Arrival at the Second Research Institute

"In addition, there is one more thing I would like to trouble the Sima Family with."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fei's expression remained unchanged, but alarm bells rang in her mind.

He silently channeled a wisp of Psychic Energy into the badge on his left chest.

A subtle glint of light flashed across the ring he wore on his finger.

It was a Psychic Energy Suppressor, responsible for stabilizing the Psychic Energy fluctuations around Yan Fei in a calm state.

Therefore, none of the Sea Race present noticed that the Sima Family's brooch had started to operate.

Through the brooch, the head of the Sima Family could remotely observe the proceedings of this private tea party.

Inside the First Prince's residence, Yan Fei spoke up, "What is it that Your Highness is referring to?"

"To be frank, I hope to encourage the people to care about national affairs, thereby increasing cohesion within the clan."

"The subsequent decision Crown Prince, if it can be made to proceed with a public vote, will further enhance the popularity of the royal family and the court."

"Therefore, I, the Prince, hope that the Sima Family will submit their proposal at tomorrow's morning court session."

Yan Fei was also taken aback after hearing this.

No, buddy?

Why are you coming to me, a nobody with no official rank, for this kind of thing instead of the head of the family?

As if sensing his doubts, the eldest prince continued.

"As a fellow candidate, I should not be involved in this matter, so I must ask Young Master Fei to convey my message."

No wonder they chose him, a son of a concubine who wouldn't give anyone cause for criticism, to enter the palace; now I understand.

That's quite a clever plan.

"Your Highness, I am but a lowly person with little influence. I will convey this matter to the head of the family, but as for the specific decision..."

He didn't say everything, and Yuan Rong didn't force him to make any promises.

Yuan Rong himself knew that he was just an illegitimate son and might not even inherit a single penny of the family property, so naturally he couldn't make a decision.

"It's alright, just convey the message."

Afterwards, the two of them chatted casually for a while, pretending to have a very close relationship, before Yan Fei got up to take his leave.

Next, he would return to the Sima Family and give another report on the entire tea party.

As for what tomorrow's morning court session will be like, he doesn't care.

After all, he knew without even thinking that the Sima Family would submit a memorial to the throne.

Because the so-called "public opinion" among the Sea Race refers to the voices of powerful ministers and nobles outside the royal family.

As for the storybooks used for storytelling...

"Starting tomorrow, let the storyteller from the Reed Pavilion read this."

The head of the Sima Family made the decision.

"The Second Prince will leave tomorrow, and the Third Prince is far away at the front lines. We must seize this opportunity."

Yan Fei nodded. "I understand, Patriarch."

The Sima Family wants to ignite public opinion as quickly as possible to increase the likelihood of the proposal passing.

Even with a prince to back him up, such a radical approach still requires a scapegoat to take the fall.

It seems we need to prepare for evacuation.

Early the next morning.

As the hands of the giant clock tower in front of the Dragon Palace kept getting closer to "seven".

This means that the daily morning assembly of the Sea Race' high-ranking officials is about to begin.

Today, as the officials who were qualified to attend the meeting headed to the council hall as usual, they were surprised to suddenly see the First Prince.

It should be noted that the eldest prince has attended court very few times in recent years.

You're much more likely to find him in the Reed Pavilion during the morning meeting than in the main council hall.

This is why the second prince was able to easily surpass the previous one.

This was not only because of his status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, but also because his elder brother, who was born out of wedlock, had stopped attending court assemblies altogether.

The Dragon King, however, condoned this behavior.

Therefore, the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince today has indeed stirred up many opportunists.

Compared to the unruly and defeated Second Prince, and the more assertive Third Prince who was far away on the front lines.

An heir like the eldest prince is more in line with the interests of powerful families.

"Your Highness, it's been a long time since I last inquired about you..."

"Your Highness,..."

Many smaller families, regardless of whether the eldest prince had a chance to ascend to the throne, had already stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

They were pawns used by powerful families to test the waters; frankly, it didn't matter who ended up in that position.

After all, their direct superiors are those powerful families.

In this way, a large circle of officials quickly surrounded Yuan Rong.

Anyone who didn't know better would think this was the First Prince's Faction banding together.

Just as the morning court session was about to begin, on the other side, the Second Prince Yuan Yuan had already boarded a warship bound for the Arctic Ocean.

One of his bodyguards held the vessel containing his soul, which was securely protected inside.

Before departure, an elderly man with jet-black hair and a robust build silently boarded the ship.

He approached Yuan Yuan and bowed respectfully.

In his soul form, Yuan Yuan gazed at the other person and said, "Ze Lao, thank you for your trouble."

"It is my honor to protect Your Highness."

The old man was none other than a Heaven Realm Second Realm.

At the same time that the Second Prince's fleet set sail, the "Puppet Fleet" driven by Shisui also officially entered the Arctic Ocean.

At this moment, with the filling of Rc Cells, the hulls of the fleet's ships have all been restored to their complete state.

Thanks to the original hull, the shell made of Rc Cells has some more intricate patterns.

That was the Sea Race's Psychic Energy Shield array.

Currently, the magic array is functioning normally, and the entire fleet is enveloped in a protective shield emitting a faint glow.

From the outside, it is no different from the previous cargo fleet.

Inside, apart from a few pilots who were still alive, the vast majority of people Sea Race had been transformed into puppets.

Most of them were in a stagnant state, with only a few high-ranking officers and researchers becoming living puppets under Shisui's control, no different from when they were alive.

The reason he didn't convert them all into living puppets was because the Psychic Energy required would be far too great.

Shisui was heartbroken to see that nearly a third of the Flesh Crystals he had collected in the previous battle were gone.

The front lines of the Sea Race's invasion of the land have shifted from frequent and intense wars to smaller-scale, routine skirmishes.

Flesh Crystals are still being produced, but the quantity produced is decreasing.

Shisui knew that he needed to develop a new supply chain to obtain more nutrients.

Therefore, it's fine to invest more in pre-selective Flesh Crystals.

He'll come back with interest after that.

The fleet sailed through the increasingly frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Until a certain point, huge icebergs began to appear in the sea.

Soon after, ice began to spread across the sea.

If the fleet were at sea, its progress would definitely be halted by the presence of ice.

However, surprisingly, there aren't many ice blocks blocking the way beneath the seabed of the Arctic Ocean.

After sailing for nearly another hour, the fleet finally arrived near a huge ice wall in the still waters.

The driver who was left behind, under the threat of death, mustered his courage, turned around, and faced the Shisui sitting casually on the command platform.

He said tremblingly, "Sir... we've arrived at the Second Research Institute."