Hua Zhen's Arrangements

After the secret meeting's resolution had been finalized, Ke Li and the other federal leaders continued to flatter and cater to Hua Zhen as they always had over the next two days, treating him to fine food and drink, entertainment and pleasure, and attending to his every need. They did this both to keep Hua Zhen from noticing anything amiss and to give Ao Ge time to deploy his forces.

Hua Zhen saw it all and sneered inwardly. In this day and age, with the advancement of technology, war had long since lost the distinction between peacetime and wartime, the front and the rear. It had nearly reached the point where battle could take place anytime and anywhere. Time belonged to both sides, and before openly turning against one another, it was only natural to release smokescreens to confuse the enemy and gain the initiative before the war. He understood that much.

Felinton intended to capture Hua Zhen alive before the "Heavenly Palace Main Battle Force on the other end of the wormhole bridge" could react. Their chosen tactics were swift warfare and overwhelming numbers, so the scale of their military mobilization was easy to imagine.

Although they possessed the advantage of fighting on their home ground, their disadvantages were equally obvious.

When a Spacefaring Civilization like Felinton fought hostile powers, their battles were almost always fought in space beyond the Main Star. The firepower of large flagship fleets was naturally tremendous. Thus, to prevent damage to the Main Star and avoid harming innocent civilians, the flagship fleets stationed in space could not possibly be deployed.

There was another point, the most fatal one of all: unity among the people.

As the saying went, favorable timing was inferior to advantageous terrain, and advantageous terrain was inferior to unity among the people. This showed just how important it was for everyone in a team to be of one mind. Ya Erman, the hidden traitor, had used the Nano Technology of his own district to play both sides. Before Ke Li and the others, he remained a region chief of "Iron-Blooded Patriotism," yet they had no idea that he had already handed all of their intelligence over to Hua Zhen.

With the two sides compared, Hua Zhen's advantages became obvious. Given the current situation, there was no need to question the Acting Prefect troops' loyalty to him. Unless they had been kicked in the head by a donkey, why would they abandon the Third Prince of Heavenly Palace and go serve as spies for a lower civilization? As for Gus and Andre, there was even less need to mention them.

Taking everything into account, Hua Zhen was absolutely confident in winning this war.

"Your Highness, we just detected a slight change in the Dark Energy fluctuations at the Wormhole Bridge Station in the outer space surrounding Felinton Star. Felinton likely altered the transmission coordinates to prevent the Heavenly Palace Main Battle Force from intervening!" In the garrison's conference room, Ai Wen pointed at the Light Energy Projection on the table and spoke gravely.

"What Main Battle Force?" Hua Zhen could not help finding that amusing.

It was different from when he had first arrived on Felinton. If the Main Battle Force truly existed, dealing with Felinton would be effortless. But in that case, he would instead find matters extremely troublesome, because once the war ended, there was no guarantee that news of the Ancient Civilization Ruins would remain hidden from outsiders. That was not what he wanted to see.

Resting his chin on his hand, Hua Zhen asked, "What else did you detect besides that?"

"Please wait a moment, Your Highness..." Ai Wen reopened another Light Energy Projection. "These are the two gigantic rings surrounding Felinton Star. They are now activated. In addition to integrating offense and defense, they can seal off Felinton's Main Star. Also, nearly all of Felinton's large flagship fleets have been dispatched, leaving behind fewer than ten to stand guard. They should be preparing to resist our 'Main Battle Force'!"

"Oh?" Hua Zhen raised his eyebrows. After giving Gus a discreet glance, he shook his head again. He pinched his chin and pondered for a long while before looking up at Ai Wen. "How about this? Lead the Garrison Troops out immediately. Fly into Felinton's outer space and seal off the entire planet. Destroy every ship attempting to escape!"

?!!

"Th-this..." Ai Wen's eyes widened as he looked at Gus and Andre, who stood silently to the side. He swallowed. "Y-Your Highness, do you mean we will not be participating in the battle? If it is only the three of you..."

"Ai Wen, the task I am assigning you is extremely important!" Hua Zhen cut him off, his voice low. "Felinton has successfully researched Super Gene Technology. You should know perfectly well what kind of threat it would pose to the Angel Civilization if it were allowed to spread.

Therefore, you must guard Felinton Star's perimeter closely. Under no circumstances can you let anyone escape from here, even if it costs you your lives!"

Ai Wen's expression turned solemn. He stood and struck his chest heavily. "Rest assured, Your Highness. For the Angel Civilization!"

"For the Angel Civilization!" The remaining twenty-four Angel Warriors rose as well, pounding their chests as they shouted.

Hua Zhen nodded in satisfaction. "I have seen your loyalty. Once this training expedition concludes successfully, I will certainly report it to my father." Seeing their delighted expressions, he waved his hand. "All right, everyone. Begin the operation!"

Ai Wen nodded. After respectfully placing a hand over his chest in salute, he led his subordinates away to carry out their orders.

After careful discussion among Felinton's upper ranks, Ke Li and the other leaders would use sightseeing as a pretext tomorrow to take Hua Zhen on a tour of the Central Coastal Area, so as to avoid the war affecting innocent civilians.

After handling various trivial matters, Ao Ge took advantage of a rare break to sit alone before the floor-to-ceiling window again. He liked looking at the nightscape of Central Giant City. He had always been that way, ever since childhood.

When he was little, he would often press his face against the window and look outside, drink in hand. Whenever he spotted somewhere interesting, he would remember it, then act cute with his father and ask to be taken there. Back then, he had been carefree.

Now that he had grown up and learned more about the world, he still looked outside, but his state of mind had changed. Ke Li had placed the leadership of the Fellinton Civilization in his hands, and the burden on his shoulders felt incomparably heavy.

Were there any flaws in the plan? He did not know. Could the plan to capture the Third Prince succeed? He did not know. Who was Felinton's traitor? He had not found out. There were simply too many uncontrollable factors.

The only way to address them was to ensure nothing could go wrong even amid the uncontrollable.

At that thought, he let out a heavy sigh. There was still an important meeting waiting for him shortly.

Just as he was about to rise, he suddenly smelled a faint, elegant fragrance drifting into his nostrils.

Ao Ge turned his head and discovered Bang Ni walking gracefully toward him. She had just bathed, and sparkling droplets of water still clung to her hair. Her simple nightgown revealed her slender, curvaceous figure completely.

Bang Ni sat close beside Ao Ge. The warm glow fell over her body, making her radiant and alluring, her languid demeanor tinged with a hint of seduction. She said nothing, merely resting her head on her lover's shoulder and savoring this brief warmth.

Ao Ge looked down at her, softness rising in his eyes. He wrapped an arm around her. "Protecting Felinton while enduring the pressure from Heavenly Palace... Sigh, Father really gave me a difficult problem to solve."

Hearing that, Bang Ni interlaced her fingers with his. She raised her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her voice weak. "Ao Ge, tell me... can we succeed?"

"I don't know..." Ao Ge gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"I'm really scared right now..."

"Who isn't? The pressure outside is already great enough, and we still haven't found the traitor..."

"That isn't what I'm afraid of at all..." Bang Ni interrupted him. Biting her lips hard, she trembled as she reached out to touch her lower abdomen. She looked at her man, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes.

Ao Ge looked at her in confusion for a while, then his eyes quickly widened. His large hand covered her delicate one as he said incredulously, "Bang... Bang Ni, could it be that you..."

Bang Ni sniffed softly and nodded. "You're right. You're going to be a father."

"How could this happen?! Wh-why did it have to be now?" Any man's first reaction upon learning he was about to become a father should have been joy and excitement, but Ao Ge's face had turned frighteningly grim.

"Now do you understand why I kept hesitating before?" Bang Ni smiled miserably. "If it were not for this little one, I would not fear anything, no matter what it was. Even if we truly went to war with Heavenly Palace, I would not be afraid in the slightest, because you were by my side. But now..."

"Don't say any more, Bang Ni." Ao Ge reached out and drew her into his arms, kissing her forehead tenderly. He could not imagine what she had felt when she agreed to her father's resolution.

"Bang Ni, you cannot stay on Felinton any longer!" After comforting the lovely woman in his arms for a while, Ao Ge suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"No, I can't leave you here alone. Besides, the Eastern Federal District also needs..."

"Listen to me, Bang Ni!" Ao Ge interrupted her and cupped her lovely face. "Ever since the Third Prince of Heavenly Palace first arrived on Felinton, I've had a bad feeling. Now that I know you're carrying our child, that feeling has only become stronger."

Without waiting for her to speak, Ao Ge stressed, "You know how powerful the Angel Civilization is. No one can guarantee whether we can truly capture Hua Zhen, or whether the Angel King will send troops without regard for anything after we capture him. You are the director of the Federal Government's Research Department. For Felinton's future, for our child... you have to leave!"

"..."

Bang Ni said nothing. Her lips had gone white from biting them, and the tears at the corners of her eyes could no longer be held back. They streamed down in large drops as she threw herself into her man's embrace and began to sob softly.

Gently stroking her hair, Ao Ge's eyes were filled with deep reluctance. "If we had not been so greedy back then, if we had reported the ruins to the Angel Civilization, perhaps none of this would have happened today... If we capture the Third Prince of Heavenly Palace and force the Angel King to yield, I'll go find you. Otherwise..."

"Don't say any more!" Bang Ni raised a hand to cover his lips, her eyes red as she said, "You'll be fine. Our child and I will wait for you!"

Ao Ge lowered his head and looked at the lover in his arms. Taking a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes. "Yes. Don't worry. Even if it costs me my life, I will succeed. That is our promise!"