Ronan had put it that far; without needing to pierce that final layer of paper, the Martial Emperor had to respond, if only out of courtesy:
"She did indeed visit the Deep Blue World, but as far as I know, she never reached the Apocalypse Laboratory. She merely toured the Deep Blue Laboratory..."
"That still makes her better off than someone like me, who can't get in at all, right?"
"Perhaps. You can ask her directly. There's no need to have me pass along a message, and it might even have the opposite effect."
Even knowing that the Martial Emperor might be changing the subject, Ronan still paused. "Aren't you her Boss?"
"Yabolun answers to you too, doesn't he? What do you think he feels about you?"
"How is that the same?"
"Why isn't it?" The Martial Emperor sounded entirely justified. "Relationships between women are more delicate. In fact, among the few under me whom you know, only Yingying is close to me. As for the rest... well, it's hard to put into words."
Other than Bai Xinyan and Zhang Yingying, who else was there... Oh, Peony!
"Peony" Tang Yi, Ronan's senior at Zhi Xing Institute, Mo Ya's best friend, the former president of the Mystic Studies Society, also worked for the Martial Emperor. She should currently be in Spring City, working on a project with Professor Wu Zunliang.
Was the workplace environment at the Martial Emperor's Youlan Agency really that awful?
Ronan could not help growing curious, and he could not resist taking the chance to mock her. "Your Majesty, are you only candid with Yingying Jie and the others in stages too?"
"Children shouldn't pry into matters between women." The Martial Emperor was not angry. "But I can remind you again: many people cannot bear the weight of