The group call interface fell into a deathly silence.
Despite the eight core members of Imperial Crown having their microphones on, not one of them uttered a sound.
"Is it stuck?" Su Hang frowned slightly, then switched the network from Wi-Fi to mobile data and issued a new order, "Alright, everyone, do as I say."
The group call remained unanswered, with only Jueying's baby-like crying echoing throughout the core members' chat, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"What's going on?" Su Hang frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
At this moment.
Jueying's sobs gradually turned into suppressed laughter.
"Puff--"
"Ha ha."
"Hahaha..."
Jueying burst into laughter, he couldn't have been happier.
Su Hang said coldly, "Is this funny?"
"Sorry, Captain, I've received professional training, unless I can't help it." Jueying laughed until tears streamed down his face, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. "But it would be too awkward for me to laugh alone."
Jueying clapped his hands and said, "Come on, all core members of the Imperial Crown, line up! Smile!"
The microphones of the core members of Imperial Crown flashed, and laughter came from all directions.
Wangsun: "Haha."
Huranlang: "Hahaha."
Yujingzi: "Hehe."
Shejun: "Hehehe."
Hanlu: "Oh ho ho."
Yuejing: "Hehe."
Ganglie: "Hahaha, that's hilarious, Old Zhu!"
Baili: "Hehehe, it's like I just ate some Extra gum and I can't stop laughing."
The mocking laughter of the crowd pierced his ears. Disbelief filled the depths of Su Hang's eyes, the color draining from his face as he trembled and asked, "What's wrong with you? Why... why are you obeying Nurarihyon's orders?"
Jueying was quite satisfied and boasted, "Let me tell you, Captain, because I now hold three important positions: [legal affairs], [judgment], and [personnel]."
The pupil of the Su Hang was tremor-like.
Of the nine powers, the most important are the three major powers of law, adjudication, and personnel. If they are all in the same person, he will become the most powerful person in the Imperial Crown and can do whatever he wants.
"That's impossible!" Su Hang exclaimed, his face pale. " The Imperial Crown's rules and regulations stipulate that a core member cannot hold multiple positions, unless I agree, or the Imperial Crown Core Committee votes..."
As he finished speaking, Su Hang suddenly looked up. He had not agreed to Jueying holding three positions, so the only remaining option was the Imperial Crown Core Committee, which was the three powers that Jueying had been granted by their vote.
"Shh, have you figured it out yet, Captain?" Jueying whistled, beaming with pride. "No doubt about it, no doubt about it! It was the entire Core Committee who unanimously supported my holding three positions!"
"You must have used some despicable means," Su Hang said, his eyes bloodshot and shoulders trembling. "You deceived and misled Wangsun Huranlang, making them vote to give you the power of law enforcement and adjudication."
"You wouldn't believe how clever the captain is," Jueying sighed. "But have you considered that their actions have already betrayed you in a practical sense?"
Su Hang's shoulders trembled violently. The first rule of the Imperial Crown was: All members of the Imperial Crown must be loyal to the Imperial Emperor and obey orders. Failure to comply would be considered treason and result in expulsion from the team!
Undoubtedly, the actions of Wangsun Huranlang and others constituted betrayal, but--
"Back then, you Nurarihyon discord between me and the Silver Dragon Phoenix Mountain Lord. I will never make the same mistake twice!" Su Hang said through gritted teeth. "I believe in the loyalty of Wangsun Huranlang and the others."
"Alas, poor captain," Jueying shook his head with pity. "When will you finally understand that this is a world where interests reign supreme, and genuine feelings between people are all built upon self-interest?"
"The reason why core members are loyal to you is because the power you wield as Imperial Emperor can bring them benefits, whether it's money, status, or even beauty..."
"But now you have no power, you can't bring them any benefit. Your Imperial Emperor has become worthless, ruthlessly abandoned by the core members, and only fits to stay in the trash can."
Su Hang took a deep breath.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and said, "This isn't a world where profit reigns supreme. The Imperial Crown Team is a living example. The genuine camaraderie between team members is entirely built on loyalty."
"As long as everyone in the Imperial Crown is loyal to the Imperial Emperor, they can get anything they want. Nurarihyon, you should never underestimate the power of loyalty."
Even if core members fear your power and temporarily Nurarihyon to you, as long as they remain loyal to the Imperial Emperor in their hearts.
" The Imperial Emperor will risk his life and fortune to rescue them from your Nurarihyon and repay their loyalty."
Jueying froze, then shook his head and pitifully whimpered.
"Captain, wasn't the betrayal of the Silver Dragon Phoenix Mountain Lord unforgettable? How many more betrayals do you have to endure before you finally realize that no one in the Imperial Crown is loyal to you?"
"They are simply choosing loyalty for their own benefit."
"Do you know? Every single member of the Imperial Crown's Crown core has betrayed you!"
Su Hang's chest heaved with rage as he snarled, "You Nurarihyon! Don't even think about fabricating facts and sowing discord between me and the core members. I've said it before, I won't make the same mistake twice."
"You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin." Jueying sneered twice, playing a recent group chat recording, his voice vicious and sharp, " Nurarihyon up your ears and listen carefully, all the core members have betrayed you."
Su Hang was about to angrily refute him.
The voice of Wangsun, the most generous man in the Imperial Crown, came through the group call.
"I betrayed the Imperial Emperor. Back then, when my auto repair shop was facing financial difficulties, I falsified accounts and embezzled millions of team funds... My crime was [the sin of greed]."
Su Hang froze, then his eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
"I have also betrayed the Imperial Emperor. Back then, I changed the rules and regulations of the Imperial Crown for my own selfish desires, forcing male members of the team to provide me with pleasure... My crime is [the sin of lust]."
It was the voice of Yuejing, the most chaste person in the team, and Su Hang trembled.
"I, too, have betrayed the Imperial Emperor... I, Old Zhu, abused my logistical authority to embezzle team welfare protein powder... My crime, Old Zhu, is [the sin of gluttony]."
It was the voice of Ganglie, the most restrained person in the Imperial Crown. Su Hang's face suddenly turned red, and shock, pain, and struggle flickered deep in his eyes. The light began to dissipate.
"I too have betrayed the Imperial Emperor... My crime is [sloth]."
It was the voice of Chou Ox, the most diligent person in the Imperial Crown. Su Hang's face turned pale, his heart felt as if it had been severely wounded, and the light in his eyes dimmed at a visible speed.
"I too have betrayed the Imperial Emperor... My crime is [the sin of pride]."
It was the voice of Huranlang, the most humble person in the Imperial Crown. Su Hang's face turned ashen, his body convulsed and trembled violently, and only a sliver of light remained in the depths of his eyes.
"I too have betrayed the Imperial Emperor... My crime was [the sin of envy]."
It was the voice of Yujingzi, the most tolerant person in the Imperial Crown. Su Hang's eyes glazed over, the light fading away, replaced by a pitch-black silence.
"I too have betrayed the Imperial Emperor." Jueying turned off the recording and grinned arrogantly, "My crime is [the Sin of Wrath]."
It was the voice of Jueying, the most patient and gentle person in the Imperial Crown.
After a long time.
Su Hang's eyes became empty and numb, like a walking corpse, as he murmured, "Why would your core members betray me?"
"Hahaha, how does it feel to be betrayed by the whole team?"
Jueying clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He could even imagine the Imperial Emperor's pain at this moment, even with evidence of betrayal thrown his way, the Imperial Emperor still demanded an answer about the betrayal.
"No~" Su Hang forced a glimmer of light into his eyes, forcing a weak smile, " Shejun and Hanlu didn't betray me. Yes, they didn't confess to betraying me in the recording. They are still loyal to me."
"Who told me, Nurarihyon, to spoil you so much Shejun, Captain?" Jueying said condescendingly, " Hanlu, have you ever betrayed the Imperial Emperor?"
Shejun: I betrayed the Imperial Emperor.
Hanlu: I too have betrayed the Imperial Emperor.
"Oh, is that so? You betrayed me too." The last glimmer of light in Su Hang's eyes vanished completely, leaving them empty and lifeless once more.
The hearts of everyone at the Imperial Crown were shattered.
"No one in the Imperial Crown needs to feel guilty or blame themselves," Jueying dropped a bombshell. " The Imperial Emperor you respect has also betrayed you."
"Betray us?"
Everyone at the Imperial Crown was stunned.
Jueying declared passionately, "Allow me, Nurarihyon, to formally introduce the Imperial Emperor's real identity: he is the 2025 National Fitness Championship Champion, the 2025 College Entrance Examination Top Scorer, and the 2025 Most Popular King of Glory of Glory Streamer on the Internet."
"It's Su Hang!"
" Su Hang?"
The people at the Imperial Crown were stunned.
Jueying chuckled and said, "Perhaps the name Su Hang is unfamiliar to everyone, but you've all heard of his other online name."
"That's right~"
" The Imperial Emperor's true identity is Captain Exalted Emperor of the Captain of Sovereign Dominion!"