?"