Once the speculation about using the Micro Wormhole Transportation Weapon to transport weapons and equipment was confirmed, Old Angel King Hua Que no longer had the heart to stay. After saying a few brief words, he hurriedly left the birthday banquet hall with Andy, the Chairman of the Scientific Research Council.
That was simply the kind of person he was. No matter what it was, as long as it benefited the development of Angel Civilization, he put it first. Even at an occasion as important as his own birthday banquet, he remained diligent and led by example. Unlike Hua Ye, he truly handled countless affairs every day.
His departure made everyone breathe a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the hall grew livelier. The banquet continued. Those seeking connections sought connections, those currying favor curried favor, cups were raised and exchanged amid extravagant revelry.
On the left side of the hall, Second Prince Hua Tuo wore a faint smile. He showed not the slightest impatience toward the flattery of those around him. While conversing with Tiangong Bigshots from his own faction, he did not forget to chat with minor figures from Subordinate Civilizations. His noble bearing and elegant manner of speaking gave him a distinctive charm that won over everyone around him.
Especially the beautiful women. Their cheeks were flushed, their eyes soft and alluring, and whenever they greeted him, they did their utmost to appear delicate and lovable.
As for First Prince Hua Ye, seated on the right, with Old Angel King gone and his clash with the Second Prince temporarily over, his true nature was revealed. Ignoring Right Wing King He Zheng's ugly expression, he charged into the crowd of beauties like an unleashed wild dog and began enthusiastically discussing life.
Compared to them, Hua Zhen's side was far more deserted. Only a handful of people came over symbolically to greet him. After offering a few flattering words, they all gathered around Hua Ye and Hua Tuo instead.
It was true that Hua Zhen had proposed transporting weapons through micro wormholes, but aside from proving that Third Prince Little Highness was young and clever enough to notice something everyone else had overlooked, what else was there to say?
These people had come to latch onto powerful connections. To put it bluntly, this might be the only time in their lives they ever got to visit Tiangong. If they failed to choose the right person to invest in, they would be the ones suffering losses in the end. Everyone understood that.
Hua Zhen was not annoyed by it. On the contrary, he enjoyed the peace and quiet. He and Gus squeezed into a secluded corner, each holding a hot dog sandwich and taking huge bites while waiting for the birthday banquet to end.
"By the way, Gus, Old Stick said earlier that Xuan Ji, a student of the Chairman of the Scientific Research Council, would become my new tutor. Have you heard of him?" Hua Zhen asked, pulling his gaze away from the beautiful women's legs and turning to Gus.
The kind of good fortune where someone brought him a pillow the moment he got sleepy made Hua Zhen happy for a while, but he quickly calmed down.
It had been mentioned before that using Dark Energy to control the Silver Blade was not easy. Complex formulas and equations were unavoidable. There was no way he could research it on his own in a short time; he could only rely on outside help.
So there were questions he had to consider. Was this new tutor really as capable as Old Stick claimed? What was his character like, and could he be trusted? If Hua Zhen explained these advanced theories to him, would he leak them out... and so on.
"Your Highness, you've asked the right person!" Gus looked even more excited than Hua Zhen.
"Oh? So you know that guy?"
"More than know him..." Gus wiped his mouth and said brightly, "More than three hundred years ago, Xuan Ji and I were both selected during a recruitment drive by the Tiancheng civil officials. After our genes were upgraded, we joined the Angel Sixth Army together. Before long, we became good brothers. He's a great person, Your Highness!"
"The Angel Sixth Army?"
Gus's words surprised Hua Zhen. Every Angel Warrior who came out of the Sixth Legion was an elite soldier, brave and battle-hardened. Did that mean this Xuan Ji was both scholarly and martial?
Angel Civilization had a total of Eight Legions. The First Army was stationed on Angel Civilization's Main Star, equivalent to the Imperial Guards of ancient Huaxia. The second, third, and fourth were similar, but unlike the First Army, they were stationed in starfields surrounding the Main Star. Together, they protected Tiangong and answered to Right Wing King He Zheng.
As for the remaining four, they were stationed in the east, south, west, and north of the Angel borderlands, responsible for guarding the frontier and participating in campaigns against other advanced civilizations. They answered to Left Wing King Miller.
"Then how did Xuan Ji enter the Scientific Research Council?" Hua Zhen asked again after seeing Gus nod.
Gus grinned, took out the dog collar from earlier, and waved it before him. In a mysterious tone, he said, "Because of this!"
Hua Zhen's eyes widened. "D-Don't tell me this protective device was developed by him?"
"That's right, Your Highness!"
"He really is impressive~" Hua Zhen said curiously. "Tell me what happened~"
Gus nodded. "It started more than two hundred years ago, with an exile mission Xuan Ji and I received..."
"An exile mission? Who was being exiled?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you..." Gus slapped his forehead and continued, "To ensure the quality of Angel Civilization's genes, the Angel King once ordered ordinary Angels with genetic defects to be exiled to planets that had just been conquered. While living there, they could also spread Angel culture to the natives..."
"That's ridiculous..." Hua Zhen frowned and cut in. "They did nothing wrong, yet they were eliminated simply because their genes were defective? Isn't that too heartless?"
"Uh... Your Highness, you don't understand. Those people were born with genetic defects. The Angel King could not waste limited resources on them. And Your Highness, you should know that if a civilization wants to grow stronger, there must be a price to pay. The Angel King had no choice~" Gus sighed.
Hua Zhen snorted. "What bullshit 'no choice.' As the ruler of a civilization, instead of thinking about benefiting his own people, he only cares about growing stronger through survival of the fittest. Only an uncivilized race could do something like that, right? Doesn't Old Stick understand that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it?"
Gus was startled by his words. He looked around before lowering his voice to warn him, "Your Highness, please never say such things again. If someone with ulterior motives hears you..."
Hua Zhen waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Let's get back to the topic!"
Why was he worrying about something even the Angel King did not care about? It was not like he had any defects anyway.
Gus shook his head helplessly and continued, "The planets where those ordinary Angels were exiled were too far from the Main Star, so they had to be transported through large worm bridges. And because their genes had not been upgraded, they could not withstand the side effects of worm bridge transportation, so protective devices were needed.
"At the time, the protective devices were not only large and expensive, but also too cumbersome. There were especially many Angels being exiled, and our Sixth Legion found it difficult to complete the mission within the required time.
"Xuan Ji saw this problem, so he modified and upgraded the protective device into the kind Your Highness saw. Later, the Scientific Research Council learned about it and recruited him!"
"A real talent~" Hua Zhen's eyes shone almost frighteningly brightly.
"That's right, Your Highness. After Xuan Ji entered the Council, he was like a fish in water. His scientific attainments far surpassed Tutor Allen's... I dare guarantee that with him around, he will definitely help Your Highness achieve your goal!"
"Then~~ what is his character like?" Hua Zhen asked the question that concerned him most. "Can he be trusted?"
"Uh... Why do you ask that, Your Highness?"
"What do you think?" Hua Zhen countered, gesturing toward the crowd in the hall. "You've already seen the situation in Tiangong. Do you think I can entrust my life to someone I cannot trust?"
Gus narrowed his eyes. "Your Highness has a point..." After pausing, he added with certainty, "But rest assured, I know Xuan Ji well. He has an obsessive passion for science. Second Prince Hua Tuo tried several times to recruit him, but Xuan Ji refused every time.
"He has no interest whatsoever in factional struggles. Besides, since the Angel King has arranged for him to be by your side, that means he will be your man from now on~ Just like me, he will be loyal only to you!"
"An obsessive passion for science?" Hua Zhen mulled over Gus's words. If that was true, then he was fully confident he could keep Xuan Ji firmly under his control. After all, he had plenty of advanced theoretical knowledge in his head—enough to keep Xuan Ji swimming in it until he died.
But I can't rely on Gus's words alone. Swearing undying loyalty is all a joke when benefits are on the line. I still have to verify everything myself!
Thinking of this, Hua Zhen sighed inwardly. Did telling Gus that he had lofty ambitions mean he trusted him? That was impossible. But what choice did he have? Other than Gus, his personal guard, who else did he even know in Tiangong?
Ah~ This is so damn annoying!
"Your brows are twisted into little knots. What's wrong with my little Zhen Er?"
A gentle, sweet voice suddenly sounded behind him, followed by a delicate fragrance entering his nose. Hua Zhen froze. Before he could turn around, he was already pulled into a warm embrace. He slowly raised his little face and soon met Consort Xin Yao's doting gaze.
For the first time, Hua Zhen was being held by another woman like this. How should he describe it? It felt comfortable... my ass!!
Did this woman make no sound when she walked? When the hell did she get here~~
His entire body stiffened in an instant, as though he had turned to stone. He did not dare move again.
"Consort Xin Yao!" Gus stood and respectfully saluted her.
Xin Yao released Hua Zhen, then took his little hand and looked at Gus. "I'm taking Zhen Er away. Come pick him up again in ten days~"
Her voice remained as gentle as ever, but to Hua Zhen, it sounded like thunder exploding out of nowhere. W-What? She's taking me away? For ten days? He looked at Gus with terror in his eyes.
"Y-Yes, Royal Consort!" Gus's face twisted bitterly as he bowed, not daring to raise his head.
Xin Yao's Bedroom Palace was part of the inner harem. Aside from Old Angel King and Hua Zhen, no Male Angel was allowed to enter or leave freely.
It's over. I forgot to tell His Highness about this...
Before you continue