Chapter 1453: Meeting the Second Prince

Kesuosi's voice became very steady.

"Big Brother, my warship is right beside yours. Come over; I have things I need to ask you in person."

Kelake nodded and replied.

"Fine, I will bring the Third Brother along."

Kesuosi's brows furrowed.

"Kesi?"

"The Third Brother is here too. Some things are better said clearly when the three of us are face-to-face."

Kesuosi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Very well, let him come. I want to see exactly what he said to you that could make you change your mind."

The communication cut off.

Kesuosi turned around and looked at his strategist.

"Prepare to receive them. Have the guards wait at the cabin door."

The strategist nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kesuosi walked to the window and looked out at the starry sky.

Big Brother was not right; he was far too not right.

And Kesi was coming too. He had an intuition that today's events would not be as simple as they appeared.

But he could not put his finger on what was wrong; he had to find out what had happened to Big Brother.

On Kelake's flagship, Kesi stood by the window, looking at Kesuosi's flagship in the distance.

Kelake walked to his side and spoke.

"The Second Prince has already agreed to let us come over."

Kesi nodded.

"Let's go."

The two walked out of the command room and headed toward the hangar.

In the hangar, Kesi's two guards were standing there; seeing Kesi, they nodded slightly.

Kesi raised a hand.

"You stay here. The First Prince and I will be back shortly."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kesi and Kelake boarded a shuttle; the shuttle detached from the flagship and flew toward Kesuosi's flagship.

A moment later, the shuttle landed in the hangar of Kesuosi's flagship.

The hatch opened, and Kesi and Kelake stepped out.

Several fully armed Luoke soldiers stood in the hangar; seeing the two, they saluted one after another.

Kesuosi's strategist stood at the hangar entrance and bowed slightly.

"Your Highness the First Prince, Your Highness the Third Prince. His Highness the Second Prince is waiting for you in the cabin."

Kesi nodded.

"Lead the way."

The strategist turned and led the way in front.

Kelake walked beside Kesi, his limping gait imitated to perfection.

They stopped at the cabin door, and the strategist opened it.

"Your Highnesses, please."

Kesi walked into the cabin. Kesuosi stood in the center of the cabin, hands behind his back, his four eyes fixed on the doorway.

Behind him stood six guards, fully armed, their expressions solemn.

The strategist also stood in the corner, and the cabin door closed.

Kesuosi's gaze fell first on Kelake, then on Kesi.

"Big Brother, Third Brother."

He spoke, his voice calm.

There was a table in the cabin and three chairs.

Kesuosi sat in the main seat, Kesi sat opposite him, and Kelake sat to the side.

The six guards stood behind Kesuosi, their hands resting on their weapons.

Kesuosi looked at Kelake.

"Big Brother, I will ask you one last time: why are you withdrawing the troops?"

Kelake looked at him, his expression calm.

"I have already said it; I have changed my mind. We cannot force the palace."

Kesuosi's fists tightened.

"Cannot force the palace? Who broke your leg? Have you forgotten? You promised me that today we would take Kesi down together; you promised me!"

Kelake said.

"Second Brother, I did indeed promise you. But I feel now that we should not drag the Luoke Imperium into civil strife for the sake of revenge. The Emperor is still here; we should trust the Emperor's judgment."

Kesuosi stared at his big brother for a long time.

The tone of Big Brother's speech was different from his usual self; it was too rational.

The Big Brother of the past would slam the table, curse, and pace back and forth on his crutches.

Yet now he sat motionless, his gaze calm.

"Big Brother, what is wrong with you? The way you're talking today... it's not like you."

Kelake said.

"I have simply figured things out."

Kesuosi turned toward Kesi, his voice turning cold.

"Kesi, what exactly did you say to my big brother? How could he have become like this?"

Kesi leaned back against the chair, looking at Kesuosi.

"Second Brother, I didn't say anything; Big Brother figured it out himself."

Kesuosi laughed.

"Figured it out himself? He came to find me leaning on a cane, saying he wanted to topple you together. Then you went to see him, and he figured it out? Do you think I would believe that?"

Kesi said.

"Believe it or not, that is the fact. Second Brother, withdraw the troops."

Kesuosi looked at Kesi, then looked at Kelake.

"Big Brother, are you prepared to say the same? Do you also think I should withdraw the troops?"

Kelake said.

"Second Brother, withdraw the troops."

Kesuosi's gaze shifted back and forth between Kesi and Kelake.

He could not put his finger on what was wrong.

"I will not withdraw. Kesi, do you think you have won? Do you think you can make me withdraw my troops with just a few words? You are on my warship now, and there are only two of you. You are the ones who should regret this."

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a confident smile.

Kesi looked at him and shook his head.

"Second Brother, the path was chosen by you; do not regret it."

Kesuosi's voice turned cold.

"Regret? You are the one who should regret this!"

Before the words had even faded, Kelake's figure moved.

His speed was so fast that Kesuosi's eyes could not track it. One second he was still sitting in the chair, and the next, he had already appeared among the group of guards behind Kesuosi.

The six guards had just wanted to react when their lives were ended by a powerful and sharp attack.

Six guards, all fallen.

From the moment Kelake left his seat until the battle ended, it took less than three seconds in total.

The cabin was terrifyingly quiet, with only the sound of light breathing and blood dripping onto the floor remaining.

Kesuosi sat in his chair, not yet having had time to stand up.

He watched Kelake standing there, his hands stained with blood, his expression calm.

He finally knew what was wrong; Big Brother's leg was broken, he could not run fast.

The person before his eyes moved too fast to be a cripple.

He was not Big Brother; he was a monster, just like... just like this Kesi who had returned from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

Wait, Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance! Kesi had changed after returning from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance; could it be...

Kesuosi was frightened by his own thoughts and asked with a trembling voice.

"You... you all... what exactly are you?"

Kesi looked at Kesuosi, those calm four eyes holding no ripples, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Second Brother, it is useless even if you know; you might as well be on your way early."

Kesuosi's pupils contracted.

"You... you admit it? You are not Kesi! You are not a Keloke! You were sent by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance... What did you do to Kesi? Where is the real Kesi?"

Kesi did not answer; he turned his head and looked at the strategist standing in the corner.

The strategist walked in front of Kesuosi. Kesuosi raised his head, looking at this strategist who had followed him for many years, as if he had grasped at the last straw.

"You are still alive? Quick! Go call for help! Call everyone outside in! They are monsters!"

The strategist lowered his head, looking at Kesuosi, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

This smile made Kesuosi's heart sink completely.

"You... you are also..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but could not make a sound.