Ready to Play Big

I forgot to mention earlier that the Nano Technology in Ya Erman's state district could be remotely controlled after being integrated into Artificial Intelligence. The operator would first have a chip implanted in their brain, establish a connection with the Artificial Intelligence's Electronic Neural Network, and achieve synchronized thought and shared data.

For the Angel Civilization, which had already entered the Gene Era, this naturally did not count as advanced technology. They could casually pull out several technologies capable of utterly crushing it, such as Dark Communication.

So-called Dark Communication was actually a communication method constructed by Super Warriors using the Gene Engine within their bodies to convert Dark Energy and transmit it in the form of Dark Signals. Things like ultra-long-distance calls and data or image transmission were child's play.

However, for Felinton, a Spacefaring Civilization, this Nanotechnology could absolutely be called advanced. It was precisely through this that Ya Erman had "split himself" between two places. On one side, he attended the secret meeting of the Five Great State Districts' leaders in the top-floor conference room of Pattheid; on the other, at his stationed location, he manifested a Light Energy Projection and presented the meeting's contents before Hua Zhen in the form of a live broadcast.

In fact, before deciding to tell Hua Zhen about the Ancient Civilization Ruins, Ya Erman had kept an ace up his sleeve. He planned to conceal the method of finding the ruins and use it as leverage to preserve his own life.

Yet what he never expected was that the Third Prince of the Heavenly Palace would not lose his composure over the ruins. Instead, Hua Zhen immediately seized on the loophole in his words. Ya Erman's heart skipped a beat, and half of it instantly turned cold.

Keep concealing it? Or recklessly strike a deal with the Third Prince? If he truly had that kind of nerve, he would not have gone through so much trouble in the first place. Left with no choice, Ya Erman could only reveal everything.

After asking him a few more questions, Hua Zhen finally nodded in satisfaction. He casually said a few things like, "You did well," then waved his hand to signal for him to "leave."

"Tap, tap, tap..."

The lights had been dimmed to their lowest setting. The enormous room was shrouded in darkness, with only the neon lights outside the window flashing and flickering through the shadows. Hua Zhen sat before the floor-to-ceiling window with his chin propped on one hand, overlooking Central Giant City below. His other hand repeatedly tapped against the armrest, and the expression on his face constantly shifted with the rhythm.

Ya Erman's earlier agreement to Ke Li's proposal had also received Hua Zhen's permission. War with Felinton was unavoidable. If this mole could be put to good use, it would save them a great deal of trouble going forward.

Before the great war had even begun, they already held the advantage in intelligence. Anyone should have been delighted by that, yet Hua Zhen could not smile at all. The reason was none other than the Ancient Civilization Ruins!

It had been mentioned before that all resources of the Heavenly Palace belonged solely to the Old Angel King. If Hua Zhen reported the Ancient Civilization Ruins to him, the Old Angel King would surely monopolize them and use them to strengthen and develop the Angel Civilization. Even if Hua Zhen received a reward for his great contribution, it would only be a very small portion.

Hua Zhen understood this clearly. From the moment Ya Erman told him about it, he had planned to keep it all for himself. Share good fortune? Please, that depended on who he was sharing it with, and what exactly it was.

Ya Erman had told him that Felinton's exploration of the ancient civilization had been extremely difficult. After a full two years, they were still blocked outside the ruins by mech guards and unable to advance any farther!

The outer perimeter alone had allowed them to successfully research Super Genes, while Micro Wormhole Transportation technology had left the Angel Civilization far behind. What about the interior of the ruins? What kind of advanced technology might it contain? Could there be a way for him to return home? He could not guarantee it, but he could not rule out the possibility either.

Then came the problem. Since he did not want the Old Angel King to learn about these ruins, he had to ensure secrecy. But how exactly was he supposed to do that? Beat the Five Great Leaders of Felinton and Ao Ge, who had already become a Super Warrior, into submission, then repeatedly warn them to rot the secret in their stomachs?

What a joke. Setting everyone else aside, Ya Erman alone was enough. Since he could betray all of Felinton because of "uneven distribution of the spoils" and "secretly collude" with Hua Zhen, his enemy, there was a strong chance that he would betray Hua Zhen over something else.

One act of disloyalty meant a hundred could never be tolerated. Who would dare keep such a person around? Hua Zhen might be a prince of the Heavenly Palace, but if the Old Angel King learned that he had concealed this matter instead of reporting it, there was no need to even imagine the consequences.

So, only the dead could help keep secrets!

Not only Ya Erman, but the other four leaders, Ao Ge, and everyone in Felinton who knew about the ruins...

People said one's thoughts became clearer at night than during the day, but Hua Zhen's mind was a complete mess. He had indeed spent eight years in this chaotic world, yet killing was still far too distant a concept for him. That was why he hesitated, why he was afraid, why he dared not make a rash decision.

...People change because of the environment they live in. They may become sinister and cunning, or pursue profit by any means necessary. Is that the kind of me you want to see?

Remembering what he had said to Gus during Old Stick's birthday celebration, Hua Zhen could not help clenching his fists. "Lieyang Civilization's appearance may have given me a clue to returning home, but who can guarantee that clue will not break somewhere along the way? Comparing the two, only mastering more advanced technology is the safest choice..."

He gave a bitter laugh and pressed a hand to his aching temple, closing his eyes in thought as his breathing grew hurried. Compassion and a heart of stone—when those two choices lay before him, it was truly difficult to decide.

"Your... Your Highness... what is wrong?" Gus's voice suddenly sounded from behind him. There had been no movement in the room for quite some time, and worried about his prince, he had entered with Andre.

Hua Zhen raised his head and glanced at them. He did not reprimand them, merely shook his head slowly to indicate that he was fine.

Seeing the bloodshot redness in Hua Zhen's eyes, Gus's expression abruptly changed. He hurried two steps forward. "Your Highness, what happened? Could Felinton's situation be even worse than you imagined?" That was the only possibility he could think of.

The response he received was still silent, making him even more anxious.

After an unknown amount of time, Hua Zhen finally muttered, "The pull of going home is simply too great..."

What have I worked myself to death for over these eight years? Wasn't it to learn profound knowledge and find a way home? Now that the opportunity is right in front of me, what is there left for me to hesitate over? A soft heart cannot accomplish great things. And most importantly, Felinton's higher-ups never had pure intentions to begin with. They wanted to capture me and use me to threaten the Old Angel King...

After considering it for a long time, Hua Zhen's gaze finally became resolute. In that instant, he finally understood why, when he had first arrived in Felinton yesterday and looked down upon the giant city below just as he was doing now, he had felt such unease, as though he were about to lose something.

"Heh~" He leaned back slightly. "Pursuing profit by any means necessary?"

"Huh?" Gus had not heard clearly. "Your Highness, what did you say?"

"Nothing~~" Hua Zhen took a deep breath and stretched lazily. Turning to look at Gus and Andre, he narrowed his eyes and said, "For this trial, I'm planning to take you two and play big!"