Chapter 1273: Let Me See, Just How Useful You Really Are

In the deepest part of the Imperial City, the Emperor's bedchamber.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi sat before the window, watching the night scene outside.

The butler stood to one side, waiting for his instructions.

"You saw everything in the Conference Hall today."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi spoke.

The butler nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi asked.

"What do you think of the four princes?"

The butler thought for a moment.

"The First Prince is steady, the Second Prince is shrewd, the Fourth Prince is intelligent, and the Third Prince... is surprising."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi laughed.

"Surprising? It is more than just surprising. He has practically turned into a different person."

The butler did not speak.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi continued.

"That Kesi from before was a piece of trash. I couldn't even be bothered to glance at him. But this one now..."

He paused.

"I am starting to become interested in him."

The butler asked cautiously.

"Your Majesty, are you thinking..."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi looked at him.

"Thinking what? Thinking about who should inherit the throne?"

The butler lowered his head.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi stood up and walked to the window.

"I haven't decided yet. But at least now, there are four candidates."

He looked at the brightly lit palaces outside the window.

"Let them fight. Whoever wins the fight has the qualifications to sit in my position."

The butler asked.

"Is Your Majesty not afraid that they will fight too intensely and damage the harmony?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi laughed.

"Harmony? There is no harmony in the imperial family. There is only power."

He turned around and walked back to the bedside.

"Go. Tomorrow I want to see Kesi alone. Make the arrangements."

The butler bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The next morning, the Imperial City was shrouded in pale golden morning light.

A light knocking sound came from outside Kesi's door.

"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you."

The butler's voice came through.

Kesi turned, straightened his imperial prince's ceremonial robes, and pushed the door open to step out.

In the corridor, the butler had been waiting for a long time.

He bowed slightly and led the way in front.

Kesi followed behind him with a steady gait.

Passing through the long corridor and through layers of guards, they arrived before a massive obsidian door.

This was the door leading to the Emperor's private study.

The butler stopped his footsteps.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you inside."

Kesi nodded, pushed the door open, and walked in.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's private study was simpler than imagined.

The desk was piled with various documents and holographic projection equipment, displaying the territory map of the Keluoke Imperium and various intelligence data.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi sat behind the desk, his four eyes staring at the "son" who had walked in.

He wore only a simple black robe.

"You've come. Sit."

Kesi sat down on the chair opposite the desk, his back straight, his hands placed on his knees.

"Yesterday in the Conference Hall, I praised you. Do you know why?"

"This son does not dare to speculate on the Imperial will."

"Do not dare to speculate? Or do you not want to say?"

Kesi did not speak.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned back against the chair.

"I praised you, not because you are my son. It is because you truly surprised me."

He paused.

"The you of the past was a piece of trash. Arrogant, stupid, and looking down on everyone. I couldn't even be bothered to look at you. But now... I am very curious, how did you make such a change?"

"Father, your son saw many things over there."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned forward.

"Saw what?"

"Saw how they fight wars. Their fleets are not as powerful as ours, their warriors are not as elite as ours, but they always manage to win. Not by brute force, but by wisdom.

Your son was thinking, if we could also learn their way of thinking, combined with our strength, what would it be like?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's eyes narrowed slightly.

"So, you learned their things?"

Kesi nodded.

"Your son learned. Because your son thought, the Keluoke Empire is already very powerful, but it could be even more powerful. If we can combine Human tactics with our strength, the Keluoke Empire could be invincible in the Bode Star System."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's mouth curled upward.

"Good. Very good. Among my sons, someone has finally started thinking about these things."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Kelake only knows how to follow the rules, Kesuosi only knows how to scheme behind people's backs, and Keweinuosi only knows how to observe from the sidelines. They all only stare at the small patch of land right in front of them; no one has thought about the future of the Keluoke Empire."

He turned around and looked at Kesi.

"But you, you have started to think."

"Your son is merely doing his duty."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi walked back to the desk and sat down.

"Duty? What is your duty?"

"To share the worries of Father, and to serve the Empire."

"Good. Then I will give you an opportunity to serve the Empire now."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi pulled up the Holographic Star Map and pointed to a region on the border.

"Here, this is the eastern border of the Keluoke Empire. Do you know what the problem is with this region?"

Kesi looked carefully at the star map. That region was marked with an unfamiliar name, Taisi Free Territory.

"Your son knows. The Taisilaikesi Zi You Ling is the only power on the eastern border that has not submitted to the Keluoke Empire."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi nodded.

"Correct, they have always refused to submit. Although their fleet is not strong, the terrain of their planet is complex, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Successive Governors have tried to conquer them, but all have failed."

"Now, I am handing this Task to you."

"Does Father mean to have your son go and conquer Taisilaikesi?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi nodded.

"Correct. Let me see just how useful you really are."

He paused.

"You may bring your own fleet, or you may mobilize troops from other legions. Whatever resources you need, I will give them to you. But there is one condition..."

"Within three months, you must take Taisilaikesi."

Kesi stood up and knelt on one knee.

"Your son accepts the order."

"Very good. Go. Three months from now, I will wait for your good news."

The news spread quickly.

That afternoon, the three princes all knew about the new Task the Emperor had given to Kesi.

In the palace of the First Prince Kelake, the atmosphere was heavy.

"Taisilaikesi?"

Kelake's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Father actually gave this Task to him?"

His advisor said.

"His Highness, Taisilaikesi has not been conquered for all these years. Successive Governors have failed. The Emperor giving this Task to the Third Prince is to test his ability."

Kelake looked at him.

"A test? If he succeeds, how will Father view him?"

The advisor was silent for a second.

"If the Third Prince succeeds, his status will rise significantly."

Kelake's fist tightened.

"Cannot let him succeed."

The advisor asked.

"What does His Highness wish to do?"

Kelake thought for a moment.

"Send people to watch. If he fails, we naturally don't need to worry. If he is about to succeed..."

He did not continue.