Chapter 1401: Moving Against His People Is Seeking Death

In the banquet hall, as Yingzhou's voice fell, everyone froze.

Saitan, the representative of the Sargon Free Territory, stood up from his seat, his face deathly pale.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sargon Free Territory did not participate in the kidnapping! We were completely unaware! The actions of those five people were not authorized by us. Someone must have impersonated them, or they acted on their own initiative; please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly."

Ka'xiu, the representative of the Zelar Commercial Alliance, also stood up.

His forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and his voice trembled.

"Your Majesty, the Zelar Commercial Alliance are merchants; we only do business. We do not participate in politics, let alone kidnapping. We still need to verify the identities of those four people; please give us time to investigate."

Aoleiliu, the representative of the Viridian United Kingdom, knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, the Viridian United Kingdom has nothing to do with this matter. Those three people may have been used by others; please, Your Majesty, give us another chance."

Yingzhou watched their sophistry coldly.

Saitan defended himself, trembling.

"Your Majesty, the Sargon Free Territory is willing to provide compensation. We can open our markets, lower tariffs, and even allow the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to station troops. As long as Your Majesty spares us, any terms can be negotiated."

Ka'xiu also stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the Zelar Commercial Alliance can contribute all of our trade route information in the Bode Star System. We can become a trading partner of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and provide the most favorable prices. Please, Your Majesty, show mercy."

Aoleiliu knelt on the ground and lowered his head.

"Your Majesty, the Viridian United Kingdom is willing to hand over all research data on the mirror rifts and cooperate with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to destroy the laboratories. Please, Your Majesty, give us one chance."

Yingzhou narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly.

"Do you think that compensation, stationing troops, trade, research data... can these things buy back the safety of my son?"

Saitan spoke hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, that is not what we meant. We were just..."

"Just what?"

Yingzhou interrupted him.

"Just sent people to kidnap my son, failed, and then wanted to settle it with conditions?"

Ka'xiu knelt down.

"Your Majesty, we did not send anyone. Those four people might be traitors; please, Your Majesty, investigate clearly before passing judgment."

His head was lowered to the ground.

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Investigate? The identities of the twelve assassins have already been confirmed. Their genetic information matches your delegation's personnel files perfectly. You are telling me these are traitors?"

Ka'xiu dared not speak again.

Aoleiliu spoke tremblingly.

"Your Majesty, the Viridian United Kingdom is willing to accept any punishment. We only ask that Your Majesty does not implicate innocent civilians. Our people do not know about this matter; they should not pay the price for the mistakes of a few."

The corners of Yingzhou's mouth curled up slightly.

"Innocent? How many times has the Archon of the Sargon Free Territory made hostile remarks against the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance? Do you think I don't know about the secret contact between the Zelar Commercial Alliance and the Imperium? The Viridian United Kingdom is researching mirror rift technology; do you think I cannot see it? You are not innocent; you were just only discovered now."

Yingzhou turned to face the entrance of the banquet hall.

"Guards."

Two Lucifer Black Guard soldiers walked in.

Yingzhou pointed at Saitan, Ka'xiu, and Aoleiliu.

"Expel all diplomatic delegations from the Sargon Free Territory, the Zelar Commercial Alliance, and the Viridian United Kingdom. If there is any resistance, execute them on the spot."

"And one more thing."

Yingzhou looked at the other Alien representatives in the banquet hall.

"After you return, tell your Archons, Speakers, and Emperors... the goodwill of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is not infinite."

Morus stood up and bowed slightly to Yingzhou.

"The Ash Star Alliance takes its leave."

Tailesi also stood up and walked toward the entrance with Gaiwusi.

The Alien representatives left one after another.

Representatives of smaller factions followed behind with hurried steps.

In the corridor, Tailesi caught up with Morus from behind.

"Lord Morus."

Morus did not stop.

"Lord Tailesi, what is it?"

Tailesi walked side by side with him.

"How will the Emperor deal with those three factions?"

Morus said.

"I don't think the Sargon Free Territory will last much longer."

Tailesi fell into Silence.

Zeke'er walked at the back, his face looking very ugly.

Lasu was beside him.

"Lord Zeke'er, the Imperium has had contact with the Zelar Commercial Alliance. Did your people participate in this kidnapping?"

Zeke'er looked at him and said with a serious expression.

"No, the Imperium does not participate in such low-level kidnappings."

Lasu said.

"That's good. If the Emperor finds out the Luoke Empire was also involved, your fate won't be any better than those three factions."

Zeke'er quickened his pace without answering.

It was fortunate that he had only let those three factions test the waters in the end, and had not sent his own people.

Weilakesi walked at the very back, his heart in a state of turmoil.

Today's banquet was a signal.

The Emperor would use the destruction of those three factions to tell the entire Bode Star System.

To move against his people is to court death.

Central City, Spaceport.

The celebration had already ended, and the Spaceport was brightly lit.

Yingxin pulled Leman Russ's hand as she emerged from a small alley, looking around.

"Brother Leman, are you sure there are starships here?"

Leman Russ wore a dark brown leather jacket, his long golden hair draped casually, and a roguish smile on his face.

"I'm sure, I saw them this morning. Many starships were docked there, and some of the hatches weren't even closed."

"You saw them this morning? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yingxin tugged hard on his sleeve.

"If I had said so earlier, your mother wouldn't have let you come out."

Leman Russ chuckled.

"That's true."

The two of them slipped into the docking area.

The starships cast heavy shadows under the lights, with boarding ramps resting on the ground.

Yingxin lowered her voice.

"Brother Leman, which one are we getting on?"

Leman Russ pointed ahead.

"That one. The gray one, it's the smallest and looks inconspicuous, so it won't be easily discovered."

Yingxin nodded.

The two of them crouched low and moved toward the small gray transport ship.

The steps of the boarding ramp were not high off the ground, but Yingxin found it a bit difficult to climb up.

Leman Russ gave her a boost.

Yingxin stood on the boarding ramp, peering into the hatch.

Leman Russ followed up.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Just as the two were about to walk inside, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"What are you two doing?"

Yingxin was startled and nearly fell off the boarding ramp.

Leman Russ steadied her and looked back.

Fulgrim stood at the bottom of the boarding ramp, his long silver hair shimmering slightly under the lights, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression helpless.

Yingxin let out a sigh of relief.

"Brother Ful, it's you, you scared me to death."

Fulgrim walked up the boarding ramp.

"You snuck out just to get on a ship?"

Yingxin nodded.

"I wanted to see what the inside of a starship looks like, and Brother Leman said we could come."

Leman Russ raised his hand.

"I only said there were ships here, I didn't tell her to get on one."

"You did."

Yingxin glared at him.

Leman Russ sheepishly lowered his hand.