Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Fourth Miss Zuo was no fool. Although Eugene had only mentioned bringing two friends from the capital planet, Eve’s familiarity with the Medici family subtly hinted at her true identity.

“Are you from the Medici family?” she asked, narrowing her beautiful eyes. “So, are you here for Frank, to investigate the Flying Bird, or for some other reason?”

Eve made a shushing gesture, placing a finger to her lips. “Sorry, personal matters are not for discussion. But I can tell you that the two reasons you mentioned are among my objectives for this trip.”

Though they were added after the fact.

“……”

Fourth Miss Zuo sensed Eve’s guardedness, but she wasn’t surprised. As the pampered daughter of a major space pirate, it was only natural for Eve to be suspicious when she suddenly offered to help take down her own father.

Fourth Miss Zuo’s assumptions about Eve were mistaken in process but correct in outcome.

Thanks to the Luna Butterfly’s high-level spiritual manipulation abilities, Eve was highly sensitive to others’ emotions. While Fourth Miss Zuo had calmly recounted those dark events, her inner emotions were far from the subdued sorrow she displayed on the surface.

Whether discussing her nephew’s contested origins or briefly mentioning her own unfortunate mother, this seemingly gentle lady showed almost no emotional fluctuation. It was only when Eve clearly stated that the person who had boarded the Flying Bird and impregnated the eldest daughter could not possibly have been the current Medici family head that Fourth Miss Zuo’s heart finally stirred with surprise.

When it came to helping them, Fourth Miss Zuo’s resolve was unexpectedly firm and resolute. Her desire to betray her own father was likely genuine, but her reasons were certainly not the roundabout explanation she’d given earlier.

She probably had another motive for wanting to leave the Flying Bird. Initially, she might have planned to leverage Frank’s identity to gain connections with the Medici family. However, not only did the Medici family want nothing to do with Frank, but the powerful family head had likely known from the start that Frank was not his biological child, watching the Flying Bird’s schemes over the years as nothing more than a joke.

Even among allies, maintaining decorum is essential. To reassure Fourth Miss Zuo, their temporary ally, Eve decided to disclose some information, showing her that sticking with their side would yield results.

“Frank’s appearance closely resembles that of the current publicly acknowledged heir of the Medici family. Even if he isn’t the Medici family head’s biological child, he must share a close bloodline with them. Given the Medici family’s emphasis on bloodlines, they wouldn’t allow a space pirate to pass off a fake as their own.”

“You’re right. Moreover, Zuo Qirong has believed Frank’s origins all these years, which means there must be something convincing about his background,” Fourth Miss Zuo said, her mood noticeably easing. However, she soon noticed something interesting in Eve’s words. “Publicly acknowledged heir?”

“It means the current one... The Medici family has fierce internal competition,” Eve waved a hand dismissively. “Actually, it might be better for Frank that he isn’t the Medici family head’s biological child. If he had to face those wolfish young masters and ladies of the main family, his reticent temperament would never stand a chance against them.”

Eugene couldn’t help but sneer, “For one of the four great families, their behavior is no different from that of space pirates like the Flying Bird. People say the nobles of the capital planet are all glitter, no substance—turns out it’s true.”

Eve: "..."

She rubbed her nose, surprised when Fourth Miss Zuo unexpectedly spoke up in her defense. “Oh, Eugene, don’t say that. Though it sounds harsh, I think it’s necessary.”

“Competition fosters growth,” Fourth Miss Zuo said with a smile, her gentle face full of admiration and longing. “I’ve heard that the Medici family has a Miss Eve. Though her origins aren’t glorious, she’s made her way in the capital through her own capabilities. Such a figure could only have been forged in a place like the Medici family.”

Eve: "..."

Eugene: "..."

Could they please stop being subjected to the awkwardness of hearing others discuss them like this?!

Lorca, off to the side, coughed twice to mask his discomfort, thinking to himself, *If you’re going to thank anyone, thank the Oliver Family instead of the Medici family.*

If Eve was a striking rose with thorns, it was first because she herself was a resilient seed, and second because of the nurturing environment of the Oliver Family and Qin Mengde’s bold discernment. What role did the Medici family play in all this? All they provided was the pot.

Though he didn’t know why Eve had initially chosen to leave the Medici family, it didn’t stop Lorca from forming an early dislike for them. Now, with Fourth Miss Zuo repeatedly talking up the Medici family, Lorca found himself disliking her as well.

He didn’t openly show his displeasure but simply said, “If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”

“Do you have other matters to attend to?”

“Surveying the starship and getting better acquainted with the layout,” Lorca glanced at her. “The Spiritual State is still in the captain’s cabin. We can’t let other preparations slide just because the Spiritual State is unavailable.”

“As expected of the Investigation Department’s chief,” Eve agreed with Lorca’s point, nodding. “We do have a lot to handle right now. The scale of the Flying Bird likely exceeds what the few of us can manage. If we’re really going to act, it’s better to contact backup sooner rather than later.”

With things put so plainly, even Fourth Miss Zuo had no reason to insist they stay. Besides, her main goal had been to meet them, and that was accomplished.

Her intention had been to assess in advance whether the help Eugene had brought was reliable. Now it seemed that after years on the run, Eugene and Frank had become much more dependable than they were five years ago—at least their judgment of people had improved significantly.

“Very well, I won’t hinder your work any further. The more prepared you are, the more it benefits me,” Fourth Miss Zuo said with a slight raise of her brow and a compliant smile. “But if you encounter any minor troubles, you can come to me. As long as the Crown Prince hasn’t clearly expressed interest—or disinterest—in me, Zuo Qirong will remain quite tolerant of me.”

Eve understood: Zuo Qirong intended to offer his daughter as a gift to the Crown Prince. So that was why Fourth Miss Zuo wanted to leave the Flying Bird.

“We’ll try not to trouble you,” Eve replied, her hand already on the doorknob. “See you around, then.”

Fourth Miss Zuo elegantly lifted the hem of her puffy skirt, crossing her feet slightly as she performed a standard curtsy.

Her poise was as refined as that of an expensive handmade doll.

After leaving Fourth Miss Zuo’s domain, no one else summoned them. As a major pirate syndicate, most members of the Flying Bird were quite busy. With the mission assigned by the Capital Star still pending and Zuo Qirong’s formidable authority looming overhead, no one dared slack off.

By the time they returned, the supervisor was already occupied with other matters. Another pirate was assigned to escort Eve and Lorca back to the Tian Shang Ren Jian quarters for the Pets. But as long as they weren’t harassed, it didn’t matter who was watching them.

After all, they were all unfamiliar pirates.

The Wall-Imprisoned Serpent remained hidden in the shadows of the captain’s cabin, ready to vanish into thin air and retreat into Lorca’s spiritual realm at the first sign of trouble, so neither of them was particularly worried about it. Lorca relayed the information he had gathered to Eve, then asked, “Are you planning to seek help from the Military Department?”

“Of course. Violence is the fastest solution, after all. If Qin Mengde can be found, it would be best for her to mobilize the military. Although there are some rotten elements within the Military Department, Commander Frigga is no fool. With the princess’s firsthand testimony, she won’t stand idly by.”

It was curious—despite her life-and-death struggles with the Queen and Crown Prince, Eve’s feelings toward the Cavendish clan backing them were complicated. Perhaps it was because Frigga’s act of taking in and training Qin Mengde was so unusual, or maybe it was because her impression of Isabella was favorable, which extended to her mother as well.

In any case, Eve didn’t believe that Frigga had secured her position as top command of the Military Department at such a young age solely through her family’s influence or her sister’s marriage into the royal family.

“But what if we can’t find the princess with the Flying Bird’s help, or if she’s in no condition to lead troops herself?” Lorca still had concerns. In fact, the scenario he described was the most likely. After facing an attack from a Royal Zerg, Qin Mengde’s condition might not allow her to lead a raid against a major pirate syndicate so soon. “Relying solely on the Ninth Army Corps might not be enough.”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to go home and go crying to daddy,” Eve chuckled dryly. “Unless Sparti has lost his mind, he wouldn’t pass up the chance for inside-out coordination to wipe out the Flying Bird. Besides, among the three Sector Governors under the military commander, there’s still that old Medici family member.”

Lorca asked, “Do you trust Sparti that much? What if he’s also colluding with the Flying Bird?”

“No evidence, but he’s clear-headed. The fact that he’s kept his distance from Frank, this so-called ‘bastard,’ all these years shows his caution. You have no idea how much he loves the letter ‘S.’ If not for Frank’s questionable origins, he would never have let him roam free.”

Still, speculation was just speculation. When it came to matters of human nature, Eve didn’t dare be overconfident. In the political cesspool, with a cunning old fox like Sparti, she couldn’t predict what unpredictable outcomes might occur.

She mused skeptically, “But Lorca, if Frank’s father isn’t Sparti, then who could it be?”

With features so similar to Cecil’s, a Spiritual State identical to Sparti’s, and such exceptional talent—if, as Eugene said, the eldest Miss Zuo wasn’t particularly gifted—what kind of other parent could have endowed Frank with such innate advantages?

“……” Lorca’s expression seemed to say, “Why ask an Oliver about Medici family affairs?” But after a moment’s thought, he offered a possible direction. “Think about Cecil and Lorin’s relationship.”

“Siblings?”

Eve was about to say she’d never heard of Sparti having a brother, but on second thought, besides being siblings, Lorin also carried the label of “backup heir.”

To ensure strong and capable heirs, the Medici family rarely relied on a single option. Even though Sparti and Catherine were deeply in love, she still risked giving birth to a second child.

Debating whether he loved her enough seemed foolish. What struck Eve as odd was that people’s perspectives are shaped by their upbringing. If Sparti were truly an only child, he likely wouldn’t have felt the need for a spare heir.

So, perhaps, at some point, Sparti might indeed have had a brother—or even more siblings.

“……The Medici family is truly mysterious.”

Eve marveled.

Lorca said, “I’ve always felt there must be some kind of curse on your family’s bloodline.”

-

At that moment, on another barren planet millions of light-years away from Lyra.

This barren planet lies at the edge of the Milky Way and, in a way, is considered one of the birthplaces of human civilization. However, due to excessive exploitation during the early stages of civilization, the once beautiful blue-green planet has long since turned into a wind-blown, sand-scoured wasteland at the galaxy’s edge.

Gloomy gray clouds loom heavily across the distant sky, and the endless wilderness stretches vast and empty. In the distance, the faint outlines of abandoned towers are obscured by dust and haze. Leafless plants wilted in the sand, barely drawing meager moisture from below. Beyond that, there is no trace of life on this planet.

On land devoid of minerals and unfit for farming, not even the poorest scavengers or most daring prospectors would come here to try their luck.

And yet, at this very moment, a woman stumbled through the pale yellow sand. Thanks to the reliable quality of her Legion Commander-level uniform—though stained with countless blood marks and riddled with tiny tears left by the Royal Zerg, the silver-white outfit, now faded beyond recognition—still provided insulation against cold and wind.

Although its owner likely doesn’t need such basic protection.

Qin Mengde arrived on this planet two days ago. The Royal Zerg that suddenly appeared in the 18th Legion indeed proved troublesome. As one of the top-tier species among the universe’s most powerful races, Royal Zerg abilities often border on the laws of nature. The one she encountered possessed the power of space-time positioning.

She expended tremendous effort, even drawing upon the Otto royal family’s unique Oath-type Spiritual State. When the two forces of law collided, the Royal Zerg was caught off guard by the impact, and Qin Mengde seized that moment to kill it.

But before its death, the insect used its last remnants of strength to forcibly exile Qin Mengde to this unknown barren planet and infected her with Zerg venom.

Unexpectedly, the venom wasn’t lethal. This Royal Zerg wasn’t of a variety skilled in attack; it merely carried some strange memory fragments of unknown origin that flowed into Qin Mengde’s body along with the venom.

It was precisely because of her hazy mind that she had very few lucid moments over these two days—far too little to support sending a distress signal to the capital planet.

While Qin Mengde struggled against the Zerg venom, out in the vast expanse of space, not far from the Carlo system, a massive space fortress composed of ten starships picked up a stable, familiar signal at that very moment.

“Hmm?”

Zuo Qirong stood with arms crossed before the captain’s cabin viewscreen, intently watching the flickering red dot on the positioning display. Behind him, Marquis Hu Li lacked such composure and was already visibly excited. “We’ve found the signal!”

“Heaven bless His Highness the Crown Prince! After searching desperately for days, we’ve finally captured the Fourth Princess’s mech’s positioning signal!”