Chapter 1268: Rebellion on Sairen Xing

Night, royal encampment.

The campfire was lit, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air. Keluoke Ershisi Shi sat in the seat of honor, with the meat of a freshly hunted blood-spine beast placed before him.

His expression was much softer than it had been during the day; he was clearly quite satisfied with the performance of his four sons.

Kelake sat at his right hand, Kesuosi at his left, and Kesi and Keweinuosi sat in order thereafter.

"Today, all four of you completed your Task."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi spoke.

"Especially you, Kesi."

His gaze landed on Kesi.

"I didn't expect that being captured by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and being grounded for a month after returning would actually stir up your mettle. You never used to do anything yourself."

Kesi lowered his head slightly.

"I dare not accept such praise, Your Majesty. I only wished to become stronger to prepare for washing away my humiliation in the future."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi nodded.

"Very good. You know how to be humble now. You wouldn't have said that before."

Kesi did not speak.

Kesuosi smiled from the side and said.

"Third Brother was indeed valiant today."

Kesi looked at him.

"You are too kind, Second Imperial Brother."

Kelake did not offer a comment, simply eating his meat quietly.

Keweinuosi sat on the outermost side and had not spoken the entire time.

After the banquet ended, everyone returned to their respective tents to rest.

Keweinuosi sat alone by the campfire, watching the dancing flames.

Footsteps came from behind him.

He did not turn his head.

"Third Brother, why are you still awake so late?"

Kesi walked to his side and sat down.

"I can't sleep. I wanted to come out for some air."

Keweinuosi looked at her, a flash of complex emotion passing through his four eyes.

"Third Brother, the old you could never have hunted a blood-spine beast. It wasn't because you weren't strong enough, but because you didn't have the heart for it. You were too impatient, too impulsive, and too easily provoked. But today, you were very calm."

"During the time I was a captive, there were bound to be some changes."

Keweinuosi nodded.

"Indeed. It truly can change a person."

He stood up and brushed the dust off his body.

"Third Brother, get some sleep. We have to continue hunting tomorrow."

The morning on Suoerka Xing arrived quickly.

Kesi lay in the tent, listening to the movement outside.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the camp.

"Your Majesty! Urgent military report!"

It was the voice of a messenger, carrying obvious panic.

Kesi opened her eyes. She heard rustling sounds coming from the neighboring tent.

He sat up, quickly straightened his clothes, lifted the tent flap, and walked out.

In the center of the camp, Keluoke Ershisi Shi was already standing there, his four eyes fixed on the Data Pad handed over by the messenger.

His expression was as majestic as ever, but Kesi caught a slight twitch at the corner of his brow.

That was a sign of genuine anger.

"Father, what has happened?"

Kelake was the first to speak.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi raised his head, his gaze sweeping over his four sons.

"Rebellion on Sairen Xing."

Kesi searched his mind for relevant information.

Sairen Xing, a slave planet on the edge of the Keluoke Imperium, primarily producing a rare mineral.

The slaves there were not Keluoke people, but a conquered race.

"Sairen Xing?"

Kesuosi's eyes narrowed.

"Did those Sairen slaves revolt?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi nodded.

"Three days ago, they killed the Keluoke officials on the planet and seized control of the Orbital Defense Platform. The Governor of that sector has already dispatched a fleet, preparing to suppress them."

Kelake asked.

"Is the Governor's fleet enough?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi looked at him.

"It is. Sairen Xing only has three defense platforms, and the slaves have no Regular Army training; a single Capital Ship will be enough to resolve it."

He paused, his four eyes sweeping across his four sons.

"But I do not intend to let the Governor's fleet go."

Kesuosi asked cautiously.

"Father's meaning is..."

The corners of Keluoke Ershisi Shi's mouth curled up slightly.

"The four of you, each take a fleet and go to Sairen Xing to quell the rebellion."

His gaze rested on each of the four people's faces in turn.

"Whoever suppresses the rebellion the fastest and gets the slaves on Sairen Xing back to work normally will be the winner of this competition."

Kelake's brows furrowed slightly.

"Father, do you mean... to make us compete?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi nodded.

"Correct. A competition. Let me see what you have all learned over these years."

He turned around to face his four sons.

"The rules are simple. Each person may take one fleet, with the size determined by yourselves. Whoever arrives at Sairen Xing first and suppresses the rebellion first, wins."

The four of them answered in unison.

"Father, your sons accept the order."

"Very good. Go back and prepare. In three hours, depart separately."

Three hours later, the royal ships were ready for takeoff.

Kesi walked toward his ship with three attendants.

It was a medium Cruiser, sufficient to deal with defenses of the level found on Sairen Xing.

Before boarding, he was stopped by a voice.

"Third Brother."

Kesi turned around and saw Keweinuosi walking over.

"Fourth Brother, something the matter?"

Keweinuosi walked up to him, his four eyes looking at him.

"Third Brother, what are your plans for this competition?"

"Plans? Naturally, it is to rush over at the fastest speed and slaughter all those slaves."

Keweinuosi said with a smile.

"The fastest speed? Then I wish you all the best, Third Brother."

Having said this, Keweinuosi turned and left.

Kesi did not take Keweinuosi's words to heart and entered his ship.

The hatch closed, and the engines started.

The four royal ships slowly ascended, exited the atmosphere of Suoerka Xing, and entered the starry sky.

Inside the Cruiser's Bridge, Kesi stood before the viewing window, watching the distorted warp light outside.

An attendant walked to his side.

"His Highness, we have entered the first warp. We expect to jump out in six hours."

Kesi nodded.

"The movements of the other fleets?"

The attendant pulled up the Holographic Star Map.

"The First Prince's fleet is taking the shortest route with the fewest warp jumps; they are expected to arrive 12 minutes earlier than us. The Second Prince's fleet is taking another route with one more warp jump than us, but it is said he has connections and can swap for more advanced weapons at a supply station along the way. The Fourth Prince's fleet... is taking a route similar to ours, but at a slightly slower speed."

Kesi looked at the star map, lost in thought.

"We must surprise them."

"The Sairen race is a race conquered by the Imperium three hundred years ago. They once had their own civilization, their own language, and their own Faith. After being conquered, they were reduced to slaves, working in mines for generations. For three hundred years, they never resisted. Why are they suddenly resisting now?"

"We must find their true leader, assassinate him, and then dismantle them from within."

"I understand."