After the brief introduction, Hua Zhen boarded the already prepared spacecraft under the guidance of Ke Li and the other leaders, entering the Main Star of the Felinton Civilization.
As it was nighttime, the entire Central Federal District megacity exuded a bewitching beauty. Dazzling lights filled every corner, lavish and splendid, while its architecture was steeped in science-fiction aesthetics, unlike the Angel Civilization's traditional castle-like style.
The towering buildings stood like enormous stone spires piercing the stratosphere. Elevated skybridges wove between colossal skyscrapers, displaying magnificent grandeur beneath a sky like a snow-globe crystal sphere.
Hua Zhen was deeply shaken by the sight, though he did not show it. As a Heavenly Palace prince inspecting the lower levels, if he looked like some country bumpkin who had never seen the world, would he not be laughed to death?
After forcing himself to calm down, he put on an official air. Using the excuse that he was exhausted from the journey and wished to rest, he politely declined the welcome banquet Governor Ke Li had prepared for him. He then followed Ai Wen, accompanied by Gus and Andre, to the Acting Prefect's station.
Before coming to Felinton, Hua Zhen had been preoccupied with Lieyang's affairs and had not paid much attention to the Spacefaring Civilization where he was to undergo his trial. But things were different now. Having seen the true face of the Felinton Civilization, if he still did not take it seriously, there was no need to imagine the consequences.
Honestly, dealing with a tiny Felinton was a piece of cake with the technology Hua Zhen currently possessed. He, Gus, and Andre could simply charge in and crush them head-on. But could Hua Zhen really do that? More importantly, did he dare?
The things he and Xuan Ji had developed did not exist in the Heavenly Palace. If resident prefects like Ai Wen saw them, how could he explain it? His situation was incredibly awkward.
Inside the vast room, Hua Zhen stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the megacity outside through the panoramic skylight.
Colorful holographic projections occupied much of his vision. Air-road dual-purpose vehicles trailed streams of light across elevated skybridges, and the high-rises blazed with lights. The entire megacity resembled a machine that never stopped running, still operating even at this late hour.
For some reason, looking at all this gave Hua Zhen an uneasy feeling that he was about to lose something. What exactly it was, he could not figure out even after thinking about it for a long time.
At that moment, the room's doors opened. Ai Wen entered with his subordinates filing in behind him, then they all pressed a hand to their chests and knelt in unison. "Ai Wen, Acting Prefect Chief of the Felinton Civilization, leads his men in once again welcoming the Third Prince's arrival. This subordinate and twenty-four Angel Warriors await Your Highness's orders!"
The others shouted in unison, "We await Your Highness's orders!"
Including Ai Wen, everyone was utterly respectful, even visibly terrified. The reason was simple: a Subordinate Civilization was conducting research into Super Genes. Though it had yet to be confirmed, as the supervising party, they could not evade responsibility.
"Hmph!" Hua Zhen snorted coldly and slowly turned around. "Acting Chief Ai Wen, do you know your crime?"
He had spent eight full years in the Heavenly Palace, constantly enjoying all the privileges his status as a prince brought him. Environment could easily change a person, so he naturally carried some of the bearing of one in power.
For his trial in the Felinton Civilization, these half-baked people in the room were all Hua Zhen had at his disposal. If he wanted them to be useful later, a proper mix of stick and carrot was necessary.
Thud!
The instant his words fell, a dull impact suddenly rang through the hall. Hua Zhen jumped and turned his head, only to see that Andre was responsible. He had planted that impossibly heavy broadsword into the ground, smashing a ring of fine cracks into the hard alloy floor. His expression was even colder and more frightening than Hua Zhen's.
Knowing Andre as he did, Hua Zhen did not think he was doing it to play along. Damn it, was that bastard tired of carrying the broadsword on his back?
Ai Wen had no idea what was going on. He had noticed Andre the moment they welcomed Hua Zhen. Broad-shouldered and powerfully built like an iron tower, with a vicious face and icy eyes, he looked like a beast wearing human skin.
Now this lord was angry. Who would not tremble in fear? The instant Ai Wen heard the broadsword strike the ground, his heart clenched. His already lowered head nearly touched the floor as he stammered, "R-Replying to Your Highness... Ai Wen knows!"
Where Ai Wen could not see, Hua Zhen shot Andre a vicious glare before saying coolly, "Under your supervision, Felinton has caused such a disturbance. It would not be excessive for me to convict you of dereliction of duty!"
The kneeling crowd immediately broke out in cold sweat, with Ai Wen's reaction especially obvious.
Gus gave Hua Zhen a look, meaning, Your Highness, that is enough. Did you not still need to learn about the Felinton Civilization from them?
Hua Zhen said nothing and simply stared at them. Just as Ai Wen and the others thought disaster was about to befall them, his expression finally "softened" slightly. "Since you reported the matter promptly, I will not pursue it for now. I need not teach you how to atone for your crimes through merit. Get up..."
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Only after standing did they realize that their clothes were already soaked with cold sweat.
"Other than Ai Wen, everyone else, withdraw. Return to your posts, and do not let anyone discover anything!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After the irrelevant people had left, Hua Zhen walked over and sat beside a square "iron box" in the hall. "All right, Gus, tell me what you—?!!"
Before he could finish, the "iron box" beneath him underwent a strange transformation. Its originally smooth, flat upper surface slowly sank the instant it came into contact with his backside. It stopped only after perfectly conforming to the contours of his rear, making it so comfortable one could scream.
Hua Zhen shot to his feet and turned to stare at the "iron box" as it restored itself. Then he cautiously stretched out a hand to test it. The "iron box" sank again with his movement, forming the shape of his palm.
"Three-dimensional needle sculpture? Damn, there is not even the slightest seam..." he said in surprise.
"..." Gus could not help rubbing his forehead at the sight. He hurriedly reminded him, "Your Highness! Did you want me to tell you about the intelligence I investigated earlier?"
"Uh..." Hua Zhen froze. He glanced at the somewhat bewildered Ai Wen, looking a little embarrassed. After coughing twice to cover it up, he sat back down and said blandly, "Did you not say you had a question about this Felinton Civilization? Ai Wen happens to be here, so go ahead..."
Gus was long accustomed to his prince being so unserious. Ignoring Ai Wen across from them, he took out the Storage Device and began explaining.
"It is like this, Your Highness. Three hundred years ago, Felinton Star attracted the Angel King's attention due to its abundant Dark Element mineral deposits. The Construction Department was sent to take control of the place. At the time, Felinton's ruler was an extremely ambitious man. After bribing the Acting Prefect, he secretly sent people to begin mining.
However, the matter was quickly discovered. Upon hearing of it, the Angel King flew into a rage and ordered everyone involved executed, including the Acting Prefect and that ambitious ruler!"
At this point, Gus furrowed his brow slightly. "After this incident, Felinton Civilization's other upper echelons were thrown into a panic. They desperately distanced themselves from the matter and declared their loyalty to the Angel King. For all these years, they had behaved themselves—until now..."
"That did happen, Your Highness..." Ai Wen, finally recovering from his daze, added, "After the previous Prefect Chief was executed, I was assigned here!"
Hua Zhen gave a derisive snort. "A bunch of idiots. Their abilities did not match their ambitions, and they were asking for death! Continue..."
Gus nodded. "Logically speaking, with that precedent, if the current ruler Ke Li truly was researching Super Genes, he should have been doubly cautious. So why would Dark Energy fluctuations be discovered by Acting Chief Ai Wen?"
"This..." Hua Zhen frowned.
Gus's doubts were reasonable. Conducting research into Super Genes behind the suzerain civilization's back was a crime far greater than secretly mining mineral veins. The slightest mistake could see an entire civilization erased. Unless Governor Ke Li had his head caught in a door, he would have made absolutely thorough preparations beforehand.
"Third Prince, the Felinton's Five Great Leaders may appear harmonious, but they are not truly united!" Ai Wen said, bowing slightly.
"Oh?" Hua Zhen's eyes lit up as he quickly realized something. The corners of his mouth curled upward. "So someone deliberately stirred up trouble to draw our Angel Civilization's attention? Heh, this is an unexpected delight..."
He paused and looked at Ai Wen. "You know this place far better than we do. Now tell me everything about this Felinton."
"Yes, Third Prince!"
Before you continue