Bang!
A muffled crash drew everyone's attention. Dai Wei, leader of the Western Federal District, wore a terrifyingly grim expression. "Damn it! If I find out who's pulling strings behind the scenes, I'll make sure he regrets it!"
Seeing him stare at him, old Huo Er sneered. "Leader Dai Wei certainly knows how to clear himself of suspicion."
"If I didn't do it, why would I need to deny it? But as for you, old Huo Er... heh heh..."
Huo Er's brows shot up. "So, Leader Dai Wei suspects that I'm the mole?"
Dai Wei burst out laughing, only for his face to turn savage in an instant. "What if I do? Back when the five of us decided to conduct Super Gene research, you were the only old bastard who opposed it. And you're already halfway into the grave, yet you still cling to your position as leader of the Southern Federal District, constantly fighting us and throwing obstacles in our way behind the scenes. If it isn't you, then who the hell could it be?!"
Since things had reached this point, Huo Er was furious as well. He slammed a hand against the table. "You and Ke Li, you two little bastards, either launched trade wars against my district or used the federal government's name to force disarmament on my district. I'm the one throwing obstacles around? You've got some nerve saying that!"
"So you're admitting it indirectly?" Dai Wei roared, pointing at Huo Er's nose as he cursed, "The former ruler of Fellinton, a dog of the Angel Civilization for decades—haven't you been one long enough?"
"What did you say?!" Huo Er narrowed his eyes. "You little brat, in all of Fellinton, no one has ever dared speak to me like that!"
"You really think you're still the ruler of Fellinton? Let me tell you, old bastard, whether you're the mole or not, once this matter is over, your Southern Federal District can wait for my economic sanctions..."
"That's enough, you two..." Ya Erman suddenly interrupted, his expression blank. "With a great enemy at our doorstep, you two still have the mood to fight among yourselves!"
"Ya Erman is right~" Bang Ni glanced at the two men still trying to one-up each other. "The urgent priority is figuring out how to deal with that Third Prince~" Though she was young, the force in her voice did not lose to any of the men present.
"We don't even know which of the six is the mole. We could settle on a plan here, and he could turn around and tell Hua Zhen. What the hell would be the point?"
Dai Wei no longer had the obsequious manner he had shown before Hua Zhen. His expression was terrifyingly vicious. After his words, everyone in the conference room wore ugly expressions, looking at one another and searching everyone but themselves for suspicious signs.
For a Cosmic Class civilization to make rapid progress in Super Gene research was something that would draw attention anywhere.
After seeing the research results, even Huo Er, who had initially opposed it, changed his mind and provided the Research Base with what little resources his district had. At that time, the Five Great Leaders of the federation had been united as one.
The reason things had reached this point was simply that the news had leaked. Fellinton was about to face the wrath of Old Angel King Hua Que. Compared to the Angel Civilization in the Gene Era, their Cosmic Class civilization was as weak as an ant.
Fellinton had spent enormous resources to produce one Ao Ge. Yet the Angel Civilization, setting aside its powerful strategic weapons, had over a million First Generation Angels alone. Once they truly tore off all pretenses, Fellinton would only face crushing annihilation. No, it would not even qualify as being crushed.
As leaders, they had long lost the joy they had felt at the progress of the Super Gene experiment. All that remained in their hearts was endless fear.
Ke Li, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally broke his silence. He clasped his hands beneath his chin and said heavily, "All right, stop arguing. We called everyone here to solve this problem!"
The moment he finished speaking, everyone turned toward him, waiting for what came next. No one present suspected Ke Li of being the mole, because the Super Gene research had been his proposal from the beginning.
"As a Subordinate Civilization of the Angel Civilization, we go through immense hardship to search for scarce mineral veins and resources for them. We even sacrifice countless soldiers' lives to help them fight high-level wars. But what do we get in return?" Ke Li asked as he looked at everyone.
Huo Er helplessly closed his eyes. "Leader Dai Wei called me a dog of the Angel Civilization. Heh, I won't deny it—I admit it. But you need to understand, being the Angel Civilization's dog is not always so easy~~"
"Hmph!" Dai Wei snorted, but the hostility in his eyes gradually faded. Huo Er understood him, and how could he not understand Huo Er? Fellinton Civilization's current standing was inseparable from this old man's maneuvering. Earlier, he had only said those harsh words because he was enraged at being unable to find the mole.
Ke Li smiled bitterly and continued from Huo Er's words. "There are countless Subordinate Civilizations. If one civilization is destroyed, another will submit to them. One rises as another falls, so Angel King Hua Que would never specifically care whether any particular civilization lived or died."
"When higher civilizations wage war, they do not fight within their own star regions. They choose lower Subordinate Civilizations as their arenas instead. Kunt in the Western Territory is the best example. How tragic is that?"
"If one day that arena becomes us, I can't imagine what Fellinton will become~" Ke Li paused. "That is why, after discovering those Ancient Civilization Ruins, I did not choose to report them. Instead, I called you all here to discuss whether we should continue living in humiliation or risk the destruction of our civilization and soar into the sky."
"I was very satisfied with the final result. Four to one—aside from old ghost Huo Er, everyone else shared my thoughts. It let me know that I wasn't alone. But now..."
Ke Li shook his head, disappointment filling his face. "Yet a hidden mole has appeared among you, disregarding the lives of all Fellinton's people. Honestly, this pains me beyond measure. I ache for Fellinton Civilization!"
The conference hall fell into dead silence.
Ao Ge looked at the silver strands at his father's temples and unconsciously clenched his fists. Can I really shoulder the burden of Fellinton Civilization?
"So how do you intend to resolve this?" Ya Erman looked at him and voiced the question everyone shared.
Ke Li narrowed his eyes. "Since we cannot determine who the mole is, I thought of a method that barely qualifies as one. We'll deploy four Mecha Guardians from the base to monitor the four of you separately, preventing the mole from contacting the Third Prince of Heavenly Palace."
"Also, for the coming period, no matter what happens, none of you four may leave my surveillance. This matter is of great importance, and I hope you can understand!"
Ya Erman was the first to state his position, saying coldly, "I have no objections!"
"That's great~" Dai Wei chuckled and turned his head. "Hey, old Huo Er, you won't raise objections this time, right?"
"What do you think, you little punk?!"
Bang Ni smiled faintly at Ao Ge across from her. "I have no objections either~"
Ke Li nodded in satisfaction, took a deep breath, and dropped a bombshell. "The Third Prince of Heavenly Palace, Hua Zhen, will not leave Fellinton before he finds evidence. Rather than sit here and wait for death, I intend to seize this opportunity and strike first!"
?!!
Other than Ao Ge beside him, whose expression remained unchanged, the Four Great Leaders were all utterly shocked. Dai Wei reacted most violently, shooting to his feet and shrieking with wide eyes, "W-what? Ke Li, have you gone mad?!"
"I haven't gone mad!" Ke Li said slowly. "The Angel King sent only Third Prince Hua Zhen and two personal guards. He is clearly throwing up a smokescreen. If I'm not mistaken, the true army must be stationed on the other side of the wormhole bridge, waiting for the Third Prince's signal to deploy troops. By then, we truly will be beyond saving!"
"S-so... you want to capture the Third Prince beforehand and use him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Angel King?" As expected of Fellinton's former ruler, Huo Er quickly understood Ke Li's intentions.
"That's right! We have no strength to wage war against the Angel Civilization. We can only use his son as a threat to protect ourselves. Including the Third Prince, there are currently only twenty-eight angels stationed there. If we capture him before the angel army can react, with Ao Ge here, I have absolute confidence!"
"Hiss~"
In the conference room, aside from the Ke Li father and son, the other four were stunned by his words. Kidnapping a prince of Heavenly Palace to force the Angel King into submission—this... this was simply insane.
"So... what is everyone's decision?" Ke Li pressed.
Just like the proposal three years ago over whether to conduct Super Gene research, this was an extremely difficult choice. Saying one would stake everything was easy, but how many people could truly do it? For a time, everyone fell silent.
Before you continue