Usurpation

Tong Qing's appearance sent the Black Pupil Council into shock, plunging it into dead silence. Tong Qing, who had been sent into Black Hole Prison, now stood before them.

All eyes turned to Vifro Yun. Only he had the authority to release Tong Qing from Black Hole Prison. Yet Vifro Yun's expression was grim; clearly, Tong Qing's appearance had not been his order.

"Who released you without authorization?" Vifro Yun barked.

Tong Qing stepped onto the council dais and swept his gaze over the assembled councilors. Under his incomparably sharp stare, no one dared meet his eyes. Finally, he looked at Vifro Yun. "Does that still matter?"

"This is not a place you should be. Sentinels, take Tong Qing away."

Vifro Yun's face was dark, his tone exceedingly hostile.

Yet after his order was given, the council's sentinels did not move at all. They stood there blankly, as though they had not heard Vifro Yun's words.

"Sentinels."

"Stop calling them." Tong Qing cut Vifro Yun off. "Chairman, do you really think the Black Pupil Council is somewhere a criminal exiled to Black Hole Prison can casually enter?"

Hearing this, Vifro Yun's black eyes contracted and expanded. A bad premonition rose in his heart.

"What do you mean?"

"The meaning is obvious." Tong Qing met Vifro Yun's gaze, his eyes razor-sharp. "Chairman, you're old. It's time to step down."

"You want to usurp my position?"

Vifro Yun flew into a rage, and the other councilors were all aghast.

In any civilization, usurpation was taboo. Even in the world of non-sapient animals, challenging a leader's position came at a price.

The reason Tong Qing had been exiled to Black Hole Prison was that he had bypassed Vifro Yun and privately deployed military weapons to Shi Gan Star. Otherwise, even if he had