Chapter 162

Chapter 162

It was only after Eve stepped out of the Luo residence that she finally learned what had happened at the Oliver estate.

Luo Lin personally drove from the school to pick her up. The Medici family head had always possessed keen political instincts, and only after getting into the car did Eve finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She had originally intended only to test the waters, but seeing that Sparti genuinely allowed Luo Lin to show closeness toward her, Eve knew that her earlier move concerning the flying bird had been the right one.

With the Medici family now siding with the Oliver family, and both being royalist factions, it wasn’t difficult to deduce the motives behind Frigga Cavendish’s earlier exaggerated actions.

“Family Head Oliver and the family matriarch’s vehicle were caught in an explosion. The family head is seriously injured, Mrs. Luo is missing, and Ludwig’s request for leave to return home and help manage affairs was denied—the family head ordered him to stay safe at school.”

As Luo Lin started the hovercar, she calmly recounted these shocking events to Eve.

The attack on a high-ranking imperial official was extremely damaging. Beyond the surface-level reports already broadcast, more detailed case files quickly landed on Sparti’s desk. Concerned about information security, he only allowed Luo Lin to verbally relay the details to Eve: “Additionally, several small fires broke out within the Oliver family compound. The losses were minor, and no one was injured, but a tower in the southwest corner of the estate, due to its age and the dense vegetation around it, was the most severely burned.”

Her beautiful, water-blue eyes turned and fixed intently on Eve.

The arson method was all too familiar—probably a third of the nobility on the capital planet had been targeted this way. Eve certainly didn’t think Luo Lin’s head had been squeezed in a door to suspect her of doing it. She pursed her lips: “A copycat crime, then.”

Whoever did this must have held a serious grudge.

After pondering a bit longer, Eve suddenly realized—wasn’t the southwest tower of the Oliver estate the very place they used to detain Louis?

Judging by Long Quan’s calm demeanor when speaking with her earlier, Louis probably wasn’t dead. So, his whereabouts after disappearing became clear—he had either gone to the Cavendish residence or to the Crown Prince.

Eve leaned her head against the car window. For some reason, she had a feeling that the later incident targeting the Oliver estate had nothing to do with Frigga.

-

Inside the military’s dedicated starship port, hundreds of massive, sleek, state-of-the-art starships sat silently docked, their hulls engraved with the imperial royal family’s exclusive emblem.

This was a small diplomatic envoy destined for the Alliance, dozens of star systems away. The Empire and the Alliance had always kept to their own affairs; the vast universe still offered boundless space for exploration, and the two largest human-dominated regimes of the Interstellar Era had always adhered to a principle of peaceful coexistence.

If it weren’t for the Royal Zerg awakening at an abnormal rate, and in preparation for the possible Zerg war at any moment, the Empire would not have dispatched this special diplomatic mission.

Inside the terminal, a woman entirely clad in black stood by the lounge window, pensively watching the soldiers assembled and ready on the lawn below. She wore silk gloves, and her black hair was tucked under a wide-brimmed hat, her back noble and mysterious.

“Lady Luo,” someone approached and handed her a document, saying respectfully, “This is the final document from the Prime Minister, outlining the Empire’s bottom line for goodwill. The Prime Minister said that since the Empire and the Alliance haven’t been in contact for years, this mission is particularly arduous, and he hopes you will take good care of yourself.”

The woman turned her head—it was none other than Luo Yunyi, who had been reported as “missing” in the news.

She took what felt like the umpteenth supplemental document delivered over the past two days and set it aside without even looking. Although it was said to be from the Prime Minister, it was actually because the cabinet hadn’t finalized the terms and quantities for this negotiation, so they kept making additions and subtractions. The general content wasn’t much different; Luo Yunyi didn’t need to open it to know what conditions were inside.

Resource supplies, shared routes, military equipment numbers... The Empire was wealthier than the Alliance, but the Alliance’s advantage lay in its technological level. Though it was called cooperation, the Empire actually wanted to acquire some useful new technology from the Alliance.

“Just leave it there. I’ll read it as a pastime after boarding,” Luo Yunyi said with a radiant smile, her gaze shifting to the red-haired marshal sitting leisurely on the sofa reading a magazine. “Sparti at least knows how to offer polite words. Did you come all this way just to read the terminal’s free fashion magazines?”

Frigga, always responsive, said: “Stay safe and return peacefully.”

Luo Yunyi sighed: “Still not even pretending.”

But she wasn’t surprised by this attitude. After all, she had been practically strong-armed by Frigga into taking this assignment.

Due to limited external relations, the Empire’s diplomatic and intelligence departments were essentially integrated. Additionally, with the Luo family’s business spanning the stars, there was a tradition since the Old Era of using merchant groups as envoys. If Luo Yunyi didn’t go, someone else with the surname Luo would be sent.

But among the Luo family, Luo Yunyi was the most suitable—experienced and sufficiently qualified. She already held an important position in the intelligence department, so a temporary career shift wasn’t out of place.

Luo Yunyi raised a hand to adjust her wide-brimmed hat and said calmly, “Don’t forget what you promised me earlier.”

—She would comply with the orders to go on the mission to the Alliance, and in return, Frigga would swear on the honor of the Imperial Military to protect her family during Luo Yunyi’s absence, including the Oliver Family and the Luo family.

“I won’t forget,” Frigga chuckled. “To set your mind at ease, I even went to the trouble of creating a bit of trouble for my sister and nephew.”

Luo Yunyi offered no comment on the Cavendish family’s internal affairs. The capital planet was awash with desires; it was easy to see what the nobility wanted. Her husband sought power, her brother sought wealth, some sought fame, and others sought something more enduring—like the head of the Medici family, who was fixated on adding luster to the family’s glory.

But Frigga was an anomaly among them—not accumulating wealth, not overstepping bounds. To keep the emperor at ease, she even resided permanently on the capital planet, giving up opportunities to make achievements on the battlefield. All these years, Luo Yunyi had never been able to figure out what this woman truly wanted.

The kinetic fuel had been filled, and the starship had completed its final three rounds of inspections. The AI broadcast a reminder to board. Luo Yunyi picked up the documents she had set aside earlier and pushed the door open to leave.

The sunlight streamed down, illuminating the imperial flags fluttering along the way. The crimson flags were embroidered with exquisite golden roses and broadswords. Soldiers, divided into multiple teams, entered the hundred starships in an orderly and swift manner.

At the boarding gate, Luo Yunyi instinctively turned her head and glanced up to see a tall figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of the high-level lounge in the distant terminal.

Dressed in a neat military uniform, standing straight and tall.

Noticing her gaze, Frigga, from afar, removed her military cap with her right hand, curled her lips into a smile, and gave a farewell military salute.

Even though, from the distance between them, Luo Yunyi could at most make out her silhouette.

The boarding gate closed heavily.

-

Luo Lin drove all the way inside the First Imperial Academy. Since Eve was in a hurry to report to the Medical Department, she had only canceled her leave there; the leave she had taken in the Mecha Department under her original identity was still in effect.

With a ride available, she simply directed Luo Lin to drop her off right at the base of the Mecha Department building.

The all-black disguise had been completely removed midway. Luo Lin stopped the car and glanced in the rearview mirror at the girl wiping off the temporary black hair dye: “In your condition, wouldn’t it be best to stay quietly in the Medical Department? Why insist on returning to the Mecha Department and causing yourself trouble?”

...Actually, the most dangerous boss is right there in your Medical Department, Eve thought with a dry laugh, aware that the other party had pinned the blame for her predicament on the Crown Prince’s faction.

But she had no intention of defending the Crown Prince either, only hinting: “I find the Mecha Department’s classes more interesting than the Medical Department’s, and the teachers are better too.”

At least the Mecha Department’s teachers were still human.

“Without psychic energy, you can’t even operate a mecha,” Luo Lin didn’t bother arguing about professional pride and stated the facts bluntly. “You’ll just be torturing yourself if you come back.”

Eve raised an eyebrow and smiled, unconcerned about the issue raised: “You can use the simulation system to operate mechas, and daily training can double as weight-bearing exercises. There’s always a way out.”

Seeing her carefree attitude, Luo Lin didn’t press further and instead asked: “Do you need me to stay with you these next few days?”

“No need. There aren’t many dangers within the First Imperial Academy. If necessary, I can summon people from the princess’s residence myself.”

With studies not a worry and bodyguards available, this person seemed to have plenty of energy and means to deal with the Alchemical Formula. Luo Lin fell silent for a moment, then said flatly, “Okay then,” and left on her own.

Being the chief certainly had its perks—approving and canceling leave was a one-stop process, entirely self-processed. After a quick stop at the office, Eve had completed all the procedures and even handled the backlog of official duties that Jessica hadn’t finished alone during this period.

The Mecha Department had a large number of students, resulting in a flood of various temporary activity applications and documents. By the time Eve finally emerged from the pile of tasks, it was nearly evening.

She sent the last few documents back into the system, thinking about how surprised Jessica would be tomorrow after class to find the accumulated tasks wiped out overnight, and couldn’t help but smile.

But after smiling, she really needed to think about how to conceal the new, troublesome Alchemical Formula on her. Although Long Quan said he couldn’t cure it, Eve still planned to try consulting others—like Gu Zhaoxi, or other Senior Alchemists from the Alchemist Association.

She leaned toward consulting Gu Zhaoxi. After all, she had also referred Qin Mengde there to be checked for Zerg venom. She wondered what the results were, as neither of them had voluntarily sent her any feedback yet.

Besides, the incident at the Oliver Family felt more and more suspicious the more she thought about it. Especially Louis’s disappearance, which played a very subtle role in it.

Eve had already learned from Luo Lin that Mrs. Luo’s disappearance was fake and that she was actually on a mission. This meant that the fire at the Oliver estate replicated the ruthless methods typically used by Eve and the princess’s residence, while the outcome imitated the car accident that had occurred just hours earlier.

A copycat crime—either motivated by hatred or pure posturing. But regardless of the motive, the person behind it must have been thoroughly bored.

Although Frigga was somewhat arrogant, she wasn't that bored, nor would she do something so pointless for an alchemist she had no use for. Given her personality, after orchestrating the car accident targeting Family Head Oliver and successfully igniting public discussion, she should have stopped in time and made her exit.

Thinking of Louis's other unique qualities, Eve narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Miss Eve, good evening."

A gentle and polite male voice, like jade pieces chiming, rang out. Eve turned around and saw Crown Prince Anthony standing behind her with a smiling expression, his burgundy hair combed to one side, handsome and at ease.

Why was Anthony here?

"Good evening, Your Highness," she said with a smile, giving a slight bow. "I remember the Melee Department and the Mecha Department should be quite far apart."

"No need to overthink it, I came specifically to find you."

Eve maintained her polite smile, but her eyes were probing.

"I heard that Executive Officer Eve personally took risks to retrieve the Fourth Princess from a desolate planet, and incidentally uncovered the conspiracy of the star pirates, capturing a cunning and dangerous fugitive for the empire, gaining considerable recognition. So, upon hearing of your return to the academy, I came specifically to congratulate you," Anthony chuckled. "Though it seems you aren't too pleased to see me."

His unusually relaxed demeanor made Eve instinctively uncomfortable. It felt like she had painstakingly charged up an ultimate attack and launched it at the opponent, expecting to defeat them, only for the dust to settle and find the other party completely unharmed, even casually greeting her—the feeling of punching a cushion.

But Eve was certain that her punch was no mere bluff with smoke but no damage. Just the collusion with Flying Birds alone was enough to severely damage the Crown Prince's faction. Anthony should be worrying about how to shield his supporting nobles from the impending purge, not blocking the path of another Department Chief after work to intimidate her.

Eve's gaze deepened: "I thought you would be even less willing to see me."

"How could that be? You are intelligent, capable, and loyal to the country. My intention to recruit you has never changed—I just haven't had the opportunity," Anthony replied calmly. "As for some nation's parasites, they are utterly insignificant and not worth my concern."

So that's it... With his words, Eve understood: "You're using my hand to screen your own people?"

Anthony smiled without speaking.

This made everything make sense. Why, when the Crown Prince had other trusted aides, did he send the less capable Marquis Hu Li to handle the alliance with Flying Birds? Colluding with star pirates was a serious crime. If the plan succeeded, Marquis Hu Li would be disposed of alone; if it failed, it would conveniently purge his own forces. Those with hidden flaws, insufficient ability, or lack of loyalty would be filtered out, leaving only the most elite.

"But you sacrificed the Fourth Legion as well," Eve asked. "You don’t have much hard assets to begin with. Losing the Fourth Legion along the way—isn’t that a pity?"

"That was never mine to begin with. The Fourth Legion belongs to the Empress, and the military has no use for disloyal soldiers." Anthony hinted pointedly.

—The military has no use for them, meaning, literally, Frigga has no use for them. Since they were never Anthony's people, and he could incidentally do Frigga a favor, he naturally had no reason to intervene to preserve them.

Each of these actions sounds easy to discuss, but each one truly involves significant losses. If Eve had initially thought the Crown Prince was nothing special, from such ruthless and decisive methods, she genuinely grew wary.

"You're truly terrifying—rising unstained from the mud, doing everything yet washing your hands clean of it all," she no longer bothered with formalities and said directly, "Was the fire at the Oliver estate your doing?"

Anthony raised an eyebrow: "Why would you think it was me? I have great affection for Miss Alice and have no reason to do something that would both hurt her and damage my image."

"Louis Oliver, Five-Star Alchemist," Eve interrupted, having no curiosity about the original protagonists' love story. "Do I need to make it any clearer?"

From the moment they met, she had noticed he was overly pleased with himself. Was it necessary to be this happy just from purging his own ranks?

And coming to flaunt it in front of his rival—essentially showing off his strength.

Louis had been researching Zerg poison over a decade ago. By now, Eve believed that given his genius in Alchemy, he must have discovered the stimulating effect of Zerg poison on the Spiritual State. Though she didn’t know how he connected with the Crown Prince, in the entire capital planet, the only one willing to take risks for this alchemist trapped in a tower for over ten years, even at the cost of offending the Oliver Family, was Anthony, who had issues with his Spiritual State.

Anyway, the hatred had already been fueled by Eve's fire and Frigga's added kindling. With so much enmity, one more major scheme wouldn’t hurt.

Anthony's eyes flickered: "I find that you understand me more deeply than I imagined. Since you're so interested in me, why follow Chris? I can offer you no less than she can."

"There are many reasons, but only two are key."

Anthony hummed, indicating he was all ears.

"First, Her Highness the Princess and I share a profound bond forged in revolution, too deep to betray. As for the second," Eve chuckled, "previously, when Ling Ling sought me out on her own, it was you who told her to do it, right? Sorry, but I really can’t accept an employer who doesn’t hesitate to use even a little girl."

An employer can be foolish, lazy, or even a bit poor—as long as the employees are competent, it can be salvaged. But if the employer has character issues, then it's a disaster.

Eve couldn’t outright say that Anthony’s methods of layoffs were too brutal or that his betrayal of his mother was too practiced, so she used the excuse of exploiting a little girl, but the underlying meaning was the same—

You, as a person, have serious character issues!

Anthony, understanding the implied meaning: "..."