Free Web NovelChapter 230: Chapter 207: Prelude to the Great War
"You’re working with Ye Moyun, aren’t you?"
"Why didn’t you have him arrested?"
The night was dark.
But darker than the night was the look on Fu Chenhan’s face as he approached Yu Lan, step by step, his presence radiating a biting chill.
The tall, handsome, and severe-looking man stood before Yu Lan. His thin lips were pressed into a tight line as he gazed down at the beautiful female, his voice laced with a barely suppressed disbelief.
"You could have done it."
"Why didn’t you keep him here?"
There was definitely more to Yu Lan than met the eye.
Shen Zueran and the others would never have let Yu Lan leave Central Star empty-handed.
And even with Ye Moyun, had Yu Lan been unwilling, he never would have left the Star Governor Mansion unscathed.
"Why?"
Fu Chenhan gripped Yu Lan’s shoulders tightly. "What did you promise him?"
"Why would you do this?"
Looking at the man before her, whose extreme anger manifested as a tense, suppressed calm, Yu Lan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"What does this have to do with you?"
"Commander Fu."
’My cooperation with Ye Moyun must not be known to outsiders.’
’One more person knowing just adds another chance for failure.’
’For now, I won’t even tell Huo Zhanting or Li Yucheng.’
’Not until the plan succeeds.’
’When the news of my "death" spreads, Huo Zhanting and the others are sure to come for the funeral. I’ll find a way to contact them in the ensuing chaos.’
’Until then, I don’t need to explain myself to anyone.’
Yu Lan’s silence made Fu Chenhan’s heart feel as if it were being scorched by flames.
It plunged heavily downward.
The man’s aura grew more oppressive, like the prelude to a violent storm.
After a long moment,
a cold snort finally broke the silence.
"Yu Lan, you’re really something."
"Willing to do anything for the throne, even cooperate with forces from the Dark Planet."
"Just as expected from a high-and-mighty, cold-hearted Imperial who puts profit above all else."
"I thought you were an exception, but it seems you’re just like the rest."
"Yu Lan, I was wrong about you."
"From now on, the Federation will fight the Empire for territory at any cost."
"Princess Yu Lan," Fu Chenhan said, his deep blue eyes watching her with a dark intensity. His thin lips curled into a sneer.
Fu Chenhan suddenly leaned in, pressing his forehead against Yu Lan’s. They were now so close their breaths mingled, and his chilling voice sounded:
"I hope your ascent to the throne can keep up with the speed of my invasion."
"A defeated Empress would also be very interesting, wouldn’t it?"
"Psycho!"
’Fu Chenhan just showed up out of the blue to threaten me for no reason. How is that any different from a madman’s ravings?’
"Do you think the Imperial People are just pushovers for you to toy with?" Yu Lan retorted sharply.
"Heh! The Imperial Royal Family is rotten to the core. Who would still follow and support them?"
"Utterly rotten."
"How disgusting!"
Without waiting for Yu Lan to respond, Fu Chenhan stormed off, his figure quickly vanishing into the darkness.
"How utterly bizarre,"
Yu Lan muttered.
’I don’t get why Fu Chenhan is so angry.’
’I’m the one who was provoked, and I’m not even mad yet, but he’s already throwing a fit.’
Yu Lan shook her head and turned to walk towards the room behind her.
At that moment...
「Central Star」
Jun Lin Yuan suddenly received a message.
The handsome, severe-looking man shot to his feet, his gaze turning to Huo Zhanting, Shen Zueran, and the others nearby.
"My men caught the black market boss who intentionally sold the Male Induction Agent to Lanlan."
"The forces behind this person are significant. It seems they’re connected to the powers on the Dark Planet. He’s on Jade Star right now; I’ve had him secretly detained."
As the ambitious Jade Star Lord who wanted to lead Jade Star to independence,
Jun Lin Yuan governed Jade Star like an iron fortress.
On the surface, nothing seemed out of place. It even appeared extremely welcoming to visitors from every star system.
But if anything happened, they could root out the person responsible in the shortest amount of time.
"How could this be related to the Dark Force?"
Sheng Yiqing’s brows furrowed, a hint of confusion on his face.
"Weren’t we told Louisa was behind the drug?"
"If the black market boss has ties to the Dark Planet’s forces, then doesn’t that mean..."
The unspoken implication hung in the air: the Empire’s current supreme ruler was in league with its greatest enemy.
It was the most absurd joke imaginable.
Shen Zueran’s expression also darkened.
If such news were to leak, it would undoubtedly cause mass panic.
Jun Lin Yuan’s brow furrowed tightly as he continued:
"Not only that, but according to the intel we’ve received, they’ve been conducting some sort of experiment on an uninhabited planet near Jade Star."
"They landed on Jade Star because they were short on supplies, and my men caught them immediately."
"But if we don’t hurry over, the people back there will realize they haven’t returned and will probably pull out soon."
"And then the trail will go cold."
’An experiment?’
’What kind of experiment?’
Almost instinctively, the minds of every man in the room turned to unpleasant possibilities.
This was especially true for Li Yucheng.
Many years ago, he had lost the ability to transform back into his human form due to the torments of a Black Heart Laboratory.
If he hadn’t been fortunate enough to meet Yu Lan, he probably would have had to live his entire life in beast form.
Huo Zhanting’s decision was immediate:
"We go."
"I will mobilize the First Legion immediately. We’ll use a military exercise as a pretext to go to the uninhabited planet and capture them."
"Jun Lin Yuan, you and Li Yucheng go to Jade Star together."
"Shen Zueran, Pei Shiyi, Sheng Yiqing, the three of you will remain on Central Star. You must guard our main base."
"As for Su Xingye," Huo Zhanting turned his head, his golden eyes meeting a pair of deep green ones.
He stared at this Genius Lieutenant General of the Empire, Su Xingye, who had risen through the ranks at a startling speed in a very short time.
He said:
"You will leave Central Star with me. Take a small team and go secretly to White Sand Star to protect Lanlan."
"You must bring her back safely."
Su Xingye’s eyes darkened in an instant, the flame of determination burning fiercely within them.
Su Xingye nodded, his simple reply a solemn vow:
"Of course."
Huo Zhanting nodded, suppressing the uneasiness in his heart. He turned, his gaze sweeping over each man’s face, one by one.
The Imperial Marshal, who had led the First Legion through countless victorious battles, wore a rare expression of grim determination:
"Gentlemen, this will be the most critical battle we have ever fought."
"Our lives, and Lanlan’s, are at stake."
"You must all be extremely cautious. Inform each other immediately if anything comes up. Keep the lines of communication open."
They all knew that if Belina was truly proven to be in league with the forces of the Dark Planet,
then what awaited them was her full-scale retaliation.
