On the outskirts of the Imperial Star, Second Satellite.
"Is the information confirmed?" A sharp gleam flashed in the eyes of the handsome young man, lavishly dressed and aloof.
"Yes. Although His Majesty has secretly executed everyone at the Imperial Medical Academy who knew about it, some of Your Highness's Secret Guards were among the Imperial Guard personnel responsible for disposing of them.
"Combined with His Majesty's recent strange behavior-sealing off the Imperial Star and neglecting affairs of state-there is a ninety percent chance that he truly has little time left!"
"Then this truly is... heaven lending me a hand!" Even the normally composed Second Prince could not hide his excitement at the news.
The Second Prince's tone alone made it clear that there was no affection whatsoever left between this father and son.
In fact, after the incident involving the First Prince, His Majesty the Emperor had hardly summoned him again.
The emperor dared not move against the Second Prince for fear of Duke Horton starting a civil war, while the Second Prince lacked sufficient strength and likewise dared not act rashly.
Anyone with eyes could see that their apparent harmony had long since become a sham. They were utterly at odds.
News of the emperor's strange illness had been tightly suppressed for almost half a year, but no secret stayed secret forever. The few people at the pinnacle of imperial power could still spot suspicious signs in the smallest clues.
For instance, the emperor appeared in public less and less often. He had also neglected affairs of state, leaving almost all imperial administration to a handful of Cabinet members...
But even the Second Prince had not initially expected this strange illness to prove so troublesome that the Imperial Medical Academy, which could practically revive the dead and regrow