Chapter 1184: The Saladin Family (2)

Lina closed the door and looked at Yingzhou.

"Are you alright?"

"I... I am fine."

Yingzhou put on an appearance of being shaken.

"Who were those people? Why did they..."

"Internal family politics."

Lina said wearily.

"Uncle Karl is worried that you might reveal too much information about the prisoner-of-war camp to my brother, especially information that could be detrimental to him. He may suspect that you have been turned by the Human, or that my brother has been turned."

"But Major Alan passed the screening..."

"Screening can only prove you are not an obvious spy; it cannot prove your loyalty."

Lina walked to the window and continued.

"Listen, Kelan. My brother trusts you, so I am also willing to give you a chance.

From now on, you must be more careful. The Saladin Family is not a military camp; the enemies here do not use guns and cannons, but smiles, poison, and rumors."

Yingzhou nodded.

"I understand. Thank you for saving me, Miss."

"No need to thank me. I am also saving the Saladin Family."

Lina looked at him.

"If you are truly loyal, help me keep an eye on my brother. He just returned and does not understand the current situation. There are people in the family who want to use him, and some who want to eliminate him. I need someone I can trust by his side."

"I will, Miss. I swear."

Lina nodded with satisfaction.

"Tomorrow morning, people from the Pure Eye will come to pick up Alan to attend a meeting. As his Adjutant, you may accompany him.

But remember: in front of those people, only listen and do not speak, only watch and do not ask. They... are not normal people."

After she finished speaking, she left the room.

Yingzhou lay back down on the bed.

Lina's performance was very sincere, as if she truly cared for her brother.

But she was also an intelligence officer; perhaps this was all a performance.

That Uncle Karl's probing was very direct, consistent with the style of a pragmatist: neutralize potential risks first.

And the Pure Eye... he would be able to see them tomorrow.

The next morning, the east dining hall of the Salading Zhuangyuan main residence.

The towering vaulted ceiling was painted with a mural of a star map, the walls were inlaid with glowing crystal panels, and the long dining table was carved from a single piece of deep blue stone.

The window glass depicted historical scenes of the Saladin Family: from their initial start in mining, to participating in the founding of the Star Alliance, and then providing military industrial support during the war.

When Yingzhou entered the dining hall under the guidance of a servant, there were already over a dozen people dining inside.

According to Fengqi aristocratic etiquette, breakfast was a relatively casual occasion; family members could converse, but their voices could not be too loud, and their posture had to be elegant.

Yingzhou scanned the room.

The head seat was empty; that was the Patriarch's seat. The current Patriarch rarely appeared due to health reasons, and actual power was held by the family council.

Sitting on the left was Karl Saladin, who was reading a mining report on a Data Pad while dining.

On the right were several middle-aged family members, both men and women, whispering about business and politics.

The younger generation sat in the middle section of the dining table.

Yingzhou saw Lina; she sat alone on one side, dining quietly, occasionally glancing at the door as if waiting for someone.

And at the end of the dining table, near the door, sat Alan Saladin Weike.

He was wearing formal family casual wear today: a deep gray robe with the Saladin crest embroidered in silver thread on the collar and cuffs.

"Corporal Kelan, please sit here."

An elderly servant pointed to the empty seat next to Alan.

Yingzhou walked over and bowed slightly to Alan.

"Major."

Alan looked up, revealing a gentle smile.

"Kelan, no need to be so formal. Sit."

Yingzhou sat down.

The servant immediately stepped forward to set the tableware for him: three knives of different sizes, two forks, a spoon, and a Three-Eyed cup with Fengqi characteristics.

Breakfast was a traditional Fengqi meal: baked grain cakes paired with three types of sauces; steamed protein blocks drizzled with spice sauce; and a bowl of hot soup with translucent, jellyfish-like ingredients floating inside.

"Did you sleep well?"

Alan asked in a casual tone while cutting his protein block.

"Quite well, Major."

Yingzhou replied, also beginning to eat.

"The manor is very quiet, much better than the prisoner-of-war camp."

"Prisoner-of-war camp..."

Alan repeated the term.

"Sometimes I still have nightmares, dreaming of those iron bars."

"Me too. But at least we are free now."

Their conversation was not loud, but the dining hall was quiet enough to be heard by those nearby.

This was a scene the two of them deliberately displayed before them, to establish the impression of a "special bond between survivors of the prisoner-of-war camp."

Lina looked over from across the dining table, her Third Eye narrowing slightly.

When breakfast was halfway through, the dining hall door opened once again.

The person who entered this time was a young male, wearing an extremely ornate family robe embroidered with gold thread and gemstones.

He had three eyes, but one of them was a mechanical prosthetic eye, glowing with an unnatural red light.

His walking posture was ostentatious, his chin slightly raised, with an arrogant look of disdain for everyone.

Information about this Alien surfaced in Yingzhou's mind.

Dalian Saladin, a direct family member, the Patriarch's youngest son, known for his arrogance and stupidity.

He had no real talent, but because he was of direct bloodline, he held a certain status within the family.

Dalian scanned the dining hall, his gaze lingering on Alan for a few seconds, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He did not go to his own seat, but walked straight to the middle of the dining table, standing between Alan and Yingzhou.

"Oh, look who this is."

Dalian's voice was loud, deliberately letting the entire dining hall hear.

"Our 'heroic' Cousin Alan, who 'escaped' from the hands of the Xiuluo Saint. Truly the pride of the family."

The dining hall went silent in an instant.

Karl looked up from his Data Pad, frowning as he watched this scene, but he did not intervene immediately.

The other family members had varied expressions: some gloated, some were worried, and some were simply watching the show.

Lina put down her cutlery, her Third Eye fixed intently on Dalian.

Alan continued his meal, as if he had not heard Dalian's words.

He cut off a small piece of protein block, elegantly placed it into his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then picked up his Three-Eyed cup to sip his hot drink, completely ignoring Dalian's existence.

This kind of ignoring was more insulting than a direct rebuttal.

Dalian's expression turned ugly.

"I am talking to you, Alan."

He raised his volume.

"Coming back from the prisoner-of-war camp, have you forgotten even basic manners? Or is it that... the Xiuluo mongrels taught you to be an animal that doesn't understand the rules?"

Alan looked up, his three eyes looking calmly at Dalian as he said in a gentle voice.

"Cousin Dalian. I am dining. According to family etiquette, one should not disturb others while they are eating. If you have something to say, you can wait until I have finished."

Dalian was momentarily speechless, and he cast his gaze toward Yingzhou.

"Who is this low-ranking soldier?"

Dalian turned toward Yingzhou, looking him up and down.

"Since when does the family dining hall allow servants to sit at the table to eat?"

Yingzhou put down his cutlery and stood up to answer.

"Corporal Kolan Weike, I am Major Alan's Adjutant."

"Adjutant?"

Dalian sneered.

"A Corporal, serving as an Adjutant to a collateral branch officer? And you even dare to sit in the family dining hall? Alan, have you stayed in the prisoner-of-war camp for too long and forgotten your status and rank?"