Chapter 282

Why is it that the Federation's people and military can do it, but the Empire's cannot?

This young man should eat too; since he's Jin Chen's friend, don't stand on ceremony with us.

The melon stall uncle again picked a bunch of the freshest fruit for Alex, saying, "You're a soldier too, eh? It's really tough for you guys on the front lines; this is a new variety just cultivated, it's very sweet!"

Alex took it, feeling at a loss, and instinctively looked toward Jin Chen.

He felt a bit embarrassed.

He also had no experience talking to civilians as a soldier before; on the Imperial Capital Star, most people regard the imperial family as the highest honor, and see soldiers' sacrifices as something taken for granted.

It's fine, eat. Jin Chen pulled him close, rubbing his shoulder with his fingertip to let him relax.

Yeah, yeah, don't be polite with Uncle! But young man, why are you so thin, your face rather pale—could it be that this brat Jin Chen is bullying you? The uncle pointed at Jin Chen.

Alex hurriedly waved his hands, "No, just…" He didn't continue.

Just had a little accident, been recuperating lately. Look at what you're saying—I dote on him, how could I bully him? Jin Chen laughed heartily, then without asking pulled the person in his arms tighter, "Right?"

Alex: "……"

The flower-selling aunt called the two over, her rosy face especially enthusiastic, "It's been a while; you've come again probably to pick new seeds?"

Exactly, any nice flowers lately? Jin Chen asked with a smile.

Yes yes yes, look here.

The aunt had them follow her into the shop, and the remote opened the cultivation room's barrier switch.

In an instant, the fragrant aroma filled the whole shop, making people feel refreshed and delighted, intoxicated by it.

Fragrant, right? The aunt proudly pointed it out to them.

I specially learned this latest find from the research institute—it's said to be ancient Earth's Small Blue Orchid, lovely to look at, and its scent is top-notch! It's also easy to grow.

Naturally, Jin Chen asked Alex's opinion.

They picked some Small Blue Orchid seeds and other flower plants—quite a bountiful harvest.

Leaving the shop, Alex looked back at those simple-hearted people, feeling quite moved.

What are you thinking about? Jin Chen asked.

If they knew I was an Imperial soldier, they definitely wouldn't act like this.

That's not necessarily true.

Meeting Alex's doubtful gaze, Jin Chen explained.

Have you killed any Federation soldiers on the battlefield?

Alex shook his head. "The military department I command only handles exterminating insectoids and space pirates."

That's also why he has never met Jin Chen on the battlefield.

In their eyes, only the insectoids commit atrocities, so you'd also be a hero in their view.

He spoke, and suddenly felt a gaze directed at him.

The two locked eyes without prior agreement, their gazes meeting.

Jin Chen held Alex in his arms, his sharp gaze turning toward the source of the gaze.

"It's a scout from the Third Legion," he whispered in Alex's ear.

"Come to test me?"

"It's fine, we keep going." Jin Chen shifted to the other side, his tall frame shielding Alex completely, "If they really had the ability, they'd come straight to our house to take someone."

He thought, recalling the plot segment, then suddenly said: "Probably they came to scout your current situation, to leak word to the imperial royal family."

Alex also realized this, he glanced aside, "They'd want me to suffer terribly, otherwise there'd still be a chance to turn things around."

His tone was somewhat sarcastic, carrying an undisguised chill.

"Delusional." Jin Chen replied, his expression grim, "I'd like to see what they dare to do."

"How come you're angrier than me?" Alex thought, finding it somewhat amusing.

"I haven't even caught up to you yet, and now one or two want to interrupt, really annoying."

Alex didn't respond; after these two days of getting along, he finally believed that Jin Chen brought him home because he "took a liking to him," but he could never understand how two people who previously had no connection at all would lead Jin Chen to go to such lengths.

He didn't understand, but he couldn't deny that this feeling, never experienced before, had unconsciously changed his thoughts.

The two paid no heed to the shadow-like gaze trailing behind them, boarding the ship and leaving directly.

——

Federal Third Legion.

Zu Zu received the scout's reported hologram, seeing Jin Chen's meticulous care for Alex, and cursed, "What a lunatic."

A perfectly fine Federal general, liking whoever he wants, yet he insists on liking someone who's already a prisoner.

What else is this if not sickness!

Now their originally meticulous plan, because of Jin Chen's interference, has become impossible to proceed, with no chance to carry out the next step.

In that case, we can only first contact that side before deciding what to do.

Even for this deal worth hundreds of billions of star coins, he must see this matter through!

Zu Zu's eyes hardened, he connected via the jump supernet and sent a communication to some place in the empire.

——"Alex is under house arrest by First Legion's General Jin Chen; we can no longer make contact."

Upon seeing this message, Steven almost couldn't help swearing in front of everyone.

He apologized to a few colleagues, saying, "I have some personal matters; I'll deal with this later."

Having said that, he hurried back to his office with big strides.

"……Steven, the minister, sure has a fiery temper," someone said, neither embarrassed nor awkward.

"Look at you, you should now be called General Steven, after all you've taken over all the duties that originally belonged to……that person." The man sitting opposite, sipping tea, crossed his legs, his tone utterly sarcastic.

They were originally all Alex's deputy commanders, five ministry chiefs; now an accident has occurred, their direct superior changed from Alex to Steven, how could the remaining four possibly accept that.

"If you ask me, Steven probably planned this ahead of time." The uniformed man sitting at the end shook his head.

He didn't know what they thought of this; Steven's heart and eyes were wholly fixed on that video that could make him furious.

Alex actually came to no harm! He wasn't even imprisoned!

This is completely unlike what he had imagined!

Despite being infected with two mutually interacting deadly poisons, he could still walk normally—clearly General Jin Chen had expended an unknown amount of medicinal herbs just to detoxify a prisoner!

Earlier, however hard I tried to curry favor, Alex remained unmoved; now that he's a prisoner, he's learned to seek powerful connections.

No, we absolutely cannot just let this go; although Alex has been abandoned by the royalty, his strength and prestige are genuine—if he gets a chance to return, all my efforts would be wasted.

Steven looked toward the desk, where a general's order symbolizing command of the five armies lay in the center.

That was an honor he had obtained after expending all his effort and laying plans for two years; he would absolutely not return it to Alex, nor let anyone covet it.

After thinking alone in the office for a long time, Steven finally came up with a plan that kills two birds with one stone.

He rose, straightened his attire, and headed for the imperial palace.